How to Fix the Shutdown Button Not Working on Windows 10

Posted on December 30, 2022February 25, 2025 by Ivan Jenic

Some users complaining that their Laptop is not shutting down. Now, it is the Windows 10 shutdown button not working issue that is troubling users.

That problem is usually due to the Start Menu not working. However, it can also be caused by power settings issues, or the button itself is not working. Luckily, we have all the situations covered below.

How do I fix the Shutdown button if it’s not working?

1. Replace the Intel Management Interface driver

Press Windows key + X and choose Device Manager from the list.
Double-click the System Devices option to expand it.
Right-click Intel(R) Management Engine Interface.
Choose the Properties options.
Now, click the Driver tab in the top menu.
Check the version of the driver to see if it is 11.
If it is version 11, go to Intel’s website and download an older or later version.
When you try to install an older version, you’ll be notified that you already have a newer version.
Click Yes to overwrite it.

According to the reports, the Intel Management Interface driver can cause the shutdown button not working issue on Windows 10 and 11, so to fix it, you need to install the older version.

Currently, version 11 is the leading cause of some laptop shutdown issues, so let’s check first what version of the driver you’re using.

Otherwise, you can use specialized driver updating software and get the correct driver versions for your PC.

2. Put your computer into sleep mode and then shut it down

Press the Windows key and click the Power icon.
Click the Sleep option.
Wake the computer from sleep and sign in.
Now, shut down your PC.

This is more of a workaround that will temporarily fix the shutdown button not working problem. But it’s not a permanent solution, so keep that in mind.

3. Use a shutdown command to shut down your PC

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
When the Run dialog opens, enter the string below and click OK: %SystemRoot%System32Shutdown.exe -s -t 00 -f

After running this command, your PC should shut down. This is easy to get past the shutdown button not working issue. If this command works, you might want to create a shortcut to run it faster.

This is relatively simple, and you can do it by following these steps:

First, right-click your Desktop and choose New > Shortcut from the menu.
In the Type the location of the item field, enter the string below, and click Next to continue: %SystemRoot%System32Shutdown.exe -s -t 00 -f
Change the shortcut’s name if you want, and click on Finish.

You can permanently shut down your PC using the shutdown command. Remember that this is a workaround and won’t fix the core problem. But it will allow you to shut down your PC with just a few clicks.

4. Install the latest updates

Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
Choose the Update & Security option.
Now in the right pane, click on Check for updates button.

Windows 10 is a solid operating system, but inevitable glitches and bugs can sometimes appear. For example, if the shutdown button is not working on your PC, the problem might be a bug in your system.

The best way to permanently fix this problem is to install the latest updates. If you can’t open the Setting app in Windows 10, look at this article to solve the issue.

5. Change power button settings

Press the Windows key + S and enter power settings.
Select Power & sleep settings from the menu.
Click Additional power settings in the right panel.
Now click Choose what the power buttons do from the menu on the left.
Set When I press the power button to Shut down.
Now, click on Save changes.

If the shutdown button is not working on your PC, the problem might be your settings. The power button can be configured to do several things, and sometimes it might not turn off your PC.

After that, your power button will be configured to shut down your PC whenever you press it.

6. Use the Win + X shortcut

Press the Windows + X keys.
Select Shut down or sign out.
Now, choose Shut down from the menu.

If the shutdown button is not working, you might be able to turn off your PC using this workaround. In addition, Windows 10 comes with a helpful menu called Win + X, which holds several valuable shortcuts.

You can easily access specific applications using this menu, but you can also turn off your PC.

After doing that, your PC should shut down without any problems. Remember that this is just a workaround, so you’ll have to use this method whenever you want to shut down your PC.

7. Turn off Fast Startup

Press the Windows key, type power settings, and select Power & sleep settings.
Click the Additional power settings option.
Select Choose what the power buttons do in the left pane.
Now, click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
Uncheck the box for Turn on fast startup (recommended).
Click the Save changes button.

Windows 10 has an exciting Fast Startup feature that allows your PC to start faster. The feature combines shutdown and hibernation into one, allowing your PC to start faster.

However, specific issues like the shutdown button, not working problem can occur due to this feature. And many users are suggesting turning it off.

After doing that, this feature should be disabled completely. Remember that your PC might boot slower than before after turning off this feature, but the shutdown problem should be resolved entirely.

8. Turn off hibernation

Press Windows key + X and choose Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin) if Command Prompt is unavailable.
When Command Prompt starts, enter the command below and press Enter: powercfg.exe /hibernate off

Hibernation is a helpful feature that will shut down your PC and save all your open files allowing you to continue where you left off.

However, sometimes this feature can cause the shutdown button not working issue. After that, the hibernation feature will be turned off, and the shutdown problem will be resolved.

9. Reset your BIOS

If the shutdown button is not working, the problem might be your BIOS configuration. BIOS works as a configuration utility for your PC, and sometimes specific BIOS settings can interfere with your PC and prevent it from shutting down properly.

Many versions of BIOS allow you to choose between several different shutdown modes, and sometimes choosing the wrong one can cause this issue to appear. However, you can fix that problem simply by resetting BIOS to default.

To do that, you need to enter BIOS and select the reset option. To see how to enter BIOS and reset it, we advise you to check your motherboard manual for detailed instructions.

If Windows skips BIOS, solve the issue quickly by following this fantastic guide.

In addition, users have reported that removing Intel Rapid Storage and Intel Security Assist helps fix this problem. So you might want to check out similar fixes just in case your Windows 10 laptop won’t shut down.

Why can’t I shut down my PC?

If your computer is not shutting down, it might be because of broken or corrupt system files. You can fix this quickly by running the Windows built-in repair tools or specialized third-party software.

Also, the issue might be down to the Fast Startup feature. We have shown how to disable this feature in this guide.

That would be all. We hope these solutions helped you to fix the shutdown button not working in Windows 10 issue.

While still on shutdown issues, you can check our detailed guide to schedule automatic shutdown on Windows 10. We also have an article on what to do if Windows shuts down instead of restarting, so you might want to check it out.

For any more questions or suggestions, reach for the comments section below.

Wi-Fi is not Connecting Automatically on Windows 10/11

Posted on December 30, 2022October 7, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

Many of us use Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet, but sometimes issues with Wi-Fi can occur.

According to users, Windows 10 Wi-Fi isn’t connecting automatically, and today we’re going to show you how to fix that problem.

How can I fix a Wi-Fi that doesn’t connect automatically?

1. Change the properties of your wireless connection

If Windows 10 Wi-Fi isn’t connecting automatically, you might be able to fix the problem by changing the properties of your wireless connection.

This is relatively simple, and you can do it by following these steps:

Click the Internet access icon in your Taskbar.
A list of all wireless connections will appear.
Right-click your connection and choose Properties from the menu.
When Properties window opens, go to Connections tab.
Now check Connect automatically when this network is in range option and save changes.

After enabling this option the problem should be resolved and you’ll be able to use your wireless connection without any issues.

2. Reinstall your Wi-Fi driver

Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu and choose Device Manager from the list.
After Device Manager starts, you need to locate your Wi-Fi device.
Right-click the Wi-Fi device and choose Uninstall device from the menu.
The confirmation message will now appear.
Click on Uninstall to proceed.
After doing that, click on Scan for hardware changes icon.
Windows will now scan your system and install the missing drivers.

According to users, you might be able to temporarily fix this problem by reinstalling your Wi-Fi driver. Once your driver is installed, the problem with Wi-Fi should be resolved completely.

Few users claim that this is just a workaround, so if the problem appears again you might want to download and install the latest driver for your Wi-Fi adapter.

Update drivers automatically

After uninstalling the drivers, you might want to search for them on the manufacturer’s website. It is very important to choose the right driver versions.

However, if you don’t want to risk installing an older version, or the wrong driver, then you might as well use a third-party drive updater to do the job for you instead.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

3. Change Group Policy settings

To fix this problem, do the following:

Press Windows Key + R and enter gpedit.msc.
Press Enter or click OK.
In the left panel, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Internet Communication Management > Internet Communicating Settings.
In the right panel, locate Turn off Windows Network Connectivity Status Indicator active tests and double click it to open its properties.
Select Not Configured from the menu and click on Apply and OK to save changes.

Group Policy is a useful feature that allows you to make system-wide changes on your PC. According to users, you might be able to fix this problem simply by making a few changes using the Group Policy Editor.

We have to mention that this feature is available only on Professional and Enterprise versions of Windows, so if you’re using any other version you might not have this feature available.

By default, this policy is set to Not Configured, but for some reason, it might become enabled on your PC, so we advise you to check your Group Policy settings.

Most Windows 10 users have no idea how to edit the Group Policy. Learn how you can do it by reading this simple article.

4. Remove all saved Wi-Fi networks

Open the Settings app. You can do that quickly by pressing Windows Key + I.
Once the Settings app opens, navigate to Network & Internet section.
In the left panel, navigate to Wi-Fi category. Now locate Manage Wi-Fi settings in the right panel and click on it.
Locate Manage known networks and click it.
Now you should see a list of all networks that you’ve connected to in the past. To forget a network, simply select it and click on Forget. Now repeat these steps for all networks on the list.

If Windows can’t connect to a Wi-Fi network automatically, you might be able to fix the problem by removing all saved Wi-Fi networks.

You can also forget all saved networks by using the Command Prompt. This is a bit advanced solution since you have to use a command line, so if you’re a basic user you might want to skip it.

To delete saved Wi-Fi networks with Command Prompt, you need to do the following:

Press Windows Key + X and choose Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
If you don’t have Command Prompt available on the list, you can choose PowerShell (Admin) instead.
When Command Prompt opens enter this line and press Enter to run the command:
- netsh wlan show profiles
After doing that, you’ll see the list of all saved Wi-Fi networks.
To delete a saved Wi-Fi network, simply enter this line and press Enter to run the command:
- netsh wlan delete profile name="Name of the Wi-Fi network"

This method is a bit advanced, but it might be faster to use if you’re familiar with Command Prompt. Both methods from this solution will have the same results, so feel free to use any of them.

After removing all saved networks, you just have to connect to your network and enter its password and the problem should be resolved.

Some users claim that you just have to delete your own Wi-Fi network from the list of saved networks, so be sure to try that first.

5. Use PROSet software

Several users reported that using the PROSet software fixed the problem for them. For some reason, there was a one-minute delay on their PC before the computer could connect to a Wi-Fi network automatically.

However, after installing PROSet software the problem was completely resolved.

According to users, they used a Cisco wireless router, so that can also be a part of the problem. Even if you don’t use Cisco’s network device, feel free to try this software.

If you have a Wi-Fi exclamation mark on Windows 10, check our dedicated guide that will help you solve the problem.

6. Modify your registry

Press Windows Key + R and enter regedit.
Click on OK or press Enter.
Optional: Modifying the registry can cause some problems with your PC if you’re not careful, therefore it’s always a good idea to create a backup just in case anything goes wrong.
- To do that, click on File > Export.
Set Export range to All and enter the desired file name.
Choose a safe location and click on Save button.
Now you’ll have a backup of your registry ready. In case any problems occur after modifying your registry, you should be able to fix them simply by running this file.
Navigate to this key in the left panel:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWcmSvc
Expand WcmSvc key and look for GroupPolicy key.
- If this key isn’t available, you need to create it manually.
- To do that, right-click WcmSvc and choose New > Key from the menu.
- Now enter GroupPolicy as the name of the new key.
Navigate to the GroupPolicy key and in the right pane click on empty space and choose New > DWORD (32-bit) value.
Enter fMinimizeConnections as the name of the new DWORD.
After doing that, close Registry Editor and restart your PC.

Your registry holds sensitive information, and by modifying it you can change hidden Windows settings.

Several users claim that they fixed the problem simply by making a couple of small changes to their registry.

Once your PC restarts, the problem should be resolved and your PC will automatically connect to the Wi-Fi network. If any problems occur, you can simply delete the GroupPolicy key you created to fix them.

If you can’t edit your Windows 10’s registry, read this handy guide and find the quickest solutions to the issue.

7. Turn off the Fast Startup feature

Press Windows Key + S and enter control panel. Now choose Control Panel from the menu.
Alternatively, you can just open the Start Menu and search for Control Panel.
When Control Panel opens, navigate to Power Options.
When Power Options window opens, click on Choose what the power button does option from the menu on the left.
Click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended) option and click on Save changes.

Windows 10 has a useful feature called Fast Startup. This feature is enabled by default, and it will save your data when turning off your PC.

As a result, your PC will boot faster the next time you turn it on. This is a useful feature, but it can sometimes cause certain issues to appear.

Users reported that Fast Startup is the cause of this problem.

After turning this option off, your PC might boot a bit slower, but your Wi-Fi problems should be resolved.

You can’t open Control Panel? Take a look at our step-by-step guide to finding a solution.

8. Install the latest drivers manually

Download and install the latest drivers for your wireless adapter.
- If possible, try to download the drivers without any additional wireless configuration software.
Start Device Manager and locate your wireless device.
Right-click the wireless device and choose Update driver.
Choose Browse my computer for driver software.
Now click on Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
You should see several different drivers available. Select the driver from your wireless adapter manufacturer and click on Next.

These types of problems are usually caused by your drivers, but in most cases, you can fix them simply by updating your drivers to the latest version.

After you install the driver manually, the problem should be resolved and you’ll be able to connect to the wireless network without any problems.

9. Replace your wireless adapter

If Windows 10 can’t automatically connect to the Wi-Fi, you might want to try replacing your wireless adapter. Some wireless adapters aren’t fully compatible with Windows 10, and that can be the case with your adapter.

If that’s so, you need to replace your wireless adapter with a different model and check if that solves the problem. This is a drastic solution, and you should use it only if other solutions from this article can’t fix your problem.

Most wireless adapters are fully compatible with Windows 10, but if you’re using an unknown brand, you might experience this problem on your PC.

If you’re having wireless adapter or access point issues on Windows 10, take a look at this awesome guide to solve them.

10. Remove files from Wlansvc directory

Press Windows Key + R and enter services.msc. Press Enter or click OK.
A list of all available services will now appear. Locate WLAN AutoConfig service, right-click it and choose Stop from the menu.
After stopping the service, minimize the Services window.
Open File Explorer and go to this directory:
1. C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWlansvc
2. If you can’t find this directory, be sure to reveal hidden files and folders.
3. To do that, simply click on the View tab and then check Hidden items option.
Once you enter Wlansvc directory, delete all files and directories from it except Profiles directory.
Now navigate to the Profiles directory. Delete all files and directories except Interfaces folder.
Open Interfaces folder and delete all files and folders from it.
Now go back to Services window, locate WLAN AutoConfig service, right-click it and choose Start from the menu.
Connect to your wireless network once again. Be sure to check the option to automatically connect to the selected network.

This problem can sometimes be caused by files inside the Wlansvc directory.

To fix the issue, you need to disable the WLAN AutoConfig service and remove the problematic files.

After doing that, you just have to restart your computer and check if that solves the problem.

A few users are also suggesting going back to this directory and locating the newly created .xml file in one of the folders:

C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWlansvcProfilesInterfaces

This .xml represents your network connection, and to fix the problem, you need to right-click this file and choose Properties from the menu.

Now go to the General tab and check the Read-only option in the Attributes section. Click on Apply and OK to save changes.

According to users, it seems that Windows was modifying the .xml file causing this problem to appear. By setting the file to Read-only mode, the problem was resolved completely.

11. Change the security permissions

Navigate to C:ProgramDataMicrosoftWlansvc directory.
Locate the Profiles directory and right-click it.
Choose Properties from the menu.
Go to Security tab, and check if Administrators group is available in Group or user names section.
- If not, click the Advanced button.
- If Administrators group is available, go to Step 7.
Now click on Add button.
Click on Select a principal.
In the Enter the object names to select the field enter Administrators and click on Check Names.
- If everything is in order, click on OK.
Check Full control option and click on OK to save changes.
Select Administrators and click on Edit.
Select Administrators and make sure that Full control option is checked in Allow column.
Now click on Apply and OK to save changes.
Go to Network and Sharing Center and try to add your wireless connection.

As we already mentioned, your Profiles folder can sometimes cause problems with Wi-Fi to occur.

After doing that, the problem should be resolved and you’ll be able to connect to your wireless network without any issues.

12. Create a new wireless network connection

Open Control Panel and choose Network and Sharing Center.
When Network and Sharing Center opens, click on Set up a new connection or network.
Choose Manually connect to a wireless network option and click on Next.
Enter the network name and required settings. In addition, be sure to check to Start this connection automatically and Connect even if the network is not broadcasting options.
Now click on Next and follow the instructions to complete the process.

According to users, you might be able to solve this problem simply by creating a new wireless network connection. Before you do that, you might have to remove your wireless connection.

After doing that, you’ll have a new connection ready and Windows will automatically connect to it.

If your Wi-Fi icon is missing on Windows 10, get it back by following this simple guide.

13. Remove any third-party wireless software

Open Device Manager, locate your wireless adapter, right-click it and choose Update driver from the menu.
Select Browse my computer for driver software.
Click the Browse button and locate the wireless drivers on your PC.
- Usually, they’ll be on a CD that you got with your wireless adapter.
- If you downloaded the drivers online, be sure to check your download directory.
After you select the driver directory, Check Include subfolders option and click on Next.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the process.

Many wireless adapters come with their own software that can help you configure your wireless network. To fix this problem, you need to remove any wireless configuration software that came with your wireless adapter.

Keep in mind that removing this software can also remove drivers for your wireless adapter.

To fix the issue, you need to reinstall your drivers, but be sure not to install any wireless configuration software. The simplest way to do that is to install the drivers manually.

In some cases, Windows will ask you if you want to use Windows or third-party software to control the wireless device. If that happens, be sure to choose Windows.

Users reported that sometimes third-party wireless control software can start automatically with Windows causing this problem to appear.

To fix the issue, you need to manage your startup items and prevent the software from starting automatically with Windows.

Users reported problems with Netgear software, but the problem can also appear with software from other manufacturers.

14. Set WLAN AutoConfig service to Automatic

Open the Services window.
- We already showed you how to do that in Solution 9, so be sure to check it for detailed instructions.
When Services window opens, locate WLAN AutoConfig service and double-click it to open its properties.
Set Startup type to Automatic.
Go to Dependencies tab and check the list of services that are dependent on WLAN AutoConfig.
Write down those services since you’ll need them for the next step. Click OK and Apply to save changes.
Now locate all dependant services from the previous step and make sure that their Startup type is set to Automatic.

According to users, the problem can occur if the WLAN AutoConfig service isn’t set to Automatic. After making the necessary changes in the Services window the problem should be resolved entirely.

15. Perform DISM and SFC scan

Open Command Prompt as administrator.
When Command Prompt opens, enter sfc /scannow and press Enter to run it.
The SFC scan will now start. The scan can take a while, so don’t interrupt it.

File corruption can occur on any PC, and sometimes if your system files are corrupted you might experience this problem.

According to users, you might be able to fix this issue by using the SFC scan.

If the SFC scan can’t fix the problem or if you can’t run it at all, you might want to use the DISM scan instead. To do that, start Command Prompt as administrator and enter:

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth.

After the DISM scan is completed you should be able to run an SFC scan without any problems.

16. Change your device’s power settings

Start Device Manager.
Locate your wireless adapter on the list, right-click it and choose Properties from the menu.
When Properties window opens, go to Power Management section.
- Now locate Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power option and check it.
- Click OK to save changes.

Several users reported that Windows 10 Wi-Fi isn’t connecting automatically after waking up their PC from hibernation. According to users, the issue seems to be caused by your device’s power settings.

After enabling this option, your computer will always turn off your wireless adapter when your PC enters hibernation or Sleep Mode.

Users reported that this solution fixes this problem when waking your PC from hibernation, but feel free to try it even if you don’t use the hibernation feature on your PC.

Several users reported that this option automatically turns back off after you install a new build of Windows, so if you install any major update, be sure to turn on this feature again.

We also have to mention that a few users claim that disabling Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power option fixed the problem for them, so be sure to try it out.

17. Change your router settings

According to users, this problem can occur if you’re using both Ethernet and Wi-Fi connections on your PC. Sometimes your PC might prefer Ethernet over your Wi-Fi connection causing the problem to appear.

It seems that this issue is caused by your router settings, and in order to fix that problem, you need to do the following:

Log in to your router. To see how to do that, we strongly suggest checking your router’s manual.
Now click on Advanced and click Yes to confirm.
Locate IGMP Proxy feature and choose Disable.
Click on Apply to save changes.

After turning this feature off, the problem should be resolved and your PC will automatically connect to a Wi-Fi network without any problems.

Keep in mind that all routers are different, so you might need to take slightly different steps to disable this feature. For detailed instructions on how to disable this feature, we advise you to check your instruction manual.

18. Minimize the number of simultaneous connections

Open Group Policy Editor. We showed you how to do that in Solution 1, so check it for detailed instructions.
When Group Policy Editor opens, in the left pane navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Network > Windows Connection Manager.
In the right pane, locate Minimize the number of simultaneous connections to the Internet or a Windows Domain and double-click it.
Select Disabled and click on Apply and OK to save changes.
After doing that, close Group Policy Editor.

According to users, you might be able to fix this problem simply by making a couple of changes in Group Policy Editor. To fix the issue, you just need to find and disable Minimize the number of simultaneous connections policy.

This setting prevents establishing multiple connections to the Internet, so if you’re already connected to the Internet using an Ethernet connection, your PC won’t connect automatically to the Wi-Fi network.

After disabling this setting, the problem with your Wi-Fi connection should be completely resolved.

19. Change your router’s security

This is just a workaround, so it might not be the best permanent solution. Changing your router’s security isn’t advised since some security standards are less secure than others.

By using this method you’ll reduce the security of your wireless network, so be sure to keep that in mind.

Several users claim that the problem appears while using WPA 2 security to secure the wireless network. According to users, switching the wireless security from WPA or WPA 2 to WEP fixed the problem for them.

We have to warn you that the WEP security standard is outdated, so it’s always better to use WPA 2 standard instead.

Almost all wireless devices are fully compatible with WPA 2 standard, and if your device has a problem with it, you might have to check its settings or update your drivers.

To switch to WEP security, you just have to log in to your router and select WEP security from the Wireless section. For more instructions on how to do that, we advise you to check your router’s instruction manual.

Once again we have to mention that WEP security is outdated, and if you’re going to use it, use it only as a temporary solution.

As you can see, this can be an annoying problem, but we hope that you’ll manage to solve it by using one of our solutions.

If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below and we’ll be sure to check them out.

How to Change or Reset Orbi Default Admin Password & Log In

Posted on December 30, 2022October 4, 2023 by Tashreef Shareef

The Orbi Home WiFi System from Netgear offers fast and reliable WiFi without dead zones. The system arrives with a default username and password out of the box.

The default Orbi password is typically admin for username and password for the password.

Now, what if you want to change the Orbi default password or if you have forgotten the password? Changing the Orbi default password is easy and takes not more than a few minutes.

This also applies if you want to recover your forgotten password.

Why is Orbi asking for admin password?

As previously mentioned, Orbi routers have a default password and username set up. Since the physical device has a management dashboard or an administrative web interface, admin credentials are required in order to access it.

The Orbi admin password you received by default is not extremely secure, which already provides a good reason to change it. In some cases, the Orbi default password might not work at all.

Orbi admin password not working issues are not so uncommon and they’re usually triggered by virus or malware infection on your computer. That’s an even better reason for you to change your Orbi admin password.

