0x800704C6: How to Fix this Microsoft Store Error

Posted on by Loredana Harsana

Error code 0x800704C6 restricts you from downloading, installing, and updating apps from the Microsoft Store. Some of our readers have also run into the 0x800704C6 error when trying to launch the apps downloaded from the store.

Why do I encounter the Microsoft Store error code 0x800704c6?

Speaking of the causes behind the Microsoft Store error 0x800704C6 code, one or more of the following may trigger the error code.

  • Server outage – If the Microsoft Store server is down for maintenance or some other purpose, the 0x800704c6 error code can show up.
  • Incorrect Date and Time settings – Inability to synchronize time on Windows when you move from one time zone to another results in error code 0x800704c6.
  • Unstable internet connection – If your internet connection is unstable, downloading and updating apps from Microsoft Store will not be successful.
  • Corrupt Microsoft Store cache – Corrupt system files and Microsoft Store cache makes you incompetent in downloading apps from Microsoft Store.

If you also run into the Microsoft Error code 0x800704c6 on your PC, we’ve got you covered.

How do I resolve the Microsoft Store error 0x800704C6?

1. Modify the Date and Time settings

  1. Right-click the date and time on the taskbar’s right corner and choose the Adjust date and time option from the context menu.0x800704C6
  2. Look for the Set time automatically option and move the toggle next to the Off position.
  3. Next, move to the Set date and time manually option and click the Change button next to it.0x800704C6
  4. Manually pick the date and time values from the drop-down menu in the new pop-up window. Once done, click the Change button to save the desired changes.0x800704C6

Now restart your computer to make the changes effective and resolve the Microsoft error code 0x800704C6.

Several of our readers encountered the error code 0x800704C6 when they traveled across time zones. This happens because the system data and time conflict with the that at the Microsoft Store server.

2. Reset the Microsoft Store cache

  1. Use the Windows + R shortcut to launch the Run dialog box.
  2. Type the following command in the text box and hit the OK button. wsreset.exe 0x800704C6

Upon the command execution, Command Prompt will blink on the screen for a second, and the Microsoft Store cache reset process. Once the Store cache is reset, Microsoft Store will automatically launch on your computer. Now try downloading and or updating apps from the Microsoft Store, you will no longer run into the 0x800704C6 error.

The WSReset.exe command deletes the Microsoft Store cache, ruling out the corrupt store cache files behind the 0x800704C6 error when downloading apps.

3. Reinstall Microsoft Store

  1. Launch the Start menu by pressing the Windows icon on the taskbar. Type powershell in the search bar on top and select Run as Administrator, located on the right.0x800704C6
  2. Click the Yes button on the User Action Control prompt to launch the PowerShell window with elevated permissions.
  3. Type or copy-paste the below command in Powershell and press the Enter key to execute it. Get-AppXPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}0x800704C6
  4. Once you get a message that Microsoft Store is reinstalled, exit the PowerShell window and restart your PC.

Reinstalling the Store on your computer will get rid of the damaged installation files if they were behind the 0x800704C6 error, which prevents you from downloading files from Microsoft Store.

4. Use the Windows Store troubleshooter

  1. Launch the Settings app using the Windows + I shortcut keys.
  2. While in the System settings, scroll down and choose Troubleshoot from the right side. 0x800704C6
  3. Choose Other troubleshooters from the next window.
  4. Scroll down the list of all the troubleshooters present on your PC and press the Run button next to Windows Store Apps. 0x800704C6

The built-in Microsoft Store Apps troubleshooter in Windows is configured to diagnose the problems associated with the Windows Store and the downloaded apps and presents the relevant fixes to tackle the same. Hopefully, it will resolve the underlying problems behind the 0x800704C6 Microsoft error code.

5. Clean boot your PC

  1. Bring up the Run dialog box using the Windows + R shortcut. Type the following command in the text box and press the OK button to execute it. Msconfig0x800704C6
  2. While you are in the General tab of the System Configuration window, uncheck the box preceding the Load startup items and check the one for the Load system services option.0x800704C6
  3. Next, switch to the Services tab, check the Hide all Microsoft services option listed on the bottom left, and press the Disable all button.0x800704C6
  4. Click Apply to save the changes and OK to close the System Configuration window. Now restart your computer as you would normally do.

When your PC restarts in clean boot mode, launch Microsoft Store and try downloading the apps on your Windows PC. If you do not encounter the 0x800704C6 error this time, it indicates that some third-party apps installed on your PC are interfering with app download from Microsoft Store.

You can follow this guide to uninstall apps from Windows, whichever you think might be the culprit.

That’s it! We hope that the solutions mentioned in this guide proved effective in resolving the 0x800704C6 error code, and you can now download apps from the Microsoft Store.

You can refer to this guide if you keep running into the Server Stumbled error on Microsoft Store quite often.

If you have any other suggestions or questions for us, leave them in the comments section below, and we’ll be sure to get back to you.

Check out these new Microsoft Autopatch alerts and functions

Posted on by Alexandru Poloboc

As we’re pretty sure you all remember, back in 2022, the Redmond tech giant announced a new service called Windows Autopatch, dedicated to enterprise customers.

Basically, it represents a way to automate updates while empowering IT admins to ensure that endpoints are healthy and compliant through ring-based, staggered deployments.

Thus, IT admins would also have the ability to reverse updates easily if something does go wrong. Now, Microsoft published new information on the topic.

Microsoft made some notable changes to Windows Autopatch

The so-called update reins are handed to Microsoft’s mechanisms with IT admins overseeing the process, and all this became generally available in July 2022.

Back then, we also learned that there were certain prerequisites for using this new service:

  • Licensing: Windows Autopatch is available at no extra cost to Windows Enterprise E3 and above license holders.
  • Specifications: Windows Autopatch works with Windows 10 and 11 Enterprise versions and, when we reach general availability, on virtual machines including Windows 365 Cloud PCs.
  • Hardware requirements: If your corporate-owned devices are running a current. The supported version of Windows 10 or Windows 11, they can be enrolled in Windows Autopatch. Bring-your-own-device (BYOD) scenarios are not currently supported.
  • Management requirements: Your devices must be managed with either Microsoft Intune or via Configuration Manager co-management.
  • Identity requirements: User accounts must be managed by Azure Active Directory or Hybrid Azure Active Directory Join.

Fast forward to today, Microsoft has announced new guidelines for its customers. And, yes, we are going to take a more in-depth look and see what changed.

Starting now, the Tenant Management blade is getting some enhancements in May 2023 so that it can provide more alerts on expiring licenses and access-related issues for Windows Autopatch.

The tech giant has also urged admins to navigate to this blade and take action immediately if they find any such alerts or risk interruptions to the service.

Furthermore, the Windows Autopatch section will also be marked as inactive if changes are required, according to Redmond officials.

Additionally, Microsoft has added new functionalities to Windows Autopatch in the public preview, as you are about to see:

  • Windows Autopatch Groups: set up your own distinct sets of deployment rings, and deployment cadence.
  • Windows feature updates release management: leverage Windows Autopatch Groups and its deployment rings when creating new Windows feature update deployments
  • Reporting: Refresh of our existing reporting, providing insight into update compliance, deployment status and update failures.
  • Policy health and remediation: Initiate actions for the Autopatch service to restore policies and restore deployment rings.

Know that the above-mentioned capabilities can be enabled through the Autopatch Groups (preview) tab in the Intune admin center, general availability is slated for May 1, 2023.

What is your take on these new changes? You can share your thoughts and opinions with us in the comments section below.

Microsoft begins rolling out 3rd party account support for its new Outlook preview app

Posted on by Kareem Anderson

Microsoft’s new unified Outlook dream comes further into focus as the company begins rolling out third party account support for its Outlook for Windows preview.

Outlook for Windows previews first hit select devices back in September 2022, but it landed with a nice helping of caveats that continue to trip up a larger migration of users looking to do away with Mail for Windows, Outlook for the Web and Outlook Exchange as disparate email destinations and experiences.

One of the largest hurdles for users of the beta preview of Outlook for Windows has been Microsoft’s limited account support for email clients, particularly Gmail accounts. However, that will soon change as Microsoft Group Product Manager Margie Clinton brings news of support for Yahoo, Gmail and iCloud support through IMAP protocols.

Today, we will begin to roll out support for Gmail accounts to those using the preview of the new Outlook for Windows. Soon, we will also add support for Yahoo and iCloud, as well as the ability to connect your mailbox through IMAP. It’s our intention that every person be able to access all of their emails – in one spot – on any Windows 10 or Windows 11 device.

Clinton promises the same level of integration for third party clients as is present with Microsoft email accounts which includes richer Calendar and Contacts support as well as a more comprehensive editing, spelling and autocomplete platform powered by Microsoft Editor. More specifically, Gmail support in the new Outlook for Windows preview will enable the ability to add multiple shared calendars, support for multiple time zones and a new daily weather widget in the Calendar view.

Currently, Outlook for Windows preview can access and display package tracking and flight info, but it is unclear if that level of integration will be extended to data from Google’s email client. Another uncertainty is if Microsoft will bring over labels and filtering sections from Gmail any time soon.

As for what’s next for Outlook for Windows preview, Clinton mentioned the following features should make their way into the company’s next biggest update:

  • The ability to track packages and check in to flights directly from your Inbox.
  • Reminders about important messages that still need a reply.
  • Search folders for quick and easy access to all of your emails.
  • The ability to customize your email density and views.

The update with support for third party email accounts is slowly rolling access out starting today for anyone using the beta and meets the minimum required OS specs of Windows 10 Version 1809 (Build 17763).

AMDRyzenMasterDriver.SYS: 6 Ways to Fix This BSOD Error

Posted on by Sagar Naresh

AMD Ryzen is a popular computer processor that many gaming laptops use. However, we have encountered many user complaints that point out that they are facing the AMDRyzenMasterDriver.SYS error message.

This error blocks user access to their PCs and throws the frustrating BSOD screen. The PC keeps on restarting in vain. Thankfully, in this guide, we will give you a bunch of solutions that will help you resolve the AMDRyzenMasterDriver.SYS BSOD error. Let us get right into it.

What is causing the AMDRyzenMasterDriver SYS BSOD error?

After some research, we have found the reasons for triggering the AMDRyzenMasterDriver.SYS BSOD error message on your PC.

  • Corrupt system files: Of course, system files are important for your PC to run smoothly, and if they get corrupt then you will face multiple issues.
  • The AMDRyzenMasterDriver.SYS file is corrupt: The main reason that could trigger the AMDRyzenMasterDriver.SYS error is because the file itself is missing from your PC.
  • Your PC isn’t updated: Running an outdated version of Windows can also cause your system to misbehave, as some programs may malfunction and cause the BSOD error.
  • AMD Ryzen Master is causing problems: Reinstall certain AMD drivers and Ryzen Master software to fix AMDRyzenMasterDriver.SYS issue.
  • Drivers aren’t up to date: You should also ensure that all drivers on your PC are updated because outdated drivers can cause issues.

Let us check out the solutions that will help resolve the AMDRyzenMasterDriver.SYS error.

How can I fix the AMDRyzenMasterDriver SYS error?

1. Update your PC

  1. Press the Win + I keys to open the Settings menu.
  2. Click on Windows Update on the left.
  3. Select the Check for updates button.
  4. If there is a pending update, hit the Download and Install button.
  5. Restart your PC.

You should make sure that you are running the latest Windows update on your PC. Not only latest updates bring the latest features but also update the virus and malware database that keeps your PC protected.

2. Fix corrupt system files

  1. Press the Win key to open the Start menu.
  2. Open Command Prompt as an admin.
  3. Type the below command and press Enter. sfc /scannowsfc scan
  4. Wait for the process to complete.
  5. Execute the below command. DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
  6. Restart your PC.

Running the SFC Scan and DISM commands will help fix your PC’s corrupt system files. But these aren’t that effective when dealing with errors such as AMDRyzenMasterDriver.SYS error.

In such a case, you should opt for a dedicated tool that can fix system crashes, fix DLL file errors, fix BSOD errors, protect your PC against ransomware and malware, and much more.

3. Reinstall AMD Ryzen Master

  1. Press the Win key to open the Start menu.
  2. Open Control Panel.
  3. Click on Programs and Features.
  4. Click on AMD Ryzen Master and hit the Uninstall button.Programs-and-Features Realtek semiconductor corp
  5. Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall the program from your PC.
  6. Restart your PC.
  7. Visit the official website.
  8. Download the AMD Ryzen Master program.
  9. Install it and check if this fixes the issue or not.

If some files related to the AMD Ryzen Master overclocking tool get corrupted or missing, you will face this AMDRyzenMasterDriver.SYS error.

