7 Best BF4 VPNs to Avoid Ban & Lower Ping [Updated List]

Posted on September 15, 2022September 16, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

Battlefield 4 is one of those games that became an instant hit upon its release. The online, first-person shooter fame is loved by millions of gamers across the globe.

Including those residing in countries such as the USA, UK, Australia, and interestingly, China, where the game is actually banned.

However, not all regions have BF4 servers that are close by to the gamers’ locations, which means the players will definitely experience issues when playing online, like lagging, or even rubberbanding when connecting to servers in distant locations.

Thankfully, all the lagging, distance, and geo-restriction issues can be circumvented with a good VPN for Battlefield 4, which allows the gamer to get a faster and more stable server response.

A VPN can reduce ping times for lag-free gaming, while letting you switch to the nearest locations for BF4 gaming servers, and protecting you from hackers, identity thieves, and online surveillance.

As you check out our top picks for the best VPN for Battlefield 4, be sure to consider the VPN provider’s network, speed, and quality of service.

Plus encryption and other security features so you can get only the best for your gameplay experience.

Can you play Battlefield 4 with a VPN?

Yes, you have the possibility to enjoy this shooter gameplay using a VPN that can unblock the game in restricted countries.

As a result, you need software with servers in available locations for Battlefield to get back your rights and play the game when you please.

You should choose a VPN with geo-restrictions tools for accessing any website or game from all regions with efficient encryption and traffic routing.

Does ping matter in Battlefield?

You can play Battlefield and use your high ping to your advantage, as you can see your opponents slower and eliminate them before they know it.

So, you may wonder how to use this to win more matches and what is a good ping for Battlefield.

According to users on Reddit, you can lose your matches on 1v1 if you have a low ping because the other players that have slow-motion actions will shoot you before even you even see it.

How do I lower my ping in Battlefield 4?

If you propose to reduce your ping while playing Battlefield, this is how you do it:

Get a VPN account for the ExpressVPN service.
Install the software on your PC and launch it.
Choose high-speed servers where the game is available.
After connecting, it should look like this:
Play Battlefield with improved speed and performance.

Therefore, after connecting your VPN to fast and valid servers for this game, you won’t experience any high ping scores and enjoy every moment in the action.

What is the best VPN to play Battlefield 4?

Private Internet Access – Supersonic connection

Lags, latency, geo-restrictions – those are the things gamers’ nightmares are made of. But you can forget about them thanks to Private Internet Access.

Kape-owned PIA (the shortened formula for Private Internet Access) is a powerful, well-rounded VPN that will revolutionalize your BF 4 experience.

Boasting ultra-fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth, you will be able to slay your opponents before they can figure out what hit them.

Thanks to its powerful network, your ping will be lower and your overall gaming performance boosted.

But speed is just the tip of the iceberg. PIA relies on gateway servers spread across 44 countries around the globe, which guarantees no distance however big will stand between you and the BF4 servers.

You might have noticed that some features or content may be inaccessible. This can happen for various reasons starting with your geo-location and all the way to your ISP policy.

With PIA, there is no such thing as online censorship – you will be able to enjoy a truly liberated, full gaming experience with no geo-restrictions to hinder your gameplay and no ISP throttling.

You can as well connect to servers worldwide with 3395 + servers in many countries so you unblock any web content or games. Plus, reduce gaming latency with the highest speeds (no buffering or slow loading times)

When it comes to privacy and security, PIA is your best best. Boasting secure VPN tunnels for your traffic, IP cloaking, state-of-the-art encryption algorithms, and malware-blocking tools, you can be sure your protection is uncompromised.

In addition, it uses secure VPN Protocols (PPTP, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPSec) and supports to up to 10 devices simultaneously.

Private Internet Access

Unblock geo-restricted BF4 content and eliminate gaming lags and latency with this VPN.

Check price Visit website

NordVPN – Exhaustive server locations

Games available on the internet, such as Battlefield 4, are a great way to spend your spare time, but, unfortunately, access to these games may be restricted not just in institutions, but also in countries.

Whether you’re a casual or experienced gamer, you may face problems accessing your favorite online game as you can be denied access, the most common reason being the negative impact of playing games – on productivity.

However, not many gamers agree with this, so they search for a way to access their favorite games online.

This is where NordVPN comes in handy, as it unblocks online games and gaming sites. When you connect to one of its VPN servers, your IP address is hidden and replaced, so your identity is protected as you play.

You also get an added layer of security on your internet traffic, with military-grade encryption so your communications are protected, and your private data is kept from prying eyes.

It also helps reduce lag and latency, protects against DDoS attacks, and never keeps logs of your activity.

NordVPN

NordVPN can reduce your ping and improve your packet loss in Battlefield 4.

Check price Visit website

ExpressVPN – Fast connection for gaming

ExpressVPN is known for being a high-quality service for online gaming, with its large server network in various locations, which gives gamers access to each other on a global scale.

It is compatible with Windows operating system, as well as other internet-supporting devices such as the Xbox console.

Among the benefits of using this Express VPN International Ltd. owned VPN for Battlefield 4 are its lightning-fast speeds, 99.9 percent uptime, and no buffering issues while you play your game.

It also offers 256-bit encryption, more than 1700 servers, DNS/IPv6 leak protection, and it is ideal for online games with the lowest ping time.

It may be a little bit pricey, but it is totally worth it, plus you get a 30-days money-back guarantee.

ExpressVPN

This VPN helps you reduce ping and packet loss in Battlefield 4 so you win all the time.

Check price Visit website

CyberGhost VPN – NoSpy servers protection

This is an excellent VPN for Battlefield 4, and online gaming generally, with a fast and simple, but also effective way of protecting you and your activities online, including your sensitive information, and privacy.

With more than 300 servers in over 20 countries, CyberGhost has advanced security features including NAT firewall, DNS leak, tracking protection, anti-fingerprinting, ad-blocker, antimalware, and antivirus.

Also, its kill switch feature protects your connection from dropping during unexpected interruptions. Other great features include its no-log policy, so your online activities aren’t recorded.

Benefits include high speeds, a huge server network, global coverage, multiple usages on up to 5 devices simultaneously, plus guaranteed security and encryption.

CyberGhost VPN

Looking for a VPN that works great with Battlefield 4? CyberGhost covers every network needs.

Check price Visit website

VyprVPN – Reliable protocols for speed

VyprVPN’s large network of servers and locations get you the fast speeds you need for enhancing your gaming experience.

Features include robust DDoS protection, an encryption system, over 700 ultra-fast servers across the globe, and it doesn’t rely on third-party hosting, instead, it owns and manages all its servers.

Your activity is protected with the zero-logs policy, plus its VyprDNS service defeats DNS censorship, and you can bypass any strict firewalls that block your connection.

This Golden Frog GmbH owned VPN for Battlefield 4 is reliable, fast, secure, and has lower ping times thus better gameplay overall.

With Chameleon technology, this VPN is able to defeat blocking, ISP throttling, and still remains an easy-to-use VPN for all your devices.

Vypr VPN

If you have ping and packet loss problems with Battlefield 4, Vypr will bite them all.

Check price Visit website

PureVPN – Easy setup connection

PureVPN has an extensive network server that supports services for online games such as Battlefield 4 and others. Specifically, it has over 300 servers in 45 countries, and strong security and anonymity.

It is compatible with Windows operating system, and other internet-enabled devices, such as Xbox One, on which you can set up the VPN to play Battlefield 4.

Among its benefits are the superfast speeds, and extreme online security using encryption protocols such as PPTP, L2TP, SSTP, OpenVPN, and IPSec.

More so, you have protection against DDoS attacks, which makes it one of the preferred VPNs for Battlefield 4.

PureVPN

Need a VPN to keep ping and packet loss low on Battlefield 4? Check out PureVPN.

Check price Visit website

IPVanish VPN – Full online freedom

With a proven record for the category, IPVanish is definitely a great VPN for Battlefield 4. It features over 130 servers in 47 countries, at a budget-friendly price, and works across all devices that support BF4, such as Xbox, or your gaming laptop.

IPVanish does away with buffering while you play online, has great speeds, and optimizes your gaming experience while lowering ping time, and ensuring DDoS protection to gamers.

Its benefits are derived from its features such as a large Tier 1 server network that is lightning fast, strong 256-bit encryption, and it works well with games with the lowest response time.

However, this StackPath, LLC-owned VPN is based in the US so it follows the local laws and regulations.

IPVanish

Want to improve your Battlefield 4 experience by lowering your ping? Try using IPVanish.

Check price Visit website

Why am I getting kicked out of Battlefield 4?

It’s not just a reason why you can be banned from this gameplay, so you need to be careful with their rules.

Hence, you can get kicked out from BF4 from factors like hacking attempts, bot detections, or VPN detection.

You may also face the PunkBuster error that appears if your firewall or antivirus interferes with the game. There are other ban messages reported by users and they look like this:

please disable VPN and rejoin Battlefield agency
BF4 banned from every server
BF4 vpn ban/kick
BF4 banned/kicked for vpn
Battlefield 4 ban check

Is there a VPN for Battlefield 4 that you use? Share with us by leaving a comment in the section below.