In this article, we take a look at how to change and recover the Orbi default password to keep your home network safe.

How do I change my Orbi admin password?

1. How do I find my Orbi admin password?

Open the web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the Orbi network.
Navigate to the Orbi login page.
In the user name and password field, enter the default Orbi username and password.
username – admin
Password – password
Most router manufacturers use admin and password as the default credential combination.

What is the default Orbi password? Here’s how to find out. While the default Orbi password is easy to remember, it is not secure.

Anyone with a basic understanding of the router can gain access to your router and the network.

To strengthen the security of your home WiFi network, make sure to change the default Orbi password and username.

2. How do I Change the Orbi WiFi default password?

1. Open the web browser on your computer or mobile device. Make sure it is connected to the Orbi network.
2. Navigate to the Orbi login page.
3. It will ask you to enter the password. So, enter the following default Orbi username and password.
- admin
- password
4. Once logged in, open the Advanced option.
5. Go to Administration and select Set Password.
6. Enter the new password and username that you want to set.
7. Click Apply to save the changes.

Make sure to enter a long password with a mix of special characters, numbers, and letters to strengthen it.

If you find it hard to remember a long password or are afraid that you might forget it, try using a password manager to manage all of your passwords.

Some users reported several Orbi default password not working issues. If this is also your case, or if you had changed your default password and then forgotten it, follow the steps below to recover your Orbi password.

3. How do I reset my Orbi admin password?

Navigate to the Netgear login webpage.
Select the Forgot your password? option.
In the Reset your password window, enter the email address that is associated with your Orbi account.
Click Reset My Password.
Netgear will send a password reset link to your email address.
Open the link and enter your new Orbi password.
Click on Submit to change the password.

Normally, it’s that easy to reset Orbi admin password. But you can always run into trouble and sometimes even the reset option seems to act out.

? Cannot reset Orbi admin password

If the conventional reset option fails to deliver, you can take it a step further and try either a soft or a hard reset.

The Orbi soft reset procedure implies:

Navigate to orbilogin.com and click the Cancel button
You will be asked to provide the serial number of your router and answer several security questions
Then, click Continue and return to the orbilogin.com password screen to change your password

Editor’s tip

We advise you to clear the cache from your browser before trying the steps described above.

The Orbi hard reset or force reset procedure implies a more physical approach:

Find the reset button on your Orbi router
Press it down for up to 10 seconds or until it starts blinking
Resume the password-changing process as described above

Changing the Orbi default router password is easy if you haven’t changed the password earlier.

If not, you have to reset the password using your email account and set a new Orbi password to access the router admin panel.

Sorry an Error Has Occurred in OneDrive: 5 Ways to Fix It

Posted on December 30, 2022September 1, 2025 by Sagar Naresh

Are you getting Sorry an error has occurred message when accessing OneDrive via your web browser? If yes, then you aren’t alone, because there are multiple users facing a similar issue. As per user reports, they are getting this error message when they try to access the OneDrive tab.

There could be several different reasons why you are getting the OneDrive Sorry an error has occurred message. Fortunately, in this guide, we will give you some quick ways via which you can apply and fix the problem at hand.

Why am I getting OneDrive Sorry an error has occurred message?

After some research, we have prepared a list that will give you most of the common factors because of which you will face the OneDrive Sorry an error has occurred message:

Browser cache is corrupt: Cache files if corrupt can cause multiple issues and can also trigger this error message when accessing OneDrive using a web browser.
Server issues: Official servers when down can also restrict you from accessing OneDrive.
Profile issues: Chances are that your profile is corrupt and is causing the issue.
Disable browser add-ons: Third-party add-ons might be conflicting with OneDrive, which is why you are getting the issue.

How can I fix OneDrive Sorry an error has occurred message?

Here are a few things that you can do before you jump ahead with the advanced troubleshooting solutions and try fixing the error:

Simply restart your PC and check if this fixes this issue.
Close your browser and wait for a few seconds before accessing OneDrive with it.
Check if your internet connection is working perfectly fine or not.
If there are some issues with the official servers, then you won’t be able to use all the features of the website or use the website at all. You can make use of websites such as Downdetector to check the current status of the OneDrive servers. If there is a server issue, then you can’t do much, and all you can do is wait for the developers to fix the servers.
If you are experiencing an issue with a particular browser, say Google Chrome, then we would suggest you check if the same problem exists on a different browser or not. For users looking out for an alternative browser, you can refer to our guide which lists some of the best and tested browsers you can try on your PC.

Now, let us check out the advanced solutions to fix the problem.

1. Clear browser cache

Launch Google Chrome.
Tap on the 3-dot menu icon at the top-right.
Select Settings.
Click on the Privacy and security tab on the left.
Select the Clear browsing data option.
Check the boxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
Hit the Clear data button.

Cache data stores all of your personalized settings for the browser as well as the websites that you visit to help facilitate loading all your settings faster.

However, in case these files go corrupt, you will experience issues with certain websites and also come across issues such as OneDrive Sorry an error has occurred.

2. Re-sign to OneDrive

Open OneDrive website.
Click on your profile picture.
Select Sign out.
Enter your Microsoft account details and sign back in.

Some issues with your Microsoft profile can also trigger the error message. In this case, you can sign out and sign back in and check if this resolves the issue or not.

3. Disable browser add-ons/extensions

Launch your browser.
Click on the 3-dot menu icon.
Select More tools.
Click on Extensions.
Toggle off all the extensions, one by one.
Relaunch your browser and check if this fixes the issue or not.

Alternatively, you can press Ctrl + Shift + N to open Google Chrome in Incognito mode, which disables the add-ons and other extensions. You can then check if the problem still exists or not. If the problem is resolved then you have to remove the extensions.

4. Check Internet Options settings

Open the Start menu by pressing the Win button.
Type internet options and open it.
Click on the Advanced tab.
Under the HTTP settings, check the boxes for Use HTTP 1.1, Use HTTP 1.1 through proxy connections, and Use HTTP2.
Uncheck Use SSL 3.0.
Click Apply and OK.
Launch the browser.
Go to the OneDrive website.
Sign in and check if this resolves the issue or not.

For some users, using the above mentioned settings has helped resolve the OneDrive Sorry an error has occurred problem.

That is it from us in this guide. You can check out our guide to learn how to use multiple OneDrive on a single PC.

We also have a comprehensive guide that will give step-by-step instructions to move files from one OneDrive account to another.

For users looking for a guide to changing OneDrive sync settings on Windows 10, then you can refer to our guide. You can also learn about whether or not you can sync OneDrive to an external hard drive or not. Also, check out how you can share files on OneDrive with others.

This isn’t the only error, you can encounter, and we already tackled OneDrive error 1001 and error 0x8007017c in Windows in our previous guides, so don’t miss them.

We also have a complete guide on how to fix OneDrive error 0x8007016a with step-by-step instructions, so don’t miss it if you’re having this problem.

Let us know in the comments below, which one of the above solutions helped you resolve the problem.

11 Tips for Speeding Up File Transfer on Your PC [Updated]

Posted on December 30, 2022October 4, 2023 by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Copying files from external media to your local storage is the most basic task of all. Especially, since the DVD Era is behind us and USB memory drives are used for basically all data transfers. The flash memory speeds up the reading/writing speeds substantially, and thus the emergence of the Solid State Drives was a rather expected next step.

However, lots of users’ reports state that their PCs are copying files slowly or slower than usual. Both from the external media and between different drives/partitions sharing the local storage or network.

This is not so unusual. And there are various factors why something like that would happen. We enlisted some ways to speed up your PC if it’s copying files slowly or slower than usual.

Your PC takes a while to copy files? Here’s why and how to speed it up

1. Check the HDD and external media for corruption

Let’s start by checking the state of your HDD or the external drive. The quickest way to do so is by using the built-in tool which can be found in the partition properties. Once you run it, it should locate the corrupted sectors and fix them if needed so.

Here’s how to run this tool on Windows 10:

Open This PC or File Explorer.
Right-click on the partition or drive and open Properties.
Select the Tool tab.
Under the “Error checking” section, click Check.

2. Disable the Auto-Tuning feature

If you’re having a hard time transferring files swiftly over the network, we suggest disabling the Auto-Tuning feature. This feature should monitor and dynamically adjust the buffer size of the receiving files. Thus, in theory, it should speed up the whole procedure of TCP data transfer. However, it also might cause problems and additionally slow down copying files over a network.

Here’s how to disable it in a few steps:

Right-click on Start and open Command Prompt (Admin).
In the command line, copy-paste the following command and press Enter:
- netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled
Try transferring files again and, if the problem isn’t resolved, don’t forget to re-enable the Auto-Tuning. Use the same command, just replace “disabled” with “normal” at the end of the line.

3. Turn Off RDC

RDC or Remote Differential Compression has a similar goal but it utilizes alternative ways to help you synchronize large chunks of data. It compresses the data during the network sync, but it can also be a drawback. That’s why we suggest disabling it. If the problem isn’t solved, you can always re-enable it and move onward through the list.

Here’s how to turn off RDC:

In the Windows Search bar, type Turn Windows and open Turn Windows features on or off.
Scroll down and uncheck the “Remote Differential Compression API support” box.
Confirm changes.

4. Use a different USB port

This seems more than obvious but a lot of people ignore it for no apparent reason. Namely, if you have a 3.0 or 3.1 USB port, it should be your primary choice. However, if there are multiple ports, you can switch between them until you get the supposed transfer speeds.

Of course, there’s also file fragmentation at stake. If you have a cluster of 1000 files taking up 5 GB, it’ll take much more time than 1 5 GB- a large file.

5. Check USB drivers

Since its introduction, Windows 10 has had a lot of issues with various drivers for all kinds of devices. The same goes for generic chipset drivers which are automatically administered via Windows Update. What we suggest is replacing those drivers with the official ones obtained from the OEM’s support website.

By simply googling your motherboard, you should find all the latest drivers you need. After you install these drivers, the copying speed should improve substantially.

6. Disable Drive Indexing

In order to speed up access to files stored on the local storage, Windows offers Drive Indexing. When enabled, this feature will index all files and substantially reduce the waiting time when you search for them in File Explorer. This is a great feature if you have dozens of similar files which help you distinguish them and access them quicker than usual.

However, even though it should work when the PC is idle, it sometimes doesn’t. And you can imagine how it can slow the data transfer if starts indexing files while the copying is still at hand.

For that reason, we suggest disabling it. At least temporarily. Here’s how to do it:

Open This PC or File Explorer.
Right-click on the partition you want to relieve of indexing and open Properties.
Uncheck the “Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed in addition to file properties” box and restart your PC.

7. Disable your antivirus

In a similar manner, as Drive Indexing can slow down copying, an antivirus might, as well. Of course, instead of indexing, its real-time engine might scan them for malware presence. Besides slowing down the transfer, it can also affect the whole system and hog the resources. Which adds up to an already heavy burden. That’s the reason why you should disable it until all files are transferred. Obviously, you would want to enable it afterward.

Here’s how to disable Windows Defender:

Open Windows Defender Action Center from the notification area.
Choose Virus & threat protection.
Under the Virus & threat protection settings, click Manage settings.
Toggle off Real-time protection.

8. Use the Disk Cleanup utility

The sole presence of temporary files might slow down the execution of various system services. So, the next viable step is to clean up all temporary files stored in your system partition. This can be done with various third-party tools but, for the sake of simplicity, we suggest using the built-in utility called Disk Cleanup.

Follow these instructions to run Disk Cleanup:

Press Windows key + S to open Search bar.
Type in dsk and open Disk Cleanup.
Choose the system partition and click OK.
Click on Clean system files and choose the system partition again. The calculation can take some time.
Check all boxes and click OK.

9. Format the USB flash drive in the NTFS format

Some users reported visible improvements in the copying speeds as soon as they re-formatted their thumb drives in the NTFS format instead of FAT32. Most USB thumb drives are, by default, formatted in the FAT32 format which shouldn’t be a problem. However, that doesn’t mean that the NTFS format won’t help you resolve horrendously slow copying speeds on your PC.

If you’re unsure how to format a USB flash drive to NTFS, follow these steps:

Back up data from the USB flash drive and plug it in.
Open This PC or File Explorer.
Right-click on the USB flash drive and choose Format from the contextual menu.
Choose NTFS as the format.
Wait until the procedure ends.

10. Change the drive’s Removal policy

Every external USB storage allows you to choose between the Quick removal policy which avoids caching and the Better performance policy which writes caching. The former is usually a better choice for small-sized USB flash drives. However, if we’re talking about copying dozens of gigabytes from an external HDD, the Better performance policy is the way to go.

Here’s how to change the Removal policy for the external drives on your PC:

Connect the external drive to the PC.
Right-click on Start and open Device Manager.
Expand the Disk drives section.
Right-click on the external drive and open Properties.
Choose the Policy tab.
Toggle Better performance instead of Quick removal.

11. Use a third-party application to copy the files

Besides relying on solely system resources, you can try some third-party tools to speed up the copying. There are a whole lot of available tools, and they tend to deal better with large chunks of data. Most of them are free of charge and small in size. Some even doesn’t require installation in order to use them.

Here are some tools we can recommend:

Finally, if none of the previous solutions helped you deal with the slow file copying, we can only suggest a clean reinstallation of Windows 10. If you’ve upgraded to Windows 10 over the Windows 7/8.1 installation, chances are the system will underperform. That’s why we suggest reinstalling Windows 10. Wiping out your HDD and repartitioning it before the installation might help, as well.

With that said, we can conclude this article. Hopefully, at least some of the enlisted steps helped you resolve the problem at hand. If they did, make sure to tell us in the comments section below.

Best GPS Software for Windows 10/11 to Download in 2026

Posted on December 30, 2022January 12, 2024 by Madalina Dinita

If you own a Windows 10/11 tablet, you’re probably looking to get some good GPS apps for it since it doesn’t make sense to buy a standalone GPS device for that; we have collected some of the best navigation software for you.

We all know that much research must be conducted beforehand when planning a trip to unknown locations.

Routs have to be carefully planned before adventuring into places one has never been before to avoid getting lost and in order to save time and money.

So having a good GPS program to rely on is a very important thing to have for traveling lovers and people who have to travel a lot of the time.

And in Windows 10, you can be sure to encounter a full host of appropriate GPS apps, which will help you plan your routes very easily. We’re going to examine the best navigation tools to use.

Some of the best Windows 10/11 GPS apps you need:

1. Waze

Waze is a navigation tool that doesn’t need any introduction. This community-based tool is one of the most popular navigation apps out there, with millions of active users.

Using Waze is fun, as you can directly interact with other users and drivers. You can also meet up and coordinate with friends on the road.

You can contribute to the app‘s reliability by feeding it with real-time traffic and road information: you can report accidents, hazards, police presence, and other events.

Waze’s key features include:

Complete voice-guided navigation
Automatic re-routing as conditions on the road change
Save frequent destinations, commuting hours, and preferred routes
Earn points and move up the ranks in your community as you contribute road info

2. Maps Pro

Maps Pro is one of the most advanced Windows 10 GPS apps you can find in the Store. For one, it allows the users to choose the map style he/she is more comfortable with.

The range of choice is pretty vast and includes 20 styles ranging from Nokia, MapBox, Stamen, OpenStreetMap, or Bing Maps. The app allows you to find places via its very advanced Direction feature.

You can find out information by entering the place’s address or with geolocation’s help. The app allows you to choose from three different ways of covering the distance: Driving, Cycling, or Walking.

There are over 80+ categories of places of interest to be showcased on your maps, like restaurants, parks, or hotels. The app offers a free trial of 7 days, but after, you will have to pay $2.49 to purchase it.

3. Windows Maps

Windows Maps is Microsoft’s official navigation map. The Redmond giant describes it as your guide to everywhere.

Indeed, this tool software supports voice navigation, as well as turn-by-turn driving, transit, and walking directions.

If you need an offline map, don’t worry, this tool also supports offline navigation.

If you really hate switching navigation apps when using different devices due to incompatibility issues, you’ll really love Windows Maps. You’ll get the same experience across all your Windows 10 devices.

Microsoft’s navigation app adds a very interesting and unique navigation feature to the table: you can explore the world in 3D and virtually visit more than 200 cities worldwide.

4. CoPilot GPS

CoPilot is a navigation app used by millions of drivers around the world. Most of them are professional drivers and chose CoPilot due to its high-quality offline maps for fast and accurate guidance.

This app supports voice navigation (available as an in-app purchase), automatic routing and recalculation, safety camera alerts, and information about speed limits and speedometer.

You can test CoPilot for free for seven days. If you prefer not to subscribe to the service, the free version of the tool still offers you free offline 2D street maps, multi-stop trip planning, itinerary and preview directions, and more.

5. GPS Navigation & Maps by Sygic

GPS Navigation & Maps by Sygic is one of the most popular offline GPS navigation maps in the world. It is powered by high-quality TomTom Maps that will take you from A to B in a jiffy.

The free version of the app offers offline TomTom maps, POIs, route planning as well as free map updates.

You can also upgrade to premium and enjoy a series of useful features, including 3D maps, turn-by-turn voice-guided navigation, lane guidance, speed limit warnings and junction view with lane indicator arrows at complex intersections to help you better navigate.

6. GPS Satellite [Free]

This is an old-school GPS app for Windows 10 and Windows RT, which quickly displays your location. It is also able to calculate the course data from where your GPS receiver is detected via orbiting global positioning satellite signals.

All you need to do is set the right parameters, and the app can direct you to the Colosseum from the place you are staying if you happen to be in Rome. GPS Satellite for Windows 10 will map your location and the path you choose to travel by.

Users can also add geocache and geo-location points, which can appear on the map later.

7. MapSpeedo [$1.99]

MapSpeedo is another awesome Windows 10 GPS app created to help you better navigate the urban environment and due to its speedometer-based GPS will provide very accurate information.

The maps within the app can come in three types: Road, Aerial, and Bird’s Eye. MapSpeedo will automatically detect your location and then show you how much time it will take to get to a place based on your speed.

8. World Explorer- Travel Guide [Free]

For the passionate traveler, here is a continuously updated Windows 10 GPS app that features the best travel guides for major cities worldwide.

No matter where you are off to, Word Explorer uses GPS location features to direct you to the poshest spots in town. Find the best restaurants, gift shops, or the most interesting museums and monuments.

Word Explorer functions as a mini-encyclopedia, providing you with detailed information about the city you are in.

But on top of that, you get the must-see objectives of the area, plus how many meters until you arrive at the destination.

Each objective is rated between 1 and 5 stars to help you decide which is worth visiting and which is not.

9. ViaMichelin [Free]

ViaMichelin is one of the best GPS apps, and this time I really mean it, because when this post was originally created, there weren’t so many GPS apps in the Windows Store.

You can check out our review for more details, but what you need to know is that it comes with a bunch of useful features, such as interactive map displays, advanced route planning options, car parks, petrol stations, the weather, and traffic in real-time.

10. MapFactor GPS Navigation

MapFactor Navigator is a very useful turn-by-turn GPS navigation software for Windows phones, tablets, and PCs.

If you need a navigation tool to use offline, this is the perfect choice. The app installs all the maps on your device or SD card, allowing you to find your bearings without an Internet connection.

MapFactor offers a series of interesting and useful features, including:

Postcodes
Truck restriction information
Speed cameras and Overspeed warning
Map color themes, many customization options
Navigation profiles for each vehicle category: bus, truck, bicycle, and pedestrians

11. GMaps

GMaps is the closest thing that you can get to Google Maps on your Windows 10 phone, tablet or computer. For the time being, there is no Official Google Maps app available in the Microsoft Store.

GMaps supports a series of map layers, including street, satellite, traffic, bike, weather, and more. Local Search lets you search for nearby venues, while the Discover feature offers a series of in-depth search criteria.

The app displays a series of useful navigation information, including different routes depending on your vehicle type, alternative routes and restrictions, driver mode, etc.

GMaps also supports third-party integration, allowing you to view directions through 3rd party apps like Waze, Nokia Drive, and others.

You can also share your current location using SMS, email, and more map information. Night mode is also available.

12. GPS Voice Navigation

If you’re looking for the voice navigation version of GMaps, then GPS Voice Navigation Free is the right GPS tool for you.

The map shows all the important driving information, while your virtual copilot will offer you spoken turn-by-turn directions.

Maps are accurate, and the tool provides excellent, clean navigation for your device.

The app interface and navigation instructions are available in English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and Bulgarian.

Navigation software for PC

There are many interesting and useful navigation software for PCs as well. So, if you’re planning to use your laptop as your primary navigation device, download and install these tools to help you quickly find your bearings:

And whereas these programs are in plenty and come highly recommended, let’s not forget they’re man-made and may occasionally suffer from GPS hiccups from time to time.

Have you used other navigation software apart from the ones listed above? Tell us more about your experience in the comment section below.

Why Outlook Spell Check is not Working with Signature?

Posted on December 30, 2022October 4, 2023 by Radu Tyrsina

Some of our readers recently claim the Outlook Spell Check not working with Signature. Several users require the use of Grammar or spell-checker tools to correct blunders while writing emails and the absence of this can be pretty troubling.

If you are experiencing this issue or some other problems with the Outlook app, you can read further into this article to know the reason and what best to do to troubleshoot the issue.

Why is Outlook Spell Check not working?

The Outlook Spell Check not working with Signature is a common complaint among users. However, this frequently occurs when someone mistakenly or purposefully types in the signature field.

The following are some other potential reasons reported by some users:

Outlook signature does not permit spell check – Outlook’s signature is formatted using the Email Signature style, which is indicated as Do not spell check. Hence, whenever you write in the Outlook signature field it will refuse to spell check except manually tweaked.
The Automatic Spelling and Grammar feature is off – On other occasions if the spelling and grammar features are not enabled, then you experience the Outlook auto spell check not working.
Incorrect language – In many cases, Outlook’s spell check will not work if the input language is different from the one configured for Spell check.
A corrupt patch or installation of Outlook – Many readers reported that the spell check stopped working in Outlook 365 and that is caused by corrupt installation files. Many third-party tools can help you fix corrupt directories or folders, so make sure to check them out.

Now that you know what is responsible for the Outlook Spell Check not working on a reply, the next section will provide you with simplified steps on how to fix the issue:

How do I fix Outlook Spell Check not working?

Before consulting advanced troubleshooting methods, you should consider performing the following preliminary checks:

Make sure you are not typing in the Outlook signature field because it is not programmed to use the spell check feature.
Restart Outlook and your PC.
Change the default language in Outlook.
Disable the message-ignoring feature.

Having confirmed the above checks and if you still require further assistance, you can explore the advanced solutions provided below.

1. Change Outlook Message’s Spell Check Setting

Open Outlook and after running an email, select the entire message.
Navigate to the Review ribbon and then choose the Language menu.
Click on the Set Proofing language command to view current language settings.
Now, clear the Do not spell check box.
Next, back out of the dialog box and press F7 to initiate the spell check.

The entire message should be spell checked. Whenever you accidentally type in the Outlook signature field, you can easily change the spell-check setting by following the steps provided above immediately after you discover it.

2. Activate the Outlook Spell Checker

Launch Outlook and navigate to the File tab.
On the left-hand pane, select Options.
In the pop-up window, switch to Mail and click on Spelling and Autocorrect.
Under When correcting spelling in Outlook, check the first two boxes: Check spelling as you type and Mark grammar errors as you type respectively.
Then, click on OK to activate the Outlook Spell Checker.

