Just recently, judges in Belgium ruled that Facebook broke privacy laws by deploying cookies and social plug-ins, among other technologies to track Internet users’ activity across the web.
This was a huge blow for Facebook as it uses such personal data collected from users to sell targeted advertising. However, the social media giant couldn’t clarify clearly how user digital activity is used.
For this, Facebook faces fines of up to $124 million, with a daily fine rate if it doesn’t comply with the court’s ruling to stop tracking the web browsing habits of Belgians, in addition to destroying any data they obtained illegally.
This just shows how much you continue to be tracked online, whether you want to accept it or not, and whether it’s by Facebook or even Google or your favorite website.
Most, if not all, websites serve up ads tailored to your browsing behavior.
The proverbial adage that says you can run but can’t hide, may not hold water as such because, on the internet, you can actually run and hide from online tracking.
And here are three quick and easy things you can do now to protect yourself.
DuckDuckGo vs VPN
It might be easy to confuse them since they are both tools that protect your anonymity and privacy. However, they are not the same. DuckDuckGo is a search engine.
It’s a website that can be accessed with any device that is connected to the Internet and has a web browser. On the other hand, a VPN is used to protect your very connection to the Internet.
The device connects to a VPN server through a tunnel, and that VPN server then connects to the Internet. While connected to a VPN, you can, and should, use DuckDuckGo to perform your web searches online.
Does DuckDuckGo really not track you?
DuckDuckGo employs a set of measures in order to ensure they have the ability to monetize and maintain operations and, at the same time, not have and store any personal data from you.
They don’t store any cookies and you can use them without them, there are no user accounts to be created and have data associated with that, and the affiliate programs they are registered in are the only ones that can be used completely anonymously.
For more details, we recommend their Privacy Policy page.
Does DuckDuckGo use a proxy?
Yes, you’re able to use proxy servers with the DuckDuckGo browser to get encrypted data while you navigate.
Unfortunately, using proxies can slow down your internet speed when it routes the traffic to different addresses.
Hence, according to different reviews, it is not beneficial to use this browser proxy if you want speedy navigation.
How to protect your privacy while online
1. Use a high-privacy VPN
This tool is powered by one of the best privacy protection companies in the US and is meant for use whenever you have a privacy concern.
A tool like ExpressVPN provides a short and effortless method to access websites without being tracked, by typing in your preferred website and the proxy works its magic.
If you seek 100 percent anonymity for your daily online activities, like surfing or unblocking streaming websites like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or BBC iPlayer, or torrenting privately, go for this software.
In addition, using a VPN is more efficient than a proxy because it came with fast server locations spread across the globe. Plus, you get full encryption and private data on the web.
You can use as well private DNS for every server you connect to and browse on DuckDuck or other browsers with improved speed and privacy.
ExpressVPN
Surf your websites privately without any trackers and completely hide your online traces with this VPN.
Privacy mode or Incognito mode, as we know it, is a privacy tool found in some web browsers that disables your browsing history and the web cache, allowing you to browse without local data being stored for retrieval later.
It also disables data storage in cookies and flash cookies, but the protection is only on the local device as it is still possible to identify frequently visited sites by associating IP addresses at the webserver.
If you are using Chrome for example, which has an Incognito Mode, you can also install some privacy extensions.
While this may be a quick way to protect yourself, the next two are even stronger.
3. Use DuckDuckGo
This is a search engine that doesn’t track you the way Google and others do. It is built to protect you from online tracking because you deserve privacy.
Companies make money off your private information without your consent online, so you need to protect your identity and data from such.
DuckDuckGo lets you take back your privacy with a simple app and browser extension to stop online tracking so you can surf and browse with peace of mind.
Search privately, without being tracked, and get privacy tips while you’re at it. This tool has set a new standard of trust online.
You need not buy or install anything, your searches are protected, and search leakage is stopped so that sites you visit won’t know what you searched for, plus your IP address won’t be sent to the search engine or browser’s user agent.
It also has an encrypted version that preserves your privacy, and a password-protected cloud saves setting so you can create search policies, and sync them across your devices.
Does DuckDuckGo hide your IP from websites?
No, you can’t really mask your IP address with this browser. The browsing tool is known for complete privacy on websites without tracking.
That means you can navigate without sharing personal data with other parties, but your IP and therefore location can be seen.
Is DuckDuckGo safe?
It’s clear that using this browser is safer to some extent. Meaning that when you’re searching on DuckDuckGo, you can’t be tracked by any website or web service you visit.
In other words, you’re protected against browsing leaks and tracking cookies used by every platform.
There are indeed privacy flaws when it comes to more complex entities like cyber threats or location tracks.
So, you’ve found your answer. DuckDuckGo is not a VPN, but it doesn’t track you as Google does. However, if you want to stay protected online, you should use a VPN.
To learn more about DuckDuckGo, we have a special guide on DuckDuckGo vs Brave browser, so don’t miss it fore more information.
If you have any thoughts on this, leave us a note in the comments section below.
While interest in cryptocurrencies and their value continue to soar, governments have raised concerns about over-regulation, which may hinder the otherwise open trading of the currency worldwide.
A VPN lets computers connect through a remote server via tunnels that encrypt data from both ends, thus information transmitted is protected from monitoring by third parties.
Where countries are banning cryptocurrency trading, to some extent, geo-blocking is used to enforce GeoIP bans that restrict content from such regions based on the IP addresses of the same users.
VPNs can bypass such GeoIP bans using IP addresses from regions that aren’t blocked. What you need to look for in the best cryptocurrency VPN is a watertight approach to security, good performance levels and speeds, and a variety of user-friendly native apps.
Developed by Express VPN International Ltd., this all-around cryptocurrency VPN has a wide server selection of over 1500 servers in 148 locations and a variety of 30,000 IP addresses to use on up to 3 devices simultaneously.
Among its advantages are its speedy performance and great user experience. You can run a speed test to determine the fastest server available, so you don’t have to keep checking for one randomly.
ExpressVPN also has an excellent user interface and 24/7 tech support via messaging-based chat, which is useful when you need VPN assistance.
Other important cryptocurrency features include the kill switch, peer-to-peer sharing, AES-256-bit encryption, and a zero-knowledge DNS solution. You can also choose the protocol you want to use.
However, it doesn’t have a free plan or trial, but you can buy it via cryptocurrency, though it is a bit pricey.
ExpressVPN
Tired of worrying about your privacy while trading cryptocurrency? ExpressVPN can help you with that.
Touted as the most secure VPN, NordVPN has very strong security with a kill switch, and a huge server network of over 3200 servers in 60 locations, plus support for up to 6 devices at the same time.
Developed by Tefincom & Co., S.A., it has one of the largest networks based on servers and locations, plus great speeds and performance.
However, security is the most important quality to find in a VPN besides these two, which is why NordVPN has 256-bit encryption inclusive of other standard security protocols.
The unique feature of this cryptocurrency VPN is the double VPN technology, which is like using two VPNs, as it routes your connection via two separate servers and Onion over VPN among other protocols.
You can use the free trial to give it a go, and, you can pay for it via Bitcoin.
NordVPN
Check this out if you want comprehensive privacy while trading cryptocurrency online.
Private Internet Access is a VPN service developed by Kape Technologies. It is an affordable VPN with a simple user interface, so it’s great for beginners. However, if you’re using the app, you only pick specific countries, not servers, which can be pretty limiting.
It’s actually a more basic VPN compared to its counterparts, but it makes for a solid choice if you’re looking for a less pricey VPN.
Features include a kill switch, peer-to-peer sharing, AES-256 bit encryption, a server network of over 3300 servers in over 46 countries, and multiple platform support, including Windows.
Trading crypto has never been easier since you can now also do it over the phone.
This is thanks to the fact that PIA is also available for mobile, both Android and iOS, and because one subscription gives you support for 10 devices simultaneously.
Here are some of the perks of using Private Internet Access for crypto trading:
10 devices can use the service simultaneously
3300 servers in 46 countries to choose from
SOCKS5 proxy included
Easy to use and set up
Unlimited bandwidth
Instant activation
P2P support
Private Internet Access
Looking for a VPN fit for cryptocurrency trading? PIA should be ideal for this.
CyberGhost is not just a reliable VPN, it’s also pretty fast in terms of performance with above-average speeds, a huge server network of over 1200 servers in more than 50 locations, plus it supports a maximum of 5 devices simultaneously.
This VPN comes with 256-bit encryption with protocols such as OpenVPN and an automatic kill switch. Other features include zero-logging, an ad-blocker, antimalware, and also a tool that blocks online tracking.
CyberGhost VPN
If you’re worried about your privacy while trading cryptocurrency, you should try CyberGhost VPN.
Surfshark is a practical VPN to connect to for securing crypto tasks whether for protection or hiding your sensitive monetary data.
It’s one of the few VPNs with an unlimited number of devices with one subscription, so you can manage crypto wallets from any device out there.
More than this, it offers a great number of 3,200 servers located in 65 countries. Plus, it has private DNS on each of its servers.
Surfshark also comes with a built-in malware domain and ad blocker called CleanWeb. Plus, it supports OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols.
It’s worth knowing that you have an open Internet feature that gives you unrestricted content wherever you live and stops tracking from crypto websites instantly.
Surfshark
Manage any of your cryptocurrencies securely with this double-protection VPN software.
Yes, a VPN is essential for protecting your funds and transactional data stored on trading websites.
With a VPN, there’s more extensive protection, plus users can evade most obstacles in accessing these cryptocurrencies across the globe.
Similarly, users can hide their IP addresses because every VPN provides different IP addresses from the user’s actual ones, making it hard for anyone to get personal data that can be linked to blockchain records.
It can secure your crypto assets recorded on your trading platforms with split tunneling or extra private protocols.
It also provides a higher level of security, which is further strengthened by using a different digital wallet for payments.
Encrypting wallets makes it harder to access your transactions and keep payment addresses private.
Is using a VPN to trade crypto illegal?
It’s legal to use a VPN to purchase crypto on different websites. No law forbids VPN usage for buying or selling crypto so you can perform it without trouble.
We suggested here some of the best VPNs for cryptocurrency, and in this regard, you can test any software and see your financial privacy for yourself.
You can also discover the best VPN for crypto exchange in case you need increased anonymity when trading your crypto assets.
Even if the value of many crypto coins plummeted in recent months, this does not mean you should let your guard down. There are still many hackers out there trying to steal your coins.
A reliable VPN tool can help you protect your hard-earned crypto coins, offering you peace of mind.
So, even if you stopped mining, as long as you still have some coins stored on your computer, it is worth installing a good VPN solution – just in case.
Having your BitTorrent getting stuck while connecting to peers is a major challenge that users face when downloading torrents with a client.
When you get this error message you can’t initialize the download of torrents and obtain your transferring files.
You may encounter this common issue while using BitTorrent due to specific reasons. One of the most probable factors is your network connection.
More so, this connectivity problem happens if your antivirus or firewall service blocks the sharing program.
It is possible to fix such issues on BitTorrent with the proper tools and a little technical support that we offer in this practical article.
Why does BitTorrent stuck at connecting to peers?
The most common reason why BitTorrent gets stuck at connecting to peers is that your internet connection speed is either too slow or unstable.
So, checking your Internet connection would be the first step to do. If your Internet speed is okay, it could be caused by any of the following factors:
Dead torrents.
Antivirus software or Firewall is blocking the service.
Using a VPN service that is not compatible.
Scroll down to find out how to resolve this pesky issue once and for all.
How do I fix BitTorrent getting stuck while connecting to peers?
1. Connect through a VPN
Some VPN networks block connections to/from BitTorrent connections specifically.
In order to be certain that the VPN you try to use for fixing this issue allows BitTorrent downloads, the VPN we recommend is ExpressVPN because it has the highest and most stable speed.
This software was developed by Kape Technologies and ensures that you will never experience any blockages or any sort of issue while using file-sharing tools like BitTorrent.
You can get 3,000 VPN servers across a number of 94 countries, ensuring that your online anonymity is protected at all times.
All this is possible with this worthwhile VPN while also optimizing the connection speeds to such an extent that you’ll not feel like you’re using VPN software at all.
Here are some of the most notable features of ExpressVPN:
Incredibly fast connection speed.
VPN Test speed
Latest data encryption tools
Intuitive UI experience with an instant connection
To add to the mixture, Express allows you to connect 5 different devices at the same time and offers full compatibility with Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, and smart TVs or routers.
ExpressVPN
Go for a smooth connection with BitTorrent and stay fully protected online with this fast VPN.
Take note of the download folder and other important settings.
Stop BitTorrent.
Open File Explorer and navigate to the following directory: C:\Documents and Settings\[YourUserAccountName\Application Data\Bittorrent or C:\Users\[YourUserAccountName]\Application Data\Bittorrent
Find and delete the following files:
settings.dat
settings.dat.old
Restart BitTorrent.
Modify your settings as needed.
Reload your torrent list.
These are the solutions that work when BitTorrent is stuck at connecting to peers. In the unlikely situation where you try these and they all don’t solve the problem; you can consider using a different BitTorrent client.
This also helps you fix the issue because if your downloads still get stuck at connecting to peers, you can be sure that the problem is from the torrents.
Moreover, in case you have a concern where BitTorrent connecting to peers but not downloading, you should also check the solutions from above that involve the Internet connection or your torrents.
To access similar in-depth and easy-to-follow guides, visit our extensive How-To Hub.
To find more useful information about this topic, don’t hesitate to explore our BitTorrent webpage.
All being said here, we encourage you to give your opinion on this subject and share your experience with our solutions in the comments section.
What can I do if Settings is not opening on Windows
1. Install the necessary updates
You can install Windows updates using our practical example in order to fix settings errors on Windows 10 in a short time.
1. Start Control Panel
To do that, press Windows Key + S and enter Control Panel. Select Control Panel from the list of results.
2. Type Windows Updates
In the search box in the top right corner enter Windows Updates. Click on View Installed updates after the search has finished.
3. Install the updates
Check for and install the update KB3036140 if it is not already installed.
4. Reboot your PC
After you successfully updated to KB3036140 you will need to reboot the Windows 10 once more.
5. Check the Update Settings
Now check to see if you’re Updates and Settings feature are working for you.
This solution will allow you to prevent the error of Windows update settings not opening. Following these steps will install all updates necessary for your operating system.
2. Create a new user
Open Control Panel like we showed you in the previous solution.
Select User Accounts from the list.
Left-click or tap on the option that says Manage another account.
Now left click or tap on the Add new User in PC settings.
After you created a new user account reboot your Windows 10 Technical Preview system once more.
Log in with the new user account you created and check to see if you still have the same issue.
You can also create a new user account by using Command Prompt. To do that, you need to do the following:
Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu and choose Command Prompt (Admin) from the list of results. If Command Prompt isn’t available, you can choose PowerShell (Admin) instead.
When Command Prompt starts, enter net user NewUser password1 /add.
Now enter net localgroup administrators NewUser /add.
After doing that, switch to NewUser account and use password1 to access the new account.
Once you log in to the new account, you need to install the missing updates. To do that, you need to do the following:
Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
When Settings app opens, select Update & security.
Now click on Check for updates button.
Windows will download and install the missing updates. After installing the updates, you can switch back to your main account and everything should start working again.
You can also create a new account by doing the following:
Press Windows Key + R and enter lusrmgr.msc. Press Enter or click OK.
Select Users from the left pane, and right click the empty space in the right pane. Choose New user from the menu.
Enter the desired user name and uncheck User must change password at new login. Now click on Create button.
After creating a new user account, switch to it and check if the problem is resolved. If the issue is resolved, you need to move your personal files to the new account and use it as your main one.
Left click or tap on the Download Now button situated in the upper side of the page accessed above.
Follow the instructions on the screen to finish the downloading process and installation process.
Run a scan and let the application fix any potential threats to your system.
Reboot your Windows 10 after the process has finished.
Check again to see if your updates and settings features are working.
There were a few situations in which users reported to solve the Windows update settings not opening issues with Microsoft software. In this regard, we recommend you install and run Microsoft Safety Scanner.
Follow the simple steps described above and your computer will be able to update its operating system.
4. Run the SFC scan
Press Windows Key + X and choose Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
When Command Prompt opens, enter sfc /scannow and press Enter to run it.
SFC scan will now start. Keep in mind that this process can take 10 minutes or more, so don’t interrupt it.
After the scan is finished, check if the problem is resolved. If the problem still persists, or if you can’t run an SFC scan at all, you might want to try using a DISM scan instead.
To do that, start Command Prompt and enter the following command: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
Open the Start Menu, click the Power icon, press and hold the Shift key and choose Restart from the menu.
You’ll be presented with three options. Choose Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Remove everything.
You might be asked to insert Windows 10 installation media to proceed, so be sure to have it ready.
Select your version of Windows and choose Only the drive where Windows is installed > Just remove my files.
Now click the Reset button to start.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the reset process.
After the reset is done, you’ll have to move your files from the backup and install your applications again. Keep in mind that this is a drastic solution, and you should use it only if other solutions don’t work.
There it is guys, a few simple methods on how to fix the Updates and Settings options you have in Windows 10 in only ten minutes of your time.
Also if you found any other way or if you need further assistance don’t hesitate to write us in the comments section of the page situated a few lines below and we will help you as soon as possible.
MAC address is a crucial component of every network device, and in some cases, you might want to change your MAC address.
This is a relatively simple procedure, and today we will show you how to change your MAC address on Windows 10 by using a MAC address changer.
MAC address is a unique identifier that allows your network device, such as an Ethernet or wireless card to connect to other networks.
Every network device comes with a Media Access Control, or MAC for short, address that allows that device to be identified on a network.
Just like IP address, MAC address is crucial when transferring data from one computer to another because each data packet comes with a header that contains MAC address of the destination PC.
Unlike IP address assigned to your PC by your ISP or network administrator, MAC address is assigned by the manufacturer of your network device.
How can I find out my Windows 10’s Mac Address using cmd?
To change your MAC address, first, you need to know how to locate it.
Unlike your IP address, your MAC address isn’t displayed in the network information window, but it’s still easy to find by following these steps:
Press Windows key + X and select Command Prompt from the menu.
Once Command Prompt opens, enter getmac /v /fo list and press Enter to run it.
A list of all network adapters should appear. Locate your network adapter and check the Physical Address value in order to see the adapter’s MAC address. As you can see, MAC address is represented by a hexadecimal value and it consists of 6 pairs of characters.
Now, that you know how to locate and check your MAC address, let’s see how to change it. Changing your MAC address doesn’t require any third-party software, but you can use it if you prefer.
Before we show you how to change your MAC address, bear in mind that changing your MAC address might cause issues with your current network.
In a worst-case scenario, your network device might not be able to be recognized by the network.
1. Via Device Manager
1. Press the Windows key + X and select Device Manager from the list.
2. Once Device Manager opens, locate your network adapter, right-click it and choose Properties.
3. When theProperties windowopens, navigate to theAdvanced taband selectNetwork Addressfrom the list.
4. Select the Valueoption and enter any 12-character hexadecimal value.
5. ClickOKto save the changes.
The best and easiest way to change your Mac address in Windows 10 is via Device Manager, a built-in tool on your device.
As you can see, changing your MAC address is rather simple, but keep in mind that your actual physical MAC address remains the same. In case anything goes wrong you can simply revert to it by following the aforementioned steps.
Just select Not Present in Step 4, and you’ll easily revert back to your default MAC address.
Once you’ve downloaded and installed this tool, run it.
When Technitium MAC Address Changer starts, you should see the list of all network adapters available.
Select the network adapter you want to change, and in the Change MAC address section enter a new MAC address. Remember to use a hexadecimal value. If you wish to make this step faster, you can just click Random MAC Address button that will generate a random MAC address for you.
Click Change Now! button and your MAC address should be changed.
