Error Code 0x80072af9: Fix It With These 4 Simple Solutions

Posted on February 15, 2023October 4, 2023 by Ivan Jenic

With each new version of Windows, users get a bunch of additional features and security enhancements critical to the effective functioning of the PC. But the error code 0x80072af9, a Windows Update error, often stands in the way.

The error is encountered when trying to install the latest version of the OS. However, the code is not limited to Windows Update and often pops up in other built-in and third-party apps. So, let’s find out all about the error.

What is error code 0x80072af9?

The error code 0x80072af9 signals that a critical update has failed to install on the PC and prevents you from getting to the latest build. Here are a few reasons you might be getting the error:

Unstable Internet connection: The most common issue behind this Windows Update error is a slow Internet connection, so you might want to check that.
Issues with the network adapter: If the network adapter fails at times, primarily while the update is underway, the error code will appear.
Corrupt system files: When the system files are corrupt, several components of the PC, including Windows Update, fail to function effectively.
Third-party apps blocking the update: An antivirus or firewall can often block the update from installing. Several users also observed error 0x80072af9 when VPN was set up.

The error code 0x80072af9 appears in the following cases as well:

Error code 0x80072af9 Outlook: Many reported the error when sending emails on Outlook.
0x80072AF9 Time Service: A few users had an error log in the Event Viewer pertaining to the Time Service with this error code.
Error code 0x80072af9 Mail: The Windows Mail app, too, throws the error, usually due to misconfigured browser settings.
Result failure (error code 0x80072af9): The error code may also be encountered when setting up printers on a Windows device.

How can I fix error code 0x80072af9?

Before we head to the complex solutions, here are a few tips and tricks to try:

Check the Internet speed and verify if the connection is unstable. If you are connected to a Wi-Fi network, switch to Ethernet when installing the update.
If you have a VPN set up, or a third-party antivirus or firewall running in the background, disable them all and install the update.
Many also reported that disabling Tablet Mode allowed them to download the updates, which earlier triggered error code 0x80072af9.

If these don’t work, head to the methods listed next.

1. Reinstall the network drivers

Press Windows + X to open the Power User menu, and select Device Manager from the list.
Expand Network adapters, right-click the active adapter, and then choose Uninstall device.
Tick the checkbox for Attempt to remove the driver for this device, and click on Uninstall to confirm.
Once done, restart the computer, and Windows will automatically install the best driver.

If an intermittent drop in connection led to error code 0x80072af9, reinstalling the network adapter’s driver should do the trick.

2. Run the DISM and SFC scan

Press Windows + R to open Run, type cmd, and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
Paste the following commands one at a time and hit Enter after each to run the DISM tool:DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Once done, execute the following command to run the SFC scan:sfc /scannow

Running the DISM tool and SFC scan can help fix corrupt system files. And if that was the underlying cause, you shouldn’t encounter the Windows Update error code 0x80072af9 again.

3. Manually install the update

Identify the KB (Knowledge Base) number for the update triggering the error and then head to Microsoft Update Catalog.
Paste the KB number in the search box, and hit Enter.
Click on the Download button next to the update that matches the system architecture, i.e., 32-bit or 64-bit version.
Now, click on the correct link here, and the download will start.
Next, run the setup, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.

When Windows is unable to install updates automatically, you can always do it manually via the Microsoft Update Catalog and get rid of error code 0x80072af9. All the updates released by Microsoft are listed here.

4. Perform an in-place upgrade

Go to Microsoft’s official website, and download the installation media for Windows 10.
Now, run the setup and wait for things to get ready.
Click Accept to agree to the license terms.
Select Upgrade this PC now, and click on Next to proceed.
Wait for the setup to download the required files, and then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

That’s it! If the previous solutions didn’t work, performing an in-place upgrade will help eliminate any underlying causes behind the Windows Update error code 0x80072af9.

How do I fix error code 0x80072af9 with Microsoft Office?

The error code also appears when installing updates for Microsoft Office and could be due to issues with the app itself. That’s why we recommend either repairing or reinstalling Office to fix error code 0x80072af9.

For complete removal before reinstallation, we recommend you use an effective tool. There are many great uninstaller applications on the market, but IOBit Uninstaller offers the most features, so you might want to try it out.

Also, before you leave, check the best PC repair tools, and get one of these to avoid running into such issues again.

For any queries or to share a solution that’s not listed here, drop a comment below.

Windows 10 License Key Backup Tools: Best to Use in 2026

Posted on February 15, 2023April 2, 2024 by Ivan Jenic

The license key is probably one of the most important keys on your computer. Hence, you need to have a backup of the license of your Windows 10 computer even if you have to use a tool.

While picking just any license key backup tool is easy, getting a reliable one you can always trust is not straightforward. To ease the selection process, we have gathered the best tools available in the market in this guide.

How do I Backup my Windows 10 license?

There are different ways to back up your Windows 10 license. Below are some of the reliable ones:

Link key to Microsoft account: If you use a digital license key, Microsoft allows you to link it with your account. With this, you only need to log in to your account on the new PC, and you will be able to activate it using the troubleshooter.
Save manually on Notepad: Another option is to save the license key manually on Notepad and copy the file to another PC or drive. This allows you to copy the file to the PC you want to activate whenever you want.
Use a specialized tool: This is probably the most effective method to back up your license key on Windows 10. This is because most specialized tools have cloud storage for storing your key. What’s more, some of these tools can even help you recover your lost product keys.

What is the best Windows 10 license backup tool?

Tenorshare Windows Boot Genius – Best license key backup software

Tenorshare Windows Boot Genius is a software that can help you recover the Windows license key and solve many other Windows problems.

There can be plenty of ways to lose your license key, either forgetting where you saved it, losing access to the computer, or won’t boot. Either of these is no problem for Tenorshare.

Now you can recover all windows passwords and all product keys with ease. This software specializes in data recovery, with Windows booting solutions created for almost every issue.

However, it also offers the ability to back up your files, including your product key.

What’s more, Tenorshare doesn’t leave you alone to solve these problems. It provides step-by-step guides for all the issues it can resolve. All that is left is to follow them and get that license key back.

Tenorshare can also boot your PC from Windows failures like freezes, crashes, and even a blue screen of death. So, if you want to transfer Windows 10 license from a dead computer, this app is your go-to option.

Also, the key features are:

Fix Windows booting failure, Blue/Black Screen, crash, freeze, etc.
Clone hard drive
Recover Windows passwords and product keys
Backup and restore files and system
Wipe the entire hard drive or partition

Tenorshare Windows Boot Genius

Never lose a license key again with this amazing recovery software.

Free Trial Visit Website

Recover Keys – Simple license keys backup software

Recover Keys is a simple application for Windows that will keep safe the activation keys of all software tools that you will install and activate on your computer.

It allows you to back up your activation keys in different document formats to save them in one place and never lose them again.

It can also recover lost keys for over 10.000 products. These may be from Windows, Office, Adobe, Electronic Arts, Acronis, WinRar, Nero, and other important utilities.

These are some key features that Recover Keys brings to the table:

Scans your local computer for product keys
Scans for product keys on remote network PCs
It easily backs up your key
Both cloud and local databases
Windows NT, 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10. (32/64 bit system) compatibility

Recover Keys

A comprehensive tool that can help you restore your license key. Ready to try it out?

Free trial Visit Website

ProduKey – Simple product key recover

If you want a simple, straightforward program for restoring your license key, ProduKey is probably the best available solution.

This small tool allows you to check out the product key of any Microsoft Office program, Windows version, Exchange Server, and SQL Server installed on your computer.

As soon as you launch the program, it will list the product keys of all your software, so all you need to do is to look for it. So, it more or less serves as a backup option with which you can always get any product key linked to your PC.

ProduKey is developed by Nirsoft, a developer famous for its effective password recovery and security solutions. And they did a great job with ProduKey as well.

This program is a portable application, so you must download it, extract the ZIP file, and look for your license key.

⇒ Get ProduKey

LicenseCrawler – Portable tool to recover license keys

LicenseCrawler is another small, portable tool for checking the license keys of Windows 10, its default apps and services, and every other third-party program installed on your computer.

This program scans your registry to find all available license and product keys and makes them visible to you. It also allows you to back up your PC for free, including your license key, as much as you are a private user.

The user interface of LicenseCrawler might be a little more complex than in some other license key recovery tools, but you should have absolutely no problems getting around.

Once you start the program, click the Start Search button to start the registry scan, and once the scan is finished, all your product keys will be listed.

Product keys will be listed as registry entries, but you should have no problems recognizing programs and services.

⇒ Get LicenseCrawler

Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder – Fastest to show your license key

Although it sounds like a license key recovery tool for some older versions of Android, Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder is for Windows and runs pretty smoothly.

The program is as simple as it can get. It shows your Windows license key and a few more system information. No other Microsoft services, no third-party apps.

As soon as you open Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder, the key will show up, and that’s pretty much the whole philosophy of this simple tool. Also, it has a save and print feature that allows you to save and download your product key.

We have to warn you that this program brings some bloatware with itself. So, be careful when installing Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder, and make sure you’ve unchecked all unwanted offers.

⇒ Get Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder

Keyfinder Thing – Wide range use

Keyfinder Thing is among the most popular tools for recovering Windows license keys.

Of course, it supports Windows and up to 90 third-party software titles. It also features a list of supported programs, which you can check by accessing View > Software List.

A few more handy options include copying a product key to the clipboard. Another important option is the ability to save your license key and other results from the File menu. All in all, the tool is very simple to use.

We must warn you that Keyfinder Thing also comes with bloatware, just like a few other tools from this list.

⇒ Get Keyfinder Thing

ShowKeyPlus – Easy to install

ShowKey Plus is a free, portable, and very simple tool for finding and managing the product key of your operating system. It gives you different options for saving your product key, including the ability to save from GUI.

When you open ShowKeyPlus, the program shows you the current Windows version, the Product ID, and the license key.

This program also has more options, like restoring your license key from a backup, which is a nice touch. It also allows you to change your product key, but it is not recommended.

⇒ Get ShowKeyPlus

Product Key Finder – Restore license key to over 200 apps

Product Key Finder supports over 200 third-party programs, the operating system, and some in-house features. It is simple but doesn’t provide detailed program info, only the license key.

The best feature of Product Key Finder is that it allows you to back up all your product keys in a CSV file, quickly moving them between computers.

However, there are a few reasons this program is last on our list. First, it only supports x32 versions of Windows, so not many users can run it now. And secondly, it also comes with bloatware by default.

⇒ Get Product Key Finder

This concludes our list of the best license key backup tools for Windows 10 (and other versions of the system).

You can choose between whichever of these keys, depending on what you need to do. They’re all free and relatively easy to use.

These tools can be helpful if you ever encounter Your Windows license will expire soon message, so be sure to get one.

Do you agree with our list? Or do you have some options of your own? Well, tell us about that in the comments.

Windows 11 Power Plan Keeps Changing: How to Stop It

Posted on February 15, 2023September 28, 2025 by Claire Moraa

A power plan is a set of hardware and software settings that determine how your system uses power. When you change the power plan, you are tweaking settings to achieve either high performance or efficiency.

Depending on how you use your PC, you should select the best power settings to balance performance and efficiency. However, users can’t get these settings to stick as their power plans keep changing. Let’s have a look at how we can resolve this below.

Why does my power plan keep changing on Windows 11?

It is important to note that the power plan affects all activities on your computer. For example, if you are playing games and using the internet simultaneously, your CPU will use more energy than it would if you were only using it for one task at a time.

You’ll therefore notice that your PC suddenly becomes slow or lags since your power plan settings need to reflect your activities. To get to the root of these issues, we explore some of the possible reasons why your Windows 11 keeps changing the power plan:

Power-saving software conflicts – You may use a third-party program to monitor or manage your computer’s power usage. If so, it may be overriding the default power settings.
Low battery – If you’re not charging your laptop, Windows will automatically change the power plan when your battery is running low. Battery management software can help you increase its longevity.
New application – You may have installed a new program that requires different power settings than those initially set and hence keeps changing them.
Battery issues – It’s worth checking the battery health of your machine. If it has a dead battery or a faulty battery sensor, it may not respond to any power plan settings.
Corrupted system files or registry entries – A corrupted system file or bad entry in your registry can cause Windows 11 to revert back to its default power options every time you restart your computer.
Faulty driver – A faulty driver can cause your computer’s power plan to change without your knowledge.
Antivirus software – Many antivirus programs include an option to automatically change your system’s power plan whenever they detect malware on your PC.

How do I fix my power plan keeps changing?

A few preliminary checks that could help before the advanced solutions include:

Ensure your battery is fully charged if using a laptop, and take steps to improve battery life.
Check if there is any third-party software that is causing this issue. If yes, then uninstall it or disable it temporarily.
Make sure that Windows is fully up-to-date even without an Internet connection.
Restart your computer and see if the issue persists.

1. Run the power troubleshooter

Hit the Windows key and click on Settings.
Click on System on the left pane, then Troubleshoot on the right pane.
Select Other troubleshooters.
Scroll down, locate Power and click the Run button.

2. Run the DISM and SFC commands

Hit the Start Menu icon, type cmd in the search bar, and click Run as administrator.
Type the following commands and press Enter after each one: DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth sfc /scannow
Restart your PC.

3. Run a virus scan

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

4. Update your graphic driver

Hit the Windows key, type Device Manager in the search bar, and click Open.
Navigate to Display adapters and find your graphics card.
Right-click on your graphics card and select Update driver.
Select Search automatically for drivers.

If you’re not tech-savvy, you could end up downloading the wrong driver and causing more problems than you solve. Thankfully, some tools can make this process much easier. One such tool is Outbyte Driver Updater, which automatically finds and updates all your drivers in one click.

Outbyte Driver Updater scans your computer for outdated or missing drivers and automatically installs them. This saves time and ensures that everything runs smoothly on your PC.

Outbyte Driver Updater

Prevent various errors from choosing the wrong drivers, and let Outbyte Driver Updater find the best updates.

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5. Restore default power plans

Hit the Start Menu icon, type Control Panel in the search bar and click Open.
Navigate to Power Options and click to Open.
Select Change plan settings.
Click on Change advanced power settings.
In the Power Options dialog box that appears, select Restore defaults, then click Apply and OK to save changes.

6. Perform a clean boot

Hit the Windows + R keys to open the Run command.
Type in msconfig and hit Enter.
In the System Configuration window that opens, navigate to the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services option, and click on Disable all.
Restart your PC.

We also have a similar article for when Windows 10 power plan keeps changing, so check out our recommended fixes.

In another odd situation, the power plans might be missing altogether but do not fret as we show you how to get them back in our detailed guide.

Also, learn more about the difference between balanced and high-performance settings and decide which is the best for your system.

Do let us know if the issue has been resolved in the comment section below.

System Event ID 1060: 5 Ways to Fix Application Popup

Posted on February 15, 2023May 14, 2024 by Andrew Wafer

Windows is an advanced OS, and due to this, several intricacies are involved, and a bunch of errors may appear in case things go wrong. One such is the Event ID 1060, which shows up in the Event Viewer.

The error doesn’t harm the PC or lead to any major inconvenience unless the affected driver is critical. Even in that case, the fixes remain relatively simple, and you should have things up and running in no time.

What is Event ID 1060?

The Event ID 1060 highlights an incompatibility issue usually arising from running drivers that don’t suit the system architecture. The error is logged and can be checked in the Event Viewer, along with the other relevant details.

Here are a few reasons you might be getting the error:

Running outdated drivers: Many usually get the error when running outdated drivers on the PC, even after several upgrades have been offered.
Driver version not suitable: If you have installed a 32-bit driver on 64-bit OS, it will trigger Event ID 1060.
Incompatible apps: Incompatible apps or programs, too, may sometimes lead to this error.

How can I fix Event ID 1060?

Before we head to the complex solutions, here are a few quick ones:

Check if any updates are available for Windows and install them.
If you have connected a non-critical peripheral to the PC, remove it, and check if the Event ID 1060 from the source application popup still appears.
Ensure you haven’t installed 32-bit drivers on a 64-bit version of Windows. If there are any, switch to their 64-bit counterparts.
Look for Event Viewer Event ID 1060, and identify the affected software/driver. Now use Google or any other search engine to find the manufacturer and check if a patch has been released.

If these don’t work, move to the ones listed next.

1. Reinstall the affected driver

Press Windows + R to open Run, type devmgmt.msc in the text field, and hit Enter.
Now, locate the device linked to the affected driver, right-click on it, and choose Uninstall device.
Tick the checkbox for Attempt to remove the driver for this device, and click on Uninstall.
Once done, restart the computer for Windows to automatically identify the best driver and install it.

The easiest solution to fix system Event ID 1060 is to reinstall the affected driver, in case the process didn’t go through successfully the last time. If the problem persists, head to the next solution.

2. Update the driver

Press Windows + X to open the Power User menu, and choose Device Manager from the list of options.
Right-click on the device linked to the driver that throws the error, and select Update driver.
Choose Search automatically for drivers, and wait for the process to complete.

If Windows is unable to find an update, you could head to the manufacturer’s website to manually install the driver. Many OEMs release updates directly to their official website instead of submitting them to Microsoft, so this might work.

To make sure you don’t make any mistakes by choosing the wrong drivers, use software that automatically does the job. Automated driver update tools will scan your PC and identify outdated, damaged, or missing drivers.

You just have to select the ones to be fixed/updated and then wait for the process to complete.

3. Uninstall the software

Press Windows + R to open Run, type appwiz.cpl, and click on OK.
Now, locate the software installed around the same time the error first appeared, and click on Uninstall.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

You may have to uninstall some apps before finally identifying the one that’s triggering Event ID 1060. And once you do, reinstall the other ones removed during the process.

4. Manually delete the file

A few users managed to get rid of the problem by simply deleting the file listed in the Event Viewer details. All you have to do is navigate the path mentioned there, select the problematic file, and hit Del.

Once done, restart the computer for the changes to apply and verify whether the problem is resolved. If not, an in-place upgrade seems like the only viable solution.

5. Perform an in-place upgrade

Go to Microsoft’s official website, and download the installation media for Windows 10. Those on the latest iteration should get the Media Creation tool for Windows 11.
Once done, run the tool and wait for it to get things ready.
Click Accept to agree to the license terms.
Choose the Upgrade this PC now option and click on Next to proceed.
Wait for the download to complete and follow the on-screen instructions to perform the upgrade.