Ensure that you check the above boxes, or else the spell checker will not work in Outlook.

3. Update your Outlook application

Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run window, type outlook.exe /safe and press Enter to open Outlook in Safe Mode. Make sure that you leave a space after outlook.exe, otherwise the system won’t recognize the command.
Click Yes to allow Microsoft to confirm your decision.
Choose File at the top-left corner of the page, select Office account, and click the Office updates menu.
Click the Update Options button, then select the Update Now option in the drop-down menu to install pending updates on Outlook.

Once the update process is completed, restart your computer and confirm if the problem has been fixed. However, if Outlook keeps crashing after an update, you can check our guide to fix it.

The solutions above will also fix the Outlook spell check not working on reply

Additionally, for some of our readers who requested to know how to fix Outlook signature when it’s not inserting signatures, here is an easy fix for you.

In case you want to know how to make Chrome’s spell check work, you can read our detailed guide here.

And that’s it on how to fix Outlook spell check not working. If you have any questions or suggestions, do not hesitate to use the comments section below.

4 Best PS 4 Emulators to Play Console Games on PC [2026]

Posted on December 30, 2022July 14, 2025 by Ivan Jenic

The Best PS4 emulators let you revive the PlayStation 4 experience on your PC, whether it’s diving back into Bloodborne, testing Persona 5, or just navigating that familiar UI with a DualShock in hand.

While PS4 emulation is far from perfect, a few tools can already boot simpler titles or fan-made games. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to bring your PS4 library to Windows, here’s what works (and what doesn’t) in 2025.

1. PCSX4 – 4K gaming and smooth performance

PCSX4 offers solid PS4 emulation with support for 4K resolution and 60 FPS on compatible hardware.

We’ve found it works well for less demanding games, but more complex titles can cause slowdowns.

The built-in frame rate control and Vulkan API support help smooth out performance. While it’s still evolving, it’s a great choice if you’re looking to play PS4 games at higher resolutions on a capable PC.

Pros:

Supports 4K resolution and 60 FPS
Customizable post-processing effects
Vulkan API for enhanced performance
Plug-and-play controller support

Cons:

Still in active development
Occasional glitches and crashes

⇒ Get PCSX4

2. fpPS4 Emulator – lightweight, best for smaller games

fpPS4 is an experimental emulator for smaller PS4 games, perfect for testing out basic PS4 compatibility.

We’ve run titles like Sonic Mania with no issues, but larger games can be unstable. It’s early in development, so expect bugs and crashes.

However, it’s an interesting tool for anyone curious about PS4 emulation, and it works well enough for lighter, less demanding games.

Pros:

Good for small, less demanding games
Open-source and actively updated
Simple setup process

Cons:

Limited game compatibility
Unstable with larger titles
Performance issues on complex games

⇒ Get the fpPS4 emulator on GitHub

3. Kyty – Offers limited support

Kyty is an early-stage emulator with plans for PS5 graphics support. We’ve tested it with basic PS4 games, and while it shows potential, performance is rough.

Expect frequent crashes and low FPS. Despite these issues, its modding capabilities and future-proof potential make it an interesting choice for experimental users who want to explore PS4 and upcoming PS5 emulation.

Pros:

Modding and shader customization
Potential PS5 graphics support
Open-source and free

Cons:

Frequent crashes and low FPS
Lacks audio and network support
Still very much in development

⇒ Get Kyty on GitHub

4. PS4Emus – simple and easy Windows PS4 emulation API

PS4Emus is a straightforward emulator designed for casual PS4 gaming. We’ve used it to try out a handful of games, and it works well for testing basic titles.

While the setup is simple and easy, it’s not the most stable option for demanding games.

However, it’s still a good choice for anyone looking for a no-fuss introduction to PS4 emulation.

Pros:

Easy to install and use
Works across multiple platforms
Quick to get started with

Cons:

Limited game support
Unstable with more complex titles
Lacks advanced features

⇒ Get PS4Emus

Is it possible to play PS4 on PC?

The short answer is no, for the most part. Few emulators can start less demanding games, but the quality of emulation and performance might not be satisfying.

Since PS4 emulation is in its infancy, many emulators can’t even run commercial games, which probably won’t change for a few years.

Are PS4 emulators legal?

Yes, downloading the emulator software is legal. However, downloading console BIOS and games isn’t legal.

As you can see, the choice of PS4 emulators is rather slim now, so why not try a PS3 emulator for PC or maybe a PS2 emulator instead?

If you’re curious about console gaming on PC beyond just PS4 emulation, you might want to explore PlayStation Now for Windows as an alternative for streaming games directly.

For retro fans, here’s a quick guide to the best PS1 emulators for PC, or if you’re looking ahead, check out the top PS5 emulators for PC and see how far development has come.

Which one will you try? Share our thoughts in the comments section below.

How to Create Custom Power BI Themes: Complete Overview

Posted on December 30, 2022October 4, 2023 by Henderson Jayden Harper

Power BI User Interface (UI) seems redundant or unappealing to users. So, customization tools like the Power BI themes are essential to help personalize the UI.

However, this article will discuss Power BI themes, why you should employ them, and how to use and create your themes. Check our detailed article on Power BI new page view for Paginated Reports and how to use it.

What are Power BI themes?

A theme is a preset package holding graphical elements, colors, formatting options, sounds, and functionality details. Power BI uses custom themes to enhance user productivity by creating a unique and engaging interface.

Moreover, It improves the experience by allowing users to control the properties of every Power BI element with a custom theme.

Likewise, themes let you use the same display design across your report without changing each element individually.

What are the benefits of using a Power BI theme?

Many advantages come from using a Power BI theme. Some are:

Personalize User Interface – Users can create and choose what interface they want. Also, it allows you to have a consistent look and feel by applying the same formatting and design to your report.
Time-saving – It saves time when building or designing your report because you don’t have to rebuild the same design for others.
Improves output designs – It is easy to make changes to your Power BI theme and takes little or no time to understand. So, you can use corporate colors, change icon sets, or apply new default visual formatting by applying Power BI themes.

What are the types of Power BI themes?

What makes the difference in the types of Power BI themes is the mode of accessibility. There are two main types of report themes:

Built-in themes – The Built-in Power BI themes are preinstalled and designed with the app right from download. They contain a variety of predefined formatting and color schemes which are to be applied to the Power BI report instantly.
Custom themes – A custom theme is the direct opposite of a built-in. It means a report theme that was not preinstalled but created by the user. You can create a custom theme by either adjusting a current one and saving it as a custom theme or importing a custom theme from the Theme Gallery.

How do I use themes in Power BI?

Launch Power BI on your PC.
Navigate to the View ribbon at the top of the page, then click on the drop-down arrow at the right end in the themes section.
Select a theme from the built-in themes available for Power BI. It’ll apply to the report.

Check what to do if Power BI won’t launch on your PC.

How do I customize Power BI themes?

While on the Power BI workspace, to the View ribbon at the top of the screen.
Click on the drop-down arrow next to the Themes section.
Select the Customize Current Theme option from the menu below Power BI themes.
Then, you’ll be taken to a page where you can adjust the current theme and save your settings as a new theme.

Also, you’ll have access to the theme’s framework, allowing you to edit colors and elements to your preference. Follow the steps above to customize your themes.

Users can enjoy the Customize Current Theme or Browse for Themes features in the view ribbon to create new themes. Check how to fix an error has occurred on Power BI message when using the app.

Under the Customize theme menu, you can find customizable theme settings in the following categories:

Name and colors – Theme name and color settings include the name of your theme colors, sentiment colors, divergent colors, and structural colors (Advanced) in the theme.
Text – Customizing the text settings includes adjusting the font, size, and color, which sets the primary text class defaults for labels, titles, cards and KPIs, and tab headers.
Visuals – Visual settings allow you to customize the background, border, header, and tooltips.
Page – Page element settings include the template’s wallpaper and background.
Filter pane – By customizing the Filter pane settings, you can tweak the background color, transparency, font and icon color, size, and filter cards.

After customizing the Power BI report theme, click the Apply and save buttons to use it as the default, and add it to your theme repository. Likewise, you can export the customized. Read how to remove Power BI filters in a few steps.

How to import a custom report theme file (JSON)?

Launch Power BI on your PC.
Navigate to the View ribbon at the top of the page, then click on the drop-down arrow beside the Themes section.
Click on Browse for themes from the menu below Power BI themes to open the File Explorer page.
In the Power BI theme folder, find and select the theme file to import, then click Open.
Wait for the theme file to load successfully, then Power BI desktop will display a prompt indicating that the theme import was complete.

Importing a custom report theme file from another database allows you to incorporate the imported custom theme into your report.

It helps achieve a unified theme report across the company or parties involved in the project. You can read our guide on fixing issues with opening Power BI files.

How to export a custom report theme file (JSON)?

Exporting the JSON theme file allows you to save it on your Local disk and share it with other users. Follow the steps below to export and save custom report theme files:

Open Power BI on your PC.
Go to the View ribbon at the top of the screen, then click on the drop-down arrow beside the Themes section.
Click on Save current theme from the menu below Power BI themes.
In the Save As dialog box, go to a directory you want to save the JSON file, and then select Save.

The file will be exported and made available in the directory you selected.

How to switch between Power BI themes?

While on the report view of your Power BI Desktop, click the Switch Theme button on the ribbon.
Find your theme from the drop-down or click the More themes option to view more.
Click on the theme to switch.

It’ll immediately take effect, causing the Power BI report to use the new theme. Using the Switch function allows you to change your current Power BI theme to another saved report theme.

Designing your own custom Power BI theme gives you the liberty to determine the looks and feel of the theme. Go ahead with the following steps to learn how to create a custom theme.

How to create custom Power BI themes?

1. Build a Color Palette

It is essential to determine what colors you want to use for your theme. So building the color palette contains the colors you want to use and where to use them.

More so, a theme color palette consists of 10 colors representing each of the ten elements of the Power BI User Interface. These elements are:

Primary 1 and 2
Primary 3
Secondary 1
Secondary 2
Header Color
Text Color
Slicer Color
Visual Color
Background Color

However, the colors for each element should contrast to make it easy to distinguish. Also, light themes appear more colorful with saturated colors, while dark theme goes well with soft tones.

2. Build your Theme

To build your theme, you’ll transfer the color palette you designed into Power BI. Then, create your theme using the Customize theme feature. Also, assign the color on the color palette to match the right element in the Power BI customized theme framework.

Furthermore, check if the color matches the fields, then click Apply to polish your theme.

3. Amend your Visuals

The amendment part is the final touch to give to the theme. It helps override the default formatting color options based on the Advanced design settings of the theme framework.

How to make proper use of color in your Power BI Reports?

The following tips will help you avoid color confusion and improve your selection of color in the Power BI report:

When documenting continuous data, use a single color to represent all the data. It helps indicate that data has different values but belongs to the same category.
Use colors that can be easily distinguished from each other when documenting data that contrasts or when dealing with comparisons.
When making a definite decision or point, use a color that can easily stand out in the midst of others. The stand-out color indicates the dominance of the element it represents.
Maintain a consistent color balance across your report. Hence, we recommend you choose a color from the color palette in order to maintain color consistency.

Top Power BI themes to download

There are many Microsoft Power BI themes you can use in the gallery. Some of our best picks are:

Vintage theme

The Vintage Power BI theme gives an aura of an old visual display consisting of dark colors. It consists of light and dark colors layered with a light-vintage filter.

⇒ Get Vintage theme

Acterys Planning

The Acterys Planning theme comes in dark backgrounds of blue and green shades. It looks more digitized than other themes.

⇒ Get Acterys Planning

Gartner Bakeoff Opioid Crisis theme

This theme gives your report a clean look. It makes your report easy to navigate because of its easy slider designs and simple interface.

⇒ Get Gartner Bakeoff Opioid Crisis Theme

All Blacks

All Blacks is a Microsoft Power BI theme with black backgrounds and shades. It comes in a not-so-dark color that utilizes black, ash, and gray. It is the perfect theme to use to reduce light exposure.

⇒ Get All Blacks

Dinosaur!

Users who love dinosaurs can use the Dinosaur! Themes. Its appearance is fun and attractive as it comes in fossil colors like brown, orange, yellow, and gray.

⇒ Get Dinosaur!

Conclusively, our readers can check our guide on how to add an image to Power BI without issues. Also, users having difficulties adding data labels in Power BI can check our guide on fixing it.

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

Invalid Media Or Track 0 Bad Disk Usable: 4 Ways to Fix It

Posted on December 29, 2022October 4, 2023 by Loredana Harsana

If you are trying to format your storage device but are stuck with invalid media or track 0 bad – disk usable, you may lose access to the device and data stored on it.

Here, in this guide, we will discuss all the available methods to fix the problem right after examining the causes of the issue.

What causes the invalid media or track 0 bad disk unusable error?

There could be several reasons for the issue to occur, but some of the prevalent causes are mentioned below:

Damaged Storage media – If your device is physically damaged, it might not work correctly, and hence you can get this error.
Data storage device is corrupted – If your device has software bugs or is infected with malware, the device might get corrupted, and you may lose access to your device.
A problem with connection or device – If there is a problem with the connection between your hard drive or USB drive and the computer, you might be able to read or write the data on the drive.
Bad sectors on the hard drive – If the drive you are trying to format has bad sectors, you might not be able to access the drive, hence the issue.
Write protection enabled – If the device you are trying to format has write protection enabled, then you might get this error.
Hard drive has unallocated space – If under disk management, you see the hard drive with unallocated space, you might get this error.

How to solve invalid media or track 0 bad disk unusable?

Before diving into troubleshooting methods, try these quick fixes to resolve this issue:

Check the connection
If you use a USB drive, try to change the port or device and plug it in.

1. Rebuild MBR

Press the Windows key, type CMD and click Run as administrator.
Copy and paste the following commands one by one and press Enter after every command: bootrec /fixmbr bootrec /fixboot bootrec /rebuildbcd
Once done, type the following command and press Enter: exit

2. Format the drive with the DiskPart utility

Press the Windows key, type CMD, and click Run as administrator.
Type the following command one by one and press Enter after every command: diskpart list disk
Copy and paste the following command, replace the number with the number mentioned for the disk, and press Enter after every command: Select disk 0 clean create partition primary
Type the following command, replace the alphabet with any letter, and press Enter: assign letter = H
Copy and paste the following command one by one and press Enter after each command: format fs=fat32 quick exit

3. Run CHKDSK command

Open the Command Prompt using the method mentioned above.
Copy and paste the following command after replacing X with the drive letter and press Enter: chkdsk /f /r X:
Wait for the scan to get completed. Then, close the Command Prompt window and restart your PC.

4. Disable write-protection

Press the Windows key, type CMD, and click Run as administrator.
Copy and paste the following command one by one and press Enter after every command: diskpart List volume
Type the following command and replace 4 with the letter of your drive, and press Enter: Select volume 4
Input this command and press Enter: Attributes disk clear readonly

So, these methods can fix invalid media or track 0 bad unusable errors. If nothing else worked for you, then you can use a third-party partition tool to fix the issue.

If you have questions or concerns about the error, feel free to mention them in the comments below.

Ethernet Not Working But WiFi is: 5 Ways to Fix It

Posted on December 29, 2022October 24, 2025 by Vladimir Popescu

The Ethernet is not working, but WiFi has an error is quite common and could be because of hardware flaws, incorrect settings, or missing drivers. Whatever the reason may be, we can fix it in no time.

Here in this guide, we will discuss the methods to fix Ethernet no internet, but WiFi works right after talking about the causes of the same.

Why does my WiFi work but not Ethernet?

There could be various reasons for the ethernet cable not working, but WiFi is; some of the most popular ones are mentioned below:

Network cables – If your network cables are loosely attached or have suffered physical damage, you might not get internet via Ethernet. So check both ends of the cable to inspect the connection and damage.
Problem with your router or modem – The issue might occur if your router is not configured correctly. You need to restart your modem and router to see if it fixes the problem.
DHCP server – If your device is not getting an IP address from the router, there could be an issue with the DHCP server, which is why you can’t connect via Ethernet.
Third-party software interference – Security software can create conflict and block the connection. Check the software settings to ensure the Ethernet connection is not blocked.
Incorrect network configuration – If your device is not set up to use the correct subnet mask, IP address, and gateway, you might face the issue.
Issue with Network Adapter – If the network adapter on your computer is not enabled or working correctly, then the drivers on the computer might be outdated. You need to update drivers.
Too many devices connected to the same network – If you have exceeded your router’s device limit, it may cause congestion and hence the error.

What can I do if the WiFi works but the Ethernet doesn’t?

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

Check the ethernet cable for physical damage and loose connection. Unplug and replug it a couple of times to be sure.
Ensure the ethernet port is working. Try the cable on another device to check.
Restart your router and modem.
Turn off the WiFi feature.
Drain the residual power.

If none of the subtle tweaks helped you, then it is time for detailed troubleshooting steps:

1. Turn off Sleep Mode

Press Windows + R key to open the Run window.
Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter to open Device Manager.
Locate and expand Network adapters—Right-click on the driver for the Ethernet cable and select Properties.
Go to the Power Management tab, and remove the checkmark from Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
Click OK.

2. Make changes in Network settings

2.1 Give Ethernet the priority

Press the Windows key, type Control Panel and click Open.
Select Category for View by and click Network & Internet.
Click View network status and tasks.
From the left pane, click Change adapter settings.
Right-click on Ethernet and select Properties.
Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4(TCP/IP) to open Properties.
Under the General tab, click Advanced.
Uncheck the Automatic metric and for the Interface metric, add 1 to set priority.
Click OK and then OK to complete the process.

2.2 Reset Network Adapter

Press Windows + I to open Settings.
Go to Network & Internet, then Advanced network settings.
Click Network reset.
On the next page, click Reset now.

2.3 Run the Troubleshooter

Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
Go to System, then Troubleshoot.
Now click Other troubleshooters.
Locate Network Adapter and click Run.
Follow the on-screen prompts and wait for the process to complete. It will show if there is any error, along with the potential fix.

3. Change the MAC address

Press the Windows key, type CMD and click Run as administrator.
Type the following command and press Enter: ipconfig/all
Note down your MAC address. Now, press Windows + R to open the Run window.
Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter.
Expand Network Adapters, right-click the Ethernet, and choose Properties.
Go to the Advanced tab, under Property, and select Locally Administered Address. Then, for Value, type the MAC address you copied.
Click OK and restart your computer.

4. Update drivers using Device Manager

Press Windows + R to open the Run box.
Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter.
Go to Network adapter, expand it, and right-click on Ethernet driver. Choose Update driver.
Click Search automatically for drivers and follow the on-screen instructions.

Moreover, you can easily update and replace any outdated drivers on you pc by simply use Outbyte Driver Updater. This tool will search, find and replace any drivers available for your device specifics within few minutes.

⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

5. Scan your PC for malware

Press the Windows key, type Windows Security and click Open.
Go to Virus & threat protection.
Click Scan options.
Select Full scan and click Scan now. Wait for the process to complete.

Tip

If you are using a third-party tool to secure your computer, launch the app and run a deep scan to ensure your device is not infected with malware or viruses.

There are other network issues you can experience, and for many only Google works on their Internet, and we have a dedicated guide that addresses this issue.

So, you need to follow these methods to resolve Ethernet not working, but WiFi is an issue. Try them and let us know which worked for you in the comments below.

Why Is My Computer Clock Behind & How to Fix it: 4 Easy Tips

Posted on December 29, 2022October 10, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

Users complain that the Windows clock is behind occasionally, which is incredibly irritating.

Every time you boot your computer, it seems the time has fallen behind yet again. In fact, it seems the clock has barely moved since the last time you shut down your PC.

Why is my computer clock behind? That’s the big question and that’s what we shall try to answer. But first, let’s have a look at what other users had to say, including the most common clock-related issues:

PC clock keeps falling behind
The computer clock is slowly falling behind time
My laptop clock is behind
Computer clock wrong Windows 7 – my computer date and time not updating in Windows 7
My computer clock is 2 minutes behind, 3 hours behind
Computer clock running slow Windows 10, Windows 11

If you browse many websites as part of your job, it can get quite dicey as some sites will deny you access unless you correct your date and time.

Before long, your PC may start returning a CMOS checksum error on startup.

Why does my computer clock keep losing time?

As with many PC issues, each error rarely has a single possible cause. Therefore, it is important to keep an open mind and investigate all possible angles

→ Dead CMOS battery

The CMOS battery uses a small battery, so the BIOS settings remain active when the PC is switched off. This battery usually runs for between two and 10 years before it needs to be replaced.

So, if your clock can’t seem to keep the correct time and the PC is fairly old, there is a strong chance the CMOS battery may be failing. The clock essentially stops at the point you switch off the PC.

→ Wrong or corrupted BIOS settings

You could be dealing with a loose battery. A quick fix will be removing the battery and lifting the negative power pin upwards.

Also press the positive pin down before replacing the battery, making sure the battery has firm connections.

However, even that may not fix the problem. At this point, the problem could be a result of a corrupted or out-of-date BIOS.

Try resetting the BIOS values, including the date and time settings. Or, if the computer is quite old and does not update automatically, consider installing a more up-to-date BIOS.

→ Wrong time zone

If your clock is set to the wrong time zone, you will find that, even after correcting the time, the clock will fall behind the next time you boot. It may even be ahead by a few hours, depending on the time zone it is set to.

Usually, if the clock is set to the wrong time zone, the minutes are correct, while the hour value will be behind or ahead.

Where the CMOS battery is the issue, the hour and minute values are usually wrong.

→ Malware infection

Now, this one should worry you because a virus or malware is rarely deployed to just throw your time off. The frequently wrong time and date is often a symptom of a more severe problem.

The malware may be targeted at the BIOS or the Windows OS itself. Either way, the effect will be damaging.

Now that we are up to speed with what could be causing your PC‘s clock to fall behind let’s go through the possible solutions you could try to fix the problem.

How do I fix the clock behind on my computer?

1. Synchronize your PC’s clock with the default Microsoft Time Server ✅

1. Restart your computer in Safe mode.
2. Click the Time tab in the bottom right corner of your screen.
3. Click Change and time settings… at the bottom of the pop-up window.
4. Click on the Internet Time folder. This small screen will come up.
5. Select the time.windows.com server using the down arrow as shown in the image above. Click Update now.
6. After you click OK, this confirmation screen will come up.

The best way to set your time on the automatic update is perhaps to synchronize your PC‘s clock with an internet time server. This way, you don’t always have to correct your time every time you boot your computer.

Being a Windows PC, the first option ought to be Microsoft’s own time server. You can also compare time.windows.com vs time.nist.gov and gauge their accuracy levels. Follow the steps above to synchronize your PC‘s clock and date settings with the Microsoft Time Server.

2. Update your BIOS

Sometimes an outdated or corrupted BIOS may be the reason your PC‘s clock is falling behind.

BIOS corruption may result from improper shutdowns, where you pull the computer from the power source without properly shutting down the PC first.

Getting into the habit of doing a proper shutdown should easily fix this issue. However, in the event your BIOS is now outdated, the only option may be to update.

Get in touch with your PC‘s manufacturer and find out if an updated version is available. You can also find such information on their website.

Remember resetting or flashing your PC’s BIOS so you can correct the time and date settings from there is an option, but it is fraught with risks.