Optional: If you wish to restore your default MAC address just click the Restore Original button.
This tool works similarly to the previous one, but it comes as an evaluation copy, so it lacks certain features, such as the ability to change MAC address of multiple adapters.
Another MAC address changer tool we have to mention is NoVirus Thanks MAC Address Changer. This is an entirely free and simple tool that allows you to change your MAC address easily.
To do that, you must start the application, select your network adapter, and click the Change MAC button.
After that, you can manually or randomly enter your new MAC address. Of course, there’s also an option to restore your MAC address. You can explore more useful options by checking our detailed roundup of the best MAC address changer tools.
In addition to Device Manager and third-party tools, you can change your MAC address using the Registry Editor. Bear in mind to change your registry carefully to avoid causing any potential problems.
To change the MAC address of your network adapter using Registry Editor, do the following:
Open Command Prompt. You can open Command Prompt by pressing Windows key + X and choosing Command Prompt from the menu.
When Command Prompt opens, type net config rdr and press Enter.
Locate Workstation active on and write down the number between the curly brackets. You’ll need that number for future steps, so write it down or don’t close Command Prompt. In our example, that number is 0297EE55-1B73-4C00-BE24-1D40B59C00C3, but it will be different on your PC.
Press Windows key + R and enter regedit. Press OK or Enter to start Registry Editor.
When Registry Editor open, navigate to the following key in the right pane:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/Current/Control/SetControl/Class/{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} While searching for this key you’ll see several similar keys, so pay extra attention and select the correct one.
You should see several folders with names such as 0000, 0001, etc. Each of these folders represents one network adapter on your PC. You’ll need to navigate through each of them in order to find your network adapter. To find your network adapter check the NetCfgInstanceId value to see if it matches the value that you got in Step 3. In our example it was FA33397D-9379-4682-92C8-C77533236D28, therefore folder 0001 matches our network adapter.
Right click the folder that represents your adapter, in our case it was 0001 but it can be a different folder on your PC, and choose New > String Value. Enter NetworkAddress as the name and double click NetworkAddress to open its properties.
In Value Data enter your desired MAC address. Remember, it has to be hexadecimal 12-character value.
Click OK to save changes.
Restart your computer or your network adapter to apply changes.
We have to mention that when changing your MAC address sometimes you have to use 2,6,A or E as the second character. For example: A6CE91…, 3ECCF1…,E2AA95…, etc.
This applies to all 3 solutions. By not following this rule, some adapters might not work properly if you change their MAC address, so keep that in mind.
Changing your MAC address on Windows 10 PC is relatively easy, and it can be even easier if you use any third-party MAC address changer tool that can assign a random hardware address to your network adapter.
If you have any more questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section below.
Fortect repairs and optimizes your system by targeting corrupted or missing files like DLLs and registry keys.
It’s straightforward: scan your PC, view a detailed report, and fix the issues automatically. Fortect even tackles blue screens and malfunctioning hardware.
Personally, we find its diagnostic process simple yet powerful for stabilizing performance.
Key features of Fortect:
Detect failing or incompatible hardware
Included driver updater
Improves security settings
Repairs DLL and registry
Fixes Windows update issues
Fortect
Fix, update, and repair drivers and system files quickly using Fortect!
Iolo System Mechanic allows you to easily block and turn off any unwanted programs, wipe logs, clean out unwanted data clogging up your RAM, and even help delete your internet cache and history.
Is there a reliable free RAM optimizer for Windows 10
The straightforward answer is yes! There are reliable free RAM optimizers for Windows 10. However, you may get the best complete solutions as paid-for software.
In most cases, they come with either trial periods before payment or free and limited versions. But among the tools discussed in this article, you will have a broad spectrum to pick from that suits this bill.
Some free options are RAM optimizer Windows 10 portable solutions, and others are RAM Booster Windows 10 solutions.
However, your computer sometimes needs a RAM optimizer tool to help it run better.
The applications mentioned above are not necessarily listed in order from top to worst. Rather, each of these programs offers different advantages and disadvantages so that you will have a wider variety to choose from.
Let us know your choice in the comments area below.
League of Legends crashing on the loading screen is one of the most annoying things that can hit right when you’re ready to dive into a match. It might freeze before champion select loads, crash as soon as the loading bar shows up, or get stuck mid-update.
That usually means something’s off: corrupted files, outdated drivers, or the Riot client glitching out. If the game won’t even launch or freezes before it gets going, don’t waste time reinstalling just yet. There are a few quicker fixes worth trying first.
How can I fix League of Legends crashing on loading screen?
2. Click on the settings icon in the top right-hand corner.
3. Select Full Repair and wait for the process to complete (The repair process can take up to 30 minutes, so be patient).
4. To make sure that changes apply after the repair, restart your PC.
5. Login again into the League of Legends client to make sure everything works as intended.
2. Update graphics card drivers
Open Device Manager.
Locate the Display Adapter section and click on the downward arrow to expand it.
Right-click on it and click Update driver.
Select Search automatically for drivers and confirm.
Keeping drivers updated helps with performance issues, FPS problems, and ensures the game can start up with no issues. If you want to automate the process, we recommend using a third party app:
Among the best driver updaters is the one made by Fortect. It’s lightweight, easy to use, and can update your graphics card driver whenever a new version arrives.
As always, if you’ve come across other solutions to fix League of Legends crashing, feel free to list the troubleshooting steps in the comment section below.
If your PC has been acting up lately with slow performance, random crashes, or strange error messages, it could be due to corrupted or missing system files.
These problems are more common than you’d think, and thankfully, Windows 10 offers several built-in tools to help you fix them.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to fix corrupted system files on Windows 10 using proven methods like the System File Checker (SFC) and DISM utilities.
How do I repair corrupted system files on Windows 10?
1. Use the SFC tool
1.1 Run System File Checker
1. Press the Windows key to open the Windows Search box.
2. Type cmd in the search box and click on Run as Administrator to open an elevated Command Prompt window.
3. Input the following command: sfc /scannow
4. Press Enter to run the command. The repair process will begin.
5. Don’t close Command Prompt or interrupt the repair process. It can take a while, so wait patiently while it completes.
If you want to repair corrupted files on your Windows 10 device, you need to perform an SFC (System File Checker) scan. It can be done easily with a command-line tool such as Command Prompt.
When you run the SFC scan, it will identify the problems and repair missing or corrupted system files in Windows 10. Also, it can easily take care of issues when the C drive is corrupted in Windows 10.
After the repair process is finished, if your system files are not corrupted, you’ll see the message Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
However, the System File Checker tool can’t always fix corrupted files, so keep that in mind.
1.2 Check the SFC log
Enter cmd in the Windows Search Bar and click on Run as administrator to open Command Prompt with full rights.
Enter the following command and press Enter (By doing this, you’ll create a sfclogs.txt file on your Desktop): findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\logs\cbs\cbs.log >sfcdetails.txt
Open the sfcdetails.txt and check the results of SFC scan.
Keep in mind that this log file contains only information related to the SFC scan that is performed in Windows. Using the two methods listed above, you can easily do a CMD scan and repair.
2. Use the DISM tool
Press the Windows key + X and click on Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin) to open the app with administrative privileges.
Type/paste the following command and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
The repair process can take 10 minutes or more, so be patient and don’t interrupt it.
After DISM tool repairs your files, restart your PC.
DISM stands for Deployment Image Servicing & Management, and it’s used to fix any corruption problems that can prevent the SFC tool from running optimally. Also, this tool will help if the Windows 11 installation file is corrupted.
You can also use a dedicated tool for corrupted system files. Fortect is a comprehensive Windows repair tool that will scan for and replace missing system files while repairing other errors.
The tool has a patented technology that replace your current system files with fresh versions from its repository. It’s like installing a fresh new Windows on your pc. Here is how to use it:
3. Once finished, click on Start Repair, and it will replace missing system files automatically from its up-to-date repository of clean Windows components.
3. Run a SFC scan from Safe Mode
Press the Windows key to launch the Start menu, click on the Power button, and while holding the Shift key, select Restart.
You’ll see three options available. Select Troubleshoot.
Select Advanced options.
Next, click Startup Settings.
Click the Restart button.
When your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Select any version of Safe Mode by pressing the appropriate key.
When Safe Mode starts, repeat the steps from Solution 1 to perform an SFC scan.
Sometimes, an SFC scan can’t repair your files by running Windows normally, but if that happens, you can try running the SFC tool in Safe Mode.
Safe Mode is a special mode that uses only default drivers and applications and by using it, you’ll eliminate any possible interference from third-party apps.
Press the Power button to turn on the system, and as soon as the Windows logo appears, hold it to turn off the computer.
Repeat the same process thrice, and on the fourth attempt, Windows will automatically perform a Startup repair.
Once the process is complete, click on Advanced options.
When the list of options appears, select Troubleshoot.
Choose Advanced options and select Command Prompt.
When your PC restarts, you might be asked to enter your username and password, so be sure to do that.
Find the letter of your Windows 10 drive. To do that, enter the following command and press Enter: wmic logicaldisk get deviceid, volumename, description
Pay attention to Volume Name. In most cases Windows Volume Name will be assigned to the letter D. This is perfectly normal if you start Command Prompt before starting Windows, so no need to worry about it.
Also check System Reserved drive. In most cases, it should be C.
Enter the following command and press Enter (Be sure to use the letters that you got from the previous steps): sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=D:\Windows
Wait while your system files are scanned.
After the scan is completed, close Command Prompt and start Windows 10 normally.
Sometimes, you need to scan and repair protected system files, but you can’t do that by running Windows 10 normally.
To scan protected system files, you’ll have to run an SFC scan before Windows 10 starts, as shown above in this solution.
5. Use the System Restore feature
Press Windows Key + S, type create a restore point, and select the option from the results.
Click on the System Restore button.
You will be recommended the latest restore point, but you can click on Choose a different restore point and hit the Next button to select a previously created one.
Select the desired restore point and click Next.
Follow the instructions on the screen to perform the restoration.
After completing the process, system files should be restored to the previous healthy version.
System Restore is a useful feature that will restore your system to an earlier state. If you cannot fix corrupted files, you might want to consider performing System Restore.
If all these steps seem a bit too complicated for you, you could also use an automated Windows 10 repair tool in order to perform the same actions without any worries.
6. Replace the files manually
Press the Windows key + X combination and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin),depending on your system’s settings.
Paste or type the following command and press Enter: takeown /f C:\corrupted-file-location-and-file-name
Remember to replace corrupted-file-location-and-file-name with the actual location of the corrupted file. You need to include both the file name and extension and not just the location of the directory (By running the takeown command you’ll have ownership over the corrupted file).
Include the following command to gain full administrator privileges over the file and press Enter: icacls C:\corrupted-file-location-and-file-name /Grant Administrators:F
Once again, replace the corrupted-file-location-and-file-name with the actual location of the file.
Now you need to replace the problematic file with the healthy file that you copied from a different PC.
Paste the following command and press Enter: copy C:\location-of-healthy-file C:\corrupted-file-location-and-file-name
Enter Yes if you’re asked whether you want to overwrite the file.
Repeat these steps for all corrupted files.
After all corrupted files are replaced, run the following command to verify if the problem with corrupted files is fixed: SFC /verifyonly
NOTE
This is one of the more advanced solutions, so be sure to follow it exactly. We also advise you to be extra cautious while performing the steps, as getting them wrong could cause system instability.
First, you need to open your SFC log and check which corrupted files can’t be repaired. We already explained how to view the SFC log file in Solution 1, so be sure to check it out for instructions.
After you find the corrupted file, you need to transfer a healthy version of that file from another PC to your PC. Keep in mind that both PCs have to use the same version of Windows 10.
7. Reset a corrupted Windows 10
Press the Windows key to open the Start Menu.
Then, click the Power button, press and hold the Shift key, and select the Restart option.
Choose Troubleshoot and select Reset this PC.
You have two options available:
Keep my files will reinstall Windows 10, but it will keep your personal files and settings.
Remove everything will remove both personal files and settings (Keep in mind that third-party applications and downloaded files will be removed by performing the reset).
If asked whether you want to clean the drive, choose the Just remove my files option.
Choose your username and enter its password (If you’re asked to insert Windows 10 installation media, be sure to do so).
Select your version of Windows and click the Reset button to start.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the process.
If everything else fails, you might have to reset your Windows 10. This process will remove your installed apps and files, so be sure to back up important files.
You might need a Windows 10 installation media to perform this process, so be sure to create one using a bootable USB flash drive. Once done, you can repair Windows 10 system files from USB.
If the reset process didn’t fix the problem, repeat it, but choose the second option, Remove everything. Then select theOnly the drive where Windows is installedoption and finally select the Just remove my files option.
After going through all these methods, you know how to get rid of corrupted files in Windows 10. Also, you are now aware of how to recover corrupted files in Windows 10.
There is also great third-party software that can help you repair easily the majority of Windows 10/11 problems you may encounter, check out this guide and learn more.
Besides, many of you might wonder how to fix corrupted files in Windows 7. And you will undoubtedly be pleased with the answer. The methods listed above will work as effectively and fix corrupted files in this OS as well.
How to fix corrupted files in Windows 11 using Startup Repair?
Press Windows + I to launch the Settings app, and click on Recovery on the right in the System tab.
Click on the Restart now button next to Advanced startup.
Once your computer enter the Windows RE (Recovery Environment), click on Troubleshoot.
Next, click on Advanced options.
Now, select Startup repair from the options listed here.
Select your user account.
Enter the password for your user account, if you have set one, and click on Continue to start the Startup Repair.
The Startup Repair tool helps repair issues preventing OS from booting effectively. This is most likely due to corrupt system files in Windows 11 or the complete absence of specific critical system files.
It will automatically scan for corrupt files, and either replace or remove them, thus eliminating the problem. The tool may sometimes take a while to run, but it’s recommended that you let the process complete and not terminate it mid-way.
Also, remember that the method listed above is in addition to the previous section’s methods. You can also try those to get rid of corrupt files in Windows 11.
For those of you trying to learn how to fix corrupted files on Mac, the process may be different, but the idea is pretty much the same.
What causes corrupt system files in Windows 10?
A system file plays a vital role in the operating system, and when it gets damaged and cannot complete its function, it may be called corrupt.
All the programs can end up having corrupted files, but when these files are part of the operating system, things can get slightly more complicated. Some of the common causes include:
There are a lot of other possible reasons for which your Windows files or system files can become corrupted, but here are some of those:
Viruses and malware – Viruses and malware sometimes cause system files to be corrupted. This occurrence is not very common as the primary goal of a virus or malware is to gather essential data, so crashing your system would not meet its end goal. But, if you spot a .djvu file extension, it is most likely a virus, so learn all the ways to remove it and secure your system. To keep yourself away from all the trouble, also check our curated list of the best antiviruses.
Power outages – These can happen randomly and without any telltale sign, and they can cause many problems with your hard disk. If the part of the storage containing your system installation is affected, the files that allow your OS to run normally may corrupt. Do not hesitate to check the best UPS to keep your system up and running even in case of a power failure.
System crashes – System crashes may occur because of hardware or software problems, and in turn, they may produce the corruption of system files. Check this guide to find out how to eliminate issues causing the system to crash in Windows 11.
Update errors – Update errors are common and often create problems with the system files and BSOD errors, which can lead to system file corruption. Check the linked guides for the best solutions to the following Windows Update error codes:
Hardware problems – When the hard drive starts having problems reading and writing data, bad sectors and corrupt files can occur. Find out the best tools for hardware diagnostics in Windows.
Apart from the above reasons, various corrupted file generator tools could have been used. If that’s the case, head to that very tool or website for the solution.
How to find corrupted files in Windows 10?
The process is not tricky but requires you to be attentive to minute details. If it’s the corrupt system files in Windows 10 or 11, you will notice performance-related issues or may be unable to use certain features.
In the worst case, the OS won’t boot at all, which can be fixed by running the DISM tool, SFC scan, or the Startup Repair tool from the Recovery Environment, as discussed in the previous sections.
In the case of corrupted files on SSD, you might not be able to access these, or they may crash soon after launch. The same is the case for an SD card, so if you have been wondering how to fix corrupted files on an SD card, just try the methods listed earlier, or use a dedicated third-party tool.
Many users believe in the idea of a corrupted file virus since they are unable to use these files. But that’s not the case, and you should never delete them. Instead, go with the troubleshooting to repair these.
Until now, we have discussed a particular segment or location of the corrupted files, but specific formats may also corrupt.
How to fix corrupted game files on Windows 10 PCs?
In the case of corrupt game files, that particular game will crash frequently or fail to run altogether. Several platforms, such as Steam and Xbox, have a built-in feature to replace or repair corrupted game files.
Also, the Repair and Reset feature built-in with Windows allows users to fix corrupted game file issues in Windows quickly. The option can be found in the Apps settings. But remember that you will not find the option for all apps installed on the computer.
So, if you made any changes or were trying to get a cheat code to work, it might corrupt game files and call for repair in Windows 10. Apart from that, downloading applications from unreliable sources is also known to cause file issues.
Be it the League of Legends corrupted files, Valorant corrupted files, Minecraft corrupted files, Forza Horizon 5 corrupted files, GT5 corrupted files, Civ 5 corrupted files, or any other game for that matter, you could easily go ahead with the corrupted files replacements using the dedicated platform.
How can I prevent file system corruption?
We’ve already explained why this problem occurs and how to fix it, but it can happen again if you’re not careful.
Of course, not all the issues can be avoided but we can supply a couple of tips that will help with corrupted files prevention in Windows.
➡ Protect your PC with an antivirus
Viruses and malware are some of the leading causes of system corruption, so it’s reasonable to start thinking about protecting your PC with an antivirus.
Windows Defender, the built-in antivirus, can do a great job. Still, if you like to live more dangerously and visit untrusted websites, you can also pick one of the best antiviruses for Windows 11 from our list to make things safer.
We are using the powerful ESET HOME Security Premium to protect our PCs, which offers great scanning options.
The possibility to pause its protection for a specified amount of time is extremely useful, and the fact that it contains a Gaming mode ensures that you won’t be bothered while gaming.
➡ Maintain your hard-drive
HDDs are more vulnerable than SSDs regarding physical damage and their resilience over time.
After a while, an HDD can develop bad sectors simply from normal usage and if you add power surges, power outages, or drops, you can get serious problems.
You can prevent power-related issues by getting an uninterruptable power supply, a device that acts as a buffer between your PC and the outlet and mitigates any such issues.
Also, you can also maintain your hard drive in good condition by defragmenting it and checking for errors by using the system tools.
But, do remember to never defragment an SSD since it has no real benefit and can actually harm the health of the drive and reduce its life.
Here is how you can easily perform defragmentation of your HDD in Windows 10:
Click on the Search button on your taskbar, and type defrag.
Select Defragment and Optimize Drives.
Choose the drive you want to optimize and click the Optimize button to initiate the process.
As soon as the process is finished, you will see that the Current status section has changed.
➡ Other useful tips
Shut down and restart your computer correctly by using the standard methods and not the physical power button
Always ensure that you meet the requirements when updating your system and installing software
Remove external drives safely; use the option from the system tray or from File Explorer, don’t just remove the drive from the port
Avoid interrupting any system process when you are performing a SFC, DISM, CHKDSK or any other system scan
Don’t delete any system files without knowing exactly what you’re doing
Also, you may come across ads claiming to excel at Windows 10 online repair, but it’s recommended that you first check the source and verify that they are not malware or viruses disguised as repair tools.
We hope our guide helped you repair corrupted files in Windows 10 and that your PC is in perfect working order.
Fixing corrupted system files is sometimes tricky, and if you can’t repair the files with the SFC tool, you’ll need to use the DISM tool instead. Using them can help you fix other file system errors like 2147163890; read this guide to learn more about it.