When nothing works, an in-place upgrade helps fix Event ID 1060 in Windows. And for those wondering, you don’t lose the installed apps or files, but certain settings might be set to their default state.

Also, an in-place upgrade would resolve SC OpenService failed 1060 in Windows 10, and in some cases, the Event id 1060 Terminal Services User Home Directory was not set error as well.

To avoid running into such issues and wasting time troubleshooting them, we recommend you use effective PC repair software.

For any queries or to share solutions that are not listed here, drop a comment below.

How to Extract Files From Multiple Folders [Easy Steps]

Posted on February 15, 2023October 4, 2025 by Claire Moraa

Extracting files from a single folder is simple as it only involves copying and pasting from one destination. But, extracting files from multiple folders is a bit difficult as opening and closing multiple folders can be pretty time-consuming.

We’ve already discussed how to extract multiple zip files, but for today, let’s focus on something closer to home. There is no direct option provided in Windows File Explorer to extract all the files at once, but let’s look at some tips that can get you all your files in one place.

Can you extract files from multiple folders at once?

Suppose you have files saved in different folders but want to extract them simultaneously and maybe form a new folder.

The most common way to extract files from a bunch of folders is to open each folder, find the one you want, and then copy it to a different location. This can take a while if you have many folders and many files.

Extracting files from multiple folders is a common task, especially when extracting the contents of an entire folder structure. Depending on how often you extract files from multiple folders, it’s an optional feature that you may or may not need.

Instead of opening file locations and copying files from one location to another, you need an easier and quicker method.

Although doing it manually for each folder is possible and the most common way, it is also time-consuming and tedious.

The situation worsens if there are many subfolders and you need to extract only some. To make it easier, you can use built-in File Explorer settings to achieve this. Below, we show you easy ways to extract files from multiple folders in Windows 10 and 11.

How do I get files out of folders at once?

Before you start extracting files, ensure that:

You’re the owner of those files. If you have been denied access to the folder, you won’t be able to extract it.
Use an administrator account. Some actions may be limited to standard accounts and vice versa. Find out more about the difference between a standard and an administrator account.
Ensure your PC is virus-free, as moving infected files around could put your system at risk.
Check that you have enough storage space to accommodate the new folders you’re creating.

1. Use an asterisk

Hit the Windows + E keys to open File Explorer.
Navigate to the folder location you wish to extract the files from.
Go to the search bar and press the * button then hit Enter.
All files in all folders will be listed.
You can now choose to sort by date, name, or size to sort the files easily and extract the ones you need quickly to a selected location.

2. Use a third-party tool

There are many third-party tools available that can help you extract files from multiple folders. One of these is a tool called WinZip. It’s easy to use and allows anyone to extract files from multiple folders at once.

WinZip is a complete archiving and file management solution. This software will make it much easier to share files, due to its high compression rates and encryption features.

⇒ Get WinZip

3. Use the compression feature

Hit the Windows + E keys to open File Explorer.
Navigate to the folder location you wish to extract the files from.
If they are multiple folders, hold the CTRL button as you select.
Click on the three ellipses at the top and select Compress to ZIP file.
The files will begin the compression process, and a new folder will be formed. You can choose to rename it or leave it as is.
You can click on the new folder to view your files or click on Extract all.
A new prompt will appear asking you to select a new folder location so click on Browse, select the new folder location then hit Extract.
You can now view all files you want in the new folder location.

The only downside of this method is that there is no provision to sort out the files you want. When extracting the files, it will pick all in the folder, even those that are unnecessary. We recommend using the first solution if the folders have too many files.

Hopefully, one of these methods has helped you extract files from multiple folders on Windows 11. We also have an exciting article on how to create and extract RAR files, so be sure to check that out too.

If you’re looking to master your file management skills, check our guide on how to automatically copy files from one folder to another on Windows 11.

Share with us in the comment section what your favorite multiple file extraction method is.

6 Ways to Permanently Fix Low FPS in Sea of Thieves

Posted on February 15, 2023October 4, 2023 by Megan Moore

Sea of Thieves is a massively popular action-adventure game created by Rare. Users play as a pirate to complete missions and work with trading companies.

However, users have reported low FPS in Sea of Thieves. Follow the solutions below to fix this issue permanently.

Why is my FPS suddenly so low in Sea of Thieves?

Sudden FPS drops in Sea of Thieves could be due to several reasons, and we will highlight the most important:

Lack of computer resources – Below, you will see a list of requirements, so ensure your system is over the minimum threshold.
Corrupt graphics card driver – An old or corrupt video driver may cause many issues, including a drop in FPS. Updating the driver is essential.
Corrupt files – Like any other app, Sea of Thieves may have damaged files due to crashes of the system and other failures, and that, in turn, may trigger FPS drops.
Poor connection – If you’re playing the game online, a poor internet connection can alter the frame rate.
Incorrect graphics settings – For increased framerate, you might try to lower the graphics settings, especially if you’re running the game on a less powerful configuration PC.

How much FPS do you need for Sea of Thieves?

The FPS for Sea of Thieves depends on the specs of your PC, but the average frame rate for Sea of Thieves is 60 FPS at 1920×1080. Faster graphics cards can support more hi-res framerates, depending on what you have equipped on your PC.

How do I fix low FPS on Sea of Thieves?

Before tweaking the game and system, make sure you complete some basic checks:

Check system requirements for Sea of Thieves after an update. As you may see, the game requires a 64-bit Windows 10 OS with at least 4 GB of RAM, 50 GB of storage, and Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 or AMD Radeon 7750 graphics card or newer.
Restart the game and the system. Sometimes, this can fix everything.
Ensure the game and your OS are updated to the latest versions.
Close any programs you are not using at the time. You may also end some services from Task Manager while you are at it.

If you are unable to update Sea of Thieves on Windows 10/11, we offer solutions for that issue as well. Now, let’s perform the actual solutions if the FPS is still low.

1. Update graphics drivers if Sea of Thieves has low FPS on islands

Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
Click on Display adapters to reveal the drivers, right-click on the device and select Update driver.
Select Search automatically for drivers.
Perform any necessary updates.

If you have outdated display drivers then you may experience low FPS on Sea of Thieves, especially when visiting islands or outposts.

We recommend using specialized software, which will help to keep your drivers updated all the time.

2. Turn off VSync for Sea of Thieves low FPS on a high-end PC

Click on Start and search NVIDIA Control Panel and hit Enter.
Under 3D Settings select Manage 3D settings.
Under Settings, scroll until you find Vertical sync, and select Off from the drop-down menu.
Click Apply.

VSync ensures that your monitor sync with your graphics card input. If you’re experiencing lagging on Sea of Thieves on a high-end PC, then try turning VSync off to see if that solves the issue. If you’re still having low FPS on Sea of Thieves, then try the next solution.

3. Verify the game files integrity

Open Steam and click the Library menu.
Right-click on Sea of Thieves and select Properties.
Choose the Local Files tab, then click on Verify integrity of game files.

If there are any corrupted or missing files in the game, Steam will fix and download them automatically.

4. Set Sea of Thieves as high priority

Right-click on Start and select Task Manager.
Navigate to the Details tab and select Sea of Thieves.
Right-click on Sea of Thieves and hover over Set priority then select High.

Setting Sea of Thieves at a high priority will have your PC focus its resources on the game and thus improve FPS.

5. Adjust in-game graphics

Launch Sea of Thieves and open the Settings menu.
Under Graphics Settings, lower the Default Quality Selection or go through and adjust the quality of each detail.
Restart the game if needed.

Adjusting in-game graphics may lower the quality of details that you see, but it will improve the FPS in SOT. Try making slight changes at a time and see if it makes a difference in the frame rate.

6. Reinstall Sea of Thieves

Launch Steam and click on Library.
Right-click on Sea of Thieves, hover over Manage, and select Uninstall.
Now, return to your existing games and proceed with a fresh installation.

So, if you’re asking how do I increase my FPS in SOT, the solutions above might have answered that question.

Of course, one of the best ways to improve your FPS for SOT is to have an optimized PC with a good graphics card. However, following the steps above in this guide will also help increase your FPS in the game.

Clearing out junk and corrupt files and prioritizing Sea of Thieves will help your PC focus its resources on the game and improve FPS.

Hopefully, one of the above solutions helped you fix low FPS in Sea of Thieves. If you’re having difficulties downloading Sea of Thieves on Windows 10/11, we offer solutions for that as well.

Let us know in the comments which solution worked for you or if you have any other suggestions.

3 Ways to Fix FPS Drops, Lag & Stuttering in Doom Eternal

Posted on February 15, 2023October 4, 2023 by Claire Moraa

Doom Eternal is an incredible-looking first-person-shooter game, but it’s far from a perfect experience. It suffers from inconsistent frame rate problems during intense encounters, which can be a real bummer when you’re in the thick of battle.

When it comes to any game that requires you to be able to aim precisely, dropped frames will have an impact. These games are more likely than others to have lower FPS because they require more processing power and perhaps more graphics memory than others.

Almost every action-oriented video game drops frames. It’s not just a Doom Eternal thing; it cuts across the board. However, with a few tweaks here and there, you can easily achieve decent framerates that won’t frustrate your gameplay.

Why does Doom Eternal keep dropping frames?

For a game called Doom Eternal, it sure seems to be dropping the ball a lot. The framerate tends to fall below smooth levels. But the bigger question here is why? Here are some possible causes:

System requirements – Doom Eternal is a fast-paced, intense game that requires your computer to run at a high frame rate so that you can enjoy playing the game and experience everything it has to offer. To make sure you’re able to run Doom Eternal at the best frame rates possible, we recommend your computer meet or exceed the minimum system requirements.
Poor graphics card – If you don’t have a good enough graphics card to support the resource-intensive modern games, you may experience random FPS drops in Doom Eternal. Even with sufficient RAM or processing power by itself, a video card that just can’t keep up with your games can cause them to run slow and crash frequently.
Outdated OS – If you are playing the game on a PC, ensure you are up-to-date with the latest updates. Most games are optimized to work with the latest versions, so if the game detects an old OS, it may struggle to balance the available resources for maximum efficiency.

How can I fix FPS drops, lag, and stuttering in Doom Eternal?

Before you start making changes to the PC, here are a few quick tricks to try:

Make sure your PC meets the minimum system requirements for Doom Eternal, if not the recommended ones. Running a demanding game on a PC with low specifications can lead to performance issues.
Certain game settings like shadows and ray tracing need more resources and may, as a result, lead to FPS drops, lag, and stuttering in Doom Eternal. Disable them and check whether it helps get rid of the problem.
Force the game to run on GPU for better performance.

If these don’t work, move to the solutions listed next.

1. Terminate non-critical processes

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, and locate all the non-critical programs and background processes.
Now, right-click on them individually, and choose End task from the context menu.
After you have terminated several of these, relaunch Doom Eternal.

When several processes and apps are running in the background, there aren’t enough free resources for Doom Eternal, which leads to lags and FPS drop. Another workaround based on the same idea is to restart the computer before you launch the game.

2. Update your graphics card

Press the Windows key, type Device Manager in the search box, and click Open.
Navigate to Display adapters, right-click on your graphics card and select Update driver.
Select Search automatically for drivers.

Since this solution might not work every single time, we recommend using a specialized tool to scan your PC and update all outdated drivers automatically.

3. Update your OS

Press Windows + I to open Settings, choose Windows Update from the navigation pane, and click on Check for updates on the right.
If an update is available, click on Download & install to get it.

Your operating system is one of the most important parts of your computer’s hardware configuration. It contains all the programs that make your PC work correctly and efficiently.

When it comes to gaming, however, there are some bugs that may cause low FPS issues in games like Doom Eternal. Updating your OS will ensure that any bugs or software issues have been fixed and you’re ready to play without any problems.

Does CPU affect FPS?

Yes, the CPU does affect the FPS. A common rule, the higher the number of cores, the better the FPS. Though the increase in FPS will vary in different games, depending on how much it relies on the CPU and GPU.

Besides, even if the game relies on GPU for rendering, the CPU provides the relevant details and works on other critical aspects relevant to the game’s performance.

Does Doom Eternal run at 120 FPS?

Doom Eternal runs at 60 frames per second on consoles but can be unlocked to run at 120 FPS on PC if you’ve got the hardware for it. Why does this matter? A high framerate is crucial for an enjoyable experience with Doom Eternal.

If your game can’t keep up with the action, it’ll feel sluggish and frustrating. You’ll be able to appreciate the level of detail in Doom Eternal’s world and combat when it’s running at 120 FPS.

Is 60 FPS good for Doom Eternal?

60 FPS is the default framerate for Doom Eternal on most platforms except for the Nintendo Switch, so it’s pretty decent for any gamer.

If you don’t have the hardware for higher FPS, you can install FPS booster software for an elevated experience.

Alternatively, you can also tweak your computer with the best FPS settings to enhance your gameplay.

How do you keep your framerates at an optimum level on your PC? Let us know in the comment section below.

Check out the Windows 7 & 8.1 February Patch Tuesday updates

Posted on February 14, 2023October 4, 2023 by Alexandru Poloboc

We know that the main focus right now is on Windows 11, but the majority of Windows users still don’t feel like abandoning its predecessor (Windows 10).

Be sure to check out the latest versions of Windows 10, which is 22H2, and also Windows 11, which has also reached version 22H2.

And, as you surely know by now, the Redmond-based tech colossus also releases security updates for some of the obsolete operating systems, during Patch Tuesday.

This actually means that not only Windows 10 and 11 users will receive updates during this time. We’re also looking at Windows 7, Windows 8, and various Server versions as well.

We’ve already presented the 75 new updates that became available, along with the official download links, so all that remains is going a bit more in-depth.

Without any further ado, let’s take a closer look at what Windows 7 and Windows 8 users were given to work with on the February 2023 Patch Tuesday.

What’s new in the January 2023 Patch Tuesday?

The Redmond-based tech colossus has just released Patch Tuesday updates for Windows 8.1, in the form of KB5022899, and Windows 7, in the form of KB5022872.

Keep in mind that they each come with a whole host of improvements and known issues with some pretty neat workarounds.

Also, remember that Microsoft has recently terminated all ESU for both Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 operating systems.

Windows 7

KB5022872

Improvements

This update contains miscellaneous security improvements to internal Windows OS functionality. No specific issues are documented for this release.

Known issues

After installing this update and restarting your device, you might receive the error, “Failure to configure Windows updates. Reverting Changes. Do not turn off your computer”, and the update might show as Failed in Update History.
After this update or a later Windows update is installed, domain join operations might be unsuccessful and error “0xaac (2732): NERR_AccountReuseBlockedByPolicy” occurs. Additionally, text stating “An account with the same name exists in Active Directory. Re-using the account was blocked by security policy” might be displayed.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

Windows 8.1

KB5022899

Improvements

This update contains miscellaneous security improvements to internal Windows OS functionality. No specific issues are documented for this release.

Known issues

After this update or a later Windows update is installed, domain join operations might be unsuccessful and error 0xaac (2732): NERR_AccountReuseBlockedByPolicy occurs. Additionally, text stating. An account with the same name exists in Active Directory. Re-using the account was blocked by security policy” might be displayed.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

These older, now obsolete versions of the Windows operating system are no longer safe for use, and it is highly recommended you upgrade to a supported version.

And, since the time has come to say goodbye, it is about time you figure out the next steps you will need to take.

Have you encountered any issues after downloading and installing these new security updates for Windows 7 and 8.1?

Share your experience with us in the dedicated comments section located below.

75 CVEs addressed through the 2023 February Patch Tuesday

Posted on February 14, 2023February 14, 2023 by Teodor Nechita

Valentine’s Day is upon us, but not everything comes down to flowers and chocolates. There are those who eagerly await Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday rollout/

And, as you know, it’s the second Tuesday of the month, which means that Windows users are looking towards the tech giant in hopes that some of the flaws they’ve been struggling with will finally get fixed.

We have already taken the liberty of providing the direct download links for the cumulative updates released today for Windows 7, 8.1, 10, and 11, but now it’s time to talk CVEs again.

For February, Microsoft released 75 new patches, which is still more than some people were expecting for the second month of 2023.

These software updates address CVEs in:

Windows and Windows components
Office and Office Components
Exchange Server
.NET Core and Visual Studio Code
3D Builder and Print 3D
Microsoft Azure and Dynamics 365
Defender for IoT and the Malware Protection Engine
Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based)

You probably want to know more on the matter, so let’s dive right into it and see what all the fuss is about this month.

Microsoft released 75 new important security patches

January 2023 was a pretty packed month in terms of security patches, so developers decided to take a breather and release fewer updates.

You might like to know that, out of the 75 new CVEs released, only nine are rated Critical and 66 are rated Important in severity by security experts.

Furthermore, keep in mind that this is one of the largest volumes we’ve seen from Microsoft for a February release in quite some time.

We have to say that it is a bit unusual to see half of the Patch Tuesday release address remote code execution (RCE) bugs.

Remember that none of the new CVEs released this month are listed as publicly known, but there are two bugs listed as being exploited in the wild at the time of release.

That being said, let’s take a closer look at some of the more interesting updates for this month, starting with the bugs under active attack.