Search Indexing Was Turned Off on Windows 11: How to Fix it

Posted on September 15, 2022November 15, 2023 by Matthew Adams

Search indexing was turned off message in Windows 11 can appear from time to time, and many users are wondering if this message negatively impacts their PC.

In today’s guide, we will take a closer look at the causes of this and show you the best ways you can use to fix this problem.

What is Search indexing was turned off message?

This message appears in the Windows Search, indicating that indexing isn’t enabled.
If that’s the case, the search feature won’t be able to find specific files, and its performance will be affected.
Besides a performance drop while searching, this message shouldn’t affect you.

What does indexing search do?

This feature indexes file properties, titles, contents, and paths, allowing you to find them via Windows Search. It’s worth mentioning that some built-in apps also rely on this feature to find files quickly.

What can I do if Search indexing is turned off message appears?

1. Make sure the Windows Search service is enabled

Press Windows + R to open Run, type services.msc in the text field, and click OK.
Next, double-click the Windows Search service.
Select Automatic on the Startup type drop-down menu.
If the service is not running, click on the Start button under Service status.
Finally, click OK to save the changes and exit the window.
Repeat the steps above to enable and start the Background Tasks Infrastructure Service and Remote Procedure Call services if required.
Once done, restart the computer.

NOTE

If Windows Service is already enabled and running, try right-clicking that service and selecting the Restart option instead.

When encountering the Search indexing was turned off message in Windows 11, you should first verify whether the Windows Search service is enabled. If it’s not, make sure to do that.

2. Run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter

Press the Windows key to open the Start menu, and then select Settings.
Next, click Troubleshoot on the System tab.
Select Other troubleshooters to proceed.
Click the Run button for the Search and Indexing troubleshooter.
Then select My problem isn’t listed above option in the troubleshooter, and click the Next button.
Enter a description for the issue in the text box, and click Next to continue.

You may also select the other options here in the troubleshooter and proceed with the on-screen instructions to turn on Search Indexing.

3. Rebuild the search index

Press Windows + S to open the Search menu, type windows search in the text field, and click on the Change how Windows searchers.
Then click the Advanced button.
Then click the Rebuild option.
Click OK to confirm.

Once done, restart the computer and verify if the Search indexing was turned off message disappears in Windows 11. If not, head to the next solution.

4. Clear the TxR folder

Press Windows + E to open the File Explorer, click on See more (ellipsis), and then select Options.
Navigate to the View tab, select the Show hidden files, folders and drives radio button, and click OK.
Navigate to the following path or paste it into the address bar and hit Enter:C:\windows\system32\config\TxR
Select all the files in the TxR folder with BLF and REGTRANS-MS extensions, and click the Delete button.

5. Restore Windows 11 to a previous date

NOTE

Restoring Windows 11 to a previous time will delete programs installed after the restore point was created. To check what software a restore point removes, you can click the Scan for affected programs button in System Restore.

Press Windows + R to open Run, enter rstrui.exe in the text field, and click OK.
Select the Choose different restore point option, if it’s available, and click Next.
System Restore might include a Show more restore points checkbox. Select that checkbox if you can do so.
Now, select a restore point that predates the Search indexing was turned off error on your PC, and click Next.
Click Finish to initiate the system restoration.

System Restore is a handy built-in utility that aids in cases like these. It has helped a lot of users fix the Search indexing was turned off error in Windows 11. To utilize it to the fullest, we recommend creating a restore point when making changes to the computer.

6. Reset Windows 11

NOTE

This is a pretty drastic last-resort resolution that’s recommended only if nothing else works. You’ll need to reinstall all software that didn’t come preinstalled with your PC after resetting Windows.

Press Windows + I to open Settings, and select Recovery on the right in the System tab.
Click the Reset PC button.
Select the Keep my files option.
Next, select either the Cloud download or Local reinstall option (whichever you prefer), and similarly choose the other preferable options to complete the restore process.

After you have factory reset Windows 11, the Search indexing was turned off error in Windows 11 would be gone for good.

Should search indexing be on or off?

In almost all cases, search indexing should be on. If you disable it, the search speed will be affected.
Rarely search indexing can lead to high CPU or disk usage, and it can make Windows slow and unresponsive.
If this happens and your PC is affected, you might want to disable indexing temporarily.

Is it safe to disable search indexing?

Disabling search indexing is safe, but only if it’s causing problems on your PC. However, it will make searching a lot slower if you do so.

The potential resolutions here will likely fix the Search indexing was turned off error for most Windows 11 users. So, make sure you give them a try first. And with indexing turned on, you can now effectively search on Windows 11.

You can also modify the indexing parameters or disable the feature to reduce the Windows Search service’s resource utilization when you’ve fixed it.

Have you managed to do so? Let us know which solution worked for you in the comments area below.

5 Ways to Fix SharePoint when Permissions Are Not Working

Posted on September 15, 2022September 6, 2025 by Henderson Jayden Harper

Using SharePoint is beneficial to your business or organization. It is well-structured and well-secured. Likewise, users need to have permission before making significant adjustments to the content.

However, implementing changes can be challenging if user authorization is not working in SharePoint. It can render the whole document manager inactive as users won’t be able to perform any tasks on it.

SharePoint is a document management tool that allows businesses or companies to manage documents, reports, archives, logs, and other critical business content involved in a company’s operations.

It aids professional business management by streamlining access to documents and data in the business.

However, users complain about numerous permission issues like SharePoint domain group permissions not working and SharePoint item level permissions not working.

Many things can be responsible for permissions not working on SharePoint. More so, the causes range from the incorrect configuration of the user administrator permission to browser permission issues or something else.

Why are SharePoint permissions not working?

User permission configuration issues: SharePoint has a hierarchy that controls how exposed access to the company’s database can be. So, if you’re not assigned permission to make changes, or your permission is revoked, the permission may not work on your end. Likewise, users with read-only access cannot make any changes. Hence, SharePoint site security allows the owner to have total control over the site, and members can make some changes. But users with visitor-level access can only read. Users may be interested in how to fix the SharePoint couldn’t add external users as a member issue in just a few steps.
Browser issues: SharePoint may encounter the browser or conflict with the browser settings. So, it can prompt lots of problems with its productivity. Also, browser cache and cookies may be culprits in the SharePoint read permissions not working. Caches and cookies are collected data to help the browser load sites faster and smoothly. However, they can become old or corrupt and cause difficulties with the site running on your browser. Also, you can read through our article about how to fix SharePoint if it constantly asks for a password while working on it.
Outdated browser: If your browser is not up to date, it can cause issues with SharePoint permissions. Outdated browsers lack security updates that help them work properly and can affect how to relate to sites.

Quick Tip:

Since the problem can most certainly be caused by the current browser, why not switch to another one?

Opera One has great features such as the Ad Blocker feature that protects your privacy and blocks any ads that may slower your browsing activity. Plus, it also feature it’s own built-in AI.

Opera One

Enjoy a better browsing experience with Opera One’s amazing features.

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How do I fix SharePoint permissions if it’s not working?

1. Update your browser

Click the Menu button.
Click Settings, then select Help.
Select About Google Chrome.

Chrome will check for updates, and if available, it’ll automatically install them.

It might also be helpful to check what other browsers can be more suitable for your needs. Here is a 2022 list of the 15 best browsers for all devices.

2. Clear cache and cookies

Launch the Chrome browser and click More.
Select More Tools, then Clear browsing data.
Select the Advanced option.
Choose the time range you want to clear and check the boxes for Cookies and other site data & Cached images and files.
Click Clear data.

Exit the browser and relaunch it when the process is complete.

3. Reset SharePoint group permissions

Open the SharePoint site on your browser.
Click the Actions button and select Site Settings.
Click on Site Permissions below the Users and Permissions category.
Check the box for the group permission you wish to modify.
Navigate to the Permissions tab and tap Edit User Permissions, then check the box for the new permission level.
Click OK.

Resetting the user permission can help reassign access rights and fix SharePoint’s permission issues.

4. Switch to another browser

Another easy fix is using another browser to see if the issue persists. However, you can read through our handpicked list of the best browsers for SharePoint online.

5. Run the Check User Access Diagnostic

Admin users have access to run diagnostics to detect the problem with the user access. The diagnostics will verify the possible cause of the permissions not working issue. Admins can go to the Microsoft Admin diagnostics website for more information.

Can I check SharePoint user permissions?

Yes, you can check SharePoint user permissions on the site. Follow the steps below:

On the SharePoint site, click the Settings button.
Click Site Permissions and select Check Permissions.
Enter the username of the user whose permissions you want to check and click Check Now.

The above solutions are the most effective fixes that can be used to fix the SharePoint permissions not working problem. We advise you to follow the steps strictly for optimal results.

Nonetheless, we have an article about how to sync SharePoint to OneDrive automatically that you may be interested in reading.

In conclusion, if this article has been helpful to you, please leave a suggestion or feedback in the comments section. We’d like to hear from you.

5 Best VPN for Hotstar [Watch Hotstar Outside India, in USA]

Posted on September 15, 2022September 26, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

Hotstar is an online television service with over 100 million downloads from Indian media Giants STAR which launched in January 2015.

The service allows users to watch live and on-demand video content from their Windows PC, mobile phones, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and other platforms.

Furthermore, Hotstar contents are provided either free of cost or on a subscription basis. Premium contents are available only to premium membership holders.