If issues persist, you’ll have to reset your PC or perform a clean install, but all these methods will help fix corrupted files free of cost.
You should also try a third-party tool. We’ve got an excellent list, including the best repair tools that will fix corrupted files in Windows 10. For Windows 11 users, here’s a separate guide on fixing corrupted system files.
If you have any other suggestions or questions, you can write them in the comment section below.
Too many background processes slowing your PC down? You’re not alone. A bunch of system monitors and startup apps launch the second Windows boots, and most of them just sit there eating up memory.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to cut the clutter, shut down what you don’t need, and free up system resources for the stuff you actually use.
1. Clean up the Windows Startup
Press the Windows key + X and select Task Manager to open the Processes tab.
Select the Start-up tab.
Select any system tray program and press the Disable button to remove it from the Windows Startup.
You can always open any applications that you need during your usage of Windows, and, if you change your mind, you can always add and remove startup apps to Windows 10 at will.
2. Terminate background processes using Task Manager
Start Task Manager by pressing the Windows key + X combination and selecting it from the list.
Inside the Processes tab, select the one you want closed, and click on the End task button from the bottom right.
Note the RAM and CPU percentage figures that highlight the system resource usage for the processes. Stop the third-party software processes that waste the most resources.
However, stick to terminating third-party background services only. Do not tamper with Windows processes that are essential to the OS.
3. Remove third-party software services from the Windows Startup
3.1 Remove the services individually
Right-click the taskbar, and select Task Manager.
Open the Processes tab.
Expand a service you need to disable by clicking the drop-down arrow.
Right-click the service and select Open Services.
Double-click the service you need to disable on the Services window to open its properties window.
Select Disabled from the Startup type drop-down menu.
Select the Apply option and click OK to close the window.
Many of the third-party software services listed under background services might be a part of the Windows startup.
As such, the End task button will only temporarily stop those services until you restart Windows.
To completely turn them off, simply follow the steps described in the first solution of this guide.
3.2 Remove the non-system services in bulk
Press the Windows key + R hotkey to start the Run app.
Enter msconfig in and click OK or press Enter.
Select the Services tab.
Click the Hide all Microsoft services check box.
Press the Disableall button, then click the Apply and OK buttons.
Press the Restart button on the dialog box that opens.
Click the Selective startup option, and then deselect theLoad startup items check box.
Now you can either toggle off the Let apps run in the background option from the top or you can toggle off the individual apps below.
These apps don’t consume a significant amount of resources and that’s why we left them at the bottom, but they still are background processes that you can disable.
5. Turn off system monitors
Task Manager also lists third-party system monitors as background processes. Some third-party utilities include system monitors that check system resources and hard disk usage.
Even though system monitors start during the Windows startup, you can’t always disable them with Task Manager.
Thus, the only way to ensure that some system monitors don’t start with Windows is to configure the options for them included within their utility software.
So, if you see a system monitor listed in Task Manager’s background processes, search for an option in the software’s settings that will disable it.
➡ It’s recommended not totouch the Windows processes
We recommend not to mess around with the Windows processes unless you know exactly what you’re doing because terminating them can cause system instability.
However, it is important to understand how can you differentiate between a Windows process and an ordinary process.
Follow these simple steps to check the type of process:
Right-click on the taskbar and choose Task Manager.
Click the View button and choose the Group by type option.
Now the tasks listed in the Task Manager will be separated by their type in drop-down lists.
You will be able to find the Windows processes section at the end of the list, so make sure not to modify the state of any tasks from that part.
➡ Which processes consume more resources?
After you open Task Manager, you can sort the processes in the descending order of their memory or CPU usage just by clicking on the corresponding column on top.
Moreover, as you can see in the screenshot above, usage is color-coded and you can tell that the process on top is consuming a lot of memory. If you’re having troubles with Service Host: SysMain specifically, we’ve got you covered.
How to prevent getting too many processes in the long run?
➡ Don’t open too many programs
Even if you’re not using a program this instant, that doesn’t mean that they are not running. Maybe you opened a program 10 minutes ago with several windows and then forgot about it.
Try to see a list of programs you are running right now by pressing the Alt + Tab combination. You can use it not only to switch between them but also to identify them quickly and close them. If they are too many, consider closing all app windows at once.
➡ Don’t allow programs to run in the background
After you run and then close a program, at its first use, the software will ask you if you allow it to run in the background.
To modify these settings, simply follow these steps:
Press Win Key + Xand choose Settings.
Choose Privacy.
Scroll down in the left side list and click on Background apps.
Activate the Let apps run in the background toggle.
Choose which of the apps on your PC will be allowed to do so.
Both the general option and the activation for all specific applications can be easily changed again at any time by following the same steps and toggling off the options.
➡ Uninstall unwanted programs
Try to clean your system of unwanted programs from time to time. That will get rid of their background processes too, but most of all, it will lighten up your system.
Simply follow these steps to achieve this:
Press Win Key + S, and type Remove.
Choose the Add or remove programs entry.
Select the app you want to uninstall, and choose Uninstall.
So, you can fix an excess of background processes primarily by removing third-party programs and their services from the Windows startup with the Task Manager and System Configuration utilities.
That will free up more system resources for desktop software on your taskbar and speed up Windows. If you want to take the customization to the next level, you can also find out how to improve system performance in Windows 10.
Microsoft seems to have a cozy yet bullish relationship in the Industrial Metaverse. Microsoft Executive VP and Chief Commercial Officer Judson Althoff told investors last month that three brand categories have emerged in the Metaverse; consumer, commercial, and industrial. The metaverse is still young but is showing promise in allowing businesses to better engage and become more productive with clients. Althoff is known for using ioT technologies instead of prototyping products to help reduce energy and waste.
While these were all things businesses should be pursuing, one thing Althoff seemed to leave out, according to Bob Evans at Acceleration Economy, is how businesses can better connect with their customers and deliver a more refined product. What’s the value of sustainability with less energy consumption and product waste if consumers aren’t impressed with the product or service being delivered? Althoff could have been more persuasive with his argument if he addressed “the ability for businesses to deliver to their customers better and more finely tuned products, services, and experiences,” said Evans.
“To simplify, I look at it in kind of three buckets: there’s the consumer metaverse, and there’ll be a monetization thing there in the consumer metaverse.
“There’s the commercial metaverse, where people will have more engaging and experiential collaboration in the metaverse. And I do think that there’s an opportunity there to bring people from around the world with different perspectives to collaborate.
“But where I actually have the most amount of passion is in this thing I call the industrial metaverse, and we have real tangible outcomes for driving with customers today. And so think of it as combining sets of technologies and IoT capabilities where you come in and create a sensor fabric for any industrial process, any manufacturing environment, any supply chain or logistics scenario.”
While being industrially efficient does carry a level of importance, interlacing that with great experiences with products and services for consumers is also important. Evans says “I’m all for being as efficient as possible with energy usage, and with reducing waste wherever and whenever possible. But those highly desirable outcomes need to be fused with great experiences for customers, and great products and services and outcomes for customers.” He’s looking for a bit more “dazzle” from Althoff. Do you agree?
Xbox Free Play Days is back for another weekend of free-to-play Xbox games from Thursday, October 6 through Sunday, October 9. This weekend’s lineup is a doozy, with the highlight for many being a certain high-profile online action-roleplaying game set in a post-apocalyptic Appalachia. However there are two other worthy titles available this weekend that should not be overlooked. Let’s have a look at the Xbox Free Play Days lineup for this weekend.
Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of Skyrim and Fallout 4, welcome you to Fallout 76. Twenty-five years after the bombs fell, you and your fellow Vault Dwellers—chosen from the nation’s best and brightest – emerge into post-nuclear America on Reclamation Day, 2102.
Experience the beauty and detail of mowing the Great British countryside in Lawn Mowing Simulator, the only simulator that allows you to ride an authentic and expansive roster of real-world licensed lawn mowers from prestigious manufacturers; Toro, SCAG and STIGA as you manage your mowing business.
Outcast – Second Contact is the complete remake of the cult title Outcast, the first 3D open-world game in video game history and pioneer in the modern action-adventure genre.
These games are free to install and play during the Xbox Free Play Days event. They are also available to purchase at impressive discounts throughout the duration of the Free Play Days event. Note that Xbox Free Play Days is a perk available only for subscribers of Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. You can learn more about the program over on the Xbox Free Play Days FAQ page.
The Downloads directory stores files that you download with browsers. However, an unresponsive Downloads folder can take ages to open. Some users have stated that they can’t open Downloads at all.
When that folder is not responding, File Explorer might then stop working and that can be extremely frustrating because you won’t be able to access your files.
What to do if I can’t open the Downloads folder?
This issue can appear on all operating systems, and even Windows 11 users reported that the Download folder not responding.
If you have two Download folders on Windows, it’s possible that you’re lacking certain privileges thus being unable to access this folder.
One way to fix this is to change the download location on your PC, redownload the file, and check if the problem is gone.
In case the problem is still there, you can always try using the solutions mentioned in this guide.
Why is the Downloads folder not responding?
The main problem with the Downloads problem can be the fact that it accumulated too much content and it’s hard for the system to process it.
So, if File Explorer is working fine and only the Downloads folder is opening slowly or being unresponsive, take the time and delete the bigger files there when it does open.
You can also use specialized repair tools to perform a full integrity scan of your system files. This kind of softwarescans your computer, finds corrupted or corrupted files, and restores them.
2. Use the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter
Click the Start button and select Settings.
Choose Update & Security.
Select Troubleshoot from the left, then click on Additional troubleshooters from the right pane.
Scroll down until you find Windows Store Apps, click on it to expand, then hit the Run the troubleshooter button.
Go on with the troubleshooter to fix File Explorer and the Downloads folder.
The Downloads folder problem is directly connected to File Explorer so running the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter may fix the app and indirectly the aforementioned folder.
3. Optimize the Downloads folder for General items
Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
Right-click your Downloads directory and select Properties.
Select the Customize tab and select General items from the drop-down menu.
Then click the Also applythis template to all subfolders checkbox, select the Apply option, and click OK to close the window.
An unresponsive Downloads folder is often due to Automatic Folder Type Discovery that automatically optimizes directories for specific file types.
Folder Discovery is great for the Videos, Pictures, and Music folders that include one very specific file type. However, it doesn’t work so well for the Downloads directory that includes more variable files.
Thus, Folder Discovery can be more of a bug that considerably slows down the Downloads folder’s load time. File Explorer doesn’t include an option to switch off Folder Discovery.
Thus, optimizing Downloads for general items just like in our solution above might fix that folder.
4. Select the Always show icons option
Press the Windows key + E to start File Explorer.
You can configure Explorer to show icons only by clicking its File tab and selecting Change folder and search options.
Click the View tab and select the Always show icons, never thumbnails option.
Press the Apply button and then click OK to close the window.
After completing these steps, the download folder not responding Windows 10 issue should be solved.
5. Disable Automatic Folder Type Discovery
5.1 Disable Automatic Folder Type Discovery using the Registry Editor
Press the Windows key + R to start a Run window, type regedit and hit Enter or click OK.
Navigate to the following Registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell
Now, delete the subkeys Bags and BagsMRU subkeys under Shell.
Next, right-click on Shell and select New, then Key to recreate the Bags subkey.
Right click the newly created Bags and select New and Key to create a new AllFolders subkey.
And under AllFolders, create a new key and name it Shell.
If you’ve followed the steps correctly, you should have the follolwing path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell
Right click on the right pane, select New and String Value and name it FolderType.
Double click FolderType and set its value to NotSpecified, then click OK.
Lastly, restart your PC for the changes to take effect and see if the Downloads folder is working now.
This solution is a bit complicated for inexperienced users and it may require your full attention as a wrong approach to modifying the Registry may lead to some serious issues. But it should fix the download folder not responding windows 10 issue.
However, below you will also find a solution that uses a dedicated tool that will do this same job a lot easier so read on.
Press the Windows key + E to start File Explorer, open WinAero’s ZIP file, click theExtract allbutton, and choose a path other than Downloads to extract it to.
Open the software’s installer from the extracted folder to install Winaero, then, after the installation, start the tool.
Click File Explorer on the left of the window to expand further options.
Select Automatic Folder Type Discovery on the left of the window, and then click the Disable automatic folder type discovery checkbox.
As mentioned, you can’t turn off Automatic Folder Type Discovery with a File Explorer option. However, the Winaero Tweaker customization software does include a Disable automatic folder type discovery setting.
Thus, you can select that option to ensure Folder Discovery no longer slows down the Downloads directory. Add this should fix the download folder not responding Windows 10 issue.
How can I fix the Downloads folder in Windows 10?
It’s no surprise that the Downloads folder can get unresponsive in Windows 11 and that’s because the new OS inherited a lot of Windows 10’s issues.
Apart from a lot of design modifications and new features, Windows 11 is not so different from its older counterpart.
However, returning to the problem at hand, all the solutions we provided above to fix the Downloads folder in Windows 10 will work perfectly fine on the new OS.
The only differences are in the design of the Windows 10 but as you can see in the screenshot above, the Downloads folder and the options list are the same.
Some of those resolutions will fix an unresponsive Downloads folder so that it opens and loads more quickly and we hope that the problem was resolved.
If you have any other suggestions or ideas on the download folder not responding Windows 10 issue, don’t hesitate to write us all about them in the comments section below.
TechCrunch has reported that Microsoft has been in talks with Zupee to possibly lead a funding round of over $100 million. This with the aim to help the Indian cloud services company to expand to overseas markets.
To be clear, no agreement has been reached as of yet, and there is a very good possibility it will not come fruition at all. Neither party has made any public comments concerning the potential partnership.
Zupee is a startup based in New Delhi. It is a cloud-based, play-to-earn casual gaming platform with over 70 million downloads and a valuation of $600 million. The platform features casual board games such as ludo, carrom, snakes and ladders, etc. If the deal should go through, it could mean the integration of Microsoft’s Azure cloud service with Zupee.
Tired of uninstalling programs only to find junk files still hanging around? Windows’ default tool leaves remnants that clutter your PC, slow performance, and waste space.
Third-party uninstallers fix that, removing software completely and cleaning up the leftovers. We’ve tested the best tools – let’s check them out.
Third-party uninstaller benefits & comparison:
Product
Runs on
Key features
Our Rating
Price
IObit Uninstaller
Win11-Win10- Win8- Win7- Vista- XP
– Web browsers analysis, – Monitor new programs installations, – Forced uninstall
The interface is simple, and it can also force uninstall stubborn apps. After using it, we noticed an improvement in system performance due to the removal of clutter.
If you want a reliable, feature-packed tool, this one’s hard to beat.
Pros:
Deep scanning for leftovers
Force uninstall option
Simple, clean interface
Regular updates
Cons:
Some features locked behind Pro version
May not catch every hidden file
IObit Uninstaller Pro
Safely uninstall even the most stubborn of programs and keep your PC clutter-free at all times!
Revo Uninstaller stands out with its advanced features. It offers multiple uninstall modes, like Quick Uninstall and Forced Uninstall, that can remove even the most stubborn software remnants.
It’s effective at cleaning up junk files and leftover registry entries.
If you want more control and a few extra tools like a browser cleaner, Revo has you covered.
Pros:
Multi-mode uninstall
Removes stubborn program leftovers
Browser and autorun manager
Portable version available
Cons:
Paid features can be expensive
Interface feels cluttered at times
Revo Uninstaller Pro
Uninstall any software completely and make sure no traces of it are left behind using Revo Uninstaller.
Ashampoo Uninstaller brings power user features to the table with advanced uninstall options, including silent uninstalls.
It also offers tools for managing startup programs and optimizing your system’s performance. While we appreciate the many features, it’s a bit overwhelming for casual users.
If you want a full suite for software management and PC optimization, Ashampoo is an excellent choice.
Pros:
Advanced features for optimization
Silent uninstalls
Great for managing startup programs
Cons:
Doesn’t support batch uninstall
Complex interface
Ashampoo Uninstaller
Fully optimize and protect your PC with Ashampoo Uninstaller, rubbing out all undesired programs.
Wise Care 365 Pro isn’t just an uninstaller, it’s a full PC maintenance suite.
Along with uninstalling programs, it optimizes your PC, cleans junk files, and fixes registry issues. We love how it speeds up system performance and makes it easier to manage the startup process.
If you want more than just uninstallation, this tool is perfect for comprehensive system care.
Pros:
All-in-one maintenance tool
Speeds up PC performance
Simple to use
Cons:
Not focused purely on uninstallation
Some features require manual tweaking
Wise Care 365 Pro
Try this useful software for a complete cleaning and safeguarding experience of your computer!
Absolute Uninstaller specializes in thorough and secure uninstallation. It removes programs and their remnants with precision and offers detailed reports on any leftover files.
We appreciate its focus on security, ensuring that no traces are left behind.
If you’re looking for a straightforward and secure uninstaller, Absolute is a reliable choice.
Pros:
Thorough removal of remnants
Secure and safe uninstallation
Detailed uninstall reports
Cons:
Interface could be more modern
Lacks additional system optimization features
Absolute Uninstaller
If you need a straightforward uninstaller tool that performs its job, confidently choose Absolute!
To conclude, all the best uninstaller software for Windows 10 presented above will do a fantastic job of removing unwanted software from your computer, but each one of them also packs some pretty cool extras.
Check them all out and stick with your favorite. For more suggestions, please access the comments section below.
Fortunately or unfortunately, there comes a time in everyone’s life when they’ve worked in an office (or some other institutional) setting for so long that they find themselves soon at a place where they have to send bulk emails to all employees or clients. Maybe that time has come for you as well.
Or perhaps you’re just the regular Outlook user who, for some reason, has to reach out to a bunch of people for a one-time affair. Whatever your specific case, by the end of this piece, you’ll be able to send mass Outlook emails in a single go.
How to send personalized mass emails in Outlook
Before you begin, I recommend you type the draft copy for your email separately—either a Notepad or Word document would suffice. Or you could even write it out on an online document app. I’ve always found the clutterless interface of simple writing software much more productive for writing out anything more than a paragraph, and in case something goes south with your email, you’ll also have the draft email copy with you.
In this article, we’ll stick with Word though.
So, launch the app, type out your email, and after you’ve written out the main body, head to Mailings > Start Mail Merge > E-mail Messages.
Now, select your email recipients by clicking on the Select Recipients tab, right under the Start Mail Merge option.
From here, you’ve three options to pick from: Type a New List, Use an Existing List, or Choose from Outlook Contacts. Depending on whether you have a contact list from beforehand or not, choose one of the options from these three.
Finally, find and click on Finish & Merge. From there, click on Send Email Messages… As soon as you do this, a new dialog box will open, letting you select everything from the sender address, subject line, and mail format. Finally, click on OK, and your mass mail will be sent.
Personalizing your email
You definitely don’t want to send the same boilerplate email to everyone. And this is where personalization will come to your rescue. By default, Outlook lets you tweak your email greeting to address the receipt directly. Here’s how:
Head to Mailings > Greeting Line.
You’ll be able to change your greeting line from here; after you’re done, click OK. Also, you have the Insert MergeField feature. Through this option, you can tweak all instances for the name, title, or email addresses you’ve used in your email copy. So, that’s how you can personalize your Outlook email for good.
Sending personalized mass emails on Outlook
For most users, sending mass emails is not a regular affair. If you’re one such user, then the method above will do the job for you just right. However, if this is going to be a regular affair then you’ll need far more features than you can get on Outlook; in that case, you’ll find that investing in specialized mass mail software will be much more beneficial in the long run.
Windows Terminal is a modern host application for running command-line shells side-by-side like Command Prompt, PowerShell, and bash (via Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), among others. This guide will show you how to install Windows Terminal, set a default terminal application, set a default terminal profile, and more.