CVE	Title	Severity	CVSS	Public	Exploited	Type
CVE-2023-21715	Microsoft Office Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability	Important	7.3	No	Yes	SFB
CVE-2023-23376	Windows Common Log File System Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	Yes	EoP
CVE-2023-21808	.NET and Visual Studio Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Critical	8.4	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21689	Microsoft Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Critical	9.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21690	Microsoft Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Critical	9.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21692	Microsoft Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Critical	9.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21718	Microsoft SQL ODBC Driver Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Critical	7.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21716	Microsoft Word Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Critical	9.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-23381	Visual Studio Code Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Critical	8.4	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21815	Visual Studio Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Critical	8.4	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21803	Windows iSCSI Discovery Service Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Critical	9.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21722	.NET Denial of Service Vulnerability	Important	4.7	No	No	DoS
CVE-2023-23377	3D Builder Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-23390	3D Builder Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21777	Azure App Service on Azure Stack Hub Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	8.7	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-21703	Azure Data Box Gateway Remote Code Execution vulnerability	Important	6.5	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21564	Azure DevOps Server Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability	Important	7.1	No	No	XSS
CVE-2023-21553	Azure DevOps Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	7.5	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-23382	Azure Machine Learning Compute Instance Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	Unknown	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-21687	HTTP.sys Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	5.5	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-21809	Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	SFB
CVE-2023-23379	Microsoft Defender for IoT Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	6.4	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-21807	Microsoft Dynamics 365 (on-premises) Cross-site Scripting Vulnerability	Important	5.8	No	No	XSS
CVE-2023-21570	Microsoft Dynamics 365 (on-premises) Cross-site Scripting Vulnerability	Important	5.4	No	No	XSS
CVE-2023-21571	Microsoft Dynamics 365 (on-premises) Cross-site Scripting Vulnerability	Important	5.4	No	No	XSS
CVE-2023-21572	Microsoft Dynamics 365 (on-premises) Cross-site Scripting Vulnerability	Important	6.5	No	No	XSS
CVE-2023-21573	Microsoft Dynamics 365 (on-premises) Cross-site Scripting Vulnerability	Important	5.4	No	No	XSS
CVE-2023-21778	Microsoft Dynamics Unified Service Desk Remote Code Execution	Important	8.3	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21706	Microsoft Exchange Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21710	Microsoft Exchange Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	7.2	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21707	Microsoft Exchange Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21529	Microsoft Exchange Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21704	Microsoft ODBC Driver for SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21797	Microsoft ODBC Driver Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21798	Microsoft ODBC Driver Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21714	Microsoft Office Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	5.5	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-21721	Microsoft OneNote Spoofing Vulnerability	Important	6.5	No	No	Spoofing
CVE-2023-21693	Microsoft PostScript Printer Driver Information Disclosure	Important	5.7	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-21684	Microsoft PostScript Printer Driver Remote Code Execution	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21801	Microsoft PostScript Printer Driver Remote Code Execution	Important	7.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21701	Microsoft Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP) Denial of Service Vulnerability	Important	7.5	No	No	DoS
CVE-2023-21691	Microsoft Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP) Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	7.5	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-21695	Microsoft Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	7.5	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21717	Microsoft SharePoint Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-21568	Microsoft SQL Server Integration Service (VS extension) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21705	Microsoft SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21713	Microsoft SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21528	Microsoft SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21799	Microsoft WDAC OLE DB provider for SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21685	Microsoft WDAC OLE DB provider for SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21686	Microsoft WDAC OLE DB provider for SQL Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	8.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21688	NT OS Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-21806	Power BI Report Server Spoofing Vulnerability	Important	8.2	No	No	Spoofing
CVE-2023-23378	Print 3D Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21567	Visual Studio Denial of Service Vulnerability	Important	5.6	No	No	DoS
CVE-2023-21566	Visual Studio Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21816	Windows Active Directory Domain Services API Denial of Service Vulnerability	Important	7.5	No	No	DoS
CVE-2023-21812	Windows Common Log File System Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-21820	Windows Distributed File System (DFS) Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	7.4	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21694	Windows Fax Service Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	6.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21823	Windows Graphics Component Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-21804	Windows Graphics Component Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-21822	Windows Graphics Component Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-21800	Windows Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-21697	Windows Internet Storage Name Service (iSNS) Server Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	6.2	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-21699	Windows Internet Storage Name Service (iSNS) Server Information Disclosure Vulnerability	Important	5.3	No	No	Info
CVE-2023-21700	Windows iSCSI Discovery Service Denial of Service Vulnerability	Important	7.5	No	No	DoS
CVE-2023-21811	Windows iSCSI Service Denial of Service Vulnerability	Important	7.5	No	No	DoS
CVE-2023-21702	Windows iSCSI Service Denial of Service Vulnerability	Important	7.5	No	No	DoS
CVE-2023-21817	Windows Kerberos Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	EoP
CVE-2023-21802	Windows Media Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21805	Windows MSHTML Platform Remote Code Execution Vulnerability	Important	7.8	No	No	RCE
CVE-2023-21813	Windows Secure Channel Denial of Service Vulnerability	Important	7.5	No	No	DoS
CVE-2023-21819	Windows Secure Channel Denial of Service Vulnerability	Important	7.5	No	No	DoS
CVE-2023-21818	Windows Secure Channel Denial of Service Vulnerability	Important	7.5	No	No	DoS
CVE-2019-15126 *	MITRE: CVE-2019-15126 Specifically timed and handcrafted traffic can cause internal errors (related to state transitions) in a WLAN device	Medium	3.1	No	No	Info

Note that there are three CVSS 9.8 bugs in Microsoft’s Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol (PEAP), but it doesn’t seem that this protocol is used much anymore.

Frankly, we find CVSS 9.8 bug in the iSCSI Discovery Service a lot more alarming, as data centers with storage area networks (SANs) should definitely check with their vendors to see if their SAN is impacted by the RCE vulnerability.

Please take into consideration the fact that the bug in SQL would require someone to connect to a malicious SQL server via ODBC.

There are no Print Spooler bugs getting fixed this month, but there are two bugs in the PostScript Printer Driver that could allow an authenticated attacker to take over a system sharing a printer.

Actually, there are quite a few fixes for SQL Server, and exploiting these would require an affected system to connect to a malicious SQL Server, typically through ODBC.

Experts say that, while that seems unlikely, they are worried about the various servicing scenarios between all the available versions of SQL Server.

We also have to mention the bug in Azure Data Box Gateway, which requires high privileges to exploit, but that’s not the case for Azure DevOps Server vulnerability.

To get access, an attacker only needs to have only Run access to the pipeline, but not every pipeline is vulnerable.

Unfortunately, the tech giant doesn’t provide information on how to distinguish the affected and non-affected pipelines.

The Dynamics bug does require authentication, an attacker might be able to call the target’s local files in the Resources directory and execute Windows commands that are outside of the Dynamics application.

There are also a couple of RCE bugs, but they do allow us to remind you the Fax Service is still a thing, so the final RCE bug is the lone Moderate-rated bug this month for Edge (Chromium-based).

Feel free to check each individual CVE and find out more about what it means, how it manifests, and what scenarios can malicious third parties use to exploit them.

Have you found any other issues after installing this month’s security updates? Share your experience with us in the comments section below.

Get the Windows February 2023 Patch Tuesday security updates

Posted on February 14, 2023October 4, 2023 by Alexandru Poloboc

Friends, the second month of 2023, and the time has come for us to get excited about a brand new batch of security updates from Microsoft.

Please remember that these updates actually bring an entire array of changes for both Windows 10 and Windows 11, regardless of whether it is a newer or an older version.

This February 2023 Patch Tuesday batch of updates is expected to fix some of the issues that were still pending, and in the article below we will be looking to see exactly what we get.

We have included a detailed changelog for each cumulative update, and we will also be providing you with direct download links from Microsoft’s Windows Update Catalog, so you know that they are secure.

With all that being said, remember that, alternatively, you can always use other methods to get the latest updates, including:

The Windows Update menu on your OS
The WSUS (Windows Server Update Service)
Group Policies set up by your admins if you’re part of a larger network.

Now that we got this out of the way, let’s have a closer look at the February 2023 Patch Tuesday updates rollout from Microsoft.

Changes included in the February Patch Tuesday updates

Windows 11

There really isn’t further need for introductions, since most of you are already running Windows 11 on your devices.

You might also like to know that the 22H2 version of Windows 11, the operating system’s first major update, is now ready for downloading and installing.

Beware, however, of the great number of bugs and glitches that will test your patience when discovering all the new features coming to Windows 11.

Cumulative update name

KB5022836

Changes and improvements

This update makes miscellaneous security improvements to internal OS functionality. No additional issues were documented for this release.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

Windows 10 versions 21H2, 21H1, and 20H2

Windows 10 version 22H2 is the latest major version of Windows 10, and as such has the most experimental features on it.

Fortunately, most bugs that were first present when it was first made available have been weeded out, and this version of Windows 10 is far more stable.

Cumulative update name

KB5021233

Changes and improvements

This build includes all the improvements from the supported Windows 10, version 20H2 editions.
This update addresses an issue that affects certain Internet of Things (IoT) devices. They lose audio.

Known issues

Devices with Windows installations created from custom offline media or custom ISO image might have Microsoft Edge Legacy removed by this update, but not automatically replaced by the new Microsoft Edge. This issue is only encountered when custom offline media or ISO images are created by slipstreaming this update into the image without having first installed the standalone servicing stack update (SSU) released March 29, 2021 or later.

Windows 10, version 1809

This version of the Windows operating system is outdated and will no longer receive any updates from the Redmond tech company.

Therefore, users that are still running this old version on their devices are strongly advised to choose a more recent one to update to.

If you still want to use Windows 10 and are not willing to upgrade to 11, you don’t have to do so right away. After all, Microsoft announced that the support for Windows 10 will go on until 2025.

Cumulative update name

KB5022840

Improvements and fixes:

It updates the text and web link for Windows Admin Center (WAC) notifications. These appear after you sign in to the desktop unless you have turned them off. The WAC notifications highlight the available Windows Server management options.
This update addresses an issue that affects searchindexer.exe. It randomly stops you from signing in or signing out.
This update affects HTML dialogs in Microsoft Edge IE mode. Administrators can now reset the zoom for HTML dialogs to the default.
This update addresses an issue that affects dialogs in IE Mode.
This update addresses an issue that affects Microsoft Edge when it is in IE Mode. The titles of pop-up windows and tabs are wrong.
This update addresses an issue that affects certain Internet of Things (IoT) devices. They lose audio.
This update addresses an issue that affects local Kerberos authentication. It fails if the local Key Distribution Center (KDC) service is not active.
This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Server 2022. Phone activation of a Key Management Services (KMS) key does not work.
This update affects Active Directory (AD). It improves the replication performance of AD in large environments.
This update addresses an issue that affects the Resilient File System (ReFS) MSba tag. The issue causes a nonpaged pool leak.
This update addresses an issue that affects the Resilient File System (ReFS). The issue causes high nonpaged pool usage, which depletes system memory.

Known issues

After installing KB5001342 or later, the Cluster Service might fail to start because a Cluster Network Driver is not found.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

Windows 10, version 1607

Windows 10, version 1607 has reached the end of service for all of its available editions. Update to the latest version of Windows 10 in order to keep your system protected.

Cumulative update name

KB5022838

Improvements and fixes

This update addresses an issue that puts domain controllers (DC) in a restart loop. This occurs because the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) stops responding. The error is 0xc0000374. LSASS stops responding if you populate KrbTGT with the AltsecID on accounts that read-write and read-only DCs use.
This update affects HTML dialogs in Microsoft Edge IE mode. Administrators can now reset the zoom for HTML dialogs to the default.
This update addresses an issue that affects AppV. It stops file names from having the correct letter case (uppercase or lowercase).
This update addresses an issue that affects certain Internet of Things (IoT) devices. They lose audio.
This update addresses an issue that affects searchindexer.exe. It randomly stops you from signing in or signing out.

[DIRECT DOWNLOAD LINK]

Drawing the line, this is pretty much what we are dealing with in terms of security updates for the month of February 20232, as a part of the Patch Tuesday rollout.

Have you noticed any issues after downloading and installing these security updates for your version of the Windows operating system? Let us know in the comments section below.

New Bing waiting list bug is annoying, but here’s the fix

Posted on February 14, 2023October 4, 2023 by Rafly Gilang

Microsoft integrates the power of AI into its Bing search engine. Collaborating with OpenAI, the tech giant brings a ChatGPT-like feature to the often-overlooked search engine to allow it to perform complex searches and tasks.

While it’s not out for the public yet, Microsoft has rolled out a waiting list for those interested. The list is long, but you can sign up & get ahead by setting Microsoft defaults on your PC and installing the Bing mobile app.

However, several users reported that they’ve been locked out of the feature even after receiving a confirmation email that they’re in for the new Bing.

“I received the “you are in” mail of new bing. But when I access https://www.bing.com/new , it only says I can join the waitlist so I tried to join again and I joined successfully. I then tried to ask questions to bing and chat with it since it says I’m on the waitlist. I tried to opt out the waitlist in https://www.bing.com/waitlist/optout to resolve this problem but received “An unexpected error has occurred. Please try again later.” I think this is a bug. Will I ever be able to access the new Bing?”

The bug is annoying, considering how highly-anticipated this feature is. Some other users even reported that a pop-up message saying “Something went wrong. Please try again” always comes out whenever they want to enlist themselves for the waiting list.

Does this relate to you? Follow along to find out what you need to do.

How can I fix the Bing waiting list bug?

1. Private browsing

1. Open your Microsoft Edge browser.

2. Click on the vertical ellipsis on your upper right screen ➜ New InPrivate window.

3. With your InPrivate window open, access the New Bing‘s website at https://www.bing.com/new and you should be able to see the new Bing by now.

If not, click Join the waitlist again.

2. Alternative login credential (if you have another Microsoft account)

1. With your Edge browser open, access the New Bing‘s website.

2. Click on Sign in on your upper right screen

3. Fill in your email and password ➜ Next.

4. Access The New Bing‘s website & click Join the waitlist.

3. Alternative login credential (if you do not have another Microsoft account)

1. On the Sign in page, click Create one! instead

2. Fill in your desired email and password ➜ Next.

3. Finish the captcha verification until it says Verification complete.

4. The New Bing window will pop up. Click Join the waitlist.

On the other hand, Google has also rolled out its answer to the growing competition in the AI world, Bard. It simplifies complex searches using Google’s Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA) and is currently being tested by several select users.

Are you excited about the integration of AI and search engine? Let us know in the comments!

Skype’s annual revenue takes a major hit, drops by 74.5% in approximately 10 years

Posted on February 14, 2023 by Radu Tyrsina

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Skype hit 40 million daily active users. This is because organizations started transitioning to hybrid work, forcing them to become dependent on virtual meeting tools in a bid to prevent the further spread of the virus.

However, the communication tool seems to be on a downward spiral. According to a report by L’Informé, a french publication, Skype’s annual revenue is at an all-time low. In retrospect, the company’s annual revenue in 2013 was $722 million.

With a difference of almost 10 years, Skype’s annual revenue has dropped by 74.5% with last year’s annual revenue coming in at $184.3 million. Last year, Microsoft released a preview version of Skype that allowed them to make phone calls to and from Ukraine for free.

The company’s financial information indicates that this move caused it to incur a $7.5 million loss. The financial report further highlights that the demand for Skype credit has significantly dropped, an indication that users are not making calls as much using the platform.

What’s more, the platform’s annual profit has also been affected having dropped from 90.8 million to $6.35 million. This translates to a 93% drop in almost 10 years. Perhaps, these margins can be traced back to when Microsoft removed some key features from the platform, a move that was not well-received by users.

Besides, Microsoft championing Teams to become its default messaging app, having exceeded 270 million monthly active users last year doesn’t help Skype’s case. Share your thoughts with us in the comment section.

via Thurrott.com

Master the Windows key alphabet with these 10 amazing keyboard shortcuts

Posted on February 14, 2023September 2, 2025 by davew

The Windows key is the most underrated on your keyboard. Most people only use it to open the Start menu, but you can use it for the Windows key alphabet instead to drastically improve your productivity. In this guide, we will show you some fantastic keyboard shortcuts that use the little-known Windows key alphabet.

Windows key alphabet

Windows key + A: Opens the Action Center, where you can access quick settings and notifications.
Windows key + B: Show hidden icons on the taskbar.
Windows key + C: Opens Microsoft Teams Chat (personal).
Windows key + D: Minimizes all your open windows and shows your desktop. This can help if you need to quickly access files or shortcuts that are on your desktop.
Windows key + E: Opens File Explorer, where you can navigate directly to the files or folders you need.
Windows key + I: Opens the Settings app, where you can customize your Windows settings.
Windows key + L: Locks your Windows PC and takes you to the login screen that you see when your PC turns on. This is a good way to secure your PC if you need to step away for a moment.
Windows key + R: Opens the Run dialog box, where you can quickly run a command.
Windows key + S: Opens Search, which you can use to find files, apps, and settings on your Windows PC.
Windows key + X: Opens the Quick Link menu, where you can quickly access various Windows system tools and settings.

Mastering the Windows key alphabet can be a game-changer for any Windows 10 or Windows 11 user.

By using these Windows key alphabet keyboard shortcuts, you can perform your daily tasks much more efficiently and save yourself a ton of time. The best part is these shortcuts are easy to remember and can quickly become a habit that you can incorporate into your daily workflow.

Something Went Wrong Linkedin Error: 2 Best Ways to Fix It

Posted on February 14, 2023December 2, 2024 by Madalina Dinita

We’ve all been on Linkedin, but sometimes you might get Something went wrong message on LinkedIn. If that happens, LinkedIn won’t load in Chrome or in other browsers properly.

How do I fix LinkedIn Something went wrong error?

There are a few preliminary checks that you can take:

Log out and log back in – It’s possible that there’s an issue with a website, so logging out can sometimes help.
Use a different browser – Issues with the browser can prevent LinkedIn from working. To fix it, you might have to switch your browser.

1. Clear your browser cache

Chrome

Open Chrome. At the top right, click More.
Click More tools, then click Clear browsing data.
Choose a time range, might be Last hour or All time.
Select the type of data you want to remove.
Click the Clear data button.
You’re all set.

Firefox

Click on the Menu button and choose Options.
Select the Privacy & Security panel and go to the Cookies and Site Data section. Next, click on the Clear data button.
Select all options and click on Clear.

Microsoft Edge

Click the Menu button in the top right and choose Settings.
In the left pane, select Privacy, search and services. Next, click on Choose what to clear.
Set Time range to All time and check the components that you want to clear. Next, click on Clear now.

2. Check the client_id

Make sure that your client_id in the authorize URL matches the client_Id on your APP page.
Next, Make sure that the redirect_url value in your authorize URL section has been authorized on your app page.

This solution can be helpful to individuals who are having issues with login into their LinkedIn Developer Portal accounts.

3. Disable browser extensions

Open your browser.
Click the three dots (menu) in the upper right corner.
Select More tools > Extensions.
You’ll see a list of installed extensions.
Toggle the switch next to each extension to disable it.
Restart your browser.
Try accessing LinkedIn.

If the issue is fixed, re-enable the extensions one by one to pinpoint the culprit.

Why does LinkedIn keep saying something went wrong?