3. Replace your CMOS battery

Let’s face it, if your CMOS battery is now flat, your PC‘s clock is always going to fall behind. You will have to constantly update it and, at the same time, grapple with all manner of errors.

The more permanent fix is just to replace the battery with a new one. The CMOS’s battery slot is usually fitted to the computer’s motherboard.

But removing and replacing the battery on some PCs can be a little tricky. If you have one of those computers it is best you take the computer to a repair technician.

However, the CMOS battery is fairly easy to replace on most modern desktop PCs. It is with laptops that the process may get a bit tricky.

Just remember to properly shut the PC and disconnect it from its power source before you disassemble it. Again seek help from a professional if you are unsure of what to do.

4. Clean your computer of viruses and malware

If, after trying all of the above solutions, your PC‘s clock continues to slow or fall behind, there is a probability a virus may have infected your PC.

In case you haven’t updated your anti-malware software or installed one, now is the time to do it.

If you have up-to-date security software installed, consider upgrading it. To ensure the malware does not evade your anti-malware software or launch on startup, start and install the software in Safe Mode.

This way, all non-essential programs, including malware and viruses, don’t get to launch. You can then properly scan and clean your PC without interference from the malware.

Microsoft has its own free Malware Removal Tool. But, if you want to go premium, there are several good options you can choose from, including Malwarebytes, TotalAV , and others.

Otherwise, be vigilant with how you use your computer to protect against virus and malware infection.

Any one of the solutions we have discussed here should help solve your PC‘s time and date issues, so you don’t have to correct it all the time.

How to Fix Microsoft Teams Crashing Issues During Launch

Posted on December 29, 2022October 4, 2023 by Tashreef Shareef

Microsoft Teams is a collaborative platform for companies that brings everything together in a shared workspace. Recently many users have complained about Microsoft Teams’ crash issues in the community forums.

According to the users in the Microsoft community, Microsoft Teams crashes during launch, performing updates, or while working leaving a Something went wrong error. At times, it completely feezes having to force start.

If you are also troubled by this issue, here are a couple of troubleshooting tips to help you fix Microsoft Teams crash issues in Windows.

How to fix Microsoft Teams’ random crashes

1. Check Microsoft Teams service status

The Microsoft Teams app may crash or refuse to open if the Microsoft services are down for maintenance. You can check the status of the service in the admin panel of your Office 365 account.

Launch Office 365 admin center.
Go to Service Health. Here you can see the status of the service and any measures that are being taken to resolve the issue.
Note that you may need to have admin access to be able to check the service status. If you don’t have the clearance, contact the admin.
You can follow Microsoft Office 365 Status handle on Twitter to get all the service statuses.
Any service-related issues will resolve automatically in a few hours to a day and there is little you can do about it.

2. Clear client credentials

If the admin panel shows no issues with Microsoft Teams’ service, try clearing the Microsoft Teams’ account details from the credential manager.
Make sure Microsoft Teams is closed.
Press Windows Key + R to open Run.
Type control and click OK.
In the Control Panel, go to User Accounts.
Click on Credential Manager.
Select the Windows Credentials tab on the right side.
Expand the Microsoft Office 365/Teams section by clicking the drop-down button.
Click on Remove.
Click on Yes to confirm the action.
Close the Control Panel and relaunch Microsoft Teams.
Enter your Office 365 username and password and sign in. Check if the crashing issue is resolved.

3. Access Teams on other devices

If the Microsoft Teams desktop client is not working, try accessing the app from your smartphone.
In case you don’t have it installed, you can download the Teams app from the Apps Store and PlayStore.
If your work is not completely dependent on desktop apps, try using mobile apps till the issue is resolved.

4. Delete the local cache

A Corrupt Microsoft apps cache can cause your apps to crash during startup. Try deleting the bad cache to fix the problem.

Open File Explorer.
Navigate to the following location:
```
C:UsersusernameAppDataRoamingMicrosoft
```
Delete the Teams folder in the Microsoft folder.
Relaunch Microsoft Teams and check if the issue is resolved.

Microsoft Teams being a productivity tool requires to be up and running all the time for uninterrupted collaboration. By following these fixes you can fix crash issues with the app in no time.

3 Easy Fixes to Unsupported Compression Type in Premiere Pro

Posted on December 29, 2022October 4, 2023 by Tashreef Shareef

Adobe’s Premiere Pro is an industry standard when it comes to consumer-grade video editing software and most of it has to do with its wider file format support and ease of use.

However, some users have reported that they are unable to import audio files like MP3, MP4, AVI, or AVCHD due to a very particular error related to unsupported compression type in Premiere Pro.

What does unsupported compression type mean?

The full error reads the file has an unsupported compression type and occurs when you try to import any media file. However, some specific formats – such as AVI – tend to be more affected than others.

Now, the original file can be easily blamed for being incompatible with the AVI format. However, other culprits can interfere such as cache accumulation or folder-related glitches.

Let’s quickly go through some of the most common scenarios:

The file has an unsupported compression type MP4, MP3
This file has an unsupported compression type MkV, AVI
Premiere Pro file has unsupported compression type
Adobe Premiere Rush unsupported compression type

Now that you know what you’re up against, you should also know that this is a common issue and mostly occurs due to the incorrect file format. In this article, we take a look at the best possible solutions to fix it.

Why can’t I import MP3 or MP4 files in Premiere Pro?

Before we begging the actual troubleshooting, we advise you to check if you are using a trial version of Adobe Premiere Pro.

Adobe Premiere Pro may not function properly with some file formats when the trial version is active. If you have the license for the product, make sure it is activated.

1. Make changes to the file and/or folder

Change the file directory: Before attempting to import the file, change the file location and then attempt to import the file.
If your file is in one folder, move it to an alternative folder and try to import it from there.
Should the issue persist, try to move the file to another disk or partition and try again.

2. Clear Media Cache Files and Database ✅

1. Launch Adobe Premiere Pro.
2. Click on the Edit menu and select Preferences.
3. Select the Media tab from the left pane.
- Here, note down the location for Media Cache Files and Media Cache Database. Copy the location to a notepad or something for better accessibility.
4. Close the Adobe Premiere Pro app and any other Adobe program running on your computer.
5. Open the File Explorer and navigate to the Media Cache Files and Media Cache Database locations, one by one.
6. Rename the folders, Media Cache File, and Media Cache.
7. Now launch Adobe Premiere Pro again and go to Edit > Preferences > Media.
8. Click the Clean button for the Media Cache Database folder.
9. Close and re-launch Adobe Premiere Pro and attempt to import the file with the error and check for any improvements.

3. Change the File Extension

Before importing the media file, try to change the default file extension to something else.
For instance, if you want to import a .avi file, change the extension to .mpg.
This makes Premiere Pro use a more tolerant import format that will accept a non-standardized file as a valid import.

You can also use the best audio converter software to convert your media files to a supported format.

And if nothing seems to work, try to reinstall Premiere Pro. After uninstalling it, make sure you remove any leftover junk using registry cleaning software. Finally, you can proceed with the reinstallation.

That’s it! We hope you managed to fix the unsupported compression type Premiere Pro error with one of these solutions.

4 Quick Ways to Uninstall HP Support Assistant in Windows 10

Posted on December 29, 2022December 8, 2023 by Matthew Adams

HP Support Assistant is a troubleshooting utility that includes HP desktops and notebooks. As it comes preinstalled within Windows 10 on HP PCs, some users might want to uninstall it.

That’s especially true for users who get tired of HP Support Assistant starting automatically.

There are a few ways you can uninstall HP Support Assistant. However, sometimes, more standard uninstall methods might fail when issues like HP Support Assistant error 1316 arise.

When uninstall errors arise, less standard methods for removing software are worth trying.

Why should I uninstall HP Support Assistant?

The HP Support Assistant can be helpful for some users, but you might need to remove it for some reason. Below are some of the reasons users remove the software:

Consumes about 138megabytes of hard drive space
Can sometimes have compatibility issues with some apps
Crashes frequently
It does not live up to the billing for some users

How can I uninstall HP Support Assistant in Windows 10?

1. Uninstall HP Support Assistant with third-party uninstallers

When uninstalling any software, HP Support Assistant included, there will sometimes be leftover files and registry entries, which can cause some problems. This is why we recommend using a specialized app, which can thoroughly clean any traces of the apps you want removed.

Third-party software often comes with features and toolkits more advanced than those you’ll find in an operating system or in the app that you are trying to remove.

We recommend for this job IObit Uninstaller, a professional and very powerful software that can help you remove the HP Support Assistant and any other software that seems stuck to your system. With just a quick scan you can identify and remove any unwanted programs, registry entries, malicious toolbars, and plug-ins.

IObit Uninstaller

Protect your computer by removing unwanted or stuck programs with this powerful tool.

Free Visit Website

2. Uninstall via Programs and Features

Press the Windows key + R, type appwiz.cpl, and click OK.
Right-click the HP Support Assistant and select the Uninstall option.
Finally, follow the onscreen instructions to complete the removal.

This is the standard uninstall method for HP Support Assistant. Try alternative methods here if you can’t uninstall HP Support Assistant via Programs and Features.

3. Uninstall HP Support Assistant with the Run command line

Press the Windows key + R, type regedit, and click OK.
Navigate to the path below in the left pane: HKLM\Software\WOW6432Node\Hewlett-Packard\HPActiveSupport
Now, right-click the HPActiveSupport file and select Delete.
Next, press the Windows key, type cmd, and select Run as administrator under Command Prompt.
Copy and paste the command below and hit Enter: C:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett-Packard\HP Support Framework\UninstallHPSA.exe" /s /v/qn UninstallKeepPreferences=FALSE
Finally, wait for the command to finish running.

4. Use the Start Menu

Press the Windows key and right-click the HP Support Assistant app.
Select the Uninstall option.
Finally, click the Uninstall button to confirm the action and follow the onscreen instructions.

This is the easiest method to uninstall HP Support Assistant. However, after completing the removal, you need to restart your PC.

Turn off HP Support Assistant (stop it from starting automatically)

Press the Windows key + R, type taskschd.msc, and click OK.
Navigate to Task Scheduler library > Hewlett-Packard > HP Support Assistant in the left pane.
Next, select HP Support Assistant Quick Start task in the middle panel, which is configured to trigger at user log-on.
Click Disable within Selected Item on the Actions sidebar.

If you want to uninstall HP Support Assistant because it starts automatically, it’s recommended that you remove HP Support Assistant from startup instead, as outlined above. Then, you can still manually run HP Support Assistant whenever you need it.

Who to contact for fixing HP Support Assistant uninstall issues?

If you encounter any uninstall issues with the methods above, contact HP technical support from the HP Customer Support page. You can also post on the HP support forum for troubleshooting guidance.

So, those are the various ways you can uninstall HP Support Assistant, including using a command line. Of those methods, it’s probably best to utilize CCleaner Uninstaller for a thorough removal.

Also, if you want to replace the tool with alternative optimization software, check our detailed guide for the top options.

Feel free to let us know in the comments below if you encounter any problems while following any of the solutions in this guide.

Image Tracing Software for PC: 7 Best to Use in 2026

Posted on December 29, 2022September 4, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

Vector images are made of cursor-based draw operations which consist of shapes like circles, rectangles, lines, and curves (or freeform).

Basically, you need to move the cursor or draw a line and curve to a point with some control, then stroke or fill to create artwork.

To utilize them or to adapt images to vectors, you’ll need to use image vectorizer software.

A bitmap image already has a grid of pixels and color values, but you can draw the same image using different shapes and sequences of stroking and filling.

Depending on what you want to achieve and your skills, using software that vectorizes images is better than starting from scratch because it delivers cleaner results.

We’ve compiled a list of the best software to vectorize images currently available on the market, so keep reading.

What are the best tools to vectorize images?

Adobe Illustrator – Leading photos designs

Adobe Illustrator is one of many premium solutions offered by Adobe. To say that Adobe Illustrator is the best vector design solution would be an understatement.

If you are a professional designer, you’ll have all the tools needed in just there.

It covers all necessary solutions to design covers and make artistry, including vectorizing images, advanced typography, freeform gradients, and many more.

The software allows you to create customized fonts by redesigning already existing fonts or implementing them from other designs and sketches.

Adobe Illustrator has advanced pen options that emulate the feeling of drawing with a real, physical pencil. You get to draw freeform designs and then smooth and perfect them.

The brush settings are highly adjustable, so you don’t have to compromise. You can create your

This abundance of features might even be slightly overwhelming at first, especially if you are a novice user, but it’s easy to get a hold of it.

If you want to explore more options beyond Illustrator, you can check this detailed Adobe Illustrator alternative guide that lists other great tools for designers.

Let’s quickly look at its key features:

Industry-standard set of digital design tools
Great support with detailed tutorials
Seamless integration with Creative Cloud Suite apps
Gorgeous typography (effects, styles, and more)
Real-time rendering for unparalleled control

Adobe Illustrator is a subscription-based software. You can try it for free for 7 days.

Adobe Illustrator

Explore the best vector-based design software to scale down or go big and create crisp artwork.

Check price Get it now

CorelDRAW – Professional vector illustrations

This comprehensive suite of professional graphic design tools gives you everything you need to craft design projects from vector illustration and photo editing to typography tools.

Compatible with over 100 graphics file formats, you can easily import and export a variety of assets and tweak them to perfection according to your imagination.

CorelDRAW’s state-of-the-art vector-illustration technology will help you create sophisticated artwork from scratch or vectorize any image to perfectly mirror your artistic vision.

Corel lets you create clear and complex vector illustrations. It provides all tools necessary at a very high standard. You can create curves and lines with shaping and drawing tools. You can fine-tune your drawings with blend modes, contour, fill, and more.

You can edit every detail of your object. You get advanced coloring tools that can help you generate patterns, and gradients, change the transparency, and more.

The software offers you an extensive library of clipart images, high-resolution photos, multiple font faces, and templates, as well as a fountain, vector, and bitmap fill. You can integrate them into your designs for free and generate original artwork easily.

Other key features include:

AI-powered image solutions (machine-learned effects, Smart Selection tool, and more)
Workspace customization options to accelerate workflows
Impressive editing toolset (filters, effects, masks, lenses, Replace Color, and more)
Adjust color and tone, remove imperfections, correct perspective, and more
AfterShot 3 HDR to create stunning High Dynamic Range photos from your RAW images
Unparalleled object control

You can either get Corel Draw as a one-time purchase or get an annual subscription plan. You can try the software for free for 15 days.

Corel Draw

Experience AI-powered bitmap-to-vector trace technology with impressive results!

Free trial Visit Website

Adobe Photoshop – First pick photo editing

This industry-leading imaging and design software is widely known and most cherished for its raster image-manipulating capacities.

However, the mighty Photoshop does offer support for vector-based images as well, and you can use it to convert, for instance, PSD files to vector formats.

The general recommendation is to use smart objects, especially when dealing with mixed Raster-Vector-Font objects.

Photoshop provides multiple vector graphics tools. You get shape tools like rectangles, ellipses, or polygons, multiple pen tools, and freeform pen support.

You can easily retouch any freeform design with anti-aliasing/aliasing tools, resample tools, selection options, and more.

Let’s quickly look at its key features:

Crop, remove objects, retouch, and combine photos into collages
Unlimited colors, effects, layers, and masks
A generous collection of preset brushes and countless customization options
Compatible with touch technology (you control it with a stylus or touch on your iPad)
Rotatable patterns (to change the orientation of any pattern)
Object Selection tool (for fast and precise selections)

Adobe Photoshop is a subscription-based software. It is integrated within the Creative Cloud along with the other Adobe products. You can try it for free for 7 days.

Adobe Photoshop

Edit your images to vector perfection with the world’s best imaging and graphic design software!

Free trial Visit Website

Adobe Capture – Multiple themes and colors

Adobe Capture is a very good choice if you are new to the vector creation world, but it doesn’t disappoint if you are more advanced.

You can use it on the go as it is a mobile app, available for free both in Android’s Google Play and in the Apple App Store.

Even though it is beginner-friendly, it doesn’t lack features. There are a lot of easy and fast options that allow the creation of simpler designs in a relatively short amount of time, but they also have more advanced options.

For example, if you are not satisfied with their standard brushes or patterns, you can create your own by photographing or uploading a picture of your desired tool and Capture will help you generate it and then use it as you please.

You can easily create vectors instantly with shapes. You can photograph your drawing directly from the app or upload it as a picture and it will transform into a high-quality vector image, with clean and crisp lines.

If you want a specific font the software can generate a list of Adobe fonts based on your pictures of different logos, magazine headlines, labels, or any form of text in general so that you can use them or similar ones in your own design

Other key features of Adobe Capture include:

Allows users to create their own brushes
Generates 3D textures straight from the camera or from your uploads
Integrated into Adobe Creative Cloud

The software is compatible with other Adobe Apps (Photoshop, Fresco, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, After Effects, and more) which is great for projects that require more than one tool.

Adobe Capture

Easily transform phone-taken pictures into high-quality vector images, create your own designs with shape tools, and more!

Check price Visit Website

Inkscape – Color spectrum

This is a free and open-source vector graphics editor tool whose features include photo or image and text editing tools, and support for most graphic formats such as SVG, PNG, WMF, and PDF, among so many others.

Whether you are an illustrator, designer, or web designer, or just need to use vector images, this is the best software to vectorize images.

Inkscape supports different types of vector creation. You can use the pencil tool to draw freehand with simple paths, use the pen tool for curves and straight lines, and create calligraphy strokes with the calligraphy tool.

You get to manipulate the objects in your picture with moving, scaling, and rotating features. You can also work with multiple layers, group objects, and align your images.

The software offers advanced node path options. You can move nodes and Bezier handles, and convert shapes and text to paths for advanced editing, path simplification, bitmap tracing, and more.

Let’s quickly look at its key features:

Canvas Rotation, Mirroring, and Alignment
Pinch-to-zoom feature, Center, and Split View Mode
Extensive toolset (Bézier Tool, Calligraphy, Circle, Measurement and Pencil Tools, etc.)
Compact Tool Controls Bar
Improved Text selection and variable font support
Basic Support for SVG in OpenType

Inkscape runs on Windows PCs that run the Windows 7 version or later. If you want to use the software on older versions of the OS, you can find previous versions that support Windows Vista and Windows XP PCs.

⇒ Get Inkscape

Gravit Designer – Web vector image editing

Gravit Designer is a powerful app designed to meet the needs of visual creators of all kinds. It can be easily accessed on a browser from any desktop platform. It also works without an Internet connection if you decide to download the store version.

The software offers high precision in Vector creation. You get various shape tools, straight line, and curve line tools, convert text to editable vector paths, and more. You can also create freeform vector paths.

This app is easily accessible to beginners. It is easy to learn, with a minimal user interface without overwhelming menus. The Gravit Designer team offers extensive support online. You can access various guides and tutorials and learn everything you need to get started with your designs.

It’s very likely that it fits any artist’s personal preferences in terms of hardware. You can also use Gravit Designer with pen devices or touchscreen devices like tablets and laptops with touch displays.

Gravit Designer also provides preset canvas sizes for different design outcomes such as social media platforms, website dimensions, printable amazon shirts, and more.

You also get multiple premade design assets such as shapes, illustrations, icons, stickers, and frames which you can easily implement and customize into your designs.

You can easily access your projects on multiple devices via the Gravit cloud. You can save and sync your designs and start working wherever you are. You can sort your artwork into different categories, create folders, and more.

Other key features include:

Automatic freeform vector smoothing
Drag and drop object appearance settings
Advanced border controls
Predefined line ends
Advanced photo-editing features

Gravit Designer has a free version that has some limitations, but it can be a good starting point. It also has a PRO version that charges annually and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

⇒ Get Gravit Designer

Vectorizer – Ideal for beginners

Vectorizer is an in-browser vector creator that allows you to create vector graphics and also convert other formats to vectors.

This image vectorizer converts raster images like PNG, BMP, and JPEG to scalable vector graphics or SVG. In order to vectorize raster images, you convert pixel color information to simple geometric objects.

To vectorize your image, just upload your image. You will get a side-by-side preview of your vectorized and original images. You can select different image modes like clipart, photo, sketch, or drawing.

You get to pick your color scheme for the vector file, remove background colors, and more. You can also work with layouts and see the layering of your image in the isometric view.

Vector graphics are not based on pixels but on points, lines, and curves, which are also known as primitives, represented by mathematical expressions.

Let’s quickly look at its key features:

Converts these raster images without loss in quality graphics
Easily scalable and rotatable images
Create logos, tattoos, clip art, stickers, and more

Vectorizer offers some guides and video tutorials on its website. These can help you understand which features and modes are best suited for your image type and desired outcome.

⇒ Get Vectorizer

Have you tried any of these best software to vectorize images? If so, let us know which one and how it turned out for you, by leaving a comment in the section below.

Windows Event Log Viewer: 5 Best Tools & How to Use

Posted on December 29, 2022October 4, 2023 by Madalina Dinita

Event log viewers are programs that track important events on your computer. Every app or program that runs on your computer leaves a trace in the event log, and before apps stop or crash, they post a notification.

Every single event or change made on your computer is registered in the event log.

In other words, an event viewer is a program that scans long text log files, groups them and adds a simpler interface on huge amounts of technical data.

In case your computer doesn’t work properly, event viewers are essential because they offer you important information on the source of the problem.

Windows 10 comes with its own built-in event log viewer that offers users an in-depth image of the processes taking place on their computers.

If you want to analyze particular event information, you can also use third-party event viewers.

How to use Windows Event Viewer

Type event in the Windows search tab and select Run as administrator to start Event Viewer with full privileges.
Next, click on the category of the event from the left pane, and the list of events will appear on the upper-middle pane.
When you click on an event, you will get the details on the bottom-middle pane; double-clicking it will open the details in a separate window.
In our example, we are checking out a kernel warning that a core of the processor was limited by system firmware. Hitting the Copy button with copy all the information in the clipboard to paste it in a document or an Excel file.
You can also use all the options from the right pane to gain more information. For instance, you can save the event as a .evtx file by clicking on Save Selected Events.

Windows Event Viewer is great to get basic information on events on your system and it can be used easily for saving important information.

What are the best Windows 10 event log viewers?

Windows Event Log Viewer

Many Windows users rely on this built-in tool to check the events that take place on their computers.

This tool has two major advantages: it’s already installed on your computer and has a very intuitive interface. You can launch the Windows Event Log Viewer by typing event viewer in the search bar.

The tool’s screen is divided into three parts: the event categories are located in the left-hand sidebar, details about log events can be found in the middle section of the window, while the available actions are listed in the right-hand sidebar.

In the left pane, you can choose from all the event types. The top one is aimed for the administrative event.

Clicking on each one on the center pane, will provide you with general or detailed information about the event.

The next two categories from the left are the Windows logs and the Applications and services logs. The first refers, of course, exclusively to the OS and its built-in apps.

The action pane from the right offers you all the possible options to interact with the logs but the most important are the save and export options that are paramount to sharing the reports to specialized help.

The Windows Event Log Viewer offers reports about five log events:

Application events: reports about app/ program issues
Security events: reports about the results of security actions
Setup events: mainly refers to domain controllers
System events: these are reports sent by Windows system files about the issues encountered and are usually self-healing issues
Forwarded events: these are reports sent by other computers

Event Log Explorer

This event log viewer allows users to view, analyze and monitor events recorded in Windows’ event logs.

Event Log Explorer is better than Microsoft’s own Event Log Viewer, bringing more features to the table.