1. If you don’t have access to the Microsoft Store, you can also download Terminal builds from the GitHub releases page. But keep in mind, these versions will not update automatically.
2. You can try bleeding edge preview features available if you install Windows Terminal Preview.
3. Windows 11 users only: Use winget to install Windows Terminal by using the following command in Command Prompt or PowerShell: winget install Microsoft.WindowsTerminal
Of course, you can use other package managers like Chocolately or Scoop if you prefer, but in my personal opinion, winget is easier to use to download and install apps than even the Microsoft Store.
Set the default terminal application (Windows 11 only)
To open any command line application you want with Windows Terminal, set it as your default terminal application by doing the following:
Open Windows Terminal and go to Settings. You can also use the Ctrl + , keyboard shortcut within the app to be taken directly to the Windows Terminal Settings.
Click Startup and choose “Windows Terminal” as the Default terminal application from the dropdown menu.
Click Save to save your changes when finished.
That’s it, you are finished! You could probably set it even faster by using the Settings Ctrl + , keyboard shortcut within the app, but once it’s set, Windows Terminal is now your default terminal application on Windows 11.
Set the default terminal profile
When you open Windows Terminal for the first time, the default profile is set to “PowerShell.” If you want to change it, here’s what you need to do.
Open Windows Terminal and go to Settings > Startup. Use Ctrl + , keyboard shortcut within the app to be taken directly there. Startup is the first tab in Windows Terminal Settings, so it opens first when you use the keyboard shortcut.
Under Startup, choose which command-line tool you want to use as a Default profile you want to use form the dropdown menu.
Click Save to save your changes.
When you are finished making changes, you can close Settings in Windows Terminal.
Add a new profile
Windows Terminal creates profiles automatically if you have any WSL distributions or multiple versions of PowerShell installed. Your command line Profiles are listed in left pane under Settings.
To add a new profile, under Profiles, click Add a new profile.
You can choose to create a New empty profile or Duplicate to copy a profile that already exists. Use the dropdown menu to select which profile you want to copy before clicking Duplicate.
Click Save when you are finished making changes.
Open a new tab
If you want to open a new tab, you can click the plus + sign next to your current tab to open a new tab.
Otherwise, you can use the Ctrl + Shift + T keyboard shortcut to open a new tab. To open a different command line tool profile, select the arrow button next to the plus sign to select a different profile to open a new tab with.
Open and close a pane
You can even run multiple shells side-by-side-using Windows Terminal Panes. It might seem daunting at first, but it’s easy once you learn. Here are five keyboard shortcuts that I use daily within Windows Terminal:
To open a vertical pane: Alt + Shift + + (plus button)
To open a horizontal pane: Alt + Shift + – (minus button)
To open a duplicate pane: Alt + Shift + D
To close a selected pane: Ctrl + Shift + W
Switch between panes: Alt + arrow keys
So, if you want to display Windows PowerShell, Command Prompt, PowerShell and bash side-by-side in Windows Terminal, here’s what you need to do.
With a Terminal window open with your default profile (for this example, “Windows PowerShell.”) hold down Alt on your keyboard and click the arrow next to the plus button to select a different profile to add to your existing pane.
In this example, with Alt held down, I selected “Command Prompt.”
Command Prompt will now appear alongside Windows PowerShell in Windows Terminal.
You can repeat these steps to add as many profiles as you want. Just remember to hold Alt down while you choose a different profile, otherwise, a new tab will open instead of a pane.
Hold down Alt + arrow keys to move between panes. If you want to change any keyboard shortcuts you use via the Actions section in Windows Terminal Settings.
Invoke the command palette
You can access most of Windows Terminal’s features by invoking the command palette. The default keyboard shortcut for the command palette is Ctrl + Shift + P.
Settings JSON file
For those that don’t want to use a graphic user interface (GUI), you can configure your Windows Terminal Settings in code, by editing the Settings JSON file. You can do this by clicking Here’s what you need to do.
October 5 marked one year since Windows 11 hit general availability. Lansweeper, an IT asset management software provider that assists organizations understand, manage and protect their IT devices and network, has come up with a detailed report that has highlighted that 43% of Microsoft devices still can’t run Windows 11 based on 30 million Windows devices scanned at 60,000 enterprises.
Lansweeper further detailed in their report that of those machines, only 2.61% are currently running Windows 11. In comparison, the adoption rates for the new OS at the beginning of the year and six months ago stand at 0.52% and 1.44% respectively indicating a significant growth. As per their findings, the Windows 11 minimum system requirements greatly affected this growth as a good number of the workstations forming part of the estimated 27 million Windows devices surveyed were not able to conform to them.
92.9% of the devices factored in during the survey passed the RAM test while only 64.6% of those tested for the TPMs met the miminum system requirements.”If this trend continues at its current pace, it will take around four years for devices to meet the minimum requirements for Windows 11,” said Roel Decneut, Chief Strategy Officer at Lansweeper.
Further in the report, it is evident that Windows 11 has moved up in the ranks beating Windows 8, however, Windows 7 is still ahead as far as market share is concerned even after reaching end of support. According to the report, “4.82% of devices are still running Operating Systems that aren’t being fully supported, as well as 0.91% of Servers that are also End-of-Life”.
Lansweeper told OnMSFT that:
We know that those who can’t update to Windows 11 – which is most business devices right now – will continue to use Windows 10. But even if organizations were prepared to upgrade their PCs to meet the requirements of Windows 11, there are broader issues affecting adoption that are out of Microsoft’s control. Global supply chain disruption has created chip and processor shortages, while many are choosing to stick with what hardware they have at the moment due to global financial uncertainty.
Interestingly enough, you might recall that at the beginning of this, Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella reported that there are now 1.4 billion monthly active Windows 10 or Windows 11 devices, while AdDuplex’s report indicated that the new Microsoft operating system is now running on 23.1% of surveyed PCs. Perhaps these figures might change in the foreseeable future, as Windows 11 reached broad deployment opening up its doors to users with Windows 10 PC that meets minimum requirements.
Windows 10 isn’t without flaws, and one of the more annoying issues is the unresponsive taskbar so that’s what we’re going to address now.
With an unresponsive taskbar, you aren’t able to access your notifications, Start menu, or Cortana, so you can see why this is such a problem.
In fact, a lot of users reported Windows 10 that the Start menu and taskbar not working, so we are going to take a closer look at this problem.
So, if your taskbar is not working on Windows 10 after an update, you definitely came to the right place to get it fixed.
What causes the Windows taskbar to freeze?
There are many reasons why Windows 11 Taskbar is not working, but the most common one is the corruption of the user profile, so recreating it might be the best course of action.
On the other hand, if the Start Menu isn’t working, it’s possible that you encountered a system bug, so it’s a good idea to update your system.
This isn’t the only component that can experience issues, and many reported that the Search bar is not working in Windows 11, but that can be easily fixed with the solutions from this guide.
Fortunately, we have several solutions available to you.
The taskbar is a key component of your system, however, sometimes your Taskbar might become unresponsive. Speaking of the unresponsive Taskbar, here are some similar issues that users reported:
Windows 10 Start Menu and Taskbar not working – Sometimes both your Start Menu and Taskbar won’t work. Your antivirus might cause this, so be sure to install the latest updates and check if that helps.
Windows 10 Start Menu not working – This is a similar problem that can occur alongside an unresponsive Taskbar. If your Start Menu is not working, be sure to check one of our related articles for a detailed explanation on how to fix this problem.
Windows 10 Taskbar frozen, not working – This is a relatively common problem with your Taskbar. To fix this problem, be sure to download and install the latest updates and check if that helps.
Windows 10 Taskbar unresponsive after sleep, update – This problem can appear after a recent update. If you suspect that an update is a problem, remove it or perform a System Restore.
Taskbar unresponsive at startup – In some cases, Taskbar won’t work as soon as you turn on your PC. To fix this issue, you might have to create a new user account and check if that solves the problem.
Taskbar not working Windows 10 after update – You may have to roll back the update in this instance.
How do I fix the unresponsive taskbar in Windows 10?
1. Perform a System Restore or use a dedicated software
You can repair the Windows 10 unresponsive taskbar using this useful resolution with the System Restore service. See the guided steps to perform it safely.
1. Press Windows Key + S and enter create a restore point. Choose to Create a restore point from the menu.
2. System Properties window will now appear. Select System Restore from the menu.
3. When System Restore window opens, click Next.
4. If available, check Show more restore points checkbox. Select the desired restore point and click Next.
5. Follow the instructions on the screen to restore your PC.
After the restoration process is completed, check if your Taskbar is working again.
If other solutions can fix the problem with the unresponsive Taskbar, you might want to try performing a System Restore.
1.2 Use dedicated software to fix the problem
What can you do if you don’t have any restore points created? Unfortunately, you will have to solve this problem in some other way. We recommend a dedicated, third-party software that can solve this problem automatically.
2. Uninstall your Nvidia graphics driver
Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu.
Choose Device Manager from the list. If this method doesn’t work, you can use any other method to start Device Manager.
When it opens, locate your graphics card driver, right-click it, and choose Uninstall Device from the menu.
Check Delete the driver software for this device and click Uninstall.
Some users report that uninstalling their current Nvidia graphics driver and replacing it with an older Nvidia driver could solve the problem. To do that, simply follow the steps above.
After doing that, go to your graphics card’s manufacturer’s website and download the driver that is a couple of months old. Once the download and install the older driver, check if the issue is still there.
3. Check your antivirus
Sometimes you might experience issues with unresponsive Taskbar due to your antivirus software.
Using an antivirus is important, but third-party antivirus tools can sometimes interfere with your system and cause this and many other errors to occur.
To fix the problem, you need to disable certain antivirus features and check if that helps. If that doesn’t solve the problem with the unresponsive Taskbar, your next step would be to completely disable your antivirus.
In case that doesn’t help, your only solution is to remove your antivirus software. Several users reported that Norton antivirus caused this issue on their PC, but after removing it, the problem was resolved.
Keep in mind that other antivirus tools can also cause this problem, so you might have to remove them as well.
If removing the antivirus solves the problem, your next step would be to switch to a different antivirus.
There are many great antivirus tools on the market, but if you want a tool that offers maximum protection without any interference with your system, we suggest that you try out the solution below.
Users report that disabling the iGPU MultiMonitor option in BIOS helped fix this issue. To access BIOS you’ll have to press Del or F2 (or some other key depending on your motherboard) while booting.
We have to mention that not every BIOS has the iGPU MultiMonitor option. Also, the location of the iGPU MultiMonitor option might be different for different versions of BIOS, so there’s no unique way to disable it.
You’ll have to try and find it in your BIOS on your own. Most likely you will find it in the graphics section so it won’t be that difficult to locate.
Press Windows Key + R, type Services.msc and press Enter to open the Services window.
Find Windows Firewall from the list of services and double-click it to open its properties.
Find the Startup Type option, set it to Manual and click Apply.
Now in the Services window in the top left to find a Start this service button to start Windows Firewall.
In order for this solution to work, you’ll need to have your Windows Firewall enabled. If your Windows Firewall isn’t enabled perform the steps above to enable it.
After you’ve enabled Windows Firewall you can proceed to the next steps.
Find the following path: C:WindowsSystem32WindowsPowerShellv1.0powershell.exe
Right-click powershell.exe and choose Run as Administrator.
Copy this line into PowerShell and press Enter to execute it:
Check to see if the problem is resolved. After you’ve enabled Windows Firewall you can proceed to next steps.
6. Check for missing updates
Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
Navigate to Update & Security section.
In the right pane click Check for updates button.
If you’re having problems with the unresponsive Taskbar, the issue might be related to the missing updates. Sometimes there might be a glitch in your system and installing the updates might fix that.
Windows 10 installs the missing updates automatically, but you can always check for updates manually.
If any updates are available, Windows will download them automatically in the background. Once the updates are downloaded, they will be automatically installed as soon as you restart your PC.
After your system is up to date, check if the problem is still there. Yes, it might be as easy as installing the latest Windows 10 updates.
7. Create a new account
Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
When Settings app opens, go to the Accounts section.
From the menu on the left choose Family & other people. In the right pane choose to Add someone else to this PC.
Select I don’t have this person’s sign-in information.
Now choose to Add a user without a Microsoft account.
Enter the desired username and click Next.
According to users, sometimes the problem with an unresponsive Taskbar can be caused by a corrupted user account. To fix this problem, it’s advised that you create a new account and check if that helps.
Once you create a new user account, switch to the new account and check if the problem is still there.
If the issue doesn’t appear on the new account, you might have to move all your personal files to it and start using it instead of your old account.
8. Remove the problematic applications
Sometimes third-party issues can cause problems with Taskbar to appear. According to users, applications such as QuickTime or Quickbooks can cause this problem to appear.
If you’re having problems with the unresponsive Taskbar, the best way to deal with this issue is to remove the problematic applications.
There are several ways to do that, but the best method is to use uninstaller software. By using an uninstaller software such as IOBit Uninstaller, you’ll remove the problematic application, as well as its files and registry entries.
This will ensure that the application is completely removed and prevent the problem from appearing in the future.
Locate File Explorer process, right-click it and choose Restart from the menu.
According to users, one way to deal with an unresponsive Taskbar is to restart File Explorer. Your Taskbar and Start Menu are related to File Explorer, and by restarting its process, you’ll also restart your Taskbar.
Once File Explorer restarts, check if the problem is still there. Keep in mind that this might not be a permanent solution, so if the problem reappears, you’ll need to restart Windows Explorer again.
How do I restart the taskbar service?
Don’t worry, this is a really simple process that is not going to take up a whole lot of your time, so don’t even worry about that.
You will see the steps described right below, so go through them carefully and you will have your issues resolved in absolutely no time.
How can I fix unresponsive Taskbar on Windows 11?
Press Ctrl + Alt + Del select Task manager.
Scroll down to Windows Explorer, select it and press Restart.
This issue with the Windows taskbar not working can be an annoying problem, but we hope that some of these solutions were helpful to you.
After reading this article, you will be a lot more prepared to deal with your taskbar not working on windows 10 HP.
Many users reported their Windows 10 taskbar being unresponsive after updates, so this is not an isolated issue.
An unresponsive taskbar on your Windows 11 device can be pretty annoying, so just follow this guide and put all that in the past.
You can also use these steps if your Windows 10 taskbar has a loading cursor, or your Windows taskbar has frozen on startup.
Remember to keep your Windows 10 up to date with the latest updates because if none of these solutions were helpful, maybe the latest update might fix this issue.
Windows 10 is one of the biggest releases that Microsoft ever announced and Windows Update made a colossal difference to the overall user experience.
While they are supposed to download automatically, the process is not always as streamlined as intended and glitches can occur.
For some users, Windows Update not working issues occur frequently, while others may stumble across this problem occasionally when performing specific tasks.
Let’s quickly go through the most common scenarios for which Windows 10 updates won’t install and check out the culprits behind each of them.
Why is my Windows Update not working?
If Windows is unable to finish installing an update, check to confirm that you are properly connected to the Internet and that your hard disk has sufficient free space, as these are the two most common causes.
You might also try restarting your computer, or you could check to make sure that Windows drivers were installed successfully.
Here is a list of the most common Windows Update errors that users reported getting in Windows 10:
Windows 10 updates won’t install on restart – The update process gets stuck after performing a system restart.
Windows Update not working in Safe Mode (Windows 7/10/11) – Safe Mode only allows essential system programs to start up at boot. Installing Windows updates in Safe Mode is only recommended if you cannot start Windows normally.)
Windows Update stuck on downloading – This error can also be found under this form: We couldn’t install this update 0x80070541. While the numeric part can vary, the description often reads We couldn’t install this update, but you can try again.
Windows Update download button is not working or button is missing altogether – This error prevents you from force-downloading certain features. In some cases, Windows Update database corruption can occur and prevent you from installing updates.
One of the Update services is not running properly in Windows 10 – One of the essential services on which WU relies, the Windows Update Service is not running at all.
Windows Update not working through a proxy, after cloning hard drive – Even though it is a solid method to protect your privacy online, many users reported various issues while using a proxy.
Windows Update, not enough space– This is a common problem, and it’s usually caused by the lack of space. To fix the issue, try removing unnecessary files and check if that resolves your problem.
We couldn’t install updates because there’s a problem with the date and time information on your device
Windows Update messed up my computer 2022 – Uninstalling the latest Windows update is one of the best solutions in this case.
Windows Update is not up to date but no updates – Perhaps you will simply have to wait until the devs will push a new update.
This being said, let’s see what you can do if Windows 10 or 11 won’t install. If you still can’t seem to fix the issue, check out our last section with similar articles that cover more update-related errors.
What to do if Windows Update is not working?
1. Run the Windows Update troubleshooter
Click on the Start button, type troubleshoot, and select Troubleshoot settings from the results.
Click on Aditional troubleshooters.
Select Windows Update and then click on the Run the troubleshooter button.
Microsoft’s Windows Update Troubleshooter is a good way of knowing the problem if it is not too complex. It is almost everyone’s first choice whether a newbie or a professional.
Unfortunately, it does not always manage to solve the issue. It will most likely retrieve a result that resembles this description: Windows Update troubleshooting couldn’t identify the problem.
Whether it fixes your problem or not, it can surely provide you with useful information, so don’t be shy to use the Windows Update troubleshooter in Windows 10 or 11. Anyways, if Windows Troubleshooter is not working, move on to our next solution.
2. Use System Restore to roll back and uninstall a bad update
If Windows Update is not working, System Restore might be the best way to fix it. This makes your computer back into the past when it was working fine, so follow the steps above to get this done.
OpenStart Menufrom the Taskbar at the bottom of the screen then click to open theSettingsright above the Power button.
2. ClickUpdate & Security.
3. In this new window, you need to selectView update historyand find the last successful update installed on your Windows.
4. You will now see a list of updates installed on your system.
5. Click on theUninstall updatesat the top.
6. When you clickUninstall updates, a new window will pop up which shows the new updates that are installed on the PC.
7. You can choose to uninstall any of these updates but proceed with caution as uninstalling a critical update will lead to a PC that is full of bugs.
After the completion of the restore, your computer will work fine.
Needless to say, the solution implies you already have created a restore point to which you want to revert now. If you can’t find a restore point, you may need to create one manually.
One drawback of using Windows’ own Restore point is that, while it creates an identical picture of your PC’s contents at any given time, you may wind up copying data that is already flawed or corrupted.
3. Install a fresh version of Windows
If nothing works for you, then it is a wise choice to install Windows freshly using the Microsoft 10 Install Drive.
For this option, it is very important that you create a backup of your data on an external drive because this option will erase all of it.
Moreover, the product ID of your license should be saved or should be written in a safe place before reinstalling your Windows.
4. Scan your PC for malware
If Windows Update is not working, you will have to make sure your PC is clean and does not have any kind of malware.
To do so, you can either use the built-in tool, Microsoft Defender, or download a reliable antivirus with professional malware scanning tools, such as TotalAV.
Whatever you choose, you need to make sure your security programs are up to date to keep your PC safe.
5. Delete all files from the Software Distribution directory
5.1 Use the Windows Services
Press Windows + R, enter services.msc, and press Enter or click OK.
Locate Background Intelligent Transfer Service, right-click it, and choose Stop from the menu.
Do the same for the Windows Update service.
After disabling these services go to the following folder inside File Explorer: C:Windows\SoftwareDistribution
Select all files in the SoftwareDistribution directory and click on Delete.
Go back to the Services window and start both Windows Update and Background Intelligent Transfer Services.
After doing that, try to download updates manually and check if the problem is resolved.
Sometimes files in this directory can become corrupted and that can cause this problem to appear.
5.2 Use Command Prompt
Type cmd in the Search box and select Run as administrator to start Command Prompt with elevated privileges.