Server/client glitches – Sometimes, there might be a certain glitch with your browser that causes this error. Logging out usually helps.
Web browser – Issues with the browser can cause these types of problems. To prevent them, use an enterprise web browser.
Cache – Browser cache can cause issues such as this. However, you can always manually clean the cache or use cookie cleaner software.

After trying all of our solutions, you should be able to visit LinkedIn without any issues. Don’t hesitate to let us know if you still encounter any problems.

Did we miss a solution that worked for you? If so, let us know what solution you used to fix LinkedIn Something went wrong please try again error in the comments section.

How to Reduce CPU Usage While Gaming: 7 Handy Tips That Work

Posted on February 14, 2023September 23, 2025 by Sagar Naresh

Your gaming performance is heavily affected by your hardware. This is why many games want to reduce CPU usage while gaming.

This isn’t the only problem, and many reported high CPU and low GPU usage when gaming. However, CPU issues can be fixed with the steps from this guide.

What are the causes of high CPU usage on a Windows PC?

While we will take a look at how to reduce CPU usage while gaming, let us first take a look at the different causes that trigger this problem:

Your CPU is overheating – Overheating problems on your PC or laptop are usually caused by dust buildup. This is especially true if your PC isn’t cleaned up in a while or if it’s kept in a dusty area.
Game is not compatible with your PC – Make sure that your PC meets the hardware requirements of the game that you’re trying to run. It might be necessary to upgrade your PC or OS if you want to run certain games.
The drivers aren’t updated – Another important thing to keep in mind is that you need to update drivers on your PC because it can eliminate compatibility and bugs that increase CPU usage.
Background processes – Buggy or unexpected behavior can cause certain issues. This is especially true if you have too many background processes on your PC.
Presence of virus or malware – Malware or virus can often disguise themselves as normal windows process and use CPU and GPU bandwidth, crashing games and resulting in increased CPU usage.

How can I reduce CPU usage while gaming on Windows?

Here are a few things that you can do before applying advanced solutions to reduce high CPU usage on your PC:

A simple restart can fix multiple issues you might be experiencing while running programs.
Check if a new update is available for the game that you are playing, and install it because it could fix the bug that is causing the high CPU usage problem.

Let us check out the advanced troubleshooting solutions.

1. Scan your PC for malware

Open the Start menu by pressing the Windows key.
Search for Windows Security and open it.
Click on Virus & threat protection.
Hit the Quick Scan button.
Windows Security will scan your PC and will ask you to take necessary actions to remove any virus or malware.

The above steps are for the in-built Windows Security antivirus tool. You can perform a virus scan on your PC using any third-party antivirus tool.

If you are confused about which antivirus tool to get for your PC, you can refer to our guide, which lists some of the best antivirus software for Windows 10.

2. Close background apps that use a lot of CPU

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. Click on the Processes tab.
3. Click on the CPU column to sort the processes by their amount of CPU usage.
4. Locate in the list which apps use up a lot of CPU, but are not necessary for playing the game.
5. Select one of the apps and right-click on it, then choose End task from the options.
6. Perform the same steps for all other apps eating up your CPU that are not needed for you while you play video games.

If you noticed that your CPU usage is very high while gaming, it is likely that it’s not just the game you’re playing to blame, but other apps as well.

Basically, there are apps that can be left in the background, which take up CPU power, even though they are not currently used. By closing them in Task Manager, you can free up your PC’s resources, so that your games work better.

3. Update drivers

Right-click on the Start menu and select Device Manager.
Expand each section such as your GPU, audio, etc.
Right-click on your driver and select Update driver.
Select Search automatically for drivers.
Your system will look for new drivers online, and if it detects one, will prompt you to install it.

If your graphics, audio, or other drivers on your PC aren’t up to date, then it can cause optimization issues with the game, and it will result in high CPU usage while gaming.

The above steps require you to manually go through each section and update the drivers. To ease this process, you can check out our recommended tool called Outbyte Driver Updater.

Outbyte Driver Updater helps you scan all the drivers on your PC, and update them with just a single click.

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4. Disable overclocking

Launch the PredatorSense program on your PC.
In the Overclocking section, select the Normal option.
You can set the Fan Control mode as Auto.

PredatorSense is a gaming tool that helps you control your fan speed or overclock GPU for better gaming performance on Acer laptops.

Similarly, other brands have their gaming tool that lets you control the same aspects of your CPU and GPU.

You should disable overclocking so your CPU doesn’t have to work hard for smoother gameplay if you are experiencing excessive CPU heating.

5. Disable power saving mode

Open the Start menu by pressing the Windows button.
Type Edit power plan and open it.
Click on Change advanced power settings.
Select Ultimate performance from the drop-down menu.

6. Reinstall the game

Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
Navigate to the Apps section. Now select Installed apps.
Select the game you want to uninstall and click the Uninstall button.
Once the game is removed, install it again.

NOTE

If you installed the game using a distribution service such as Steam or Origin, you’ll have to uninstall it from the distribution client.

7. Upgrade your hardware

As a last resort, if nothing works, then it is time for you to upgrade your PC. You might be playing a game that is not meant for your PC, and your PC has to do hard work in order to run the game.

You can try upgrading your graphics processor, increasing the RAM on your PC, installing cooling components, etc., basically go for recommended PC requirements of a game and not the minimum requirements.

Is 50% CPU usage normal while gaming?

Yes, a 50% or even slightly higher CPU usage is normal when playing resource-intensive games. For many, the CPU usage was in the 50% range when playing Doom Eternal or Cyberpunk 2077.

Just make sure it’s the game that’s using half the CPU. You could easily verify this in the Task Manager, and if that’s indeed the case, there’s nothing to be worried about.

Does 100% CPU usage damage the PC?

A 100% CPU usage does not damage the PC or its components, even when run at the same load for several hours at a stretch. Though you will notice a considerable fall in performance, and some processes, apps, and games will lag.

Besides, when running the PC at 100% CPU usage, there’s a chance of overheating in Windows. But most modern-age PCs are designed to shut down automatically before the temperature reaches levels that can damage the components. So, you are safe!

And while we are on the subject, find out some expert recommendations on to optimize Windows for gaming and get the best performance.

That is it from us in this guide. We hope the above tips helped you reduce CPU usage while gaming on your PC.

Windows 10 Running Slow: 12 Ways to Fix it

Posted on February 14, 2023July 16, 2025 by Ivan Jenic

Below, we’ll show you what to try when Windows 10 is very slow and unresponsive. We’ve outlined everything in easy-to-understand instructions, but if you’re a visual person, we have a video summary:

(You can always come back to this article because it has a few more details than the video).

How do you fix a slow computer running on Windows 10?

After upgrading, Windows 10 proved very slow, frozen, or unresponsive on startup and when opening programs or folders.

What’s more, even File Explorer shows a delayed response.

If all of that sounds familiar, the solutions below should help.

How do you fix a slow computer running on Windows 10?

1. Use a cleaning tool

Excessive and unnecessary data can cause hard drive fragmentation, affecting overall system performance. So cleaning your PC makes sense here.

Specialized cleaner applications come in handy here. The built-in Windows Defrag app can also help. You can erase useless data from your PC and optimize your computer performance with a few clicks.

2. Update your drivers and software

If you wonder My Windows 10 laptop is very slow, what can I do?, you should know that sometimes your Windows 10 can become slow if your essential components, drivers, or applications are outdated.

You can easily update drivers in Windows:

Open Device Manager.
Locate relevant device drivers in the list.
Drivers that usually cause slowdowns: Network Adapter (Internet driver), Display Adapters (Your graphic card – NVIDIA, AMD Ryzen, etc).
Right-click on the driver & hit update.

However, it takes a long time to find the appropriate suitable drivers to improve Windows 10’s slowness and responsiveness.

Also, keeping the drivers up to date can help you fix other issues like laptop lagging when charging; read this guide to learn more.

3. Disable heavy performance processes

Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard.
Go to the Startup tab and sort the processes by their Startup impact rating.
Right-click on processes with High ratings and select Disable, but don’t disable crucial programs such as your antivirus. The computer running slow Windows 10 issue will be fixed.

One of the simplest ways to do this is to disable the processes you don’t need. However, this will leave more resources to other apps, thus making the PC faster.

This is just one method you can use; there are, however, many other easy solutions to speed up Windows 10 and make it lightning-fast.

Elements such as disabling animations, shadows, and other special effects play a significant role in PC speed.

4. Enable a faster startup option

Press Windows Key + S and enter power settings. Select Power & sleep settings.
Click Additional power settings.
Click on Choose what the power button does from the menu on the left.
Now select Change settings that are currently unavailable.
Make sure to check Turn on fast startup (recommended).
Save your changes, and you’re good to go.

This feature is called Hybrid Startup and Shutdown, and it puts your PC into a hibernation state, improving the startup and shutdown process.

5. Check for slow services

Press Windows key + R and type services.msc and press Enter.
In the list of all services that start with your Windows 10, look for any services that take too long to launch.
Right-click each service and change the settings from Default to Automatic (Delayed Start).
Save your changes and restart.

6. Disable blur effects and transparency

Open the Settings app.
Then click on Personalization.
Next, click on Colors, and set Transparency effects to Off.

7. Stop Windows Module Installer service

Press Windows Key + R and enter services.msc. Now press Enter or click OK.
Locate Windows Module Installer on the list and double-click it to open its properties.
Check the Service status. If it’s set to Running, click the Stop button to stop the service.
In addition, you can also change the Startup Type to Disabled if you want to disable this service permanently.
Now click on Apply and OK to save changes.

After disabling this service, check if the problem is resolved. You may want to try this solution if Windows 10 is slow after an update.

Note: By disabling this service, you might not be able to receive Windows updates, so be sure to enable it to avoid any other problems.

8. Disconnect all peripherals

photo image of USB peripheral entries on PC — *Try to disconnect USB peripherals like your mouse, printer,* *or keyboard.*

Sometimes, your hardware can cause Windows 10 to become slow. So it would help if you disconnected all peripherals from your PC to fix that problem.

This includes all USB devices, such as printers, hard drives, cameras, etc.

9. Defragment your drive

Press Windows Key + S and enter defrag. Now choose Defragment and Optimize Drives.
When the Optimize Drives window opens, select the desired drive and click on Analyze.
After scanning the drives, select the fragmented drive and click on Optimize.
Wait while Windows defragments your drive, and repeat this process for all your drives.

Once the defragmentation process is finished, check if the problem is resolved. This is a critical fix if Windows 10 is slow to open programs.

It’s worth mentioning that many other great third-party defragmentation tools offer various advanced features.

10. Adjust the size of the virtual memory

Press Windows Key + S and enter advanced. Select View advanced system settings.
Click the Settings button in the Performance section.
Go to the Advanced tab and click on the Change button.
In the Virtual Memory window, uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
Then, select the Custom size, and enter an Initial Size and Maximum size. Now click on the Set button and OK to save changes.

After doing that, you’ll set the virtual memory size for that drive. This is a critical fix if Windows 10 is slow and unresponsive. Additionally, you might have to select the manual size for all your drives.

The size of your virtual memory is related to your RAM size.

As a general rule, the Initial size should be at least 1.5 times larger than your PC’s RAM. As for Maximum size, it should be up to 4 times larger than your PC’s RAM.

11. Check for viruses

Windows 10 is vulnerable to viruses like any other software, so ensure your system is clean. You can use any free antivirus software and do a full system scan to be sure.

We believe that any slowdown problem should be resolved after trying out these solutions.

12. Perform a clean Windows 10 install

Sometimes, there are software issues when you upgrade from Windows 8 or Windows 7 to Windows 10, or even when installing the latest Windows 10 updates.

So, it’s advised that you perform a clean install of Windows 10. Just be sure that you back up your important files before doing this.

A clean install is effective for extreme cases, for example, if Windows 10 has a slow boot or a black screen or exhibits slow login.

How do I clear my RAM cache on Windows 10?

Search for cmd on your computer search and select Run as administrator.
Type in the script below and click Enter.
ipconfig /FlushDNS
Wait for the command to run, and your cache should be cleared.

There you have it. Now you should have your slow Windows 10 PC running at average speed again.

If these symptoms look familiar, here’s what to do:

So in today’s article, we’ll go through possible causes and solutions, hoping to boost your OS so that you get complete control over your device.

Why is my Windows 10 computer so slow?

Too many background processes may be the main reason for sluggish performance; memory, laptop battery life, processor power, and internet bandwidth may all be depleted.

Also, if applications, apps, and other objects are programmed to open automatically whenever you start your PC, Windows 10 machines may get clogged immediately.

Furthermore, Windows 10 includes a variety of visual effects by default, such as shadows to give application windows a sense of depth, animations for making on-screen movements seamless, transparencies, thumbnail previews, and more.

So, why is Windows 10 so slow? The issue is that each effect consumes system resources, which might cause your PC to lag. Of course, there is also the possibility of malware, wherein you must perform a full PC scan. Below are some of the variations of the Windows running slow issue:

Windows 10 running slow after update or fresh install
Windows 10 running slow after reset or factory reset
Windows 10 running slow and freezing
Windows 10 running slow on laptop
Windows 10 running slow on SSD
Windows 10 running slow for no reason
Lenovo, HP laptops Windows 10 running slow
Windows 10 slow performance – computer suddenly slow and unresponsive
Windows 10 very slow and unresponsive

How can I fix Windows 11 if it’s slow?

Sadly, your new Windows 11 PCs may also become slow. The reasons behind this are similar to those in Windows 10 PCs.

You should note that you can use similar fixes discussed in this article to get them to average speed again.

Additionally, these particular steps to make Windows 11 faster will come in handy.

Note that we have not written these solutions in any particular order, and we hope you will be able to try the fixes that seem most relevant to your case.

On the other hand, if you have other suggestions on this topic, feel free to reach us using the comments section.

High GPU usage when watching YouTube videos? There’s a fix

Posted on February 14, 2023October 4, 2023 by Rafly Gilang

Several users have complained about the sudden high jump in GPU usage while browsing YouTube, notably on Windows 11 users with the dark mode of the popular video-sharing platform.

The dissatisfaction comes because some computers couldn’t manage the high requirement needed by the new feature, while the company doesn’t offer a lite solution for it.

While running YouTube in dark mode, their 3D GPU usage skyrockets even after turning off Windows 11 animations feature which could potentially cause it.

“While watching Youtube videos the 3D GPU usage increases to 60-80%. The drivers are upto date and I even did fresh install of windows 11 but still the issue persists. Although by disabling the windows animations seems to fixes it. Can anybody guide me how to fix it without disabling aminations?”

The answer to it is turning off the ambient mode, which can be energy and resource-consuming for some users.

Introduced in October 2022 for dark mode users on both desktop and mobile, the feature uses dynamic color sampling to make the screen adapts to the video by picking up its tone in real time as glowing background.

Follow along as we will show you step-by-step how to do this.

How can I fix high CPU usage when playing YouTube videos?

1. With YouTube opened on your browser, click ⚙️

2. Click on Ambient mode, then toggle it off.

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

Personalized Settings Not Responding? 5 Ways to Fix it

Posted on February 14, 2023October 4, 2023 by Madhuparna Roy

When trying to access the personalization settings in Windows 11, you may often encounter the personalized settings not responding error.

You may want to choose a different Windows 11 theme, screen color, fonts, or lock screen to personalize your Windows appearance, however, this error can be annoying.

Why does Windows 11 Personalize not work?

If you are trying to access the Personalized Settings on your PC to change icons, themes, etc., but are unable to, there could be quite a few reasons for this issue:

Windows Explorer fails to start – When Windows Explorer continues to run in the background but cannot be opened normally.
System files – Most often, a Windows error may arise due to corrupted system files.
Faulty Windows update – Chances are that the recent Windows update came with bugs that may be causing the issue.
File Explorer did not start correctly – Sometimes, the File Explorer may crash, leading to the personalized settings not responding issue.
Outdated graphics drivers – You may not be able to access the personalized settings due to the graphics drivers that have not been updated, so it’s time to take action.

Fortunately, we have some solutions that will have you get rid of the personalized settings not responding black screen issue and help you continue making the changes.

How do I fix personalized settings not responding?

Try the preliminary checks below to see if they help fix the issue:

Reboot your PC.
Disconnect your devices.
Try to disable the network connection before rebooting or shutting down after an update.
Switch the network connection.
Reset the GPU.
Try using your password instead of your PIN.
Uninstall previous Windows updates.

If the above steps fail, you can proceed with the main troubleshooting methods below.

1. Restart the Windows Explorer

Right-click the Start button and select Task Manager to open the Task Manager window.
Next, go to the Processes tab and under Windows Processes, look for Windows Explorer.
Now, right-click on Windows Explorer, and select Restart.

2. Update the graphics driver

Go to the Windows icon on the taskbar, right-click the Start button, and select Device Manager to open the Device Manager window.
Navigate to Display adapters, right-click on the device, and select Update driver.
Next, in the Update Drivers window, click on Search automatically for drivers.
Now, Windows will start looking for the latest drivers, and if any are available, it will apply the updates automatically.

Alternatively, you can also install the drivers manually by following three quick methods in this post.

Now, close Device Manager, restart your PC, and check if you still encounter the personalized settings not responding issue.

To make sure that your driver updates are safely we recommend using Outbyte Driver Updater, a specialized tool that finds and automatically keeps all outdated drivers up to date.

3. Repair system files using the SFC command

Press the Win + R keys together to open the Run console.
Type cmd in the search bar, and press the Ctrl +Shift + Enter shortcut keys to launch the elevated Command Prompt window.
Run the below command in the Command Prompt (Admin) window and hit Enter: sfc / scannow
The system checker utility will now start checking for any corrupted files and if any are found, will repair them automatically.

Once you see the success message, close Command Prompt, reboot your PC, and check if you can access the Personalized Settings now.

4. Delete an installed update in the registry editor

NOTE

Before you make any changes to the registry data, make sure that you create a backup of the registry settings. This will help you recover any data that may be lost during the process.

Press the Win + R keys simultaneously to launch the Run console.
Type regedit in the search box and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Next, navigate to the below path to find the installed update: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components
Here, on the left side, under Installed Components, right-click on the last key and select Export to create a backup of the folder.
Now, right-click again and select Delete.

