I remember that among the first things that I did when I got my first computer was playing around with the sound recorder function.
With the coming of Windows 10, we kept this secret passion, and whenever we have a free moment, we start singing and then laughing, listening to what we just recorded with our beautiful voices.
Microsoft has a pretty Voice Recorder app inside Windows 10, but it’s rather basic, with a simple and clean interface.
We will talk about Windows’ sound and voice recorder options, and bring up a shortlist of apps from the Microsoft Store that can do just the same, and maybe with some added features.
We have tried our best to compile a shortlist below with some of the most useful recording tools. If you know of any others, don’t hesitate and let us know in the comments section.
RecordPad is a sound recording program that lets you record sound, music, audio, and narration snippets.
It is a sophisticated program that enables you to record with various devices. With a command-line option, it may also be easily connected with other programs.
With RecordPad Sound Recorder, you can easily discover your audio by utilizing the filter and speech search features. Adjust your audio clips using the play options, and then burn, convert, transcribe, or add your clips to an existing project when you’re through.
RecordPAD can record sound, speech, notes, music, or any other type of audio. Audio recordings may be stored in WAV, MP3, and AIFF formats.
You may also use the Express Burn software to burn the recordings directly to a CD. System-wide hotkeys allow you to control recording from the keyboard while working in other apps.
You can use batch files to automate this application since it supports command line parameters.
RecordPAD
RecordPad is perfect for adding voice and other audio to digital presentations, producing audiobooks, or recording a message.
Adobe Audition is our top pick in this guide as it provides various sound and voice recording features, and everything is packed in a visually pleasing user interface.
What makes Audition stand out from the crowd is the fast processing speeds it offers and also the variety of other useful features.
It’s a high-quality audio editing, processing, and mastering software with multi-tracking capabilities. It does not, however, support MIDI. Therefore, if you wish to mix and master in Audition, every track you produce must be audio.
So, for example, you might export MIDI files from a DAW to audio tracks and then import them into Audition; but, Audition cannot handle MIDI data.
You add effects to several recordings to obtain the exact sound you need for TV, film, or the web. You can effortlessly integrate audio into other Adobe products if you have Adobe Creative Cloud. If you do not have Adobe CC, you may export the audio and import it into your preferred video editing program.
Adobe Audition also comes packed with various sound effects that can be customized to suit your needs.
Here are the key features found in Adobe Audition:
Wide range of tutorials online that cover a vast array of utilities
Easy to record audio and voice with just a few clicks of the mouse
Works perfectly with Adobe Premiere Pro
Real-time clip stretching for fast and efficient previews
Non-destructive editing at its best
Great plug-in support
Adobe Audition
Adobe is a complete sound recording and editing solution, and it’s the choice for most professionals.
With GiliSoft Audio Recorder Pro, you can record music from YouTube, Pandora, or any other streaming audio website, online radio programs, and parts of a movie. The recording result can be played on a PC, a portable mp3 player, or a car audio system.
This streaming audio recorder connects directly to your sound card, allowing you to record any sound or music in near-perfect clarity.
Record all voice conversations, including those with Skype, Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, and other VoIP apps, and store them as wav, mp3, Ogg, or WMA files. It may record automatically (when you make a call or have a voice chat with any VoIP application) or manually. You may configure it to run automatically with Windows.
Gilisoft Audio Recorder Pro provides advanced time-triggered recording, which allows you to plan recording for a website or anything else that runs on your desktop to begin or end at a certain time.
Before starting a recording, you may use the recording preview function to preview the outcome using the specified audio recording device/source. It can work with more than one sound card (including a USB sound card).
What makes it different is the predefined audio recording to aid the fast setup and management of recording parameters, recording schedule, and voice activation when there is no sound to record.
Gilisoft Audio Recorder Pro
A useful and reliable tool for recording sounds to MP3, AAC, M4R, or WMA audio files.
NowSmart Sound Recorder is an easy-to-use app to record other apps, web pages, and many more.
You wish to record music from YouTube, Pandora, or any other streaming audio website, as well as online radio programs or the audio portion of a movie so that you can listen to your favorite audio material later – on a PC, a portable mp3 player, or your car’s audio system.
Audio Record Wizard in Windows 7, 8, and subsequent versions have a new function that allows you to record both computer noises and speech at the same time. In other words, it can record both sides of a Skype or Google Talk discussion.
Unfortunately, NowSmart Sound Recorder does NOT save recording history, but you can find previous recordings by clicking on Settings (the three dots) and then Open Storage Location.
The app is free, and you can download it from the Microsoft Store.
Audacity is an open-source sound/audio editor that is both powerful and free. It also functions as a multi-track recorder.
It can only record and play sounds and import and export Wav, AIFF, MP3, and OGG files.
When these files are loaded, you may modify them by utilizing tools like cut, copy, and paste, combine multiple tracks, and apply various effects.
Use Audacity if you have a music track, a narration track, and some sound effects that you wish to combine into a mixed soundtrack. That’s what it’s made for.
Create a mashup of some of your favorite songs, and experiment with it to see what you can come up with.
There are several options for removing background noise when recording. So it’s a wonderful recording program that’s simple to use and can be utilized in various creative ways.
Audacity is fairly capable of doing tasks such as deleting vocals from music or vice versa.
Lucky Recorder is the right tool for you if you’re looking for a professional audio recording app. It features a simple and intuitive user interface.
High-quality audio recording with an easy-to-use user interface and settings provides you with a clear sound if you want to Karaoke or record your voice when translating books and other media. You may export to file, upload to OneDrive, and email the file.
This app can record meetings, lectures, personal notes, and more. If you need to listen to particular recording parts, you can always play back your audio files and share them.
Lexis Audio Editor is an audio recorder and editor with lots of features.
You can create or edit audio files and then save them in multiple formats. Other features include normalizing, noise reduction, recording and importing into existing files, and a 10-band equalizer.
You can also change the tempo, speed, and pitch, then save the recordings in mp3 (-320kb/s), wav (16 Bit PCM), WMA (-192kb/s), and m4a (-192kb/s).
Furthermore, using the Cut, Copy, and Paste features, you may select which sections of a music file to record into an existing file. You may also import a voice or sound into an existing format, resulting in a mash-up of customized sounds.
Perhaps some voice recordings do not require any background sound, allowing you to remove, insert silence, normalize noise reduction, and fade in and out to create the perfect speech.
Lexis Audio Editor has a free version and a paid one, the only difference between them is that saving in mp3 format is only available in the paid version.
Inside Windows 10, there used to have been two solutions for recording sounds or just your voice: the old Sound Recorder and the new, official app of Voice Recorder.
Now you can only access Voice Recorder by typing voice recorder in Windows Search.
The Voice Recorder app for Windows 10 is quite fun and incredibly simple. After recording your voice or the sounds around you, you can choose to play, trim, delete or rename the file.
Start a recording or restart a previously paused recording with a single click, and autosaved recordings are saved to your Documents folder for convenient access.
You may easily share your recordings with friends and family or transfer the recordings to other audio editing applications. Note significant moments in the recording, and have your best sounds saved for later use.
The recordings are saved in the Voice Recorder app menu. On Windows 10, Voice Recorder has a brand-new interface that is much lighter and simpler than the one available on Windows 8.
Xbox One is a great console, but many users reported that Xbox mic very quiet during gaming sessions. This isn’t the only issue, and many reported that Xbox is unable to find mic, but we covered that one in a separate guide.
Fixing this issue is relatively simple on your Xbox, so let’s go ahead and do that.
Why is my mic so quiet when I talk on Xbox?
There are several reasons for this issue, and they usually fall into the following categories:
Hardware issues – If your device is damaged or not properly connected, you can experience this problem.
Before we start fixing this issue, there are a few preliminary checks you can perform:
Check the hardware – Inspect the headset and its cord for any damage. Make sure that the connector is clean. Make sure that the headset is properly connected to your controller. If you can, try the headset on a different Xbox device.
Check for updates – Ensure that both your console and controllers are up to date.
Inspect the batteries – Check the batteries and make sure they are fully charged. Also, check if they are set properly in place.
Compatibility – Make sure that the headset is compatible with Xbox One.
1. Test your Xbox One chat headset
Sign in to Xbox Live on your Xbox One console
Press the Xbox button to open the guide.
Select Start a party (Note: You do not need to invite anyone for this test)
Make sure the volume is turned up.
Speak into the microphone.
If your headset is working, you will see the ring around your avatar light up.
2. Use Skype to test the headset
Sign in to your account.
Select the Skype app.
Choose People, and then select the Skype Test Call contact.
Select Voice call and Skype will try to connect your voice call.
The call will ask you to speak into the mic and will repeat what was heard.
3. Adjust the microphone volume
Press the Xbox button.
Navigate to System and then select Audio.
Set Mic monitoring to a higher value.
4. Change to Energy saver
Open Xbox One’s settings and navigate to Power and Startup. Select Power mode.
Set Power mode to Energy saving.
Save changes.
5. Check Xbox profile settings
Press the Xbox button on your controller.
Select Settings and then All Settings from the list of options.
Go to Account using the left navigation pane and choose Privacy and online safety.
Select Adult defaults and click on View details and customize.
In Communicate with voice and text, select Specific friends or Everybody, depending on who you want that profile to talk to.
6. Check mic through Sign in
Go to the Home of Xbox One.
Navigate to the Sign-in.
Select Choose this person.
After selecting the person which you have already created in Xbox, check your mic after joining any party
Memory leak issues are not entirely uncommon on Windows PCs. When there’s a memory leak, software packages utilize excessive memory. Different types of memory leaks can arise for standard system RAM and graphics cards’ VRAM. Such leaks can have a notable impact on PC performance.
VRAM (Video Random Access Memory) is a specific type of graphical RAM for temporarily storing graphics data. Dedicated graphics cards have their own VRAM for handling advanced graphics. Some NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards (GPUs) boast up to 16 GB VRAM.
What are GPU memory leaks?
A GPU memory leak is one that more specifically pertains to graphics cards’ VRAM. Such leaks typically arise because games and other graphics-intensive software don’t correctly release memory. Consequently, VRAM utilization can reach up to, and even eclipse, 100 percent for affected programs.
Such GPU memory leaks most commonly arise for Windows games, which are the most graphics-intensive software. When games utilize almost all available VRAM, notable frame rate drops can occur. Such frame rate drops result in stuttering and slow gameplay.
In the worst cases, GPU memory leaks can crash games. For example, the Out of video memory error is a widely reported one for games. When that issue arises, games crash when starting; and the error message shown directly below pops up.
Such issues will more commonly arise on PCs equipped with lower-specification graphics cards. The less VRAM a graphics card has, the more likely games will outstrip available VRAM when GPU leaks occur. Therefore, lowering graphical settings can often reduce the impact of GPU memory leaks.
If you ever need to fix a GPU memory leak for a game, various potential solutions might help reduce the excessive VRAM utilization. These are some of the more proven resolutions for fixing VRAM memory issues.
How can I fix GPU memory leaks in Windows?
1. Reduce in-game graphical settings
Launch the game the GPU memory leak occurs for, and open the graphics or video settings tab for the game.
Select a lower general graphical preset setting than the current one.
If you can’t find any general graphics preset setting, manually lower the resolution, texture, FPS, and shadow graphical options instead.
Thereafter, make sure you save the settings.
This resolution is primarily for fixing GPU memory leaks that don’t crash games. When a game doesn’t start up because of a VRAM issue, try adjusting graphical settings outside it as outlined in the next resolution.
2. Reduce your graphics card’s graphical settings
NVIDIA
Open the NVIDIA Control Panel app.
Next, click the Adjust image settings with preview.
Select the Use my preference emphasizing quality radio button.
Now drag the bar’s slider to the left performance end.
Click Apply to save the new graphical settings.
AMD
Right-click the desktop and select AMD Radeon Settings.
Select the Gaming tab, then click Global Settings.
Next, select Performance for the Texture Filtering Quality option.
Lower the Frame Rate Target Control setting.
Turn off the Vertical Refresh and Anisotropic Filtering Mode settings if any are enabled.
Select the Apply option to confirm the new settings.
Right-click a game in your library you need to fix a GPU memory leak for and select Properties.
Press the Set Launch Options button.
Type the following in the text box: -force-d3d12
Then click the OK button.
Thereafter, restart Steam to start the game, which will now run with a DirectX 12 configuration.
You can also adjust in-game DirectX settings for many games. If you don’t need to fix GPU memory leaks for Steam games, try selecting DirectX 12 via in-game graphical options.
4. Increase virtual memory allocation
Click the Start button, type advanced system settings and click View advanced system settings.
Press the Settings button to bring up a Performance Options window.
Select the Advanced tab, then click the Change button.
Deselect the selected Automatically manage paging file size for all drives checkbox and click the Custom radio button.
Enter the value 12000 within the Initial box, then input the value 30000 in the Maximum box.
Click the Set button and restart your desktop or laptop when prompted to do so.
5. Update your graphics card’s driver
First, right-click the Start menu button to select Device Manager.
Click on Display adapters to open that category, right-click your adapter and select Update driver.
Then select the Search automatically for drivers option to initiate a search. Windows might detect and install a new graphics card driver.
However, the Update Driver utility isn’t always entirely reliable for updating drivers. So, it might also be worth running a scan with a third-party driver updater utility.
This driver updater software will better identify if your graphics card has an outdated driver and enable you to update it. Plus, due to its automatic scanning feature, it will notify you when your drivers go out of date.
Press the Windows key + R to start the Run console, type msconfig and press Enter to launch the System Configuration applet.
Click the Selective startup option.
Uncheck the Load startup items checkbox, select the checkboxes for Load system services and Use original boot configuration if those options aren’t selected.
Click Services to switch to that tab, click the Hide all Microsoft services option and choose Disable all.
Press the Apply and OK to close the MSConfig utility.
Select Restart on the dialog box that opens.
If your graphics card has only a small amount of VRAM, it might be a good idea to get a new graphics card. GPU memory leaks aren’t necessarily hardware issues, but a graphics card will less likely run out of VRAM for games when it has more of it. However, give the resolutions above a try first. You may also want to read the related article on shared GPU memory in Windows 11.
The potential resolutions above might make games’ GPU memory leaks arise for somewhat more playable. To resolve standard system RAM leaks for software, check out our Memory leaks in Windows 10 guide.
Some users reported a black box on mouse pointer, and it seems that this issue appears if your mouse cursor is corrupted.
This is an annoying issue, and in today’s guide we’re going to show you how to properly fix it.
Why does my Mouse pointer have a black square?
This is an annoying issue, and it’s usually caused by the following:
Outdated drivers – If your graphics drivers are out of date, you might encounter glitches. Therefore, it’s advised to update your graphics drivers.
Mouse settings – In order to fix this issue, sometimes you just need to change mouse settings on your PC.
How can I fix black box on mouse pointer?
1. Select the None mouse pointer scheme option
Press the Windows key + S and type pointer. Select Change the mouse pointer display or speed.
Select the Pointers tab.
Then select the (None) option on the Scheme drop-down menu. Press the Apply button to save the new settings.
2. Select the Enable pointer shadow setting
Press the Windows key + S and type pointer. Now select Change the mouse pointer display or speed.
Go to the Pointers tab and check Enable pointer shadow.
Lastly, click Apply and OK to save changes.
3. Adjust the mouse pointer’s size
Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
Next, navigate to Ease of Access.
Select the Mouse pointer from the left pane. After that, drag the slider on the Change pointer size bar to the far right to select an extra-large setting.
Thereafter, close and then reopen the Mouse pointer tab in Settings.
Then drag the Change pointer size bar’s slider to its original setting or one of preference.
Press the Windows key and X at the same time. Next, click the Device Manager menu shortcut.
Double-click the Display adapters category in Device Manager.
Right-click your PC’s listed graphics card and select Update driver.
Click the Search automatically for drivers option. The Update Drivers utility might then download and install the latest driver for your graphics card.
Note that the Update Drivers utility in Windows doesn’t always update drivers even when there are more recent ones available. So, it’s usually better to update drivers with third-party driver updater software.
5. Disable the WDDM graphics display driver for Remote Desktop Connections policy
NOTE
Windows 10 Home edition does not include Group Policy Editor.
Press Windows key + R and type gpedit.msc. Next, press Enter.
Then click Computer Configuration within Group Policy Editor’s window.
Expand Administrative Templates to select Windows Components.
Select the Remote Desktop Services component. After that, navigate to Remote Desktop Session Host.
Next, go to Remote Session Environment on the left side of Group Policy Editor. Finally, double-click on Use WDDM graphics display driver for Remote Desktop Connections.
Click the Disabled radio button. Select the Apply and OK..
Those are some of the potential resolutions for fixing black boxes around cursors users have confirmed to work.
We hope this guide helped you get your mouse cursor back. What other solutions did you try? Let us know in the comments below.
This gaming pad comes with 12 different lighting modes, 3 dynamic and 9 static, so you can always find the perfect color that matches your gaming environment.
The pad is made of high-elastic natural rubber, and with a non-slip rubber base, it will sit firmly in place during the most intense gaming sessions.
The top comes with a smooth and waterproof surface, so it will be able to sustain accidental spillage. Regarding the size, it measures 31.5×11.8 inches, so it’s perfect for any keyboard and mouse.
You can connect the mouse pad to the PC via a USB port, and adjust the color and brightness level with a press of a button.