4. Run AMD Driver AutoDetect

  1. Visit the official website.
  2. Download the AMD Driver AutoDetect tool.
  3. Install the program.
  4. If new drivers are available for your AMD device, then the tool will install them. Below are the components:
    • AMD Radeon RX Series Graphics
    • AMD Radeon PRO Series Graphics
    • AMD Ryzen Chipsets
  5. After installing the components, restart your PC

The chances are that the AMD Ryzen Master system drivers are on your PC, but the version is outdated. In such a case, you can use the AMD Driver AutoDetect tool to update all the related drivers and fix the AMDRyzenMasterDriver SYS error.

5. Perform System Restore

  1. Either repeatedly turn on and off your PC or press the F11 key when the PC is booting up to enter the Advanced Recovery environment.
  2. Select Troubleshoot.
  3. Click on Advanced options.
  4. Select System Restore option.
  5. Select your account.
  6. Click Next.
  7. Select the restore point and click Next.restore point
  8. Hit the Finish button to begin the restore process.

If your PC is stuck in the BSOD loop, then you can follow the above steps and restore your PC to a state where everything was working normally.

However, do note that system restore will work, if you have previously created a restore point. If you aren’t sure how to do that, you should refer to our guide, which will help you create a system restore point on your PC.

6. Perform Startup Repair

  1. Repeatedly turn on and off your PC or press the F11 key when the PC is booting up to enter the Advanced Recovery environment.
  2. Select Troubleshoot.
  3. Click on Advanced options.
  4. Choose the Startup Repair option.startup repair

Perform the Startup Repair process to fix the issue of BSOD error. This will help negate any underlying issue if it is system-related and resolve the AMDRyzenMasterDriver SYS error.

That is it from us in this guide. AMD users have also reported facing the amdacpbus.sys BSOD error, which you can fix by following the solutions in our dedicated guide.

BSOD errors are also caused if you overclock your PC for a prolonged time. You can learn how you can easily underclock your PC.

If you are getting Windows cannot find AMD installer error, then you can refer to the solutions in our guide to resolve the problem.

Often AMD users complain of coming across Radeon Host Service high GPU usage error. You can resolve the problem by using the solutions in our guide.

You can also refer to our guide, which will help you learn how to stop AMD drivers from updating automatically.

Feel free to let us know in the comments below which one of the above solutions helps fix the AMDRyzenMasterDriver SYS error.

Redmond announces that RDR2 is accessible on Windows 21H2 again

Posted on by Alexandru Poloboc

There are some video games that will never die in the hearts of the people that they touched the most. However, playing some of these classics on Windows PCs can sometimes come with challenges.

The same can be said about Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption 2, which at some point, became unaccessible for Windows 11 users running version 21H2.

If you have low FPS while playing RDR2, we can show you how to fix it, regardless of the CPU you are using on your rig.

Also, we’ve prepared a list of the best VPNs for playing Red Dead Redemption 2 Online (RDO), in case your country is not on the supported list.

Microsoft announced that the problem is fixed

There’s no hiding the fact that when Windows 11 version 22H2 first hit, there were plenty of user reports online regarding issues related to gaming on the new feature update.

Soon after, Microsoft confirmed the problems and placed upgrade blocks on affected systems. These issues were finally resolved by around mid-December when Microsoft pushed KB5020044.

And, while Windows 11 21H2 was considered a safe version, it looks like the roles are reversed now as Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption 2 failed to launch on the original Windows 11 release.

The problem was triggered when attempting to launch the title from the Rockstar Games Launcher wherein the game does not open when selecting the Play button from the Launcher.

The tech giant stated that the only workaround to mitigate the issue for those affected was to upgrade Windows 11 21H2 systems to 22H2.

In truth, this pesky issue actually began with the KB5023774 update that was released earlier today. However, you don’t have to worry about that anymore.

Now, Microsoft confirmed that the issue has been fixed with the latest game update. On the Windows release health dashboard, the Redmond company updated the issue status to resolved.

Thus, after updating to the latest version of the game, you should be able to open it as expected. This can be done from the Rockstar launcher and it usually happens automatically.

That being said, users should be able to launch the game via the Rockstar Games launcher on Windows 11 21H2 as well.

Have you encountered any other problems with RDR 2 on Windows 11? Be sure to share these findings with us in the comments section below.

Microsoft officially launches Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Earlier today, we reported on the possibility of Microsoft getting ready to debut a new Surface Dock after the entry featured in an eBay listing. And as it turns out, the company has now officially launched Microsoft Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock.

It was presumed that the device would go under Microsoft Surface Dock 3, but this is not the case. Instead, Microsoft decided to take an entirely different approach. The new entry “extends the support of Thunderbolt 4 connectivity in Surface Pro 9, Surface Laptop 5, and Surface Laptop Studio.”

Microsoft has indicated that Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock will allow users to transfer their data at high speeds of up to 40Gbps and maximize their workspace. Additionally, with Thunderbolt support more users can make use of the device compared to previous models that shipped with a magnetic Surface Connector adapter limiting it to Surface devices only.

Additionally, Microsoft has also ascertained its commitment to ensuring that the same standards delivered by previous models are translated to the Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock in terms of security, sustainability, and accessibility.

According to Microsoft the entry ships with three USB-C ports, three USB-A ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, and a security lock slot. It should be noted that you’ll not be able to charge your Surface device or any device for that matter using the USB-C port for anything above 15W.

Microsoft added that:

Windows 11 also ensures that settings are retained when connecting, so even if multiple devices use the same dock, each of them will have the display and connection settings that let them get right to work.

The dock features ports both at the front and back for easy access. What’s more, the ports at the back ship with raised tactile indicators. Microsoft also reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability and used recycled materials while assembling the new dock.

Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock

“Surface Thunderbolt 4 Dock improves IT efficiency for commercial customers, with features like Firmware Update through Windows Update, Wake on LAN from Modern Standby, and MAC Address Passthrough‎,” said the company in the blog post.

The entry is available for purchase for $299.99 over at Microsoft.com.

Warner Bros. is looking to launch a new Harry Potter TV series

Posted on by Robert Collins

Warner Bros. is reportedly trying to ink a deal to make a television adaptation of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books. To be clear, this is not to be confused with the recently reported HBO adaptation of the video game Hogwarts Legacy, which itself is based in the Harry Potter universe.

Hogwarts Legacy video game.

This adaptation of the books is also headed for HBO Max presuming the deal goes through (HBO became part of WarnerMedia Studios & Networks after last year’s merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery). Apparently the project will consist of episodic installments based on each of the books, with one book per season.

The news, which was first reported by Bloomberg, comes as other big fantasy book franchises continue to see small screen success with adaptations like Amazon’s House of the Dragon and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, as well as Netflix’ The Witcher.

The plan for HBO and Discovery to merge into a single streaming platform seems to be on despite reports back in February that the merger was off. It is expected to happen sometime this summer and come with a $20 per month subscription.

Featured image via PInkvilla. 

2023 Opera Rankings Are Going Up Up Up, 2022 Browser Stats Show

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

2023 Update😕 Having established that Opera was off to go a good start last year, we become even more curious about its evolution throughout 2022, beyond the first quarter. Not so long ago we were wondering if Opera’s rankings and rating will manage to pull off the seemingly impossible and touch the company’s ambitious financial milestones. It turns out, they aced every single target from revenue growth to consumers’ database and everything in between. So, if you’re interested in browser statistics for 2022, and Opera in particular, get ready for an up-to-date comprehensive view of Opera browser ranking, rating, popularity, and a glimpse of what’s to come.

Opera browser revenue & statistics 2022 (4th quarter & full year consolidated financial results)

No more wondering – Opera did it! It not only met the forecasted numbers but even exceeded expectations with an overall 32% revenue growth for the year 2022.

That alone is an impressive achievement if we think about the global economical context dominated by high inflation rates and a lack of predictability across industries and sectors.

As far as the last quarter of 2022 is concerned, we also see a steady (but equally impressive) year-over-year revenue growth of 33%, bringing the yearly figure to $96.3 million.

Opera browser 2023 – What’s in store?

→ The company’s initial estimations place Opera’s 2023 revenue anywhere between $370 and $390 million. Will they bust the records again? We’ll just have to wait and see. (? To be continued…)

→ Another interesting step in Opera’s planned 2023 roadmap is the integration of AI-generated content into its flagship products.

As a true pioneer that’s been constantly at the forefront of web development and innovation, Opera takes a giant step and adds generative AI capabilities such as smart AI prompts and GPT-based chatbot services integrated directly into the sidebar. ? Fun times, right?

Opera

Opera

Get to know the cutting-edge tech that’s always on par with your needs – it’s free & always will be free.
Free Visit website

Pretty much everyone has heard about Opera by now, considering the gigantic growth that the browser had over these last few years.

It is currently among the top browsers in the world, with over 350 million active users recorded right before the end of 2021, and is also one of the safest and most private browsers out there.

What Are Opera’s 1st Q Results For 2022?

The company behind this masterpiece, Opera Ltd., recently announced its unaudited consolidated financial results for the first quarter of 2022, which ended on March 31.

Opera’s co-CEO Song Lin confirmed that Opera’s performance in 2022 is off to a great start, stating that the results are ahead of expectations in terms of product portfolio, monetization, and financial results.

Opera officials also mentioned that due to earlier-than-expected core revenue generation, the company has actually exceeded the top of its guidance range for both revenue and adjusted EBITDA.

However, we’re sure that you want more details about this, so we are about to take a more in-depth look at these numbers for a better understanding.

According to the report, core search and advertising revenue have increased by 41% in this first quarter, thanks to a strong ARPU trend for the browser and news user base.

This is also based on Opera’s strong advertiser demand that goes beyond its inventory, through the Opera advertising platform.

The Opera browser actually had an average monthly active user base of 339 million monthly active users in this first quarter.

Available information points out that user growth was strongest in the US, with North America recording a 15% increase, followed by South America with 10%.

There’s also an Opera GX gaming browser, as we all know, which had over 16 million monthly active users across PC and mobile in the first quarter.

These stats represent a continued healthy trajectory with 14% sequential growth compared to the previous quarter.

Opera Ltd. also sold its minority stake in Nanobank and Star X, a transaction that represents cash proceeds of $211 million receivable without contingencies.

It’s important to stress the fact that the second sale, out of the above-mentioned ones, took place after the end of the quarter.

Furthermore, $182 million in cash and marketable securities at the end of Q1 were also present in the report, with the mention that the company continues to hold our 6.44% stake in OPay.

And, during the first quarter of 2022, Opera Ltd. proceeded to repurchase 569 thousand ADS at an average price of $5.33.

The total value of the ads amounted to $3 million while leaving $47 million remaining under the current buyback authorization.

Not to mention that the company provided support for most of the major blockchain ecosystems in Opera Wallet, and it released a beta version for the Opera Web3 browser.

What expectations are there for the rest of 2022?

Since the first-quarter results were impressive, expectations are clearly high for the rest of the year.

In fact, Opera is expecting a revenue of $300-$310 million for the rest of 2022 which, judging from the present numbers, is totally doable.

To be more exact, this actually represents an increase of 22%/midpoint, and of course an adjusted EBITDA somewhere between $50-$60 million/midpoint.

As far as the second quarter of 2022 goes, Opera Ltd. predicts revenue of $71-$74 million. Any person that is good with numbers can tell that that is a 21% year-over-year growth/midpoint.

For the second quarter, the adjusted EBITDA is expected to be situated between $8-$12 million, which is no more than a 14% margin at the midpoint.

These numbers are completely realistic and Opera totally has the resources and knowledge to pull this off, so it will be interesting to observe.

What is your first impression of the first quarter numbers presented by Opera Ltd. for 2022? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

Leaked Starfield Xbox controller might even be the real thing

Posted on by Robert Collins

Earlier this week apparently leaked images of a custom Starfield Xbox controller surfaced online. Whether this leak is the real deal or not remains to be seen, though it has to be said the images certainly look real enough.

These images can also be seen over on Imgur. Here’s hoping it’s real, because the controller looks positively slick. Until we see more of this supposedly official Xbox product it’s probably best to take this “leak” with a grain of salt. The source of the images remains uncertain, with the poster simply stating that the pics “came from the Chinese internet.”

As for Starfield itself, the game is still set to release on September 6, 2023 after years of anticipation. Before that, we’ll be treated to a Starfield Direct showcase on June 11. An epic space role playing adventure from Bethesda, Starfield will likely be one of the biggest game releases of 2023. Expectations for the game are, if you’ll excuse the pun, stratospheric.

What do you think of this custom Starfield Xbox controller? If it is indeed real, will you be getting one? Or do you suppose it might come bundled with the game’ physical release, perhaps in a special edition along with a similarly themed custom Xbox console? Now that would be exciting!

Featured image via @IdleSloth84/Twitter. 

Windows Defender vs Norton: Which One Should You Use?

Posted on by Sagar Naresh

In today’s world, it is essential to keep your PC updated, not only regarding the latest updates and drivers but also with the latest antivirus tools. While Windows OS comes built-in with Windows Defender, people still prefer opting for a third-party antivirus tool such as Norton.