This will help you uninstall the last update. Restart your PC and check if you still encounter the error while trying to access Personalized Settings.

Alternatively, you can also uninstall the previous Windows update on Windows 11 using Advanced Startup.

5. Open File Explorer using Task Manager

Go to Start, right-click and select Task Manager.
Click on the File tab on the top left and select Run new task.
Type explorer in the Create new task search box and hit Enter.

This will open File Explorer instantly. Once done, check if you can access Personalized settings or if it’s still not responding.

How do I reset my Personalization on Windows 11?

To reset all your Personalization settings to default, you can follow the below instructions:

Right-click on the Desktop and click on Personalize to open the Personalization settings window.
Here, on the right, click on Themes.
On the next screen, scroll down and click on Desktop icon settings.
In the Desktop Icon Settings dialog, click on Restore Default.
Now, return to the Personalization settings window and you can select Start, Taskbar, etc., one by one and change enable or disable the options to default settings.
You may change the other settings like color, background, fonts, etc. to default.

How long does it take to set up personalized settings for Microsoft Edge?

Given the plethora of customizations available in Microsoft Edge, it may take anywhere between 5-20 minutes to get the personalized settings set up.

But for those intending to modify only a few personalized settings, say, change the Edge theme or reconfigure specific actions, it shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.

If you see a black screen and a popup window with the error, refer to our detailed post on troubleshooting the Windows 11 black screen issue.

However, if none of the above methods work, use a restore point you created earlier on Windows 11.

For any other queries related to personalized settings, leave a message in the comments box below.

How to Mark All Emails as Read in Outlook: 3 Easy Methods

Posted on February 14, 2023October 4, 2023 by Henderson Jayden Harper

Outlook emails are left unread when not opened, meaning they are still unattended by the recipient. However, these email feeds create a rowdy inbox that is not appealing to many users.

Having too many emails left unread on Outlook can make navigating your inbox challenging and leave unwanted emails. Hence, knowing how to mark emails as read in Outlook is essential.

What is the shortcut to mark all emails as read in Outlook?

You can employ some shortcuts to mark all the email feeds on Outlook as read. Because Outlook is available on different operating systems, we’ll take you through shortcuts for Windows and Mac:

On Windows – Launch the Outlook app, open your inbox, then press Ctrl + Q to mark all messages as read.
On Mac – Open Outlook and go to your email inbox, then press Option + Command + T to mark all messages as read.

Aside from tidying up your feed, you may also want to make your emails engaging, and inserting GIFs in your Outlook email will help you achieve that.

Now that you know the shortcuts for this operation, you may see other methods below. If you want to know about Outlook keyboard shortcuts, check out our guide.

How do I mark all emails as read in Outlook?

1. Mark all Emails as Read in Outlook for Web

Launch a browser on your PC, go to Outlook for Web, and sign into your account.
Click on Inbox and press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to mark all the emails. Or tick the radio button beside Focused to select all emails.
Then, select Mark all as read.
Click OK on the confirmation prompt to mark all your unread conversations as read.

It’ll remove the new message receipt on emails yet to be opened and mark them as read. Check the best browsers for Outlook 365 you can download on your device.

2. Create a Search Folder to find unread emails and mark all as Read (Windows and Mac)

Open Outlook and go to the Home tab.
Scroll down the menu and right-click on Search Folders, then click on New Search Folder.
Click the Create a custom Search Folder option and the Choose button.
Type Unread in the Name bar, then click the Criteria button to specify what items this search folder contains.
Click the More Choices tab, check the box for Only items that are, ensure that it’s showing as unread, then click OK.
Press OK on the Custom Search Folder page, then click OK again.
On the Outlook Home menu, scroll down and select the new Unread search folder, right-click on it, and click Mark All as Read.

Creating a Search folder to find unread emails will classify your inbox, making all the emails yet to be read in a folder. Read how to see which folder emails are in Outlook to learn more. Our guide on how to view the next unread message in Outlook can also help you never miss an email, so don’t hesitate to check it out.

We also have a great guide that can help you remove Outlook subject prefixes FW and RE, so be sure not to miss it.

3. Mark all Emails as Read in Outlook for Windows

Launch Outlook and log in to your account.
Go to the folder pane and select a folder.
Click on any message in the list, and then press Ctrl + A to select every email in the folder.
Right-click any of the selected messages, then select Mark as Read from the drop-down.

Conclusively, our readers can check our guide on Outlook not receiving emails from Gmail and how to fix the problem. Also, you can read our guide on what to do if Outlook email fails after Windows upgrade.

Another problem users complain about is emails disappearing from Outlook without being deleted by the user.

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

Fix: Windows Could Not Start Audio Service on Local Computer

Posted on February 14, 2023October 9, 2025 by Sagar Naresh

Not getting sound out of your PC is one of the annoying issues that you would come across. Users have reported seeing a red cross mark on the Volume icon on the Taskbar, and an error message that reads Windows could not start the Windows Audio service on Local Computer Error 0x80070005. Access is denied.

Moreover, turning on the Windows Audio service also hasn’t helped users in fixing this problem. So, how can you fix this error? Well, that’s exactly what we are going to show you in this guide.

Why am I getting Windows could not start the Windows Audio service on Local Computer error?

Here are a few common reasons that could trigger the Windows Audio service on Local Computer Error 0x80070005. Access is denied problem:

Windows Audio service is disabled: You should check if the Windows Audio service is disabled or not. If it is disabled then you will face this issue.
Corrupt system files: If audio-related system files are missing or corrupt then you will come across this issue.
Outdated drivers: Drivers are pretty important, and if any file is missing or the drive is outdated, then you will face different types of issues.

What to do if Windows could not start the Windows Audio service on the local computer?

Before going with the advanced solutions, you can check and apply the preliminary fixes mentioned below.

Perform a simple restart and check if this fixes the sound issue on your PC. Here’s what to do if the computer remains stuck on restarting.
Make sure that the audio driver is installed on your PC for your device. If it is missing then it could result in this error.
Check the volume levels and see if your speakers aren’t set to mute.

Now that you have tried the above fixes and are still not able to resolve the problem, then you can jump to the below-advanced troubleshooting solutions.

1. Run the sound troubleshooter

Press the Win + I buttons to open Settings.
Click on Troubleshoot.
Select Other troubleshooters.
Hit the Run button next to Playing Audio.
Let the system detect any issues with your sound hardware.
Follow the system prompts if it detects any issue and check if this fixes the problem or not.

2. Tweak Windows Audio service log-on settings

Open the Start menu.
Type services and open it.
Locate Windows Audio.
Double-click on the Windows Audio service.
Switch to the Log on tab.
Select the Local System account option and check the box for Allow service to interact with desktop option.
Hit Apply and OK.
Restart your PC and check if this resolves the issue or not.

When you perform the above steps, this ensures the system whose user account is to be used by the Windows Audio service when the system boots up.

3. Give complete permissions

Open the File Explorer.
Right-click on the problematic drive and select Properties.
Switch to the Security tab.
Click on Advanced.
Click on Change in front of owner.
Hit Advanced.
Select Find now.
Choose Everyone and click on OK.
Under Permissions for Administrators check the Allow box for Full Control.
Hit Apple, and OK.
Restart your PC.
Open the Start menu.
Type services and open it.
Locate Windows Audio.
Double-click on the Windows Audio service.
Start the service and check if this resolves the problem or not.

4. Run SFC and DISM scans

Open the Start menu.
Search for Command Prompt and run it as an administrator.
Type the below command and press Enter. sfc /scannow
After the scanning completes, enter the below command and press Enter after each one. Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

The issue can also pop up because of corrupt or missing system files. In such a case, you can make use of the built-in SFC Scan or DISM tool to resolve the issue.

5. Update the Audio driver

Open the Start menu.
Open Device Manager.
Expand the Audio input and output option.
Right-click on your audio device and select Update driver.
Select Search automatically for drivers option.
Restart your PC and check if this fixes the issue or not.

The above steps require you to manually update the driver software. And in case there are a bunch of driver updates, then it becomes a tedious task.

To automate the process of updating device drivers, we would suggest you make use of a recommended tool called Fortect Driver Updater.

As the name suggests, with the help of this tool, you can keep all the drivers of your PC up to date with just a few clicks. Apart from this, it also helps you to create driver backups in case things go south.

That is it from us in this guide. We have a guide that will help you resolve the audio issues with the Realtek sound driver.

Let us know in the comments below which one of the above solutions helped you resolve the audio issue on your Windows PC.

Touchpad Gestures Not Working on Windows 11 [Fix Guide]

Posted on February 14, 2023October 24, 2025 by Vladimir Popescu

A touchpad or trackpad is a specialized surface that can sense your finger motion and position on your OS and display the information on your screen.

The touchpad works like a mouse; you can control your screen. If you use a laptop, you may know how frustrating it is when the trackpad or touchpad stops working.

Why are the touchpad gestures not working on Windows 11?

With Windows 11, most users are accustomed to touchpad gestures but sometimes, they have issues. The common causes of your touchpad not functioning are the following.

The driver might be outdated – When the drivers are not updated, touchpad gestures start malfunctioning.
Two-Finger Scrolling is disabled – In some laptops, you must enable the two-finger scroll from the settings.
Hardware issues – In certain cases, the hardware itself might be damaged.

What can I do if touchpad gestures aren’t working on Windows 11?

1. Enable the Advance touchpad option from BIOS

Switch on your laptop and open the BIOS settings by pressing the F1, F10, or F12 buttons usually.
Now go to the Main tab, then access the Touchpad option.
Select the Advanced option.
Save your settings and exit BIOS.

The laptop’s touchpad has settings ranging from the most basic to the most complicated, and you may swap between the two as needed, and it should fix things when the touchpad gestures not working in Lenovo.

You may have turned off the advanced touchpad option while installing Windows 11 on your computer. As a consequence of this, the gestures will be ineffective.

If you are facing an issue entering the BIOS options of your system, then you have to check our guide on how to enter BIOS on Windows.

2. Check Advanced Gesture from Settings

Click the Windows icon at the bottom of the taskbar and select the Settings option from the menu.
Find the Bluetooth & Devices from the sidebar menu and click it. Then, on the right pane, look for the Touchpad
Inside the touchpad, locate Advanced Gestures in the Related Settings section and click on it.
From there, set again all the gestures, and you are done.

The touchpad settings may be different for each user. Windows will automatically determine which gestures are compatible with your laptop hardware and display them in accordance with the information. So check this when the touchpad gestures are not working on Dell.

3. Update your drivers

If you’re not updating your device drivers, significant performance issues, such as touchpad gesture errors, can interfere. The good thing is that you can use specialized tools to scan your PC and update your drivers automatically.

For example, Fortect Driver Updater will automatically update all your outdated or malfunctioning drivers with the latest driver options from its massive database.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

4. Reset the Touchpad settings

Click the Windows icon at the bottom of the taskbar, navigate, and click on the Settings option.
Find the Bluetooth & Devices from the sidebar menu and click it. Then, on the right pane, look for the Touchpad and click on it.
Now click Reset, and your Touchpad settings will be reset.

When touchpad gestures are not working on Asus, restoring the settings to their original state eliminates future problems.

You may also have a problem with your touchpad on your system. In this case, you will need to purchase a new one. Check out some of the best touchpads for Windows PCs as well.

5. Run the Device Troubleshooter

Click on the Search icon, search for the cmd, and click on Run as administrator.
Type the following command and press Enter: msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic
When Hardware and Devices troubleshooter window prompts, click on Next.
Select your Touchpad from the list, then as you want to troubleshoot it and click Next.
If the tool has an automatic repair, hit Apply this fix.

Once the process is completed, recheck the gestures of your touchpad; we hope they will be working now.

You could also:

Make sure the cursor is not frozen. If yes, try restarting your laptop or PC.
Make sure that the touchpad does not have any hardware issues.
Check if you have not accidentally disabled the touchpad using the shortcut keys.

Why is my three-finger swipe not working?

When the three-finger swipe does not work in Windows or Mac, the problem likely lies with the settings. You may also have reconfigured the gesture to perform another action, so check that as well.

Besides, if these don’t appear to be the problem, completely uninstalling the driver and related files with a reliable software removal tool, and then reinstalling them does the trick.

If you are using an ASUS laptop and your touchpad is having problems, check out our guide to fix the ASUS touchpad not working issue.

We also have a guide on what to do if touchpad settings are missing on Windows 11, so don’t miss it for more useful tips.

We hope that this article helped you tackle your problem of gestures. Tell us which method works best for you and if you have any questions; do let us know in the comments section below.

VGA Only Mode is Not Enabled: How to Quickly Turn it On

Posted on February 14, 2023October 4, 2023 by Loredana Harsana

The VGA-only mode is a unique way to access Windows if it locks or can’t function normally. However, it can be annoying if you encounter the VGA-only is not enabled problem.

Hence, this article will cover the basics of the VGA mode and how to enable it on your PC without hassles quickly.

What is the VGA-only mode?

The VGA mode is similar to launching the PC in safe mode. It offers a basic Windows view with a 640 x 480 pixels resolution.

In this mode, you can diagnose the PC’s or video card problems while having access to a minute functionality of the computer. Only the most basic video drivers will load during the VGA mode, and directional keys are used to navigate.

The VGA mode is often used when video cards or display issues, such as the PC not detecting GPU on Windows 11.

How can I enable VGA-only mode on my PC?

Before trying these steps, there are a few checks you need to perform:

Make sure that the graphics drivers are updated. Do not hesitate to check our guide on easy ways to update graphics drivers if you encounter difficulties.
Try rebooting in Safe mode, but if your Safe mode is not working, our guide will help you.
Restart your computer to check if the problem persists.

If none of these restores your video card performance, apply the steps below to enable VGA mode.

1. Adjust BIOS settings

Power on the computer and click F8, F2, F10, or F12 continuously on the Windows display, depending on your PC.
Choose Troubleshoot to open the Advanced options tab.
Click Startup Settings.
Select Enable low-resolution video mode by pressing F1 and click Restart.

This will start Windows in VGA mode, using minimum drivers input similar to the Safe Mode. If you encounter difficulties accessing BIOS settings in Windows 11, our guide can help you solve it.

2. Force Windows to use standard VGA mode drivers

Press the Windows + R keys to launch the Run windows box, input %Systemroot%\Inf folder, and click OK.
Locate the Oemn.inf and Oemn.pnf files that correlate with the original Oemsetup.inf file for the OEM video driver.
Move the two files into a different folder.
Click the Start button, input Device Manager, and launch it.
Expand Display adapters, right-click the Video adapter and select Uninstall device.
Then restart your PC.
Click the Starts button, input Command Prompt and launch it.
Input the following and press Enter to launch the Add Hardware Wizard and click Next: hdwwiz.exe
Select Search for and install the hardware automatically and click Next.
Wait for the process to complete and click Finish.

Having completed this, Windows will use the Vga.sys generic video driver and doesn’t require starting in Safe Mode.

Further, our guide on installing drivers without EXE files has detailed information on using INF files for driver installation.

Follow the steps above for optimal results when trying to combat VGA only mode is not enabled problem.

However, if you encounter VGA issues on Windows, do not hesitate to check out our guide for the best ways to fix them.

Sometimes, your VGA card may not be supported by the UEFI driver. Although not rampant, if this is your problem, consider our article.

In case people tell you to ensure BIOS BBS is disabled, it’s valid advice since BBS can lead to vulnerabilities. And it’s for the same reason you should ensure Request Disk Topology is disabled. Only do that if you don’t need the features.

Conclusively, if this guide has been helpful, you can leave your comments and suggestions in the section below. We’d like a response from you.

Windows 7 Computer Freezes Randomly: 5 Ways to Fix It

Posted on February 14, 2023September 27, 2025 by Loredana Harsana

Several readers have reported that their computer freezes randomly in Windows 7. These freezes occur a few times for some individuals, while others experience them randomly.

This computer problem, at times, can be very challenging to troubleshoot. Nevertheless, we have documented some potential solutions for freezing problems in Windows.

Why does my computer freeze randomly?

That your computer freezes randomly can be due to several reasons, and some users claim it can happen after an installation. Noting that there are certain times when some updates are buggy, which may affect the computer. Some other factors responsible for this are:

Missing or corrupt files – Many computer issues are caused by missing or corrupt files, which can cause corrupt registry.
Hardware problems – For many users, some hardware problems may make the laptop freeze after starting. The most common reasons are from overheating or accumulated dust in the computer’s cooling area.
Conflicting third-party programs – In some cases, it may be one of the third-party programs on your computer, and it may be the perfect time to remove some of them.
Internet connection – A poor reception can sometimes cause users to experience computer freezing when surfing the internet.
Running multiple programs at a time – On several occasions, users have reported that their computer was freezing due to multiple programs on their PC. You can read through our detailed guide on removing too many background processes on Windows.
Insufficient hard disk space – Regular access memory (RAM) is your computer’s memory. When your computer transfers memory to your hard drives, it may freeze due to cache issues, and hidden system files accumulated over time.

Now that you know some potential reasons why your computer may freeze in Windows 7, let’s proceed to how you can fix this problem.

How do you unfreeze a Windows 7 computer?

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

Disconnect all USB devices since, in rare instances, other USB devices can lead to conflicts and issues.
Remove background programs as long as they can cause slowdowns and, in some instances, freeze your PC.
A quick restart can sometimes fix bugs and glitches, so it’s worth trying out. Take immediate action if your PC is stuck on restarting.

If the problem persists, you can work your way through any of the advanced solutions below.

1. Update your drivers

Right-click on My Computer, then click on Manage.
From the list, click on Device Manager.
Right-click on the hardware’s name or icon.
Next, choose Properties, then click on the Update Driver button under the Driver tab.
Then click Search automatically for drivers.

If this doesn’t do the trick, we recommend using a specialized tool to find and update outdated drivers automatically. Outbyte Driver Updater software is fast and safe since it uses its database of over 18 million driver files.

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2. Install missing updates

Click on Start on your Taskbar and type Windows Update in the Search bar.
Then select Check for updates from the menu.
Once the new window is open, click on Check for updates button.
Windows will automatically check for available updates and download in the background if any are available.

3. Run the SFC scan

Right-click the Start button to bring up the Command Prompt menu (Admin).
Press Enter after entering the line below: sfc/scannow
If the error is discovered, it will be fixed immediately. Then restart your computer after closing the Command Prompt.