Overall, it’s a great mouse pad, and if you’re looking for an extra large one, this is the perfect model to get.
Razer is renowned for its top-notch gaming products. The Razer Goliathus mouse pad is yet another top-notch gaming peripheral from Razer. This pad measures about 36.2 x 11.6 inches and features a well-balanced micro-textured surface that provides very precise tracking.
The Goliathus incorporates advanced lighting effects that are a hallmark of Razer peripherals. This pad is powered by the Razer Chroma software that enables dynamic RGB lighting effects with 16.8 million colors. Its users can adjust brightness and apply quick and advanced RGB effects.
This mouse pad’s Razer Chroma lighting effects can even integrate with some AAA games. For supported games, it has responsive lighting effects that respond to in-game events like explosions. Those integrated lighting effects for supported games are certainly a notable mouse mat novelty.
Beyond its fancy lighting effects, Chroma also has a non-slip base like the LUXCOMS RGB Soft Gaming Mouse Pad. Thus, this is another grippy pad that stays very firmly in place without any slipping about.
The QcK Prism XL Gaming Surface is an intuitive mouse pad with some notable novelties. Its XL size is a 35.4 x 11.8-inch pad. However, the QcK Prism XL Gaming Surface also has a desk-size pad that measures a whopping 63 by 31.5 inches, which is surely too big (and pricey) for most users.
This is a mouse mat with top-notch tracking precision for both optical and laser mice. Therefore, it gives you maximum control over action-packed games.
Most of the QcK Prism XL Gaming Surface’s novelties are based on 2-zone RGB backlighting. With its Engine Apps, you can set up lighting effects for Discord Chat notifications and in-game alerts. The Audio Visual Engine App even enables you to set up visual shows with lights dancing to music beats.
QcK Prism XL Gaming Surface is also PrismSync gear. That means you can sync the mouse pad’s lighting effects with those of other PrismSync devices. You can coordinate the pad’s lighting effects with illuminated PrismSync headsets, keyboards, and mice.
The Thermaltake Level 20 Extended Gaming Mouse Pad is a flashy and durable mouse mat that’s built to last. It measures 35.4 x 15.8 inches, which makes it the same size as the QcK Prism XL Gaming Surface. If you want a luxurious mouse pad, then this is the one for you.
This mouse pad is more durable than most because of its stain-resistant design. It also has a stitched perimeter that ensures the pad doesn’t peel and wrap around the edges.
However, the Level 20 Extended Gaming Mouse Pad’s advanced RGB lighting is what really elevates it above most others. With its iTake software, users can set up six different lighting profiles with a range of effects. Users can also adjust color, speed, and intensity variables for modes.
Furthermore, the Level 20 Extended Gaming Mouse Pad is TT RGB Plus compatible. As such, users can sync the mouse pad’s lighting with other Thermaltake products. Thermaltake keyboards, headsets, mice, liquid coolers, and gaming desks are among the other TT RGB Plus compatible devices.
The Level 20 Extended Gaming Mouse Pad also supports Amazon Alexa for audio controls. With Alexa, users can control the mouse pad’s lighting by issuing voice commands.
If you need a gaming pad for your keyboard and mouse, you’ll be pleased to hear that this model measures 31.5 x 11.8 inches.
Regarding the lighting, you can choose between 7 static colors and a breathing mode. The surface of the pad is smooth, so you won’t experience any mouse dragging while using it.
The pad is made from neoprene, so it can withstand intensive mouse action without issues. It’s worth mentioning that this mouse pad is waterproof, so you won’t have to worry about accidental spillage.
Tilted Nation RGB Gaming Mouse Pad comes with a braided cable and a power button that you can use to easily adjust the lighting. It’s simple to use and a great choice for any gamer.
We hope that this guide helped you find the best oversize light up gaming mouse pad. Those are expansive mouse pads with some great lighting effects and other novel features to boot.
If you need something more professional, consider these aluminum mousepads for your work PC.
What’s your mouse pad of choice? Let us know in the comments below.
Steam OS 3.4 is now available for Steam Deck, bringing with it a number of stability, performance and security improvements.
Some of the more intriguing improvements are changes to Steam Deck’s desktop mode, KDE Plasma. These include,
Widget upgrades
New touchscreen gestrures
New themes and wallpapers
New Overview view displaying all open windows and virtual desktops
Other improvements include the addition of an eject option for removable drives (this unmounts the removable drive, though it does now physically eject it). TRIM is also re-enabled for the internal drive to improve writing performance.
Windows 10 is a stunning OS with a series of excellent features. However, it is not a perfect machine, with many users reporting that the desktop icons are not showing.
This can be frustrating, but it is not an issue that is unheard of, just like the desktop icons blank issue. You can quickly fix it by applying the solutions in this detailed guide.
Why did my icons disappear from my desktop on Windows 10?
Improper settings can sometimes cause your desktop icons to disappear from your PC.
In some instances, third-party applications can cause this problem and cause icons to go missing.
Your icon cache might be damaged or corrupted, and that’s what’s causing the issue.
Issues with a second monitor can cause glitches with desktop icons to appear.
Minor problems with the Windows Explorer process can make icons disappear.
What can I do if my desktop icons are not showing?
1. Make sure the Show Desktop icons feature is enabled
Right-click on the empty area on your desktop.
Choose View and select Show desktop icons.
Try checking and unchecking Show Desktop icons option a few times, but remember to leave this option checked.
Go to Themes from the left pane, then scroll down on the right and click on Desktop icon settings.
Now, select the icons you want to see on your desktop, then click on Apply and OK to make the changes.
If you are here, you may also uncheck the Allow themes to change desktop icons box but this will only apply to their appearance on the screen.
3. Rebuild the icon cache
Press the Windows key + E to launch File Explorer and click the View tab at the top.
Check the box for Hidden items to display hidden files and folders.
Now, navigate to the path below: C:\Users\(User Name)\AppData\Local
Right-click on IconCache.db and select Delete.
Next, go to the Recycle Bin and empty it.
Finally, restart your computer.
One of the most common tweaks when resolving the missing desktop icons on Windows 10 is rebuilding the cache. It is always effective in fixing these issues. So, you should try it.
Press the Windows key + I to open Settings and select System.
Choose Tablet from the left.
Now, click the dropdown under When I sign in and select Never use tablet mode.
One of the factors that make the desktop icons not toshow properly on Windows 10 is the tablet mode. Users have been able to fix this issue simply by disabling this feature. So, you should try it too.
Although it may sound banal, it’s quite possible you overlooked this. So, to be sure, check if your Desktop icons are set to appear once again.
5. Run explorer.exe
Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open Task Manager.
Right-click the explorer.exe or Windows Explorer process under the Processes tab and select the End task button.
Now, click the File option at the top left and click Run new task.
Type explorer.exe in the box, and then proceed to click OK.
The explorer.exe process is important for smoothly running your apps and processes. If it is a problem, your desktop icons might not be showing on Windows 10. The solution here is to restart the program.
6. Move the desktop folder from OneDrive
Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
Click the OneDrive folder in the left pane.
Now, double-click the Desktop folder and copy its contents.
Finally, select the Desktop option in the left pane and press the Windows key + V to paste them into the folder.
Sometimes, your PC might get too clever and move all the contents of the Desktop to OneDrive. This can be why your Desktop icons are not showing on Windows 10. The solution to this is to copy the contents out.
7. Disable the second monitor
Right-click on a free space on your desktop and select Display settings.
Look for the Multiple displays option, click on the drop-down menu, and select Show only on 1, where 1 is your main display.
You may also simply disconnect the second display.
If you’ve used a dual monitor setup before, desktop icons may be set to appear on the second monitor. So, disable the second monitor if you’re not using it, and repeat solution 4.
Your icons should appear again.
8. Perform a system restore
Press the Windows key + R, type rstrui.exe, and click OK.
Click the Next button on the window that pops up.
Now, select a restore point and click the Next button.
Finally, click the Finish button to confirm the action and follow the onscreen instruction.
If you noticed that your icons are missing after making some changes to your PC, you need to restore your device to when everything is working well.
With this, we can conclude this guide on how to fix your desktop icons if they are not showing on Windows 10. All you need to do now is to follow the instructions to the letter, and things should be back to normal.
Getting errors displaying your content [system_application_force_next_0007] when using Azure can be frustrating. However, to solve the problem, you need to understand what caused the error.
This guide will outline the reasons behind the error and potential fixes to resolve the issue.
What causes the error displaying your content [system_application_force_next_0007] on Azure?
There could be various reasons behind the error in displaying your content on Azure. Some of the popular ones are mentioned above:
Incorrect configuration of your application or service – If the configuration of your application or service is not correct, then you might see the issue.
Network or connectivity issues – If your internet connection is weak, then you might face this issue. Check your connection or talk to your ISP to speed it up.
Outages in Azure platform – If the Azure platform is experiencing outages or is under maintenance, you can face this problem.
Bugs or compatibility issues – If the service or application has compatibility issues or bugs, it could come up with this error.
What can I do to fix the error displaying your content [system_application_force_next_0007] on Azure?
Tip
The fixes mentioned below work for other errors, including Error loading extension and definition, and the RPC channel Microsoft_Azure_Marketplace was terminated for an unknown reason.
Before engaging in advanced troubleshooting steps, you should consider performing the following checks:
Check your internet connection
Try to use Azure on a different browser.
Remove adblocker extensions from your browser before logging in to Azure.
If these don’t help your case, follow the below-mentioned troubleshooting steps to resolve the error.
You will see the platform’s status here if an outage or maintenance occurs.
2. Check the logs of application or service
Login to Azure.
Go to the app’s page on the portal.
From the left menu, go to the Monitor tab.
Select the Logs option.
You can use filters for a specific resource type, resource group, and time range for the logs you want to view on the Logs page. You can also search for particular entries using the search box.
Select the app or service you want to view the configuration from the left menu.
Now, from the resource page, select the Configuration tab. This will display the current configuration settings for the web app or service.
Check the connection strings, environment variables, and other settings and modify them.
4. Check for updates or patches for your app or service
Go to the Azure portal and sign in to your Azure account.
Select the All services link from the left menu, go to the Administration section, and select Updates.
On the Updates page, under the Resource provider section, you will get updates for the resource providers with State Available.
If an update is available, you will see a notification. Alternatively, you can click on Check for updates button from the top menu.
5. Contact Azure support
If nothing has worked for you so far, it is advised to contact Microsoft Azure Support for assistance. Explain to them the situation, and all the steps you have performed, so that they can better understand the problem.
So, these steps can be used to resolve errors displaying your content on Azure. Try them and let us know which worked for you in the comments below.
As a spreadsheet application, Excel is one big calculator that also displays numeric data in tables and graphs. The vast majority of Excel users will need to utilize the application’s SUM function (or formula). As the SUM function adds numbers up, it’s probably Excel’s most widely utilized formula.
The SUM function will never miscalculate numbers. However, SUM function cells don’t always display the expected results.
Sometimes they might display error messages instead of numeric values. In other cases, SUM formula cells might just return a zero value. These are a few ways you can fix an Excel spreadsheet not adding up correctly.
Why is the Excel SUM formula not adding correctly?
There are several reasons why the SUM formula in Excel might not be adding correctly. Some possible causes include:
The formula is using the wrong cell references: Make sure you are using the correct cell references in your formula, and that the cells being referenced are actually part of the data you want to sum.
There are hidden rows or columns that are being included in the calculation: If you have hidden rows or columns in your data, make sure they are not being included in the calculation by accident. You can check this by looking at the cell references in the formula and seeing if they include any hidden cells.
There are cells with text or errors in them: If there are cells in the range being summed that contain text or errors, the SUM formula will not work correctly. You can fix this by making sure all cells being summed contain only numerical data.
The cell format is set to text: If the cell format is set to text, the SUM formula will not work correctly. You can fix this by selecting the cells you want to sum, and then going to the Home tab in the ribbon and clicking on the “Number” dropdown in the “Number” group. Choose “General” or another number format from the list.
The formula has been entered incorrectly: Make sure you are using the correct syntax for the SUM formula, including the equal sign (=) and the open and close parentheses.
How can I fix Excel SUM functions that don’t add up?
1. Check the syntax of the SUM function
First, check you’ve entered the SUM function in the formula bar with the right syntax.
The syntax for the SUM function is:
=SUM(number 1, number 2)
Number 1 and number 2 can be a cell range, so a SUM function that adds the first 10 cells of column A will look like this: =SUM(A1:A10). Make sure there are no typos of any description in that function that will cause its cell to display a #Name? error as shown directly below.
2. Delete spaces from the SUM function
The SUM function does not add up any values when there are spaces in its formula. Instead, it will display the formula in its cell.
To fix that, select the formula’s cell; and then click in the far left of the function bar. Press the Backspace key to remove any spaces before the ‘=’ at the beginning of the function. Make sure there aren’t spaces anywhere else in the formula.
3. Widen the formula’s column
If the SUM formula cell displays #######, the value might not fit within the cell. Thus, you might need to widen the cell’s column to ensure the whole number fits.
To do that, move the cursor to the left or right side of the SUM cell’s column reference box so that the cursor changes to a double arrow as in the snapshot directly below. Then hold the left mouse button and drag the column left or right to expand it.
4. Remove text formatting from cells
The Excel SUM function will not add up any values that are in cells with text formatting, which display text numbers on the left of the cell instead of the right side. To ensure all cells within a SUM formula’s cell range have general formatting. To fix this, follow these steps.
Select all the cells within its range.
Then right-click and select Format Cells to open the window shown directly below
Select General in the Category box.
Click the OK button.
The cells’ numbers will still be in text format. You’ll need to double-click each cell within the SUM function’s range and press the Enter key to switch its number to the selected general format.
Repeat the above steps for the formula’s cell if that cell displays the function instead of a value.
5. Select the Add and Values Paste Special options
Alternatively, you can add values in cells with text formatting without needing to convert them to general with this trick.
Right-click an empty cell and select Copy.
Select all the text cells with the function’s cell range.
Click the Paste button.
Select Paste Special to open the window shown directly below.
Select the Values and Add options there.
Click the OK button. Then the function will add the numbers in the text cells.
Those are a few of the best ways you can fix Excel spreadsheet formulas that aren’t adding up correctly.
In most cases, the SUM function doesn’t add up because it hasn’t been entered right or because its cell reference includes text cells.
If you know of any other way to fix this Excel-related issue, leave a message in the comment section below so other users can try it.
Whether you’re getting ready to join a meeting or dive into a new PC game, having a reliable audio driver installed on your Windows system is essential. Without it, your sound might not work properly—or at all. If you’re unsure which audio driver is best for your setup, don’t worry—this guide has you covered.
We’ll walk you through the best audio driver available for Windows, along with clear steps on how to download and install it. Let’s get started!
Realtek Audio Drivers are the best free audio drivers available for your Windows 10 PC. They provide high-quality audio on a computer.
These drivers are typically offered by motherboard or computer OEMs.
They allow the computer to communicate with audio hardware on the motherboard. You can install the latest version of audio drivers from the manufacturers’ website, the Realtek website, or via dedicated updaters.
Jack Audio Connection Kit offers professional-level audio features. It also includes a driver for Windows 10 that excels in low-latency audio and MIDI routing.
It is designed for users who need advanced audio management capabilities, enabling complex setups and flexible routing of audio signals between multiple applications.
How can I download and install an audio driver on Windows 10?
1. Use the Device Manager
Press Windows + R to open the Run window.
Type devmgmt.msc and hit Enter to open Device Manager.
Go to Sound, video, and game controllers, right-click Realtek ® Audio and select Update driver.
Now on the next screen, select Search automatically for drivers.
Click Search for updated drivers on Windows Update.
Go to Advanced options.
Under Additional options, click Optional updates.
If there is any update available, click Download and Install.
A simpler method to update your drivers is to employ the help of a professional driver updater and let the software do all the work for you.
2. Use the device manufacturer’s website
Go to the device manufacturer’s website. Here we are using HP to demonstrate the process. Next, head to the HP support page.
Go to the Software and Drivers tab, and then select your product.
Click Let HP detect your product. Then, click OK on the prompt.
Select your device and the Windows OS version, then click Submit.
Now click All drivers to expand.
Expand Driver-Audio and if there is an update, click Download.
Double-click the .exe installation file to install it.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete.
So, this is it! Now you know about the best audio drivers for Windows 10 and the methods to download and install the best drivers on your x64-bit Windows 10 computer.
If you find installing audio drivers manually time-taking, you can get a reliable third-party app to get the latest compatible drivers on your computer. Try these steps and let us know which worked for you in the comments below.
There are many situations in which you don’t want users to download or export data from Power BI. Many people try to find this option in this tool but to no avail.
Also, the problem is pretty heavy, since it’s all about protecting your data.
We are about to launch a Power BI Dashboard to external users and I have just realised that they will be able to use Analyse in Excel. It is not ideal that they can use Export but having external users being able to use Analyse in Excel gives them far to much access to the data and will mean that we would not be able to laucnh. Does anyone know if there is a way to turn this off?
So, since this is a great feature to work with, the user wants to disable Analyse in Excel only for external users, but not for internal ones.
Power BI Service has this option but is not so apparent at first sight. For that reason, we offer you an easy and approachable method to do it on your PC.
How do I disable Analyze in Power BI Excel?
Go to the Admin portal.
Click on Tenant settings.