Norton has been in the business for as long as you can remember talking about computers. This guide will give you a complete and comprehensive Windows Defender Vs Norton differentiation. Let us get right into this guide and get rid of the confusion.

What is Windows Defender?

When installing Windows OS on your PC, the first thing you should turn on is the Windows Defender.

As the name suggests, Windows Defender protects your PC from viruses and malware. It was introduced as a built-in tool with Windows Vista OS and has stuck with the OS since then.

Previously, it was available as a downloadable program in 2001 for Windows XP systems. It then replaced Microsoft Security Essentials in Windows 8 and evolved into Windows Defender.

It provides real-time protection against threats. Also, the SmartScreen feature will warn you if you visit a malicious website.

Installing Windows Defender separately is unnecessary as it comes pre-installed with Windows OS. Some of the notable features of Windows Defender include backing up files to OneDrive, parental control settings, tracking prevention, and more.

Here are some of the notable features of Windows Defender:

  • It is available as a built-in tool, free of cost.
  • Regularly updated with malware database.
  • Real-time threat protection.
  • Parental control settings.
  • Firewall and network protection.
  • Protection against fishing websites.

What is Norton Antivirus?

Norton antivirus is a name that almost goes hand-in-hand with PCs. It is a brand that has been around in this space since 1991.

It started as an antivirus and anti-malware software and later expanded into a proper internet security package known as Norton 360.

Norton antivirus protects your PC from viruses, spyware, worms, trojans, and other threats that could cause harm to your PC.

Also, Norton protects you when you visit malicious websites, download files, or open email. Norton gets updated timely so that it remains up to date with the latest threats.

Norton acquired LifeLock identity protection in 2017 and changed its name to Norton Lifelock. The latest acquisition of Norton Lifelock is with Avast Antivirus in 2021.

Some of the highlighting features of Norton antivirus include:

  • Norton keeps your PC protected automatically.
  • It receives continuous updates.
  • Real-time threat protection.
  • Smart Firewall.
  • PC cloud backup.
  • Parental controls.
  • Password manager.
  • Helps optimize the system performance.

Windows Defender Vs Norton: Comparison

Windows DefenderNorton Antivirus
Windows Defender offers real-time threat protection.Norton provides real-time automated threat protection.
Features anti-spyware protection.Offers anti-spyware protection.
Does not offer webcam protection.It features webcam protection.
It does not offer banking and payment protection.It comes with a built-in tool for banking and payment protection.
Receive antivirus database updates regularly.Norton is updated regularly with an antivirus database.
Offers parental control features.Comes with parental control features.
Does not offer a built-in VPN service.It offers a built-in VPN service for internet protection.
It lets you back up your files to OneDrive.It offers a PC cloud backup facility.
It doesn’t offer an identity threat protection feature.Norton comes with identity threat protection.
Windows Defender is available free of cost, as a built tool with Windows OS.To use Norton, you need to buy among the 4 subscription plans.
Effectively protects you against malware, adware, trojan, or spyware.Offers great protection against malware, adware, trojan, or spyware.
The virus scanning abilities aren’t that great compared to Norton.You can trust Norton to protect and remove viruses from your PC.
Takes more time when you perform a full in-depth scan.Takes comparatively less time for a full in-depth scan.

Windows Defender vs Norton: Which one is better?

While we have gone through the comparison table above, let us understand which one in this Windows Defender vs. Norton comparison is beneficial in the real world.

1. Features

Hands down, Norton antivirus has more features than Windows Defender. However, you should note that Norton is a paid suite of antivirus tools, and Windows Defender comes free of cost.

Windows Defender is good enough to keep you safe if you aren’t involved in regular dealings with threats, downloading files from malicious websites, running pirated apps, etc.

Defender is good enough to detect most widespread malware but fails to detect the ones recently released in the market.

In such a case, Norton antivirus is the one you should opt for because it comes with better security features in its arsenal. It is better than Windows Defender and won’t leave a trace of malware or antivirus on your PC.

2. System performance impact

When selecting an antivirus tool, the one thing you should keep in mind is the impact of that tool on your system performance.

Windows Defender is an integral part of the Windows OS and doesn’t take up that many resources to protect your PC.

The good thing is that Norton, being a third-party antivirus tool also doesn’t impact much your PC’s performance.

As per an AV-Test, when Norton and Windows Defender were compared side-by-side, both tools had less impact on the system performance.

3. UI friendliness

When it comes to ease of understanding, Windows Defender has the best UI, which is straight to the point and gets the job done in a few clicks.

Not that Norton’s UI is that complicated; although it has many features, you have to use the tool before you can comment on Norton’s UI.

All features are placed perfectly in the Norton UI and have an extremely well-designed UI. So, when it comes to UI, it all depends on which software you use.

4. Pricing

This is where Windows Defender leads. Installing Windows OS on your PC gives you access to the Windows Defender free of cost.

All you need to do is enable the feature and let it protect you from threats. On the other hand, if you opt to go for Norton antivirus, you must first purchase a subscription plan and then activate it to use the tool.

As a free antivirus tool, Windows Defender is very well capable of protecting your PC. But you should also take extra precautions when dealing with things on your PC.

For Norton, if you have purchased the plan, then it is almost such that you don’t have to perform that much manual prevention to protect your PC.

Windows Defender vs Norton: Verdict

Suppose you are a business or someone involved with the internet and downloading files from all over the internet, while Windows Defender will protect you. In that case, you should opt for Norton antivirus.

Users don’t need to spend bucks on paid antivirus tools like Norton to protect their PCs.

Moreover, our advice is that when using freeware such as Windows Defender, you should also be extra careful with what you are dealing with. With Norton, you get that liberty of missing a few cues in between.

Our verdict would be casual users should stay away from Norton and continue using Windows Defender, while advanced users should check out Norton antivirus.

To learn more about the all-rounder Norton product, check out our interesting and detailed review of Norton 360 Deluxe to understand how it can protect all your devices.

We hope this guide helped you eliminate the confusion between Windows Defender and Norton. Let us know in the comments below if you have any doubts.

YouTube Playlist Downloader: 10 Best Picks For 2026

Posted on by Sagar Naresh

YouTube is our go-to source of entertainment. You can open the YouTube app on your mobile, desktop, tablet, or any other device and start streaming content from various content creators.

People have different tastes, and they would like to create a personally curated playlist of videos that they not only can view but can share with others.

What if you would like to take the YouTube playlist with you wherever you go? In such a case, we suggest you read this guide, as here we will show you the best YouTube playlist downloader for PC. Also, you can check the best YouTube apps for Windows 11.

What are the benefits of using a YouTube playlist downloader?

Well, you can stream videos online on YouTube and be done with it. However, it won’t be that convenient if you are on a limited mobile data plan.

Also, if you wish to view your playlists video, you will require access to a good amount of data balance to view the content in your preferred quality.

While you can download the playlist videos on YouTube, it will eat up your data, and you have to download them individually.

In such a case, a YouTube playlist downloaded for PC comes in handy, as it will download all the videos from your playlist in one go.

If you were looking for a tool that lets you download your YouTube playlist, then below is a curated list of YouTube playlist downloader for PC that you can opt for.

What are the best YouTube playlist downloaders for PC?

By Click Downloader – A great tool for Windows users

By Click Downloader is a great program you can install on your PC and back up all your videos. This tool supports YouTube, Dailymotion, Vimeo, Facebook, and 40+ sites.

It lets you download the entire YouTube playlist and channel easily. The By Click Downloader tool lets you choose among different video qualities to download the video, i.e., 720p, 1080p, 4K, and 8K.

You can also choose the format you wish to download the video. Some supported formats are MP3, MP4, AVI, FLV, WMV, 3GP, WEBM, MKV, WAV, AAC, and M4A.

The team behind By Click Downloader works around the clock to keep the software up to date and adds features as and when required.

Here are some of the key highlights of By Click Downloader:

  • It supports more than 40 websites.
  • You can select the format and quality of the video.
  • It is an easy-to-use program.
  • Lets you even download the entire Instagram page in 1 click.

ByClick Downloader

Try this intuitive app to easily back up all your preferred videos from YouTube.
Free download Visit Website

Ddownr – Simple tool to download your YouTube Playlist

If you are looking for a no-nonsense YouTube playlist downloader for your PC, then Ddownr should be your pick to do the task.

It is free and lets you download your entire YouTube playlist or even multiple playlists without any issues.

All you need to do is visit the Ddownr website, paste the video URL or the YouTube playlist you wish to download, and the website will do the rest for you. It works on all platforms as long as it can run a web browser.

Apart from being free, one of the best features is that it lets you download videos or playlists in any format you would like.

Popular supported formats include MP3, WebM, M4A, and MP4. You can also select the quality of the video from which you would like to download the video in.

Here are some of the best features of Ddownr:

  • It is available free of cost.
  • Doesn’t require you to download any program or software.
  • Works without much input.
  • Lets you select the format of the video.
  • You can also select the quality as well.

⇒ Get Ddownr

Snapdownloader – Comes with a built-in video editor

Another option for Windows-faithful is the Snapdownloader. It is a brilliant application that works for Windows and lets you download videos from a plethora of websites, including YouTube, for later viewing.

You can use the Snapdownloader application to download videos in different formats, including 8K, 4K, QHD, 1080p, and HD.

Snapdownloader also comes with the option of converting your videos to different formats such as MP4, MP3, AVI, WMA

One of the best features of this tool is that it comes with a built-in video editor and trimmer. You can easily edit the videos as per your preference using the same app you used to download the YouTube playlist on your PC.

Here are some of the best features of Snapdownloader:

  • It supports over 900 websites.
  • You can convert the video into any popular format.
  • It comes with a built-in video editor.
  • Also features a built-in video trimmer.
  • You can schedule downloads.
  • It lets you extract audio from videos.

⇒ Get Snapdownloader

VideoProc – A powerful all-in-one video solution

If you are looking for a powerful tool that will cater to all of your video and audio-related needs then you should opt for VideoProc.

It lets you download YouTube videos or playlists or videos from a wide range of websites, but it also lets you save them in batches, convert them into your apt format, and all of this is free of cost.

You can also convert your videos or compress large videos to H.265 format. It lets you capture your computer screen using its screen recording functionality.

Here are some of the key features of VideoProc:

  • You can save batch videos or playlists from different websites.
  • Change the output quality of the videos.
  • Convert videos and audio.
  • Use it as a screen recorder.
  • Lets you stabilize, add watermark, cut, trim, merge, etc., to a video.

⇒ Get VideoProc

YouTubePlaylist – Simple option to backup your YouTube playlist

YouTubePlaylist is another option for all platforms. You can easily use this tool on any browser and download the YouTube playlist on your PC.

It can automatically convert your favorite video into popular formats and audio. Apart from YouTube, you can download high-quality videos from Facebook, Vimeo, and other websites.

It has an easy-to-use interface; all you need to do is paste the video URL or playlist and hit the Enter button. You can then choose the entire playlist to download.

Here are the key features of YouTubePlaylist:

  • It is web-based.
  • Available for free.
  • Lets you download videos from other websites as well.
  • Offers conversion features.

⇒ Get YouTubePlaylist

HitPaw Video Converter – Download playlists, audio, and thumbnails

What if you also want to download the YouTube video thumbnail as well? In such a case, we suggest you check out the HitPaw Video Converter.

It lets you download playlists, audio, and thumbnails from 10000+ websites. These websites include Facebook and Vimeo.

Apart from that, you can also use this tool to convert and edit videos. This 3-in-1 tool lets you download YouTube playlists and channels in bulk.

Check out the best features of HitPaw Video Converter:

  • Lets you convert your video.
  • You can edit your videos with this tool.
  • Supports over 10000+ webistes.
  • You can use it to download thumbnails as well.

⇒ Get HitPaw Video Converter

Videoder – Download YouTube playlist at lightning speed

Videoder is another tool you can install on your Windows or Android phone and download all your favorite YouTube playlist at lightning speed.

The app comes in-built with a web browser and adblocker. So, you don’t have to rely on another browser with ads to download your YouTube playlist.

As the Videoder claims, it lets users download YouTube videos 10 times faster speed than competing YouTube playlist downloader for PC.

Check out the key highlights of the Videoder app:

  • Comes with an inbuilt browser with an ad blocker.
  • Up to 10x faster downloading.
  • Lets you download videos in 4K.

⇒ Get Videoder

VideoHunter – Solid tool for downloading YouTube playlist

If you are searching for a downloader that lets you download the YouTube playlist on your PC and gives you a bit more options to choose from, then you should check out VideoHunter.

Apart from YouTube playlists, you can use VideoHunter to download videos in different qualities, including 720p, 1080p Full HD, 4K, and 8K.

You can also use VideoHunter to download playlists, channels, and even subtitles from videos. The developers claim it lets you save video and audio in bulk at 6x faster speed.