The SFC scan is a command-line tool that thoroughly checks your system for potentially damaged files, and it can sometimes help with this problem.

4. Disable your graphics card

Open Device Manager.
After opening the Device Manager, check for your dedicated graphics card and right-click it.
Then, select Disable from the menu.

5. Perform a Startup Repair

Open the Start Menu, click the Power icon, and hold the Shift key while clicking on Restart.
As soon as your PC restarts, you’ll be presented with options. Click Repair your computer.
In System Recovery options, select Startup Repair. (The startup repair process will begin immediately)
Click Finish to restart your PC.

Remember that the startup repair can take about 15 minutes or more, so don’t interrupt it. Once completed, the issue should be completely fixed.

Is computer freezing related to a virus?

There is a high probability that the virus starts several processes in the background, which ultimately hogs the system’s resources and causes the PC to freeze. Though it’s not the case with every virus, especially those designed to go unnoticed.

When the computer is infected with one, many also ask, can a virus completely destroy a PC? And the answer is Yes. If the virus manages to get hold of the drivers, it can cause the device to malfunction and, subsequently, the ones connected to it.

For instance, if the computer fan stops running due to a virus, it will lead to overheating in Windows, which will, in turn, damage the sensitive components in the PC.

Any of these fixes should prevent the computer to not freeze randomly on Windows 7 but ensure you work down this article to know which works for you.

In case the problem is still there, you might want to check our computer freezes and restarts guide for more potential solutions.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to use the comments section below.

Thread Stuck in Device Driver: How to Fix & Causes

Posted on February 14, 2023October 26, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

Blue Screen of Death errors can be quite serious since they are caused by software or faulty hardware. Although these errors aren’t that common, it’s important to know how to fix them.

Therefore today we’re going to show you how to fix the THREAD STUCK IN DEVICE DRIVER_M error on Windows 10.

Why does Stop code Thread Stuck in Device Driver appear on Windows 10?

Thread stuck in device driver error is somewhat common, and it usually occurs if you have a driver issue on your PC. Incompatible drivers will cause this problem, so be sure to find and remove them.

Similar to the Driver Overran Stack Buffer error, this is a blue screen error, therefore it’s important that you fix it if you want to avoid file loss and other issues.

On other hand, it’s possible that this issue is caused by hardware, just like the Machine Check Exception error, so be sure to inspect your hardware. Before we dig in, here are more similar issues reported by our readers

Where does this error occur and what to expect?

On all OS versions (Thread Stuck in Device Driver Windows 7, 8,10,11)
Thread Stuck in Device Driver GPU (AMD/Ryzen)
Thread Stuck in Device Driver when playing games (Oculus is frequently impacted)
On most laptop brands (Thread Stuck in Device Driver HP/Dell/Lenovo)
Thread Stuck in Device Driver Netflix
Thread Stuck in Device Driver mining

How can I fix the Thread Stuck in Device Driver error?

1. Update your drivers

Blue Screen of Death errors can be caused by outdated or buggy drivers, therefore in order to fix THREAD STUCK IN DEVICE DRIVER M and many other BSoD errors, it’s important that you update your drivers.

Windows 10 relies heavily on drivers in order to work with your hardware, therefore it’s crucial that your drivers are up to date and compatible with Windows 10.

To update your drivers you can use Device Manager by following these steps:

Press Windows Key + X on your keyboard to open Power User Menu and select Device Manager from the list.
When Device Manager opens locate the driver you want to update, right-click it and choose Update Driver Software.
Select Search automatically for updated driver software and wait for Windows 10 to download the appropriate driver.
Repeat these steps for all drivers that you want to update.

Updating drivers with Device Manager is fairly simple, but you should know that the Device Manager doesn’t always download the latest drivers for your device.

To ensure that you have the latest drivers, we strongly advise that you download your drivers manually.

To update drivers manually you just need to visit your hardware manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers for your device. Bear in mind that you might need to update all your drivers in order to fix this error.

Update drivers automatically

Searching for drivers on your own can be time-consuming. So, we advise you to use a tool that will do this for you automatically.

Using an automatic driver updater, such as Fortect Driver Updater will certainly save you from the hassle of searching for drivers manually, and it will always keep your system up to date with the latest drivers.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

2. Run the BSoD Troubleshooter

If none of the previous solutions resolved the issue, let’s try a few troubleshooting tools. The first troubleshooter we’re going to try is Windows 10’s built-in BSoD troubleshooter.

As you can probably tell, this tool can address all sorts of BSoD problems. Hopefully, the THREAD STUCK IN DEVICE DRIVER M error is one of them.

Here’s how to run Windows 10’s built-in BSOD troubleshooter:

Open the Settings app and go to Update & Security section.
Select Troubleshoot from the menu on the left.
Select BSOD from the right pane and click Run the troubleshooter.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the troubleshooter.

Now, problematic apps can obviously cause more than a few isolated glitches. In fact, due to recurrent interferences, your system can end up struggling with severe errors.

3. Run the SFC scan

The next troubleshooting tool we’re going to try here is the SFC scan. This is a command-line tool that scans your system for corrupt files and repairs them.

So, if a corrupt system file is the reason you’re getting the THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER_M, the SFC scan will likely resolve the problem.

Here’s how to run the SFC scan in Windows 10:

Right-click on the Start Menu button, and open Command Prompt (Admin).
Enter the following line and press Enter: sfc/scannow.
Wait until the process is done (it may take a while).
If the solution is found, it will automatically be applied.
Now, close the Command Prompt and restart your computer.

4. Run DISM

Another troubleshooting option we’re going to try here is DISM. Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is a tool that re-deploys the system image.

That can usually lead to resolving various problems, including BSOD errors. We’ll walk you through both standard and the procedure that utilizes the installation media below:

Standard way

Right-click Start and open Command Prompt (Admin).
Paste the following command and press Enter:
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Wait until the scan is finished.
Restart your computer and try updating again.

With the Windows installation media

Insert your Windows installation media.
Right-click the Start menu and, from the menu, choose the Command Prompt (Admin).
In the command line, type the following commands and press Enter after each:
- dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth
- dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
Now, type the following command and press Enter:
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /source:WIM:X:SourcesInstall.wim:1 /LimitAccess
Make sure to change an X value with the letter of the mounted drive with Windows 10 installation.
After the procedure is finished, restart your computer.

5. Check the hard drive

A broken hard drive is alarming. And the first warning messages come in the form of BSOD issues. So, go and check the current state of your hard drive. To do that, you should run the chkdsk command.

This command will scan your partitions, and apply solutions, if possible. Here’s how to run the chkdsk command in Windows 10:

Enter the Advanced Startup (Restart your computer while holding the Shift key).
Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options.
Select Command Prompt from the list of options.
When Command Prompt appears, enter the following lines and press Enter after each line in order to run it:
- bootrec.exe /rebuildbcd
- bootrec.exe /fixmbr
- bootrec.exe /fixboot
Some users are also suggesting that you need to run additional chkdsk commands as well. To perform these commands, you need to know drive letters for all your hard drive partitions. In Command Prompt you should enter the following (but remember to use the letters that match your hard drive partitions on your PC):
- chkdsk /r c:
- chkdsk /r d:
This is just our example, so keep in mind that you have to perform chkdsk command for every hard drive partition that you have.
Restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

6. Install the latest updates

Certain hardware and software have an issue with Windows 10, and sometimes these issues can cause THREAD STUCK IN DEVICE DRIVER_M or any other Blue Screen of Death error to appear.

To fix this error, it’s recommended to use Windows Update to download the latest patches.

Many of these patches offer new features, security improvements, and various bug fixes related to both hardware and software, therefore we strongly suggest that you download the latest updates if you want to ensure that your PC is safe and free from errors.

7. Remove your antivirus and problematic applications

Even though Windows 10 comes with Windows Defender that works as a default antivirus program, many users tend to use third-party antivirus programs for extra protection.

To fix this problem, it’s advised that you temporarily remove all third-party antivirus tools from your PC.

We have to mention that uninstalling the antivirus software might not be enough since many antivirus tools tend to leave certain files behind even after you remove them.

To completely delete all files associated with your antivirus, we suggest that you download a dedicated removal tool. You may also check out this amazing list with the best uninstaller software you can use right now.

8. Update your BIOS

Few users claim that you can fix this error by performing BIOS update. By updating BIOS you’ll unlock new features of your motherboard as well as support for new hardware.

We have to warn you that BIOS update is somewhat an advanced procedure, and you can cause permanent damage to your PC if you’re not careful.

To see how to properly update BIOS, we advise that you check your motherboard manual for detailed instructions.

9. Remove overclock settings

Overclocking allows you to achieve better performance by changing the settings of your hardware. We have to mention that overclocking is potentially dangerous, and it can cause BSoD errors such as THREAD STUCK IN DEVICE DRIVER to appear.

In the worst-case scenario, overclocking can cause permanent damage to your hardware so keep that in mind.

Since overclocking can cause Blue Screen of Death errors, we advise you to remove any overclock settings and overclocking software that you have installed.

10. Check your hardware

Hardware issues and overheating can often cause BSoD errors, therefore we urge you to clean your PC with pressurized air. Also, be sure to check if your cards are properly seated and if your cables are properly connected.

If everything is connected properly, try to remove any recently installed hardware. Sometimes new hardware isn’t compatible with your configuration, and if that’s the case you should remove or replace the new hardware.

In addition to new hardware, be sure to check if your hardware is working properly. According to users, a faulty motherboard or graphics card can cause this error to appear, so be sure to check those components first.

Before you go, we also have a great guide on how to fix the Error Not Safe Mode Driver, so don’t miss it. We also have a new guide on Handle Error On Critical Thread.

This error can cause certain problems on your PC, but we hope that you managed to fix it by using some of our solutions.

Can’t Type in Windows Search Bar: Fix It With These Steps

Posted on February 14, 2023May 14, 2024 by Tashreef Shareef

The Windows Search bar makes it easy to search for the files and the apps installed on your computer. However, many users reported that they can’t type in Windows Search bar.

Several of our readers have reported they can’t type in the Windows 10 search bar a few days after they have updated their OS. In this article, we are exploring what to do if you can’t type in Windows 10 Start or Search bar.

Why can’t I type in my Windows search bar?

Issue with the File Explorer or Cortana that can be fixed with simple restart.
Corrupted Windows update package or installation process.
Corrupted user profile can prevent certain features from working.
The required processes, such as ctfmon.exe aren’t running.

Now that we know why typing is not possible in Windows Search, let’s go to the actual solutions.

How do I get my search bar to work again?

Before trying the solutions listed next, here are a few quick things you can do since these have worked for many users:

Check if you can type in another app or area, and if you can’t, verify the keyboard’s connection cable. Also, make sure that the keyboard has not been disabled from Device Manager or BIOS.
Restart the computer.
Install any pending Windows updates.

If the issue remains as it is, head to the next section.

https://youtu.be/IqUu1IP1-3s

1. Start CTFMon

Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
Now, paste the following command:C:\Windows\system32\ctfmon.exe
Press Enter.

In case this issue reappears, you might have to add ctfmon shortcut to the Startup folder on Windows so it can always start with your PC.

2. Use a PowerShell command

Press Windows + R to open Run, type powershell in the text field, and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
In the PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter: Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers |Where-Object {$_.InstallLocation -like "*SystemApps*"} | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml"}
Once done, click the Start Menu and choose Power. Lastly, click on Restart. Once the PC restart, check if the issue is resolved.
In case it’s not, again open PowerShell and run the following command: $manifest = (Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore).InstallLocation + 'AppxManifest.xml' ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest

These two commands have fixed things for many when they can’t type in the Windows start menu. So, make sure to give it a try.

3. Use the Registry to reset the Search bar

1. Press Windows + R to open Run, type regedit in the text field, and click OK.
2. Click Yes in the UAC prompt that appears.
3. Now, paste the following path in the address bar at the top and hit Enter:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search
4. Double-click on the SetupCompletedSuccessfully entry.
5. Enter 0 under Value data and click OK to save the changes.
6. Now, restart the computer for the changes to come into effect.

4. Use a dedicated file finder/search software

One of the most straightforward solutions to avoid such errors, especially when you need to find something very quickly on your PC, is to have third-party file finder software installed on your PC.

Third-party software apps come with up-to-date features like keyword maps that can search through unstructured data, giving you more results than your standard operating system search feature.

On top of that, dedicated file searchers can also look for keywords in your emails or document type of files to ensure you find what you are looking for.

Copernic Desktop Search is an excellent option because it can index and search over 150 file types and emails. On top of that, it has fast results and keeps your data extremely secure.

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5. Restart the Windows File Explorer process

Close all File Explorer tabs if you have any opened.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager and click on Run new task.
Enter explorer.exe in the text field, tick the Create this task with administrative privileges checkbox, and click OK.

6. Run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter

Press Windows + R to open Run, type control panel in the text field, and click OK.
Select Large icons from the View by dropdown menu.
Click on Troubleshooting.
Click on View all from the left.
Now, locate and click on the Search and Indexing troubleshooter.
Click Next.
Choose Can’t start a search or see results, and click Next.
Wait for the troubleshooter to run entirely. If the problem persists after that, choose the other options in the troubleshooter and rerun it.

7. Restart Windows Search process

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Locate Search in the list of processes.
Right-click it and choose End Task.

8. Restart Windows Search service

Press Windows key + R and enter services.msc and click OK.
Locate Windows Search service.
Right-click it and choose Restart.

9. Create a new user account

Press Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
Next, go to Accounts and then to Family & other users.
Next to Add other user, click on Add account.
Select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
Now choose Add a user without a Microsoft account.
Enter the desired username and password.
Switch to the new account and check if the issue is gone.

Additional troubleshooting tips:

Search bar not working after update – Remove Windows update by going to Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates and selecting the most recent update.
Search bar not opening or loading – Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. Go to Details tab, locate explorer.exe right-click it and choose Restart.

This method will also help when the Windows 10 Explorer search bar is not typing. However, if this does not solve it, we prepared more solutions to revitalize the File Explorer’s search functionality.

If you couldn’t type in the Windows search bar until now, the problem would be resolved with our expert solutions.

Please tell us which fix worked for you in the comments section below.

More about the author

Tashreef Shareef is a software developer turned tech writer. He discovered his interest in technology after reading a tech magazine accidentally. Now he writes about everything tech from Windows to iOS and streaming services to IoT at WindowsReport.

Epson Software Updater: How to Download & Install It

Posted on February 14, 2023June 4, 2024 by Vladimir Popescu

Some of our readers have requested to know how to download and install the Epson Software Updater if there’s a need to fix driver problems for its products. In this article, we will explore what steps to take to enable you to download and install the Epson Software Updater on your PC.

What does Epson Software Updater do?

The Epson Software Updater, as its name implies, is a tool that allows users to update Epson software and drivers.

The tool was formerly known as Download Navigator. It analyzes the Epson software, such as drivers, utilities, firmware, etc., which are already installed on your computer, and notifies users whenever new updates are available for download.

Whenever you launch the tool, if any new update is available for already installed software, these will be listed in the window. This new software or updates will be divided into two groups:

The first is for Essential Product Updates that will be recommended to improve the performance of your Epson product.
In contrast, the second is tagged Other Useful Software, which will contain additional functionality.

Also, Epson Software Updater fixes the communication error with the printer and helps eliminate several other issues.

How do I download and install the Epson Software Updater?

1. Download the application

Visit the Epson official support website, locate the Download button, and click on it.
This immediately brings up the .exe file and requests you grant permission to download.
Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows + E keys. By default, the file should be in the Downloads folder.
Launch the .exe file and click Agree on the License Agreement page, then click OK.
After the installation, click on your Epson product and wait for driver’s suggestions, then click Install.

Logically, before installing the updater for your device, you need to download it and then follow the on-screen installation wizard. It will install the software updater for you automatically.

How do I stop my Epson Software Updater?

Using Windows 11, you can easily disable Updater by launching the app from your desktop. Follow the steps below in this regard:

Left-click the Start button on your desktop, type Epson Software Updater in the Windows search bar, and hit Enter.
Select your printer model from the drop-down menu and click on Auto Update Settings.
Under the Interval to Check menu, select Never.
Then, save your settings and exit by clicking the OK button.

These are the steps to download and use this tool. Ensure to follow them strictly to avoid installation issues. If you get the Epson Software Updater is damaged and can’t be opened error, uninstall the program and download it all over again.

Besides, if Epson Software Updater cannot find the printer, ensure you are running the latest app version and that the printer and device are connected to the same network.

Epson’s products can be complicated to install. Hence, you can check our guide on how to install the Epson scanner driver for Windows 10 or the Epson L130 driver.

If you have further questions and suggestions, kindly leave them in the comments section below.

Microsoft admits to the CMA that “base game sales” could decline after a year on Game Pass

Posted on February 14, 2023 by Kareem Anderson

Following the decision by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority to reject an initial purchase proposal for publisher Activision Blizzard, Microsoft finds itself scrambling to weigh concessions while adding nuance to concerns, such as the declining impact of Xbox Game Pass on base games sales.

Eurogame has been among the first to report that as part of its provisional rejection of the Activision Blizzard deal, the CMA cited Microsoft’s own transparent analysis which revealed when a game lands on its Game Pass service, it can result in an undisclosed percentage decline in base game sales twelve months following its addition.

5.61 Microsoft also submitted that its internal analysis shows a []% decline in base game sales twelve months following their addition on Game Pass.
• Our assessment
5.62 We consider that Microsoft’s telemetry data and internal analysis presented above have some limitations. The time period over which Microsoft appears to infer that a B2P purchase constitutes substitution is quite long (up to one year). Moreover, the observation that Game Pass customers continue to purchase B2P games during the period is more consistent with complementarity than substitutability. Given B2P purchases continue even during the subscription period, it is unclear from Microsoft’s submission whether and to what extent the proportion of consumers that make B2P purchases within a year of closing their subscription is different from the proportion of consumers making B2P purchases that never had a subscription in the first place.

In addition, Microsoft also peppers its reporting to the CMA with figures that undercut the buy-to-play B2P market as well, in which the specific cannibalization figures of streaming games over direct purchases were redacted.