Turn off Export data and Allow users to use Analyze in Excel with on-premises datasets.
Although this method solves the problem, it disables a part of Power BI that the OP planned to use for internal users. So, the option is far too blunt for some people.
The Analyze in Excel option can be greyed out in the PowerBI apps because the Export data is disabled or the feature is not enabled by the tenant at all.
You can get in contact with your tenant or organization admin to make sure the feature is enabled in PowerBi, thus solving this problem.
? How do I enable Excel Analyze in Power BI?
The method is quite straightforward so you only need to enable the Export data option in the PowerBi interface.
To do that, go to File > Options and Settings > Options. Under the Current file, go to Report settings and click on Allow end users to export summarized data option.
That’s it! You should now be able to use the Analyze in Excel functionality with no issues.
Conclusion
As we said at the beginning of this article, Analyze in Excel poses a severe problem regarding data protection. Moreover, disabling this function looks more like a workaround than a solution.
For quite a few users, it is necessary to preserve Analyze in Excel for some operations.
Nonetheless, the option to disable the feature is there. Now, Microsoft will only need to twitch it just a little bit.
Was our method helpful? Do let us know in the comment section below!
If you notice your pluggable USB Bluetooth 4.0 adapter is not working when connected to your device, know that you are not alone.
For many Windows 10 users, this problem occurs as they state on different forums, looking for a way to fix it.
We will explore in this article the exact steps you need to take to solve this problem quickly, so keep reading.
Why is my Bluetooth USB adapter not working?
Different factors will trigger this problem among users. However, at the top of the list are the following:
Driver issues – These, in some cases, will be outdated drivers and, in other cases, corrupted ones.
Stopped services – Users may experience this issue if essential Bluetooth services have been stopped or not started on the computer.
We will explore some of the most efficient fixes for this problem on your computer. These fixes may work for users facing Maxuni Bluetooth 5.0 driver download issues.
How can I fix my pluggable USB Bluetooth 4.0 not working?
1. Uninstall and reinstall the driver
Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.
Double-click the Bluetooth category.
Right-click on your Bluetooth driver and select Uninstall device.
Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation, then restart the PC. At the restart, the driver would be reinstalled.
2. Update the driver
Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.
Double-click the Bluetooth category.
Right-click on your Bluetooth driver and select Update driver.
Select the Search automatically for updates option.
Check if issues of the pluggable USB Bluetooth 4.0 not working have been resolved.
3. Check Bluetooth services
Press the Windows key andR to open the Run box.
Type in services.msc and press Enter.
Next, right-click Bluetooth Support service and click Restart.
Now, double-click Bluetooth Support service and locate the General tab.
Go to the Startup type and change it to Automatic.
Another common reason why your pluggable USB Bluetooth 4.0 is not working can be related to faulty or missing drivers.
Although the drivers are usually updated anytime Windows 10 has new releases; there are situations where something may go wrong, and any issue with the drivers also impacts the associated software.
To solve this problem and avoid it from occurring in the future, we recommend you use a dedicated third-party tool to solve the issue.
We hope the solutions presented in this article helped you solve the pluggable USB Bluetooth 4.0 not working efficiently.
Don’t hesitate to drop us a message in the dedicated section below and let us know which of the above steps worked best for you.
When you install Windows 11, Windows Security or Windows Defender becomes the default antivirus and security solution. It is one of the most excellent remedies available, and it is effective in most circumstances.
Nevertheless, one of the most frequently encountered concerns has been that the Windows 11 Windows Security is not opening or functioning as expected after an upgrade or random upgrade.
Why is my Windows Security not opening on Windows 11?
The reasons Windows Security settings are not opening or launching on Windows 11 after upgrading are close to close. Below are the popular reasons:
Glitches with the app: One of the reasons Windows security is not loading on Windows 11 is some glitches preventing it from opening. The solution here is to reset the app.
Faulty system files: If the system files meant to load the Windows Security apps are faulty, the app won’t open. You need to repair the system files to fix this.
How can I fix the Windows 11 Windows Security not opening issue?
1. Reset using PowerShell Command
Right-click on the Start icon and select the Windows Terminal (Admin) option.
Click the dropdown at the top and select the Windows PowerShell option.
Copy and paste the command below and hit Enter: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage
Restart your PC and check if the Windows Security app is now working.
If it does not work, type the command below and hit Enter to reinstall the app: Set-ExecutionPolicy UnrestrictedGet-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
You need to reset the app if Windows Security is not working or Windows Defender is not opening. The command below has worked for many. You can reinstall the app using the second command if resetting does not work.
2. Repair the app
Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app, choose Apps in the left pane, followed by Apps & features.
Once you are inside the Apps & features window, search for Windows Security in the search bar from the top, and click on the three-dot menu next to it, followed by Advanced options.
Scroll down until you find the Reset section, then click on the Repair button to start the repairing process.
Allow the Repair process to finish before rebooting your computer to guarantee your changes are applied. Then, by starting Windows Security, it lets you see if its functionality has been restored.
3. Reset the app
Press the Windows key + I, go to Apps in the left pane, followed by Apps & features.
Once inside the Apps & features window, search for Windows Security in the search bar, and click on the three-dot menu. Now click on Advanced options.
Scroll down until you meet the Reset section, then click on the Reset button.
4. Run SFC
Press the Windows + S key to open the Search bar, then type cmd,right-click on the most relevant result shown to you, and run it as an Administrator to get full privileges.
Type in the following command and press Enter to start the process: sfc /scannow
The process may take some time to finish, so you may need to restart your computer. SFC will automatically find and restore corrupted files and folders. If that does not help, you can try using specialized repair tools, which are much more advanced than Windows built-in tools.
5. Run DISM
Press the Windows + S key to open the Search bar, then type cmd,and right-click on the most relevant result to run it as an Administrator.
Paste or type in the following commands and press Enter after each: DISM /online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealthDISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Continue to be patient until the process is finished. Be advised that the process could take up to ten minutes to finish. Once you’ve completed this step, restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.
After you repair the Windows Security app, learn how to use every protection area with this clear guide: How to Use Windows Security.
Click the expand arrow from your taskbar and right-click on your antivirus icon. Now choose Avast shields control followed by Disable for 10 minutes to stop it from interfering.
If you have other antivirus programs installed, you can temporarily disable the app following the same steps as above or similar ones with a few differences.
With the fixes above, you should be able to fix the Windows Security not opening on Windows 11 issue. If you want to use a third-party tool, check out our post on five of the best antiviruses for Windows 11.
Let us know in the comments section below which solution worked best for you in solving the Windows 11 Windows Defender not working issue and which antivirus software you prefer.
A significant part of every Windows version, Microsoft Defender, has become one of the most reliable programs to protect your device against malware.
Built into Windows 11 as well, this program offers in-depth threat resistance research and advanced security to provide protection on all Windows devices.
So when an issue occurs and it doesn’t work properly or Windows 11 cannot open Windows Security, users turn to the Internet in search of causes and solutions to fix the error and get back the protection they need for their devices.
That is why we are going to take a look at the most common causes and show you how to get things on the right track.
How do I fix the Windows 11 Defender not working issue?
Before trying out more complicated solutions when your Windows Defender is not working, try out some of these quick fixes:
Restart your computer
Restart Windows Defender
1. Change the date and time
Click on the Start icon from the taskbar.
Select the Settings option.
Go to Time & language option from the left pane.
Select the Date & time option from the right pane.
Click on the Change button and set the correct date and time for your zone.
2. Update Windows
Click on the Start icon from the taskbar.
Select Settings.
Click on Windows Update.
Click on Check for updates.
3. Enable real-time protection
Click on the Search icon from the taskbar.
Type Windows Security and select it from the options.
Head over to Virus & threat protection.
On the right pane, under Virus & threat protection settings, click on Manage settings.
Switch the toggle On from under Real-time protection.
4. Run a SFC scan
Click on Search from the taskbar.
Type command prompt, and click on Run as administrator.
Enter the following line: sfc/scannow
Wait for the process to finish as it will take some time and then restart your computer.
5. Change the Proxy Server
Click on the Search icon from the taskbar.
Type Command Prompt and select the Run as Administrator option.
Type in one of the following:
NETSH WINHTTP SET PROXY 1.1.1.1:8080
NETSH WINHTTP SET PROXY MYPROXY.NET:8080
Reboot the system and see if it solves the issue.
If you change your mind and want to give a try to a third-party tool, choose Bitdefender since it’s known for the high detection rates of the latest malware, along with unbeatable multi-layer ransomware protection.
This was our last solution for the Windows 11 Defender not working issue. Moreover, you can read more about the causes of this problem.
Why is my Windows Defender not working in Windows 11?
If you have third-party antivirus software installed on your computer, note that it might lead to certain Windows Defender errors.
Choose to use either Windows Defender or a third-party antivirus tool. Also, if you just got a new laptop, check if it came with a preinstalled antivirus trial version as this can stop Windows Defender to work properly.
Here is what Microsoft said regarding the compatibility with other antivirus products:
What happens when another non-Microsoft antivirus/antimalware solution is used? Can you run Microsoft Defender Antivirus alongside another antivirus product? The answers depend on several factors, such as your operating system and whether you’re using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (Defender for Endpoint) together with your antivirus protection.
And if you work with programs like Flash or Java, you might need to uninstall the free security scanner which can cause some issues.
Although this might come as a surprise, another common reason why Windows Defender might not start is an incorrect time and date as most system functions are dependent on time and date.
Even more, an outdated PC can lead to many errors so we always recommend you perform a full update on your computer and on the antivirus as well.
Several users described a similar situation: when they click on the Open Windows Security button from the Windows Security tab inside Settings, they see an unusual pop-up instead of actually opening the application.
It reads You’ll need a new app to open this windowsdefender link, giving them the option to search the Microsoft Store for an app.
Fortunately, though, there is an easy solution to solve the problem right away. You simply need to press the Windows key, type PowerShell, right-click it and select Run as administrator, then copy-paste this command and press Enter: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.SecHealthUI -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage
What does Windows Defender has to offer to Windows 11 users?
Windows Defender is pretty much the same as it was on the previous OS but there is one remarkable feature called Microsoft Defender Application Guard (MDAG) that you should know more about.
It is available for several types of devices such as enterprise desktops and mobile laptops, as well as personally-owned laptops that are managed through Microsoft Intune or a similar tool.
Microsoft Defender Application Guard (Application Guard) is designed to help prevent old and newly emerging attacks to help keep employees productive. Using our unique hardware isolation approach, our goal is to destroy the playbook that attackers use by making current attack methods obsolete.
The way the system works is quite easy to understand. For example, for Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer, MDAG will help isolate previously defined untrusted sites, therefore, protecting your company from any attack.
If someone opens a page from an untrusted website, Microsoft Edge will open the page in an isolated Hyper-V-enabled container.
The course between the host PC and the isolated container– SOURCE: docs.microsoft
You can choose which websites, cloud resources, or internal networks are to be trusted or not. Also worth mentioning is the fact that this feature doesn’t require Hyper-V to be turned on.
Now there you have it, the most likely situations that can create errors and the solutions to fix them on your Windows 11 device.
Moreover, if your Windows Defender is turned off on your Windows 11 PC, do not hesitate to edit your registry in order to enable it back on.
What solution from the ones presented above worked for you to fix the Windows 11 Defender not working issue? Let us know in the comments section below.
One of the most annoying Windows 11 problems must be the IPv4 no internet access issue. From outdated, corrupt or incompatible network drivers to third party app conflicts and misconfigured settings, a lot of underlying issues could cause it.
But don’t worry. We’ll explain all you need to know to get it fixed ASAP. Let’s get started.
How can I fix the IPv4 No Internet Access issue?
1. Install the latest network drivers
Open Device Manager.
Go to the Network Adapter section.
Locate the network driver you’re currently using, right-click on it, and select Update driver.
Confirm your choice and wait for the process to complete.
Alternatively, you can easily do this with a third-party driver updater. Simply download it, run it, and let it automatically scan for any missing, broken, or outdated drivers. You will then get to choose what to do with each and every one of them.
2. Modify the HT Mode settings
Press Windows + R to open Run, type ncpa.cpl in the text field, and hit Enter.
Right-click on the active network adapter, and choose Properties.
Click on Configure.
Navigate to the Advanced tab, select HT Mode under Property, then choose HT Mode 20|40 under the Value dropdown menu, and click on OK to save the changes.
Once done, restart the computer for the changes to come into effect.
3. Renew the IP address
Press Windows + S to open the Search menu, type cmd, right-click on the relevant search result, and select Run as administrator.
Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
Now, paste the following two commands one at a time and hit Enter after each:ipconfig /releaseipconfig /renew
Finally, restart the computer and verify whether the No Internet access error on IPv4 is resolved. If not, head to the next solution.
4. Reset Winsock (Windows Socket API)
Press Windows + R to open Run, type cmd, and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
Click Yes in the UAC prompt that appears.
Now, execute the following two commands one after the other:netsh winsock resetnetsh int ip reset
5. Check your IP settings
Here’s how to enable IPv4 and IPv6 protocols:
Go to Search, type network and open Network and Sharing Center.
Go to Change adapter settings from the left pan.
Right click on your connection device (in most cases it’s called just Ethernet) and go to Properties.
Under This connection uses the following items: check Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) andInternet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).
Click OK and restart your computer.
When you turn your computer back on, you should be able to connect to internet without any problems.
There’s a chance that Windows 10 turned off your IPv4 and IPv6 protocols after the installation, this doesn’t happen very often, but it could happen. So logically, all you need to do to get your internet connection back is to turn on these protocols again.
Sometimes, your IPV6 may be enabled but not working. Re-enabling it should fix this issue. However if you are still can’t access the internet on IPv6, we suggest you check out this guide.
6. Change the channel width
Navigate to Network and Sharing Center from the list of results
Go to Change adapter settings
Select your wireless adapter by right-clicking it > go to Properties > Go to Configure
Select the Advanced tab > select the 802.11 channel width and change the value. Keep using a different value until you’ve established a stable internet connection.
Save your new settings.
This step applies to wireless networks. By changing the bandwidth settings, you allow your computer to use other wireless frequencies and expand its reach.
7. Disable Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6)
Press Windows + S to open the Search menu, type View network connections, and click on the relevant search result.
Right-click on the current adapter, and choose Properties.
Now, uncheck the option for Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6), and click on OK to save the changes.
Finally, restart the computer.
If nothing else worked, the last solution is to disable IPv6 and force the computer to use IPv4 instead. This solution did the trick for many and should help get things up and running
If you encounter this issue related to IPv6, then you can safely use the previously mentioned solutions to fix it. They work for both IPv4 and IPv6 connectivity issues.
If you have any other Windows 10-related issues you can check for the solution in our Windows 10 Fix section.
We hope you managed to fix your IPv4 no internet access issue. Lets us know in the comments section below which solution worked for you.
Generally, programs like Wallpaper Engine use many system resources, especially GPU, as the app is designed to run high-quality animated wallpapers. However, it could be something else if you are experiencing 100% GPU usage while using Wallpaper Engine.
Here, in this guide, we will discuss the potential causes and some tested fixes to resolve the issue.
Why is Wallpaper Engine using too much GPU?
There could be a few reasons why Wallpaper Engine may be using a lot of GPU resources:
Outdated graphics drivers – If your computer drivers are obsolete, your GPU won’t run Wallpaper Engine efficiently. This will lead to performance issues and high GPU usage.
Computer doesn’t meet system requirements – Wallpaper Engine runs high-quality animated wallpaper, which requires a lot of system resources. If your computer configuration doesn’t meet your needs, it may struggle to run the program efficiently. Thus, causing the issue.
Programs running in the background – If you have other resource-intensive apps running on your computer, it can cause GPU usage to increase. Hece performance issues while running Wallpaper Engine.
Your PC is infected – If your computer is infected with viruses or malware, it can spike your CPU or GPU usage, leading to performance issues. Use a reliable security app to scan your PC.
What can I do to fix the Wallpaper Engine using too much GPU error?
Before engaging in advanced troubleshooting steps, you should consider performing the following checks:
If you are using multiple monitors, ensure all monitors are connected to the same GPU. Using the wrong GPU would result in Windows performing poorly while trying to merge them.
1. Clean install of graphics driver
1.1 Use Device Manager
Press Windows + R to open the Run window.
Type devmgmt.msc and hit Enter to open Device Manager.
Click on Display adapters to expand. Next, select, right-click the driver, and click Uninstall driver.
Restart your PC. Upon restarting, your computer will find and download the Windows-certified drivers.
1.2 Use a third-party tool
The Device Manager can only install Windows-certified drivers. However, not all the latest GPU drivers are certified, as manufacturers generally don’t ask for approval for every version. You can download the latest drivers using AMD, NVIDIA, or Intel websites. However, this could be time-consuming and suggested if you know your way around a computer.
Therefore, to save you some time and get the work done quickly, it is suggested to use a driver updater tool such as Outbyte Driver Updater. This driver updating tool can scan and download the latest drivers in a few clicks. Follow these steps to use the tool:
Select the .exe file for Wallpaper Engine from the next window and click Add.
Once added, click on the app, then Options.
Select Let Windows decide and click Save.
4. Tweak Wallpaper Engine settings
Open the Wallpaper Engine app and go to Settings.
Go tothe Performance tab.
For Other application focused, select Keep running.