Here are some of the best features of VideoHunter:

  • Supports 1000+ websites.
  • Lets you extract playlists, channels, and subtitles.
  • You can download videos of different qualities.
  • The batch download feature is supported.

⇒ Get VideoHunter

iTubeGo – MacOS-supported YouTube playlist downloader

iTubeGo is a YouTube playlist downloader for PC that you can also use for MacOS. It is a nice tool with easy to use and modern user interface.

You can learn more about its features and performance in this detailed iTubeGo YouTube Downloader review.

It lets you download videos from 10000+ websites. You can even use this iTubeGo tool to convert videos into multiple websites.

You can convert your videos in different formats such as mp4, mp3, mov, avi, m4a, and more. It comes with a built-in web browser.

Some of the best features of iTubeGo include:

  • Over 10000+ websites supported.
  • Lets you download high-quality videos.
  • Convert videos into different formats.
  • Comes with a built-in browser.

⇒ Get iTubeGo

4K Video Downloader – Download YouTube playlist in 4K

Last but not least, in our list of the best YouTube playlist downloader for PC, we have a 4K Video Downloader.

As highlighted in the name itself, with this tool, you can download videos of 4K quality. You can even download audio and playlists in high quality.

It lets you download YouTube channels and subtitles in just a single click. If you are into 3D videos, you can download 3D videos with this tool.

Some of the best features of 4K Video Downloader are:

  • Lets you download playlists in 4K.
  • Download support for 3D videos.
  • Download subtitles in a single click.
  • Support all the popular websites.

⇒ Get 4K Video Downloader

That is it from us in this guide. Let us know in the comments below which one of the above tools you opted to download a YouTube playlist on your PC.

Xbox Insiders are now previewing a reworked Friends & Community Updates dashboard channel

Posted on by Robert Collins

Members of the Xbox Insiders program Alpha and Alpha Skip-Ahead rings can now preview the new “Friends & Community Updates” channel. The new channel was announced in a blog post on Xbox Wire. The Friends & Community feature isn’t exactly all-new to the Xbox experience, but it is now much improved with this more streamlined redesign.

We know that friends and community are front and center to your gaming experience. When you scroll down on Home you’ll be able to see a new channel called “Friends & Community Updates.

The Friends & Community Updates channel will bring together all the top things from your activity feed. You will be able to see achievements, game clips, screenshots and text posts from your friends, official clubs, or games that you follow.

The Xbox Insider Program allows fans to get access to the latest updates before they go mainstream, and give feedback. If you are interested in joining the Xbox Insider Program or would just like to learn more, head on over to the Xbox Insider FAQ page.

Featured image via Xbox Wire. 

Unilever goes cloud only with Azure as primary cloud platform

Posted on by Kareem Anderson

4 Unilever, one of the world’s leading Home Care, Personal Care, Nutrition, Beauty and Wellbeing suppliers, recently completed its complex migration to Microsoft’s Azure Cloud services to help support the company’s 3.4 billion active daily users.

In a press release yesterday, Microsoft highlighted its partnership with Accenture, a global 3rd party digital support company, which helped the company facilitate Unilever’s 148,000 employee base switch to Azure Cloud Services in just over 18 months.

The move to Azure Cloud Services for Unilever is intended to help the company “accelerate product launches,” enhance customer service,” and “improve operational efficiency.” Beyond the corporate boilerplate lingo, Unilever would like specifically take advantage of utilizing industrial metaverse technologies to power its insights and predictions, AI to help forecast and adapt to market changes, expand its automation programs and reduce its own carbon footprint in the process through a new program called Green Cloud Advisor.

The creation of an agile, high-performing digital core that delivers greater efficiency will provide Unilever with increased computing power to explore new ways of working. Unilever’s adoption of a cloud-only approach will significantly improve business resilience, strengthening security and enhancing control of the IT landscape.

Unilever joins hundreds of businesses that are leveraging Microsoft’s Azure Cloud services to build out their own end-to-end digitization platforms for automation, quick innovations, and reimagining lines of business.

Twitter blocks WordPress Jetpack Social API access (updated)

Posted on by Kip Kniskern

Update: Access has been restored.

We’ve tried a number of WordPress plugins to post to Twitter when we publish a new post, but always come back to WordPress Jetpack. It just works, and while the cost recently went up to $10/mo (for Jetpack Social only, you can pay more and get more Jetpack features, too), it’s been worth it for us to be able to “set it and forget it.”

However this morning WordPress and Jetpack apparently succumbed to the wrath of Elon, and Jetpack is currently blocked from accessing the Twitter APIs:

Twitter has been reconfiguring API access, charging up to $42,000 per month, and late last month began cutting off access for users who didn’t pay. We have no idea what Jetpack’s deal with Twitter is or has been, but we’d be very surprised if they weren’t already paying for access, as WordPress.com runs millions of sites (estimates run from ~24 million to almost 40 million), with many using Jetpack Social.

We know that many of you come to OnMSFT.com via Twitter, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed that this all gets worked out. We also suggest that you might want to follow us on Mastodon, where we are connected (via IFTTT) to publish a “toot” whenever we post.

OneNote for Windows gets enhanced note taking experience in Quick Note

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has announced a notable number of changes coming to OneNote for Windows to enhance the note taking experience in Quick Note. The enhancements will provide users with “a more efficient and faster way to capture your thoughts, reminders, and notes.”

Here’s everything you need to know:

  • Incorporated a sleek new toolbar with useful text formatting options and inking capabilities.
  • Given you faster access to screen clipping.
  • Made it easier to transition to OneNote on Windows through the overflow menu.

With these new enhancements, users can now quickly insert screenshots into Quick Note using the new Screen Clipping button and make edits.

OneNote for Windows

It’s worth noting that these new enhancements are exclusively rolling out to OneNote for Windows, OneNote for Windows 10 won’t have access to them.

To access these new features, you must be an Insider running Version 2302 (Build 16118.20002) or later. Microsoft hasn’t indicated when we should expect this feature to ship to general availability. Be sure to check out Microsoft’s blog post to learn how to make use of these new features.

In related news, OneNote for Windows’ top-requested feature, the vertical layout option finally hit general availability early this year.

OneNote
OneNote
Download
QR-Code

OneNote
Developer:
Microsoft Corporation
Price:
Free

Looking for a lightweight Windows 11? Tiny11 is the answer

Posted on by Rafly Gilang

Developer NTDEV released tiny11, a de-bloated version of Windows 11 that runs on almost every PC/computer with low-end specifications. 

Based on Windows 11 Pro 22H2, tiny11 runs with just as little as 400 MB of storage, compared to Windows 11’s standard of over 20 GB. Some users even reported tiny11’s installation under 200 MB, albeit slow. 

In its latest development, tiny11 can even run Windows 11 with as little as 100 MB storage with only the command prompt and some rudimentary batch files work.

The devs also stated that an even smaller version called live11 is in the work. As they call it, it is a live image of tiny11 that loads completely into RAM and fits neatly on a DVD, and we’ll keep you updated once we have more news on this.

You can do a clean installation with a USB stick with third-party apps like Rufus to make bootable, non-bootable, and FreeDOS drives.

How big is Windows 11?

The original version of Windows 11 requires at least 64 GB of storage and 4 GB of RAM. It can be a complete disadvantage for older PCs. 

As noted on Microsoft’s official website, here’s the minimum specification of Windows 11.

  • Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster with two or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor
  • RAM: 4 gigabytes (GB) or greater.
  • Storage: 64 GB* or greater available storage is required to install Windows 11.
    • Extra storage space might be required to download updates and enable specific features.
  • Graphics card: Compatible with DirectX 12 or later.

A reliable internet connection is also necessary to download, but if you’re running on a slow bandwidth or the installation comes at a slower pace, we recommend you check these tricks. 

What is the downside of tiny11?

To get this working, however, NTDEV has to cut off several Windows features from tiny11 that require a lot of space. 

Designed to bring life to old computers, tiny11 removes Windows Component Store (WinSxS) and disables installation of new features or languages. While it’s not serviceable, the system still supports .NET, drivers, and security definition updates, which can still be installed from Windows Update. 

Additionally, the developer discourages installation on PCs that are powerful enough to run Windows 11 by default, as it’s done previously with tiny10 and Windows 10 in the past. 

“While I can understand that installing modified versions of Windows can pose a security risk, I can assure you (and you can obviously check for yourself) that the image doesn’t have anything from external sources added to it”

Have you tried running Windows 11 on lower-end PCs? Let us know in the comment!

You can now search images on Bing AI chatbot. Here’s how

Posted on by Rafly Gilang

Microsoft just announced a set of new features that are coming to its Bing AI chatbot. One of them is the image search feature, which works just perfectly. 

From now on, you’ll be able to ask the Bing AI chatbot to pull out images with input searches. 

We integrated image and video search into Bing chat. You’ll see these results appear as answer cards below your chat answers, and you can click “See more” if you want to explore further in Bing image search.

As Redmond officials revealed in a blog post, the feature is currently living on the Preview Release, meaning that only a few selected waitlist users can get their hands on the feature. 

Other than that, they also said that the chat limit has been revamped from 15 to 20 maximum turns per topic, and from 150 to 200 turns daily. Plus, local-related queries will see better answers from now on as Microsoft has been improving that aspect of local grounding since its release. 

How to search images on Bing AI chatbot

1. Open Microsoft Edge.

2. Open Bing.com, and then go to Chat.

3 If you’re not on the waitlist yet, click on Join the waitlist.

4 If you’re already in, type “Show me images of …”

On the other hand, this feature is similar to the Bing Image Creator feature we reported earlier, but instead of AI-generated visuals, the chatbot will bring you real pictures from the real world. 

What do you think about this image search feature addition to Bing AI chatbot? Let us know in the comments.

AI.exe: What is it & should you remove it?

Posted on by Rafly Gilang

If you found a process called AI.exe running on your system, don’t panic. In this article, we’ll dig into what the file is all about, what it does, and should you remove it or not. 

What is AI.exe?

AI.exe is an executable file that’s run by Microsoft in Windows 11’s ecosystem every time users open Outlook, Word, Excel, or any 365-related applications. 

When you open your Task Manager, you can see that this file is described as Artificial Intelligence (AI) Host for the Microsoft® Windows® Operating System and Platform x64 with a size of a little over 710-something KBs. 

As explained best by Microsoft’s Joshua Burkholder, AI.exe receives inputs for an Office app and runs it, mainly for automated corrections such as grammar, pronunciation, punctuation, etc. 

ai.exe: The executable used to host ai.dll. This executable receives inputs from aitrx.dll in an Office desktop app, runs those inputs through ai.dll to get the associated outputs, and transmits those outputs back to aitrx.dll in the Office desktop app.

So, how do I know if this is safe? Read along to find out how. 

How to check if AI.exe is legit?

1. When an Office app is opened (Word, Excel, Outlook, etc.), right-click on your taskbar and click Task Manager.

2. On Details, look for AI.exe.

3. Right click and click Properties

4. If the description is Artificial Intelligence (AI) Host for the Microsoft® Windows® Operating System and Platform x64., then it’s legit.

This makes more sense, especially since Microsoft has been rigorously testing its AI innovations to their limits. Not too long ago, Redmond officials announced their plans to launch an AI-powered Copilot feature for all Office 365 apps. 

Let us know in the comments if you find these tips helpful! 

NVIDIA GeForce Now Error 0xc0f1103f: 7 Ways to Solve It

Posted on by Srishti Sisodia

If you have encountered NVIDIA GeForce Now error 0xc0f1103f while trying to stream your favorite games, this guide can help! We will explore the possible causes of this error and provide you with expert-recommended solutions to fix it.

What causes NVIDIA GeForce Now error 0xc0f1103f?

There could be several reasons why you face this error on Nvidia; some of the common ones are mentioned here:

  • Network connection issues – If your internet connection is weak or unstable, then Nvidia might not be able to establish a connection with the server, hence the error. Check your internet connection to ensure that’s not the case.
  • Antivirus software interference – Sometimes, antivirus software can interfere with NVIDIA GeForce Now functioning; it can’t connect to the server, hence the error.
  • Corrupt installation – If the NVIDIA GeForce Now’s installation files are missing or corrupted, you might see this error.
  • Outdated drivers – Drivers are important for the smooth functioning of your computer. If the drivers are outdated, then it might lead to this error. You need to update the graphics drivers to fix the issue.
  • Server overload – If the NVIDIA server is overloaded or under maintenance, you might get this error. You need to wait for some time and try again.

What can I do to fix the Nvidia GeForce Now error 0xc0f1103f?

Before engaging in advanced troubleshooting steps, you should consider performing the following checks:

  • Check your internet connection.
  • Disable any VPN if activated.

1. Check GeForce Now server status

  1. Go to the GeForce Now Server Status website.Under Status Geforce 0xc0f1103f
  2. Check the current status of the servers.
  3. If down, wait for a while and try again.