However, even USA Hotstar subscribers abroad are restricted from streaming all Hotstar programs, due to geo-restriction. This is because they are not currently residing in India.

To access Hotstar while outside the allowed region, you will need to bypass their geo-restrictions this is where the use of VPN is needed.

How do I change my Hotstar region?

Hotstar automatically changes region based on your IP. If you want to watch content from a different country, you will have to use a VPN or proxy before accessing Hotstar.

If you have accessed the app in the past, we recommend logging out and clearing your browser’s cache before changing location.

This way there will be no interference between the information the website stored about you and your IPs location.

How can I use Hotstar outside India?

Get a reliable VPN. We recommend ExpressVPN because it has virtual servers in India.
Download and install the VPN on your device.
Launch the VPN and connect. Use the three dots next to Current Location to select the Indian server.
Open Disney Hotstar and log in with your credentials. Start streaming your favorite shows.

By connecting to a VPN server located in India, the platform will not be able to restrict you because it will appear as if you browse from inside the country.

Which VPN is best for Hotstar?

ExpressVPN – Best overall

Developed by Express VPN International Ltd., ExpressVPN is secured with 256-bit encryption and offers unlimited bandwidth and speed so that you can watch online streaming services in high definition.

This VPN is the best VPN to watch Hotstar abroad without any interruption. Choosing from thousands of secured servers, you will have access to preferred TV shows or movies without issues.

Key features of ExpressVPN include:

Unlimited server switching
IP address masking
256-bit AES encryption
High-end protection
Zero logs policy
24/7 customer support

If you are looking forward to watching your favorite programs through your Hotstar subscription but will be outside India when the series is on, ExpressVPN is your choice.

ExpressVPN

If you’re looking for a Hotstar-compatible VPN, you should check out ExpressVPN.

Check price Visit website

Private Internet Access – Highest number of servers

Developed by Kape Technologies, Private Internet Access is an incredibly popular VPN service that successfully keeps up with the market.

You cannot find a better option when you want Hotstar access. First of all, you’ll certainly appreciate that it’s one of the fastest VPNs at the moment.

This is possible as long as you can downgrade the security encryption from AES-256 to AES-128.

You may think that this is a bit outdated, but not if you apply AES-128 while you’re on a safe network and intend to stream videos without restrictions.

So, if you want to considerably increase speed, feel free to push the limit with no reservations. Moreover, this VPN takes privacy seriously.

Private Internet Access does not log any consumer data whatsoever and also offers the newer WireGuard protocol which uses a strong encryption suite.

Don’t hesitate to check out a few of its key features:

No logs policy, so rest assured that your data isn’t tracked or monitored
IP addresses change every time and are always assigned randomly
You may enjoy Hotstar, Netflix, and HBO GO with ease
Over 3200 servers in 46 countries and the numbers are growing
Excellent customer support

Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is the best VPN for Hotstar. Now available at a major discount!

Check price Visit website

NordVPN – Best security features

NordVPN offers a double encryption service to make your sensitive data effectively protected while navigating online.

With more than 5,400 servers in 59 countries worldwide, NordVPN gives unlimited speed and bandwidth, which enables you to stream Hotstar programs without hits or delays.

This protective software surely can increase your online privacy and bypass the geo-blocking policies in different countries, so you can enjoy the favored entertainment despite the local restrictions.

Key features of this Tefincom & Co., S.A. VPN include:

Automatic Kill switch
Access to 5462 servers
Double encryption
Automatic kill switch
Up to six simulation connections

Furthermore, NordVPN offers a 30-day refund period, which is enough time to fully test their VPN servers. This is a must-use for Hotstar users.

NordVPN

Enjoying Hotstar is a matter of seconds when using NordVPN! Get the best deal right away!

Check price Visit website

Surfshark – fast simultaneous connections

With Surfshark you have the perfect gateway to your favorite streaming content without local restrictions or censorship applied in different regions.

In the first place, this VPN tool will offer reliable security tools that help you to protect your identity and take control over your favorite digital content.

With powerful encryption of your online connection, it’s possible to hide your IP and choose from thousands of secure servers in order to surf on the web.

Another useful feature would be Cleanweb for preventing online trackers or adware in your browser. Plus, it provides malware or phishing attacks present anywhere.

Key features of Surfshark include:

Uncensored internet for great content
Unlimited devices with one subscription
Camouflage Mode for enhanced privacy
Private DNS and leak security
NoBorders Mode
A kill switch option
VPN secure protocos
Powerful AES-256 encryption

That being said, using such an exhaustive VPN service offers digital freedom and unrestricted content to watch your favorite movies or TV shows effortlessly.

Surfshark

Acquire your deserved rights for uncensored content for Hotstar in the US or anywhere in the world.

Check price Visit website

CyberGhost – user friendly apps for all devices

CyberGhost VPN provides 30-day money-back guarantee for those who want to check if it really works the way it should.

With more than 6400 servers around the globe, this VPN provider ensures fast connections and not only.

Here are what key features you should expect from CyberGhost:

Strong AES 256-BIT Encryption with a 2048-BIT RSA Key and MD5 for HMAC authentication
Multiple platforms compatible
Zero lags policy
Up to seven simultaneous connections
Anti-fingerprint system
Unlimited bandwidth
Access to multiple servers in 80+ countries

CyberGhost with over 15 million users is a respectable VPN service for keeping Internet connections secure, private, and anonymous.

This makes it one of the best VPN service providers available for Hotstar. For more information about CyberGhost, check out this review.

CyberGhost VPN

Stream videos without restrictions with this amazing VPN. Claim the best deal now!

Check price Visit website

IPVanish – proven zero logs policy

IPVanish is one of the most popular VPN providers out there. This VPN solution developed by StackPath, LLC is mainly known for its fast VPN server speeds.

Their no-logs kept policy means that you get to truly browse the web anonymously, to Geo-Locked Content.

Key features of IPVanish include:

Unlimited P2P Traffic
256-Bit AES Encryption
SOCKS5 web proxy
Unlimited P2P
Unlimited Bandwidth
Optimized for super speed

In addition, IPVanish uses OpenVPN and L2TP/IPsec VPN protocols. This affords users the ability to conduct their online activities safely and anonymously.

IPVanish

IPVanish can protect your privacy with minimum effort, and even works with Hotstar.

Check price Visit website

Which free VPN works for Hotstar?

Considering Hotstar’s strict geo-blocking policy, you may not have the best of luck if you use a free VPN.

Free VPNs are usually easier to detect so you risk not being able to access the platform and get your VPN’s IP blocked.

How do I stop Hotstar from detecting VPN?

Use a good and reliable VPN with obfuscated servers and multi-hop features. Enable all privacy and securiy features that ensure the platform won’t be able to detect that you use a VPN.

Have you used any of these VPNs for Hotstar we mentioned above? Do share with us your experience by commenting below.

Apple TV Keeps Buffering: How to Improve the Stream

Posted on September 15, 2022November 27, 2025 by Henderson Jayden Harper

Streaming or playing videos on your devices is best when it is done smoothly without interruptions or breakages. Likewise, we all know how annoying it can be to wait for a while for videos to preload before your video starts playing.

Apple TV that keeps buffering is one of the most frustrating experiences users can encounter while trying to watch videos on the device.

Moreover, users complain that Apple TV keeps stopping during movie load. It can take a long time before play. It indicates that Apple TV is buffering.

Buffering refers to downloading a certain amount of data while streaming videos and audio over the internet before playing the music or movie. The video may take a while to load because it gathers preload data into a reserved memory space.

Furthermore, buffering is common with streaming platforms while using Apple TV to stream them.

Consequently, buffering can result in the video or stream channel freezing, preventing users from being able to watch.

It can prompt topics like Apple TV keeps buffering on Hulu, Apple TV keeps freezing on laptops, Apple TV keeps freezing on Roku, on Sky, on Firestick, and more.

You can also follow our FXNOW activate guide to ensure your FXNOW account and devices are set up correctly alongside your Apple TV streaming fixes.

Users may be interested in reading how to register the Firestick for their Amazon accounts in a few steps.

Why is my Apple TV streaming so laggy?

Poor or unstable network connection – A poor network connection makes it buffer for a long time and can also keep Apple TV freezing on the laptop
Not enough bandwidth to stream the content – When many users are connected to the same network, it’ll reduce the amount of download bandwidth that goes through your device
Not enough memory space on your device – The Apple TV can constantly buffer if there is not enough space to store data

How do I stop my Apple TV from buffering?

1. Check your Internet connection and disconnect other devices

Performing a power cycle on your router is an excellent way to fix network-related issues that may be causing Apple TV constant buffering.

As said earlier, insufficient bandwidth to play videos can constantly make the Apple TV buffer.

So, we recommend you disconnect some devices that are not necessary from your network. It’ll help increase the bandwidth and help the Apple TV load faster.

Also, if you’re using a wireless source, make sure that your device is as close as possible to it, and that there are no obstructions between the two.

2. Unplug and replug your router/modem and Apple TV

Many of our readers said that they’ve managed to fix this problem with a simple disconnect of the devices from the mains.

So, unplug your router’s and/or modem’s power cable. Do the same with Apple TV and wait for 2-3 minutes, then reconnect them back.