Thanks to this tool, users can analyze various event logs: security, application, system, setup, directory service, DNS, and more.

The tool can even access Windows event logs and event log files from remote servers and you can view more of them at one time in separate windows or in one big, merged window.

If it’s relevant, you can choose between legacy Windows NT API and modern Windows Event Log API to access the logs.

Event Log Explorer reads events into its own temporary storage for faster log analysis. Of course, you can choose between memory and disk storage.

The software also allows you to consolidate events in one single view to review it as a solid log. You can even save it as an EVT file.

Other features include:

Instant access to event logs – Event Log Explorer works with both local and remote event logs, as well as with event log files in EVT and EVTX format
Efficient filtering – filter by event descriptions using regular expressions, filter by security event parameters, or you can build complex filters and organize them into a filter library
Export events and report generator – export and print events

⇒ Get Event Log Explorer

MyEventViewer

MyEventViewer is another interesting, simpler alternative to Microsoft’s Event Log Viewer. This tool lets you watch multiple event logs in one list, together with event description and data.

Also, the event description and data are displayed in the main window, instead of opening a new one.

No installation process or additional DLL files are required to run this software, all you need to do is to launch the executable file.

With MyEventViewer, you can select multiple event items and save them to HTML/Text/XML files. Of course, there’s also the option to copy them to the clipboard and paste them afterward into and Excel document.

MyEventViewer’s mai window is composed by 2 panes. The top one shows you the list of all events and when you select one you will see the description in the lower pane window.

You can remove/add the logs that you want to view from the main window by using the Logs menu.

The software also has command-line commands for advanced users. The admins will be happy to use them for a more efficient process that implicates more computers.

Other features include:

It packs only the main features and options you need to monitor your system
The simplistic interface is very user-friendly
You can view the events from a remote computer
Certain events can be hidden from specific users
Events can be filtered using a series of criteria

⇒ Get MyEventViewer

FullEventLogView

This is NirSoft’s most recent event viewer, it was released on September 9, 2016. FullEventLogView is a simple tool for Windows 10 that displays the details of all Windows events in a table.

FullEventLogView is the upgraded version of MyEventViewer:

MyEventViewer is a very old tool […]. The old programming interface still works even on Windows 10, but it cannot access the new event logs added on Windows Vista and newer systems. […]
FullEventLogView uses the new programming interface, so it displays all events.

The tool allows you not only to view the events of your local computer but also the events of a remote computer on your network, and events stored in .evtx files.

It also allows you to export the events list to text/csv/tab-delimited/html/xml file from the GUI and from the command-line.

This program works on any version of Windows, including Windows Vista and up to Windows 10. Both 32-bit and 64-bit systems are supported.

⇒ Get FullEventLogView

SentinelAgent

SentinelAgent is a cloud-based Windows monitoring software. This tool registers, stores and analyzes event logs, performance metrics, and system inventory from any Windows PCs, tablets, and servers on your network.

SentinelAgent is available for home users, small and medium businesses and enterprise clients.

The service for home users notifies you when your devices are having problems, and help you identify the source of the problem as well.

No configuration is necessary, as the tool is already pre-configured to monitor specific computer performance elements and alert you by email as soon as issues are detected.

If you opt for a professional version, you will need to install the agent on system you want to monitor.

Then, if those devices start having problems, you will get notified. You will also be able to access a log with 7 days of system data that is stored outside the PC that is acting up to get to the root of the issue.

Other features include:

7 Days Data Retention (Rotating)
Monitor All Your Machines From 1 Account
Pre-Configured Notifications for CPU/Disk Errors
Pre-Configured Notifications for Event ID Errors
No Ads. No Bloat
Network Installation Ready
2.7 Mb Disk Space Required

⇒ Get SentinelAgent

We hope this top Windows 10 event log viewers help you to choose the tool that best suits your monitoring needs.

If you’re interested in other options, you can also check our log monitoring software list for experienced admins.

Have you already tried out some of the event viewers listed in this article? Tell us more about your experience in the comment section below.

Download Kyocera Printer Drivers for Windows 10 + Install Steps

Posted on December 29, 2022April 18, 2024 by Matthew Adams

Windows Update usually automatically updates printer drivers. However, that won’t be the case if you’ve switched off Windows Update.

If that’s so, then your Kyocera printer driver might need updating. If your Kyocera printer isn’t printing correctly, updating an outdated driver could fix it.

This is how to install your Kyocera printer on Windows 10 and how to get the drivers for the device.

How can I update Kyocera printer drivers?

1. Update drivers from Device Manager

You can update Kyocera printer drivers with Device Manager by pressing the Win key + X hotkey and selecting Device Manager from the menu.
Now click Printers, right-click the Kyocera printer. Select Update driver.
Select the Search automatically for updated driver software option on the Update Driver Software window.
Windows might then find a more updated Kyocera printer driver to download.

The Windows Device Manager lists devices and provides driver details for them so follow the steps above to update it.

You should also be able to get the latest available driver by using Windows Update. It’s not exactly an automatic approach, but it’s the simplest way to obtain missing drivers.

2. Update Kyocera Printer Drivers automatically

You can also update Kyocera printer drivers with the help of a professional driver updater tool.

Using a dedicated tool, you can automatically scan for out-of-date or missing Kyocera printer drivers in order to avoid serious malfunctions.

3. Manually updating Kyocera printer drivers

You can save Kyocera drivers to Windows from the manufacturer’s support website.
Click Download under your country or region.
Then select Print from the Product Category drop-down menu.
Next, click the Product drop-down menu and select your Kyocera printer model number from there.
Press the Go button to open a list of drivers for the Kyocera printer.
Then you can click a Windows 10 driver listed there to download it.
Note that the U.S. drop-down menus on the site aren’t entirely the same as the other countries. In the U.S. Download Center, you select slightly more specific printer categories, Technical Resources from a Resource Category drop-down menu, and Print Drivers from a Sub-Category menu.
Alternatively, you can also download drivers from driver database sites. For example, open the DriverGuide site that includes Kyocera printer drivers.
Then you can click the Free Download button beside the required Kyocera printer driver to save it to Windows.

Or you can search for and download a Kyocera printer driver yourself. First, note down your exact Kyocera printer model number, which will be in its manual.

In addition, you’ll also need details for whether your Windows platform is 64 or 32-bit, which you can check by entering system into the Cortana search box and selecting to open the System tab.

We hope that our step-by-step guide helped you install the correct drivers for your Kyocera printer and now it’s functioning perfectly.

If this appeared a little too difficult, we have a more detailed article on how to update drivers in Windows 10.

For any other suggestions or comments, don’t forget to drop us a line in the comments section below and tell us all about it.

JPG File Not Supported on Windows 10: Why and How to Fix It?

Posted on December 29, 2022October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

Have you ever taken some really great photos and stored them on your computer, only for them not to open when you try to view them?

This can be very frustrating especially if you want to make some edits or want to check them out before sharing them with friends or colleagues on social networks.

Why is my computer saying it doesn’t support JPG?

When Windows 10 won’t open JPG files, it could be either due to corrupted files or missing updates on the computer.

One of the fastest things to try if your computer’s Windows 10 won’t open JPG files is installing any pending and latest Windows Updates, and also running the apps troubleshooter and check if it helps with the issue.

Or using a third-party app. Should these not yield the desired results, try other solutions listed below.

How do I open a JPG that is not supported on Windows 10?

1. Set a default program to open JPG files

Right click Start and select Control Panel.
Click Programs.
Select Default Programs.
Choose Associate a file type or protocol with a program. You can have all .jpg image files open using a specific program, and .bmp open using another.
In the list of file extensions, locate Jpeg files. Ensure that you have programs associated with it like Windows photo gallery.
If you want to change the program associated with JPG files, click Change Program, and then OK.

You can’t open Control Panel on Windows 10? Take a look at this step-by-step guide to find a solution.

2. Download third-party viewers

You can try installing a third-party photo viewer if your default one doesn’t work, and then associate this with your image formats like JPG, PNG, etc. Adobe Photoshop is one of the best options for that.

Photoshop supports all major compression formats like Large Document Format (PSB), Cineon, DICOM, IFF, JPEG, Photoshop PDF, Photoshop Raw, PNG, Portable Bit Map, and TIFF.

Use Adobe Photoshop to easily view, edit, and convert multiple files with the built-in Image Processor. You can even convert files to JPEG, PSD, and TIFF formats simultaneously.

To optimize and save JPEG images for use on the web, simply use the Save As menu option from Choose File, then select JPEG as the file format type for the image.

Let’s quickly look at its key features:

Lens Blur and Improved Content-Aware Fill
Object Selection Tool (for fast and precise selections)
More control in the Warp tool to add control points anywhere
More controls in a central location plus convenient Quick Actions
Fresh gradients, patterns, swatches, layers, styles, and shapes

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop lets you easily view, edit, and convert multiple files such as JPEG, PSD, and TIFF formats simultaneously.

Free trial Visit website

3. Run a DISM ScanHealth

Click Start, and type cmd in the search field box.
Click Command Prompt in the search results list.
Type the following command to scan for missing components: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
Type the following command to scan and correct any causes of the Windows 10 won’t open JPG files issue: Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Press Enter.

Once the repair is complete, reboot your computer and check if the problem persists, after which you can run an SFC scan as described in the next solution.

The DISM ScanHealth scans the image for any component store corruption while RestoreHealth performs repair operation automatically, then records those to the log file. Perform both scans to resolve the issue.

Note: The DISM tool usually takes 15 minutes or longer to complete, so do not cancel when it is running.

If you’re having trouble accessing Command Prompt as an admin, then you better take a closer look on this guide.

4. Run an SFC scan

Click Start, and type cmd in the search field box.
Right-click Command Prompt in the search results list, and select Run as Administrator.
Type sfc/scannow, and press Enter.
Restart your PC, and check if the JPG files open.

This scan checks whether there are broken Windows components in your computer when Windows 10 won’t open JPG files.

If it still does not work, then try the next solution.

5. Install and update drivers in Windows 10

Most programs created for earlier versions of Windows may run poorly, or not at all, so you can install and update drivers in Windows 10 and see if it helps.

Additionally, running the program compatibility troubleshooter will detect and fix some of these issues. If the Troubleshooter stops before completing the process, fix it with the help of this complete guide.

6. Delete outdated registry keys

Log in as administrator.
Right-click Start, and select Run.
Type regedit, and press Enter.
Go to the left pane and find the following directory: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareClassesLocalSettingsSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionAppModelRepositoryFamiliesMicrosoft.Windows.Photos_8wekyb3d8bbwe
You’ll see several entries, each has a version number. If it has 8 Windows Photos app entries, then the outdated registry keys were left after the update, so you have to remove them (some have two or four).
Select the old entry, right-click it, then select Permissions.
In the Security window click Advanced.
Pick your username, then click OK.
Right-click on the old entry and select Delete.
Repeat these steps with each outdated entry and then exit and restart your PC.

Sometimes Windows 10 won’t open JPG files because registry entries are outdated, but you can restore it by modifying the registry and following the above steps carefully.

Can’t access the Registry Editor? Things aren’t as scary as they seem. Check out this guide and solve the issue quickly.

Also, if this is too much work, and you’re looking for some software to clean your registry, here are the best registry cleaners available right now.

Have any of these solutions helped you fix the Windows 10 won’t open JPG files problem? Let us know by sharing your comments in the section below.

Leave there any other suggestions or questions, as well.

How to Unmap a Network Drive in Windows 10

Posted on December 29, 2022October 14, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

If you’re wondering how to delete mapped network drives, or you have tried and they’re not going away, read on for solutions. Mapped drives are mounted drives on your computer, usually represented by a name, letter (such as A, B, and so on), or number.

Drive mapping is the process used by operating systems so as to associate or connect a local drive letter, with an allocated shared storage area (shared directory) or folder, to a File/network server over a network.

Once a drive is mapped (or mounted), you’ll be able to read or write files from the shared storage or shared resource, accessing it in the same way you would any other drive located on your computer. Several computers can map their drives to the shared storage area (shared resource) and benefit from the networked space.

If you regularly or frequently need to access folders or files held on a server, without having to check your computer, cloud drive, or browsing the network, mapping a drive will save you more time and hassles.

Mapped drives are ideal particularly for organizations or institutions that hold documents on servers.

How can I delete mapped network drives on Windows 10?

Use File Explorer to delete mapped network drives
Use Command Prompt to delete mapped network drives
Use dedicated uninstaller software

1. Use File Explorer to delete mapped network drives

Right-click Start then select File Explorer or press the Windows button + E.
Choose Computer (or This PC) on the left panel.
Look at the Network locations for mapped drives.
Right-click on the mapped network drive you want to remove/delete
If your mapped drive is on a network location, right-click and select Disconnect. If it is on a network folder or FTP site, right-click and select Delete.

Once you do the above, the mapped network drives should disappear, or stop showing on your computer. Most users don’t know what to do when the Windows key stops working. Check out this guide and be a step ahead. If you’re having any file explorer issues, check the link below.

Note: to restore mapped network drives, you have to create them all over again.

2. Use Command Prompt to delete mapped network drives

Right-click Start button.
Select Command Prompt.

3. Type: net use drive letter/delete (for example, if you have a drive mapping using letter G, type net use G:/delete).

4. Press Enter.

Once you do the above, you will receive a confirmation that the mapped network drive has been deleted successfully. The mapped network drive will also disappear from your Windows/File Explorer immediately.

To learn more about all available options for creating and removing network drives, check our detailed guide on net use commands for Windows, including advanced syntax and automation examples.

Note: this will only work for mapped drives with an assigned letter. If you have a network location mapping, like FTP or web servers, this solution will not work.

What to do if mapped network drives won’t disappear

In case you find that there are mapped network drives and locations that persist, or remain even after trying the solutions above, here two possible solutions:

Press F5 or right open File Explorer, then right-click anywhere and choose Refresh.
Reboot your computer.

3. Use dedicated uninstaller software

Revo Uninstaller Pro is a software that does what the default Windows uninstaller does, but better. It will permanently delete files, uninstall any program, and empty the recycle bin as well.

The software comes with neat new features such as command-line uninstall support, scanning your device for random leftover files, and an incorporated database containing all the programs available to you.

In addition, the program has a Quick Uninstall feature, which allows you to queue multiple uninstallations in a row for the program to manage, removing the tedious manual process that you usually have to do. Lastly, the software will alert you if there are any files left after you uninstall something, and it will clean them for you if you want to.

Note: If you’re unsure whether your organization has mapped drives, check with your network administrator whether these are already set up on your computer. Alternatively, you can do the following:

Press the Windows button + E
Choose Computer (or This PC) on the left pane
Look at the Network locations for mapped drives

⇒ Get Revo Uninstaller Pro

We hope the solutions from this article will resolve your issues regarding problematic mapping network drivers.

In case you need further assistance, share with us in the comments section below. Leave any other questions you may have there, as well.

Guitar Tab Software: 5 Best to Use in 2026

Posted on December 29, 2022January 8, 2024 by Radu Tyrsina

Software solutions to create guitar tablature should be present on every music enthusiast’s computer. Such tools usually come with the ability to create guitar music sheets and the most commonly used symbols in tablature.

There are lots of programs that allow you to create guitar tabs and we gathered five of the best ones in order to make your choice easier. Check them all out and make an informed decision.

Top 5 software to create guitar tabs

Power Tab Editor

Power Tab Editor is a tablature authoring program for any system running Windows.

Using it, you will be able to create guitar sheet music aka guitar tablature or bass tablature.

Here are the key features of Power Tab Editor:

Provides chord names, chord diagrams, bends, rhythm slashes, harmonics and more
Useful for beginners and aspiring musicians who want to learn how to play guitar
Can be used with both electric and acoustic guitar players
Creates reads and plays guitar and bass tablature in the .ptb format
Excellent for beginners and experienced guitarists to transcribe their music and guitar lessons

→ Download Power Tab Editor

LilyPond

LilyPond is another useful software that provides music notation for everyone. This music engraving tool is devoted to creating the highest-quality sheet music.

Here are the key features of LilyPond:

Brings the aesthetics of traditionally engraved music to computer printouts
Perfect for users who want to learn how to play the guitar
Free software, part of the GNU Project
Great for classical music, modern music, complex notation, vocal music, lead sheets, orchestral projects, educational materials, and customized outputs

→ Download LilyPond

TablEdit

TablEdit is a tool for creating, editing, printing, and listening to tablature and sheet music for guitar and other stringent, fretted instruments.

Here are the key features of TablEdit:

Designed by guitarists for guitarists
Supports both tablature and standard notation, featuring instant conversion from one format to another
A tabbed interface allows the opening of multiple TablEdit files at the same time
Supports English, German, French, Japanese, and Spanish as interface languages
Provides virtually unlimited language support, with 17 available language patches
Edit and print songs in multitrack mode
Save an image of the printed output in a variety of graphics formats
More features like effects, alternate tuning, note duration control, custom chord diagrams, and lyrics management

TablEdit is distinguished by its minimal-sized and optimized code for loading and running.

→ Download TablEdit

Guitar Pro

Guitar Pro is ideal for creating, playing, and sharing your tabs. The latest version comes with a wide range of features and enhancements.

Here are the key features of Guitar Pro:

Edit your music scores and tablature for bass, guitar, and ukulele
Create backing tracks for drums and piano
User-friendly for musicians who want to compose music, improve their skills, or just play along
Redesigned interface and better rendering of your scores
New tools and audio improvements

→ Download Guitar Pro

Aria Maestosa

Aria Maestosa is an open-source midi sequencer/editor. This tool comes with a few interesting and useful features for musicians and beginners.

Here are the key features of Aria Maestosa:

Compose, edit and play MIDI files with just a few clicks
Easy interface, even for PC users with no previous experience in software tools for writing guitar tabs
The UI comes with a score, guitar, keyboard, controller, and drum views
Supports multiple languages, including Spanish, French, Japanese, Chinese, and Russian

→ Download Aria Maestosa

Here’s where our list of the best five tools for creating guitar tablature comes to an end. Make sure to check out all these tools’ functionalities and features before you make your final pick. Have fun!

How to Play Animal Crossing on PC Without Switch: Easy Guide

Posted on December 29, 2022February 20, 2024 by Teodor Nechita

Unfortunately, the problem with Animal Crossing is that for the moment, it’s a Nintendo Switch exclusive. The big question remains, though: is Animal Crossing playable on PC?

In other words, can you play Animal Crossing on a PC without a switch? While it does not have an official PC-dedicated edition, nor can you play Animal Crossing on a browser, you can still find a way to bring it to Windows.

? If you want to play Animal Crossing for PC without Switch, you need to install the Ryujinx emulator on Windows.

How to play Animal Crossing on PC without a Switch

NOTE

Before proceeding with the guide below, you will need to already have a copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons installed on a Nintendo Switch console.

Download the OpenAL client here.
- Once the client is downloaded, extract and install it on your PC.
Download the Ryujinx from here and extract it on your PC.
Open the newly extracted folder and double-click Ryujinx.exe
- This will get the emulator running

Now that the Emulator is running, it is time to add Animal crossing to its library:

Press File and select the Open Ryujinx folder.
Open the System Folder.
Drag and drop the Prod.keys file inside
- The Prod.keys are copyright files that you need to dump in your PC from within a Nintendo Switch
Close and re-open the emulator.
Go to Tools and select Install Firmware.
Choose Install a firmware from an XCI or ZIP.
Select any XCI that you had in your Nintendo Switch and click Open.
- You should receive a prompt telling you that you need to install a firmware update
- Any version is good as long as it is above 5.1.0
Go to Options > Settings.
Select your Timezone, System Region and Language.

Now you will need to add your Game directory to the emulator:

Select Browse.
Navigate to where your Nintendo Switch games have been dumped (backed up).
Click Save, and now all your games should be displayed correctly within your emulator.
Close the emulator.
Make sure your game controller is connected to your PC.
Double-click the Animal Crossing: New Horizons icon to launch the game.

Due to its popularity, the game has also managed to find its way to Android emulators. Bluestacks is
another option you can use to play Animal Crossing New Horizons on PC.

Nevertheless, we advise you to only use this option as a plan B since Bluestacks & Animal Crossing incompatibilities often hinder the experience.

If you wish the explore more emulators for PC – including Nintendo ones, don’t be shy
to take a look at RetroArch as well.

Finally, the game itself is not exempt from errors even when played on a Nintendo Switch, and you
can occasionally stumble across Internet connection issues in Animal Crossing.

By following these steps, you should now be able to play Animal Crossing New Horizons on your PC without any restrictions.

If you liked our guide, leave us a message in the comments section below.

What are Vulkan Runtime Libraries? How Can I Remove it?

Posted on December 29, 2022October 4, 2023 by Madalina Dinita

Many Windows 10 users panic when they detect the presence of Vulkan Run Time Libraries on their computers. The program appears under Programs and Features and is published by LunarG, Inc.

You need to know that the runtime library is a collection of software programs and the goal is to provide functions or services. Usually, you’ll find there are many programs and functions that are commonly used by all kinds of programs.

In a nutshell, the runtime library provides add-on resources to a primary program, thus helping it.

When Vulkan installs on the user’s computer, there is no pop-up window to inform them about its presence. As a result, when they see Vulkan Runtime Libraries on their list of programs, they fear it’s malicious software.

I noticed an entry in my Programs & Features that I did not intentionally invite. The install date is the same day as the latest Microsoft Visual C+, and the same day as the last NVidia driver updates, March 12th – 2016. The program is titled “Vulcan Run Time Libraries 1.0.3.0” and is published by “LunarG, Inc.” Does anyone know what is its’ purpose, how it would have managed to get on my PC, and is it a security issue?

Just to get this out of the way from the beginning, Vulkan Run Time Libraries is not a virus and does not affect your computer negatively in any way.

What are Vulkan Runtime Libraries?

Rest assured, Vulkan is not malware. There’s no need to delete it. Actually, Vulkan is a relatively new graphics standard, just like OpenGL and DirectX.

It provides high-efficiency, cross-platform access to modern GPUs used in a wide variety of devices from PCs and consoles, to mobile phones. Vulkan helps with lowering CPU usage is also better able to distribute work amongst multiple CPU cores.

If you are using Nvidia drivers it’s very likely that you already have Vulkan Run Time Libraries on your computer. Because more often than not it’ll be installed with your graphics card driver, you won’t notice any pop-up or dedicated install window.

If you’re a gamer, you most certainly have Vulkan on your PC, but if you’re not, it’s possible that you won’t find it. Keep in mind that if you uninstall Vulkan, it’s very hard to reinstall it again because it comes with the graphics drivers and you will need those first.

How to remove Vulkan Runtime Libraries?

As stated above, we strongly recommend that you keep this tool on your computer. However, if you still want to delete Vulkan Runtime Libraries, here are the steps to follow:

Go to Control Panel > select Uninstall a program
Scroll down to Vulkan Runtime Libraries > select it > click Uninstall

Also, you can do it this way:

Press Windows Key + R to open a Run window.
In the run box type appwiz.cpl and then hit OK.
In the list that appears, find Vulkan Run Time Libraries. Right-click on it and select Uninstall/Change.
Follow the steps and finish the uninstall process.

As we explained, Vulkan Runtime Libraries is not a virus and doesn’t affect you in any way. It’s best to leave it there, but if you really want to uninstall it, follow the steps above.

Don’t forget to tell us in the comments section below if you have Vulkan on your computer and if it bothers you or not. And if you had any issues regarding it, share how you solved them.