Perhaps, in an effort to justify its own findings, Microsoft argues that there is a nuance in the fluidity in which gamers purchase games, shifting between console B2P and MGS options.

5.60 Microsoft also submitted that Xbox telemetry data shows that gamers frequently switch between the two payment options. In particular, Microsoft submitted that based on this data:
(a) Between []% and []% of Xbox gamers continue playing games purchased on a B2P basis in the 12 months after unsubscribing from Game Pass. Between []% and []% of gamers purchase a game on a B2P basis within a year after unsubscribing from Game Pass.

Furthermore, Microsoft also argues that while on the face of it, the telemetry shows a decline in base sales for studios and publishers, the company is also providing additional opportunities for gamers and game developers to “discover, experience, and deliver games.

Microsoft let the CMA know that it is working with developers and publishers to “build a custom program to reflect what they need,” as far as compensation and monetization is concerned. So, while adding a game-to-Game Pass “could” result in a decline in hard copy sales for the title after a year of being on the service, Microsoft appears ready to put in place a compensatory platform for the transition.

Anecdotally, there have been publishers who have advocated for Microsoft’s Game Pass service who saw interest and sales increase when added to the platform. Gameindustry.biz spoke with game publisher No More Robots about its title Descenders, which saw a significant increase in sales when added to Xbox Game Pass.

While not specifically addressing declining “base game sales” within the Xbox Game Pass platform, the CMA has offered come preliminary concessions for Microsoft to consider to reach an approval on the Activision deal that include excluding Call of Duty and the Activision portion of Activision Blizzard from the proposed buyout.

League of Legends Server Status: 3 Easy Ways to Check

Posted on February 14, 2023October 4, 2024 by Madhuparna Roy

It’s important to check the League of Legends server status, especially if there’s a problem with the game, and in this guide, we’ll show you the best ways to do that.

How do I check the League of Legends server status?

1. Check Riot’s official server status page

Visit the official page for Riot Games Service Status.
Select League of Legends from the game tiles.
Now, select your preferred region and language, and press Continue.
If there’s an issue, you should see a notice under Current Messages as real-time server status.
But, if there’s no server-related issue, you may see the message, No recent issues or events to report.

If it’s a server issue, you must wait until it is resolved. But if League of Legends is still not opening, you can use the methods in our detailed post.

In addition to the server status, it’s important to test League of Legends ping to ensure that there are no issues with the server or your connection.

2. Visit the Riot Games support Twitter account

Visit the Riot Games support page on Twitter.
Check the latest tweets for any server downtime updates from the developer.
If there’s no recent update related to the League’s server status, the issue is due to another reason.

The developer may post an update on Twitter on any significant issue, and before it can update the website, so keeping a check may help.

3. Check the League of Legends server status on a third-party site

Sometimes, if Riot’s official Server Status website fails to show results, you can try a trusted third-party alternative like the Downdetector.

On this website, you can find information related to League of Legends’ server outages in real-time for the last 24 hours and even keep a check.

It provides a detailed review of any server issues, even for a previous date. For this information, you may need to log in to the website.

When to check the League of Legends server status?

If you are dropped from the game out of nowhere, when the game slows down, if you are unable to log in, if the game fails to open, or if it doesn’t work, is when you know that you must check the server status.

If the server and game downtime is due to regular maintenance/official patches, for 12.6, 12.7, etc., it usually lasts about 3-6 hours.

However, at times, the downtime is completed in about 3 hours, but sometimes, it can be extended if something goes wrong.

For example, an in-game notification usually lasts for about 4-6 hours, but in some cases, it can range from 2-12 hours also.

Alternatively, you may simply submit a ticket on the Rio Games website, and wait for the officials to revert. But, if you encounter an issue like League of Legends could not connect to the HTTP server, you can refer to our detailed post for help.

To increase FPS in League of Legends, you can follow our comprehensive guide to achieve the results.

If you still face any issues with the League of Legends game, let us know in the comments section below.

Hogwarts Legacy review roundup – what are the critics saying?

Posted on February 14, 2023 by Robert Collins

After years of anticipation from Harry Potter fans and gamers alike, not to mention multiple delays and ongoing controversy, Hogwarts Legacy finally released last week for current-gen consoles and Windows PC. (The PS4 and Xbox One releases will arrive April 4th, while the Nintendo Switch release is set for July 25th).

As mentioned, Hogwarts Legacy has been the focus of controversy due to Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling’s views on transgender people. There have also been accusations of antisemitism in the Harry Potter books over their portrayal of the Goblin race, with some saying the depictions are based on anti-Semitic tropes. Many have called for a boycott of the game.

This action-RPG from Warner Bros. Games’ Portkey Games label and Avalanche Software puts players inside the most impressive video game adaptation of the Wizarding World to date, as a new student at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the year 1899. From the description on the game’s official website:

Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books. For the first time, experience Hogwarts in the 1800s. Your character is a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. Now you can take control of the action and be at the center of your own adventure in the wizarding world. Your legacy is what you make of it.

Now that Hogwarts Legacy is finally out, how is the game being received by fans and critics?

Download
QR-Code

Hogwarts Legacy Xbox Series X|S Version

Developer:
Warner Bros. Games

Price:
$69.99

Engadget calls it “A massive game, alive with magic” in its review, which goes on to describe Hogwarts Legacy as “a massive and gorgeous open-world RPG that extends far beyond the walls of the wizarding school, with mysteries, danger and cute creatures packed into every corner.”

Writing for IGN Travis Northup says,

With Hogwarts Legacy, I’m happy to say that we finally got a Harry Potter game that captures some of that magic. Its open world map absolutely nails the vibe of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it has spellcasting combat that’s stupefyingly good, the characters that inhabit it are charming and unforgettable, and it is positively brimming with countless diversions to soak up dozens of hours of your time. It may not be the most impressive technical achievement and it is certainly cursed with a lack of enemy variety, but none of Hogwarts Legacy’s issues can cast a Descendo charm on this triumphant visit to the Wizarding World.

GameInformer’s Matt Miller also heaped praise upon the game, saying “Hogwarts Legacy is a remarkable adventure into the wizarding world of Harry Potter, offering a clever mix of gameplay styles and experiences that keep things fresh for dozens of hours while always maintaining the magical touches that captivate fans.” Both GameInformer and IGN scored Hogwarts Legacy a 9/10, while Engadget doesn’t feature a numerical scoring system.

These reviewers were unanimous in praising the game’s combat, while noting the technical issues that dampened the experience. On OpenCritic Hogwarts Legacy is ranked in the 93rd percentile, while on Metacritic it enjoys rankings of 90, 85 and 84 respectively for Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PC.

Wrap up

Judging by the game’s early reception it’s clear that Hogwarts Legacy is, at least for most, the Wizarding World experience gamers have been longing for, and appears poised as an early game of the year contender. One writer for Forbes is predicting that the game will have over 10 million sales in its initial launch period, and over 20 million by the end of the year.

With that said, what are your thoughts on Hogwarts Legacy? Let us know down in the comments.

Featured image via Xbox.com.

Unable to Hang Up Call in Teams: How to Force End It

Posted on February 14, 2023October 4, 2023 by Claire Moraa

The Teams app is a great way to communicate with your team members and ensure everyone is on the same page. However, sometimes you may need to end a call before it’s over. You may have noticed that when you try to hang up a call, it doesn’t work.

Although the Teams app has improved in many ways, it still suffers from some shortcomings from time to time. The inability to hang up is the latest conundrum, but let’s look at possible workarounds.

Why can’t I call out on Teams?

Usually, hanging up on Microsoft Teams is as simple as clicking a button. You just need to hit the Quit button, and you’ll be off the call.

However, users have taken to community platforms and are complaining that they cannot hang up a call in Teams. The call is still active even though the button says to end the call. This can be quite annoying when you’re trying to end a call and find that it won’t end.

Some of the possible triggers for this issue include:

You’re using an older version of the Microsoft Teams app – Microsoft confirmed that this anomaly only happens to a section of Teams users so it’s likely due to an outdated version.
Bug in the app – Sometimes Microsoft Teams is not working because of a bug in the Teams service, but it can also be caused by a bug in your software.
App cache – If you have a lot of accumulated cache, it may get corrupted over time and interfere with how the app behaves, making you unable to hang up a call in Teams.
Different app versions – If you’re using Teams and have multiple versions of the app installed, it can cause some confusion. Sometimes, when you download or update a new version of the app, the older version may have some remnant files that can cause problems.

How do you force end a team call?

Before you try out any of the solutions below, check the following:

Make sure that your computer meets the system requirements for Teams.
Ensure you’re using the latest release of Teams. You can see which version you have by clicking on your profile picture and going to About Microsoft Teams. If you’re running an older version, you need to update it.
Check the status of Microsoft Teams to establish whether it’s experiencing downtime.
Ensure that any third-party applications you have installed are compatible with the latest version of Microsoft Teams.
Log out and log back in.
Restart your PC.

1. Clear Teams cache

Hit the Windows + R keys to open the Run command.
Type %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams in the Run dialog box and then select OK.
Select all files and folders in the %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams directory and hit the Delete button.
Restart Teams and check if you’re now able to hang up calls.

App cache can be either a temporary cache, cleared when you restart your PC, or a persistent cache, which remains on a device until it’s manually cleared. If the cache is persistent, you need to do a Teams cleanup.

2. Make a test call

Launch your Teams app and click on the three ellipses at the top right corner.
Click on Settings.
Select Devices and click on Make a test call.
Wait for the call to start ringing then leave.

3. Repair/reset the Teams app

Hit the Windows key and click on Settings.
Click on Apps on the left pane then select Apps & features on the right pane.
Navigate to Microsoft Teams app, click on the three ellipses and select Advanced options.
Hit the Repair button.
Try hanging up your Teams call and see if the issue persists.
If you’re successful, there’s no need to reset, but if the issue is still present, repeat steps 1 to 3, and this time, hit the Reset button.

4. Reinstall Microsoft Teams

Hit the Start Menu icon on the Taskbar and click on Settings.
Click on Apps on the left pane, then select Apps & features on the right pane.
Navigate to Microsoft Teams app, click on the three ellipses, and select Uninstall.
Launch the Microsoft Store, search for the Teams app, and click Install.
Follow the on-screen prompts and try again.

A handful of users could also get around the issue using the web version. If you opt for the web version, use supported browsers to avoid running into error messages like your Teams browser version is not supported.

As such, we recommend using a fast browser like Opera that not only guarantees you an interactive experience but also comes with great features like ad-blocking.

If all else fails and you’re still unable to hang up a call in Teams, your last resort is to contact Microsoft support with a detailed account of the issue for further help.

Let us know of any additional solutions not mentioned here that have worked for you in the comment section below.

The February 2023 Patch Tuesday updates are rolling out today

Posted on February 14, 2023October 4, 2023 by Alexandru Poloboc

Well, the new year feeling is all but gone by now and it’s time to focus on the important things that make up our day-to-day life.

And, now that the second Tuesday of February is here, we are getting another batch of Patch Tuesday updates that many users have been eagerly waiting for.

As with all the other Patch Tuesday updates of previous months, these bring a host of changes, fixes, and improvements to all supported versions of the Windows OS.

Last month’s update release included fixes for 98 vulnerabilities, so we could be looking at a pretty light month this time around.

What should I expect from the February 2023 Patch Tuesday?

Yes, this year’s Patch Tuesday rollout falls exactly on Valentine’s Day but will it really be a special date or just more of the regular?

While users have been dealing with ongoing cyber-attacks of all kinds, it has been relatively quiet on the release of new patches from Microsoft.

You might as well also expect that trend to continue next week though we may have some updates for the Dev and Beta Insider Channels.

The good news is that Microsoft managed to address a large number of CVEs last month for the Windows 7 and Server 2008 ESU closeout.

Even the newer OS versions, Windows 11 and Windows 10 had 66 and 64 CVEs addressed respectively, so there might be a need to include that as well.

Experts actually suspect there will be fewer CVEs addressed this month as they have caught up a bit, so expect a light set of updates for all the server and desktop operating systems.

All this mystery will dissipate in a few hours when we post the actual release, so we can all get a better idea of what Microsoft envisioned.

What issues do you think will be addressed in the February 2023 Patch Tuesday rollout? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

Volume Mixer Settings Not Saving? 5 Ways to Fix it

Posted on February 14, 2023October 24, 2025 by Madhuparna Roy

Sometimes, when trying to lower the Skype sound in the volume mixer and save it for the future, you notice that it’s not saving the settings as soon as you close the window.

While there are ways to fix this issue, you may also refer to our detailed post for some quick workarounds if the sound volume is too low on your Windows PC.

Why doesn’t Windows save settings in the volume mixer?

There could be different reasons why the volume mixer is not saving the settings, such as:

A hardware conflict – It could be possible that there’s a problem with the built-in audio device.
Outdated or corrupted audio drivers – If the drivers are not updated to the latest version or are damaged, it can interfere with the volume mixer functionality.
The app does not have exclusive control of the device – If it’s a problem with a specific app, it may not have exclusive control of the device.
Damaged system files – Corrupted system files can affect the various functions of the system, including sound. It may also lead to the volume mixer not showing sound.
A recent Windows update – It may be possible that the last Windows update is corrupt and hence, causing the volume mixer issue.
Windows Explorer not working properly – Chances are that the Windows Explore process is not functioning correctly.
A virus in the system – There could be a virus or other threats preventing the normal functioning of the volume mixer.

However, the good news is that we have a list of solutions that may help you fix the volume mixer not saving settings issue.

How do I fix the volume mixer if it’s not saving the settings?

Before you proceed with the main methods below, we suggest you try the following:

Install any pending Windows Update.
Run a virus scan and remove any threats.
Uninstall the recent Windows Update that may be causing the problem.
Remove any third-party apps that may be interfering with the volume mixer.

However, if the volume mixer still does not save the settings, you can follow the below methods to fix the issue.

1. Run the Windows audio troubleshooter

Press the Win + I keys simultaneously to launch Windows Settings.
Click on System on the left, and then click on Troubleshoot on the right.
On the next screen, under Options, click on Other trouble-shooters.
Next, go to Playing Audio and click on Run. Windows will now start looking for any issues, and if found, will apply the fix automatically.

When you are done, you can check if the volume mixer is now saving the settings.

But, if the Windows troubleshooter has stopped working for some reason, you can refer to the solutions in our detailed post here.

2. Take actions related to the audio driver

2.1 Update audio driver

Press the Win + R shortcut keys to open the Run console.
Type devmgmt.msc in the search bar and hit Enter.
Next, expand the Sound, video, and game controllers section, right-click on the device and select Update driver.
Next, in the new window, click on Search automatically for drivers. Windows will detect the latest version and automatically install the driver.

In fact, you can also uninstall the driver and visit the manufacturer’s website to download & install the latest driver version manually to fix the issue.

Alternatively, you can use driver detector software for Windows 10/11 from our recommendations to help fix your device drivers quickly.

Another safe and fast way to update your drivers is with Outbyte Driver Updater. Outbyte Driver Updater is a simple and powerful tool that finds all outdated drivers and updates them to the latest version.

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2.2 Roll Back the audio driver

Open the Run console by pressing the Win + R keys simultaneously.
In the search field, type devmgmt.msc and hit Enter.
Click to expand the Sound, video, and game controllers section, right-click on the device, and select Properties.
In the Properties dialog, go to the Driver tab and click on Roll Back Driver (if it’s highlighted).

Once done, reboot your PC, and now, the volume mixer should be saving the settings.

3. Allow the application to take exclusive control of this device

Press the Win + R hotkey to open the Run console.
Type sndvol in the search box and hit Enter.
This will open the classic Volume Mixer panel. Here, go to Device and click on the speaker icon.
In the Properties dialog, navigate to the Advanced tab, and select Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device and Give exclusive mode application priority.
Press Apply and OK to save the changes.

Now, open your volume mixer and check if it’s saving the settings or if you are still facing the issue.

4. Restart the Windows Explorer Process

Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys simultaneously to open Task Manager.
Go to the Processes tab, and locate Windows Explorer under Windows processes.
Right-click on Windows Explorer and click on Restart.

You can now launch the volume mixer, modify the settings and check if it’s saving the changes.

5. Repair corrupted system files

Press the Win + R keys together to open the Run console, type cmd, and press the Ctrl + Shift + Enter hotkey to open the elevated Command Prompt.
Next, in the Command Prompt (Admin) window, run the below command and hit Enter: sfc /scannow
The scanning process takes a while so, wait till it’s over.

If you were wondering how do I make my volume mixer permanent when it’s not saving settings, one of these methods should have helped.

How to save volume mixer settings?

Nevertheless, in the usual circumstances, you can follow the below instructions to make sure that the volume mixer saves any changes in the settings:

Press the Win + I keys together to open Windows Settings.
Type sound mixer in the search box on the left and click on Sound mixer options.
On the next screen, go to the Apps section and move the slider under System sounds to the left or right to adjust the sound settings for your apps.

Alternatively, you must also check if the headset you are using is damaged or if the volume button is defective. In such cases, you can replace the headset with a new one.

But, if none of the above methods work, you can perform a factory reset of your Windows 11 PC, and this should help you fix the volume mixer not saving settings issue.

Make sure you know how to access the Volume Mixer properly after you fix the problem. Follow this easy guide on how to open the Sound Volume Mixer in Windows 11 or 10 and check if your app settings appear correctly.

For any other queries on the volume mixer or audio issues, do leave a message in the comments box below.

Reset Registry Permissions on Windows 10: 4 Ways to Do It

Posted on February 14, 2023October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

The Registry plays a vital role on the PC, though most users remain oblivious to this fact, only realizing it when things go out of hand. But fixing issues with the Registry is not that tricky, and a simple permissions reset should do the trick for most.

The Registry contains a significant amount of data concerning the OS and the various settings on the PC. And most changes we make to the PC are automatically loaded to the Registry, i.e., the current value is replaced with the new one.

In this process or due to some other reasons, the Registry goes corrupt, or the permissions get messed up. And that’s when you need to reset Registry permissions in Windows 10.

How do I reset Registry permissions on Windows 10?

Tip

This is an advanced procedure, so we advise you to back up your registry and create a System Restore point. When modifying Registry keys, certain features may stop working. So it’s always a good idea to have a backup ready.