3. Use a VPN

Another issue with Apple TV buffers and freezes is that the server that Apple is connected to may have a problem or be overloaded. A good solution is to use a VPN and connect to another server.

ExpressVPN is one of the most trusted VPN providers with server locations in 94 countries. Its interface makes it easy for anyone to connect to any server simply through a few clicks.

Plus, you can watch content that was previously inaccessible. A great new German TV series just launched with geo-restrictions. Simply connect your IP location to Germany and enjoy the series.

Using a VPN is completely safe and legal. Plus, it offers some amazing security features to protect your privacy when streaming your favorites.

Also, ExpressVPN is optimized for speed, so every connection will provide you with some of the highest speeds.

ExpressVPN

Enjoy content from any country right on your Apple TV without video buffering.

Check Price Visit Website

4. Factory reset your Apple TV

Go to Settings and select System.
Select General and click on Reset.
Choose Reset or Reset and Update from the available options.

After this, the Apple TV should stop buffering or freezing when used.

5. Update Windows

Click on the Start button.
Select Settings from the options.
Click on Windows Update and select Check for updates.

Windows will automatically search and download updates if there are any available. Updating Windows can help fix Apple TV that keeps freezing on the laptop.

6. Switch off and on your device

Go to Settings and select System.
Select the Restart option and press Enter on your remote.

The above steps apply to Apple TV (Apple 4K TV or Apple TV HD).

Another effective fix for the Apple TV keeps buffering issue is restarting your device. Regardless of the devices you are accessing the Apple TV from, performing a power cycle on it can help fix problems that are startup related.

However, users can turn off the device and unplug it from its power source, then plug it back in and turn it on again. It can fix Apple TV if it keeps freezing on LG TV.

How can I improve my Apple TV streaming?

One of the best ways to improve your Apple TV streaming is by keeping your software and device’s operating system up to date. It helps Apple TV load faster and more smoothly. Also, ensuring you have enough space on your device can allow it to store more data.

Nonetheless, how to fix the most common Hulu connection errors is one of the questions users frequently ask.

Also, we have a detailed guide on how to solve the HBO Max keeps buffering issues.

In case you want to learn more about TVs, we have a great guide that can show you how to use a phone as keyboard for the TV.

Please leave your questions and suggestions in the comments section below. We’d love to hear from you.

5 Best Browser to Play Flash Games [Top List]

Posted on September 15, 2022October 3, 2025 by Vladimir Popescu

Playing Flash games online can be fun, especially when your Windows 10 browser comes with unique features to ensure. Unfortunately, this is not the case in more recent times, as the tech is no longer natively supported on browsers.

While this may seem to damper some of your favorite Flash games, you should know that there are workarounds to access Flash content on browsers.

Speed, stability, accessibility, and online safety must be considered when deciding which browser or tech to use, and we recommend against using Flash.

However, we will walk you through the best browser options if you must access Flash content or play Flash games.

How can I play Adobe Flash games in my browser?

As we initially mentioned, Flash is no longer supported; however, the workaround will be using browser extensions.

Many of these are very easy to install and use. They should be configured on your browser and ready to use in just a few clicks.

The best part is that for excellent gaming browsers like Opera GX, there are many options to try, and you will not be lacking in any Flash games.

What is the best browser I can use to play Flash games?

Opera GX – Best gaming browser

Opera GX is the number one choice for many gamers and an excellent browser for Flash games.

First, to enjoy your favorite flash games, you must download one of the many great Flash extensions from its Web Store.

Also, using this browser, you can restrict or control how many hardware resources will be used.

Doing this will ensure that your PC has all the resources needed to focus on other tasks.

Moreover, thanks to the Network Limiter available, the browser allows you to free bandwidth, if needed, for other tasks, such as downloads or streaming.

The Twitch integration is another highly appreciated feature by gamers since it will allow you to watch your favorite streamers and Twitch notifications.

Some Important features:

Video pop-out
Free VPN
Force dark pages

Opera GX

This reliable and dedicated gaming browser will make you forget pop-ups, interruptions, or buffering issues.

Download Visit website

Chrome – Most extensive plugin library

Chrome is a fast browser, making it a perfect choice for playing Flash games. The massive extension library stands out with this browser, where you will find many add-ons that allow you to play Flash games.

This popular web browser is highly optimized for multitasking and can handle many open tasks without a problem.

The browser’s built-in password manager is another helpful feature that will remove the burden of memorizing all the passwords.

Although Chrome is not a browser built specifically for gaming, it still offers impressive features that make it a perfect choice for gaming.

Some Important features:

Omnibox search
Tab groups
Live captions for video or audio

⇒ Get Google Chrome

Firefox – Great privacy option

Firefox has a strong focus on privacy and transparency and can also handle Flash games if you use one of its several Flash extensions.

The browser has a video pop-out feature that allows you to watch your favorite stream in a separate window while focusing on other tasks.

The highly customizable interface and its compatibility with various platforms are great selling points for Firefox.

As mentioned above, thanks to the intense focus on security and privacy, you can rest assured that no advertising will interfere with your online games.

Some Important features:

3-page actions menu
Enhanced tracking protection
Device sync

⇒ Get Mozilla Firefox

Edge – Native Windows browser

Edge has been improved constantly over the years and has now been reintroduced in its most refined form ever.

It is built on Chromium, and you will have access to thousands of add-ons, including many to help you play Flash games on the browser.

Thanks to all these changes, Edge is on our list of recommendations for one of the browsers you can use to play Flash games.

Moreover, the Immersive Reader will remove all the images and distractions that could interfere while playing online games.

Some Important features:

Page layout customization
Sync devices
Dark Mode

⇒ Get Microsoft Edge

Vivaldi – Highly customizable

Vivaldi is another reliable browser that can handle Flash games perfectly while putting a great emphasis on your online privacy also. However, you will need to install some plugins before you can play Flash games.

This browser does not track or store your data which can offer a sense of security of knowing that your privacy is ensured.

Vivaldi has additional features that make task management easy and enjoyable, mainly when operating with multiple tabs.

In addition, Vivaldi also offers a split-screen feature which means that you can have two websites on a single page, displayed side by side.

Some Important features:

Stack and tile tabs
Digital bookmarks
Quick commands

⇒ Get Vivaldi

Where can I find old Flash games?

It is one thing to have a browser for playing Flash games and another to know where to find these games.

If you love playing the old Flash games, you should try any of the following resources:

While this is not an exhaustive list, these three resources are an excellent place to start.

These are our recommendations for the best browsers you can use to play Flash games without interruptions.

Please share with us in the comments section below which one you have used or what other recommendations or suggestions you may have.

Play Diablo 3: Eternal Collection and Golf With Your Friends for free this weekend with Xbox Free Play Days

Posted on September 15, 2022 by Robert Collins

Xbox Free Play Days is back with another round of games for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. This time there are two games in the lineup: Diablo 3: Eternal Collection and Golf With Your Friends. These games will be available to play free from Thursday, September 15 through Sunday, September 18.

Diablo 3: Eternal Collection—67%off!

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Diablo III: Eternal Collection

Developer:
Blizzard Entertainment

Price:
$59.99

Golf With Your Friends—75% off!

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Golf With Your Friends

Developer:
Team17

Price:
Free

For most the highlight of this weekend’s lineup will be Diablo 3: Eternal Collection. Although Golf With Your Friends should not be overlooked as a sporty good time to have with friends. Learn more over on the Xbox Free Play Days FAQ page. And as a bonus, the games featured will be available at a discounted price as part of the Xbox Free Play Days event.

Featured image via vg247.com.

7 Ways to Permanently Stop ESPN Plus from Always Buffering

Posted on September 15, 2022September 3, 2025 by Henderson Jayden Harper

One of the most common issues streamers complain about while streaming is buffering. It makes it so complicated and annoying to watch videos without interruptions

. Users complain about the ESPN Plus buffering constantly and sometimes freezing. However, the ESPN Plus buffering issue is familiar to many streaming services like Apple TV, Disney Plus, and Netflix.

Furthermore, you can encounter buffering issues while using any streaming services, which can be due to many reasons.

The main culprit for the ESPN Plus constant buffering issues is a slow or lagging internet connection. Being an online subscription service, ESPN Plus requires a stable internet connection to stream content from its servers.

However, buffering occurs when your internet connection is not strong enough to keep up with the video streaming speeds.

It causes lag and makes the ESPN Plus buffer. Also, streaming platforms like ESPN Plus, HBO Max, and Apple TV may store preload data of the video you want to stream so that it can prompt buffering issues.

Nevertheless, the ESPN Plus buffering issue is an easy problem to get rid of and permanently fix.

Why does the ESPN Plus app keep buffering?

Slow and poor internet connection: The ESPN Plus buffering issue may occur due to a slow or lagging internet connection. The streaming activity requires a stable and fast network connection to deliver an enjoyable and smooth streaming experience. Also, having many devices connected to the same network can make it impossible for you to get enough bandwidth to load ESPN Plus. Hence, it can cause ESPN Plus buffering issues on Firestick and other streaming platforms.
Outdated graphics/audio drivers: Outdated drivers can cause issues with your streaming services. It can prompt several issues because your device doesn’t have the essential updates and patches to help fix bugs. So, it can be responsible for the ESPN app Chromecast buffering issues.
Outdated app/operating system: Running an outdated app can impede its productivity and cause many issues. So, outdated operating systems like Windows can affect how apps on the device work. Also, if the ESPN Plus app is outdated, it can cause a buffering issue.