Now for Other application maximized and Other application full screen, select Pause.
Under Quality, select set Preset to Low, Anti-aliasing to MSAA x2, Resolution to Full, and FPS to 24.
Also, place a checkmark next to Reflections.
Move to the General tab, and remove the checkmark beside Set high priority for Start with Windows option.
Scroll down and put a checkmark beside UI hardware acceleration.
Click OK to save the settings.
5. Scan your computer for malware
Press the Windows key, type Windows Security and click Open.
Go to Virus & threat protection and click Scan options.
Select Full scan and click Scan now.
Now, wait for the tool to complete the scan.
So, these are some methods you can use to resolve Wallpaper Engine causing high GPU usage. Try them and let us know which worked for you in the comments below.
Open the browser you need, then click on Settings and more options, usually marked as three dots.
Look at the Zoom section, then click on the square heads icon.
Now you’ll be able to see your browser on the full screen mode.
You can follow the same process for multiple browsers, like Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Firefox.
The easiest way to get your browser in or out of the full screen is by using the F11 key. Remember that it also allows you to switch certain networking or chat apps views.
3. How to enable full screen in File explorer (for folders)
You can get your Windows 11 File Explorer into the screen mode by pressing on the already mentioned key (F11). Getting back to the normal preview will require using the same key.
4. How to enable full screen in Microsoft Office in Windows 11 (shortcut+ settings)
You can either use the following keyboard shortcut: Alt + V, followed by the U key, or click on the Toggle Full Screen View command at the top of the window.
If you’re not able to see the required command, make sure you keep on reading to find out how you can easily add it.
Note that these two options work only for Microsoft Word and Excel. If you need to get the PowerPoint full-screen, you’ll have to hit the F5 key.
5. Streaming apps full screen
While many users prefer using the Full-screen icon, keep in mind that you can also apply the following keyboard shortcut: Windows + Shift + Enter. It would be much less time-consuming.
How to exit fullscreen mode in Windows 11?
To exit fullscreen mode in Windows 11, use the same keyboard shortcuts as you do to enter fullscreen mode:
F11 or Fn+ F11 for browsers (Edge, Chromium, Firefox, etc)
Win + Shift + Enter for Windows apps (Settings, Control Panel, Troubleshooters, etc)
Alt+ Enter for media players and games
If Shortcuts Don’t Work:
Use Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, find the application or process in fullscreen, and end it if necessary.
Restart Your Computer: A restart may resolve persistent fullscreen issues.
Check Application Settings: Look for specific options within the application’s menus to exit fullscreen mode.
System Restore: Use System Restore to revert your system to a previous state if the issue arose recently.
What are the most common full screen issues?
The full-screen mode is a great feature that will simplify your daily work on Windows 11. However, you might notice random related problems. From what we found, these are the most common ones:
Games won’t go full screen – From our researches, you can get into full screen troubles while playing games, and LoL is just one of them. If League of Legends won’t go full screen, it’s time to take action.
Full screen sudden minimization – This is another annoying problem that might sometimes appear while playing games. Users often claim that full-screen game keeps minimizing but this issue can be fixed too.
Full screen can not work on browsers – We made some researches on browsers issues and we found out that full screen might not work on Chrome. Fortunately, there are always options to solve it.
If you’re still wondering how the full-screen mode can help you, take a look at the section below and find some valuable reasons.
Fullscreen is useful in many ways
A better view perspective – For enhanced clarity and minimal distraction, you might have to set your Windows 11 apps on full screen. This is a great way to keep focus during your daily activity.
More clear screenshots – Some of you may need to take specific screenshots, that will capture any desktop detail. It will definitely require the full screen mode, so this is another reason to learn how to quickly do it. Also, we recommend taking a look at some of the easiest methods to take a screenshot on Windows 11.
It hides specific details – If you choose to go full screen, unnecessary items will be hidden. So again, you’ll be able to focus on your main content.
Feel free to use this guide whenever you want to remember how to go full screen on Windows 11. Also, to get the best out of this feature, you should check our recommended articles.
If you have any questions on this topic, do not hesitate to notify us by leaving a comment in the dedicated section below.
Some Excel users have queried how they can fix an Excel file could not be found error on the Microsoft forum. The error message states:
[filename] could not be found. Check the spelling of the file name and verify that the file location is correct.
That error message pops when those users try to open an Excel file within the software or click an XLS spreadsheet file to start the application. The issue arises for Excel 2007 and 2010 versions.
How to fix ‘[filename] could not be found. Check the spelling of the file name and verify that the file location is correct.’ ?
To fix this error, you will need to determine the cause of the problem and take appropriate action.
Check the file’s location: Make sure that the file is still in the location where you expect it to be. If the file has been moved or deleted, you must find the new location or restore the file.
Check the file name: Make sure that the file name is spelled correctly and that the extension is correct. If the file name or extension is incorrect, you will need to rename the file or change the extension to match the actual format of the file.
Check the file path: If the file is located on a network drive or a remote server, ensure that the file path is correct and that you have the necessary permissions to access the file.
1. Edit the file and folder titles
Open the folder that includes the spreadsheet the Excel file could not be found error arises for.
Right-click the spreadsheet file you need to fix the error for and select the Rename option.
Enter a shorter file title for the spreadsheet document.
In addition, edit the spreadsheet file’s folder title by right-clicking it and selecting Rename.
Input a shorter title for the folder, and press the Enter key.
If the folder’s path includes numerous subfolders, try shorting their folder titles by selecting the Rename option as outlined above.
2. Move the file to an alternative folder path
Alternatively, try moving the Excel file the error arises for to a different folder.
To do so, open File Explorer.
Select the Excel spreadsheet to move.
Click the Move to button in the snapshot directly below.
Select a folder to move the file to on the menu.
Alternatively, click Choose Location to open the window below.
You can select an alternative folder path from there.
One of the more common issues you may experience while updating your Windows computer is when it gets stuck while it’s preparing Windows or seeing the Getting ready message. This typically happens when the computer is installing an update.
Normally, the updating process doesn’t take all that long; 20 to 30 minutes at most under normal conditions or shorter if the update size is small.
These normal conditions are contingent on your computer having the requirements like having enough storage, fan speed, and having a solid-state drive or SSD.
If you have a conventional hard drive on your computer, you can expect to wait much longer, up to an hour or more. But sometimes, even with the correct hardware, the updating may get stuck on the “Preparing to configure” screen.
Fortunately, fixing this issue is fairly easy and can be done on your own. This guide will show you multiple methods on how to get past the Preparing Windows stuck screen on Windows 10 & Windows 11 devices.
What do I do if Windows is stuck on preparing Windows?
1. Restart the computer
Press down on the Ctrl + Alt + Del keys at the same time to bring up the Lock screen.
In the bottom right hand corner, click on the Power icon. A small window will appear giving options.
Select Restart to restart the computer. Restarting should solve most problems.
2. Boot Windows 11 into Safe Mode
While stuck on the configuration screen, press the F11 key repeatedly.
Do not stop pressing the key until the Advanced Startup screen appears.
On Advanced Startup, select Troubleshoot, the last option.
In the new window, select Advanced options.
After being taken to another page, select Startup settings.
A list of coming changes will appear on the screen, most importantly booting Windows 11 into Safe Mode.
Click Restart after reading.
Select F5 which is Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Your Windows 11 computer is now in Safe Mode. Close the Microsoft Edge window that appears.
Hover over the Windows Start icon on the bottom bar and right click it.
Choose Shut down or sign out.
Select Restart from the new drop down menu.
Once it restarts, your computer is free from the locked updating screen.
3. Perform Automatic Startup Repair
Going back to the Advanced Startup screen, select Troubleshoot.
Click on Advanced options.
Select Startup Repair which is the first option.
You can either select to Shut down the computer or click on Advanced options to try something else.
4. Uninstall Updates
On the Advanced Startup page, select Troubleshoot.
Select Advanced options again.
Select Uninstall Updates in the upper right hand corner.
You are given two options, Uninstall latest quality update and Uninstall latest feature update.
Select Uninstall latest quality update to revert back to the previous version of Windows 11.
You will be taken to a new window asking if you want to uninstall the update. Select Uninstall quality update.
After a few minutes, a message will appear stating that the last update has been removed. Click Done on this new window.
From there, Click Continue to exit and go to your Windows 11 home screen.
Tip
If you want to know which update you should uninstall, look at the Update history panel under the Windows Update tab in the Setting menu. It will tell you how far back you will go when you uninstall an update.
Why is my computer stuck on preparing Windows?
There are a multitude of possible reasons for the update getting stuck on a screen. The file size may be large and your computer may struggle with it.
If your computer is indeed slow, it’s recommended that you wait for an extended period to give your machine the chance to download and install the update.
It’s also possible that during the setup process some important files are missing or become corrupted. If a file is missing or corrupt, the computer won’t know what to do with it and cause the error.
A corrupt file may come from a power outage or overheating machine interrupting the update.
If you go back to the Settings menu on Windows 11, you can pause updates from being automatically installed by going down to Windows Update and going to the Pause updates tab.
You can pause updates from coming through for a week and decide when to resume the updates at any time you want.
Since Windows 11 is still a new operating system, the bugs and glitches will persist for some time. For example, build 22449 was pretty unstable when it came out a few months ago. Some people have even claimed that it disabled their Wi-Fi adapter.
Other people have reported Start menu and taskbar issues on earlier builds as well, but fortunately, there are fixes for these as well. Suffice it to say, sometimes it’s best to wait a little while before putting in that new update.
Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions on fixing the preparing Windows stuck window or more. Also, leave comments about guides that you’d like to see or information on other Windows 11 features.
Many users prefer using a trackpad instead of their mouse. However, some users reported that the touchpad click is no longer working.
If your trackpad touch click isn’t working correctly, that can be a big problem, but in most cases, the issue is caused by your settings or drivers.
Why is my laptop touchpad not clicking?
The touchpad might not be adequately enabled from the settings, or it has a delay set.
Issues with touchpad drivers can prevent it from running.
Your registry isn’t correctly configured.
In today’s article, we’ll try to fix this annoying problem. Just keep on reading the solutions detailed below.
How do I fix my touchpad if it’s not clicking?
1. Be sure that this feature is enabled
Press the Windows key + S and enter control panel. Select Control Panel from the list.
When the Control Panel opens, select Mouse.
The mouse window will now open. Go to the Device settings tab.
Now click the Settings button and go to Tapping.
Check the Enable tapping checkbox, and click OK.
If the touchpad click is not working on your Lenovo or Acer laptop, it’s possible that it isn’t enabled. Your trackpad supports various configuration.
A couple of users reported that the Tap to click feature was already enabled, but after turning it off and back on again, the problem was resolved.
2. Make sure that delay is turned off
Open the Settings app. To do that quickly, use Windows key + I shortcut.
When the Settings app opens, go to the Bluetooth & devices section. Next, go to Touchpad.
Make sure that the delay is set to No Delay.
3. Reinstall the touchpad driver
Press the Windows key + X and choose Device Manager from the list.
Locate your touchpad driver, right-click it, and choose Uninstall device from the menu.
When the confirmation dialog appears, just click Uninstall. If Remove driver software for this device option is available, don’t check it.
Reinstalling the driver can fix this problem, and other similar problems like Touchpad settings missing. After that, you’ll have to restart your device, and Windows will automatically install the necessary drivers.
You can troubleshoot brand specific issues by reviewing dedicated guides such as the one for Dell models in the Dell laptop touchpad not working article, which covers driver failures, gesture problems, and settings conflicts that can also affect other Windows laptops.
According to users, touchpad issues can occur due to your drivers. If your drivers are out of date, they might have certain bugs that will cause the touchpad click to stop working.
You can make sure your drivers are always up to date with the help of professional driver updating software. These tools allow you to scan for, identify, and update drivers in just a few minutes.
5. Make changes to your registry
Press the Windows key + R and enter regedit. Press Enter or click OK.
In the left pane, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Synaptics\SynTP\Install
In the right pane, double-click DeleteUserSettingsOnUpgrade DWORD to change its settings. If this DWORD isn’t available, you might have to create it manually by right-clicking the right pane and selecting DWORD (32-bit) Value from the New menu.
Change the value of the DWORD to 0 and click OK.
Remember that this solution only works if you have this key in your registry. If not, you can just skip it.
6. Perform a System Restore
Press the Windows key + R and enter rstrui.
System Restore will now open. Click Next to proceed.
Look for Show more restore points option and enable it, if available. Select the desired restore point and click Next.
How do I reset my trackpad?
Open the Settings app.
Select Bluetooth & devices and then choose Touchpad.
Click on Reset button next to Reset touchpad settings and gestures to defaults.
You’ll also find more potential causes and quick fixes in our mouse touchpad not working guide, so be sure to check it out. For more suggestions or other questions, please access the comments section below.
It can be a real headache if the Wi-Fi symbol is not showing on your laptop. The wireless icon should appear in adapter settings under network connections. This can be caused by wireless adapter driver issues, corrupted adapter firmware, disabled wireless radio, or improper Windows installation.
First of all, make sure you’re not using a cable connection. If you see the icon above instead of the Wi-Fi icon, that means you’re connected through a cable. You may also see a globe icon. Click on it to set up a Wi-Fi connection. If that’s not your case, apply the solutions below to get back the WiFi icon on your laptop.
What can I do if my WiFi symbol is not showing on laptop?
1. Update the wireless adapter driver
Outdated driver software can lead to several issues with hardware. These include driver corruption, missing software components, and incompatible driver.
Updating to the latest software version for your driver can repair any issue related to legacy software.
The best way to safely update your drivers is to use a specialized tool to help with downloading and installing the right driver versions.
Since installing the wrong driver can damage your laptop irreversibly, we strongly recommend that you use this method.
2. Turn on wireless radio
If the Wi-Fi icon is not showing on your laptop, chances are that the wireless radio is disabled on your device.
You can enable it back again by turning on the hard or soft button for the wireless radio. Refer to your PC manual to locate such a button.
Also, you can turn on the wireless radio through the BIOS setup. Enter the BIOS setting during the reboot process and locate the network settings page. From there, you can enable the wireless radio. Save the changes and exit BIOS.
3. Update the router and adapter firmware
Outdated firmware can sometimes block your router from gaining access to the Internet. The impact extends all the way to the adapter.
As firmware updates vary from one manufacturer to another, you can refer to the user guide that came with your router to update its firmware.
Drivers get outdated regularly, and with Outbyte Driver Updater you simply scan your device and get expert, professional advice on the best components you can get.
We suggest this software because it does the job quickly and efficiently thanks to its advanced updating technology.
If all else fails, the only option left is to buy a USB wireless adapter. You can plug these LAN card dongles into a standard USB port in order to connect to the Internet.
A USB Wi-Fi adapter is a handy little gadget that should be part of your home essentials alongside a good computer or a fast Internet connection.
If your computer has no Wi-Fi connection built into it, you can choose to use a USB Wi-Fi adapter to ensure you get online and continue browsing, streaming Netflix, or even playing games.
USB Wi-Fi adapters eliminate the need for running cables or installing internal hardware, plus you can use them on multiple devices.
If you’re trying to get online but your USB WiFi adapter is not working, here are some solutions you can use.
How can I fix USB WiFi adapter not working?
1. Roll back the network adapter driver
Right-click Start.
Select Device Manager.
Select Network adapters and click to expand the list then choose the network adapter name.
Right-click the network adapter, and then select Properties.
In Properties, select the Driver tab
Select Roll Back Driver, then follow the prompts
If the button is unavailable, that means there’s no driver to roll back to.
If Windows can’t find a new driver for your network adapter, visit your computer manufacturer’s website to download the latest network adapter driver.
1.1 Update drivers automatically
We strongly suggest you do this process automatically by using the Outbyte Driver Updater tool.
Dedicated software like this one ensures that you download just the right driver for your PC; besides, it also makes the very best recommendations in this sense, so you won’t have to waste time searching the Internet.
Hence, if you strongly need to update your network driver correctly and without any difficulties, proceed confidently with specialized driver updating software.
2. Check your Wi-Fi connection
Click Start and select Settings.
Go to Network & Internet.
Select Wi-Fi to check for available networks.
If a network you expect to see appears in the list, select it.
Click Connect.
3. Turn off Airplane Mode
Make sure the Wi-Fi is on. Then, open Network & Internet settings, as shown above.
Select Airplane mode
Turn it OFF if it is turned on
4. Restart your Wi-Fi router
If the previous solutions didn’t work and your USB WiFi adapter is not working, and you have tried to move closer to your router or access point, you can also restart your Wi-Fi router.
This helps create a new connection to your ISP, but it will disconnect everyone on your network temporarily. It should be one of the last solutions to try though. Here’s what to do:
Unplug the power cable for the router from the power outlet and wait at least 30 seconds
Plug back the router to the power source.
Wait a few minutes for the router to power on fully (you can check this by looking at the status lights on the two devices).
Go to the search box and type Identify and repair network problems.
Select Identify and repair network problems to run it following the instructions carefully
6. Temporarily turn off the firewall
There are times when your firewall or antivirus and anti-malware software may prevent you from connecting to the Internet.
You can temporarily turn it off and try to connect again. Check the software’s documentation for steps on how to do this, although the steps should be quite intuitive.
It’s recommended, though, to turn the firewall back on as soon as you can. Otherwise, your computer remains vulnerable to hackers and malware threats.