2. Update GeForce drivers

  1. Press Windows + R to open the Run console.Device Manager RUN COMMAND
  2. Type devmgmt.msc and click OK to open Device Manager.
  3. Click Display adapters to expand it.
  4. Right-click GeForce Now and click Update driver.Graphics Driver update 0xc0f1103f
  5. Click Search automatically for drivers.Update driver 2
  6. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.

To ensure you get the latest GeForce driver options, you can try a dedicated tool that will scan your PC for all outdated or malfunctioning drivers.

After the scanning procedure, this tool will check its database and locate the correct and newest options for the best performance.

Outbyte Driver Updater

The most convenient tool you can use for quickly updating all your device drivers.
Free Trial Download now

3. Edit the Power plan

  1. Press the Windows key, type Control Panel, and click Open.CP 0xc0f1103f
  2. Select Large icons as View by and click Power Options.Power options Large icons 0xc0f1103f
  3. Click Change plan settings.Change plan settings 0xc0f1103f
  4. Select Change advanced power settings.Change advanced power settings
  5. Locate Switchable Dynamic Graphics, then click Global settings.Switchable graphics 0xc0f1103f
  6. Now for Plugged in, select Force power saving Graphics.
  7. Click Apply, then OK, and close the window.

4. Run GeForce Experience app as an administrator

  1. Locate NVIDIA GeForce Now.exe.Run as admin 0xc0f1103f
  2. Right-click the executable file and select Run as administrator.

5. Restart NVIDIA services

  1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.Services Run Command
  2. Type services.msc and click OK to open Services.
  3. Locate all the services related to NVIDIA. Right-click on each service and click Restart.Restart NVIDIA service 0xc0f1103f
  4. Now close the Services app.

6. Disable Proxy Server

  1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Go to Network & Internet and click Proxy.0xc0f1103f Proxy 1
  3. Under Automatic proxy setup, toggle off the switch Automatically detect settings.Proxy
  4. Now click Set up next to Use a proxy server.Edit proxy 3 0xc0f1103f
  5. Toggle off the switch under Use a proxy server and click Save.

7. Use Integrated Graphics

  1. Launch NVIDIA Control Panel.
  2. Click 3D settings, then Manage 3D Settings.
  3. On the right pane, go to Global Settings.Manage 3d settings 0xc0f1103f
  4. For Preferred Graphics Processor, choose Integrated Graphics from the dropdown.
  5. Click Apply to confirm the changes.

So, these are methods to fix the NVIDIA GeForce Now error 0xc0f1103f. Try them and let us know what worked in the comments section below.

Best Offline Password Manager: 5 Secure Picks for 2026

Posted on by Ola-Hassan Bolaji

Password managers are important today, where users possess multiple online and offline accounts. While there are a series of these tools online, offline versions are now gaining traction.

But choosing the ideal one might be difficult with the number of offline password managers available. Thankfully, we have prepared the best tools to help ease your selection process.

What is an offline password manager?

An offline password manager is a secure storage that saves your password away from the internet. It offers an extra layer of protection, keeping your data away from hackers.

The only disadvantage of these tools is that your password will only be available on your present device, as there is no sync option.

Are offline password managers safe?

As mentioned earlier, offline password managers save your data locally on your device. It saves your passwords in an encrypted file that is usually kept separately from the app itself.

So, even if anybody finds out the storage location, they still won’t be able to view your password in plain text.

What are the best offline password managers?

RoboForm – Multifactor authentication

Roboform password manager software

RoboForm is a flexible offline password manager wide range of features. It offers full package features for both offline and online use.

It has both a free and paid version, with a few differences between the two versions. The major difference with the paid version is the ability to sync your password across various devices.

However, there are a host of other features you get on the free version. Among the features, you can get the ability to analyze your password strength.

This allows you to know if your password is safe enough. Finally, you can save unlimited passwords and share your passwords with other users. You about get to do anything you want with your password with RoboForm.

Other features:

  • Multifactor authentication
  • Biometric authentication
  • Top customer service
  • Categories data

RoboForm

Never worry about forgetting any passwords with this useful offline password manager.
Check price Visit website

1Password – Saves other data

1password

1Password is a paid password manager that offers both online and offline features. It is a family-based tool that allows you to add as many people as you want.

One of its leading features is the ability to save more than just passwords. It also allows you to save software licenses and sensitive data in a virtual vault.

Another excellent feature is that you can download all your data to your local device. You can also edit your data in this offline mode, but it will be synced once your connection is restored.

What’s more, 1Password has a dedicated extension that works with some of the major browsers. However, you need to have administrative access to make use of the extension.

Other features:

  • Possesses an offline vault
  • Multifactor authentication.
  • Extensions for auto-filling
  • Offline supporting

1Password

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KeepassXC – Top-notch security

keepassxc best offline password manager

KeepassXC is a full-fledged offline password manager that boasts high security. It boasts different security options, allowing you to select your preferred option.

You can choose between AES 256-bit, Twofish, and ChaCha20 encryption, depending on your desired security strength. With this, you are sure of what you are getting before committing to it.

Another excellent feature to look forward to in KeepassXC is autofill. This saves you the stress of entering your password each time you need to access your sites and accounts.

More importantly, KeepassXC is free, and all its features are available to all users. This makes it probably the best free password manager you can use.

Other features:

  • Two-factor authentication (2FA)
  • Password generator
  • Command-line interface
  • Can use Google Drive to sync passwords across devices
  • Open-source and free

⇒ Get KeepasXC

Bitwarden – Versatile tool

bitwarden

Bitwarden is a well-known online offline password manager, thanks to its high security and versatility. Unlike KeepasXC before it, this tool is not an offline-only password manager.

Among its excellent offline feature is the ability to access your vaults without the internet. This allows you to view the passwords you last synced to the cloud.

Bitwarden is not completely free, but most of its features are also available in the free version. However, the paid subscription is about 10 USD yearly, making it one of the cheapest available.

The major features in the paid version are extra security, like extra 2FA methods and emergency access. But the free version is still as secure as the best offline password manager can be.

Other features:

  • Security reports
  • Emergency access
  • Cloud syncing

⇒ Get Bitwarden

Enpass – Data encryption

enpass

The last on our comprehensive guide of best offline password managers is Enpass. This tool is built to provide complete offline security.

One of the excellent features you get with Enpass is the ability to create a backup of your data. With this, you can prevent total data loss and always have access to your data.

Also, it encrypts your passwords and the backup data. This encrypted file can be transferred to another PC but can only be decrypted with the verified master password.

Lastly, there is a mini server available on the desktop app. With this, you get to transfer your files over the same network.

Other features:

  • Paid lifetime access
  • Organization of local files
  • Stores 25 passwords for free
  • Cross-browser support

⇒ Get Enpass

With this, we can conclude this guide on the best offline password manager you can use. Now, you should be able to select the ideal option that suits your needs.

If you need a password manager with emergency access, check our detailed guide for the top options.

Feel free to let us know the option you enjoy using from our list in the comments below.

Fix: Operation Failed With Error 0x00004005

Posted on by Vladimir Popescu

The Operation failed 0x00004005 is one of Windows’ most common printer errors. It occurs when users try adding a network printer to their computers, reading: Windows can’t connect to the printer; the operation failed with error 0x00004005.

In this article, we’ll show you how to fix this error and explain the main causes so you can prevent it in the future.

Table of contents

How can I fix the Operation Failed With Error 0x00004005?

1. Run the Printer Troubleshooter

  1. Press the Windows key + S, type Troubleshoot, and hit Enter.
  2. In the Settings app, click on Other troubleshooters.
  3. Click on Printer, and click Run button.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions and restart your PC to check if the Operation Failed With Error 0x0000400 is resolved.

Running the Windows troubleshooter is one of the quickest and easiest ways to resolve the 0x00004005 error.

The troubleshooter will detect anomalies with the Printer Spooler and other necessary services and correct them if required.

2. Update the Printer driver

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type in devmgmt.msc, and hit Enter.
  2. In the Device Manager window, locate the Printer driver, right-click on the Printer, and select Update driver.
  3. In the next window, click on Search driver automatically, and wait for Windows to search and install available drivers.
  4. Restart your PC once the search is completed.
Note icon NOTE
Should you encounter any issues with updating the driver here, you can check out our guide for other ways to go about updating your drivers.

Alternatively, if you want to save time and schedule future driver updates, you can use an automated driver updater such as Fortect Driver Updater. It makes the whole process quicker and saves you from potential errors caused by mismatched drivers.

⇒ Fortect Driver Updater

3. Uninstall and reinstall Printer driver

  1. Press the Windows key + S, type in Device Manager, and hit Enter.
  2. Locate the printer, and double-click on it to expand the selection. Right-click on the device and select Uninstall device.
  3. Click Uninstall to confirm the driver removal.
  4. Restart your PC once the driver is completely uninstalled.

4. Uninstall Latest Windows Updates

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Click on Windows Update and click on Update History.
  3. Then, select Uninstall Updates.
  4. Under the Microsoft Windows section, click on any recent update, and select Uninstall.
  5. Click on Yes in the confirmation prompt to confirm the deletion.

5. Configure the LAN Manager Authentication Level

  1. Press the Windows key + R, type in gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.
  2. In the Group Policy window, navigate to this path: Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options\Network security: LAN Manager authentication level
  3. Double-click on Network security: LAN Manager authentication level to open the Properties window.
  4. In the Properties window, click the drop-down menu and select Send LM and NTLM – Use NTLMv2 session security if negotiated.
  5. Click Apply and then click OK.
  6. Close the Group Policy window and restart your PC.

6. Add the Printer Manually

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Click on Bluetooth and devices and select Printers & Scanners.
  3. Click Add device.
  4. After a few seconds, you’ll see a link: The printer I want isn’t listed. Then select Add manually.
  5. Click the link, check the box next to Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname, and click Next.
  6. On the next window, type in your local Hostname or IP Address.
  7. Type in your Port name, click Next and follow the on-screen instructions to finish adding the printer.

In some cases, Windows might not detect the printer automatically. When this happens, you must manually add the printer to solve the 0x00004005 error.

7. Restart Printer Spooler Service

  1. Press the Windows key, type in services.msc, and hit Enter.
  2. On the Services window, right-click on the Printer Spooler service and select Restart.
  3. Close the Services window and check if the error persists.

8. Update Windows

  1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
  2. Click on Windows Update and select Check for Updates. Wait for Windows to scan for available updates. If there are available updates, click on Download to install them.
  3. Once the updates are installed, click the Restart now button to restart your PC.

What causes Operation Failed With Error 0x00004005?

Some of the most common causes of the Operation Failed Error 0x0004005 include:

  • Outdated Drivers – Printers, like most devices we connect to your computers, require specific drivers to run correctly. If the Printer drivers are outdated, you’ll run into errors like the 0x00004005 code.
  • Print Spooler Service – The Print Spooler service is built into Windows to temporarily store print jobs in the computer’s memory until the Printer is ready to print them. If this service stops functioning, it’ll lead to lots of printer-related errors.
  • Misconfigured Network Settings -The 0x00004005 usually arises when you’re trying to add a shared network printer to their PC. If there’s a misconfiguration in your PC’s network settings, it can cause the 0x00004005 error code.
  • Windows Update – Windows users are usually advised to update their PCs regularly. However, installing certain updates can lead to several errors on your PC.  In such cases, a Windows recovery point is beneficial as you can restore your PC to an earlier state where it was completely functional.

Wrapping up

The 0x00004005 error is common among Windows users and involves little technicality. By following the steps listed above, you should get your printer up and running in no time.

However, if you’ve stumbled upon this error in the past and have alternative solutions to help resolve it, feel free to drop them in the comments.

Fix: ChatGPT Signup Is Currently Unavailable Error

Posted on by Afam Onyimadu

You probably just ran into the ChatGPT message signup is currently unavailable. You are in luck because we have explored this message and will show you the best fixes.

This error should not put you back because it is only expected that as certain services and tech expand, people will experience new problems while using them. Let us get straight into some causes and the best fixes.

Why is ChatGPT Signup currently unavailable?

From what we have noticed from interactions with several users, you may be getting this message for any of the following reasons:

  • Limitations of the system – There are chances that there is a limit of possible signups at any given time. Even though this is unclear, it seems like a possible explanation.
  • Demand – Cahnaces are that when you try to access the service, there’s a surge in demand, and this temporal suspension helps manage the load.
  • Technical problems – Sometimes, this could be routine maintenance or specific issues the service faces when you demand to use it.

As you have seen, it will often not be in your hand when this problem occurs. This means you may consider an AI alternative; however, let us examine what you may do.

What can I do if ChatGPT signup is currently unavailable?

Here’s what you should keep in mind:

  • As we just said, in most cases, you will be powerless to solve this problem; hence you must contemplate waiting it out rather than digging into solutions. However, if you have waited a while and the problem persists, you may try our suggested resolutions.