How do I stop ESPN Plus from buffering?

1. Restart your device

The easiest way to fix ESPN Plus buffering issue is to restart your device. It can help fix any startup issues or malfunctions that may temporarily affect the device.

So, depending on your device model, we recommend you turn it off and unplug it from the power source. Plug it back after some minutes and turn it on to check if the issue persists.

If, while using ESPN Plus, you are interrupted by selecting the TV provider prompt, read this guide to know the solutions.

2. Update your drivers

You can use Device Manager to update your audio or graphic drivers. When you open it, you will see the list of all your hardware. To check for driver updates, right-click on it and choose Update driver from the list of options.

Then, you have two choices: either select the first option if you want the system to automatically search for a driver, or select the second one if you already downloaded a driver. If so, you will have to direct its location.

After that, if a driver update is available, it will automatically be installed. If it isn’t the case, your driver is already updated.

If you don’t want to update your drivers manually, then we recommend a specialized software. Outbyte Driver Updater can perform a thorough scan of your PC and then can find any driver that needs to be updated. After noticing the outdated drivers, it will download instantly the latest updates directly through its interface.

Outbyte Driver Updater

An amazing tool that helps you keep your device drivers updated all the time.

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3. Check your network connection

Performing a power cycle on your router is the best way to fix network-related issues that may affect your streaming services. It’ll relatively make your internet connection faster and prevent constant buffering.

4. Switch to another network connection

We recommend you switch to a wired cable connection if you’re having difficulties with your Wi-Fi connection. Likewise, you can switch to a Wireless network and see if you can fix the issue.

If the problem goes beyond ESPN Plus buffering and you also see login loops or provider errors, check our full ESPN not working troubleshooting guide for broader fixes.

5. Use a VPN

Using a reliable VPN service can boost your streaming experience. ExpressVPN allows you to stream or download your preferred content with unlimited bandwidth. You can access your apps anywhere in a more secure way.

It also has an amazing feature that helps you get ultra-fast speeds for better-quality videos without impediments.

With this VPN you can watch ESPN Plus privately without any blackouts or throttling. ISPs can intentionally slower your internet connection if they identify that you’re using a large amount of data.

ExpressVPN defeats throttling by protecting your online traffic from ISP so that it’s powerless to inspect your data usage.

ExpressVPN

Improve your streaming speeds and protection with the fastest VPN available.

Check price Visit website

6. Check for app updates

Click on the Start button.
Select Settings from the options.
Click on Windows Update and select Check for updates.

Windows will automatically search and download updates if there are any available. Updating Windows can stop ESPN Plus from constantly buffering.

Likewise, users can update their computer’s operating systems if they use the streaming service on their laptops.

7. Clear cache and cookies

Launch the Chrome browser on your computer and click the More button.
Select More Tools, then Clear browsing data.
Select the Advanced option.
Choose the time range you want to clear and check the boxes for Cookies and other site data & Cached images and files.
Click Clear data.

Close your browser and relaunch it when the process is complete. It applies only to users streaming on a browser.

How can I improve my ESPN streaming?

Closing unnecessary programs in the background can free up some bandwidth for ESPN streaming. Also, not having many tabs on your browser can improve your ESPN Plus streaming.

Conclusively, we recommend you read through the efficient ways to fix HBO Max’s constant buffering issues. Also, you may find it beneficial to check our article about ways to fix video streaming problems in Windows 10/11 without stressing.

Fallout 76: The Pitt update is now live on Xbox consoles

Posted on September 15, 2022 by Robert Collins

The latest update for Fallout 76 is out, bringing the Expeditions System to the game with the launch of season 10. For the first time in the game, players will get a chance to venture beyond the borders of Appalachia with the inclusion of a new area called “The Pitt.”

Players will now be able to lead Expeditions to The Pitt via Vertibird, with the first two missions available at launch: “Union Dues” and “From Ashes to Fire.” No doubt more will follow. And players will be able to gain legendary weapons and armor as well as they complete missions in The Pitt.

And while you’re journeying through the post-apocalyptic wastes of Fallout 76, don’t forget to drop by The Whitespring Refuge. Here you will be able to access Daily Quests and new rewards that can be purchased with earned Stamps.

The update also features a host of technical improvements, and so much more. Be sure to check out the official patch notes via the link at the beginning for further details.

How to Enable & Use Webcam Protection for Improved Security

Posted on September 15, 2022October 11, 2025 by Madhuparna Roy

If you use the webcam regularly and are concerned about its security, you can enable the webcam protection feature through its settings.

A webcam serves as a crucial communication device for many, especially if you are hosting official video conferences, attending online classes, etc.

However, with online fraud on the rise, your system can be prone to virus attacks or can be intruded by spyware at any given time.

But, if you want to change the camera settings in Windows 11, we have some effective solutions that can help you fix the issue.

What is Webcam Protection?

Webcam Protection is a feature offered by 3rd party antivirus software that prevents any malicious apps to access the webcam on your PC without your permission.

Once you enable the Webcam Protection feature, it will make sure that no unreliable app can use the webcam to capture photos or videos and import the contents outside for malicious purposes.

In this post, we will guide you through the process on how to enable and use the Webcam Protection settings in a 3rd party antivirus, as well as how to protect your webcam on your Windows PC.

How do I enable & use Webcam Protection?

1. Use a 3rd party Webcam Protection Software

To begin with, it’s not a Windows feature, so, you cannot enable it on your OS. Instead, you would need a 3rd party antivirus to enable Webcam protection and improve security.

So, for example, if you are using a dedicated antivirus software like TotalAV, Bitdefender, SpyShelter, or Kaspersky Internet Security, etc., you can enable the built-in Webcam Protection feature to stay protected.

TotalAV

Enable webcam protection with TotalAV’s premium and reliable features.

Free Trial Visit Website

2. Disable the camera access

1. Press the Win + I keys simultaneously on your PC to launch Windows Settings.
2. On the left end of the Settings app, click on Privacy & security.
3. Now, on the right, scroll down, and under App permissions, click on Camera.
4. On the next screen, on the right, turn off Camera access.
5. You can also turn off Let apps access your camera.
6. Further, you can also disable the Let desktop apps access your camera option, as shown below.

Another way to ensure webcam protection is disabling your PC’s camera. Once you have disabled the camera via settings, webcam protection will prevent any unauthorized access to your device.

If you are wondering how to disable the webcam protection, then you can follow the same process as above and simply turn on the access in steps 4, 5, and 6.

3. Use a VPN

VPNs are essential for those who are concerned about their online privacy and especially if you are using a webcam frequently for your work.

In such cases, you can use a reliable VPN service to enhance the security of your PC or laptop, thus making sure that your webcam is also protected.

How do I know if my antivirus is blocking my camera?

If it’s your Windows Defender that’s blocking the external webcam, you can follow the below instructions, and add an exclusion:

Go to the taskbar, expand the system tray on the right side and click on the Windows Security icon.
Next, click on Virus & threat protection.
On the next screen, on the right, under Virus & threat protection settings, click on Manage settings.
Now, on the right side, scroll down and under Exclusions, click on Add or remove exclusions.
Here, Add an exclusion to allow the webcam.

But, if Windows Defender is blocking the built-in webcam, it may be because it found some malicious software with the application.

In this case, you must check if the Camera driver is updated to the latest version. If not, then you can follow the method in our post to update the driver on your Windows 11 PC.

But, if you are using a 3rd party antivirus, and if it’s blocking your computer camera, you can refer to our detailed post for the fix related to different software.

However, if you are using software other than that mentioned in the post, you can visit your antivirus software company’s website for further assistance.

If you have any other queries related to the webcam, you can leave your query in the comments box below.

Assassin’s Creed, Ni no Kuni, and more video games come to Xbox Game Pass

Posted on September 15, 2022 by Radu Tyrsina

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, Fuga: Melodies of Steel, and Ni no Kuni Wrath of the White Witch Remastered are all now all playable via Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass subscription service on both Xbox One and Xbox Series X console generations.

The announcement was made moments ago during Xbox’s Tokyo Game Show 2022 presentation. The above four video games join Ashes Of The Singularity: Escalation on PC and DC League of Super-Pets: The Adventures of Krypto and Ace on PC and Xbox consoles which were added to the Game Pass library yesterday.

While each of these title have their own fans, the biggest two announcements are likely to be Ni no Kuni Wrath of the White Witch Remastered due to its passionate fanbase and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey thanks to the popularity of the Assassin’s Creed franchise and the recent announcement of Assassin’s Creed Mirage which is the next major entry.

In other Tokyo Game Show 2022 news, Deathloop has been officially confirmed for release on current gen Xbox consoles and will also be coming to Xbox Game Pass.