7. Uninstall the network adapter driver and restart
Before proceeding, make sure you have a backup of your network drives saved on an external source.
Right-click Start and selectDevice Manager.
Select Network adapters and click to expand the list then choose the network adapter name.
Right-click the network adapter, and then select Uninstall
Select Delete the driver software for this device checkbox
Click Uninstall
Restart your computer
Windows will automatically install the latest driver. If Windows doesn’t automatically install a driver, try to install the backup driver you saved before uninstalling.
Alternatively, you can use the method recommended in the first step to use dedicated software for this.
You can apply this solution if your network connection stopped working after a recent update, as well.
8. Use network reset to reinstall network devices
This should be the last step you try if the other solutions don’t help when your USB Wi-Fi adapter is not connecting to the Internet.
Wait for your PC to restart and see if that fixes the problem.
After using network reset, you may need to reinstall and set up other networking software you might be using, such as VPN client software or virtual switches from Hyper‑V.
Note: Network reset might set each one of your known network connections to a public network profile where your computer is not discoverable to other PCs and devices on the network, which can help make your PC more secure.
If your PC is part of a homegroup or used for file or printer sharing, you need to make it discoverable again by setting it to use a private network profile.
Here’s how to make your computer discoverable again:
Go to Network & Internet as shown before.
Select Wi-Fi .
On the Wi-Fi screen, select Manage known networks
Select the network connection you want to change.
Click Properties.
Under Network profile, select Private.
Did any of these solutions resolve the USB WiFi adapter not working issue? Let us know by leaving a comment in the section below.
In today’s guide, we’ll talk about everything you need to know about how to download Zoom in Windows 11. We’ll also walk you through its best features. Let’s get right to it.
Look under Zoom Clients for Meetings, then click on the Download 64-bit Client.
Once downloaded, go to your Downloads folder, then double-click on the file to begin the installation.
During the installation, choose Yes when you’re asked if you want Zoom to make changes to your device.
Zoom will be automatically installed and ready for you to sign in or join a meeting.
If you don’t already have an account, just choose to Join a Meeting.
Enter the meeting credentials, then click on Join.
2. Through Microsoft Store
Open Microsoft Store from your Taskbar.
Search for Zoom, then click on Zoom Clouds Meetings.
Click on the red Install button.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
NOTE
You can also choose to install the Zoom Rooms version.
Because it represents one of the most important tools in getting Zoom, you should definitely also take a closer look at the new Microsoft Store in Windows 11.
Yes, Xoom has a free tier. It supports unlimited group meetings for up to 40 minutes, one-on-one calls for up to 30 hours, private group chat, and cross-platform availability. There are also paid versions that include additional benefits like larger meetings, cloud storage, and meeting transcripts.
Zoom is a favorite among online meeting apps for a few reasons:
It’s affordable
The app is very simple, easy to use, and quick to install
Integrates built-in features to improve video and picture experience
Allows conferencing with backgrounds and filters
Works on multiple operating systems and devices
It has a focus mode, which is ideal for online classrooms and professional meetings
What’s new about Windows 11 Zoom?
The latest Zoom version, 5.8.1 (1435). This implies a series of resolved issues, such as minor bug fixes or security enhancements.
With its support, you can start meetings with HD quality for video and audio, and in case someone is missing the meeting, you can record the whole thing and share it with your colleague. And you can invite up to 100 people to join.
It is extremely easy to get. You’re able to download and install it through two different methods, as shown above.
We hope our guide offers you a more complex perspective on how Zoom currently works in Windows 11. As you can see, the software is incredibly simple to use, and you can join the meetings in a matter of seconds.
Software bundled with scanners or printers is not unusual these days. However, if you’re looking for better tools than what came with the scanner there are plenty of alternatives.
There are various types of applications for image processing, OCR (Optical Character Recognition), and batch scanning.
These are some of the best scanner software for Windows 11.
Retyping an old document is time-consuming. You can save time by using Soda PDF’s OCR engine to convert scanned documents and images into searchable PDF files.
With this OCR feature, you can also automatically detect the text along with images. You can manually choose which part of your PDF you want to scan.
This PDF editor is among the best in its field, especially if we consider the quality-price ratio. Just like the other programs mentioned so far, Soda PDF also allows you to easily edit PDFs.
The software exists in two different versions: Standard and Pro. The Pro version allows you to transform scanned PDF files into editable and searchable documents.
Both versions only allow you to edit and convert PDF files. The only difference is that you have some plus-minus advanced functions.
Pros
The OCR function is really effective.
It allows you to protect and sign PDFs.
Cons
Protection and signature functions are also included in the Pro version only.
Compatible Systems: Soda PDF is compatible with both Windows and macOS & IOS.
Soda PDF
Turn any PDF, image, or scanned document into a fully editable file with the OCR feature!
You might recognize Adobe Reader since it is the most used software to open PDF files.
You can use Adobe Acrobat to scan documents, create and annotate PDFs and even recognize text using OCR. Since Adobe created the pdf file format, what better software to use, right?
All you need to do is open Adobe Acrobat, go to Tools -> Create PDF, and from there click on Scanner. You will be presented with a lot of presets and options so that you get the best results.
For scanning documents and creating a PDF with multiple text files in it we recommend using the black-and-white preset from Adobe Acrobat and also setting the scanner to 300dpi. This is the optimum value for OCR.
Once you finished scanning, it’s time to continue with Adobe Acrobat to combine all files into a single PDF, adjust the text, edit images, add password protection, or create an interactive form.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Check out the best scanner software that perfectly matches your Windows 10 computer.
ABBYY is an international software producer specializing in creating programs for OCR reading and working with scanned documents. FineReader has top reviews and awesome ratings from big publications.
We’ll see below what it has and how is it the perfect software for your work with scanned documents. FineReader allows you to edit, review, and convert scans and PDf documents.
The editing feature comes in handy as it allows you not only to edit but also to annotate the documents opened in FineReader and share the work with other users.
The compare feature helps you to track the changes that have been made to a document. Also, it has one of the best OCR engines in the world, and this is probably the most used feature of this software.
You can easily convert scanned documents to Word, Excel, PDF, and other formats with great precision. Forget about copying manually texts, just use ABBYY FineReader.
You can get this software for free from the official website, but it will have only some basic features. However, it is good to try such a tool, especially if you really need it and will like to buy it after.
ABBYY FineReader
Abby FineReader not only helps you scan but also lets you edit digital and scanned PDF documents.
Readiris Pro is more specifically OCR software for scanning documents into an editable format.
This is one of the best software packages for OCR scanning that’s compatible with all Windows versions and all TWAIN scanners and can convert documents and images to a variety of formats.
The software scans documents to PDF, ePub, RTF, TXT, ODT, HTML, GIF, BMP JPEG, PNG, and TIFF file formats, which is more than most.
Note that the OCR scanning isn’t just limited to documents, as the software also extracts text from image formats.
With this program, users can convert their MS Office documents into audio, ePub, or image file formats. Readiris has a variety of PDF options for merging, indexing, compressing, and organizing PDF pages.
Batch OCR is also a handy tool that enables you to convert a batch of documents from a selected folder. Another great thing about Readiris Pro is that it dramatically compresses file sizes for saved documents.
So this scanning application has plenty of more advanced options and tools.
Readiris Pro
Readiris Pro will surprise you with the best OCR engine and will convert PDF documents to Office formats.
Icecream PDF Converter is obviously focused on PDF conversion to and from practically any format including ODC, JPG, TIFF, XLS, EPS, GIF, WMF, HTML, PNG, and more.
You can even OCR a document into an editable PDF format or even better, convert multiple files with just one click thanks to the batch processing feature.
Privacy-sensitive Icecream Converter is compatible with all versions of Windows including older ones such as Vista and XP, which makes things even simpler for you.
Let’s quickly look at its key features:
Convert any file format to PDF and vice versa
Supports password-protected files
Batch processing to convert multiple files simultaneously
Supports OCR (Text Recognition) technology to turn scanned files into editable documents
PaperScan is another software dedicated to scanning. This app comes with a free version and paid one that is more dedicated to professionals.
The software is pretty straightforward, a tool that is used for scanning documents, and as such it has a lot of features towards that end.
PaperScan supports over 30 languages and 100+ formats, it allows you to scan documents in batch by using separator sheets.
This software also comes with PDF encryption and digital signature, which will help you protect your documents.
Also, you can enhance or correct images right in the app due to its many tools. The software also supports SharePoint, making it much easier to share the documents you want.
Some other key features of PaperScan:
Storage efficiency
Blank page detection and removal
Remove punch holes automatically
Convert to black and white, greyscale, or color
Magnifier mode
Area selection, resize, crop
PaperScan
All your scanning needs can be solved with this very easy to use document scanner.
OmniPage Standard is another highly rated OCR software package that provides very accurate text scanning. This software has Standard and Ultimate versions that are both compatible with Windows.
The Standard version should be perfectly sufficient for most as it still incorporates the best OCR technology. The Ultimate version has extra drawings, a digital signature, and scan-to-folder tools.
OmniPage Standard is compatible with any TWAIN, WIA, or ISIS scanners.
The software supports a greater range of output formats than most alternatives including MS Office applications, PDF, HTML, Corel Word Perfect, XML, CSV, and more besides.
OmniPage’s 3-D correct technology gives it an edge when it comes to accuracy, and you can further enhance scan accuracy with some of the software’s enhancement tools.
For processing multiple documents, Omnipage includes a Batch OCR tool with which users can select a folder for automatic processing.
This program can also do OCR conversions in 123 languages. As such, it’s little wonder this is one of the industry-leading scanner software packages.
OmniPage Standard
Business-oriented software has an in-built scanner for translating sensitive data and is ideal for sharing and finding files in real time.
Those are several Windows 10 scanner software packages that can enhance scanning in various ways.
They’ll give you more accurate scans, faster scans, OCR text extraction, batch-scanning tools, PDF options, image-editing options, and more besides.
Does Windows 10 have scanning software?
Windows 10 has, in fact, a built-in scanning tool, which you can easily access from the printer context menu.
What scanner is best for Windows 10?
There are a lot of great scanner software options you can choose from, such as Soda PDF, Adobe Acrobat, ABBYY FineReader, and more.
Do scanners come with software?
Scanners typically connect with a computer system and go together with scanning software, but you can always pick your preferred application to get the best performance.
What scanner works best with Windows 10?
There are many good scanners, but for Windows 10 most professionals recommend and use scanners from Epson, especially model Epson V600. Of course, SodaPDF and Acrobat Reader work flawlessly with that hardware.
You probably just encountered the Zoom error code 3038. In this article, we will explore all you should know about it.
Zoom is one of the most used applications worldwide for taking online webinars, meetings, and online video conferences.
Thanks to the engagement rate and other available features, the app has grown to be highly appreciated by its users.
For some, though, the error code 3038 seems to appear out of the blue, interfering with their app use.
Why is my Zoom showing an error?
We have gathered from users that a few factors may trigger the error code while using the Zoom service. At the top of the list, including the following:
Visiting a concluded meeting – If you are trying to access a meeting that has already ended, you will get this error message.
Using the wrong link – You also may be using the incorrect meeting link. In this case, instead of an ongoing meeting, you may be visiting an elapsed one.
The Zoom error code 3038 means that the Zoom meeting has expired, and the code precisely indicates this.
This article will explore the steps necessary to fix the zoom error code 3038. However, it would be best if you also were careful because some malicious programs may disguise themselves as the Zoom app.
How do I fix error 3038?
Before trying the solutions we have listed, we recommend you wait a few minutes and retry reaccessing the link.
Also, since this error indicates that the webinar has expired, you need to check and ensure that the link you are using is still valid when you try to join and that the token you pass is also valid.
1. Talk to the meeting organizer
Since this error is often because the meeting you are trying to attend has ended or expired, your best bet will be to ask the administrator to set up another meeting.
If you are the organizer, you may navigate to the Zoom service and reschedule the meeting so that others can access it, and this will solve the Zoom error code 3038.
As opposed to a regular meeting where users can join without having to schedule them in advance, the webinar needs to follow a different set of rules.
Take a look at the invitation link on your Address Bar.
Like in the example below, within the address, you must observe that there is a zoom.us domain. If there is none, it could be a wrong or malicious link. https://us04web.zoom.us/j/71668424656?pwd=waQIz7EPyKvB2gGE3sbRARl97GPTGp.1
As you can see, although the Zoom error code 3038 is unpleasant, fixing it does not need to be time-consuming and can be done with just a few easy steps.
Users have also experienced the error code 1142 installation failed; in this case, you willneed to contact the admin.
Please comment in the dedicated section below if you have additional recommendations or suggestions.
The Microsoft Store error 0x80073d12 has dumfounded some users. That’s an error that arises when users try to download and install a specific game app from MS Store, especially an Xbox Game Pass game.
The error message states:
Install the app or game. Before you can install this add-on, you’ll need to install the app or game it works with.
As a consequence, users can’t install specific game apps on their Windows 10 PCs. Find out how get rid of it.
How do I fix the 0x80073d12 error code?
1. Check if there’s enough hard drive space for the game
Press the Windows key + E hotkey to start File Explorer.
Then click This PC.
The hard drive icon there shows how much free storage space is available.
If there’s not enough HDD storage for the game, uninstall some superfluous programs to make space for it.
As this error can be caused by a lack of free space on your hard drive, checking the main drive and freeing some space is the first to do.
2. Check if the game is an expansion
The 0x80073d12 error often arises for games that are expansion packs or a part of a wider game collection package.
For example, users have reported the issue arises for Forza Horizon 3 Hot Wheels and Halo: The Master Chief Collection.
In the case of Forza Horizon 3 Hot Wheels, players need to have installed and played some of the full, regular game to fix the error and download the expansion. The game’s MS Store page states:
To play the Forza Horizon 3 Hot Wheels expansion, some progress is required in the full game. You must complete enough Exhibition Events and PR Stunts to build your second festival site, after which the expansion will become unlocked and accessible on the game map.
In the case of the Master Chief Collection, the error can arise when users try to install a game within the bundle (such as Reach) before the full package.
Some users have needed to select to download and install the full package first. So, check if the game is an expansion (add-on) or part of a bundle pack that needs to be installed first.
3. Select to install the game from My Library
Press Start.
Open the Microsoft Store App.
Click the See more… button at the top right of the MS Store app’s window.
Click Download and updates on the menu.
Click Downloads on the left to open My library.
Then click Ready to install to open a list of apps.
Click the Install button for the game app that you need to install.
4. Reinstall gaming services
Press Start.
Click Type here to search on the taskbar in Windows 10.
Enter PowerShell in the search utility.
Right-click WindowsPowerShell to select the Run as administrator option on its context menu.
Input this command in PowerShell: get-appxpackage Microsoft.GamingServices | remove-AppxPackage –allusers
Press the Return button after entering the command.
Enter this command into PowerShell: start ms-windows-store://pdp/?productid=9MWPM2CQNLHN
That will open the Gaming Services page in MS Store when you press Enter.
Then click Get to reinstall Game Services.
5. Set up a new hard drive partition
Some users have said they’ve fixed the 0x80073d12 error code by downloading games to alternative hard drive partitions. Some users will need to set up a new hard drive partition.
After you’ve set up the new hard drive partition, select to download the game app to the new D: drive partition.
6. Reinstall the game, then install the add-ons/DLCs
This solution was discovered by Xbox users, as seen on forums. It is quite straightforward and consists of basically ensuring that you first install the game, and then its associated add-ons or DLCs.
The order matters, therefore reinstalling these in the correct one should get you rid of the error code 0x80073d12.
By following these steps, you should be able to get rid of the Microsoft Store error code 0x80073d12 and proceed to install whatever app or game you wish.
Which one of these methods worked best for you? Let us know by leaving your feedback in the comments section below.
CSGO is a first-person shooter game that requires a lot of CPU power to run. It’s not uncommon for the game to use up all of your CPU, which can cause stuttering and other issues.
So, if your computer is running slowly or you are getting lag and FPS drops, it could be because the game uses too much CPU.
Why does CSGO take so much CPU?
There are many reasons why CSGO might be using too much CPU. Some of them are:
Virus/malware – If you’re not equipped with a comprehensive antivirus solution, there may be some malware or adware causing this problem.
Multiple CSGO processes – If you have multiple instances of the game running at once, they could also be consuming a lot of CPU.
Old OS – CSGO undergoes updates from time to time, so if you’re running an older OS with the new version of the game, it is possible that it has not been optimized for your Windows version.
Outdated graphics card – If your graphics card is not powerful enough to handle all of the on-screen action at once, you will experience high CPU usage in CSGO. This is common if you have an older card or laptop that doesn’t support newer technologies. Hence, you need to update the driver to get the best performance,
How do I fix high CPU usage in CSGO?
A few preliminary checks that may be able to help include:
Click on the Windows button, type Device Manager in the search bar, and click Open.
Navigate to Display adapters to expand, right-click on your graphics card, and select Update driver.
Select Search automatically for drivers.
If you are a non-technical user who has no idea how to manually find a suitable driver or install one on your computer, then you’ll be happy to know there’s a tool suitable for you.
This kind of tool will scan your computer for outdated drivers and then fix them. The program can scan for hardware changes, updates to existing driver files, missing drivers, and other errors.