1. Clear your browser cache

  1. Press Crtl + Shift + Del (on Chrome browsers).
  2. Select All time, tick the three checkboxes, and click Clear data.
    chatgpt signup is currently unavailable
  3. You may need to restart your browser afterward.

These solutions should work in all browsers, even though the methods to get to the cache page may differ.

2. Disable plugins or extensions

  1. Click the ellipses at the top right corner of the browser, select More tools, then Extensions.
    chatgpt signup is currently unavailable
  2. Either click on the switch or select Remove for any potentially problematic extensions.
    chatgpt signup is currently unavailable
  3. Repeat the second step for as many extensions as possible, then restart the browser.

Once again, we have carried out this step using Chrome; it may slightly differ from other browsers.

Hopefully, you should find resolutions using either solution we have suggested. If none work, you may consider using an alternative to ChatGPT, as there are a few excellent options.

You may consider using a different browser to access the service or simply upgrading to ChatGPT Plus.

That is as much as we will discuss in this guide. We hope you have found it helpful. Let us know in the comments section below.

How to Quickly Reset Your GPU with a Shortcut Key/Hotkey

Posted on by Vladimir Popescu

Whenever there is any problem with the display, users tend to think about the graphics card that is installed on any device.

Sometimes there is not much effort needed to resolve the issues involving the display. Users simply have to reset the graphics card.

Usually, this kind of stuff is faced by gamers who often get display issues that are linked to the graphics card.

A very few users also face issues where they get an error that says unsupported graphics card in Epic games.

What happens when you reset your graphics driver?

When you reset your graphics driver, this will restore the graphics card’s settings to their default values. Resetting the graphics driver will fix any issues related to the display of the system.

In this article below, we have listed a few methods to reset the graphics driver on any Windows system.

How do I reset my GPU with a shortcut and not only?

1. Use a shortcut key/hotkey

  1. In order to reset the GPU on your system, you simply have to press Windows, Ctrl, Shift and B keys together at a time on your keyboard.


  2. Resetting the GPU using the keyboard shortcut mentioned above will make the system beep once.
  3. You might see the system’s screen completely black and not responsive for some time.
  4. Don’t worry! Everything is gonna get back to normal soon and all the apps, folders, or files that are open won’t be closed.

2. Reinstall the graphics driver

  1. Press the Windows and X keys together to view the context menu of the Start button on the Taskbar.
  2. Next, press the M key again on the keyboard which opens the Device Manager.
  3. In the Device Manager, you need to go to the Display Adapters option from the list.
  4. Double-click on it to expand it.
  5. Then right-click on the Display adapter listed and select Uninstall device from the menu.


  6. This uninstalls the graphics driver from the system.
  7. Now reboot the system and while the system starts, it will install the appropriate default graphics driver on the system.
  8. You can also visit your graphics card manufacturer’s website to download and install the graphics driver.

3. Update the graphics driver

  1. Press the Windows and R keys together on the keyboard to open the run box.
  2. Type devmgmt.msc in the run box and press the Enter key which launches the Device Manager.

    Windows 11 touch screen won't calibrate
  3. Go to the Display Adapters and expand it.
  4. Then double-click on the graphics adapter which opens the Properties window.



  5. Under the Driver tab and click Update driver.


  6. This will pop up the update window and click Search automatically for drivers.


  7. It will start searching for the latest version of the graphics driver online.
  8. Once done, you can close the device manager.

Graphics card drivers are quite intricate. They adjust fan speeds, interpret CPU commands, cache data from several sources, decode and encode video, and use specific hardware such as RTX or CUDA.

Driver updates make the Graphics Card’s work routes faster by reducing needless activities or better dividing the workload.

You may rely on Outbyte Driver Updater to make such enhancements to ensure a proper update with the most recent graphics card drivers. This is an automated solution to keep your drivers always up and running without wasting time searching for them manually.

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Several users claimed that they were able to fix most of the issues by resetting the graphics driver.

Whether your graphics card is from NVIDIA, Intel, or AMD, you can always go to their website’s downloads page and download the newest version to install it on your device.

You should also check our guide on how to easily install graphics card drivers on Windows 10. The solutions also work on Windows 11.

If you found this article to be informative, please leave us a comment below to let us know more!

Fix: ChatGPT too Many Signups From the Same IP

Posted on by Afam Onyimadu

Artificial intelligence (AI) has taken the world by storm, and even though it is still early days, the signs are clear enough to show it will shape our future.

ChatGPT is indeed the service of the moment, and as it grows in popularity, the more adoption it sees. This explains why recently we have faced some errors using the service.

ChatGPT too many signups from the same IP is just one such error, and in this guide, we walk you through steps on fixing it so that you can get back to using your favorite AI.

Why am I getting a ChatGPT too many signups from the same IP message?

This error points to the fact that the same IP has tried to signup for the Open AI service too many times.

The main reason is that you try to sign up using the same internet connection. You should know that you are often assigned an IP address to identify your network and device.

So, you may still get this message even if you try to sign up for the service from a different device while on the same network.

Let us show you how to fix this.

What should I do if I can not signup for ChatGPT using the same IP?

Before attempting any fix:

  • It would be best if you considered waiting it out. While this does not involve doing anything, it is very effective. Like many services, users have discovered that your signup attempts are time bound. So, if multiple accounts have signed up using the same IP, you should try later or the next day.

1. Use a VPN

  1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
  2. On the right pane, click on Network & internet, then on the left, select VPN.
    ChatGPT too many signups from the same IP
  3. If you do not have a VPN already added, click the Add VPN button.
    ChatGPT too many signups from the same IP
  4. Input your VPN details and connect to it.
  5. Now launch your browser and try signing up to ChatGPT again.

Alternatively, you could use a VPN service with many options. They will mask your IP address and help you bypass too many signups from the same IP on ChatGPT.

The ideal choice for this is a VPN that offers guaranteed online privacy and extremely fast navigation across 94 different regions all over the world.

Having that said, ExpressVPN is the ultimate pick that won’t let you down due to its high-speed servers and unrestricted content regardless of location.

ExpressVPN

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2. Reset your Modem

Note that this solution is only relevant if you use a dynamic IP address. This may often be the case if you use your mobile data.

If you fall into this category, you need a hard reset. This involves turning off your devices for a few seconds, maybe up to 60 seconds.

When you restart, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) may assign you a new IP. You may have to repeat this several times and probably wait longer after turning off your devices.

You may also stop creating accounts from your current network and use a different one. This is often the easiest solution if you have a readily available second option.

The ChatGPT, too many signups from the same IP, is not a severe problem. It does not also mean you are banned from using the service. Simply try any suggested solutions, and you should be well on your way.

That will be all for this article. Please let us know if you found any success using these solutions.

Excel Running Slow? 4 Quick Ways to Make It Faster

Posted on by Henderson Jayden Harper

Excel running slow is one of the most common problems faced by users. It can vary in occurrence for different users as some can experience it when it’s opening, while some when working on files. However, this guide will discuss the reasons behind the problem and how to fix it effectively.

Also, you can read our guide on Excel file format and extension not matching and how to fix the problem.

Why is Excel running slow and freezing?

Some probable reasons behind Excel processing slow are:

  • Excessive Volatile functions – Using volatile functions such as VLOOKUP in large amounts can be why Excel is running slow and freezing on your PC. It is because the volatile functions take up more Excel data space and can be problematic if excessive in a single file.
  • Outdated GPU drivers – You can also experience the Excel app running slowly due to outdated graphics drivers running on your computer.
  • Outdated Excel program – Running an outdated Excel app means the Office app doesn’t have the necessary updates to fix bugs. So, these bugs can corrupt Excel cells, causing them to work slowly.
  • Too big spreadsheet in Excel – Storing several large-sized spreadsheets in your Microsoft Excel may be the culprit. Also, if you have a sheet whose cell has a value>0, it means a cell has unresolved formulas and can result in sluggish performance or freezing.

As we go further in the article, we’ll take you through some basic steps for fixing Excel if it’s running slow.

What can I do if Excel is running slow and freezing on my PC?

Before trying any advanced troubleshooting steps, go through the following:

If the issue persists, proceed with the solutions below:

1. Update your GPU driver

  1. Press Windows + R keys to prompt the Run window, type devmgmt.msc, and click OK to open the Device Manager.
  2. Open the Display adapter entry, right-click on the device driver, then select Update driver from the drop-down menu.
  3. Click on Search automatically for the updated driver software option.
  4. Restart your PC and check if Microsoft Excel runs smoothly.

Updating the graphics driver will resolve bugs affecting the game and install the latest features to your app performance.

Furthermore, specialized programs, such as Outbyte Driver Updater, can also be an efficient method of updating your graphics driver because these kinds of software will immediately find the latest versions from an extensive repository.

Check other steps for updating graphics drivers on Windows 11 if you have any issues.

2. Start Excel in Safe Mode and Disable the Excel Add-Ins

  1. Press Windows + R key to open the Run dialog box, type excel.exe /safe, then click OK to start Microsoft Excel in Safe Mode.
  2. Click on File in the top menu bar, then select Options from the menu on the left.
  3. Click Add-ins on the right, select Excel Add-ins, then click the Go button.
  4. Uncheck the boxes next to the active Add-Ins and click OK to save the changes.
  5. Restart Excel and check it works faster.

Running Excel in Safe Mode will fix third-party app interference. Also, disabling the Add-ins will fix any corrupt add-ins impeding Excel performance.

3. Disable the Hardware Graphics Acceleration

  1. Launch Excel, click on Files in the top menu bar, then select Options from the menu on the left.
  2. Click the Advanced option.
  3. Select Display, check the box for Disable hardware graphics acceleration, and click OK to save the changes.
  4. Restart Excel to see if there are any changes in how fast it runs.

Disabling the hardware graphics acceleration will fix graphics settings causing Excel to run slowly or freeze.

4. Download the latest updates for Excel

  1. Launch Excel and click on Files in the top-right corner.
  2. Click on Account from the menu on the left.
  3. Click Update Options, then tap on the Update Now option. If any update is available, it will automatically install it.
  4. Restart your PC and check if Excel works faster.

Updating Excel will fix bugs causing issues with it and install the latest features to help it run faster.

In addition, you can check ways to fix the Excel file that could not be found error on your PC. Also, our readers can read about fixing the errors that were detected while saving Excel error messages on Windows 11.

Should you have further questions, kindly drop them in the comments section below.

History Is Temporarily Unavailable [ChatGPT Error Fix]

Posted on by Sagar Naresh

Recently, several users have started facing a weird History is temporarily unavailable error with ChatGPT. This error pops up when someone tries to use the ChatGPT platform. They are thrown an error message History is temporarily unavailable. We’re working to restore this feature as soon as possible.

This may be caused by a server outage, corrupt browser cache, local network issues or problems with your ChatGPT account. Before anything else, try restarting your browser or open ChatGPT on another browser, check if your network connection is working fine and, most importantly, check the ChatGPT server status.

How can I fix the History is temporarily unavailable error with ChatGPT?

1. Clear your browser cache

1.1. Google Chrome

  1. Launch your web browser.
  2. Click on the 3-dot menu icon at the top right.
  3. Select Settings.Settings CHrome
  4. Click on Privacy and security.
  5. Hit the Clear browsing data option.
  6. Check the boxes for Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files option.
  7. Hit the Clear data button.
  8. Restart your browser.
  9. Visit the website and load ChatGPT history.

1.2. Mozilla Firefox

  1. Click on the 3-line menu icon.
  2. Select Settings.
  3. Choose the Privacy & Security tab from the left.
  4. Locate Cookies and Site data section.
  5. Click the Clear data button.
  6. Select both Cookies and Site Data and Cached Web Content boxes.
  7. Click the Clear button.

Browser caches are often the main culprit when they go corrupt or are missing. Cache files store your website data to load the pages faster with your applied settings.

If they get corrupt then it can cause issues such as the History is temporarily unavailable error with ChatGPT. Clear the browser cache and check if this fixes the issue or not.

2. Open the old history link of ChatGPT

  1. Launch your web browser.
  2. Click on the 3-line menu icon.
  3. Select History.
  4. Locate the old links of your visit to the ChatGPT website.
  5. Open the previous links in a new tab and check if this lets you load the history.

3. Log out of ChatGPT

  1. Launch the web browser.
  2. Open the ChatGPT website.
  3. Hit the Log out button.
  4. Exit the web browser.
  5. Launch the browser again.
  6. Visit the ChatGPT website.
  7. Hit the Login button.
  8. Log in with your credentials and check if this history is available or not.

There might be some issues with your ChatGPT login account. This could be the reason why you are coming across the History is temporarily unavailable error with ChatGPT.

Try logging out and re-logging back in with your credentials and check if this fixes the issue or not.

4. Contact OpenAI support

  1. Visit the official OpenAI website.
  2. Click on the Chat icon.
  3. Choose the Search for help option.
  4. Select Send us a message.
  5. Describe your problem and send the message.
  6. Wait for their response and apply the solution.