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Assassin’s Creed® Odyssey

Developer:
Ubisoft

Price:
Free

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Anniversary Edition

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Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Anniversary Edition

Developer:
Spike Chunsoft

Price:
$29.99

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Fuga: Melodies of Steel

Developer:
CyberConnect2

Price:
$39.99

Ni no Kuni Wrath of the White Witch™ Remastered

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Ni no Kuni Wrath of the White Witch™ Remastered

Developer:
Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

Price:
Free

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Ashes of the Singularity: Escalation

Developer:
Stardock Entertainment

Price:
Free

Deathloop coming to Xbox Series X and Xbox Game Pass next week

Posted on September 15, 2022 by Radu Tyrsina

During Xbox’s Tokyo Game Show 2022 presentation it was announced that the popular Deathloop video game would be coming to Microsoft’s Xbox Series X (and Xbox Series S) consoles next week on September 20th.

Deathloop will also be available to play via the Xbox Game Pass subscription service on the same day though, if the Microsoft Store page is accurate, support for Xbox Cloud Gaming hasn’t been added yet.

Deathloop originally launched on Windows PC and Sony’s PlayStation 5 console in 2021. The PS5 launch was always supposed to be a timed exclusive so it was only a matter of time before the game came to Xbox consoles.

Here’s the official game description and trailer:

DEATHLOOP is a next-gen first person shooter from Arkane Lyon, the award-winning studio behind Dishonored. In DEATHLOOP, two rival assassins are trapped in a mysterious timeloop on the island of Blackreef, doomed to repeat the same day for eternity. As Colt, the only chance for escape is to end the cycle by assassinating eight key targets before the day resets. Learn from each cycle – try new paths, gather intel, and find new weapons and abilities. Do whatever it takes to break the loop.

IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED… DIE, DIE AGAIN

Every new loop is an opportunity to change things up. Use the knowledge you gain from each attempt to change up your playstyle, stealthily sneaking through levels or barreling into the fight, guns-blazing. In each loop you’ll discover new secrets, gather intel on your targets as well as the island of Blackreef, and expand your arsenal. Armed with a host of otherworldly abilities and savage weaponry, you’ll utilize every tool at your command to execute takedowns that are as striking as they are devastating. Customize your loadout wisely to survive this deadly game of hunter vs hunted.

In other gaming news, the current season of Fortnite is set to end in a few days and things are really heating up.

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QR-Code

DEATHLOOP

Developer:
Bethesda Softworks

Price:
Free

Microsoft begins testing video ad blocking in Edge browser

Posted on September 15, 2022 by Radu Tyrsina

The Microsoft Edge Canary app for Android devices updated this week (via GH) with a new feature called Edge Block Video Ads designed to block video ads within the mobile version of Microsoft’s web browser.

The Android Microsoft Edge app already features some ad blocking due to its integration of the free AdBlock Plus tool. Edge Block Video Ads is assumed to work in conjunction with AdBlock Plus’ ad blocking and will disable video ads that slip under the radar.

Edge Block Video Ads can be enabled within the Microsoft Edge Canary app via typing edge://flags in the address bar and then performing a search for videos.

If testing goes well in the Canary app, the feature will likely roll out to the regular Microsoft Edge Android app in the near future. It’s unclear if built-in video ad blocking is planned for the iOS or Windows version of Microsoft Edge though a number of ad blocking browser extensions, including AdBlock Plus, are already available to use on Windows.

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Microsoft Edge Canary

Developer:
Microsoft Corporation

Price:
Free

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Microsoft Edge: AI browser

Developer:
Microsoft Corporation

Price:
Free

How to Use Immersive Reader in Microsoft Edge

Posted on September 14, 2022August 20, 2024 by Claudiu Andone

Immersive Reader is a very helpful tool for web reading. It has a lot of functions that include even grammar aids like highlighting parts of speech with different colors or separating syllables.

In our guide today, we will teach you how to use the Microsoft Edge Immersive Reader to its full potential.

How can I use the Immersive Reader in Microsoft Edge?

1. Enter Reader Mode

reader mode microsoft edge immersive reader

You can access the Immersive Reader in Microsoft Edge if you click on the address bar and then on the specific icon from the right, or by pressing the F9 key.

You will see a horizontal drop-down menu with 4 options, as shown in the picture above.

2. Use Immersive Reader’s read aloud tool

There are multiple reasons to listen to a document, such as proofreading, multitasking, or increased comprehension and learning. In Microsoft Edge’s Immersive Reader, you can do just that using the read aloud tool.

The read aloud tool allows you to listen to the vocal version of a web page, according to your preferences. You can modify its voice options, such as the reading speed, to your liking.

1. Launch Microsoft Edge on your device.
2. Go to the web page that you want to listen to.
3. Click on the Immersive Reader button next to the address bar or press the F9 key.
4. Select the read aloud tool from the toolbar.
5. The reading will start immediately.
6. If you’re not happy with the voice or reading speed you can also click on the Voice option from the top right and change them to your liking.

You will notice that the read words are highlighted so that you know where you are at all times.
7. When you want to stop listening to the web page, simply click on the Pause button or close the tool.

3. Change text preferences in Immersive Reader

select text preferences immersive reader

The second option, Text preference, allows you to change the text size, the spacing between the words, and the page theme. The most interesting one is the page theme-changing option.

Just click on them and see how the background changes so you can relax your eyes while you’re reading.

4. Use the Grammar Tools

grammar tools in immersive reader selection

If you click on the Grammar tools button, you will see the options of separating syllables, highlighting the different parts of speech, and even labeling them.

They are toggled off by default but we turned them all on for you to see what the result would be. This is a great tool for school kids, or for anybody who is trying to learn English grammar, of course.

5. Translate a text using Immersive Reading

Probably, the most generally useful feature of Immersive Reader is the option to translate the text on the screen into any language.

After you turn on the Immersive Reader, click on Reading preferences.
Click on the Choose a language bar and select the language of preference.
Press on the Translate entire page button from the bottom of the menu as shown in the picture below.

Right now, The Immersive Reader tool is available only if you downloaded the Microsoft Edge 84 Dev and Canary builds. However, you can play with all the features on the Microsoft Learning Tools page.

Chrome users can install the Read and Write if you want these and more features.

Let us know in the comments section below if you successfully used your Immersive Reader and whether you have any questions about it.

5 Best VPNs for Minecraft to Bypass IP Ban & Join Any Server

Posted on September 14, 2022September 30, 2025 by Radu Tyrsina

There are a lot of games in this world, but only a few have managed to experience such a lengthy evolution as Minecraft.

Fans have been addicted to it for years, and they enjoyed the pleasure or in some cases tasted the horror of hosting their own servers.

One of the main reasons why it’s recommended to use a VPN for Minecraft is that you may want to play on a restricted or blocked access network.

Another reason is the fact that you will be able to create a private and secure LAN server of your own.

IP bans are obviously another factor that calls for a VPN for Minecraft.

We gathered the best VPNs for Minecraft that are currently available on the market just to make your choice much easier.

Check out their sets of features and decide which one is the best for your own needs.

Can you join a Minecraft server with a VPN?

Yes. You can use a VPN to access Minecraft and unlock geo-blocked servers from anywhere. But you will need a good VPN with powerful encryption to do it.

Users report not being able to log in to Minecraft when using a VPN and getting an error message.

So if you’re wondering why Minecraft keeps saying Can’t connect to server, the fact that your VPN is detectable may be the reason.
If you can’t login in Minecraft when using a VPN, we recommend trying a different server.

Make sure you use a VPN with unbreakable encryption and additional privacy features like double VPN and obfuscation.

Does Minecraft block VPNs?

Yes, Minecraft players report having problems accessing the game when on a VPN or proxy. Most commonly, you will get a Minecraft can’t connect to server error on the VPN.

That’s why using an untraceable VPN is important, a VPN that can bypass Minecraft restrictions.

VPNs can help you get access to more gaming servers, improve speed, and also bypass IP bans in Minecraft, so make sure you check our recommendations below for the best clients.

What is the best VPN that works with Minecraft?

NordVPN – Best for obfuscation

This is a great service that allows you to play your Minecraft games without having any problems. You can access more than 3299 servers from all over the world using NordVPN, and you won’t have to deal with all kinds of logs policies.

NordVPN is based in Panama and was developed by Tefincom & Co., S.A., and it’s a popular choice for Minecraft users. This service is also the recipient of a lot of praise coming from various experts.

Besides being able to play Minecraft without a care in the world, you can also watch Netflix, and this is quite a rare feature these days,

When you first launch NordVPN, you are confronted with a world map and also a marker for each one of the countries where there’s a server or more.

The map is zoomed-in by default, and this is great because otherwise, it would be pretty difficult to choose from so many servers that are located all over the world.

You will also be able to connect to the closest Minecraft server, and all you have to do is to hit the Connection Wizard button.

This VPN also allows you to connect up to six devices at the same time and you can enjoy high-speed unlimited bandwidth.

It’s best to head over to NordVPN’s official website to check out the pricing plans and more features that are packed in this service.

NordVPN

Want to keep private while playing Minecraft? Try NordVPN

Check price Visit website

ExpressVPN – Fastest servers

ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs for gaming, thanks to its very fast, yet secure servers.

You will be able to successfully access Minecraft from anywhere in the world and get a fast connection because ExpressVPN has thousands of servers in 94 different countries.

By connecting to an ExpressVPN server that is close to your location, you have the chance to increase Internet speed.

As opposed to some ISPs, ExpressVPN offers unlimited traffic and data, so you can play Minecraft as much as you want, no limitations.

On top of that, thanks to its encryption, all your activity and data will be hidden from third parties, including your ISP.