6 Easy Ways to Combine MP3 Files into One

Posted on December 29, 2022March 21, 2024 by Matthew Adams

Do you have lots of separate music files saved in a Windows 10 folder? If so, it would be better to combine audio files together so that you can play through multiple music tracks included within a single file.

Then you won’t need to manually select to play each song file separately within your media player. If you ever wondered how to combine audio files, then this article will show you all the best options out there.

How do I combine audio MP3 files into one?

1. Use Adobe Audition

The most obvious and simplest way to combine multiple audio files is through the use of dedicated software that can do just that.

These usually have a very straightforward interface, and will get the job done faster than you ever could manually.

That being said, one great tool that you should take into consideration is Adobe Audition, a digital audio workstation that is a world standard in audio editing.

Just download the free version of Adobe Audition, follow the installation guide and launch the software. Feel free to load all the songs that you want and combine the mp3 files to create a wonderful instrumental piece.

You can place your files one after another on a single track and mix that down, or you can use the Waveform function. By doing this, each track will be put at the end of the previous one, and all you have to do then is save the resultant file.

Adobe Audition

Get your hands on this advanced audio editing tool and create instrumentals like a true pro!

Free Trial Visit Website

2. Combine audio files with the Command Prompt

Right-click the Start button to open the Win + X menu.
Select Command Prompt (Admin) to open the window shown below.
Open the folder that includes the MP3 files you need to merge in the Command Prompt.
You can do that by entering cd in the Prompt followed by the folder path.
Enter this command in the Prompt: /copy /b audio file1.mp3 + audio file2.mp3 audio file3.mp3.

Of course, you’ll need to change the file names there to match your actual audio files and after this all that’s left to do is press the Enter key. That will combine the two MP3s in the copy /b command into one new output file.

3. Use Audio Mix

Combine audio file with Audio Mix software

Audio Mix is a Windows tool designed for all digital music lovers who are looking for a quick and easy way to combine multiple songs.

Thanks to Audio Mix you can combine, split and/or overlay audio tracks with just one click. The combination of the songs is precise and professional thanks to the crossfade effect.

The crossfade is a feature that enables you to join songs so that they flow one into another seamlessly.

With this versatile tool, you can convert mp3 files to ogg, wav, mp4, m4a, and aac format or split songs and cut unwanted parts of the audio files with the Audio Splitter feature.

Feel free to overlay two or more audio tracks (eg. voice and music) with the Overlapping function and improve the quality of your songs by modifying the audio equalizer (bass and treble).

One very interesting and useful characteristic is the MP3 Vocal Remover which allows you to remove the singer’s voice on the music and create your own lyrics around the instrumental.

You also have a video-to-audio converter function that makes it possible to extract audio files from video (avi, mp4, WMV, MOV,).

⇒ Get Audio Mix

4. Use Magix Music Maker

Magic Music Maker is a popular audio editor that allows you to combine over 4000 sounds and loops with other digital instruments. You can create up-tempo beats or add a modern edge to a classical melodic piece.

The recording function allows you to add your own vocals all you need to do is plug in your microphone and start recording your own song. With Magix Music Maker you can also record your own live electric guitar solo.

This software incorporates tools from every musical genre Rock Drums, Bass Machine, Concert Guitar, Drum Engine, Orchestral Ensemble, and Cinematic Synth.

You have a variety of sound effects in order to make your music professional and at the same time innovative so it can stand out and put you on the map as an urban beat maker or musical producer.

Let your creativity flow, combining vocal or sound loops, and add effects such as chorus, wah-wah or flange. You can also recreate an authentic acoustic experience thanks to 5.1 surround sound.

Magix Music Maker

Mix over 4000 sounds and loops and record vocals to create your favorite style of music with this advanced tool!

Free trial Visit website

5. Use Audio Joiner

Open the Audio Joiner web app in your browser.
Click the Add tracks button to select the music files to merge.
The web app then displays the selected tracks as in the snapshot directly below.
You can adjust the playback order of the tracks by clicking the up or down arrows.
The blue sliders on the tracks configure the playback interval when one tracks stops and the other starts playing.
That enables you to cut out some of a song if you drag the blue slider away from the far right of a track.
Audio Joiner also includes Crossfade and Fade-out transition effect buttons on the right of tracks.
You can click those buttons to toggle their effects off or on.
Click the Join button to merge the selected tracks together. Note that it does take a while for the app to merge the files together.
Click Download to save the output audio file to a folder.

⇒ Get Audio Joiner

6. Use Audacity

Open the Audacity software window.
Open the first audio file by clicking File, and then Open.
Click Import Audio on the Project menu to open the second audio file in Audacity.
Now you should see two waveforms for the selected audio files in Audacity.
Press the Time Shift Tool button (with double arrows on it) to open the Time Shift Tool.
Place the Time Shift Tool cursor at the beginning of the second audio track you want the file to play.
Click and drag the Time Shift Tool cursor to the right until it gets to the end of the first track’s waveform.
The second track’s waveform should start where the first track’s waveform finishes.
Click File and select Export as WAV to export the merged music file.

Audacity is among the best sound editor software for Windows 10. You can also merge separate audio files with Audacity by overlapping two alternative music tracks. Follow the steps below to combine music tracks with that software.

⇒ Get Audacity

So you can combine mp3 files with the Command Prompt, Audacity, MP3 Merger software, and Audio Joiner web app.

Merge MP3, MP3 Toolkit and Free MP3 Cutter Joiner are three other software tools you can join sound files with. By merging audio files, you can bring your music collection together.

We’d like to hear more from you on this subject so feel free to drop us a comment in the comment section below.

How to Make BlueStacks Faster with Settings for Low End PCs

Posted on December 29, 2022October 4, 2023 by Matthew Adams

BlueStacks is an emulator that enables its users to play Android games within Windows.

The software’s publisher boasts on its website that the emulator is the fastest mobile gaming platform on Earth. BlueStacks 4 is eight times faster than the previous version and runs games six times faster than a Samsung Galaxy S9.

Yet, some users have still stated on forums that BlueStacks is laggy and runs slow on their desktops or laptops.

One user stated:

When I tried to run a game such as Candy Crush Saga (in BlueStacks) it’s almost unplayable due to the lags (after pressing Start reaction is after 2-3 sec).

This is how users can speed up the BlueStacks emulator in Windows 10.

How can I fix BlueStacks slowdown issues on PC?

1. Adjust BlueStacks’ display settings

Click the Settings button in BlueStacks to open a menu.
Select Settings on the menu to open a Settings window.
Then click the Display tab if it’s not already selected.
Select a lower resolution setting. For example, users could select to reduce the software’s resolution from 1,920 x 1,080 to 1,600 x 900.
In addition, select the Low (1600DPI) option on the Display tab.

Display settings usually have a big impact on gameplay speed for Windows games.

Adjusting the graphical settings to lower the resolution and DPI often speeds up games as that frees up system resources.

As such, adjusting the resolution and DPI, in the same way, might also speed up Android games played with the BlueStacks emulator.

2. Update BlueStacks

BlueStacks 4 is the fastest version of the emulator. As such, games will probably be somewhat faster and more responsive in the latest BlueStacks than previous versions.

So updating to the latest BS 4 is the first thing users utilizing older versions of the software should do.

Those users with BlueStacks version 3.52.66.1905 or higher can update the emulator without losing game data and in-app purchases by clicking the Download BlueStacks button on the software’s webpage.

However, those users utilizing an older BS version less than 3.7.44.1625 cannot directly update the software.

Thus, some users might need to uninstall BlueStacks and then download and install the latest BS 4 from the emulator’s website.

3. Update the graphics card driver

The latest graphics card drivers can notably enhance Windows gaming. Of course, that is primarily in respect of visual quality; but new graphics card drivers can also optimize gaming in other ways.

Windows Update will automatically update graphics card drivers if configured to do so. However, Windows Update doesn’t always keep up with the very latest graphics card driver updates.

So it might be worth checking if there’s a more updated driver for your video card.

Driver updater software provides the best way to quickly check for and update graphics card drivers.

After installation, this kind of tool will immediately scan to check if any drivers need updating. Then you can update the drivers directly with the software.

4. Allocate more RAM to BlueStacks

Open the BlueStacks emulator.
Click the Settings button at the top right of BlueStacks to open a menu.
Select Settings to open a window that includes further options for the software.
Click the Engine tab on the left of the Settings window.
Then, drag the Memory bar to the right to increase the amount of RAM allocated to BlueStacks.
You can also select more CPU cores for BlueStacks. (Select the highest number from the CPU Cores drop-down menu.)

Note that BlueStacks needs at least two gigabytes of RAM.

More recent BS versions include game engine settings with which users can maximize the amount of RAM, and other system resources, for the Android emulator.

5. Close Third-Party Software

Right-click the taskbar to open its context menu, and select the Task Manager option.
Then click the Processes tab.
Select software (except BlueStacks) listed under apps, and press the End task button.
Background processes also include some background software. So have a look for and close any non-essential third-party software listed there.

Note that third-party software services can also hog system resources. You can disable third-party services with the System Configuration utility. This is how users can stop software services.

Press the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut.
Enter msconfig in Run, and click the OK button.
Select the Services tab on the System Configuration window.
Select the Hide all Microsoft services option.
Then deselect some of the third-party services listed.
Click the Apply and OK buttons.
Select the Restart option to restart Windows.

Closing programs will have a similar effect to increasing RAM allocation as that will also make more system resources available for BlueStacks.

Remember that there might be some background software running in Windows even when there aren’t any program windows open on the taskbar.

6. Turn off antivirus utilities

Third-party antivirus software features can also have a notable impact on the performance, or speed, of BlueStacks’ Android games.

So temporarily turning those features off, by disabling the antivirus packages, might speed up BlueStacks.

You can temporarily turn off some antivirus software by right-clicking their system tray icons and selecting a disable or turn-off option. Alternatively, select a disable option on the settings tab in the antivirus utility’s primary window.

Some antivirus software incorporates hardware-assisted virtualization, which can have a notable impact on the BlueStacks emulator.

Proceed to deselect the Enable hardware-assisted virtualization option if there is one within your antivirus software.

These are a few resolutions that might reduce gameplay lag for games played in BlueStacks. Hopefully, Android games will feel somewhat faster in Windows 10 after applying them.

If you have further suggestions on this topic, share them with us using the comments section below.

Note that some of the above resolutions might also fix missing DLL error messages for other files.

[wl_navigator]

FIX: There was a problem sending command to the program

Posted on December 29, 2022October 4, 2023 by Madalina Dinita

The error There was a problem sending the command to the program is one of the most common errors encountered by Windows users.

Usually, this error message is associated with the Office Package and occurs when users try to open Excel, Word, PowerPoint, or Access documents created in older Office versions.

This annoying error affects all Windows versions and has been reported by several Windows 10 users.

Windows sends Dynamic Data Exchange commands (DDE) to Microsoft Office apps, but the OS fails to connect with the application, which triggers this error code.

OS Windows 10 [Current], Office 2013 Standard 15.0.4569.1506
When my user opens a spreadsheet from within Excel, they open normally. When my user opens a spreadsheet from the Desktop or from One Drive, an error stating that “There was a problem sending the command to the program.” appears. […] The only posts we could find address this issue for OSes leading up to but not including Windows 10.

There was a problem sending the command to the program error usually affects Office applications, but sometimes it can appear while using other applications.

How can I fix the commands problem in Office?

1. Disable Dynamic Data Exchange

Open the Microsoft Office app which triggers this error > go to Options.
Click on the File menu > select Options.
Go to the Advanced tab > scroll down to the General section > uncheck Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). If this option is already unchecked, you should first enable it, restart the Office program, and then disable the option.
Save the changes and restart the Office program.

According to users, There was a problem sending the command to the program error message can appear due to Dynamic Data Exchange feature in Microsoft Office.

According to users, you can completely fix this problem simply by disabling this option in Microsoft Office. To do that, just follow these steps:

2. Disable the option Run as administrator

Go to the Start Menu > type the name of the Office program causing this error.
Right-click on it > select Properties. If the Properties option is not available > select Open the file location > in the new window, click right-click on the Office program > select Properties.
Go to the Shortcut tab > Advanced > uncheck the option Run this program as administrator.
Apply the changes.

Sometimes certain applications won’t work unless you start them with administrative privileges.

However, administrative privileges can sometimes interfere with the application and cause There was a problem sending the command to the program error message to appear.

Many users managed to fix this problem simply by disabling Run as administrator option for the problematic app. To do that, you just need to follow the above steps.

3. Repair Office

Type Programs and Features in the search box > hit Enter.
Click on the Office program causing the error or on the entire Office Pack > select Change.
Click on Repair > click on the Continue button.

According to users, sometimes you might get There was a problem sending the command to the program message because your Office installation is damaged or corrupted.

To fix this problem, it’s advised to repair your Office installation and check if that helps. Repairing the installation is rather simple, and you can do it by following the above procedure.

If the repair doesn’t solve the problem, you might want to consider reinstalling Office. There are several ways to do that, but the best way is to use uninstaller software.

If you’re not familiar with uninstaller software, these tools are designed to completely remove any application from your PC along with all of its files and registry entries.

As a result, the uninstaller software will completely remove any application from your PC and ensure that any leftover files don’t interfere with your system.

Once you remove Office using one of these tools, reinstall it and the problem should be permanently fixed.

4. Disable your antivirus software

If you’re having problems with There was a problem sending the command to the program error message, the cause might be your antivirus software.

To fix the problem, it’s advised to check your antivirus settings and disable certain features. Users reported issues with Symantec Endpoint Security, but after disabling certain features, the problem was resolved.

If that doesn’t work, you might have to completely disable your antivirus to solve this issue. As a last resort, you might even have to remove your antivirus entirely to fix this problem.

If you’re a Norton user, we’ve got a dedicated guide on how to completely remove it from your PC. There’s a similar guide for McAfee users, as well.

If removing the antivirus solves the issue, you should consider switching to different antivirus software.

There are several qualitative Windows 10 compatible antivirus software on the market that cater to all budgets and needs.

5. Turn off add-ins

Launch the Office program causing the error > go to the File menu > click on Options > click on Add-Ins.In the
Manage list at the bottom of the screen > click on COM Add-Ins > click on Go.
Clear one of the add-ins > click OK.
Restart the Office program. If the issue persists, repeat the steps and select a different add-in in step 3. Clear the add-ins one at a time.

According to users, sometimes Office add-ins can cause this issue to appear. Add-ins can bring new features to Office, but sometimes they can cause issues such as this one to appear.

6. Disable hardware acceleration

Go to the File tab > click on Options.
In the new dialog box, click on Advanced > select Disable hardware graphics acceleration > click OK.

Now, have in mind that, once you disable hardware acceleration, your performance might drop a bit, but you won’t see the error anymore.

Many applications support hardware acceleration features that bring better performance. However, sometimes this feature can lead to There was a problem sending the command to the program error.

To fix this problem, you need to open the problematic application and disable the hardware acceleration feature. To do that, just follow the previous steps.

7. Make similar registry keys agree

Launch the Registry Editor > go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT<ap>.12shellOpen<app_specific_key&gt
Rename the ddeexec key to ddeexec.old, if the key is available.
Go back to the command key and change it to use the “%1” /ou “%u” after the fully-qualified application pathname.

Example: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTExcel.Sheet.12shellOpen

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTExcel.Sheet.12shellOpencommand] set to [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTExcel.Sheet.12shellOpencommand] @="C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeRootOffice16EXCEL.EXE "%1" /ou "%u""

The default key is indicated by the “@”.

According to users, sometimes There was a problem sending the command to the program error can appear due to your registry. Sometimes certain values can interfere with applications and lead to this error.

To fix the problem, you need to modify your registry by doing the following:

If you’re having problems editing your registry on Windows 10, take a look at this simple guide that will help you deal with them.

8. Remove Windows Compatibility Package

In some cases, There was a problem sending the command to the program error can appear if you have any leftover components from the previous versions of Office.

According to users, the Windows Compatibility Package was the reason for the problem.

This tool is associated with previous versions of Office, and if you have it, be sure to remove it in order to permanently solve this issue.

9. Remove the problematic software

According to users, applications such as Tuneup Utilities can sometimes cause this problem to appear. Several users reported that Tuneup Utilities and similar types of software caused this problem on their PC.

If you have any of these applications installed, be sure to remove it and check if that solves the problem.

We hope one of these solutions helped you to fix the error There was a problem sending the command to the program.

As always, in case you’ve come across another workaround that we didn’t list in this article, you can share your experience in the comments section below.

Speaking of similar error messages, users reported the following problems as well:

There was a problem sending the command to the program Excel 2007 – You may also successfully apply our above tips whenever facing this Excel error.
There was a problem sending the command to the program Word 2016, 2013, 2010 – This issue can appear in Word, and if you encounter it, be sure to disable the Dynamic Data Exchange feature.
There was a problem sending the command to the program AutoCAD, Qlikview, OneDrive – This error can also affect other applications. If that happens, make sure that you’re not running the applications as an administrator.
Office Error: There was a problem sending the command to the program Excel 2016, 2013, 2010 – Many users reported this error message in Excel. If you encounter this problem in Excel, be sure to disable the hardware acceleration feature and check if that solves the issue.
There was a problem sending the command to the window, Internet Explorer – Sometimes this error can appear with other applications. If that happens, be sure to remove any applications that might interfere with your system. In addition, you might want to try disabling your antivirus software.

5 Solutions to Fix Mds_stores High CPU Usage on Mac

Posted on December 29, 2022October 4, 2023 by Sagar Naresh

Apple is popular for offering great products because both the hardware and software are exceptionally integrated to complement one another, unlike other computers. The mds_stores high CPU usage is due to a malfunction.

After all, they are machines that use silicon and software, and any software can experience bugs. And most users have recently started reporting that mds_stores is consuming a lot of CPU power. If you don’t know what MDS is, its full form is MetaData Server, and it is a part of Spotlight.

Keep reading to find out how to disable mds_stores and stop it from consuming more CPU power in the activity monitor.

What causes mds_stores high CPU usage?

MDS stands for Metadata Server, and it kicks in high CPU usage only when there are significant changes in the system such as a complete macOS reinstall.

However, there are multiple other reasons why you will come across mds_stores high CPU usage issue, which are listed below:

Your Mac is infected with a virus: Viruses can trigger multiple programs on your PC causing high CPU usage, out of the blue.
App modifying the contents: If you have recently installed an app, it might be infected and modifying the contents of important system folders.
You have connected multiple HDDs: If you have connected multiple external HDDs then it could also trigger a massive round of data indexing, which in turn could result in high CPU usage.
Browser-specific add-ons: Many users have spotted that the Pininterest add-on in Firefox also triggered the mds_stores high CPU usage issue.

How can I fix mds_stores consuming high CPU usage in my Macbook?

1. Restart your Mac

Click on the Apple logo in the menu bar.
Select Restart.

Wait for your computer to restart. Once it has booted up, open the activity monitor and see if the issue persists.

A simple restart should fix most of the issues, but if it is still not fixed, you can try the below method to stop the mds_stores from consuming high CPU usage and heating your computer, and causing performance issues.

2. Disable Spotlight

Open Finder.
Click on Applications.
Find the Utilities folder and open Terminal.
Execute the below command. sudo mdutil -a -i off
Enter your password and press the Return button to finish running the command.

Although the Spotlight function will stop working after disabling it, you can avoid the mds_stores consuming high CPU power by following this method. If you want, you can enable Spotlight again.

2.1 Enable the Spotlight

Open Finder.
Click on Applications.
Find the Utilities folder and open Terminal.
Execute the below command. sudo mdutil -a -i on
Enter your password and press the Return key.
This will enable the Spotlight again.

3. Clean the Spotlight’s database

Open Finder.
Search for Terminal by clicking on the search icon.
Execute the below command. sudo rm -rf /.Spotlight-V100/*
Enter your password and press the Return key.
Restart your computer and allow Spotlight to re-index the data. Re-indexing may take some time, so allow some time for it to successfully re-index

4. Stop and restart the Spotlight

4.1 Stop the Spotlight

Open Spotlight and search for Terminal.
Execute the below command. sudo launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.metadata.mds.plist
Press the Return key.
Enter your password and press the Return key to stop the Spotlight.
Restart your Mac.

4.2 Restart the Spotlight

Open Finder and search for Terminal.
Execute the below command. sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.metadata.mds.plist
Press the Return key.
Type in your password and press the Return key.
Restart your Mac for the changes to take effect.

Follow this step after fixing the mds_stores consuming high CPU to make the Spotlight work smoothly without any issues.

5. Remove the mds_stores virus in Google Chrome

Launch Google Chrome.
Click the 3-dot menu icon from the top.
Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
Click on Advanced on the left pane.
Select the Reset settings option.
Confirm the reset process by pressing the Reset Settings button.
Wait for the process to complete.
Restart the browser and check if this fixes the mds_stores consuming high CPU usage issue or not.

The mds_stores is a component of Spotlight that can malfunction due to a bug or any underlying error. By restarting your Mac, your issue should be resolved. In case it hasn’t been resolved, you can try the above-mentioned steps to fix the mds_stores consuming high CPU power.

Let us know in the comments below, which one of the above solutions helped you resolve the mds_store high CPU usage issue.

Furniture Design Software: 10 Best We Tested in 2026

Posted on December 29, 2022January 8, 2024 by Madalina Dinita

Furniture design software programs allow you to create plans and sketches of amazing household furniture and various items on your PC.

Whether you work as a furniture designer or you simply want to draw your own pieces of furniture, the tools in this article will help you, get the job done.

When walking into a store or browsing the Internet, you might spot a gorgeous table or stunning desk that would look just perfect in your home.

Unfortunately, great products come with a hefty price tag, and this especially applies to furniture.

Instead of spending a lot of money on expensive furniture, can draw it with one of the furniture design software solutions below. You can even use these tools to test your creativity and come up with new, custom designs.

What are the best furniture design software tools?

Fusion 360 – Cloud 3D modeling

Autodesk is a world leader in CAD (computer-assisted design) and has a large variety of products. And Fusion 360 is perfect for designing objects made out of different materials, especially furniture.

This tool will not only help you design different pieces of furniture on your PC, but you also will be able to print 3D different pieces and assemble them together.

It has the most powerful modeling tools and will let you start from the most basic sketching down to a fully customizable 3D model. Easily change the colors and the material of your furniture in order to get the perfect combination for your house.

Fusion 360

Design and 3D printing in one program, to push your boundaries and continuously develop your skills.

Check price Visit Website

Adobe Substance 3D – Solution for desktop and VR

Choosing Adobe Substance may be the smartest move in order to have a realistic representation of houses. With state-of-the-art technology, this tool offers leading services for 3D art creation.

Firstly, you have included prolific designing features that can deliver anything you need about your house project. Whether you need 3D materials, objects, lights, or other graphic elements it’s all covered.

More exactly, it’s your own virtual studio with lots of assets and tools, meant to create realistic art. If you create a project of your future home, including furniture and other objects, you can add it and personalize it as you like.

Moreover, with Substance 3D suite designing the furniture is just one thing from many. You can create dynamic geometry patterns, add textures or materials, and project any sketches of your home in 3D.

The software works well for both beginners and advanced, offering support for different formats like CAD or glTF.

Adobe Substance 3D

Design the furniture and entire house in your own way using professional help from Adobe Substance 3D.