2. Test your hardware for stress
If your CPU is stressed, it will use more power than normal. This means the CPU will run hotter and use more power than normal. You might have a faulty component in your PC causing this problem, so it’s worth testing your PC for stress before investing in new hardware.
It goes without saying that using a high-end gaming PC will make CPU usage much less of an issue than using an older system. So if you haven’t done so recently, upgrade your computer hardware if possible.
Select Windows Update and click on Check for updates.
Download and install if available.
4. Reinstall CSGO
Launch Steam and go to Library.
Locate CSGO, right-click on it, select manage, then click Uninstall.
Confirm Uninstall in the next dialog box.
Restart your PC.
Go back to Steam and reinstall the game.
5. Get an SSD for faster load times
If you’re playing CSGO on a PC with a spinning hard drive, you may notice that the game seems to run slower than it should. This is because your computer spends a lot of time waiting for information to be read from the disk.
To get around this problem and make your games run as smoothly as possible, you need to move your game installation to an SSD. An SSD is much faster than a conventional hard drive and can significantly reduce load times in most games (but not all).
In other instances, you may find that CSGO is not using your CPU. CSGO is a very CPU-intensive game, so if your CPU isn’t powerful enough to handle the game, you will experience freezing and stuttering, ultimately affecting the performance and leading to low FPS.
However, if you have a powerful graphics card, a dedicated GPU might be able to take some of the load off. If this is the case, you’ll notice that CSGO is not using as much CPU or very low CPU usage.
In most cases, CSGO’s high GPU usage is not a problem. It’s simply the game running as it should. However, if your computer has an older graphics card, you may want to ensure that the game isn’t overworking your GPU.
Make sure also to check out some of the best CSGO VPNs that may help in reducing ping or help you bypass geo-restrictions.
Your feedback is important to us, so do let us know if you have been able to resolve this issue using any of the above methods.
Error 2149842967 arises for some users when they try to update Windows 10 (either manually or via the Windows Update tab).
The Event Log message for this error states: Windows update could not be installed because of error 2149842967.
So, Windows 10 updates aren’t installed when that issue arises. It’s important to fix update issues to ensure that Windows 10 gets updated with all patch updates for your build version.
What can I do to fix the error 2149842967?
1. Run a system file scan
First, check for system file corruption by running a System File Checker scan. Our Fix: Corrupted system file guide gives you the full low down on how to run an SFC scan.
2. Check for update issues with the Windows Update troubleshooter
Press Windows + I and select Update & Security.
Click on Troubleshoot on the left pane, then select the Additional troubleshooter option on the right.
Then click the listed Windows Update troubleshooter in Settings, and press the Run the troubleshooter button.
It opens the window shown directly below. Then you can go through the resolutions for Windows Update issues the troubleshooter suggests.
3. Check the BITS service is enabled and running
Right-click Windows 10’s Start button to open the menu in the snapshot directly below.
Click Run to open that accessory.
Type services.msc in Run, and click the OK option.
Double-click Background Intelligent Transfer Service to open the window for it.
Select Automatic on the Startup type drop-down menu if the policy is disabled.
Click the Start button for the service if it isn’t running.
Press the Apply button to save the settings.
Then click OK to close the BITS window.
Also, right-click Windows Update and select Start if that service isn’t running.
4. Reset the update components
Find the Command Prompt by entering cmd in Windows 10’s search utility.
Right-click the Command Prompt so that you can select its Run as administrator option.
Next, type in the following separate commands and press Enter after each: net stop bits
net stop wuauserv
net stop appidsvc
net stop cryptsvc
Type in this command and press Enter: Del “%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Microsoft\Network\Downloader\qmgr*.dat”
Input these separate commands: Ren %systemroot%\SoftwareDistribution SoftwareDistribution.bak
Ren %systemroot%\system32\catroot2 catroot2.bak
Open the System 32 folder by entering:cd /d %windir%\system32
Thereafter, enter this long list of regsvr32 commands to reregister all the BITS service files: regsvr32.exe atl.dll
regsvr32.exe urlmon.dll
regsvr32.exe mshtml.dll
regsvr32.exe shdocvw.dll
regsvr32.exe browseui.dll
regsvr32.exe jscript.dll
regsvr32.exe vbscript.dll
regsvr32.exe scrrun.dll
regsvr32.exe msxml.dll
regsvr32.exe msxml3.dll
regsvr32.exe msxml6.dll
regsvr32.exe actxprxy.dll
regsvr32.exe softpub.dll
regsvr32.exe wintrust.dll
regsvr32.exe dssenh.dll
regsvr32.exe rsaenh.dll
regsvr32.exe gpkcsp.dll
regsvr32.exe sccbase.dll
regsvr32.exe slbcsp.dll
regsvr32.exe cryptdlg.dll
regsvr32.exe oleaut32.dll
regsvr32.exe ole32.dll
regsvr32.exe shell32.dll
regsvr32.exe initpki.dll
regsvr32.exe wuapi.dll
regsvr32.exe wuaueng.dll
regsvr32.exe wuaueng1.dll
regsvr32.exe wucltui.dll
regsvr32.exe wups.dll
regsvr32.exe wups2.dll
regsvr32.exe wuweb.dll
regsvr32.exe qmgr.dll
regsvr32.exe qmgrprxy.dll
regsvr32.exe wucltux.dll
regsvr32.exe muweb.dll
regsvr32.exe wuwebv.dll
Type these separate commands into the Command Prompt: netsh winsock reset
netsh win http reset proxy
Thereafter, restart services by entering these Command Prompt commands: net start appidsvc
net start cryptsvc
net start bits
net start wuauserv
Then restart your desktop or laptop.
Those are some resolutions that can feasibly fix the Windows Update could not be installed because of error 2149842967 issue.
They aren’t necessarily guaranteed fixes for everyone, but resetting or reinstalling Windows 10 should always be the last potential resolutions for resolving Windows 10 update issues like error 2149842967.
When you’re using the Microsoft Store app (formerly known as Windows Store) in Windows to download different applications you might encounter an error code 0x803f7000.
The error code 0x803f7000 means that the Windows Store cannot download the app from the remote server and can be caused by multiple reasons.
Read on to find out how to fix this Microsoft Store error on your device and get back to downloading apps.
How can I fix the error code 0x803f7000?
1. Check your antivirus
The first thing you need to check if you’re getting 0x803f7000 error in Windows Store is your antivirus. Having a good antivirus is important for your safety, but sometimes your antivirus can cause this and many other problems to appear.
To make sure that your antivirus doesn’t interfere with your system, you might want to try disabling certain antivirus features or disable your antivirus altogether. In case the problem is still there, you might even have to uninstall your antivirus.
If removing the antivirus solves the issue, your next step would be to switch to a different antivirus solution. There are many great antivirus tools on the market with maximum protection that won’t interfere with your system.
Using the right antivirus software will keep your PC safe by using some extra protection layers and immediate file encryption.
According to users, the one reason for 0x803f7000 error in Windows Store can be your region. If your region isn’t set properly, you might encounter this and many other problems. However, you can easily change your region by doing the following:
Open the Settings app. The fastest way to do that is to use Windows Key + I shortcut.
Now go to the Time & Language section in the Settings app.
Now go to the Region & language in the left pane. In the right pane pick United States or choose a correct region.
After making these changes, restart your PC and check if the problem is still there.
3. Incorrect date and time
Another cause for 0x803f7000 error in Windows Store can be incorrect date and time. Sometimes if the date or time aren’t correct, you might encounter this or some similar error. However, you can fix the problem simply by adjusting your date and time. You can do that by following these steps:
Right-click the clock icon on your Taskbar. Select Adjust date/time from the menu.
Locate Set time automatically option and disable it. Wait for a few moments and enable this option again.
After doing that, the time should be automatically readjusted. If you want, you can also click the Change button and adjust the time and date manually. After correcting the date and time, check if the problem is still there.
4. Clear the Windows Store cache
Online applications store static information on your machine, called cache, which is used to speed up browsing. When the information on the server changes your cache should update automatically but sometimes you have to manually reset it.
To reset the Windows Store cache press the Windows + R keys or search for Run. This will bring up the Run window. Here you’ll have to type Wsreset.exe and press the Enter key or the OK button.
Running this executable will reset your Windows Store to its default settings and open it once the process finishes.
5. Run the Troubleshooter
Sometimes you might be able to fix this problem simply by running a built-in troubleshooter in Windows. To fix the 0x803f7000 error in Windows Store using the troubleshooter, you just need to do the following:
Open the Settings app and go to the Update & Security section.
Choose Troubleshoot from the menu pm the left. Now pick Windows Store Apps from the list and click the Run the troubleshooter button.
Follow the instructions to complete the troubleshooter.
After the troubleshooter is finished, check if the problem is still there.
6. Disable your proxy
Many users use a proxy in order to protect their privacy online. Using a proxy is a good idea, but sometimes issues as 0x803f7000 error in Windows Store can appear due to your proxy. This can be a big problem, but you can fix it simply by turning off your proxy. To do that, follow these steps:
Open the Settings app and head over to the Network & Internet section.
Pick Proxy from the left pane. In the right pane, disable all options.
Once you disable your proxy, check if the problem is still there. Many users tend to use proxy in order to protect their privacy, but if you want better protection, you should consider using VPN software.
A dedicated VPN software will keep your identity safe while surfing the internet. It will also provide you a wide range of helpful tools in order to access specific internet resources. It will also help you to change your geo-location for shopping, gaming, or professional purposes. We will definitely recommend you use a VPN in order to keep your online identity private.
In some cases, 0x803f7000 error in Windows Store can occur due to problems with the Windows Store application. However, you might be able to solve this problem simply by re-registering Windows Store app. You can do that by following these steps:
Press Windows Key + S and enter powershell. Now right-click Windows PowerShell from the list and choose Run as administrator.
When PowerShell opens, run the -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $Env:SystemRootWinStoreAppxManifest.xml command.
After the command is executed, the issue with Windows Store should be completely resolved.
8. Create a new user account
If you’re getting 0x803f7000 error in Microsoft Store, the problem might be related to your user account. Sometimes your account might get corrupted, and that can lead to this and many other errors. To fix this issue, it’s advised to create a new user and switch to it. To do that, just follow these steps:
Open the Settings app and go to the Accounts section.
Head over to the Family & other people in the left pane. In the right pane, click Add someone else to this PC button.
Pick I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
Select Add a user without a Microsoft account.
Enter the desired username and click Next.
After creating a new user account, switch to it and check if that solves your problem. If the issue doesn’t appear on the new account, you’ll have to move your personal files to it and start using it instead of your old account.
9. Install the missing updates
According to users, a 0x803f7000 error in Windows Store can sometimes appear if you don’t have the necessary updates installed. However, you can fix this problem easily simply by downloading the latest updates for Windows 10.
Windows 10 automatically updates itself for the most part, but you can check for missing updates manually. To do that, just follow these steps:
Open the Settings app and go to the Update & Security section.
Click Check for updates button.
Windows will now check for available updates and download them automatically in the background. Once the updates are downloaded, simply restart your PC to install them. Once your PC restarts, check if the problem is still there.
10. Perform an in-place upgrade
0x803f7000 error in Windows Store can be problematic, and in some cases, the only way to fix it is to perform an in-place upgrade. In case you don’t know, an in-place upgrade will upgrade Windows to the latest version, and will basically reinstall it, while keeping all your files and applications intact. To do that, just do the following:
Download and run Media Creation Tool.
Select Upgrade this PC now option and click Next.
Now pick Download and install updates (recommended) and click Next.
Follow the instructions on the screen. Once you get to the Ready to install screen you need to click Change what to keep.
Be sure to choose Keep personal files and apps and click the Next button.
Follow the instructions to complete the setup.
Once the setup is finished, you’ll have the latest version of Windows installed, and the issues with the Windows Store should be completely resolved.
Speaking of Windows Store issues, here are some common problems that users reported:
Windows 10 app Store not working – According to users, this issue can occur due to your antivirus software, and in order to fix this issue, it’s advised to temporarily disable or even uninstall your antivirus.
Microsoft Store not working Windows 10 – If Microsoft Store isn’t working at all, the most likely cause are the missing updates. Simply update Windows to the latest version and check if that helps.
I hope these tips will fix error code 0x803f7000 for you but if they fail to do so please let us know in the comment section below.
Taking a screenshot on Windows 11 is quick and easy, whether you want to grab the whole screen, a specific window, or just a part of it. In this guide, we’ll show you the fastest and most efficient ways to take screenshots using built-in tools and shortcuts
The PrtSc button is a core Windows function that’s here to stay. It’s a dedicated key on all Windows keyboards that will essentially capture whatever is displayed on your desktop at that particular time.
In this matter, Windows 11 is no different than its predecessor and it responds to the same command.
The Print Screen function can be used in different ways depending on what you want to achieve. Note that this method works for those who wonder how to screenshot on Windows 11 Pro as well.
Print Screen key
You can use the Print Screen button alone. Do keep in mind that this method will copy your screenshot to the clipboard, which means that you’ll lose any other information previously stored there.
One more thing that’s worth mentioning here is that you won’t be able to select a particular area of the screen.
Windows key + Print Screencombination
This key combination will also capture the entire screen, but it has a twist. Instead of copying your screenshot to the clipboard, it will save your image in the Pictures/Screenshots folder.
Press Windows + Shift + S to launch Snipping Tools.
Here you have four options as follows:
Rectangular mode – Allows users to capture the desired rectangular portion as a screenshot.
Freeform mode – With this one, as the name suggests, you can take capture a screenshot of any shape.
Window mode – The current application or program is captured.
Fullscreen mode – A fullscreen screenshot is taken, which includes the taskbar.
To take a screenshot, choose the desired mode, use the cursor to select the desired portion, and click to capture.
As soon as you take a screenshot using Snipping Tools, it’s saved to the clipboard and a notification appears at the bottom-right corner. Click on it to annotate or edit the screenshot.
Now, you have the screenshot in the editor. Use the various options here to edit it, for instance, the Ballpoint pen and Highlighter.
Once done, click on the Save icon.
Navigate to the desired location for the file, and again click on Save.
2.2 Set a timer to take the screenshot
Press Windows + S to open Search, type Snipping Tool, and click on the relevant search result.
Click on the No delay option.
Choose a time here, either 3, 5, or 10 seconds.
Now, click on New and the Snipping Tools will automatically appear after the chosen period.
That’s it! In Windows 11, Microsoft integrated Snipping Tools and Snip and Sketch into one, and it got the former’s name. The app now offers a lot more features and is handy to use.
Also, you could set a timer to take screenshots of specific actions that can’t be captured instantaneously.
3. Use Snip & Sketch
A great option for taking a screenshot in Windows 11 is using the dedicated tool called Snip & Sketch. It is a handy built-in app. This is the new app that replaces Snipping Tool. Here is how to use it:
1. Open Snip & Sketch
Search for the Snip & Sketch tool in the Start Menu or just type snip in Windows search and select it from the results. Click on it.
2. Click on New
Now you need to click on the New button in the upper left corner of the application.
3. Select your desired snipping option
You’ll see a couple of different available snipping options: Rectangular Snip, Free-form Snip, Windows Snip, and Full-screen Snip. Choose one of them.
4. Select the screenshot area
Use the mouse cursor to choose what section of the screen you would like to capture in a screenshot.
5. Enter the editor
The tool will automatically transfer your screenshot to the clipboard and then start an editor as soon as you finish selecting your desired area.
6. Edit the screenshot
So now you can edit it as you wish in Snip & Sketch. You can choose to paste the image from the clipboard to another editor or save it on your Windows 11 PC without editing it as a PNG, JPG, or GIF file.
When you’re looking for Snip & Sketch, you will also see that the Snipping Tool app is still available in Windows 11 but we don’t know for how long.
Explore Snip & Sketch
It’s time for the big reveal – introducing the new Snip & Sketch tool which will gradually replace the Snipping Tool. If you were expecting major differences, you’ll be somewhat disappointed.
The new tool basically offers the same features as the original one. In fact, the appearance is the biggest change with the new app offering a more polished look that blends in with the overall flow and feel of the modern Windows 11.
In other words, the Snip & Sketch tool is pretty much a more sophisticated version of the Snipping Tool. For more advanced features, we recommend dedicated software such as Icecream Screen Recorder.
For users who need more powerful capture and editing options, this guide on free Snagit alternatives for Windows 11 can help you choose a dedicated screen capture tool.
When it comes to functionalities, you will have the same modes that allow you to choose a specific area to capture, plus to copy to clipboard flow.
One notable addition is that you can edit the screenshot by adding text, shapes, or highlighting directly in the preview window.
Moreover, accessing the Snip & Sketch tool is as easy as using this keyboard shortcut: Windows + Shift + S.
Basically, the new tool is easier to use, it looks better and it’s a lot more simple to manage by everyone so if you upgraded to Windows 11, you should think about using it.
4. Use the Xbox Game Bar
Press the Windows+ G key combination to use the Game Bar or use the Start menu to search for it.
When the app opens, click on the camera icon within its taskbar. This will capture your entire screen.
Even though the Xbox Game Bar is a gaming app, it offers interesting capture functionalities that you can apply to a broader area.
Furthermore, you can use it to record videos of your screen just as you would with a third-party screen recorder. While it’s not a specialized screenshot software, the Game Bar will do the job just fine.
There was a problem connecting to the server is an error that can appear when Windows SharePoint Services and Excel are preventing the Excel spreadsheet from being imported correctly into Windows SharePoint.