Enter the following command lines and run them one by one by pressing Enter:
net stop wuauserv net stop cryptSvc net stop bits net stop msiserver ren C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\SoftwareDistribution.old ren C:\Windows\System32\catroot2\catroot2.old net start wuauserv net start cryptSvc net start bits net start msiserver
Right-click the network icon in the bottom right corner and choose Open Network and Sharing Center.
In the left pane, click on Change adapter settings.
Locate your network connection, right-click it, and choose Properties from the menu.
Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties.
Select Use the following DNS server addresses and enter 8.8.8.8 as a Preferred DNS server and 8.8.4.4 as Alternate DNS server. Click OK to save changes.
Sometimes, your default DNS might present specific issues such as the server not responding or others that prevent you from using Windows Update.
If Windows Update stopped working, changing your DNS server should solve the issue.
What can I do if Windows Update is not working on Windows 11?
Windows 11 will automatically check for and install any available updates, helping to keep your computer’s operating system secure and reliable.
However, it is possible that these updates will not install properly, in which case you will see an error related to Windows 11 Windows Update.
The term Windows Update error is a catch-all phrase that refers to a wide variety of glitches, complications, and blunders that prohibit the updating procedure from operating in an orderly fashion. Check out our post on 7 tips to fix the Windows Update in Windows 11.
Besides that, another error you may get when updating your OS is 0x800f081f, this error can easily be fixed by updating your drivers or performing a clean install.
One issue that has left many Overwatch 2 players fuming is the new smartphone number requirement that’s now needed to activate accounts before they can play. While most adult players have a smartphone, the system used by Overwatch 2 doesn’t accept numbers belonging to prepaid phones. Younger players who don’t have a smartphone at all are also obviously screwed.
After mass outrage on social media, Blizzard has decided to remove the smartphone number requirement for some accounts. From this Friday, October 7th, those with a connected Battle.net account won’t have to provide a phone number to play Overwatch 2. However, Overwatch 2 players that want to play without a Battle.net account and those who are creating a brand new Battle.net account to use with the game will still need to use a phone as a form of 2FA.
Overwatch 2 already missing a beat. Phone numbers are required but pre-paid phone plans are NOT compatible.
This affects a tremendous amount of people, esp. overseas, who can't play the game at all.
“We designed Overwatch 2 to be a live service, which enables us to be responsive to a variety of player feedback,” the official announcement reads. “We have made the decision to remove phone number requirements for a majority of existing Overwatch players. Any Overwatch player with a connected Battle.net account, which includes all players who have played since June 9, 2021, will not have to provide a phone number to play. We are working to make this change and expect it to go live on Friday, October 7. We will update players once it is in effect.
Wait… so Overwatch 2 is f2p but it requires a post-paid phone number to even get into the game. My phone is pre-paid therefore I can't play.
They made it f2p to get people to try it, only to gatekeep it for people with pre-paid phones? pic.twitter.com/Ice9tngj1e
“We remain committed to combating disruptive behavior in Overwatch 2—accounts that were not connected to Battle.net as well as new accounts will still have to meet SMS Protect requirements, which helps to ensure we’re protecting our community against cheating. If a player is caught engaging in disruptive behavior, their account may be banned whether they have a new account or not. As a team, we will keep listening to ongoing feedback and will make further adjustments in this area if it is required.”
In addition to the server and phone drama, some players are also experiencing issues with merging their accounts and losing content that they’ve previously unlocked in the original Overwatch game. Players suffering from such issues are encouraged to install any available updates, log out and log in again, and simply wait for the data to automatically propagate on all servers over the next week. Full details can be read here.
Audio is a significant part of the multimedia experience, especially in video games, where you often need to communicate with your team. Thus, the no sound in games in Windows 10/11 issue must be rectified as soon as possible.
It creates an atmosphere in a video game or a movie, but unfortunately, users reported that game audio stops working for them on Windows 10/11.
Audio issues on Windows 10/11 can be troublesome and sometimes ruin your multimedia experience, especially when it comes to video games, so let’s see if we can fix that.
Why does my game audio keep cutting out?
Suppose you get no sound from headphones or speakers while gaming; it’s possible that you haven’t set the audio device properly. Check your audio mixer and see if you muted your game volume.
This issue affects all versions of Windows, and some users reported getting no sound in Windows 11. Often the cause for this issue is your drivers, so you might need to update them.
Users reported the following cases as being the most common errors they encounter when it comes to audio:
Game audio not working in StreamLabs – If you have desktop audio added to the mixer but still can’t hear the game sound, the audio is likely being played through a different source than the desktop audio.
Game audio not working in OBS – You need to check that the Audio Track you picked is accurate; else, OBS won’t capture the game audio for you.
Game audio not working with Discord – This problem arises when you select the default device to be Stereo Mix rather than your headset microphone.
Audio cuts out when playing games on Windows 11 – You may reset sound drivers in Windows 11 by opening the Device Manager, right-clicking on the driver you want to reset, expanding Sound, video, and game controllers, and choosing the Disable device option.
Grounded game audio not working – You need to launch Grounded from scratch to fix this error.
Game audio not coming through the headset in Windows 10 – Select the Sound tab after navigating to the System menu. Next, check that the headphones are plugged in and that the volume slider is not down to zero in the Output menu.
No sound in games Windows 10
Audio cuts out when playing games Windows 10
Audio issues can affect almost any game, and many gamers reported audio issues in Fortnite. Luckily, this general guide will help you fix all your sound problems.
How can I fix game audio if it stops working in Windows?
1. Disable and enable your speakers
To fix the no sound in games in Windows 10/11 error, right-click the speaker icon in the Taskbar and choose Open sound settings from the menu.
Now scroll down and select Sound Control Panel.
Right-click the space and make sure both Show Disabled Devices and Show Disconnected Devices are checked.
Right-click your audio device and choose Disable.
Your audio device should become grayed out. Right-click it again and choose Enable.
Click Apply and OK to save the changes.
Few users suggest that game audio problems can be fixed by disabling and enabling your speakers, and to do that, follow the simple steps above.
2. Update your drivers
If you’ve been wondering, ‘Why can’t I hear my game audio on PC?’, in most cases, problems with audio are caused by outdated audio drivers, but you can quickly fix that by updating them.
To update your audio drivers, you must visit your motherboard manufacturer’s website, locate your motherboard and download the latest audio drivers for it.
If you’re using a dedicated sound card or a laptop, download the audio drivers from your sound card/laptop manufacturer.
2.1. Update drivers automatically
If you don’t want the hassle of searching for drivers on your own, you can use a tool that will do this for you automatically.
Using a specialized tool will save you time and prevent PC damage while selecting just the correct version of drivers for you. Afterward, the issue of no sound in games in Windows 10/11 will be fixed.
Adjust the buffer by increasing the number of milliseconds.
This solution applies using Focusrite Audio Control Panel or a similar tool. If game audio stops working on your computer, you must do the above steps.
If the number of milliseconds is too low, your audio might start cutting out or stop working, so to fix it, make sure to increase the buffer size.
4. Use the audio troubleshooter
Go toSettings, head over to Update & Security, and select Troubleshoot from the left pane.
Now click on Additional troubleshooters from the right pane.
Find Playing Audio, and click Run the troubleshooter.
Follow further on-screen instructions.
Restart your computer.
The next thing we’re going to try is using Windows 10’s built-in audio troubleshooter. Follow the above steps to get things done.
Although it sounds obvious, make sure you didn’t disable the sound in the in-game settings on a previous occasion.
Maybe you accidentally muted the game and didn’t even remember. We’ll have to consider all the possible scenarios.
6. Reinstall the game
It’s also possible that something went wrong during the game installation. So, if none of the previous solutions resolved the issue, you can also go on and try reinstalling the game.
Reinstalling the game may also fix any other issues you may encounter but make sure you get to the saved games folder and save your progress in a different location to add it after the reinstallation.
7. Reinstall the audio driver
This useful resolution can help you restore the Game Audio by checking and reinstall the sound driver. For this purpose, follow the descriptive steps below.
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3. After confirming and uninstalling your audio driver, restart your computer.
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8. Make sure audio service is enabled
Press Windows + R and enter services.msc. Now press Enter or click OK.
When the Services window opens, locate Windows Audio and double-click it to open its properties.
Set the Startup type to Automatic and click the Start button to start the service. Now click Apply and OK to save changes.
And finally, audio can’t work without the audio service. So, if this service inside your system is disabled, you won’t hear any audio. Instead, check if the audio service is enabled by performing the steps above.
If the service is already running and set to Automatic startup type, you need to restart it to fix the problem. To do that, locate the Windows Audio service, right-click it and choose Restart from the menu.
Why can’t I hear anything on my PC?
If your computer has external speakers, you should ensure that they are activated and that the volume is set up as high as possible.
Sound cards can switch between the socket they use for output (connected to the speakers) and the socket they use for input (from a microphone, for instance). So it’s possible that running Linux, Windows, or Mac OS will result in a different output socket.
Rather than the usual audio jack, try connecting the speaker cord to one of the other available audio jacks on your computer.
One last thing to double verify is whether or not the audio cord is firmly plugged into the speaker’s rear. Specific speakers offer several inputs as well.
If all these are ok, proceed with the solutions above to solve any software issues with your PC or audio.
Why is my computer audio glitching?
If your computer audio is glitching, it might be down to the connectivity. Also, it can be because of a problem with your cable or jack.
Sometimes, it can also be down to software issues like outdated drivers. So, there are a lot of areas to check.
What can I do if game audio stops working on Windows 11?
Tap Windows + I, then scroll down until you meet the Troubleshoot section and click it.
Select Other troubleshooters.
Lastly, click the Run button next to the Playing Audio troubleshooter.
Audio is a crucial part of our multimedia experience, so that these problems can cause many inconveniences. Still, as you can see, you can quickly fix the game audio not working on a PC.
For games that rely on DirectX, check out xaudio2_7.dll guide on how to bypass such errors.
If you still have problems in that department, you can read our detailed guide on fixing audio issues in Windows 10, and you will undoubtedly find a solution.
Should you know any other possible solutions or if you have any advice, turn to our comments section below to communicate.
The standard hard disk drive (HDD) has been the predominant computer storage device for a long time due to its high storage capacity and low cost. The solid-state drive (SSD) is another storage solution slowly replacing most hard disk drives.
SSDs use flash memory to deliver significant performance gains compared to mechanical hard drives. Since SSDs do not have small moving parts prone to failure, they offer nearly every computer user a wide range of cost-effective benefits.
However, SSDs can greatly slow down for various reasons over time. If you are in this situation and your SSD is slow, look at the solutions listed below.
Why is my SSD so slow?
There are various reasons your SSD might run too slow. One major cause is the lack of driver optimization. This feature runs the TRIM command on your SSD and helps to keep it in top shape.
Another known cause is the wrong boot order setting. Lastly, if you have onboard VGA enabled, it can lead to slow speed on your SSD.
➡️Some of the error variations in this case include:
Slow SSD write speed
SSD slow to read
Slow SSD boot
SSD slow to delete files
SSD slow to open programs
Slow SSD in Windows 11
SSD running slow in Windows 7
You may be encountering one or more of these. But fret not! The solutions listed here will work in all these cases.
?How do I fix a slow SSD?
1. Check the TRIM command
The first workaround that solves the slow SSD issue is to enable the TRIM command on your PC only by using the Command Prompt tool, as displayed in the steps below.
1. ClickStart,and in the search bar, typecmd.
2. Right-clickCommand Promptand clickRun as Administrator.
3. Type the command below and pressEnter:fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify
4. If you get0, it means TRIM is already enabled. If you get1, please make sure you follow the next steps.
5. Type this command:fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0
2. Optimize drivers
Click Start, and in the search bar, type Defragment and Optimize Drives.
Click Defragment and Optimize Drives.
Highlight your SSD and click on Optimize.
With Windows 10, Microsoft added the Optimize Drives feature, which runs the TRIM command on your SSD. So please check whether Windows is optimizing your SSD.
The best optimization for drivers is to run their latest version. If you want to update all drivers on your computer, you should use Outbyte Driver Updater, a software that has a database of over 18 million driver files.
If you see AHCI Controller in the list, you have it enabled. You will likely have AHCI disabled on your computer if you see only ATA and IDE words.
AHCI Mode plays a significant role in maintaining the high performance of your SSD and preventing it from running slow. If this mode is disabled, the computer can encounter crashes or even see the famous but unwanted blue screen of death.
If AHCI is disabled and you want to enable it on Windows 10, here is what you need to do:
Go to these keys and set the value named Start to 0: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStorVHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iaStorAVC\StartOverrideHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\storahciHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\storahci\StartOverride
Restart your computer and go to UEFI/BIOS firmware settings to enable AHCI mode. After you save and exit, restart your computer once more.
4. Disable onboard VGA
Restart your computer and open BIOS.
Navigate to the Advanced BIOS section.
Search for Onboard VGA.
Select the Disable option.
Many users have reported that once they disabled the Onboard VGA feature, they managed to solve their problem.
5. Configure Boot order
Restart your computer and boot into BIOS.
Change the boot sequence of HDD and SSD by giving first to SSD.
Another reason why the SSD drive is slow could be that the boot sequence is incorrectly configured. If the top priority to boot up is set to hard drive, the fetch and load time for the operating system from an external source will take more time than usual.
6. Check the SATA port
Many motherboards come with two different SATA controllers: some are SATA 3Gbps, and some are SATA 6Gbps. Make sure you use SATA 6Gbps for connecting your SSD.
In this respect, you should refer to the motherboard’s manual to determine it correctly. Moreover, motherboards built on Intel chipsets come with the Intel SATA controller.
Make sure you use the Intel controller to connect your SSD, as most of the low-speed issues occur from using a non-Intel controller on a motherboard built on an Intel chipset.
Also, note that the first SATA port has the highest speed, as most tech-savvy users claim.
7. Verify the SATA cable
For better SSD performance, ensure that the cables are not defective or of poor quality and that it is well hooked up to the SATA port. Thus, a good tip is always to purchase a SATA cable from a well-known manufacturer.
Just like every other computer hardware you own, updating the firmware on your SSD is vital as new bugs and problems get identified and resolved. If you’re using a Samsung SSD, you can find firmware updates on the Samsung Magician software.
To check if you need to update the firmware, you must first identify the exact firmware on your SSD and then go on the manufacturer’s website to check if newer firmware exists for your SSD. If so, you will have to follow the instructions for updating.
9. Optimize your SSD
In the Start menu, search for Disk Cleanup.
Select the SSD drive and click OK to launch the process.
Delete the detected junk files.
In the Start menu, search for defrag and open Defragment and Optimize Drives.
Select the SSD drive and click the Optimize button.
The SSD accumulates junk just like the rest of your computer over time. Thus, you need to optimize it from time to time to bring it to its original shape.
In Windows 10, you can do that easily by yourself by following the instructions below or using third-party software in this respect.
10. Choose the High Power Plan
In the Start menu, search for power and click on Power & Sleep settings.
Select Additional power settings on the right side.
Click on Create a Power Plan on the left and select High Performance.
When you choose the Balanced Power Plan, your SSD will not receive the full power it needs to run at its best capacity, leading to slow transfer, read, and write speed.
How can I fix a slow SSD on Windows 11?
Fixing a slow SSD on Windows 11 is pretty simple. Foremost, you can try to optimize your drivers with the built-in feature.
Also, you can change your power plan to high performance to release full power for your SSD. You can also try all other fixes in this guide, as they work for Windows 10 and 11.
Do SSDs get slower as they age?
SSDs do not get slower because of age. Instead, other factors make the memory run slow.
One of them is filling your SSD to the maximum or near-maximum capacity. This reduces its write time, thereby affecting its overall performance.
Some other known factors are wrong PC settings and lack of optimization. So, you don’t have anything to worry about when your SSD age.
We hope this article helped you, and you now get to see improved SSD performance. You might also be interested in our guide on how to check the SSD health in Windows 11.
Similarly, if you need a list of the best SSD management software, check our guide for the excellent options today.
Let us know if you can get your SSD back up to speed in the comments below.
The Twitter social network rolled out broad support for mixed media posts today. This means that instead of being limited to making a post with four images, a single animated GIF, or a single movie, users can now add up to four of a combination of all three media types to a tweet.
Basically, Twitter users can now create a single tweet with a video, GIF, and a photo.
Unfortunately, the creation of this type of tweet is currently limited to both the iOS and Android Twitter apps but those using the web version of Twitter or the Windows Twitter app can still view these tweets, no problem.
Here’s one I made on my iPhone this morning which shows perfectly fine here on the web. Unfortunately, the embedded tweets still don’t support mixed media though.
Mixed media tweet with Twitter status.
Another feature that also broadly launched on iOS and Android today after a staggered rollout was Twitter statuses, kind of prefilled tags that can be selected to appear above a tweet for added context.
Like mixed media tweets, the use of Twitter statuses is also currently limited to the Android and iOS apps though they can still be seen on Windows and the web. Both of these features are expected to full come to the Windows app and web soon.
Have you had the chance to try Twitter statuses or mixed media tweets yet? Let us know if you like them in the comments below and then follow us on Twitter for more tech news.
That’s not the only issue, File Explorer crashes in Windows 11 have been occurring for some users as well, but luckily there are ways to fix them.
File Explorer problems can be rather annoying, and in this article, we’re going to cover the following issues:
File ExplorerWindows 10 not responding, working, opening, loading, showing – There are various problems with File Explorer that can occur, and in this article, we’re going to show you how to fix most of these problems.
Windows 10File Explorer hangs – Many users reported that File Explorer depends on their PC. This can be an annoying problem, but you might be able to solve it by using one of our solutions.
Windows 10File Explorer won’t open, keeps closing – According to users, they are unable to start File Explorer on their PC. According to them, File Explorer keeps closing and won’t stay open at all.
File Explorer Windows 10 slow, crashes – Many users reported crashes and slowdowns while using File Explorer. We already covered File Explorer crashes and File Explorer slowdowns, so be sure to check those articles for more information.
File Explorer freezes Windows 10 – Many users reported that File Explorer freezes on their PC. We already covered this issue in our File Explorer freezes article, so be sure to check it out for more solutions.
File Explorer slow and freezing OneDrive in Windows 11 – Check for any Windows updates, or take a look at our dedicated page on Windows 11 File Explorer freezes.
Windows Explorer keeps freezing and not responding or crashing – Hide hidden files and folders as they might restrict the functionality of Explorer.
Windows Explorer freezes when selecting file / multiple files – Restart the explorer.exe process inside Task Manager.
File Explorer freezing when searching, saving, right-clicking, opening files – Perform a clean boot in order to start only with the necessary processes and apps.
Users report problems with Windows Explorer saying that Windows Explorer crashes or that it hangs when the user right-clicks something.
As you can see, this is a big problem since it can drastically limit your user experience, so here are a few solutions you might want to try.
How do I fix a corrupted File Explorer that keeps freezing?
1. Run netsh and winsock reset
Run Command Prompt as administrator. You can do so by pressing Windows key + X and choosing Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu. In addition, you can type cmd in the Search bar, right-click the Command Prompt, and choose Run as administrator.
Type netsh in Command Prompt and press Enter.
Next, type Winsock reset into Command Prompt and hit Enter to run it.
After the process is completed, you’ll be notified, and then you need to restart the computer for changes to take effect.
2. Uninstall KB3081449 and KB3081448 updates
Several users reported that update KB3081449 was the cause of the issue, so let’s see how to delete it.
Go to Settings and navigate to the Update & Security section.
Next, go to View installed update history > Uninstall Updates.
Find update KB3081449 and uninstall it. If this doesn’t help, find update KB3081448 and uninstall it.