If nothing works, then as a last resort, you can contact OpenAI support for further assistance. Apparently, the error is from their end if the above solutions aren’t helping you. You can visit the website mentioned above, explain your issue, and hope to get a resolution soon.

That it is from us in this guide. We also have a guide that explains how you can fix The Conversation is Too Long ChatGPT Error.

If you are coming across the ChatGPT Bad Gateway issue, then you should apply the solutions in our guide and fix the issue at your end.

For interested readers, if you wish to understand the differences between Bing AI vs ChatGPT 4, then you can check out our guide that lists some major differences between the two.

We also have a guide that explains the critical question of who has the correct answer among ChatGPT and Bard AI. Even more, users will be able to access Copilot chats older than 90 days, so find out all about this topic from our dedicated article.

Let us know in the comments below which one of the above solutions fixes the issue of History is temporarily unavailable error with ChatGPT.

Enter for a chance to win this custom MLB The Show 23 Xbox Series S

Posted on by Robert Collins

The latest custom console giveaway is here and this time it is none other than Sony’s MLB The Show being featured. That’s right: a custom Xbox themed around a PlayStation Studios game. Which makes this particular custom Xbox all the more exciting just for the sheer irony of it.

You won’t find this MLB The Show Xbox Series S in stores. But you can enter for a chance to win just by following the official Xbox Twitter account and retweeting the sweepstakes post with the hashtag #XboxMLBSweepstakes.

The sweepstakes is open through April 25th. A link to the official rules and info page is provided in the post.

MLB The Show 23 released on March 28th, and was available day one on Xbox Game Pass, as was the previous few entries in the series.

Featured image via Xbox.com. 

Dropbox Error 404: Link Not Found [Quick Fix Guide]

Posted on by Claire Moraa

When it comes to cloud storage applications, Dropbox is at the helm. However, this doesn’t exclude it from the occasional errors here and there. One such error is Dropbox error 404. It prevents you from clicking a shared link and displays the error message instead.

This can happen when you try to access a file that has been deleted or moved by another user or if the link provided in your email doesn’t work anymore. Let’s find out more about this error code and possible solutions.

What is Dropbox error 404?

If you see a 404 error when you click on a link in Dropbox, it means that the file or folder you are trying to access does not exist. This can happen for several reasons:

  • The file has been moved – The most common cause of this error is that the link was moved to a new location, and the user has not informed you.
  • Outdated app – You may have an outdated version of Dropbox installed on your computer. 
  • You’re accessing the link from another account – If you’re accessing files on another computer or mobile device which are not connected to your account, the link may be protected.
  • The file or folder you’re trying to access does not exist anymore – The link was likely changed or updated.
  • Outdated link – Sometimes, users share timed links that expire after a certain period. If you click on the link after its expiry, you cannot access it.
  • You may have typed the URL incorrectly – If you copy or type the link elsewhere, it is possible you may have copied it incorrectly.
  • Interrupted connection –  Your internet connection may have dropped out while accessing the file, causing it not to load properly.
  • Changes in parent link – If the file was linked to from another website, but that site has changed, your link will no longer work.
  • Banned sharing – Dropbox may have banned your ability to share links.

How do I fix error 404 on Dropbox?

Try the following basic steps before any advanced troubleshooting:

  • Check for any app updates and install them accordingly if available.
  • Ensure that your account is still active by logging out and then logging in again.
  • Check with the sender and ensure you have the correct link.
  • End all Dropbox processes from the Task Manager and try again.
  • Try accessing the folder from within Dropbox’s web interface. Sometimes the problem is within the Desktop app, but the link works fine on the web version.
  • Clear browser cache and cookies if using a browser.
  • Open the link in an incognito/private tab.
  • Verify whether your link has been banned from the Dropbox website and the subsequent steps to resolve it.

1. Run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter 

  1. Hit the Windows key and click on Settings.settings windows 11
  2. Click on System on the left pane, then Troubleshoot on the right pane.Open system troubleshooter
  3. Select Other troubleshooters.other troubleshooters
  4. Scroll down, locate Windows Store Apps, and click the Run button.

2. Disable Firewall/antivirus temporarily 

  1. Hit the Start Menu icon, type Windows Security in the search bar, and click Open.
  2. Click on Firewall & network protection, then select Public network.league of legends black screen after champion select
  3. Locate Microsoft Defender Firewall and toggle the off button.turning off Microsoft Defender Firewall Windows

3. Clear the Dropbox cache

  1. Press the Windows + E combination to start File Explorer.
  2. Navigate to the cache using the following or paste it to the search option: %HOMEPATH%Dropbox.dropbox.cache 
  3. Press CTRL + A to select everything in the folder.
  4. Click on the Delete icon and click OK, to remove everything from the folder.

4. Scan for viruses 

  1. Press the Start Menu, search Windows Security, and click Open.
  2. Select Virus & threat protection.
  3. Next, press Quick scan under Current threats.
  4. If you don’t find any threats, proceed to perform a full scan by clicking on Scan options just below Quick scan.Scan options
  5. Click on Full scan to perform a deep scan of your PC.Full Scan Scan Now
  6. Wait for the process to finish and restart your system.

5. Repair/reset the Dropbox app 

  1. Hit the Windows key and click on Settings.settings windows 11
  2. Click on Apps on the left pane, then Apps & features on the right pane.
  3. Locate the Dropbox app, click on the three vertical ellipses, and select Advanced options.
  4. Click on Repair.
  5. Go back and click on Reset.

6. Reinstall Dropbox

  1. Hit the Windows key and click on Settings.settings windows 11
  2. Click on Apps on the left pane, then Apps & features on the right pane.
  3. Locate the Dropbox app, click the three vertical ellipses, and select Uninstall.

If none of these work, you may have to contact Dropbox support for further assistance. Your Dropbox app may also fail to open, but do not worry; we have curated a few steps to help you avert such crises.

Do let us know of any additional comments, suggestions, or queries you may have on this topic in the comment section below.

Fix: Excel Stock Data Type Not Showing

Posted on by Claire Moraa

Excel has many features on its toolbar that allow you to perform loads of operations. The features are plenty, so some users may not notice that some are missing. However, for others, some features, such as the stock data type, may not be showing on your toolbar.  

Excel is not new to errors, as the toolbar has also been known to make a disappearing act at times. Still, if you desperately need to use this function, you’ll need a quick fix, and here is how this article comes in.

Why is the Excel stock data type not showing?

If you’re wondering why your Excel stock data type is not showing, below are some possible reasons:

  • Older version – This can occur if you use a workbook created in an older version of Excel. You may find that data types are not in Excel 2016 but are in newer versions.
  • Add-ins – The problem may also occur if you have recently installed an add-in that changes how the stock data type is displayed. 
  • App failure – Sometimes, apps are prone to failure, especially after a recent update.
  • Microsoft servers – Most Microsoft products need to reach the server to load all functions. If there’s a problem reaching them, your Excel stock data type may not be showing.
  • Expired subscription – You need a Microsoft 365 subscription to use Office products. If yours has expired, you may not have access to all features.
  • Interrupted connection – If your network connection is experiencing issues, Excel will have trouble connecting to the Microsoft servers and hence can’t load the files.
  • Incompatible data – It is also possible that the data you are trying to enter into your spreadsheet is not compatible with the Excel stock data type.

What can I do if Excel stock data type is not showing?

We advise that you check the following and ensure they are in place before trying out any advanced troubleshooting:

  • Ensure your Microsoft 365 subscription is current.
  • Check your internet connection and ensure your speeds are optimal.
  • Verify that Microsoft servers are running.
  • Ensure you are using a version of Excel that is compatible with your version of Windows. 
  • Check that you don’t have multiple versions of Microsoft Office installed on your computer.
  • Finally, restart your PC to clear out any temporary files that may prevent the stock data type from showing.

1. Run Excel in Safe Mode

  1. Click the Search button from the taskbar, type Excel, then right-click on it and select Open file location.
  2. Press and hold the Ctrl key and double-click the Excel executable file.
  3. Click Yes when you’re prompted if you want to open Excel in Safe Mode.

2. Use a VPN 

For users who might be in geo-restricted areas, using a VPN can help you bypass internet restrictions that may be blocking your Excel from reaching Microsoft servers.

3. Disable Excel add-ins

  1. Launch Excel, and click on the File menu.file
  2. Click on More, and then select Options from the flyout menu.options to fix Microsoft Excel is waiting for another application to complete an OLE action
  3. Go to the Add-ins tab, and with Excel Add-ins selected in the Manage dropdown menu, click on Go.Excel add-ins
  4. Now, uncheck all the add-ins listed here, and click OK to save the changes.disable add-ins to fix Microsoft Excel is waiting for another application to complete an OLE action
  5. Again, go to the Add-ins tab, choose COM Add-ins from the dropdown menu, and click Go.COM add-ins
  6. Go back and disable any remaining Add-ins.disable COM add-ins to fix Microsoft Excel is waiting for another application to complete an OLE action

4. Repair Microsoft Office 

  1. Right-click the Start Menu icon and click on Settings.settings windows 11
  2. Type Control Panel in the search bar and click Open.control-panel-search fallout new vegas runtime error
  3. Go to Programs and select Uninstall a Program.going uninstall program control panel
  4. Now, click Microsoft Office and select Change.
  5. Finally, click Online Repair, then select Repair.online repair to fix Microsoft Excel is waiting for another application to complete an OLE action
  6. Alternatively, you can click on Windows Settings, select Apps, then click on Apps & features.
  7. Locate Microsoft Excel/Office, click on the three ellipses and select Advanced options.
  8. Next, click on Repair.
  9. Once the repair process completes, restart your computer and check whether the issue still occurs or not.

5. Reinstall Microsoft Office

  1. Hit the Start Menu icon, type Control Panel in the search bar, and click Open.control-panel-search fallout new vegas runtime error
  2. Click on Uninstall a program under Programs.going uninstall program control panel
  3. Find Microsoft Office and click Uninstall. If there’s more than one copy, proceed to uninstall them too.Microsoft Office Uninstall
  4. Download Office and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.

Also, uninstall any other versions of Microsoft Office and clean up any leftover software. Elsewhere, you may find difficulty scrolling through Excel. If so, check out our guide on how to restore smooth scrolling.

While you are still here, find out why Excel only opens in Safe Mode and what to do about it.

For any further inquiries, leave a comment down below.

New, cheaper Western Digital Xbox Series X|S expansion cards coming soon

Posted on by Robert Collins

It looks like a slightly less-overpriced storage option is on the horizon for Xbox Series X|S owners. As reported by The Verge and others, a listing for a new Series X|S expansion card from Western Digital was spotted on Best Buy’s website. The listing has since been removed, but fortunately images of the card have been made available online.

As you can see above, the Western Digital 1TB card is priced at $179.99 USD, making it $40 cheaper than Seagate’s 1TB offering at $219.99.

More storage options are much needed, especially for the 512GB Series S (which only affords the user about 364GB, with the rest reserved for the system). Considering that many modern games require upwards of 50-60 or even 100GB, that 364GB proves scarcely adequate for many gamers.

With Seagate as the sole manufacturer for Series X|S expansion cards, prices have refused to budge even though the console is in its third year on the market. Maybe the arrival of a new competitor on the scene in Western Digital will change that. Note that neither Western Digital or Microsoft have commented on the listing, and there has been no official announcement regarding the new product.

Via Pure Xbox. 

How to get Bing Chat to provide better research paper search results

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has integrated its Bing Search Engine with ChatGPT, effectively combining the strengths of both platforms. The merged version, Bing Chat, delivers accurate answers while displaying relevant search results simultaneously. One Redditor offered some tips on getting better Bing Chat results and how to leverage the platform for more effective research paper searches. Here’s what we learned:

What is Bing Chat?

Bing Chat is an artificial intelligence-enabled chatbot that comprehends the nuances of your inquiry and provides human-like responses. Microsoft has efficiently integrated this attribute into its Bing Search platform, making it a comprehensive solution for search inquiries and AI-driven responses. The rollout of Microsoft’s Bing AI is currently underway for all users, following its initial introduction as a limited beta feature. Initially, a waitlist was in place for users to access the AI-powered chatbot, comparable to the popular ChatGPT chatbot.

How to access Bing Chat?

Proper login authentication requires you to have a valid Microsoft ID. For new users, the prompt to join the wishlist might still appear. If you choose to join, logging in with your Microsoft ID will allow you to obtain fast access. It’s worth noting that some users have received access to Bing Chat roughly two weeks after joining the waitlist.

Here’s how to access the chatbot:

  • Open The New Bing and select Chat.

Bing chat

We have observed that the feature appears to function effectively on the Edge browser, here’s how:

  • Open Microsoft Edge and navigate to the B ICON.
  • Select the B icon on the top left.