The message will prompt showing you a message like this: We’re having trouble connection to the server on Excel, if this keeps happening contact your help desk.
This connection issue can be irritating for any user and it requires practical solutions that can ultimately solve multiple connection issues such as Excel trying to connect to server when saving.
So, as troubling as this may be, we do have reliable solutions for you in this article.
Why is Excel not connecting to a server?
There are multiple causes that will generate Excel error connecting to the server, so be aware of the following ones to check them on your device:
➡️ Browser-related issues – It’s possible that your browser cache is corrupted or interferes with Excel processes.
➡️ SharePoint connection error – When using Excel to connect online, you should make sure it’s connected to SharePoint.
➡️ Connected services – You have multiple services connected to Microsoft Excel that may trigger server problems.
That being said, you can solve Excel cannot connect to server with the right fix methods that we provided down below.
How to fix A problem occurred while connecting to the server Excel error?
1. Create a new list based on the Excel workbook
In the root site, we’re going to create a new list that is based on the Excel workbook.
On the home page of the root site, click Create.
On the Create page, under Custom Lists, click Import Spreadsheet.
Specify the options that you want, and then click Import.
In the Import to Windows SharePoint Services list dialog box, click the range of cells that you want to use for your list, and then click Import.
Specify the columns and the rows that you want to import, and then click Import.
In the root site, save the new list that you created as a list template. To do so, follow these steps:
In the root site, click Documents and Lists.
Click the link to the list that you want to save as a template.
Click Modify settings and columns.
On the Customize ListName page, under General Settings, click Save list as template.
In the File name box, type the file name that you want to use for the template file
In the Template title box, type the title that you want to use for the template.
Select the Include content check box and click OK.
The last thing we’re gonna do is connect to the subsite, and then create a new list that is based on the new list template that you created.
Connect to the subsite, and then click Create.
Click the template that you previously created.
On the New List page, specify a name and a description for the list, and then click Create.
For this, we’re going to disable anonymous access settings on the website in Windows SharePoint Services you’re using.
Go to the home page of the root site, next click Site Settings.
On the Site Settings page, click Go to Site Administration.
Click Manage anonymous access.
In the Change Anonymous Access Settings area click Nothing, then click OK.
Now we’re going to create a new list that is based on the Excel workbook. To see how to do that properly, follow the steps from the previous solution.
Next, we’re going to configure anonymous access settings on the Web site in Windows SharePoint Services.
On the home page of the root site, click Site Settings.
On the Site Settings page, click Go to Site Administration.
On the Top-level Site Administration page, under Users and Permissions, click Manage anonymous access.
On the Change Anonymous Access Settings: SiteName page, in the Anonymous Access area, click Entire Web site or click Lists and libraries, and click OK.
3. Use a ULS Viewer
ULS logs are created by Sharepoint whenever it’s processing a request. And the correlated log creates IDs for any specific request, which are very helpful when debugging a problem.
This program allows you to view logs in real-time, simply by pressing Ctrl+U while running it. You can download ULS Viewer from Microsoft’s official website.
4. Manually connect the SharePoint Online Service
You can fix the Excel connection problem by modifying the connected services and manually connecting the SharePoint service. This can be done through the tool’s built-in settings, in the Account section.
1. Launch Microsoft Excel.
2. Open the file that you have trouble importing.
3. Navigate to the File tab from the menu.
4. Go to Account.
5. Scroll down to Connected Services. Here you can see which services you have associated to your account.
6. Remove the currently connected service.
7. After, click on Add a service.
8. Choose Other sites from the list of options.
9. Add your Sharepoint Service.
We hope these fixes were of use. And in the meantime, let us know in the comment section down below what are your solutions.
On the Microsoft support forum, some Excel users have discussed an error message that states: The file format and extension of ‘file.xls’ don’t match. The file could be corrupted or unsafe. Unless you trust its source, don’t open it. Do you want to open it anyway?
Users can then select to open the Excel file. However, users have said that their spreadsheet files have lost all their data when they click Yes to open. If you need to fix that same error, check out some of the resolutions for it below.
What does it mean when a file format and extension don’t match?
When a file’s format and extension do not match, it means that the file has been saved in a format that is different from the extension that has been given to it.
For example, if a file has been saved as an Excel spreadsheet, but it has been given the “.txt” extension, it means that the file has been saved as a text file instead of an Excel spreadsheet.
This can cause problems when you try to open the file, because Excel may not recognize the file’s true format and may not be able to open it correctly. You may also get the extension is not valid error when you open the Excel file.
It is important to ensure that the file format and extension match, so that you can open and use the file correctly in Excel.
How do I fix the file format and extension don’t match?
1. Change the file’s extension (worked for most users ✅)
Some users have fixed the issue by manually changing the file’s extension to various standard Excel file formats until they get the right one. Click the File Explorer button on Windows 10’s taskbar.
Select the File name extensions option on the View tab.
Open the folder that includes the Excel file the error arises for.
Right-click the file and select the Rename option.
Then edit the extension at the end of the file to. xls, .xlsx, or .xlsm. Try opening the Excel spreadsheet with each of those alternative file formats.
2. Select the Open and Repair option
The Excel file might be corrupted, and you can fix it with the Open and Repair option. First, open Excel’s window.
Select the File tab.
Click Open to open the window shown directly below.
Select the file the issue arises for.
Then click the arrow on the Open button. Select the Open and Repair option.
Select the Repair option.
If the Repair option doesn’t fix the issue, repeat the above steps and click the Extract Data button. Then you can click Convert to Values to extract data from the sheet.
3. Unblock the Excel file
Some users have confirmed they’ve fixed the file format does not match extension error by unblocking the file. To do so, open File Explorer.
Open the folder path that includes the Excel spreadsheet file which needs fixing.
Right-click the Excel file to select the Properties option.
Select the General tab on that window.
Click the Unblock option. Note that option will only be visible for files that came from another source, such as email attachments.
Press the Apply button.
Click exit to close the window.
4. Turn off Protected View
Turning Excel’s Protected View off might also resolve the file format does not match error. Click Excel’s File tab.
Click Options to open a window like the one shown directly below.
Click the Trust Center tab on the left of the window.
Press the Trust Center Settings button.
Then click Protected View on the Trust Center window.
Deselect all three Enable Protected View settings there.
You can also try opening the Excel file the error arises for in LibreOffice Calc. That’s a freeware spreadsheet application you can add to Windows by clicking Download on the Download LibreOffice page. Then install Calc’s office suite with the downloaded setup wizard.
When you try opening the file in LibreOffice Calc, the application might ask you to select an appropriate format. Select alternative formats until you get the file opened. Thereafter, you can copy and paste all the data in the spreadsheet into a blank Excel sheet with the Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V keyboard shortcuts.
Those are some of the confirmed resolutions that users have fixed Excel’s file format does not match extension error with.
If the file the issue arises for is not from a trusted source, however, do not select to open it. Instead, scan the file with an antivirus utility before trying to open it.
Microsoft improved a lot its built-in Mail app in Windows 10. But even in the improved version, some people are reporting that they’re unable to receive emails or even open the app.
So, we prepared a couple of solutions, which, we hope, will be enough for solving the Windows 10 Mail App not working problem that can occur with Yahoo, Gmail, AOL or Office.
Not being able to run the Mail app can be a big problem, and users reported the following issues as well:
Windows 10 Mail app not opening – Many users reported that the Mail app won’t open at all due to this problem. If your Mail app is not launching, you might want to check some of our solutions.
Windows 10 Mail app not syncing – Another similar problem that occurs is the inability to sync your mailbox. This problem will make your Mail app almost unusable.
Windows 10 Mail app crashing – Many users also reported that their Mail application is frequently crashing. According to them, the application usually crashes on startup, so they are unable to use it.
Windows 10 Mail not receiving emails – Another common problem with the Mail app is the inability to receive emails. This can be a serious issue, but you should be able to solve it with our solutions.
Mail app not updating – Many users reported that they aren’t able to update their Mail app at all. With the inability to access the Mail app fixing this problem might be difficult.
Mail app not starting Windows 10 – Common problem that also occurs is the inability to start the Mail app. According to users, it seems that Mail application crashes as soon as users try to launch it.
As you can guess, the solution to this issue is very simple, you just need to go to settings and enable Microsoft’s access to the calendar app.
Restart your computer, and try to run the mail app again, everything should work fine. But if it doesn’t you can try the solution below, as well.
2. Change to secure connection
Open the Mail app.
Click on the Settings icon in the bottom left corner.
Go to Manage Accounts.
Click on your account and go to Change mailbox settings.
Make sure that Server requires encrypted (SSL) connection and Email, under Sync options are checked.
You also might consider switching to a specific mail client which will give you fewer troubles.
If you changed the privacy settings and everything else is correct, but you’re still unable to receive mails into your inbox, try to set the Mail app to use the secure connection.
This solution will also help you fix the email error code 0x80040b0b but the highlighted guide will provide other methods as well.
3. Install another e-mail client
The e-mail client recommended below is quite similar to the Windows native solution in terms of ease of use.
It brings stronger and more complex capacities to smoothen your emailing experience altogether.
This email client features an uncluttered and very intuitive interface that will allow you to easily manage your emails, attachments, and contacts in one unified Inbox.
By adding integrations to the table, you will enjoy a plethora of functionalities to cover all your communication needs.
Let’s quickly look at its key features:
Easy emails and contacts management from a unified Inbox
Customization options (numerous free color themes, different Windows-adapted layouts and more)
Seamless app integrations (Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Dropbox, Google Calendar, Asana and more)
Snooze feature to separate and prioritize your emails
Custom Sounds notifications for incoming and outgoing emails
Intuitive keyboard shortcuts for archiving, composing, replying, and forwarding
Multi-language 24/7 free support
Mailbird
Why settle for the Mail app? Get more options with the same ease of use from Mailbird!
If the Mail app is not working in Windows 10, you might be able to fix the problem simply by updating it.
Many users reported this problem, and according to them, updating the app to the latest version can fix this issue.
After updating the Mail app to the latest version, the problem should be fixed and you’ll be able to run the Mail app without any issues.
5. Install Windows updates
Press Windows Key+ I to open the Settings app.
When the Settings app opens, navigate to the Update & security section.
Now click on Check for updates button.
To keep your PC safe and stable, it’s necessary to install Windows updates. According to users, they managed to fix this problem simply by installing the latest Windows updates.
If the update process gets stuck, check out the quick and easy steps in this amazing guide.
By default, Windows 10 automatically installs the updates in the background, but sometimes it can happen that you skip an important update.
Windows will now check for available updates. If any updates are available, Windows will download them in the background and install them once you restart your PC.
Several users reported that installing the latest updates fixed the problem with the Mail app, so be sure to try that.
6. Turn off Sync settings
Open the Settings app.
Now navigate to the Accounts section.
From the menu on the left select Sync your settings.
In the right pane, locate Sync settings and turn it off.
If the Mail app is not working on your Windows 10 PC, you might be able to solve the problem simply by turning off your Sync settings.
After turning off Sync settings, you just have to restart your PC to apply the changes.
Once your PC restarts, the problem should be fixed. If everything works well, you can turn Sync settings back on again if you want.
7. Change your localization settings
Press Windows Key + S and enter the Control Panel.
Now select Control Panel from the list of results.
When Control Panel opens, select Region.
Navigate to the Location tab and set Home location to your country.
Now go to the Administrative tab and click on the Change system locale button.
Select your country from the Current system locale menu and click on OK to save the changes.
Now click on Apply and OK in theRegion window.
According to users, you might be able to fix the problem with the Mail app simply by changing your localization settings.
Users reported that the Mail app is not working for them on Windows 10, but after changing the localization settings, the problem was resolved entirely.
After changing the system locale, check if the problem with the Mail app still appears. Several users reported that changing the locale fixed the issue for them, so feel free to try it out.
Some users are also suggesting turning on and off Sync settings feature as well, so you might want to try that.
Press Windows Key + S to open the search tab and enter cmd.
Select Run as administrator from the list to open Command Prompt as administrator.
If you don’t have Command Prompt available, feel free to use PowerShell instead.
When Command Prompt opens,type in this line and press Enter to run it.
sfc /scannow
The scanning process will now start. SFC scan can take 10-15 minutes, so be patient and don’t interrupt it.
Once the SFC scan is completed, check if the issue is resolved. If the SFC scan can’t fix the problem, or if you can’t run SFC scan at all, you might want to try using DISM scan instead.
7.2 Run a DISM scan
Start Command Prompt as administrator.
When Command Prompt opens, enter this line, and press Enter to run it
dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
DISM scan will now start. Keep in mind that this scan can take 15-20 minutes, so don’t interrupt it.
According to users, if the Mail app is not working in Windows 10, you might be able to fix the problem by performing SFC and DISM scans.
These scans are designed to repair corrupted system files, and after you perform them, the issue should be resolved.
Once the DISM scan is finished, check if the problem still persists. If you couldn’t run an SFC scan before, be sure to run it after performing a DISM scan. Now check if the problem still appears.
Some users are also recommending to use a PowerShell command to fix this issue. We have to warn you that this command is rather powerful and it can cause problems with other applications if you don’t use it properly.
Since this command is potentially dangerous, keep in mind that you’re using it at your own risk.
7.2 Run a PowerShell command
Right-click the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the list.
This command requires administrative privileges, and if you don’t start PowerShell as an administrator, you won’t be able to perform it.
When PowerShell opens, paste the following command, and press Enter to run it:
If the Mail app is not working in Windows 10, you might be able to fix the issue simply by reinstalling it. To reinstall the Mail app, you’ll need to use PowerShell by running the command from above.
8.2 Uninstall the Mail app using a dedicated uninstaller
If you’re not comfortable using PowerShell, you can remove the Mail app by using third-party uninstaller software for PC.
This list of uninstaller software we compiled will help you choose one compatible with your PC, so you can delete any apps; even the most stubborn ones are eradicated and you can rest assure that it won’t leave any leftovers behind.
After running the remover tool, you will recover the free space on your PC that was clogged with the remains of all useless files that you didn’t even know existed on your hard drive.
8.3 Reinstall the Mail appfrom Microsoft Store
Press Windows Key + S and enter store.
Select Microsoft Store from the list of results.
In the search bar, enter Mailand select Mail and Calendar from the list of results.
Now click the Install button to install Mail application again.
You need to install it again from Microsoft Store. To do that, follow the steps above.
8.4 Reinstall the Mail app using PowerShell
Several users claim that you can also reinstall the Mail app simply by starting PowerShell as administrator and running this command: Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers| Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml”}
After reinstalling the Mail application, the issue should be completely resolved.
9. Change the owner of the windows/communications/apps directory
Navigate to this directory:
C:Program Files
Look for WindowsApps directory.
If this directory isn’t available, you need to go to View and check Hidden items. Now locate WindowsApps directory, right-click it and choose Properties from the menu.
When the Properties window opens, go to Security and click on Advanced.
Now click the Change next to the Owner section.
Enter your user account name in the Enter the object name to select field.
Click on the Check Names button.
If everything is in order, click on OK to save the changes.
Click on Apply and OKto save the changes.
Now navigate to the WindowsApps directory.
Locate microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps directory, right-click it, and choose Properties from the menu.
Now change the owner by repeating Steps 3-5.
Be sure to check Replace owner on sub containers and objects and click on Applyand OK to save the changes .
Open the Advanced options again.
Click on the Change permissions button.
Now locate Users on the list and double click it.
Check Full control and click on OK.
Now click on Apply and OKto save the changes.
Now you just have to repeat Steps 7-13 for all other microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps directories.
We had only two microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps directories on our PC, but you might have more.
To fix this problem, it’s important to change the ownership and gain full control over all these directories.
If your Mail app is not working in Windows 10, you might solve the issue by changing the owner of the WindowsApps directory.
This folder holds all the necessary files that the Mail app is using, and after changing the ownership over it, the problems with the Mail app should disappear.
This is an advanced solution, so if you decide to use it, be extra cautious and follow the steps closely. Few users reported that you don’t have to perform all steps to fix this problem.
According to them, simply by changing the owner of WindowsApps directory, the problem should be resolved. If this doesn’t help, you might have to perform all steps from this solution.
10. Disable your Internet connection
If the Mail app is not working in Windows 10, you might be able to solve the problem with this workaround.
According to users, you can fix this issue simply by disabling your Internet connection for a few minutes, reenabling it and try running the Mail app again.
Few users reported that this solution worked for them, so you might want to try it out. This seems like a simple workaround, and you might have to repeat it if the issue reappears.
11. Prevent Mail and Calendar from accessing your location
Open the Settings app.
Navigate to the Privacy section.
Choose Location from the menu on the left.
Now scroll down and turn off location service for Mail and Calendar app.
Alternatively, you can completely disable location service on your PC.
Many users reported that the Mail app isn’t working on their PC. According to them, the issue was caused by a location service.
To fix the issue, you need to prevent Mail and Calendar from accessing your location.
After disabling location service for the Mail app, the problem should be completely resolved.
12. Update your graphics card drivers
Several users reported that the Mail app is constantly crashing on their PC. To fix the issue, users are suggesting to update your graphics card driver.
According to users, there was an issue with Nvidia graphics, but after updating the driver to the latest version the issue was resolved.
When the System Restore window opens, click on Next.