3. Hide hidden files and folders
If you’re having problems with File Explorer, such as crashes, you might be able to fix the issue simply by hiding hidden files and folders. Some files are hidden by default, but you can reveal them by changing your settings.
If hidden folders are revealed, you might experience issues with File Explorer, so you should revert these settings by doing the following:
Press Windows Key + S and enter file explorer options. Select File Explorer Options from the list of results.
When the File Explorer Options window opens, go to the View tab and select Don’t show hidden files, folders, or drives. Then, click on Apply and OK to save changes.
After making these changes, the problem with File Explorer should be resolved. Many users reported that this solution worked for them, so try it out.
4. Enable Launch folder windows in a separate process
Another way to fix File Explorer problems on Windows 10 is to enable Launch folder windows in a different process option. This is relatively simple, and you can do it by following these steps:
Open File Explorer Options as we showed you in the previous solution.
Now navigate to the View tab and check Launch folder windows in a separate process. Click Apply and OK to save changes.
This solution reportedly worked for many users, so we strongly encourage you to try it out.
5. Disable Quick Access and File Preview features
If you’re having File Explorer problems, you might be able to fix them simply by changing a few settings. According to users, you have to disable Quick Access and File Preview features.
1. Open File Explorer Options.
2. In the General tab, set Open File Explorer to This PC. Now uncheck Show recently used files in Quick access and Show frequently used folders in Quick access options. Click the Clear button to get rid of the history.
3. Now go to the View tab and uncheck Show preview handlers in the preview pane. Now, click on Apply and OK to save changes.
4. Lastly, make sure that the preview pane is disabled. You can disable it once you open File Explorer by pressing Alt + P on your keyboard.
After changing these options, check if the problems with File Explorer still appear.
6. Perform a clean boot
Sometimes specific startup applications can interfere with your PC and cause File Explorer problems. However, you can easily find the problematic application using a clean boot.
To do that, you need to follow these steps:
Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog. Now enter msconfig and press Enter or click OK.
Navigate to the Services tab, check to Hide all Microsoft services, and click on Disable all button.
Go to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.
A list of startup applications will now appear. Right-click the first entry on the list and choose Disable from the menu. Repeat this step for all entries on the list.
Once you disable all startup applications, go back to the System Configuration window. Now click on Apply and OK to save changes.
When asked to restart your PC, could you choose the option to renew it now?
Once your PC restarts, check if the problem with File Explorer still appears. If not, it means that one of your disabled applications or services was causing the issue.
To find the problematic application, you must repeat the steps above and enable applications and services individually or in groups.
Remember to save changes and restart your PC to apply them. Once your PC restarts, check if the issue appears. Keep enabling applications and services until you find the problematic application.
Once you find the problematic application, you can disable it, uninstall or update it and check if that solves the issue.
Many users reported that disabling startup applications fixed the problem for them, so be sure to try this solution.
Otherwise, you have the alternative of using different file management tools that certainly improves your workflow. Thus enjoy practical features and choose between the best file manager software.
If you have File Explorer problems such as freezing, the problem might be related to your file associations.
However, you can quickly fix that problem by resetting file associations to default. To do that, follow these steps:
Open the Settings app. You can do that quickly by pressing Windows Key + I.
Once the Settings app opens, navigate to the Apps section.
From the menu on the left select Default apps. In the right pane, scroll down to the Reset to the Microsoft recommended defaults and click the Reset button.
After resetting file associations to default, the problem with unresponsive File Explorer should be resolved.
8. Remove IDT Audio
According to users, many File Explorer problems can be caused by IDT Audio; to fix them; you need to remove this application. Once you remove it, it’s advised to delete all associated files and registry entries.
This is too complicated to do manually, so removing IDT Audio might be a good idea using uninstaller software.
Many great uninstaller tools are available, but many users reported that they removed this application and all its files using CCleaner (free download), so feel free to download it and try it.
It is excellent software from IObit, and it will help you remove all the leftovers of an app or program so they won’t interfere with your system’s functionalities. This is very useful; many programs use multiple directories and registry entries.
Once you remove IDT audio, the problem should be resolved entirely, and your File Explorer will start working again.
9. Change scaling settings
File Explorer problems can sometimes occur due to your scaling settings. For example, users reported that their File Explorer isn’t responding, but they managed to fix that issue with this simple trick.
Remember that this solution only works if you’re using scaling higher than 100%. To change the scaling, do the following:
Open the Settings app and go to the System section.
Set the size of text apps and other items to 100%.
Check if File Explorer works. If it does, resize it and make it smaller than usual.
Now restore scaling back to the original value.
After doing that, the problem should be resolved, and you’ll be able to use File Explorer without any problems. However, remember that this might not be a permanent solution, so you’ll have to repeat it if the problem reappears.
10. Make sure that your PC is set for dual monitors
According to users, File Explorer can become missing if your PC is configured for dual monitors. File Explorer can open on a second monitor that isn’t currently attached, so it might seem that File Explorer isn’t working for you.
However, you can quickly fix that by changing your computer configuration and setting your PC to work with only a single monitor.
Are you looking for the best dual-monitor software for Windows? Look no further, as here are the best options.
How to reset File Explorer in Windows 10?
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Locate Windows Explorer on the list.
Right-click it and choose Restart from the menu.
Keep in mind that a few users reported that Windows couldn’t find explorer.exe, making this process much harder to complete.
How can I fix File Explorer problems on Windows 11?
If you started experiencing File Explorer issues, restart File Explorer on Your Windows 11 PC as a first measure.
You can follow that with a PC restart. If you are still experiencing trouble, be sure also to clear the Windows 11 File Explorer’s Cache.
Check Windows Update for the latest software, use the System Maintenance Tool, and most importantly, scan your Windows 11 PC for Viruses and Malware.
Can I uninstall and reinstall File Explorer?
To answer this, yes, you can delete it if you have administrative access to the file system. But is it worth it?
Remember that you would no longer have a desktop to work with since the explorer.exe file is what you would be deleting.
Remember that this executable has two functions. Its first instance provides you with what you see as the Windows desktop environment. Any other model is what provides the File Explorer application.
As you can see, problems with file explorer can seriously limit your Windows 10 user experience, but we hope that these solutions were helpful to you.
If you have had File Explorer working on it for too long, it’s time to take action. If your File Explorer is not responding on your Windows 11 PC, refer to the solutions above.
Explorer.exe not responding on startup will imply that measures need to be taken to solve the entire problem.
Remember that many users have reported File Explorer not responding when opening Microsoft Word, so if you are in the same situation, again, refer to the steps above.
If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, reach for the comments section below.
The reason is that the price-to-quality ratio is amazing. But many of them experience some connection or driver problems that make the mic unusable.
From a faulty USB cable to some corrupted drivers or anything in between, the issues pile up. For more info on how to do that, check the guide below.
Why is my blue yeti not recognized?
Because of hardware limitations, the connection to the microphone might be somewhat loose. It’s possible that the USB port didn’t detect the microphone you plugged in, resulting in the Blue Yeti X USB not recognized issue in Windows 10, and more.
Before you may use your Blue Yeti microphone, there are a few software-related requirements that need to be satisfied. This is true even if the microphone itself is fully operational.
Even after this, there are still things like the loudness of the system and the devices that produce audio that can change or halt the input that comes via the microphone.
Does Blue Yeti work with Windows 11?
Yes, Blue Yeti works with Windows 11. Though some users reported issues, it’s usually the drivers to blame and simply updating or reinstalling them fixed things.
Also, you must check the connections and try plugging the device into a different USB port on the computer.
Does Blue Yeti require drivers?
Yes, Blue Yeti requires drivers, but you won’t have to download and install them manually.
Just plug in the device, and it should start working automatically. Though if you encounter issues with it, the following solutions could help.
How do I fix Blue Yeti microphone if it’s not recognized?
1. Update, uninstall, or reinstall Blue Yeti drivers
In order to fix the Blue Yeti won’t connect to PC issue, right-click the Start icon then select Device Manager.
In Device Manager find Sound, video and game controllers and expand it.
Find your Blue Yeti X drivers, right-click them and choose Update driver.
When the new window appears, choose Search automatically for updated driver software and wait for the process to finish.
You can follow the same steps to disable or uninstall the device. Also, you can uninstall your mic, disconnect it from the PC, reconnect it and allow Windows 10 install the drivers.
Download the driver from the manufacturer’s website.
After the download has finished, right-click the installer and choose Proprieties.
Go to the Compatibility tab.
Under Compatibility mode, check Run this program in compatibility mode for and choose Windows 7.
Click Apply and OK.
The Blue Yeti not recognized issue in Windows 10, 11, and Mac might also have been caused by a faulty installation, so in order to fix the issue, it’s best to remove, then reinstall the drivers. After this, your Blue Yeti drivers will work perfectly in Windows 10.
1.1 Update your drivers with an advanced tool
Improve the performance of your hardware with this professional software that can scan your device at light speed and provide an accurate report of all the drivers that need updating.
With this app, you have a database of over 18 million new files that you can download in order to to keep your system running smoothly all the time. Rely on the Schedule Manager feature to not miss any updates.
2. Inspect the hardware
If Blue Yeti is not showing up in Device Manager, check your hardware – verify that everything is in working condition.
Make sure your mic is turned on and functioning, and your Windows 10 PC doesn’t have any unknown problems.
Check the connection – one of the most common problems is the cable.
Try connecting the mic to another PC, if possible, and see if that helps.
If not, change the cable and verify the integrity of the cable on both ends.
This seems like an obvious and quite silly fix, but you have to know that Blue Yeti mic’s only work on a USB 2.0, and not on USB 3.0.
Changing the USB helped the majority of users, as well as those who reported their Blue Yeti is not recognized by Mac, and it could also help you save a lot of time and hassle.
If the Blue Yeti microphone is not detected, then a good idea is to check your hardware and verify if the cables are working properly. If this doesn’t fix the problem, see our next solution.
In the right section, click on Playing Audio and then on Run the troubleshooter.
Wait for the process to finish.The Blue Yeti Nano not detected issue will be solved.
When the Blue Yeti device is not recognized on your Windows 10, then it’s time you perform some troubleshooting, which in this case is quite easy to do if you follow our guide.
4. Set Blue Yeti as the default device
Right-click the Speakers icon in the bottom left of your Windows 10 display.
Click on Sounds.
Select the Recording tab.
Find your Blue Yeti microphone, right-click it, and select Set as Default Device.
Click Apply and then OK. The Logitech G Hub not detecting Blue Yeti issue will be fixed.
Another efficient option you can resort to if your computer is not recognizing Blue Yeti, is to set Yeti as your default device. Start off by opening the Sound menu then follow our instructions.
How do I get my Blue Yeti mic to work on Windows 11?
Press Windows then type services and open the top result.
Here, scroll down until you see the Windows Audio service, right-click it and choose Restart.
The Windows 11 Blue Yeti drivers can be updated in the same manner you do in Windows 10. Besides this, restarting the Windows Audio service will address the issue as well as the Blue Yeti recognized as USB advanced audio one.
As you can see there are various solutions you can resort to if the computer is not recognizing your Yeti mic.
From updating your drivers using a specialized tool to troubleshooting following our instructions we are sure that at least one of the solutions in this guide will help you fix the problem.
If you have any more questions about Blue Yeti mic’s on Windows 10/11, feel free to drop them in the comments section below.
The Windows Registry has low-level settings that run your entire system. However, you risk breaking the operating system when you edit values or keys in the Registry. If this happens, your only option is to restore Windows 10 Registry without backup.
You have to restore without backup because Windows 10 stopped automatically backing up the system registry since version 1803. So, you’d notice that the system32regback folder is empty.
You can still restore the Windows registry without a backup, so don’t be concerned. In this post, we’ll go through various techniques you may use to convert the Registry without a backup.
Does Windows 10 have a backup registry?
There is not an automatically backed-up Registry on Windows 10, but you can and, in most cases, should create a backup to your Registry before changing its values.
You have to export the Registry to its current location before effecting the changes, and this exported data will serve as a Registry backup when needed.
Can you restore registry files?
As we said, you will need to export Registry data to create a backup; the inverse is the case for data restoration. You should import the exported data, and you are good to go.
Some of our readers asked how to reset Registry in Windows 10 but the key word here is to restore, or to fix, not to reset.
The only way how to reset regedit to default is by performing a PC reset which is not preferable and it’s one of the last resort solutions.
Does System Restore reset registry?
It doesn’t really reset the Registry but reverts any changes made from the time the chosen restore point was created.
So, if your aim while performing a System Restore is to reset the Registry due to a particular change, we recommend either choosing a restore point created before the concerned change was made or factory resetting Windows.
How can I restore the Windows 10 registry without backup?
1. Restore Registry manually on Windows 10
Click the Windows key, type regedit into the search box, and click on Registry Editor to open it.
Navigate to the path below. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Session Manager \ Configuration Manager
Right-click on Configuration Manager and go to New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Set EnablePeriodicBackup as the name of this registry value, give EnablePeriodicBackup the Value of 1, and close the Registry Editor.
Reboot your computer.
On restarting, Windows will create its first backup.
2. Use the Task Scheduler
Click on the Start Menu button.
Search for Task Scheduler and click the result to open it.
Go to this path:
Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Windows > Registry
Right-click on RegIdleBackup and select Run.
This procedure triggers the task to run and back up the Windows 10 registry. It overwrites any older backups in the RegBack folder.
3. Restore Registry in Windows 10 without backup using CMD
Press the Windows key + I combination to open Settings.
Select Update & Security.
Click on the Recovery option, and under the Advanced startup section, select Restart now.
Select Troubleshoot after the machine reboots, then Advanced options.
Choose Command Prompt.
In Command Prompt, enter your Windows drive letter, then hit Enter.
Confirm that you’re in the correct drive: dir
If the letter you entered in step 7 was incorrect, return to this step and correct it.
Type the script below, then hit Enter to go to the System32 folder. cd d:windowssystem32
Type the script below, then hit Enter to create a backup folder called configBak. mkdir configBak
Copy and paste the script below, then hit Enter to back up the config folder. copy config configBak
Type the script below, then hit Enter to enter the RegBack folder. cd configRegBack
Type the script below, then hit Enter to copy thedata RegBack to config. copy *...*
Confirm every operation by pressing Y and Enter.
Close the Command Prompt window.
On closing Command Prompt, your machine will restart and generate a backup. It would help if you had successfully been able to restore Registry in Windows 10 to default using the cmd prompt.
How to restore the Registry without backup on Windows 11?
Press the Windows key + I combination to open Settings.
Select System, then click on Recovery on the right pane.
Choose Restart now under the Recovery option.
Select Troubleshoot after the machine reboots, then Advanced options.
Choose Command Prompt.
In Command Prompt, enter your Windows drive letter, then hit Enter.
Confirm that you’re in the correct drive: dir
If the letter you entered in step 7 was incorrect, return to this step and correct it.
Type the script below, then hit Enter to go to the System32 folder. cd d:windowssystem32
Copy and paste the script below, then hit Enter to create a backup folder called configBak. mkdir configBak
Type the script below, then hit Enter to back up the config folder. copy config configBak
Copy and paste the script below, then hit Enter to enter the RegBack folder. cd configRegBack
Type the script below, then hit Enter to copy the data RegBack to config. copy *...*
Confirm every operation by pressing Y and Enter.
Close the Command Prompt window.
On closing Command Prompt, your machine will restart and generate a backup. This process is very similar to Windows 10 except for minor UI changes in the Settings app.
How do I know if my Registry is corrupted?
After running the command, the SFC software will notify you whether it discovered or fixed any corrupt files.
This makes the application a valuable tool for determining if any registry items on your computer are damaged.
You must run the script below on a Command prompt with elevated privileges:
sfc /scannow
Note that using this tool may take as much as 30 minutes as it has to crawl through your entire drive.
Does restoring Registry delete files?
It depends on how you restore the Registry. If you go with the System Restore, the files stored on the computer won’t be affected.
While if you reset the OS to restore the Registry, you are bound to lose the programs, files, and configured settings on the PC. There’s a third and simpler way, restore the Registry using a dedicated backup, which wouldn’t affect the unconcerned parts of the OS.
In this article, we have shown you how to restore the Registry to default.
After performing these operations, you would have learned how to restore Windows 10 and 11 Registry without backups.
This guide also shows you how to enable the backing up of the Windows 10 registry. If you cannot restore the Windows registry using these solutions, let us know with a comment below.
Many websites use Java to provide you with certain functionality. In addition to websites, you can download Java on your PC and open Java applications locally.
Java applications are saved as .jar files, but many users report that the files are not opening on Windows 10. While this can be a big problem, there’s a way to fix it!
In this article, we will guide you with easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions to solve the issue.
Why can’t I open a JAR file on Windows 10?
File association is the primary reason you can’t open a JAR file on your Windows 10/11 PC. Thankfully, this can be fixed by using a simple application dedicated to that purpose.
Another known cause of this issue is the outdated or faulty Java Runtime Environment app. A simple update or reinstallation should fix the JAR files not opening problem.
How do I fix jar files not opening on Windows 10?
1. Reinstall or update Java Runtime Environment
Press Windows key +I to open Settings.
When the Settings opens, go to the Apps section.
Locate Java from the list and choose the Uninstall option.
After that, navigate to Java’s website and download the latest software version.
Open the folder where you saved it, right-click the Java install wizard and selectRun as administrator.
Press theInstallbutton to install Java.
Once installed, check if the problem is resolved.
Remember that you don’t need to remove your previous Java installation, so you can skip that step and install the latest version on top.
Java will also automatically check for updates, and if updates are available, you’ll get a notification.
To update Java, click the notification and choose the Update option. Now follow the instructions to complete the update.
Also, ensure your system has the correct version (32-bit or 64-bit). You will not be able to use 64-bit libraries with 32-bit Java software installed. This should fix the issue if the JAR file is not opening on double click.
2. Use an advanced Windows file utility
You can open .JAR files and hundreds of different formats with a single application. FileViewer Plus 4 is a universal file viewer for Windows that can open and display over 400 different file types.
You can also browse, edit, and convert text and image files. Furthermore, it features a decompression tool so you can quickly decompress your archived files.
It is a great tool to try when you have to open files that you aren’t sure what software you should use. File Viewer can open less common file formats, like source code files.
Right-click the JAR file and choose Open with > Choose another app.
A list of suggested applications will appear. Click on More apps.
Scroll down and choose Look for another app on this PC.
Locate the java.exe file. It is usually located in Program Files/Java/Javaversion/Bin folder.
Select the application and click the OK button to set it as a default for .JAR files.
Click the Jar file to launch its program.
JAR files can’t run on your PC if you don’t have the proper associations. For example, JAR files can be associated to run with other applications, or they could lack file association completely.
4. Use Jarfix
If you can’t open JAR files on Windows 10, you might be able to fix the problem by using Jarfix. As previously mentioned, these problems can occur due to file association, but you can fix them easily with this simple application.
To do that, firstly download Jarfix from the below link, then run the application and follow the instructions on the screen. Remember that you must run this application as an administrator to work correctly.
After using this application, you should be able to run JAR files on Windows 10 without any issues.
5. Create a .bat file
Locate your JAR file and in the same folder, create a new Notepad file.
To do that, right-click space in the directory and choose New > Text Document.
When Notepad opens, enter Java -jar filename.jar , where filename.jar is the actual name of the Jar file.
Navigate to the File > Save as.
Set Save as type to All files and enter the desired name for the file.
You need to have .bat as an extension, or else the solution won’t work.
Save the file in the same location where your jar file is located.
Locate your .bat file and double-click it. Your JAR file will now open.
According to users, you can run JAR files on Windows 10 by using this simple workaround. This solution requires you to create a .bat file and use it whenever you want to run a specific JAR file.
Remember that you need to repeat this process for every jar file you want to run on your PC. In addition, be sure to save the .bat file in the exact location as your JAR file.