Check price Visit Website

Autodesk Autocad – Automated 3D furniture toolset

Autodesk Autocad is the ultimate solution for CAD automated design and to create house planning or beautiful furniture designs.

This furniture solution comes with machine-learning tools that offer unparalleled support for 2D and 3D designs or blueprints.

Using this software, you can get reliable assistance with furniture construction designs or architecture and mechanical toolsets.

In addition, you have various integrations with add-ons that help you accelerate your workflow and craft elegant furniture for your home.

⇒ Get Autodesk Autocad

Palette CAD – 3D interior design

This 3D interior designing software called Palette CAD can make a difference in your projects. With performant technology, it can support your home projects regarding furniture and much more.

As the name implies, you can design the desired rooms using this 3D tool and create them according to your needs and imagination. CAD software can offer assistance for bathroom and tiling, carpenters or joiners, interior design, or furnishing.

More so, with its great features, it is very easy to provide support for designers or manufacturers in order to fully understand your plans.

Hence you should benefit from qualitative services for such an important project like your house. It’s significant to use professional software to design your furniture and rooms to construct your house exactly as aspired.

In addition, Palette CAD assures digital services for reimagined designing, best-class customer services, and easy product ordering for guaranteed satisfaction.

⇒ Get Palette CAD

SmartDraw – Intuitive diagrams and charts

SmartDraw is a diagramming and visual representation tool designed to create raw designs for all your home furniture.

This software provides standard templates for various industries such as flowcharts, floor plans, network diagrams, object structures, and more.

Using this can easily add shapes, text, images, and other elements to their blueprint project.

Also, you should know there is a machine-learning formatting tool capable to modify your projects automatically to keep you in the game.

In addition, it allows a wide range of diagrams and templates that can be used to design any furniture type.

⇒ Get SmartDraw

SolidWorks – Product engineering designs

SolidWorks is versatile furniture design software that you can use for living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and offices. The CAD models support a wide variety of materials, including stainless steel furniture, wooden furniture, as well as custom-design furniture.

You can use this tool to design virtually any type of furniture component, including desks, chairs, tables, and office panels, and customize them according to your needs.

If you want to see the whole picture, you can also add metal doors, wooden doors, windows, and shutters to get a detailed view of how the room will look once you add the finishing touches.

SolidWorks supports 3D modeling and simulation for cabinets, countertops, cabinet hardware, stairs and rails, knobs, hinges, stops, etc. This powerful furniture design software will help you unleash your imagination and design the perfect house.

⇒ Get SolidWorks

CAD Pro Furniture Design Software – Furniture visualization tools

CAD Pro is a drafting software that lets you design, visualize, and share your furniture design ideas. You can use this tool to design any piece of furniture that you want, from classic tables to extravagant chairs.

When you’re satisfied with the end result, you can then send your design as an image in your emails by selecting the “Send as Mail” option. You can also save your CAD Pro blueprint as a PDF file.

If you like to quickly sketch your furniture design ideas on paper, you can scan the drawing and then resume work in CAD Pro. Your initial scanned design becomes a traceable template that you can then modify and save.

The software supports a series of additional features that allows you to better communicate with the persons with that you want to share the design sketches.

For example, you can record your ideas and add voice instructions to your design blueprints or add pop-up text memos for more information.

⇒ Get CAD Pro

SketchList 3D – Woodworking designs

If you’re a fan of wooden furniture or work wood professionally, then this is the perfect furniture design software for you.

SketchList 3D simplifies the time-consuming and repetitive woodworking design tasks, allowing you to work everywhere, in the shop or at your client’s home.

The solid 3D sketches allow you to mark even the tiniest details and quickly modify them if something looks out of proportion. The virtual boards also let you see how the elements of your design go together.

Once you’re satisfied with the end result, you can use Adobe 3D PDF to send your sketch to your clients so that they can see the ‘before’ version of your work.

SketchList allows you to add joints and contours with just one click. You can use the default colors and grains when designing the furniture or create your own.

⇒ Get SketchList 3D

PRO100 – Architects friendly tool

PRO100 is professional software for furniture and interior design. This tool will allow you to design the interior of kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms faster and more efficiently.

One of the main strong points of this tool is the quality of visualization. The crystal-clear detailed images that PRO100 renders are very useful, allowing you to spot even the tiniest design details.

The latest version of the tool brings even more impressive features to the table:

Design export to 3D panoramas (including VR glasses, mobile devices, web sites)
Swap any part, e.g. handles, fittings, drawers
Distribution tool (e.d. for shelves or lights arrangement at equal distances from each other)
Export to *.jpg files

⇒ Get PRO100

SketchUp – Sustainable furniture builds

SketchUp is a very powerful tool that you can use for a variety of purposes, including furniture design. This software can deliver impressive interior design sketches, as well as specific furniture design images.

If you haven’t used furniture design software before, SketchUp is the perfect place to start. This 3D drawing tool is intuitive, easy to learn, and efficient.

Of course, the tool also supports 2D drawing. Once you finished your sketch, you can use the walkthrough function to go through every detail of your design and see how various pieces of furniture go together.

This software can also generate presentation documents, allowing you to store and share your design ideas.

⇒ Get SketchUp

Conclusion

This brings us to the end of our list. We hope that the description of the furniture design software listed helped you decide which tool to use. In case you need more resources, check out other free interior design apps to take wisely.

The most important aspect is that, with the right software tools, you can begin to design your dream furniture, play with different models and materials, and ultimately bring your designs to life.

If you have any other suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below.

7 Fixes to GeForce Experience not Recording [ShadowPlay, Nvidia]

Posted on December 29, 2022September 15, 2025 by Vlad Turiceanu

Gaming much? Then we can skip the introductions as we are pretty confident you’re already well acquainted with NVIDIA and its pros and cons.

GeForce experience not recording issues are not uncommon and chances are, you already battle with this anomaly. Something might have gone wrong with NVidia Geforce or other culprits may be to blame. So, why won’t GeForce Experience record? We’re about to find out.

Acknowledging gamers’ needs, NVIDIA – an important player (if not THE player) in the graphical processing unit manufacturers’ market – raised the bar by adding GeForce Experience into the game.

This app provides an easy and easily customizable interface packed with useful features that are meant to enhance your gaming experience.

Why is my GeForce Experience not recording?

As cool a feature as it may seem (and it really is), there are instances when ShadowPlay can behave quite erratically and users reported issues like:

GeForce Experience not recording sound, instant replay not working, GeForce Experience not recording mic or GeForce Experience not recording game audio among others.

Even more problems are about to be uncovered, as follows:

GeForce or ShadowPlay not recording
GeForce experience recording not starting
Nvidia screen recorder not working
GeForce experience not recording audio
GeForce experience not recording game chat
Also, GeForce experience not recording instant replay
GeForce experience not recording mic
A particular case – GeForce experience only recording 10 seconds
GeForce experience not recording desktop
GeForce experience not recording Discord

From incompatible specs to faulty drivers and conflictual software settings that cannot help but interfere with each other, there can be many culprits responsible for the GeForce Experience recording not working problem.

This is where we come into play. Without further ado, let’s dive into some serious, but really easy GeForce troubleshooting steps.

How do I get GeForce Experience to record if it won’t?

1. Check system requirements

The GeForce Experience app requires a minim-up setup, thus you need to check your system’s specifications in order to make sure that the two are compatible.

Fortunately, the app is intuitive enough to allow you to check your specs without leaving the software. Simply access the General section within.

check system requirements Nvidia Geforce Experience

According to the manufacturer, the general system requirements that you will have to comply with are:

OS (Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10)
RAM (2GB system memory minimum)
Disk Space (20MB minimum)
CPU (Intel Pentium G Series, Quad-Core i3, i5, i7, or higher, AMD FX, or higher)

Note: When it comes to GPU, there are a few series that are not entirely compatible with the ShadowPlay technology, such as GeForce 700, 600, and 600M. The same goes for GeForce 300 and 300M, GeForce 200 and 200M, GeForce 9/9M, and 8/8M.

Since the technology is based on a dedicated NVENC video encoding accelerator you will need a GeForce GTX 650 or higher GPU.

2. Check supported games

NVidia Geforce experience_supported games

GeForce Experience in-game overlay supports all DirectX 9, 10, and 11-based games. In desktop mode, OpenGL games running in a window are also supported.

You can check out a full list of games that are compatible with the video-recording feature integrated into the GeForce Experience here.

3. Get the latest graphic and display drivers

1. Open the app and go to the Preferences screen.
2. Next, select the Check for Updates button to install the drivers.
3. You can also use this option to verify that you are running the latest version of GeForce Experience.
4. Alternatively, you can through the Device Manager on your PC or even use a dedicated program such as Outbyte Driver Updater to make sure your drivers are always up to date and in pristine condition.

If you are encountering recording issues, you might face a case of corrupted or obsolete drivers.

One important feature incorporated into the GeForce Experience is the Game Ready driver update. In fact, the app automatically notifies you when new drivers are available.

Even though it is a useful feature, it’s not exempt from errors. If for some reason the GeForce Game Ready driver installation can’t continue, we got your back.

4. Uninstall or quit third-party audio software

If you are using additional audio enhancement software, it is possible that this is actually interfering with your GeForce Experience recording capacities.

Make sure you uninstall this software from the Control Panel -> Programs -> Programs and Features -> Uninstall a program.

If you happen to encounter issues while launching the Control Panel, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you have it fixed and get on with your uninstalling.

You can also choose to use a dedicated removal tool. One performant program for this job is the IObit Uninstaller which also removes leftover files, folders, and registry entries.

Furthermore, if there are any other streaming or recording apps and/or games running in the background, make sure you close all of them.

Finally, reboot the PC and try again.

5. Adjust the default directory

This issue can be triggered by insufficient disk space in the default directory or by a corrupted recording path.

One simple way to fix this is by changing the recording path to a different HDD than the one you used for installing the game(s).

You can also, create a new directory – just make sure you are logged in with your admin account in order to avoid permissions issues.

6. Switch on Windows Aero

If you are running on Windows 7, switching the Aero effect on is another potential fix for recording issues.

To enable any of the Aero themes, simply access the Control Panel -> Appearance and Personalization -> Personalization or right-click the desktop and select Personalize. Then click Window Color, and select the Enable transparency option.

Windows 7 enable aero theme_transparency

7. Uninstall and reinstall the display drivers

If all other methods fail, you can simply install the display driver altogether and reinstall the latest version from the official website.

Make sure you use a specialized tool to completely uninstall the graphic driver and go for a fresh install by downloading the latest Nvidia and GeForce Experience driver from the official website.

There you go, these tested solutions should have your ShadowPlay option flawlessly recording again in no time so that you can share your gameplay highlights with your friends.

If you are aware of additional methods for fixing NVIDIA recording issues, feel free to share them in the comments section below.

Of course, this depends on several other factors such as CPU consumption and screen resolution.

Best Packet Sniffing Tools for Windows 10 & 11 [2026]

Posted on December 29, 2022August 26, 2025 by Madalina Dinita

A packet sniffer, also known as a network analyzer or a protocol analyzer, is a program that can intercept and log traffic that passes over a digital network.

Packet sniffers are diagnostic tools that allow network technicians to analyze the network and diagnose network problems.

In order to work, the packet sniffer must have access to the wireless or wired network interface on its host computer. The tool can analyze traffic from the entire network or only a small part.

Then the sniffer converts the analysis into a readable format, helping the network technicians to pinpoint network faults.

What is a network packet sniffer?
What are the best network sniffer tools for Windows 10 and 11?

What is a network packet sniffer?

If you’re wondering what a packet sniffer is, it can be explained in a few words: A network traffic analysis tool.

The utility of this software relies on the support for analyzing great amounts of network data, such as passwords and log-in credentials or users’ online activity.

Most of the network packet sniffers gather data from your network using two systems, Unix-like systems or Windows systems. In case you require a network sniffer for Windows, you can easily find them on the market.

You should also know that it’s possible to use software or hardware network sniffers. The hardware sniffers will best help you troubleshoot network issues.

Nevertheless, software network sniffing tools are more reliable and don’t need plugging support to detect network insights.

To discover the best packet or free network sniffers for Windows 10 and 11, dive deep into this article and find the one you need.

What are the best network sniffer tools for Windows 10 and 11?

NetFlow Analyzer – Effective Bandwidth monitoring
PRTG Network Monitor – Professional network analyzer
Wireshark – Live capturing and offline analysis
Free Network Analyzer – Real-time protocol analyzer
Solarwinds Network Packet Sniffer – Easy to use
Capsa Free Network Analyzer – Customizable reports

NetFlow Analyzer

Packet sniffers need to be a complete package that allows network management and control and provides in-depth statistics regarding the traffic analytics of a given network.

NetFlow Analyzer is one such tool, and it is one of the best packet sniffers on the market today, providing hundreds of companies with much-needed intel regarding their network status, and how they could improve it.

The software is built around the idea that things need to be easy to understand and as transparent as possible, and that’s exactly how the data is displayed for any Network administrator using it.

Here are some of the features of this program:

Network forensics and troubleshooting
Efficient bandwidth monitoring
App-centric monitoring
In-depth traffic analysis
Security analysis

NetFlow Analyzer

If you’re looking for an efficient packet sniffer, both in terms of costs and performance, then you need to try out NetFlow Analyzer.

Free trial Visit website

PRTG Network Monitor

PRTG Network Monitor is an advanced, professional tool for analyzing and monitoring local networks. The tool captures the data passing through your network, analyzes it, and then presents it in a readable format.

It has a special Packet Sniffing Sensor that will let you know if any network packets are suspicious.

Be careful, as such a sensor could use many of your PC’s resources, and you will need to manage your processes carefully when you want to scan for dangerous data packets.

PRTG Network Monitor detects all network data activity and application usage of the system’s ports.

The tool offers a flexible system of configurable filters and reports that users can use to capture specific traffic patterns and network data.

Also, it supports many selections of events, methods, and properties.

PRTG Network Monitor comes in two variants: a completely free, basic edition and a paid version with full features. You can test the tool for free for 30 days and continue on a free basis with limited features or buy the full version with user support.

PRTG Network Monitor

Manage the way your PC uses your bandwidth with one of the best network monitoring tools on the market today!

Free trial Visit website

Wireshark

Wireshark is one of the most popular packet sniffers in the world, allowing you to see what’s happening on your network at a microscopic level. This free tool is used by industries and educational institutions.

Wireshark has powerful display filters that can read and write a huge number of capture file formats, such as:

tcpdump (libpcap), Pcap NG, Catapult DCT2000, Cisco Secure IDS iplog, Microsoft Network Monitor, Network General Sniffer, Sniffer Pro, and NetXray, Network Instruments Observer, NetScreen snoop, Novell LANalyzer, RADCOM WAN/LAN Analyzer, Shomiti/Finisar Surveyor, Tektronix K12xx, and more.

Other features include:

Deep inspection of hundreds of protocols, with more being added all the time
Live capture and offline analysis
Standard three-pane packet browser
Captured network data can be browsed via a GUI, or via the TTY-mode TShark utility
Rich VoIP analysis
Live data can be read from Ethernet, IEEE 802.11, PPP/HDLC, ATM, Bluetooth, USB, Token Ring, Frame Relay, FDDI, and others
Decryption support for many protocols, including IPsec, ISAKMP, Kerberos, SNMPv3, SSL/TLS, WEP, and WPA/WPA2
Coloring rules can be applied to the packet list for quick, intuitive analysis
Output can be exported to XML, PostScript®, CSV, or plain text/

⇒ Get Wireshark

Free Network Analyzer

Free Network Analyzer is another excellent free network monitoring software that can analyze the wired or wireless connections of your computer. The tool can capture, filter, and display all traffic data and decode the network packet raw data.

Packets are then parsed, extracted, and presented in a readable form, offering you a throughout analysis of the data transferred via your PC network interfaces.

Key features include:

Real-time protocol analysis and effective dataflow processing even under high traffic load on high data rate communications
Data filtered by specific protocol
Search for data patterns with RegEx (Regular Expressions) support
Importing log files from third party protocol analyzers
More than 70 different data encodings supported.

⇒ Get Free Network Analyzer

Solarwinds Network Packet Sniffer

This network traffic platform offers an exhaustive solution for valuable insights regarding your network connection.

In the first place, the tool will measure your network performance from every side and isolate the cause of potential connection issues on your network.

There are so numerous traffic analysis tools that can capture packets but are not actually able to present information clearly and accurately.

For this reason, SolarWinds offers detailed reports from over 1.200 applications or networks that impact the end-user experience.

Ultimately, you have included a Wi-fi packet capture that gives valuable information for your wireless networks, such as connection performance, traffic, or configuration details.

⇒ Get Solarwinds Network Packet Sniffer

Capsa Free Network Analyzer

This tool is the right choice for regular users, such as students, teachers, or computer geeks. Capsa Free allows you to monitor network traffic, troubleshoot network issues and analyze packets.

It supports over 300 network protocols, MSN and Yahoo Messenger filters, email monitor and auto-save, as well as customizable reports and dashboards.

The main advantage of this tool is that it allows you to learn how to monitor network activities, pinpoint network problems, and improve network security.

⇒ Get Capsa Free

How do packet sniffers work?

The packet network sniffing tools will efficiently work by intercepting network traffic using the software or hardware interface on the user’s PC.

With the network sniffing process you have the necessary method to capture the packets that pass through your network and analyze detailed network data or connectivity issues.

A network sniffer for Windows will monitor and offer connection insights for the whole network or only a certain section, depending on the network configuration, not matter if you are looking for home network monitoring software or enterprise grade one.

On the other hand, using the packet sniffer for a wireless network, you will be able to monitor and analyze only one channel at a time. However, if your PC supports multiple wireless interfaces, you can do it for multiple channels.

FAQs

What is a packet sniffer used for?

A packet sniffer captures and analyzes network traffic, helping technicians diagnose issues, monitor bandwidth usage, and detect suspicious activity on Windows 10 or 11.

Is Wireshark the best free packet sniffer?

Yes. Wireshark is the most popular free packet sniffer, offering deep protocol inspection, live traffic capture, and offline analysis with support for hundreds of protocols.

Can packet sniffers detect security threats?

Absolutely. Tools like NetFlow Analyzer and SolarWinds Packet Sniffer can reveal unusual traffic patterns, unauthorized access, or potential malware communication.

Do packet sniffers work on wireless networks?

Yes, but with limitations. A packet sniffer can only analyze one Wi-Fi channel at a time unless your PC supports multiple wireless interfaces.

There are valuable free network sniffers for Windows 10 and 11 on the market, so employ the ones we covered for you in this article and easily catch traffic data.

FIXED: Winload.exe Missing Error in Windows 10

Posted on December 29, 2022November 14, 2025 by Andrew Wafer

Are you having problems with your Windows 10 OS? If you can’t properly boot your device or if you are noticing issues with the winload.exe protocol (winload.exe is missing or winload.exe is corrupt) then we recommend you use the troubleshooting steps below in order to address these problems with ease.

Winload.exe is in fact what we know as Windows Boot Loader, a small program built on the Windows 10 system. Winload.exe is initiated by another protocol, BOOTMGR which is the boot manager featured in Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.

Now, winload.exe will load some files from Windows, files that are quite important for your device. Because of that, if winload.exe is corrupt or missing you will not be able to properly use your Windows 10-based tablet, laptop, or desktop.

So, due for the same reasons, you should use the troubleshooting solution below in order to safely fix this problem.

How can I fix Winload.exe in Windows 10:

1. Use Startup Repair

Make sure you can use your Windows 10 installer DVD.
So, insert the bootable DVD on your device and restart the PC.
When prompted press any key in order to boot from DVD.
Wait while the Windows installation files are being uploaded.
Then from the main menu of your installer disk choose Troubleshoot.
Up next from the System Recovery Options select Command Prompt.
A cmd window will be displayed on your screen; there type bootrec /rebuildbcd and press enter from your keyboard.
Wait while the command is being executed.
Then on cmd type exit and press enter.
Reject the DVD and reboot your Windows 10 device as you are done.

The Boot Configuration Data file is missing? Don’t panic, we’ve got a dedicated guide about that. Check it out and solve the issue in no time.

For being able to fix winload.exe you need to rebuild the Boot Configuration Data protocol, dubbed as BCD. This protocol is telling to your Windows device how to start the boot sequence and contains essential boot configuration options.

2. Remove the Windows.old folder

1. Type Disk Cleanup > select your C drive > select Clean up system files

2. Wait for the utility to calculate how much space it can free up > on the new windows, click on the “More options” tab

3. Go to System Restores and Shadow copies > hit Clean up

Problems deleting all your junk files? Follow this guide to solve Disk Cleanup issues and save your drive.

The Windows.old folder may also cause various .exe file errors. As a quick reminder, the Windows.old folder appears when you upgrade your Windows version or perform a clean install of Windows 10.

The role of this folder is to keep your previous Windows installation files, allowing you to restore it. Here’s how to remove the Windows.old folder:

3. Reinstall Windows 10

If the two solutions listed above didn’t help you fix Winload.exe bugs on Windows 10, try reinstalling the OS.

That’s it: you have resolved the winload.exe problem from your Windows 10 device.

If you need further Windows 10 tips or troubleshooting solutions, don’t hesitate and use our tutorials, or use the comments field below for sharing your questions with our team.

Users who experience additional executable file problems can also check this detailed guide on fixing the wfs.exe missing error for more repair options.

If you’ve got additional tips and suggestions on how to fix Winload.exe issues in Windows 10, you can list them in the comments below.

Fix: Wi-Fi Stopped Working After Windows 10 Update

Posted on December 29, 2022October 16, 2024 by Ivan Jenic

If you encounter issues with your WiFi no longer working after a Windows update, you’re in the right place. You should know that some updates change network settings, and that’s what could be at fault.

More exactly the option for IPv6 is now checked and this is one of the reasons why the Internet connection has stopped working.

Here’s how to fix it:

How do I fix the Wi-Fi connection after Windows 10 update?

1. Disable IPv6

Left-click on the WiFi icon on the lower right side of the screen.
Select Open Network and Sharing Center feature.
Now you should have a Network and Sharing Center window in front of you.
Click on the Change adapter settings link situated in the left side panel of the Network and Sharing Center window.
Look for the connection you have to the Internet and right-click on it or just hold tap if you are using a touchscreen device.
From the menu that appears, you will need to left-click on the Properties feature.
On the upper side of the Properties window, select the Networking tab.
Search for the IPv6 option.
Remove the check-mark from the IPv6 option.
Left-click or tap on the OK button to close the window.

2. Allow the PC to turn off the Wireless adapter

Press the Windows Key + S and type Device manger.
Press Enter to open the Device Manager.
Expand the Network Adapters icon.
Look for your wireless adapter in the list, right-click on it, and go to Properties.
Select the Power Management tab situated on the upper side of this window.
Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device, then press Ok.
Close every window you opened so far.

3. Update your drivers

3.1 Update drivers manually

Press the Windows Key + S.
Type Device Manager and press Enter.
Go to the device you’d like to update and right-click on it.
Then, select Update driver and follow the instructions.
Repeat the step for all the devices you want to be updated.

3.2 Update drivers automatically

An easier way to update your system drivers is by installing third-party software that will do it for you, thus you won’t waste so much time searching.

The program will automatically scan all of your computer’s hardware and software for the latest compatible driver versions and install them for you.