1. Make sure that specific groups have access to this key

Press Windows + R to open Run, type regedit, and click OK.
Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
Locate the problematic key in the left pane, right-click it, and choose Permissions.
Click the Advanced button.
Select Creator Owner and then click on click Disable inheritance.
Now, select Remove all inherited permissions from this object.
Click on OK to save the changes.
Select CREATOR OWNER and click Remove.
Next, click the Add button.
Enter the current account name in the text field, click Check names, and then OK.
Select your user account, check Full Control, and click on OK to save the changes.
Similarly, provide Full Control to Authenticated Users (using steps 9 to 11).

After giving Full Control to your user account and Authenticated Users group, any issues with the Registry should be resolved, and you could reset permissions in Windows 10.

2. Create a new administrator account

Press Windows + I to open Settings, and click on Accounts.
Go to Family & other people from the navigation pane, and click Add someone else to this PC.
Choose I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
Click on Add a user without a Microsoft account.
Enter the desired username and password, and then click Next.
Once done, click on the Change account type button under the newly created account.
Choose Administrator from the Account type dropdown menu, and click OK to save the changes.

If you cannot reset Registry permissions in Windows 10, switching to another administrator account will work out fine.

3. Enable the hidden administrator account

Press Windows + R to open Run, type cmd, and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
Paste the following command and hit Enter:net user administrator /active:yes
Once done, sign out of the current account, then log in through the new administrator account, and reset the permissions.
Finally, head back to the original account and execute the following command to disable the hidden administrator account:net user administrator /active:no

You can restore Registry in Windows 10 to default with cmd by enabling the hidden administrator account and making the required changes.

4. Use the SubInACL tool

To reset your registry permissions, you need to do the following:

Download the SubInACL tool. Microsoft is no longer officially providing the tool, but you can get it from the archived link.
Run the setup and follow the on-screen instructions to install the SubInACL tool.
Now, press Windows + E to open File Explorer, paste the following path in the address bar, and hit Enter:C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Resource Kits\Tools\
Next, open a Notepad, and paste each of the following lines into it: subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE /grant=administrators=f subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CURRENT_USER /grant=administrators=f subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT /grant=administrators=f subinacl /subdirectories %SystemDrive% /grant=administrators=f subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE /grant=system=f subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CURRENT_USER /grant=system=f subinacl /subkeyreg HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT /grant=system=f subinacl /subdirectories %SystemDrive% /grant=system=f
Press Ctrl + S, navigate to the desired location (preferably desktop), enter reg_fix.bat as the File name, choose All files from the Save as type dropdown menu, and click on Save.
Now, drop the reg_fix.bat file in the Tools folder already open in File Explorer.
Click Continue to provide permission.
Next, press Windows + S to open Search, type Command Prompt, and then click on Run as administrator on the right.
Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
Paste the following command and then press Enter:cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Resource Kits\Tools\
Next, execute the following:reg_fix.bat

SubInACL is a great Registry reset tool to get all the permissions to their default state in Windows 10. And though it has been taken off the official website, you can still get it from the archived link. But we recommend you be a bit cautious and follow the steps as it is.

These were the simplest and most effective ways to reset permissions for the Registry in Windows, and by now, you should have been successful in doing so.

Also, for other similar issues, do not forget to find out how to restore the Registry without backup in Windows.

If you have any queries or want to share your thoughts on the guide, drop a comment below.

3 Easy Ways to Remove Smartbyte From Your Windows PC

Posted on February 14, 2023October 4, 2023 by Teodor Nechita

While a slow Internet speed usually points to issues with the network settings, there are certain apps to blame too, and one of them is Smartbyte.

This software comes from Dell, and it’s usually installed by default. It seems that these apps can cause issues, so this is why many choose to remove preinstalled software on their PCs.

In today’s guide, we’ll show you what this app is and how to properly remove it.

What is SmartByte, and do I need it?

SmartByte app is shipped along with Dell devices and can be categorized as bloatware in Windows. So, if you were wondering, SmartByte Drivers and Services are not viruses.

While the app’s objective is to optimally allocate bandwidth to various network-related processes, it often lowers the Internet speed.

A user reported that the Internet speed increased from 100 MBPS to 400+ MBPS after uninstalling SmartByte. For some, it may be available only as a SmartByte Network service and a driver, while others get a built-in app.

Most users don’t really need the app or even the related service and driver running. It’s usually found to affect the functioning of the computer, and it’s best that you uninstall SmartByte since updates released for it are yet to address the problem.

How do I remove Smartbyte.exe from my PC?

1. Via Settings

Press Windows + I to open Settings, select Apps from the navigation pane, and click on Installed apps.
Now, find SmartByte, click on the ellipsis next to it, and select Uninstall.
Again, click Uninstall in the confirmation prompt.

It’s one of the simplest ways to uninstall SmartByte in Windows and shouldn’t take you more than a minute. Also, if you were facing issues earlier, we recommend restarting the computer for the changes to come into effect and for the increased Internet speed to reflect.

2. Via the Control Panel

Press Windows + R to open Run, type appwiz.cpl in the text field, and hit Enter.
Select SmartByte, and click on Uninstall.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Control Panel, too, offers an option to uninstall apps on the computer, but you would find a fairly smaller number listed here as compared to the Settings.

3. Use an uninstaller software

Another option, and often the preferred one, is to use an effective uninstaller software to remove SmartByte from Windows.

When you use software for the job, it will remove all related files, delete the registry entries and revert other changes made by SmartByte.

Removing the app helps fix things when you find SmartByte Telemetry to consume high disk. If you want to reinstall the app, all you need to do is perform a driver update on your Dell PC using the Dell Update feature or get it from the official website.

How do I turn off SmartByte on my Dell?

1. From the app

Open the SmartByte software.
Click the switch in the top right corner.
After doing that, the application should be disabled.

2. Disable SmartByte services

Press Windows key + R and enter services.msc.
Now locate SmartByte services on the list. Next, double-click the desired service.
Click the Stop button to stop the services. After that, set the Startup type to Disabled.
Click Apply and OK to save changes.
Do this for all SmartByte services that you have on your PC.

Also, if SmartByte keeps reinstalling every time, remove the program from Startup apps. Besides, find out how to increase the Wi-Fi speed on a laptop in case you are facing issues with that.

If you, too, have encountered issues with Smartbyte, tell us more about it in the comment section below.

How to Find BitLocker Recovery Key in 4 Easy Steps

Posted on February 14, 2023December 4, 2025 by Claire Moraa

If you’re using a Windows 11 PC, then BitLocker is one of the built-in security features that are built-in. It can help protect your data from unauthorized access. This feature allows you to encrypt your hard drive to prevent unauthorized access to your device.

However, even you, as the user, can get locked out of your account and need to use the recovery key. Sometimes Windows keeps asking for your BitLocker recovery key and other times, you may have lost it. We show you how you can find it in this article.

What do I do if I don’t have my BitLocker recovery key?

What do I do if I don’t have my BitLocker recovery key?

1. Use a Microsoft account

Navigate to your browser and login into your Microsoft recovery page.
Go to Devices and select the device whose key you want to find.
Click on your device, and you’ll find your BitLocker key.

Have you wondered where to find the BitLocker recovery key in your Microsoft account? If you use a Microsoft account for your Windows log-in, your recovery key will be stored on Microsoft’s servers.

Here, you will see a list of devices and their associated recovery keys, including laptop, desktop, and mobile devices. You can click on any of these devices to see more details and download their respective BitLocker recovery key files.

In tricky cases where neither the password nor the recovery key is available, our guide on unlocking BitLocker without password and recovery key explains what recovery and reset options you still have so you can decide the safest next step.

2. Use a removable drive

If you saved your recovery key to a removable drive, such as a USB flash drive or external hard disk, you could use it to recover your BitLocker key. You should keep this drive in a safe place. This is in case you need it to unlock your disk if you forget your password.

When retrieving it, insert the USB drive into your PC. You’ll need to search for a .txt or .pdf file written BitLocker to find your recovery key.

3. Use a printable document

If you choose to print your recovery key, it will be printed on paper left in an accessible location, such as your desk drawer.

This can be extremely helpful, especially when you need the recovery key immediately. If you have a printable version of the BitLocker recovery key, you can use it to unlock your computer in no time.

4. Use cloud storage

We all know that cloud storage can be the perfect place to store all your important files. But it’s also a great place to save your BitLocker Recovery Key if you forget or lose the password.

It could be a cloud storage service such as Dropbox or OneDrive. When searching for it in the cloud, use keywords such as BitLocker and recovery key to retrieve it quickly.

5. Use an AD account

You can use your Active Directory (AD) account to access Microsoft Azure. This allows you to access your organization’s resources in the cloud, including BitLocker recovery keys.

You can use AD accounts to sign in to most Azure services, but not all services support this feature. If you can’t access it, contact your administrator to help you retrieve it.

If none of the above methods gets you your BitLocker recovery key, you may have to do a PC reset or clean install.

You can avoid future recovery problems by storing your BitLocker keys in Active Directory, and you can follow the steps in our guide on how to store BitLocker keys in Active Directory.

Why is Windows 11 asking for a BitLocker recovery key?

The BitLocker recovery key is a 48-digit code. It can unlock the drive if you lose your password or forget it. You need to keep this recovery key safe because if you don’t have it, you won’t be able to recover your data if something goes wrong.

You forgot your password or PIN – If you’ve forgotten your password or PIN, you will be asked for a recovery key when you try to log in.
PC reset – If you’ve recently reset your PC but chose to reinstall Windows from scratch by formatting the hard disk partition(s), you may be asked for the recovery key.
You’ve entered your PIN incorrectly – If you’ve entered your PIN incorrectly multiple times in a row, you may be prompted to use your recovery key.
Windows has been corrupted – A corrupted Windows 11 operating system may ask for a BitLocker recovery key.
Damaged hard drive – If your hard drive was damaged physically, your Windows 11 installation will be affected.
Hardware change – If you’ve recently changed your hardware, such as the motherboard, you may be prompted to enter your Recovery key as part of the Windows startup process.

FAQs

Where can I find my BitLocker recovery key?

You can find it in your Microsoft account, on a printed copy you saved, in an Azure AD or Active Directory account (for work or school devices), or in a .txt file you saved during setup.

Can I recover BitLocker without the recovery key?

No. BitLocker encryption cannot be bypassed. Without the correct recovery key, your data cannot be decrypted. This is a security measure to protect your files from unauthorized access.

Why is BitLocker asking for a recovery key on startup?

This can happen after hardware changes, firmware updates, incorrect shutdowns, TPM issues, or if Windows detects a security risk. It is a normal protection feature to ensure your data stays safe.

How do I stop BitLocker from asking for the recovery key every time?

Update your TPM drivers and BIOS, ensure Secure Boot is enabled, suspend and resume BitLocker protection, and avoid forced shutdowns. You can also run manage-bde -protectors -disable C: and then re-enable it to reset the key protectors.

However, before you take any drastic measures, we recommend you first get in touch with Microsoft and your PC’s manufacturer for additional help. They may have another option to recover your lost key.

If you find this situation tedious, consider disabling BitLocker on your Windows 11 to prevent issues like getting stuck on the Preparing BitLocker recovery screen in the future.

You may also find yourself in a predicament where you retrieve the recovery key, but the BitLocker key fails to unlock your PC. If this sounds familiar, please check out our helpful guide for some solutions. And if you happen to face another common issue, it’s time to learn how to retrieve the BitLocker Recovery Key using CMD.

Let us know which method you found easy to find your lost BitLocker recovery key in the comment section below.

Windows Time Service Missing: 8 Methods to Restore It

Posted on February 14, 2023November 17, 2025 by Madalina Dinita

The Windows Time Service (W32Time) is a Microsoft service that synchronizes computer clock. The tool is implemented in the W32Time.dll file.

The Windows Time Service recently broke down, sending the wrong times to computers worldwide. Fortunately, Microsoft quickly fixed this problem, and your computer should now display the correct time.

Should the Windows Time Service break down again, we’ve covered you. In this article, we’ll list a series of workarounds that you can use to set the correct time on your computer.

Why is Windows Time Service missing?

Damaged installation – Sometimes, your installation can get damaged. To fix it, you need to repair corrupted system files.
Service settings – In case the service isn’t correctly configured, you can get this and many similar errors. Restarting it usually fixes the problem.
Improperly configured tasks – If the tasks aren’t scheduled properly, you need to manually schedule tasks related to date and time.
Time server issues – In some instances, there might be issues with the time server. Change the server and check if that helps.

What are other Windows Time Service issues?

Windows Time service can sometimes lead to certain issues if it’s not running properly. Speaking of this service, here are some similar issues that users reported:

Windows 10 time service not starting, access denied, not working, not found, not showing
- There are various issues that can occur with Windows Time service on Windows 10, but you should be able to fix most of them by using one of our solutions.
Windows Time service keeps stopping
- According to users, sometimes this service keeps stopping on your PC.
- To fix this problem, be sure to run both SFC and DISM scans and check if that solves the issue.
Windows Time service missing, not installed
- If this service is missing or if it’s not installed, be sure to reregister the service and check if that solves the problem.
Windows Time service not starting error 1792, 1290, 1079
- There are various errors that can prevent this service from running, and if you encounter any of these issues, be sure to try some of our solutions.
Windows Time service could not be started
- This is another common problem with Windows Time service.
- If this issue occurs, you might have to change the Startup type of Windows Time service.
Windows Time not syncing
- This is another common problem caused by Windows Time service.
- However, you can fix it by checking your scheduled tasks.

How do I fix the Windows Time service if it’s missing?

Before we start fixing this issue, be sure to try the following:

Check motherboard battery – A faulty one often causes time and date issues. Consider replacement before trying other steps.

1. Perform SFC and DISM scans

Press Windows key + X to open Win + X menu.
Now choose Command Prompt (Admin) or Powershell (Admin) from the menu.
When Command Prompt opens, type the following and press Enter: sfc /scannow
SFC scan will now start. This scan can take up to 15 minutes, so don’t interfere with it or interrupt it.

If Windows Time service isn’t running, the problem might be your file corruption. Sometimes, your system files can get corrupted, leading to this and many other errors.

To fix the problem, you need to perform an SFC scan. Once the SFC scan is finished, check for the problem.

Windows Time service could not be started

If the issue is still present, your next step would be to run a DISM scan. To do that, start Command Prompt as administrator and run the following command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Once the DISM scan is finished, check if the problem persists. If the issue is still present, repeat the SFC scan and check if that solves the issue. If this process seems too complicated or time-consuming, we recommend reliable repair software.

2. Set the Windows Time Service to automatic

Press Windows key + R and type services.msc. Next, press Enter.
Scroll down to Windows Time and double-click it.
Change the Startup type to Automatic. Lastly, click on Apply and OK.

After you change the Startup type, the service should automatically start with Windows, and your problem should be resolved. If you have issues with Windows Time service, you need to ensure that the Startup type of the service is set to Automatic.

3. Make sure that the Local System account starts the Windows Time service

Open the Services window.
Scroll down to Windows Time and double-click it.
Select the Log Ontab and check the Local System account. Lastly, click Apply and OK.

According to users, sometimes issues Windows Time service can occur if it’s not being started properly. After making these changes, the problem should be resolved completely.

4. Register the W32Time file again

Press Windows key + X and choose PowerShell (Admin).
Run the following commands:
net stop w32time w32tm /unregister w32tm /register
Close PowerShell.

Sometimes this issue can occur if there’s a problem with the W32Time service. To fix the issue, you must stop the services and unregister it.

5. Check the Windows Time Service in the Task Scheduler

Go to the Search menu, type task scheduler and select Task Scheduler.
Expand the Task Scheduler Library tree. Next, go to Microsoft and select Windows. Lastly, choose Time Synchronization.
Left-click each task and make sure it is enabled. To enable a task, right-click it and select Enable.
Still in the center pane, check the settings from the Triggers tab and set the service to run automatically at startup.

For Windows Time Service to work properly, specific scheduled tasks must be running. If there’s an issue with one of these tasks, you might encounter some problems.

6. Use a different time server

Press Windows key + R and enter control. Click OK.
Go to Date and Time.
Go to Internet Time and click the Change settings button.
Select time.nist.gov as the Server and click the Update now button. Also, try using pool.ntp.org as the server, some users reported that this fixed the issue.

In some cases, problems with Windows Time service can occur if there’s an issue with the time server. Check out our in-depth comparison of time.windows.com vs time.nist.gov for good measure. After changing the time server, check if the issue is still there.

You can also add more servers to the list. Here’s how to do this:

Press Windows key + R and enter regedit. Press Enter.
Once the Registry Editor opens, navigate to the following path:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\DateTime\Servers
To add a new time server, right-click the empty space and choose New and then String Value.
Enter the appropriate number and double-click it. In the Value data field enter the server’s address.

Here are some server examples:
- time-a.nist.gov
- time-b.nist.gov
- 128.105.37.11
- europe.pool.ntp.org
- clock.isc.org
- north-america.pool.ntp.org
- time.windows.com
- time.nist.gov
After you add servers to the registry, simply go to Time and Date settings and choose any of the servers that you added.

You can improve time accuracy by adjusting your NTP configuration, and you can follow this detailed guide on how to configure an NTP server in Windows to make sure your system syncs correctly.

7. Force Windows to sync the time

Start PowerShell as adminsitartor. Use Windows key + X and select PowerShell (Admin).
Now run the following commands:
net stop w32time w32tm /unregister w32tm /register net start w32time w32tm /resync

According to users, sometimes you might be able to solve this problem simply by forcing Windows to start the service and sync the time. After that, restart your PC and check if the problem is resolved.

8. Use the sc triggerinfo command

Start Powershell as administrator.
Now run the following command: sc triggerinfo w32time start/networkon stop/networkoff

According to users, sometimes Windows Time service isn’t triggered properly, and if that’s the case, the service won’t start at all. However, you can fix the problem simply by running a single command in Command Prompt.

After executing the command, the Windows Time service should be fixed and start automatically with your PC.

There you go. We hope one of these solutions helps you synchronize your Windows 10 clock. If the problem is still there, our Windows clock is falling behind guide should be able to help.

If you’ve encountered other workarounds to fix various Windows Time Service bugs, please list the troubleshooting steps in the comment section below.