In the Windows search bar, type Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
When Command Prompt opens, enter the following commands: cdjava -jar filename.jar
After doing that, your JAR file should open without any issues.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to move your JAR file to the root directory, but by doing so, you can access the file faster. If you choose not to move the file, you need to use the cd command to navigate to the directory where the JAR file is located.
Alternatively, you can enter java -jar followed by the path to the JAR file. This isn’t the best solution, but it is a solid workaround, so feel free to try it.
6. Use JAR Runner
Another freeware application that can help you open JAR files on Windows 10 is JAR Runner. Download and install this tool and drag and drop the jar file to the JAR Runner .exe file.
In addition, you can also choose to open JAR files with JAR Runner. This is a simple and free application, so download JAR Runner.
Go to the View menu and check File name extensions.
Now, check if your jar file has a .jar extension at the end.
If not, rename the file and change the extension to .jar.
After doing that, try to rerun the file.
If this problem persists, you might want to check your browser. Sometimes, it can download JAR incorrectly and can cause this problem to appear.
To fix it, be sure to use a different browser to download the file and check if that solves the problem.
How do I open .JAR files on Windows 11?
Opening JAR files on Windows 11 is the same process as on Windows 10. You can use a dedicated app or advanced Windows file utility.
If you have problems opening the files, you can use the solutions listed in this guide.
How do I unpack a JAR file?
The easiest way to unpack a JAR file is to use software to extract the compressed files. You will need to open the JAR file within the program extractor and access the individual folders.
While Windows has a built-in file extractor, it is advisable you use a dedicated tool like WinRAR.
JAR files not opening on Windows 10 can be a big problem, especially if you use Java applications frequently. However, you should be able to fix the problem simply by using one of our solutions!
Is Windows activation or product key not working on your PC? If yes, we suggest you to go through this article.
The product key helps activate Windows and ensures that it’s a genuine copy, not registered on more devices than permitted. However several users have reported Windows product key not working instances.
It turns out that Windows 10 or 11 is not accepting the product key made of 25 characters.
This does not necessarily indicate that the key you have is no longer valid, as the error message suggests. There are a lot of reasons why you cannot activate your copy of Windows 11.
The trick here lies in identifying what’s causing the issue on your computer. We have dedicated this guide to simplifying the troubleshooting process and getting your copy of Windows 11 activated.
Go through it and by the time you are done, the OS would be activated.
Why can’t I activate my Windows 10 Pro?
There are several reasons you may not be able to activate Windows 10 or 11 Pro on your computer. It includes the following ones:
Incorrect product key
Hardware changes
The product key has been used on a maximum number of devices
Using product a key of a different version of Windows
Connection issues
Else, there may be other factors that may prevent you from activating Windows 10 Pro.
One of the most common reasons why Microsoft is not accepting your product key is when the one entered has already been used on the maximum allowed devices.
In this case, you must buy a new copy of Windows 10/11 or a product key.
Other than that, some users also fell victim to counterfeit or incorrect keys. There are many websites that claim to offer genuine product keys for free or at a reduced price.
But, these are not reliable, and it’s recommended that you buy one from an official source. Also, there’s a likelihood that the Microsoft servers that deal with activation are currently down.
That’s why you are always asked to wait for a few hours or even a couple of days before going for some advanced troubleshooting or getting a new key.
What happens if Windows 10 does not activate?
If you cannot activate Windows 10 or 11, you will have limited access to some Windows features. For example, you will not be able to change the desktop background and tweak any settings related to the visual appearance.
Periodically, you will also get messages to activate Windows. That may be not very pleasant sometimes.
Usually, people cannot activate this OS for the reasons which have been mentioned above.
Besides, there are several activation error codes that might shed some light on the underlying cause.
We have listed them below, and if you see any of these, just head to the linked guide to fix them if Windows 11 is not activated.
Now that you have a basic understanding of the process, and know the common activation errors, let’s head to the most effective solutions when Windows 10/11 is not accepting the product key.
How can I fix Windows 10 activation key if is not working?
1. Check the license status if the Windows product key is not working
Press Windows + I to launch the Settings app, and click on Activation on the right in the System tab.
Now, check if the Activationstate reads Active. If that’s the case, Windows is already activated.
The first thing you must check is whether Windows 10/11 is already activated.
In many cases, users go around activating an already registered version of the OS, and that’s why Windows is not accepting the product key.
In case Windows is not activated, and you still encounter the error, proceed with the methods listed next.
2. Make sure you are entering the right product key to fix this error
Oftentimes, users make the mistake of entering the wrong product key.
Microsoft has pretty much automated the process, and you don’t need to manually enter the key in case you are upgrading from Windows 10.
But if you are installing Windows 10/11 for the first time, verify that all the characters are entered correctly. People often confuse between 8 and B, so check for issues like this.
Also, check that you are activating the right edition. For instance, you cannot use a Windows 11 Home product key for Windows 11 Pro edition.
3. Check the Internet connection if your Windows product key is not working
You need a stable Internet connection in order to activate Windows 10/11. And for many users, this was the reason Windows was not accepting the product key.
So, make sure that the Internet connection works fine and that you are not getting slow speed. Also, use a network speed monitor to keep a tab of it, and once the speed is stable, go ahead with the activation.
4. How to fix the Windows product key not working using the SFC scan
Press Windows + R to launch the Run command, enter cmd in the text field, hold the Ctrl + Shift key, and either click on OK or hit Enter to launch an elevated Command Prompt.
Click Yes in the UAC prompt that appears.
Now, paste the following command and hit Enter to run the SFC scan: sfc /scannow
If the Windows 10 product key is not working, running an SFC (System File Checker) scan could do the trick since one of the underlying causes here is the presence of corrupt system files.
And there is no more straightforward way than an SFC scan to fix corrupt files.
5. Run the Windows Activation troubleshooter
Press Windows + I to launch the Settings app, and click on Activation on the right.
Locate and click on the Troubleshoot option here.
Wait for the troubleshooter to run, and choose the appropriate response when prompted to complete the process.
The built-in troubleshooter is pretty helpful when Windows 10/11 product key is not working. It will automatically identify and eliminate the problem in no time.
Remember that you can only run the troubleshooter when logged in through an administrator account. Also, if the troubleshooter is missing, it’s most likely that Windows is already activated.
6. Reset the Windows 11 license
Press Windows + S to launch the Search menu, enter Terminal in the text field, right-click on the relevant search result, and select Run as administrator.
Click Yes in the UAC(User Account Control) prompt that appears.
Now, click on the downward-facing arrow and select Command Prompt to open it in a new tab. Alternatively, you can hit Ctrl + Shift + 2.
Next, paste the following command and hit Enter to reset the license status:slmgr.vbs –rearm
Once done, restart the computer, and Windows 10/11 should accept the product key.
Though highly unlikely, if this method fails to work, you can do a clean install of Windows 11 and then activate it since there’s a chance that the installation did not go through properly the last time.
7. How to fix Windows product key not working in Command Prompt
Another method to fix the Windows 10 product key not working error is to perform a manual activation via Command Prompt.
Sometimes, simply changing the activation method could fix things if Windows is not accepting the product key issue. And many users were able to get their copy registered using the CMD.
1. Press the Windows Key to open the search bar.
2. Enter Command Prompt in the search bar, and click onRun as administrator from the options on the right.
3. Click Yes in the UAC prompt that pops up.
4. Now, paste the following command and make sure to replace the X’s here with the actual product key: slmgr.vbs -ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
5. Press Enter to execute the command. This will activate Windows 10 using the product key you just input.
This method will fix the Windows 10 product key not working error. You will just need to perform a manual activation via Command Prompt.
Sometimes, simply changing the activation method could fix things if Windows is not accepting the product key issue. And many users were able to get their copy registered using the CMD.
8. Run SLUI 4 command to fix the Windows product key not working
Press Windows + R to launch the Run dialog box, type SLUI 4, and press Enter.
Choose your country from the dropdown menu, and click on Next.
Now, simply call one of the listed numbers and follow the instructions provided by Microsoft Support.
If nothing else works, you always have the option to get in touch with the local Microsoft support.
Make sure to keep the installation ID listed here with you to help the support team better assist you and get Windows 10 to accept the product key.
The above methods will indeed help. However, if you encounter a Windows product key not working after a hardware change, then you may need to deactivate the license on the previous device. If it is not possible, you will need to buy a new one for the new device.
Please note that some license keys are bonded to your motherboard. If you change the mainboard, you will encounter this problem.
Can I use Win 10 without Activation?
Yes. You can use Windows 10 without activation. When your Windows doesn’t have a valid license key or is not active, you won’t be able to use some settings.
Usually, in an inactive Windows OS, users cannot change wallpaper, lock screen background, accent colors, etc. Else, Taskbar-related settings won’t also be accessible. But, if you forget about these limitations, you can easily continue using Windows 10/11 without activation.
Periodically, an annoying message will remind you to activate the OS. Just ignore it and do your work. But, for a smooth experience and to support the developers behind this fantastic OS, it is always better to have a valid license key to activate this OS.
How do I force Windows to activate?
If you need to successfully force Windows to activate, you should use the different solutions we have mentioned in this article.
While one solution may not be successful, we encourage you to try out the different options.
Is Windows 10 illegal without activation?
No, it is not.
You can use Windows 10 indefinitely without activating it, even though it won’t be perfect and won’t be particularly attractive. Without needing to provide a legitimate product key or digital license, Microsoft enables customers to download, install, and use the operating system for an infinite period.
If you experience the Azure VPN gateway not connected problem, this article will help you with some helpful steps to troubleshoot the actual issue.
Azure VPN gateway is required to establish a VPN connection with Azure. This is a very secure gateway that uses various protocols, IPsec, and IKE to secure your connection.
However, sometimes, while establishing a VPN connection, you may notice that the gateway is failing or it has been disconnected and is failing to reconnect.
Even if you have configured VPN correctly on Windows, the issue may repeatedly come on your end if something is wrong internally or on the server side.
Like the VPN establishment error with Cisco, we have come up with several solutions for this error too. Before that, let’s go through some essential relevant information.
How can I fix the Azure VPN gateway not connected issue?
1. Enable IKEv2 support on Windows
1.1 Update Windows
Press Win + I on the keyboard.
Go to Windows Update.
Click on Check for updates.
Click on Install/Download if any update is available.
If you do not wish to update in this way, you can download the following updates for these specific versions of Windows.
Windows Version
Link
Windows Server 2016 Windows 10 Version 1607 January 17, 2018
Updating Windows is recommended when there is no IKEv2 support, and you repeatedly see that the connection is failing.
1.2 Set a registry value
Open the Start Menu.
Type regedit and hit enter to open Windows Registry Editor.
Create or Edit a DWORD value in the following location and set the value to 1: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RasMan\ IKEv2\DisableCertReqPayload
1.3 Choose IKEv2
Open Windows Settings like before.
Go to Network & Internet.
Go to VPN.
Click on Add VPN.
Choose IKEv2 as the VPN type and provide other details to create the correct VPN connection.
Now, you should try to connect to the VPN. You will not encounter the Azure VPN gateway not connected issue this time.
2. Update NIC/Network Adapter driver
Open the Start Menu.
Type device manager and hit enter to open Device Manager.
Expand Network Adapters.
Right-click on your network driver and choose update driver.
Click on Search automatically for the drivers.
It will look for the latest driver and install it if available.
Alternatively, to make sure your drivers are always in the best condition and up-to-date, use a dedicated utility like Outbyte Driver Updater. It’s a light software that scans your PC for any outdated drivers and automatically installs them.
The tool is tested and completely safe. In many cases, it has been able to detect new driver versions with higher accuracy than Device Manager. Plus, you can set it up to automatically update all drivers on a regular basis.
Click on the three vertical dots and click on Advanced options.
Set Background apps permissions to Always.
4. Use different client
There are two types of Azure VPN Clients for Windows. One is available as an app in the Microsoft Store, and another one is like an addon that enables Azure VPN as a VPN provider in the built-in Windows VPN settings.
If you are using either of them, try another one to see if it fixes the Azure VPN gateway not connected error. For this, go to the Azure VPN client download page.
5. Configure the VPN device properly
A misconfiguration on the VPN device may be the reason you have been experiencing the problem. In this case, you should check if all configurations are OK.
Microsoft has obvious instructions for configuration on specific devices. You should check them out from this device configuration guide page.
6. Use proper IPsec parameters
Using incorrect IPsec parameters in the configuration can also be why you see the error Azure VPN gateway not connected.
You can check out the supported IPsec parameters by Azure from this documentation page. Verify if you are using the correct parameters. If not, correct where it is necessary.
Azure VPN connected but cannot ping
Some users report that even though they are able to secure an Azure VPN connection, it won’t ping.
If this happens to you, it’s possible that your firewall on antivirus is interfering.
Check your settings and make sure Azure is allowed through the firewall.
Open the Firewall.
Select Advanced settings.
Go to Inbound Rules.
Select File and Printer Sharing Echo Request -ICMPv4-In.
Right-click on it and select Enable rule.
Other users around the web also recommend confirming that your on-premise devices and your VPN use the same tunnel.
These are the most effective methods to fix the Azure VPN gateway not connected issue. Feel free to let us know in the comment box if you have any other techniques that may help others.
A team-based multiplayer first-person shooter game, Team Fortress 2, was created by Valve Software and included in the game collection: The Orange Box. On October 10, 200.
This highly intriguing game is not without connection complications. Do you occasionally see a Team Fortress 2 can’t connect to server message on your screen?
As the matter of fact, you should know that Team Fortress 2 cannot connect to the server after 4 retries. The players may encounter this error when trying to connect to new games in TF2.
We got your back. We’ll look into what’s causing the problem and how to fix it for good.
Why can’t I connect to a Team Fortress 2 server?
Usually, being unable to connect to the Team Fortress 2 server will be an internet connection error. The most common network problems arise from:
➡️ Unstable Internet Connection – your Internet is very slow or fluctuating
➡️ ISP throttling – some ISPs artificially restrict traffic to preserve data
➡️ Team Fortress servers are down – in which case you’ll just have to wait it out
Whether the issue arises from your end, is located far from your router, or because your ISP has poor service or downtime, your gameplay will be affected.
✅ Pre-checks:
→ Before you arrive at any other conclusion and start troubleshooting the game, ensure to have your connection checked and intact.
→ Sometimes you might fix the server connection error by closing the game and reopening it. Restarting it might be of really great help to every gamer.
→ Check if the antivirus or your firewall blocks the game.
How do I fix Team Fortress 2 unable to connect to the server
1. Troubleshoot the Internet connection
Clickthe Start button: you can find this at the bottom left corner of your screen.
Select Settings.
Select Update and Security.
Select Troubleshoot.
Select the Additional troubleshooters.
Select Internet Connections.
Select Run the troubleshooter.
You should make sure that your computer can go online.
Can you browse different websites? It would help if you tried running the Internet troubleshooter tool to detect and fix any internet-related issues on your computer.
2. Check Team Fortress 2 game files
Open the Steam Launcher.
Click the Library section.
Right-click on the game when you find it in the Library list.
Click Properties
Select Local Files.
Click on the Verify integrity of the Game Files button and wait for the process to complete.
This problem can result from your game file being corrupted or missing. You must check the game’s reliability to repair this. If there is any problem with your game files, you will be notified.
3. Improve your connection speed with a gaming-focused VPN
Download the dedicated app for your device and install the VPN.
Launch it and click on the power button to connect to a server.
Open Team Fortress 2 and start playing.
VPNs are developed to safeguard your online privacy and make life difficult for hackers, and they can improve gaming by offering access to fast, unlimited servers.
For best performance in Team Fortress, either chose the server that’s closest in location to you (the closer, the faster), or you can match the location of your VPN server with the location of your TF2 server.
For example, if you play on a server located in Germany, just browse Germany in the server list, and connect to a server. ExpressVPN offers thousands of servers from 94 different countries.
It can improve connection speed which will in return get rid of this error and fix packet loss in TF2 by establishing a steady connection.
Additionally, it can also help reduce ping and fix lag in Team Fortress 2 as well as other similar online games.
ExpressVPN
Pick from thousands of speedy servers to remove connection errors in TF2!
Poor Internet connection beckons to game server connection issues and Team Fortress 2 is not an exception. This results in the server connection error when playing the game.
Some players suggest switching from Wi-Fi to Ethernet. Many seem to have a faster connection this way, and it’s definitely worth a shot since it’s a simple and cheap method.
Switching to a strong internet remains a viable solution to solving the server connection issue and getting rid of issues like Team Fortress 2 not working in Windows 10.
How do I connect to a Team Fortress 2 server?
The game has tons of different servers, so if you don’t know exactly which one you want to pick, look them up. You’ll see there are servers from different countries, varying in the number of players and speed.
? Auto (in-game) connection
Launch Team Fortress 2.
Under the Play option, select Find a Game.
Select Community servers.
You’ll get a list of all the servers available.
Select the server you want to play on.
? Manual connection
Find and copy the IP address of the server you want to use (as mentioned above, there are many servers you can find online)
Open your Steam library.
Right-click on Team Fortress 2 and select Properties.
In the general tab select Launch Options.
Type -console and click ok.
Launch the game. The console will automatically appear on the screen.
Type the IP address of your server and press Enter.
How do I fix Team Fortress 2 can’t connect to Steam?
If you cannot connect because of the Steam Launcher, we recommend reinstalling it. Over time, the launcher can become corrupt or buggy.
Go to the Apps and Programs panel on your PC.
Find Steam and select Uninstall.
Make sure all apps and folders related to steam are completely removed from your PC.
Download the installer wizard from the official Steam website.
Install it and log in with your credentials.
How to save a TF2 server to Favorites
After you’ve located the server’s IP address, the following are the steps required to connect to a team fortress 2 servers via steam favorites:
Open the Servers panel in the TF 2 main menu.
Click the Favorites tab, then select Add a Server.
Select Add This Address To Favorites after pasting the Server IP into the pop-up box.
From the list, choose your server, then click Connect.
The connection issue is quite prevalent in this game. Players get all sorts of error messages and errors, from TF2 can’t connect to casual servers, to TF2 cannot connect to the server after 4 retries.
Making use of every solution mentioned above can go a very long way in solving the server connection issue. It’s also important to check if the game’s servers are down. That’s a temporary problem that you’ll have to wait out.
You deserve a seamless and intriguing gaming experience, with a sprinkle of security, and privacy, all offered by premium-level VPNs, that will fix the connection and lower ping and packet loss in TF2.
The comments section is open, do let us know what you think of these solutions and your experience in exploring them.
Adding an SSL certificate to your website is a straightforward process. You can either purchase a third-party SSL certificate and renew it on a yearly basis or use an open-source SSL certificate and create a corn job to renew it every month.
However, for development and testing, you can explore the possibility of creating a self-signed SSL certificate in Windows.
Creating a self-signed certificate is an excellent alternative to purchasing and renewing a yearly certification for testing purposes. You can make use of OpenSSL to generate a self-signed certificate for this purpose.
In this article, we explore how to create a self-signed certificate in Windows 10. The later part of the article also explores how to deploy the self-signed certificate to client machines.
Quick Tip:
Although you can save some money if you create a self-signed certificate, it may lead to a permanent block of your website for some users. This is caused by the certificate error message and in most cases cannot be undone.
Besides that, the process is time-consuming and really not worth your time which also has a certain cost. We strongly recommend using a 3rd party SSL service provider.
GoDaddy SSL Certificates
GoDaddy is one of the best web hosting providers that also offers affordable SSL certificates.
How can I generate a self-signed certificate in Windows 10?
1. Use OpenSSL to create a self-signed certificate
1.1 Install OpenSSL
Download the latest OpenSSL windows installer from a third-party source.