Bing Chat

Upon being granted access, ChatGPT-4 can technically be used by users for free. OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, recently introduced GPT-4 LLM, which is currently only available to ChatGPT Plus subscribers. Concurrently, Microsoft, a fellow investor in OpenAI, has integrated GPT-4 technology with its proprietary ranking tools to enhance Bing Chat. This means that Bing users can utilize GPT-4 free of charge.

The advanced LLM technology can deliver refined and precise responses to user queries. Additionally, OpenAI has claimed that GPT-4 can effectively analyze images, which may aid users in recognizing objects or translating image texts. While this feature is still not widely accessible and is currently being tested with a single partner, OpenAI continues to pursue its development.

How to use Bing Chat to provide better research paper search results

If you want to achieve optimal results when conducting research papers using Bing Chat, it is imperative to be precise and provide intricate details. For instance, when requesting peer-reviewed studies on the correlation between ‘Sleeping Hours and Academic Performance,’ ask Bing Chat the details of three different studies, each citing the date of publication, a concise overview of the abstract and conclusion, the main author, and an MLA citation, all presented in a bullet point format. Furthermore, you must maintain a professional tone throughout the process.

Bing Chat

Moreover, it is essential to enable the precise mode for Bing AI to avoid inaccurate results, as it may generate information that does not correspond to the available web data while attempting to answer your query.

Is there anything else that we could help you with, please let us know in the comments section below.

Everything new in Microsoft Teams (free) in March 2023: Send invites via SMS and more

Posted on by Radu Tyrsina

The month of March has officially come to an end, and just like every other month, Microsoft has highlighted all the neat features that it released to Microsoft Teams for the month of March. Here’s everything you need to know:

Teams (free) on desktop and web

Microsoft has made it easier for Teams users to keep up with everything going on in the platform. This applies to chat or channel notifications and even new features making their debut on the platform.

These kinds of notifications will be characterized by a little red dot on the taskbar. You can also check for new features under the three dots menu in the top right-hand corner as ‘What’s new’ when using Windows 11 Chat.

Additionally, Microsoft is also making it easier for users to play videos in a community. Whenever a video is shared and the user clicks play, the video will play in line with the community.

What’s more, Teams users now have the capability to invite users to meetings via SMS.  All you need to do is, enter the user’s phone number as a recipient and they’ll automatically receive a text message that features a link to join the meeting.

Microsoft Teams’ schedule send suggestions feature also hit broad availability in early March to help users that work asynchronously across different time zones communicate effectively and efficiently.

New in Teams (free) on mobile

As for Teams mobile users, Microsoft is making it easier for them to share content with communities using the native sharing options on mobile. “When you want to share something, your recent communities are shown, and you can just pick one to share the content to,” says Microsoft.

Moreover, the company is also enhancing security for communities. Communities on mobile are now protected by safeguards to shield them against malicious content.

Whenever malicious content is detected, automated mechanisms get rid of it and leave a placeholder indicating that the content was removed.

And finally, whenever a community invite is sent to you by a community owner, the invite will be featured in the mobile app. The decision is entirely up to you to decide whether or not you’ll accept the invite.

Xbox Remote Play Has Crackling Audio: 5 Ways to Repair It

Posted on by Srishti Sisodia

Xbox remote play is a great feature that enables gamers to play their favorite games on smartphones, laptops, and more without being in front of their console.

This feature is quite convenient; however, some users have reported experiencing sound crackling while using Remote Play. It can be a frustrating issue and spoil your gaming experience.

In this guide, we will discuss some potential causes of the problem and the steps to fix the issue so that you can enjoy playing games without disruption.

What causes the crackling audio issue on Xbox remote play?

There could be various reasons why you facing this sound-related issue; some of the common ones are:

  • Xbox is outdated – If your Xbox has pending updates to be installed, then you might face all sorts of issues, like this one. Install the update to prevent all the issues.
  • App cache – Sometimes, the Xbox app cache on your device, including tablet, laptop, or mobile, can cause such issues. To fix it, clear the app cache from your device.
  • Alternate Wireless MAC address – If you have selected an Alternate Wireless MAC address on your console, then it could cause sound issues. You need to clear it to fix the problem.
  • Weak internet connection – If your internet connection is not stable, the game you are playing might able to establish a proper connection, hence the issue. Check your internet connection to ensure that’s not the case.

How can I fix the crackling audio issue on Xbox remote play?

Before engaging in advanced troubleshooting steps, you should consider performing the following checks:

  • Restart your router.
  • Switch to an internet connection with higher bandwidth.
  • Power cycle your Xbox console.

1. Clear Alternate MAC address

  1. Press and hold the Xbox button on the controller to get to the guide menu.Controller-Xbox-one-1-1 xbox remote play sound crackling
  2. Go to System, then click Settings.Settings-Xbox
  3. Click General, then select Network Settings.General-Network-Settings xbox remote play sound crackling
  4. Under Network, click Advanced Settings.Advanced settings
  5. Choose the Alternate Wireless MAC address and click Clear.
  6. Restart your console.

2. Restart the Console using your smartphone

  1. Launch the Xbox app on your smartphone.
  2. Locate the Console icon from the top right corner and tap it.Console tap xbox remote play sound crackling
  3. Choose your console from the list.
  4. Tap the Open remote control option.Open remote control
  5. Locate three vertical dots from the top right corner and tap them.
  6. Tap Turn off Console.

3. Delete the Xbox app cache

  1. Tap on Settings on your Android phone.
  2. Go to Apps.Apps xbox remote play sound crackling
  3. Tap App management.App Management
  4. Scroll to find Xbox, and tap it.Xbox xbox remote play sound crackling
  5. Tap Storage usage.Storage usage
  6. Click Clear cache to delete the Xbox cache.Clear cache

4. Change the Xbox console name

  1. Press and hold the Xbox button on the controller to get to the guide menu.Controller-Xbox-one-1-1
  2. Click System, then select Settings.Settings-Xbox xbox remote play sound crackling
  3. Go to System, then click Console info.console-info-2
  4. Now change the console name to the desired name.
  5. You will be asked to restart your console. Select Restart and keep my games & apps.Reset-and-keep-my-games-apps

5. Check the Xbox server status

  1. Go to the Xbox status website.Service-status- xbox remote play sound crackling
  2. Scroll and check if any of the services are down.
  3. If any of the services relevant to the issue is down, wait until the service is live again.

So, these are methods that you can use to fix the cracking audio issue on Xbox remote play and enjoy seamless remote play sessions on your device. Try them and let us know what worked in the comments section below.

Sea of Thieves Keeps Crashing? Here’s How to Stop It

Posted on by Henderson Jayden Harper

A common problem many players complain about is the Sea of Thieves crashing on their computers. The game can go blank, close abruptly, or become unresponsive on startup or during gameplay. Fortunately, the issue isn’t fatal, and we’ll take you through the steps to fix it.

Also, our readers have reported low FPS in Sea of Thieves, causing the game to stutter or lag.

Why is Sea of Thieves crashing on PC?

Many factors may be responsible for crashing the Sea of Thieves game on your PC. Some are:

  • Outdated GPU drivers – PC gaming activities use lots of graphics resources and power. So, running outdated or faulty graphics drivers can cause issues with the game, resulting in the Sea of Thieves crashing on your PC.
  • System requirements issues – Sea of Thieves has minimum and recommended system requirements that determine the device’s specifications that can run it. Hence, you may experience the game crashing on your computer due to your system not meeting the requirements for the game.
  • Interference from background apps – Running too many background processes on your PC may cause issues with your gaming activities. These background apps can consume the system resources and leave the Sea of Thieves game to use insufficient resources.
  • Corrupt or damaged game files – The game crashing on your computer can occur when launching or during gameplay due to its installation files being corrupted.

Moreover, these causes are liable to vary in different PCs. Regardless, you can follow the steps below to fix the issue and get your game running smoothly.

What can I do if Sea of Thieves keeps crashing on my PC?

Before trying any advanced steps, go through the following:

If the issue persists, proceed with the solutions below:

1. Run in Compatibility Mode

  1. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
  2. Go to the installed Sea of Thieves directory, right-click on it, and select properties from the drop-down.
  3. Select the Compatibility tab and check the box for the Run this program as an administrator option. Check the box for Run this program in compatibility mode, then choose a Windows version from the drop-down.
  4. Click OK to save the changes.

Running the game as an administrator will resolve permission and compatibility issues causing it to crash. Check what to do if running as administrator is not working on your PC.

2. Update your Graphics driver

  1. Press Windows + R keys to prompt the Run window, type devmgmt.msc, and click OK to open the Device Manager.
  2. Expand the Display adapter entry, right-click on the device driver, then select Update driver.
  3. Click on Search Automatically for the driver software option.
  4. Restart your PC and check if the game crash issue persists.

Updating the graphics driver will fix bugs affecting the game and install the latest features to improve performance. Check other steps for updating graphics drivers on Windows 11 if you have any issues.

Alternatively, you can update not only your graphics driver but all outdated ones faster and more effectively with a specialized tool.

Outbyte Driver Updater is one of the driver updaters we suggest because it analyzes your computer to find outdated or malfunctioning drivers and update them with the latest options.

⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

3. Update the game

  1. Left-click the Start button and type Steam, then double-click to open it.
  2. Select the Library tab. Right-click on Sea of Thieves from the left pane and choose Properties.
  3. Select the Updates tab and click on Always keep this game up to date. Steam will automatically search for the available update.
  4. Restart your PC.

Updating the Sea of Thieves games will install new patches for fixing bugs affecting its performance. Check for solutions if you are unable to update Sea of Thieves on Windows 11.

4. Check the Sea of Thieves Game File Integrity

  1. Left-click the Start button and type Steam, then double-click to open it.
  2. Select the Library tab, right-click on Sea of Thieves, and choose Properties.
  3. Click the Local Files tab and select the Verify Integrity of Game Files button.

Verifying the game file integrity will resolve corrupt or missing game files causing the game to crash. Read more on how to verify the integrity of game files not working for more advanced steps.

In addition, you can check our article about ways to fix games crashing on Windows 11 for more effective solutions.

Likewise, if you’re having difficulties downloading Sea of Thieves on Windows 11, click the above link for solutions. We also have a guide on Alabasterbeard errors in Sea of Thieves, so be sure to check it out.

If you have further questions or suggestions, kindly drop them in the comments section.

Posted in PC

JavaScript Heap Out of Memory Error: Causes & How to Fix

Posted on by Srishti Sisodia

If you have encountered the JavaScript heap out-of-memory error, this guide can help! This often happens if the application runs out of memory. We will cover all the available fixes right after discussing the causes of the same. Let’s start! 

What causes the JavaScript heap out of memory error? 

There could be various reasons why the project crashed and presented you with this error; some of the common ones are mentioned here: 

  • Large objects present – If the code has a lot of large objects, then memory consumed by those objects collectively leads to an overload, hence the error.
  • Insufficient amount of memory allocated – If the default amount allocated by Node.js is insufficient to complete a command, you might encounter this error.  
  • Memory leaks – As the app grows, it is important to delete some objects you don’t need; if not done, you might get this error. 
  • Large data structures – If you work with large data structures such as arrays or matrices, it can consume a lot of space, causing this error. Additionally, when working with arrays, ensuring efficient use of array methods is crucial. Learn more about fixing Array.prototype.map() Expects a Return Value in JavaScript to optimize your code and prevent memory issues.
  • Infinite loops – Infinite loops use memory pretty fast, and it might cause this error.

What can I do to fix the JavaScript heap out of memory error? 

1. Use the Control Panel 

  1. Press Windows + E to open Windows Explorer.
  2. Go to This PC, right-click it, and select Properties.Properties javaScript Heap Out of Memory Error
  3. From the next page, select Advanced system settings.Advanced system settings javaScript Heap Out of Memory Error
  4. Switch to the Advanced tab, and click Environment Variables. Environment Variables
  5. Click New on either System variables (changes apply to the entire computer)  or User variables ( applies the changes to a user account).New
  6. On the next window, for the Variable name: enter Node_Options.
  7. Now for Variable value: –max-old-space-size=4096Click OK javaScript Heap Out of Memory Error
  8. Click OK. You can change 4096 to 8192 as well to allocate more space.
  9. On the Environment Variable window, click OK.
  10. Now click Apply and OK to save the changes. 

2. Use PowerShell

  1. Press the Windows key, type PowerShell, and click Run as administrator. Powershell 2 javaScript Heap Out of Memory Error
  2. Copy and paste the following command and press Enter: env:NODE_OPTIONS="--max-old-space-size=4096"
  3. To temporarily solve the issue, you can type the following command and press Enter before opening the app: set NODE_OPTIONS=--max-old-space-size=4096

So, these are methods to fix the JavaScript heap out-of-memory error. To avoid this error in the future, it is advised to split your data into smaller chunks and delete the objects that are no longer needed. Try them and let us know what worked for you in the comments section below.