Now you’ll see a list of all available restore points. If available, check the Show more restore points option.
Now select the desired restore point and click on Next.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the restoration process.
If the Mail app is not working in Windows 10, you might be able to solve this problem by using System Restore.
Once your PC is restored, check if the problem is resolved. Several users reported that System Restore fixed the problem for them, so be sure to try it out.
14. Create a new user account
Open the Settings app and navigate to the Accounts section.
Navigate to Family & other people in the left pane.
Now click on Add someone else to this PC.
Select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
Now click on Add a user without a Microsoft account.
Enter the desired username and click on Next.
According to users, you can sometimes fix this problem by creating a new user account.
It seems that the Mail app isn’t working in Windows 10 if your user account is corrupted. However, you can fix this problem by creating a new user account.
After creating a new account, you need to switch to it and check if the Mail application works. If so, you’ll need to move your personal files and use the new account as your main one.
This is a drastic solution, but several users reported that creating a new user account fixed the problem for them, so be sure to try it.
Few users reported they fixed the issue by creating a new Microsoft user account. To do that, first, you need to change your account from Microsoft to local.
This is relatively simple and you can do it by following these steps:
Open the Settings app and go to the Accounts section.
In Your info section click on Sign in with a local account instead.
Enter your account’s password and click Next.
Now enter the desired user name and click on Next.
Lastly, click on the Sign out and finish button.
Now you just have to log back into your local account and add a new account by following Steps 1-2 from the beginning of this solution.
Be sure to enter your Microsoft account email and follow the instructions on the screen to create a new account.
After doing that, switch to a new account and check if the problem is resolved.
15. Reset Mail app
Open the Settings app and navigate to the Apps section.
A list of all installed apps will appear.
Select Mail and Calendar and click on Advanced options.
Now click the Reset button. A confirmation window will appear.
Click on the Reset button to proceed.
If the Mail app is not working on Windows 10, you might be able to fix it simply by resetting it. This is a rather simple procedure, and you can do it by following these steps:
After resetting the Mail app, its data will be deleted and most problems with it will be resolved.
16. Use the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter
Press the Windows key + S keys, type troubleshoot and select Troubleshoot settings from results.
Click on Additional troubleshooters.
Now select the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter and click on the Run the troubleshooter button.
If the system will detect any issues with the Mail app it will repair it.
In the end, you will also receive the suggestion to reset an app.
Click on the Open Apps & features button.
Select the Mail and Calendar app from the list and select Advanced options.
Scroll down until you see the Reset option and click on it.
You will receive a warning message that this action will delete all the data of the app, including preferences and sign-in data. Click the Reset button if you agree with that.
If you’re having problems with the Mail app and other Microsoft Store apps, you might be able to fix the problem by using this solution.
Several users are suggesting running the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter and using it to scan your PC.
The troubleshooter will check your universal apps and fix any potential problems. After using the troubleshooter, check if your Mail app is working.
Resetting the Mail & Calendar app can also do the trick so make sure you try it but be aware that by resetting the app you will lose all data from the app, including the sign-in data.
17. Reset Microsoft Store cache
Open Command Prompt as administrator.
When Command Prompt opens, enter wsreset.exe and press Enter to run it.
Wait for a couple of moments while Windows clears the cache.
According to users, you might be able to fix this problem simply by resetting the Microsoft Store cache. This isn’t a universal solution, but few users reported that it worked for them, so you might want to try it out.
After doing that, try to start the Mail app and check if the issue still persists.
18. Perform an in-place upgrade
Download Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft’s website. Double click the ISO file to mount it.
Now navigate to This PC and open the mounted ISO file.
Locate setup.exe and double click it to run it.
Now you’ll be asked to download and install the updates. This isn’t mandatory so you can select Not right now option. Click Next to continue.
Follow the instructions on the screen until you get to the Ready to install screen. Click on Change what to keep option.
Select Keep personal files and apps option and click on Next.
The upgrade process will now start. This can take a while so be sure not to interrupt it.
If the Mail app is not working in Windows 10, you might have to perform an in-place upgrade in order to fix it. This process will upgrade your Windows 10 while keeping all your files intact.
We have to warn you that this process can take a while, so be sure not to interrupt it. To perform an in-place upgrade, perform the steps above.
Once the process is completed, your Windows 10 will be upgraded to the latest version, and problems with the Mail app will be fixed. Keep in mind that you can perform this process by using Media Creation Tool as well.
Then select the Upgrade this PC now option. The tool will download the necessary files and guide you to the upgrade process.
Many users reported that in-place upgrade fixed this problem for them, so you might want to try it out.
Few users claim that you can also fix this problem by resetting Windows 10, but this is a drastic solution that will delete all your files.
Before you try an in-place upgrade or Windows 10 reset, we strongly advise trying all other solutions from this article.
That’s it, we hope that at least one of these solutions helped you to solve your problem with the Mail app not working in Windows 10.
If you have any comments, suggestions, questions, or maybe some other solution for the problem with the Mail app in Windows 10, leave your comments in the section below.
Outlook error 0x800ccc0e shows up on Windows 10 to indicate a problem with either one of these three: Outlook Express, Windows Mail, or Outlook Express.
The reason behind this error showing up is usually a conflict between the SMTP servers and when the user tries to send an email without properly configuring their account.
In this article we look at a few troubleshooting methods that should help resolve error 0x800ccc0e:
Here’s how to fix Outlook error 0x800ccc0e:
1. Repair Outlook
The first thing you should try in order to resolve the Outlook error 0x800ccc0e is to repair it from Program and Features.
Follow these steps:
Open Control Panel.
Go to Programs and Features.
Find “Microsoft Office 365” (or any office application that applies) and select it.
Click on Change at the top of the Programs and Features window. On the window that opens, select “Repair”. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Once the process is complete, restart Outlook and check if error code 0x800ccc0e persists. If it does, try the next solution.
2. Check server requirements from settings
Open Outlook.
Open File > Tools > Account Settings.
On the Account Settings window, click on the E-mail Tab. The following window should open.
Select your email account from the list.
A new window called Email account should open. On it find the “More Setting” button and click it.
The following “Internet E-mail Setting” window should open.
Open the Outgoing Server tab.
On it, check the “My outgoing server (SMTP) required authentication” box.
Click on OK to apply the changes.
Once the process is complete, restart Outlook and check if error code 0x800ccc0e persists. If it does, try the next solution.
3. Delete duplicate accounts
Another possible solution is to look for duplicate accounts, which may be causing conflicts, and delete them. Duplicate accounts have been known to cause the 0x800ccc0e error. Simply follow these steps:
On the Outlook Menu, select Tools.
Go to Accounts and navigate to the Mail tab.
Select any duplicate mail account that you see.
Click on the Remove button to remove those accounts.
Once the process is complete, restart Outlook and check if error code 0x800ccc0e persists. If it does, try the next solution.
4. Change server port number
Open Outlook.
Open File > Tools > Account Settings.
On the Account Settings window, click on the E-mail Tab. The following window should open.
Select your email account from the list.
A new window called Email account should open. On it find the “More Setting” button and click it.
The following “Internet E-mail Setting” window should open.
Open the Advanced tab.
On it, change the Outgoing server (SMTP) port number to 587.
Click on OK to apply the changes.
Once the process is complete, restart Outlook and check if error code 0x800ccc0e persists. If it does, try the next solution.
5. Re-install Outlook
If all else fails, you might have to uninstall & re-install Outlook altogether. Re-installations have been known to resolve a persisting 0x800ccc0e error.
After you’re done reinstalling the services, you will need to create a new account. To uninstall, follow these steps:
Open Control Panel.
Go to Programs and Features.
Find “Microsoft Office 365” (or any office application that applies) and select it.
Click on “Uninstall” at the top of the Programs and Features window. An uninstallation wizard should pop open. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Once the process is complete, re-install Office to add a fresh installation of Outlook.
Once the process is complete, create your account and try sending the email again. Hopefully, the problem will have been resolved.
We hope that our solutions helped you with your issue. If we missed any way of solving the problem please let us know in the comment section below.
Also, if none of the solutions listed above worked for you, and if you did not find the exact reason, you should consider contacting Office Support.
I’ve just opened my outlook 2010 inbox and there is only messages for the last eight days or so. Would like to know where my emails have suddenly disappeared to and how to stop them disappearing again?
Are you facing a similar situation where your emails are disappearing from Outlook? Worry not, there are ways to fix the problem and get all your mail back intact, where it should be.
Usually, when Outlook emails have disappeared, it could be an issue of configuration in your settings, account inactivity, email rules set up on Outlook, and emails moved to a deleted folder.
Of course, in a darker scenario, your account might have been hacked and the emails deleted, or the Conversation Threading feature is turned on.
In this case, we recommend you to check how to recover the Outlook password and take all necessary security actions.
It is important to note, however, that if you upgrade to Outlook.com, the upgrade is only on the user interface to the new interface, so your emails should still remain in your inbox.
If you want to resolve the problem of Outlook emails disappearing, try the steps below.
How can I fix Emails are Disappearing from Outlook?
1. Use specialized software to retrieve your emails
You can recover your Outlook emails by using trusted software that supports all types of hard drives and storage systems.
Stellar Data Recovery is an easy-to-use tool that retrieves lost email files, documents, videos, and more. You will never lose data accidentally anymore.
After a complex scan, it performs recovery from cutting-edge 4K drives formatted with FAT32, NTFS, or ExFAT file systems and provides you with a clean, intuitive view of the results.
Moreover, the Save Scan option enables you to save the scan information and resume the recovery process later, at a convenient time.
Stellar Data Recovery
Recover your Outlook emails within seconds thanks to Stellar Data Recovery!
In case you encounter such problems on Outlook regularly, we strongly recommend switching to another email client. We suggest you try Mailbird.
This app is currently the best email client app and it is great at managing multiple accounts.
You can also create multiple archives and other lists that will help you sort your emails, plus, it has the possibility to secure your email so the emails are not disappearing anymore from Outlook.
This tool can restore your lost emails, but it doesn’t have the option to select the range of dates of the emails to restore, so you’ll get as many emails as the system can restore regardless of dates.
Again, there’s no guarantee that the emails will all be recovered.
If you accidentally delete emails from Outlook, you can recover them if they’re in the Deleted Items or Junk Email folders, or even after the Deleted folder is emptied.
We suggest you try to recover your deleted Outlook emails before you give up on them, especially if there is important information.
How to recover messages when Outlook emails have disappeared:
In the left pane, select the Deleted Items folder or the Junk Email folder.
Select the message you want to recover and select Recover.
Select the message you want to recover and select Not junk.
If you can’t find an item in the Deleted Items folder, check the Recoverable Items folder.
In the left pane of the Outlook.com window, select the Deleted Items folder.
At the top of your message list, select Recover deleted items.
Select the items you want to recover and select Recover.
Select OK.
Messages deleted from Deleted Items folder cannot be restored. Recovered items will be restored to original folders when possible, but if the original folder doesn’t exist, the recovered items are restored differently.
Messages go to inbox, Calendar items to calendar, contacts to contacts folder, and tasks to the tasks folder.
Other things to note on deleted items on Outlook:
You can recover items removed from Deleted Items folder in 30 days
After 14 days, emails are automatically removed from Junk Email folder and cannot be recovered
If you don’t see messages you want to recover, they’re probably permanently removed. Messages deleted from child accounts cannot be recovered either.
Keep your account active by signing in at least once every 365 days otherwise it will be deleted and is not recoverable.
Under Filter tab, check if any filters are applied.
If yes, click on Clear all.
If the Outlook emails have disappeared issue persists, reset the current view, and check if all the email appears by clicking View>View Settings>Reset Current View.
7. Use Advanced Search
Log in to your Outlook account and go to Inbox.
On the upper-left pane, click on Search.
Click Advanced Search. Fill out as many fields as you can.
Tick the Has attachment if emails come with an attachments box.
Click Filter, and then review the following tabs for any selections that could filter out specific messages: Tasks, More Choices, and Advanced.
9. Enable a certain Outlook option
On your mailbox, click on the Gear icon.
Select More mail settings.
Find Managing your account
Select POP and deleting downloaded messages.
Make sure that Don’t let another program delete messages from Outlook option is selected.
Click Save. In addition, you need to make sure that the option Always leave a copy of the message on the server is selected if you don’t want your emails to be deleted from your inbox permanently after downloading to your mail program.
If the data is important, you need to back it up, especially if it resides on the cloud and is not under your control.
External webcams like the Logitech C920 and Mevo Start incorporate built-in microphones. However, sometimes the microphones for such webcams stop working for users. For example, numerous users have posted on support forums about the Logitech C920’s microphone not working for them. One user stated:
Recently I discovered my C920’s microphone stopped working with all video conference services. I found that test microphone under audio settings saw no input, neither did voice recorder.
Why is my mic not being detected?
Users that have complained about this problem have experienced it to be triggered by the following factors:
Permission issues – You may not have the proper permissions for the apps that need to use the microphones.
Problems with settings – For some users, the correct settings have not been enabled for the camera, which may make it undetected.
Glitches with system audio – In some cases, minor glitches require the system troubleshooter to be cleared before the mic can be detected.
Driver issues– These are mainly outdated drivers or corrupted drivers.
Now let us cover how to set up a webcam Microphone and enable a webcam microphone on Windows 10.
How do I fix the microphone on my webcam Windows 10?
1. Check microphone settings in Windows 10
First, press the Windows key + I keyboard shortcut for Settings and select the Privacy category.
Then click the Microphone tab and press the Change button.
Turn on the Microphone access for this device setting if it’s off, and toggle on the Allow apps to access your microphone option.
Then look through the app list on that tab to check that the microphone is enabled for all apps you need. If not, click the toggle switches for the apps you need to utilize your webcam’s microphone.
Finally, ensure the Allow desktop apps to access your microphone option is also turned on.
2. Make sure your webcam’s microphone is the selected input device
Right-click the speaker system tray icon and choose the Open Sound settings option.
Then click the Choose your input device drop-down menu to select your webcam’s microphone.
Next, click Device properties under the Choose your input device drop-down menu and Uncheck the Disabled checkbox there if it’s selected.
If the Volume setting is very low, drag that bar’s slider to the right.
3. Set your webcam’s microphone to be the default one
Right-click the speaker icon on the Windows 10 system tray and select the Sounds context menu option.
Click the Recording tab.
Select your webcam’s microphone listed there, then click the Set Default button.
Press the Apply button, and then click OK.
Note: You can also check your webcam’s microphone’s volume level via the Sound window. Select the device on the Recording tab, and press the Properties button. Then you can drag the volume slider on the Levels tab to raise the volume.
4. Open the Recording Audio troubleshooter
Press the Windows keyboard key, and click Settings on the Start menu.
Next, select Update & Security.
On the left tab, click Troubleshoot, then clickAdditional troubleshooters.
Select the Recording Audio device troubleshooter listed there, and click Run the troubleshooter.
Then select your webcam’s microphone in the troubleshooter’s window, and click the Next option.
Note: The Hardware and devices troubleshooter might also help fix this issue. To quickly open that troubleshooter, click the search box on Windows 10’s taskbar. Then enter the keyword msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic in the search utility’s text box, and press the Return key.
5. Check the audio and microphone settings in the needed software
Using Google Chrome as an example, type the address below in the Address Bar and hit Enter. chrome://settings/content
Select Microphone.
Here you can select options for Sites automatically follow this setting when you visit them, as well as choose the default microphone.
The software you need to utilize your webcam’s microphone probably incorporates audio and microphone options. Check those settings in apps you need the webcam’s microphone. Make sure your webcam’s microphone is the selected input device for your software and that it’s not set to mute.
Also, note that the webcam’s control software might include a mic option. For example, the Logitech Webcam Software has a Mic drop-down menu. Users can select to utilize the webcam’s microphone or other available alternatives with the camera on that menu.
6. Reinstall the webcam’s driver
First, open the search tool with a Windows key + S keyboard shortcut.
Double-click the Audio inputs and outputs category.
Right-click the webcam microphone device and select Uninstall device.
Click Uninstall on the confirmation window that opens. If that confirmation window includes a Delete the driver software for this device checkbox, select that option before uninstalling.
Restart your PC after uninstalling the webcam device.
Plug the webcam into your PC, and make sure you see it listed in Device Manager again.
Open the manufacturer’s website for your webcam in a browser.
Then open the driver download section on that website.
Locate your webcam product with the search tools or drop-down menus on that website.
Then select to download the latest drivers for your webcam that are compatible with your platform.
Open the folder to which you download the webcam’s driver package, then double-click the driver package file to install it.
Alternatively, you can update drivers for webcams with driver update software. Driver updater utilities will scan your PC’s devices and list the ones for which newer drivers are available.
Then you can select to download and automatically install new drivers for devices with the driver updater software.
Outbyte Driver Updater
Find the correct and latest updates for your drivers by using the Outbyte Driver Updater tool.
Suppose you’re wondering why your webcam’s microphone is not working. In that case, it might be because the device has a faulty or outdated driver or specific Windows 10 software microphone settings aren’t correctly configured.
Some users might be able to fix a webcam microphone not working in Windows 10 by changing specific microphone options in Settings.
Reinstalling device drivers can fix USB webcams and microphones that are not working.
Or you might need to change some audio options within the software you’re trying to utilize your webcam’s microphone to fix the issue.
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