Run the installer. OpenSSL requires Microsoft Visual C++ to run. The installer will prompt you to install Visual C++ if it is already not installed.
Click Yes to install.
Run the OpenSSL installer again and select the installation directory.
Click Next.
Open a command prompt and type OpenSSL to get OpenSSL prompt.
1.2 Create a public/private key file pair
Make sure you have OpenSSL installed.
Open Command Prompt and create a new directory on your C drive: C: >cd Test
Now go to the new directory: C: Test>
Now you need to type the path of the OpenSSL install directory followed by the RSA key algorithm. C: Test>c:opensslbinopenssl genrsa -out privkey.pem 4096
Run the following command to split the generated file into separate private and public key files:
Once you have the public/private key generated, follow the next set of steps to create a self-signed certificate file on a Windows system.
1.3 Generate a self-signed certificate
Open a Command Prompt window.
Go to the directory that you created earlier for the public/private key file. C: Test>
Enter the path of the OpenSSL install directory, followed by the self-signed certificate algorithm: C: Test>c:opensslbinopenssl req -new -x509 -key privkey.pem -out cacert.pem -days 1095
Follow the on-screen instruction.
You need to enter information about your organization, region, and contact details to create a self-signed certificate.
If you would rather use PowerShell to create a self-signed certificate, follow the next set of steps instead.
After creating your self-signed certificate, you can use certmgr.msc to view, import, or manage it directly from the Windows Certificate Manager for easier handling.
2. Generate a Self-Signed Certificate on Windows using PowerShell
1. Press the Windows key, and type Powershell in the search box. Right-click on the PowerShell app and select Run as Administrator.
2. Run the New-SelfsignedCertificate command, as shown below:$cert = New-SelfSignedCertificate -certstorelocation cert:localmachinemy -dnsname testcert.windowsreport.com
3. This will add the certificate to the locater store on your PC. Replacetestcert.windowsreport.comwith your domain name in the above command.
4. Next, create a password for your export file:$pwd = ConvertTo-SecureString -String ‘password!’ -Force -AsPlainText
5. ReplacePasswordwith your own password.
6. Enter the following command to export the self-signed certificate:$path = 'cert:localMachinemy' + $cert.thumbprint Export-PfxCertificate -cert $path -FilePath c:tempcert.pfx -Password $pwd
7. In the above command replacec:tempwith the directory where you want to export the file.
8. You can import the exported file and deploy it for your project.
Another great option to generate a self-signed certificate on Windows 10 is to use a command-line tool such as Powershell.
With it, you don’t need to download any third-party software. You just need to input the appropriate command line in Powershell, and the tool will do the job for you.
How to add my self-signed certificate into the curls ca file on Windows 10?
Once you have created a self-signed certificate and installed it, you may want cURL to trust the certificate as well.
The later versions of cURL don’t include a trusted listed a .pem file. You can download the .pem file and type the following command in the php.ini file. curl.cainfo = "C:xamppphpcacert.pem"
Once done, you need to get cURL to trust your self-signed certificate. To do this, open your server.crt file. The file is created when you created your self-signed certificate.
Copy all the content of the server.crt file and then add it to the cacert.pem file.
Creating a self-signed certificate using OpenSSL can be done using the Command Prompt or PowerShell. Being able to create your self-signed certificate allows you to create a temporary certificate for in-development projects that require an SSL certificate.
We hope you managed to generate a self-signed certificate on your Windows 10 PC. Let us know in the comments section which method you prefer to use.
The Guild Wars 2 unable to connect to login server notification is generally caused by underlying problems with your connection, or you are perhaps attempting to access the game from an unsupported country.
Guild Wars 2 is a widely played MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) available to millions of users across the world.
However, this inconvenience can be avoided in many cases, which is why this article gives solutions to fix the problem.
Why is Guild Wars 2 unable to connect to the login server?
If you wonder why can’t you connect to Guild Wars 2, you should know that there are multiple possible reasons:
➡️ You forgot your password or account name
Forgetting a password or account name is one mistake that almost everyone makes. Some people can no longer play guild war and access their old accounts simply because of this issue.
The next time you create your account, jot the account name and password down, so you won’t forget them.
➡️ Troubleshooting error
Specific errors that you might easily overlook can hinder you from playing the game.
These include errors such as turning on your caps lock while not having any capital letters in your password, adding space to your password, and others that you might consider minor errors.
➡️ Server error
Server errors due to network issues can stop you from successfully logging into the game. Check the Guild Wars server status to confirm the connection is actually up.
➡️ Your account might have been disabled
You might not have considered that your account might already be disabled, which leads to you not being able to log in. You should always check your email before you log in to avoid this type of issue.
How to fix Guild Wars 2 unable to connect to login server
1. Check your credentials
The most common reason why most users can’t login successfully on Guild Wars 2 is the wrong credentials. So, one of the sure ways to fix log-in errors is to check your credentials.
In case of a forgotten password, you can do a quick reset to create a new password. Also, ensure that you back up your login credentials so that you won’t forget them.
Another great fix is to check your email to see if you’ve been banned from the game. If this is the case, you will need to contact support to appeal your ban.
2. Use a VPN to fix connection issues and bypass geo-blocks
Server errors and network issues can cause a lot of problems in Guild Wars 2. The Guild Wars 2 unable to connect to login server error often arises if you connect from a country where it’s not available.
Using a VPN for Guild Wars 2 like ExpressVPN connects you to the fastest available server for a smooth and uninterrupted connection.
Below are a few steps to install and use ExpressVPN on your device:
Once it’s done installing, launch the app and click on the Connect button. Click on the three dots to browse the server list. As you can see, we picked a server from a supported location (France).
Once the VPN is connected, launch and enjoy playing your game.
ExpressVPN can also help you bypass any speed-throttling limits set by your ISP, and help you access geo-restricted servers.
ExpressVPN
Fix connection issues in Guild Wars 2 with this reliable VPN for gaming!
If you’ve tried all the available solutions and you still can’t log in, the only option left is to contact support.
Head to the Guild Wars 2 Help page.
Click on Submit a ticket button in the upper right corner.
Enter your information and details about the error you get.
Make sure to note the error code (if you get one) you get whenever your login attempt fails in your feedback so they can help you fix it.
Is Guild Wars available worldwide?
Guild Wars 2 is not available worldwide, and you can’t access the game if you live in one of the restricted areas. If you are traveling or using a proxy/VPN from the banned countries, you won’t be able to log in.
Currently, Guild Wars is banned in the following locations:
Cuba
Donetsk People’s Republic
Iran
Luhansk People’s Republic
Russia
Syria
If you connect from here, your only chance to access the game is if you change your IP address using a proxy or VPN.
You don’t have to give up on your game simply because you have difficulty logging in. The Guild Wars 2 unable to connect to login server error is certainly annoying, but easy to fix.
Simply follow the recommended solutions listed above to fix any Guild Wars 2 login errors and enjoy a smooth gaming experience.
AirPlay media streaming enables you to stream content from an iPhone or iPad to a Mac OS X desktop or laptop. This media streaming, otherwise mirroring, projects the iPhone display on a desktop or laptop.
With a little extra software, you can also mirror an iPhone display on a Windows PC. You can mirror an iPhone/iPad screen to Windows 10 PC.
What do I need before I can project my iPad or iPhone to Windows 10?
First, note that you’ll need an Apple device supporting AirPlay. You must have at least an iPhone 4, or a higher mobile device. The Apple tablet must be an iPad 2 or higher.
The Apple device and Windows 10 PC should also share the same Wi-Fi connection. If that’s the case, then you can mirror the iPhone or iPad display to the desktop or laptop as follows.
The fastest way to mirror your Apple devices on a PC, be it Windows or macOS, is to use third-party tools dedicated specifically to this task.
Given the power of modern-day mobile devices, casting movies or even games on a bigger screen is almost as effective as playing the game straight to PC.
Because of that, we recommend that you try out a universal mobile mirroring tool such as ApowerMirror.
ApowerMirror allows users to mirror up to 4 devices to PC simultaneously, and they can connect their iPhone/Android to the PC with or without cable and control their phones from PC by using a mouse and typing with a keyboard.
2. Make sure that both your PC and the iPhone/iPad are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. It also works if you connect the device to your PC via USB.
3. Open Control Center on your iPhone and tap Screen Mirroring.
4. Choose the name that displaysApowersoft.
5. Your iPhone/iPad screen will then be displayed on the computer.
6. When you’re done casting, simply tap on Stop Mirroring.
ApowerMirror
Mirror everything that is on your Android, iOS, or TV to your PC easily with this amazing tool!
There is another app that you can use to quickly mirror your iPhone screen to your Windows 10 computer. iOS Screen Recorder allows you to mirror your iPhone to deliver presentations, show business information, share gaming videos, and more.
Keep in mind that you need to run the latest iOS versions in order to use this tool.
Add LonelyScreen to Windows 10 by pressing the Download for Windows button on this page.
Open the LonelyScreen setup wizard to install the software. This will also install Bonjour software required for AirPlay.
During the setup, a window might open informing you that Windows Firewall is blocking the app. Select the Private networks check box and click the Allow access button.
Then you can open the LonelyScreen window shown in the shot directly below. If the software still states that LonelyScreen is blocked by the firewall, press the Fix It(Administrator) button.
Now select the Click to Change Server Name box that includes LonelyScreen by default. Enter an alternative server title there such as ‘Windows desktop.’
Switch on your iPad or iPhone.
Swipe up from the bottom of your Apple device to open the Control Center.
Then tap AirPlay on the Control Center to open AirPlay options.
The AirPlay page below lists the title you entered, ‘Windows desktop’ in my example, in the Change Server Name text box. Select Windows desktop, or whatever alternative title you assigned it.
Now select the Mirroring option to switch it on (green highlights it’s on).
Press the Done button to save the settings.
Open the LonelyScreen window again. Now it will include your Apple iPhone or iPad display as shown below.
You can also record your iPhone or iPad display with LonelyScreen. Press the red Start recording button to record the display.
Press the Stop recording button when done. The recorded output automatically saves to your Videos folder as an MP4.
So now you can protect your Apple iPad‘s or iPhone‘s display in Windows 10! The advantage of mirroring iPhone displays with LonelyScreen is that you can maximize the window.
That effectively expands the iPhone display. It’s also handy for recording iOS videos and capturing iOS screenshots.
If you have any other questions or suggestions about how to project your iPhone or iPad to PC, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below; we’ll be sure to check them out.
Windows 11 is a pretty complicated system, and it can be a long ride even for intermediate users to get to some apps and functions.
That is why our guides are increasingly detailed in explanations so that all users get to solve their problems or tasks as easily as possible.
However, Windows 11 has a little wormhole called God Mode, that will allow you to get to all of the settings and apps a lot easier.
And, in a way, it’s like in video games when you can pass through walls because when you use it, you will get past all the steps to get to the final setting you need.
What is God Mode in Windows 11?
This is a folder on your desktop, or anywhere you want to create it, that will feature more than 200 settings, controls, and apps from your OS, sorted alphabetically in 33 categories.
Then, you can double-click any of them to get right to the setting you want to use without going through time-consuming steps and windows.
Why do I need God Mode in Windows 11? You don’t! But if you have it and use it as we suggest further on in our article, it will save you a lot of time and effort.
For instance, if you want to get to, let’s say a simple setting like changing the mouse settings, you will need to do the following steps:
Click the Start button and select Settings.
Select Bluetooth & devices from the left pane.
Scroll down and click on Mouse.
Now select Additional mouse settings.
If you want to go even further, you will need to access the tabs. Well, you can easily get to the last step by double-clicking a file after creating this folder.
Just like the Developer Mode in Windows 11, this feature needs to be enabled before you can use it, and in today’s guide, we’re going to show you how to do that.
What are the benefits of Windows 11’s God Mode?
The main benefit of this folder is the ability to access certain settings quickly. No longer will you have to open multiple windows to find a specific setting.
With God Mode on W11 enabled, you can find all these settings with just two clicks. You can make accessing these settings even faster by creating a shortcut on your Desktop.
Keep in mind that all these settings aren’t hidden, and they can be accessed quickly from the Search, but this folder groups and organizes them for quick and easy access.
1. Right-click on an empty space on the desktop, select New and choose Folder.
2. Paste the following line in the name of the folder and hit Enter: GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
3. Right-click again on a free desktop space and select Refresh.
4. Your folder will look like a Control Panel icon after refresh.
5. Double-click the folder to access it.
Before you can use God Mode, you need to enable it on your Windows 11 device. You can do this by creating a folder on the desktop named GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}.
As you can see it’s pretty simple to activate God Mode on Windows 11, and it can be done in a matter of seconds.
How can I use God Mode in Windows 11 after creating the folder?
Double-click the new God Mode folder.
Now you have access to over 200 shortcuts, apps and settings that you can click directly. Just scroll down and double-click the one that you need.
For instance, to get to the mouse settings we wrote about in the beginning of this article, type mouse in the search field from the top-right corner of the window, click the right arrow to search, then double click Change mouse settings.
There you go! You’ve reached the same window that we’ve told you about before.
That was just an example we used to highlight how much time and effort God Mode on Windows 11 can help you save time.
However, if you need to be even more effective, drag and drop the most used commands on your desktop to have them even more accessible.
What are the most interesting hidden features of Windows 11?
Many of you have been asking about the hidden features in Windows 11 and the straight answer to that is that there are no hidden features.
There are, of course, some new ones and some features that were present in Windows 10 and have been removed from the new OS.
On this matter, however, there are a few settings that you cannot get to in Windows 11 using the God Mode folder.
For instance, there is a new feature in Windows 11 where you can disable the network adapters by accessing the Advanced network settings from the Network & Internet menu in Settings.
You can disable the adapters quickly from Advanced network settings
Well, there is no shortcut for this in the God Mode folder. In fact, we couldn’t even find the Network & Internet shortcut.
So, although this folder can help you a lot with some useful shortcuts to the most common settings, this tool is not yet updated with all the options from Windows 11.
And by the way, you can also use this on Windows 10 using the exact same steps as we described for the new OS.
Can I delete the God Mode folder?
Yes, you can safely and easily delete this folder. Remember, these are just shortcuts, so they are safe to delete. To delete it, just do the following:
Locate the God Mode folder.
Right-click it.
Choose Delete icon from the menu.
How do I turn off Windows God Mode?
This feature can’t be turned off, and you’ll always be able to create a God Mode directory on your PC. However, there’s a way to prevent users from accessing it.
As you probably guessed, this involves removing the entire directory, as we showed you in the previous section.
We hope that this guide has helped you add and use the God Mode folder on your Windows 11 and now you have your most-used shortcuts on your desktop.
If you own an Androidsmartphone, you’ll be happy to know that you can finally manage Android notifications in Windows 10.
The app that links your phone with your PC is called Phone Link, formerly known as Your Phone, and it allows you to see notifications from your smartphone directly on your Windows 10 PC.
Also, you can see your entire SMS history or reply to messages directly from the PC.
Read on to find out how to connect your devices so that you can receive Android notifications directly on your PC.
How can I get Android notifications on my PC?
If you want to connect your Android phone to a Windows 10 PC in order to receive notifications on the PC, you need to use the Phone Link app.
First, make sure that you have the Phone Link app on your PC and that it’s updated. If you don’t have the app, you can get it from the Microsoft Store.
1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard and type Phone Link in the search box that opened, then click on the first result to open the app.
2. Click on Get Started.
3. Sign in with your preferred Microsoft account.
4. On your Android phone, navigate to the www.aka.ms/yourpc web address and install the Link to Windows app.
When you’re done, go back to your PC and click on I have the Link to Windows app ready.
5. Choose between Pair with QR code and Pair manually. If you choose the first option, the app will create a QR code for you to scan using your Android phone, in order to automatically connect your devices.
6. If you prefer to choose the Pair manually option, you need to open the Link to Windows app on your device, click on Continue, allow the app to access your camera, and then press on Try another way.
After, you need to sign in with your Microsoft account on your Android in order to connect the devices.
7. After you connect the devices, you just need to review the permissions. You can choose whether you want to allow Windows Link to:
Access your contacts
Make and manage phone calls
Send and View SMS messages
Access photos and media on your device
8. After, click on Continue.
9. Select whether you want to let the app run in the background.
10. Click on Done.
11. And that’s it. From now on, you’ll receive notifications and messages from your Android phone directly to your desktop.
If you’ve missed some of them, you can always find the in the Windows 10 Notification Center.
It’s worth mentioning you’re also able to reply to messages from all your messaging apps, not only from your default Android SMS app. One less to take your phone out of your pocket!
Microsoft Teams is an amazing tool that increases teamwork efficiency due to chat integration, video conference option, Skype calls, file sharing, and much more.
With Microsoft Teams you have so many features that there is no need to ever use another tool.
Moreover, if there are multiple organizations you work with or you simply want to have more than one account added, now there are some workarounds that will allow you to do that.
There’s an easier way to handle all accounts, and in this article, we will explore exactly this, so keep reading.
Can you login to multiple accounts in Microsoft Teams?
Although Teams doesn’t offer a built-in method to use more than one account at a time, there is a workaround for this. It will allow you to login into multiple accounts in Teams even without there being an official option to do so.
Read on to find out how exactly to do this.
How can I login to multiple accounts in Microsoft Teams?
1. Use the Teams app on different browsers
Because at the moment is not possible to add multiple accounts directly in Microsoft Teams, you can still have different instances of the app open whilst logged in with different accounts.
If for example you have two Microsoft accounts, and you want to have for each one a Microsoft Team log-in, then you can use different browsers.
Unfortunately, you cannot log in to Microsoft Teams with different accounts while using the same browser. Therefore, you can simply login in using Chrome for one account and Opera One for the other account.
2. Use the mobile app for Teams
Another workaround would be to use Microsoft Teams from your Android phone. Here you will be able to easily add more than one account.
That means that you can easily switch between different accounts on your phone and participate in the conversations without having to constantly log in and log off.
Of course, you can simultaneously use the Windows app while using the mobile app. Finding the best solution that will respond to your needs could take some testing but in the end, we are sure you’ll get there.
3. Create PWAs (Progressive Web Apps)
1. Go to the Microsoft Teams web app.
2. Login with your Teams account.
3. Click on the … button that’s located in the upper-right corner of the browser’s window.
4. Now press on Apps.
5. Now select Install this site as an app from the list of options.
6. A new window will open on the screen for the Teams app. Right-click on it and select Pin to Taskbar.
7. You can now open new separate instances of Teams every time you open the app from the shortcut that’s on your taskbar. In doing so, you can use multiple accounts at once.
Another method you can use to login to multiple accounts in Teams at once is to create progressive web apps, also known as PWA.
By doing this, you will be able to open multiple instances of the app at once, and thus use multiple accounts at the same time.
Another option for having multiple accounts in Microsoft Team is to use a dedicated tool that will allow you to switch between accounts and other apps easily.
One such tool is Franz, a versatile tool that will allow you to navigate through multiple accounts and workflows.
The app is fairly easy to use but do keep in mind that this tool will not allow you to access other Office 365 apps at the same time.
If you are only using Microsoft Teams, then Franz can be a really great option. The app supports a variety of messaging services, such as Slack, WhatsApp, WeChat, Messenger, Telegram, Google Hangouts, Skype, Zendesk, etc.
With the Franz Workspaces features, you will only get notifications from your work-related accounts so no need to worry about lost time on distractions.
With this, we can conclude our list of workarounds. As you can see there are several easy steps you can make in order to add multiple accounts in Microsoft Teams.
It does seem that the Engineering Team from Microsoft is working hard on integrating this functionality into the app and hopefully, it won’t be long until it will be released.
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You can also use the Ctrl + , keyboard shortcut within the app to be taken directly to the Windows Terminal Settings.
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