This means that even if your Internet Service Provider throttles traffic, it won’t be able to do so with you, because all your data is hidden.

We must also mention that ExpressVPN is available on all major devices, with dedicated apps for Windows and macOS.

It’s fairly easy to install and set up and you can even install it directly to your router and secure your entire household.

ExpressVPN

Enjoy Minecraft to the fullest by connecting to ExpressVPN’s fast servers!

Free trial Visit website

Private Internet Access – Most US serves

Tests have shown that it is an excellent VPN for use in Minecraft, especially since it is a game where lag can ruin everything.

Created by Kape Technologies, (the same company that created CyberGhost), the product offers the same quality standards, but with even more worldwide coverage.

The service’s interface is simple, but it’s packed with lots of functionalities and features. Your online security while you are gaming is assured, and your Internet traffic is protected.

Your IP will be protected all the time while you are playing and you will receive an anonymous VPN IP.

Using this service, you will be able to effortlessly blend in with the crowd.

You can also say goodbye to geographic restrictions, and the encryption will keep you safe even when you’re playing or surfing the Internet on public Wi-Fi.

If you come across any problems installing the client or if you are not able to find the necessary information that you need, you can always contact customer support.

These are only a few of the many great features that come with Private Internet Access VPN. To check out more cool functionalities that will help you while playing Minecraft, head over to the service’s official website.

Private Internet Access

Looking for a sturdy VPN that works flawlessly with Minecraft? PIA could be what you need.

Check price Visit website

CyberGhost VPN – Beginner-friendly apps

CyberGhost is one of the best VPN providers in the world, and the reason is simple. It provides such a massive range of handy features that other competitors cannot handle the battle.

The functionalities and functions provided by CyberGhost include amazing speeds and enhanced security along with smooth performance.

The interface of this VPN is effortless to understand and use by customers with all possible skills.

Installing the client is effortless, and it doesn’t take more than just a few minutes.

It will turn out incredibly efficient while you’re playing Minecraft because it provides cool features such as anonymous surfing, hiding your IP, and more.

Your original IP address will be replaced with another one from the CyberGhost network and this way it will become impossible for third parties to track you online.

By connecting to CyberGhost’s servers, you will have access to content from all around the world.

You can also block malicious content and protect the security of your system using this VPN.

Your online activity will be encrypted with the 256-AES bit technology.

CyberGhost supports all major operating systems including Windows, and this is great for a VPN these days.

Another cool feature of CyberGhost is that it provides the possibility to pick and set preferred Wi-Fi connections and add them to your protected list.

On the VPN’s official website, you can check out more exciting features of CyberGhost and the pricing plans as well. Enjoy online gaming and browsing without having to be afraid of hackers, online behavior tracking, and mass surveillance.

CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN can protect your privacy 24/7, even while playing Minecraft.

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Hotspot Shield – Top-level encryption

Hotspot Shield is another piece of jewelry in terms of Minecraft that was developed by AnchorFree. From now on, you will be able to unlock the game using one of the best VPN services out there.

With Hotspot Shield, you can unblock Minecraft, and all you have to do is to download the service without any risks and then connect to one of the service’s servers in order to receive another IP address.

After that, you will be able to play Minecraft all day and night while at the same time keeping your IP address, identity, and location hidden, and all the sensitive data secure.

Using this VPN, you will be able to get around all kinds of content blockers that are installed at your work or school.

You will get the opportunity to change the IP address in order to keep playing after you have been banned if that’s the case.

Hotspot Shield allows you to protect the valuable information that goes and comes to and from the Internet to your system.

This VPN will also allow you to use servers that are close to the game’s server and this way users will successfully reduce lag.

You will be able to enjoy your Minecraft game anywhere including on public Wi-Fi or in other countries.

If you do decide to use Hotspot Shield VPN to play Minecraft at the location of your choice, this service will definitely provide you peace of mind and enhanced privacy. It’s essential also to note the fact that this VPN does not keep track of your online activity, personal data, and IP address compared to other services.

Check out more cool features that are included in Hotspot Shield by heading over to its official website. If you are thinking about better security, we strongly recommend you choose the paid plan which has enhanced security, more functions, and better support.

HotSpot Shield

Tired of Minecraft not working with your current VPN? Check out Hotspot Shield.

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These are our top picks for the best VON for Minecraft and whatever your choice will be, we guarantee that your gaming will be worry-free. Make your decision and start playing.

What is Win32:Bogent [susp] and How to Remove it

Posted on September 14, 2022September 23, 2025 by Tashreef Shareef

Even if your antivirus has alerted you of removing the Win32:Bogent virus software, it can also be a false positive.

Several Steam users have reported that their third-party antivirus has quarantined Win32:Bogent when launching the Steam client.

Before dismissing the alert as a false positive, make sure to take some measures to ensure that the Win32:Bogent is not harmful.

In this article, we take a look at what is the Win32:Bogent file and how to remove it from your system if required.

How do I remove the Win32:Bogent [susp]?

1. Check for a false positive

Launch your antivirus and open the Quarantine tab.
Note the Win32:Bogent file path: C:Program Files(x86)Steamsteamappsdownloading236850pdx_browser32libcef.dll
Go to the VirusTotal website.
Click the Choose file button.
Select the file quarantined by your antivirus.
Wait for Virus Total to complete and find the information provided by multiple antivirus solutions.
Analyze the final score to see if the file is a potential threat.
Multiple engines will detect any potential threat.
If only AVG and Avast have detected the file, it could be a false positive.

2. Use a different antivirus software

If the issue is occurring when you try to update or open Steam, and AVG or Avast detects the virus, you are most likely dealing with a false positive.
To make sure it is a false positive, try uninstalling your third-party antivirus and run the scan using Windows Defender.

We recommend a reliable antivirus program that protects your computer against viruses, Trojans, malware, spyware, and other Internet dangers such as rootkits or ransomware.

TotalAV is a combination of a classic virus scanner, behavior-based adware detection, and also cloud functionality that ensures accuracy and prevents false alarms like the Win32:Bogent.

This great software uses advanced Artificial Intelligence technologies to anticipate, detect, and instantly block even the newest threats.

⇒ Get TotalAV

2.1 Uninstall the current antivirus

Press the Windows key + R.
Type control and click OK.
Select Uninstall a program.
Go to AVG/Avast from a list of installed apps and click Uninstall.
Wait for the program to complete and restart your PC.

2.2 Run Windows Defender to remove Win32:Bogent

To make sure Win32:Bogent virus is a false-positive, you can run the scan using the built-in antivirus on your Windows device, as opposed to a third-party one.

The built-in antivirus is called Windows Defender and is both easy and perfectly safe to use. It can scan and remove the virus within minutes.

1. Click on Start and select Settings.
2. Go to Update & Security.
3. Open Windows Security.
4. Make sure your Windows Defender software is up to date.
5. Click on Virus and threat protection.
6. Go to Scan options.
7. Select the Full Scan option.
8. Select Scan Now to start scanning.
9. Wait for the scan to complete and check if Windows Defender detects the Trojan.
10. If the Trojan is detected, then the possibility of a false positive can be ignored. Windows Defender will help you remove the Win32:Bogent virus.

2.3 Remove the virus using a dedicated tool

Download and install the antivirus software of your choice.
Launch the antivirus tool and perform a complete scan.

If you are unsure about a tool that can assist with thorough malware cleanup, we recommend that you browse our list of dedicated antimalware solutions to narrow down your options.

The Win32:Bogent is most likely a false positive if detected by Avast or AVG when launching the Steam client.

To get rid of the persistent errors that attack your PC, we recommend trying one of the programs in our guide of the best antivirus tools with a lifetime license.

Before discarding it as a false positive, follow the steps in this article to make sure it is not a potential threat, and let us know if you solved the problem by leaving a message in the comments section below.

Hulu Video not Available in This Location [3 Tested Fixes]

Posted on September 14, 2022September 12, 2025 by Elena Constantinescu

Hulu is an excellent video-streaming service you can use to watch original movies and T.V. shows. Unfortunately, not all Hulu videos might be available at your location.

If you stumble upon an error that prevents you from watching specific movies or T.V. series on Hulu, you might be tempted to drop this video-sharing website and replace it with something else.

Before doing that, however, try using a VPN to get past the geographical restrictions and watch Hulu from anywhere in the world. Although it’s tempting to use a free VPN, we strongly advise against it because it comes with many risks.

But a premium VPN is different. You can trust it to secure your network traffic, protect your online privacy, and defend yourself from hacker attacks.

Why won’t Hulu let me change my home location?

There are a few reasons why you may be interested in changing your location on Hulu, but sadly some users have found this impossible. Usually, this could be because of any one of the following:

You have maxed the number of available changes – In a calendar year, you can not change your location more than 4 times. So if it is your fifth change, you should be wary of this.
You Live outside the U.S. – This goes without saying. However, since the service works in the U.S., it may be complicated to try a home located outside the U.S.
Connecting with a mobile network or commercial Wi-Fi – This has triggered many users’ errors, and you should change to a different network.
You are using a proxy or VPN – If you use a VPN, you must use one strong enough to bypass Hulu surveillance; if not, you may get restricted and wouldn’t be able to change your home location.

Is Hulu live T.V. region-locked?