4. Change the power settings

Press the Windows Key + X.
Search for Control Panel and press Enter.
Select the Small Icons feature in Control Panel.
Search for Power Options and expand it.
Click on Change plan settings (for the selected Power Plan).
Then, click on Change advanced power settings.
Expand Wireless Adapter Settings.
Go to the Power Savings Mode.
In the Power Savings Mode select Maximum Performance.
Click Ok to save your changes.
Close the windows you opened so far.
Reboot your Windows 10 operating system.
After the device starts check if your Wi-Fi internet connection is working properly.

5. Run the Internet Troubleshooter

Press the Windows Key and select Settings.
Then, go to Update & Security.
Next, go to Troubleshoot.
Click on Run the troubleshooter.

6. Clear DNS Cache

Press Windows + X.
Select Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
Type the following command: ipconfig /flushdns.
Press Enter and wait for the process to complete.

7. Reset Network settings

Open Windows Settings.
Click on Network & Internet.
Go to Advanced network settings.
Under the More settings section, find Network reset.
Select Reset now.
Confirm by clicking Yes.
Restart your PC.

Another quick way to fix Wi-Fi connectivity issues after Windows 10 updates is to run the Internet Troubleshooter built into your Windows 10.

That’s about it for this article. We hope that our solutions helped you get your internet connection back on. Note that a Windows update may also cause the WLAN Extensibility module has stopped error, so don’t forget to uninstall it if you spot this error.

If you have additional questions related to this subject, you can write us in the comments section below and I will help you further as soon as possible.

Xbox Error 0x87e11838 [Complete Fix]

Posted on December 29, 2022October 4, 2023 by Hasibul Kabir

Are you getting Xbox error 0x87e11838 while launching a game on this console? This article explains how to solve this problem.

Usually, you should not encounter any error while launching or playing your favorite titles on Xbox consoles. But, things may not go smoothly for some internal or external issues. You may encounter errors that may prevent you from playing Xbox games. The error code 0x87e11838 is one of them.

Why do I encounter the Xbox error 0x87e11838?

If you encounter the error 0x87e11838 while launching Xbox games, it can be due to the following reasons:

Account problem: If the account you are using on your Xbox has some issues, the error may appear.
Poor network speed: If Xbox is not connected to Wi-Fi or ethernet or the network is unstable, it can sometimes trigger the error 0x87e11838.
Corrupted cache & local data: If somehow the cache on your Xbox is corrupted, it may prevent your game from loading correctly by showing various error codes.
Xbox service is down: It is also possible that everything is OK on your end, but the Xbox service is down temporarily. That’s why you are encountering the error code.

How do I fix Xbox error 0x87e11838?

We have featured the most effective methods. But, before trying them, we suggest you do the following things:

Restart your Xbox console.
Check the Xbox service status from this official page. If it is down, keep patience until the service is up.
Update the Xbox console. If necessary, see how to solve Xbox won’t update issues.
If the problematic game is not from your current account, you may face the error 0x87e11838. In this case, you will need to sign in with the account that was used to purchase that game. This will solve your problem.

After doing the above things, if necessary, follow these methods to solve Xbox error 0x87e11838.

1. Test network speed

Press the Xbox button on the controller.
Go to Profile & System.
Go to General Settings and tap on Networking settings.
Tap on Test network speed & statistics.
Wait for the result.

If you have a good internet speed, but the Xbox seems to show a different thing, restart your router and Xbox console. If necessary, reset the router and change DNS.

2. Clear Xbox cache

2.1 Clear using physical buttons

Press and hold the Xbox button for 10 seconds. It will turn off the console.
Unplug the power cable.
Press and hold the Xbox button again. Do it several times.
Wait one minute and plug in the power cable again.
Wait another minute.
Now, press the Xbox button again to turn on the console.

If it doesn’t turn on, learn how to solve Xbox won’t turn on problem.

2.2 Clear persistent storage

Press the Xbox button and select Settings.
Go to Devices & streaming and tap on Blu-ray.
Go to Persistent Storage.
Tap on Clear Persistent Storage.

After clearing, if necessary, you can restart the console. Then, try to launch the problematic game. It should solve the Xbox error code 0x87e11838.

3. Delete local data

Press the Xbox button.
Then, go to Profile & System.
Go to Settings and then System.
Tap on Storage devices.
Now, choose Local saved games.
Delete unnecessary data there.

You may see a bit different options on your Xbox console. It depends on which firmware version or model you are using. But, one thing is certain that it will help to get rid of the error 0x87e11838.

Usually, the above methods are enough to troubleshoot this error. If necessary, reset the console and see if it helps.

If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to let us know in the comment box.

FIX: Microsoft Teams Microphone not Working on Remote Desktop

Posted on December 29, 2022October 4, 2023 by Tashreef Shareef

Microsoft Teams is a versatile collaboration tool that seamlessly integrates a plethora of business tools that most users need when it comes to their business.

A high-quality microphone allows you to engage in video and audio calls without fearing you’ll encounter any technical issues.

Thus, some users have reported that Microsoft Teams does not recognize the microphone in the desktop client.

Why doesn’t the microphone work?

This issue can occur due to several reasons, one of them being software glitches. It can also occur if there are permission issues that prevent access to your microphone.

Another possible cause is that the Windows operating system or the application itself is not updated to the latest version on the market.

It is also highly advisable before you start looking for the cause of this unpleasant situation to check if your microphone is in use.

To do this, just close all other apps that might be using your microphone and restart your PC. This way you make sure that you can use your microphone in Teams.

In this article, we walk through the steps required to fix the Microsoft Teams microphone issues, so be sure to discover all of them.

How can I fix the Microsoft Teams microphone issues?

1. Make sure your app is updated

First, to make sure you don’t make yourself directly responsible for any bugs or glitches in the app, install the latest Windows update and the latest version of the Teams app.

All you need to do is open Microsoft Teams, log into it, and on the top right, click on your profile picture and select Check for updates.

The app will accordingly install updates in the background if necessary, and then you can check that the microphone is working properly by making a test call.

2. Check microphone privacy settings

Click on Start, and select the Settings app.
Select the Privacy option.
From the left pane, scroll down to App Permission, and click on Microphone.
Scroll down to the Allow desktop apps to access your microphone section.
From the list, enable microphone access for Microsoft Teams.
Launch Microsoft Teams, and check if the client recognizes the microphone.

In case the microphone is already enabled for Microsoft Teams, revoke the access. Reboot the computer and enable microphone for Microsoft Teams again.

Access to the microphone can get disabled when new updates are installed or Microsoft Teams. Make sure the required permission is given to resolve the issue.

If you’re having trouble opening the Settings app, take a closer look at our comprehensive guide, and fix it for good.

3. Troubleshoot the sound problem

Right-click on the speaker icon in the Taskbar.
Select the Troubleshoot sound problem option.
The troubleshooter will perform an initial scan.
When prompted, select your microphone, and click Next.
Follow the on-screen instructions to troubleshoot the microphone.
Apply any recommended fixes and check for any improvements.

Also, if the troubleshooter fails to load with an error, be sure to follow our useful guide and fix it in just a couple of simple steps.

4. Reinstall Microsoft Teams

Type control in the search bar, and open Control Panel.
In the Control Panel, go to Program, and select Programs and Features.
Select Microsoft Teams from the list, and click Uninstall.
Once uninstalled, reboot the computer.
Download and install the latest version of Microsoft Teams.

Reinstalling Microsoft Team can resolve many issues that can occur due to corrupted files and bugs. Install the new version of Microsoft Teams and check for any improvements.

Also, if you can’t open Control Panel, you should take a closer look at our step-by-step guide to find the best solution.

Conclusion

The Microsoft Teams not recognizing the microphone issue can occur due to several reasons. By following the steps in this article, you can fix the problem with your desktop client in no time.

The most important thing, however, is to make sure you are running the latest version of Windows and the latest Teams app update to get rid of various bugs.

Another point worth mentioning is that before you start troubleshooting the problem, you should check if your microphone is in use, and if it is somehow used by other apps in the meantime.

Don’t forget also that you can always use the speaker troubleshooter provided by Windows, which you can rely on without any problems, without having to perform several actions.

And if absolutely necessary, you can always uninstall and reinstall the Microsoft Teams app to make sure everything will work smoothly, and you’ll be able to call without any problems.

Let us know which step helped you fix the issue in the comments. Also, leave there any other questions or suggestions that you may have, and we’ll surely check them out.

Best Flight Simulator for Windows 11, 10: Top 5 Picks

Posted on December 29, 2022October 4, 2023 by Matthew Adams

PC flight simulators are PC games that, obviously, simulate flying. These are games that include a wide range of civilian or military planes for players to fly over glorious 3D landscapes with.

The simulators should not be confused with general aerial shoot em ups that have more basic arcade controls.

Flight simulators are much more realistic than your average flying games for consoles that tend to place greater emphasis on frantic blasting action instead of emulating real-world aircraft flight with aerodynamic models or empirical data.

How to choose the best flight simulator game for your PC?

There are many specific features that you might look for when choosing a flight simulator, and we have managed to gather the main of them in our article.

Here you will find answers to such questions as :

Does a flight simulator allow plane creation?
Can you simulate an open space flight from your PC with a flight simulator game?
Can you play it in multiplayer mode (online)?
How realistic a flight simulator game can be (detail level)?
Can you fly on other aircraft?

	Rating (1 to 5)	Paid/Free	Plane creation/customization	Combat/Civil	Multiplayer
Microsoft Flight Simulator Standard	4.5	Paid	No	Civil	No
Il-2 Sturmovik : 1946	4	Paid	No	Combat	Yes
Rise of Flight United	4	Paid	No	Combat	Yes
X-Plane 10	3.5	Paid	Yes	Civil	No
Flight Gear	3.8	Free	Yes	Civil	No

What is the best flight simulator for PC?

Microsoft Flight Simulator: Standard

Microsoft Flight Simulator is the best-established flight simulator game series that dates back to the ’80s.

The 2020 version of Flight Simulator is the most recent, and best addition to the franchise with an amazing breadth of content and excellent graphical quality.

The game received impressive reviews from the launch day, being praised for the highly detailed and stunning aircraft, as well as for the incredibly realistic world that it creates.

The game comes in three editions, with a different number of aircraft that you can choose from, starting with light planes, and ending with massive jets.

The Standard edition features 20 aircraft available to all players, while premium editions reach 30 aircraft models, including Cessna Citation Longitude or Pipistrel Virus SW 121, for instance.

You’ll be allowed to land at any of the 36,000 airports included in any of the game’s editions.

As a matter of fact, the premium versions only bring a few extras, such as the number of available planes. But you can start with the basic version and upgrade at any time, if necessary.

Should you encounter any trouble with the installation or launch of the new game, a lot of the issues have been fixed by Microsoft in various patches since the launch, but we also have a few recommendations.

Microsoft Flight Simulator: Standard

Take it to the skies and land anywhere across the globe with the new Flight Simmulator.

$59.99 Visit website

IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946

The original IL-2 Sturmovik is a classic combat flight sim based on World War 2’s Eastern Front.

With its terrific visuals and immense playability, the game was (and still is) a stormer and had a number of expansion packs and add-ons that expanded its content with new theaters, maps, and planes.

IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946, launched in 2006, is a compilation pack that brings together all the content from the original IL-2 series, including the Forgotten Battles, Pacific Fighters, and Ace Expansion Pack.

As this is more of a compilation pack, IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 has extensive content.

Players can fly up to 229 aircraft from the Soviet, German, Italian, Japanese, U.K., and U.S. air forces in Eastern Europe, Mediterranean, Pacific, and Western Front maps.

IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 also has nine exclusive campaigns of its own with 200 detailed missions.

Those missions aren’t just aerial dogfights as someplace more emphasis on bombing or strafing a variety of ground targets, such as airfields, tank columns, and bridges.

This game also includes a few alternative history campaigns with air battles that never happened in 1946 and a full mission builder.

Il-2 Sturmovik had groundbreaking graphics when it first launched, but its graphical quality has inevitably diminished over the years.

However, the game still retains its super realistic flight mechanics and fantastic damage model that made it a classic.

Best flight simulator

Il-2 Sturmovik

Great flight locations
Detailed flight board
Exciting missions

Get it now on Amazon

Rise of Flight United

If you’re looking for some blasting action in a flight simulator, look no further than Rise of Flight United. This is a historical simulator based on World War One, which was the first war to widely include aircraft.

Rise of Flight now has a free-to-play model, but that’s limited to three planes only.

Additional planes, modifications, and a Channel Map expansion are retailing on the game’s website.

In Rise of Flight United, players get to fly some legendary biplanes. They are accessible in quick missions, missions, campaigns, and multiplayer modes.

There are 40 planes for players to fly in aerial dogfights over the Western and Eastern Front, which include the Nieuport 17.C1, Felixstowe F.2A, Sopwith Camel, and Albatros D.Va.

The planes are rendered in amazing detail with fully dynamic components and terrific damage modeling, and they also feel very real as the game amplifies aerodynamic effects such as torque, g-force, stalls, and wind buffet.

Rise of Flight has fantastic graphics with High Dynamic Range lighting and detailed World War One landscapes. The experience is additionally enriched with rendered skylines and realistic weather effects.

The game’s scaling is spot on and gives players a real sense of altitude.

The simulator also includes a variety of customization options to adjust the realism. You can configure landing modes, fuel supply, gun convergence, radiator airflow, etc.

So Rise of Flight is undoubtedly one of the most realistic air combat simulators for Windows.

⇒ Get Rise of Flight United

X-Plane 11

X-Plane 11 is perhaps the most realistic flight simulator for Windows that’s a research tool in the aviation industry.

This is largely due to its blade-element theory aerodynamic model that determines the actions of real planes in flight based on their actual design parameters.

X-Plane 11 has more than 40 aircraft for players to choose from. The list includes Concorde, the F22 Raptor, and Boeing 747.

In fact, they’re not all exactly planes as one is the Space Shuttle, which is a great novelty.

Players can fly outside the Earth’s orbit and over Mars with the Space Shuttle, and the publisher has recreated the atmosphere of the Red planet and shuttle controls with NASA data.

Air Traffic Control further enhances X-Plane’s realism as it provides actual voice audio and guides all planes to the runways.

X-Plane 10 is one of the most flexible flight simulators as it has tons of user-created aircraft and scenery add-ons, editable maps, and also includes in-game options to fully customize the weather.

⇒ Get X-Plane 11

FlightGear

As both Microsoft Flight Simulator and X-Plane 11 are proprietary software, FlightGear is a good open-source alternative.

The best thing is that the game is freely available, and you can add it to Windows, Mac OS X, or Linux. Besides, developers can expand it with third-party extensions.

The core software includes only a few aircraft, but there are more than 400 planes you can add to it. The list consists of helicopters, airliners, warbirds, modern and historical military models, and light civilian passenger planes.

The software includes 20,000 airports, diverse scenery, and accurate global landscapes; and users can also download more terrain from FlightGear’s database.

One novelty the game has is its accurate sky models that adjust the sky to reflect your actual time.

Variable runway elevation, approach lighting, and scenery that lights up at night further enhance the simulator’s realism.

FlightGear’s graphical quality is also pretty decent as the game has some great weather, atmosphere shading, and water reflection effects.

⇒ Get FlightGear

So these are a few of the best flight simulators that bring the thrill of flying to your Windows PC.

Have you tried any of them so far? Use the comments box to share your experience with us.

6 Best TV Tuner Software for Windows 10 [2026 Updated]

Posted on December 29, 2022January 8, 2024 by Ivan Jenic

When it comes to TV, most people enjoy watching TV on their couch in the living room, but some folks prefer to watch it on their PC, especially if they are using a large display.

In the past, Windows Media Center was in charge of TV tuning, but since Windows Media Center isn’t included with Windows 10, we’re going to see other TV tuner software for Windows 10.

Even Microsoft has announced that in order to watch live TV on Windows 10, you’ll need a third-party solution, and today we’re giving you several applications to watch live TV on Windows 10 using a TV tuner.

So, check out our list of best TV tuner software for the Windows 10 operating system.

Which TV tuner software should I use for my Windows 10 PC?

Hulu

Hulu is a popular streaming service known for its exclusive series and on-demand movies. With a simple subscription home network and a device connected to the Internet, it allows you to watch thousands of TV shows and more.

You can even stream live games from major and pro leagues like the NBA, NFL, or NCAA.

There are several packages available, including a Disney+, ESPN, and HULU deal that lets you switch between the services and access your favorite content.

Sports are right on their court with ESPN and ESPN+ for live coverage and exclusive access to over 3,000 premium articles a year.

For Start Wars fans and families, we recommend Disney+ with a huge content of movies and shows that will keep you always entertained.

You will also get access to the award-winning 30 for 30 libraries of innovative sports documentaries with amazing storytelling.

Hulu

Watch exclusive TV shows and on-demand movies with this industry-leading streaming service!

Check price Visit Website

Plex

Plex is a global streaming media service that allows you to enjoy movies, podcasts, music, and other media files from any internet-connected device.

It puts at your disposal over 20,000 free movies and lets you stream more than 130 live channels.

With Plex, you can record your favorite TV shows or movies and organize them as you please in your Plex library.

The software supports almost all audio and video formats, and its library UI showcases your media with artwork, bios, plot summaries, and more information.

Once you install it, you can get content from a lot of important sources like NPR, Spike, and Comedy Central. The music player can also show you timed lyrics of songs, which is a novelty.

You can use multiple accounts and you also have the option for DVR recording at your discretion.

But the best part is that you can sync media between all your devices, including smartphones, tablets, digital media players, and game consoles.

⇒ Get Plex

Kodi

Kodi is one of the best alternatives to Windows Media Center, and it was originally created for Xbox, but now it runs on a wide range of platforms, from Windows, over Linux to Android and iOS.

It can play files from your computer, from online streaming services, and with third-party plugins, you can even watch live TV with it. This software is free to download and comes with no restrictions.

Kodi media center supports all-important media file formats for playback, and you can stream content from various online media streaming services.

One of the most interesting parts is that you can customize the skins or the theme of the app, to change the screensaver, wallpaper, and more.

The Kodi feature si that you can use add-ons for audio, videos, pictures, screensavers, games, weather, programs, and skins with which you can further enhance the software.

The best add-on is, however, Exodus, which you can use for streaming and watching a lot of blockbuster movies and TV shows.

⇒ Get Kodi

Media Portal

Media Portal was inspired by Kodi, but unlike Kodi, it’s a bit simpler, with not so many added features.

It also plays a variety of files from your computer, and it can also play live TV, if you have a TV tuner, without the need to install additional plugins. Media Portal is also free.

However, even if it doesn’t have a lot of features, it has host hundreds of plugins and skins that you can use to add a lot of benefits.

For instance, you can monitor your HTPC, view sports scores, stream or download web TV, YouTube videos, and Internet radio.

You can even start up MediaPortal playing music from a predefined playlist or show local movie times.

Although it looks very simple, MediaPortal allows great media control for watching, listening, reading, and playing your media as you want to.

⇒ Get Media Portal

Emby

Emby is another media player, and it’s also free and open-source software, so it’s available on Linux and Windows, Samsung Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Chromecast, and Xbox 360.

Just like other software on the list Emby can work with your TV tuner on Windows 10.

Emby Server is like a media server that automatically converts and streams your personal media to play on any device.

Once you add new content from one of your devices, it will sync to be accessible offline for every other device.

This tool will detect DLNA devices on your network automatically so you can send content, remote control, and more.

And while you may have a lot of personal content that you produced yourself, Emby organizes it into easy and elegant presentations to make it look awesome.

⇒ Get Emby

NextPVR

NextPVR allows you to watch live TV on your computer and it’s available to Windows users for free. It might not look visually appealing as the other TV tuner software, but it gets the job done.

The app supports most devices, including DVB, ATSC, QAM, DMB-T, Analog, SAT>IP, HDPVR, and Copy-Freely CableCard.

This tool is not too fancy, but it features an easy-to-use and friendly user interface that can be used by the whole family.

The app includes all the TV functions you’d expect like Live TV, TV Guide, Recordings, Search, Web Scheduler, and more.

NextPVR is free for personal use but if you want to include the TV set up in a hotel, you will need to pay for a commercial license.

⇒ Get NextPVR

That would be all for our list of the best TV tuner programs for Windows 10, so if you’re considering connecting your Windows 10 computer, one of these programs is the right thing for you.

All of the TV tuner software on this list should be compatible with Windows 10, and best of all, it’s available free of charge.

And if you are at the viewing chapter, you can also consider looking at our list including the best media player software for your PC.

If you have any other questions or suggestions, you can leave them in the comments section below.

How do I fix the Shutdown button if it’s not working?

1. Replace the Intel Management Interface driver

2. Put your computer into sleep mode and then shut it down

3. Use a shutdown command to shut down your PC

4. Install the latest updates

5. Change power button settings

6. Use the Win + X shortcut

7. Turn off Fast Startup

8. Turn off hibernation

9. Reset your BIOS

Why can’t I shut down my PC?

How can I fix a Wi-Fi that doesn’t connect automatically?

1. Change the properties of your wireless connection

2. Reinstall your Wi-Fi driver

3. Change Group Policy settings

4. Remove all saved Wi-Fi networks

5. Use PROSet software

6. Modify your registry

7. Turn off the Fast Startup feature

8. Install the latest drivers manually

9. Replace your wireless adapter

10. Remove files from Wlansvc directory

11. Change the security permissions

12. Create a new wireless network connection

13. Remove any third-party wireless software

14. Set WLAN AutoConfig service to Automatic

15. Perform DISM and SFC scan

16. Change your device’s power settings

17. Change your router settings

18. Minimize the number of simultaneous connections

19. Change your router’s security

Why is Orbi asking for admin password?

How do I change my Orbi admin password?

1. How do I find my Orbi admin password?

2. How do I Change the Orbi WiFi default password?

3. How do I reset my Orbi admin password?

? Cannot reset Orbi admin password

Why am I getting OneDrive Sorry an error has occurred message?

How can I fix OneDrive Sorry an error has occurred message?

1. Clear browser cache

2. Re-sign to OneDrive

3. Disable browser add-ons/extensions

4. Check Internet Options settings

Your PC takes a while to copy files? Here’s why and how to speed it up

1. Check the HDD and external media for corruption

2. Disable the Auto-Tuning feature

3. Turn Off RDC

4. Use a different USB port

5. Check USB drivers

6. Disable Drive Indexing

7. Disable your antivirus

8. Use the Disk Cleanup utility

9. Format the USB flash drive in the NTFS format

10. Change the drive’s Removal policy

11. Use a third-party application to copy the files

Some of the best Windows 10/11 GPS apps you need:

1. Waze

2. Maps Pro

3. Windows Maps

4. CoPilot GPS

5. GPS Navigation & Maps by Sygic

6. GPS Satellite [Free]

7. MapSpeedo [$1.99]

8. World Explorer- Travel Guide [Free]

9. ViaMichelin [Free]

10. MapFactor GPS Navigation

11. GMaps

12. GPS Voice Navigation

Navigation software for PC

Why is Outlook Spell Check not working?

How do I fix Outlook Spell Check not working?

1. Change Outlook Message’s Spell Check Setting

2. Activate the Outlook Spell Checker

3. Update your Outlook application

What is the best PS4 emulator for PC?

Table of contents

1. PCSX4 – 4K gaming and smooth performance

2. fpPS4 Emulator – lightweight, best for smaller games

3. Kyty – Offers limited support

4. PS4Emus – simple and easy Windows PS4 emulation API