Hulu + Live T.V. transmits about the broadest range of local networks on any streaming service, including NBC, Fox News, ABC, CBS, and Telemundo.

Regional sports coverage is also available, including the local NBC sports stations. And you may view the local channels via the service T.V. guide.

How do you bypass this content that is not available in your location?

1. Use a paid VPN service

Get a subscription plan for a premium VPN (We recommend ExpressVPN).
Download, set up, and launch the VPN.
Connect to a VPN server outside of your country.
Start watching Hulu.

ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs you can use to watch blocked content. With this VPN, you can get a new IP location almost anywhere in the world with just a few clicks.

You can choose one of the VPN servers in more than 90 countries so you can watch content from anywhere you want, on any platform you want.

ExpressVPN offers advanced user features like split tunneling, kill switch, and threat manager, as well as detailed guides for basic user features with easy changing of IP location, and unlimited bandwidth.

Importantly, you’ll not get the error – Hulu is not available in your region or you may be using a VPN.

What else you must know about Express:

Advanced leak protection
VPN split tunneling
No-logs policy
Network Lock kill switch
Best-in-class AES 256-bit encryption
Private DNS

ExpressVPN

Watch anything you want on Hulu, Netflix, HBO Go, and many others.

Check Price Visit Website

2. Change your VPN server

If you are using a VPN already, but a Hulu video is still unavailable in this location, this solution may help. First, log into your VPN and connect to a different server.

This is helpful because you may sometimes be connected to a restricted country server and have forgotten to change back to a U.S. server before accessing Hulu. Once you change the server, you should have unrestricted access.

3. Use Browser extensions

Launch your browser (we use Chrome).
Navigate to the Chrome Store.
Type Hulu VPN in the search box and hit Enter.
Select one of the options, we suggest Wachee, but there are several others you may try.
Click the Add to Chrome button.
Click Add extension to confirm.
Now click on the extension icon, make sure the location is set to the United States, then click Connect.
Now you can stream Hulu.

Note that you will have a streaming limit if you use the trial version. However, this option is an easy Hulu location trick.

4. Use proxy websites

Using a proxy is different from a VPN. While both aim at hiding your I.P. address, a proxy website will not encrypt your data. But browsing Hulu via one is sometimes successful.

However, we must note that while some users have tried to use a proxy to bypass location restrictions, most users have gotten the message: You appear to be using an anonymous proxy tool. Disable any anonymous proxies you may use, then try streaming Hulu again.

So this would not be your preferred alternative all the time.

How often can I change my Hulu home location?

You can now update your Home network or use Hulu’s streaming selection of T.V. episodes and movies.

However, in 12 months, you are allowed to switch the Home network a maximum of four times. However, you should contact Hulu support if you need further support, and they may be able to help you.

That is as far as we will discuss in this article. However, using these solutions helps you avoid a Hulu location error.

To summarize, you can use a reliable VPN like PIA to ensure your online privacy and digital security to unblock videos on Hulu and any other video-sharing platform. A VPN will also be helpful if the Hulu app is unavailable in your region or Hulu is not working on a smart TV.

A VPN is also practical for keeping you safe from cyber-criminals, especially if you frequently travel and must connect to public Wi-Fi hotspots that aren’t password-protected.

In the comment section, let’s know if you have succeeded in using a VPN on Hulu.

17 Easy Fixes for VPN Error 691 in Windows 10/11

Posted on September 14, 2022September 16, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

Many use VPNs in order to protect their privacy online. VPN tools are a great thing to have these days, and Windows 10 also supports VPN natively, so you won’t need any third-party software.

Issues with VPN can still occur and users reported Connection failed with error 691 error message. This can be a problem if you want to use a VPN, but there are a few ways to solve it.

How to fix the VPN connection failed with error 691?

1. Install Private Internet Access

While the native Windows solution is fairly easy to use and covers basic VPN needs, if you rely extensively on VPN usage you might want to consider upgrading to premium software.

By coupling your PC with PIA you will definitely enjoy a myriad of features and never have to worry about failed connection errors. If anything, this well-rounded VPN will streamline your connection, eliminate server buffering and ISP throttling and enhance your download speeds.

Packed with unlimited bandwidth and more than 3292 servers strategically placed across the globe, PIA will let you choose the server closest to you, and route your traffic towards it via highly encrypted VPN tunnels.

2. Use Microsoft CHAP Version 2

VPN uses different protocols, and in order to fix Connection failed with error 691, you need to use Microsoft CHAP Version 2. To do that, follow these steps:

Press the Windows key + X to open the WinX menu. Choose Network Connections from the menu.
When the Network Connections window opens, locate your VPN connection, right-click it and choose Properties from the menu.
Navigate to the Security tab.
Select Allow these protocols and check Microsoft CHAP Version 2 (MS-CHAP v2).
Click OK to save changes.

After enabling Microsoft CHAP Version 2, check if the problem still appears.

3. Uncheck the Include Windows logon domain option

Sometimes Connection failed with error 691 messages can appear if your VPN connection isn’t configured properly, but you can fix that problem by disabling the Include Windows logon domain option.

To do that, follow these steps:

Open Network Connections. For detailed instructions on how to do that, check the previous solution.
Locate your VPN connection, right-click it, and choose Properties from the menu.
Navigate to the Options tab and uncheck the Include Windows logon domain option.
Click OK to save changes.

4. Change the LANMAN parameters

According to users, you can fix the VPN error 691 on your PC by simply changing the LANMAN parameters.

This can be done via the Group Policy Editor, a built-in tool on your Windows device. It is easy and perfectly safe to use.

1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog and type gpedit.msc in it.
2. Click on OK to run the command.
3. The Local Group Policy Editor will now start. In the left pane, go to Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options.
4. In the right pane, locate and double-click on Network security: LAN Manager authentication level.
5. Go to the Local Security Setting tab. Choose to Send LM & NTLM responses from the list. Click Apply and OK to save the changes.
6. Now double-click on Network Security: Minimum Session Security for NTLM SSP.
7. Be sure to disable Require 128-bit encryption option and enable the Require NTLMv2 session security option.
8. Click Apply and OK to save the changes.
9. Restart your PC.

5. Check if your username and password are correct

Sometimes Connection failed with error 691 messages can appear if your username or password isn’t correct. To ensure that your password is correct, we advise you to check if you have the CAPS LOCK option turned on.

In addition, be sure to enter your email address as your username.

6. Update Network drivers

The next thing we’re going to try is updating your network drivers. Here’s how to do that:

Go to Search, type devicemngr, and open the Device Manager.
Expand Network adapters, and find your router.
Right-click your router and go to Update driver.
Follow further on-screen instructions and finish installing drivers.
Restart your computer.

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. Of course, as you’re not able to connect to the internet at the moment, this tool won’t be useful.

However, once you get online, it will help you to keep all your drivers up to date, so you won’t be in this situation anymore.

An automatic driver updater tool will help you update drivers automatically and prevent PC damage caused by installing the wrong driver versions.

After several tests, our team concluded that this is the best-automatized solution.

⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

7. Check your connection’s security settings

Connection failed with error 691 messages that can appear if your security settings aren’t properly configured.

To fix this problem, you need to check your connection’s security settings by following these steps:

Open the Network Connections window.
Locate your connection, right-click it, and choose Properties from the menu.
Navigate to the Security tab and make sure that the Typical (recommended settings) option is selected.
In Validate my identity as follows section, make sure that Allow unsecured password is selected.
Go to the Options tab and make sure that the Include Windows logon domain option isn’t checked. Click OK to save changes.

After making the necessary changes, check if the problem is resolved.

8. Leave the domain name blank for the outside connection

Users reported that their VPN works while using the internal network, however, Connection failed with error 691 appearing when trying to connect to VPN via an Internet connection.

This is a strange problem, but it seems that the solution is rather simple. According to users, they fixed the issue simply by leaving the domain name blank for the outside connection.

To fix the problem just enter your username and password and leave the domain name blank. Click the Connect button and everything should work without problems.

9. Use the rasphone command

If you have problems connecting to the VPN, you might be able to fix them by using rasphone command. You can run this command by following these steps:

Press Windows key + X and choose Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu.
When Command Prompt starts, enter rasphone -d Name of your VPN connection.
Press Enter to run the command.

10. Check if there are other active VPN connections

Connection failed with error 691 messages can appear if there are active connections. To fix this problem, be sure to check if there are any other VPN connections running.

If so, be sure to disable these connections and check if that solves the problem.

11. Check your domain name

A few users reported that this issue occurs because your domain name isn’t correct. According to users, the issue appears if your domain name uses the company.local format.

In order to fix the problem, you need to remove .local from the domain name. For example, if your domain name is Company.local switch it to Company and check if that fixes the issue.

12. Use a different Logon ID

Sometimes Connection failed with error 691 messages can appear if your Logon ID profile is damaged. If that’s the case, create a new Logon ID and try using it instead.

13. Change your username

A few users reported that Connection failed with error 691 message appearing due to their username. According to them, both username and password are correct, but the issue still appears. If you have the same problem, you might want to try adding the domain name to your username.

To do that, simply add @YourDomainName to your user name. For example, if your current username is Username, you need to change it to Username@YourDomainName. After doing that, try to connect to the VPN again.

14. Delete and add your VPN connection to fix error 691

If you’re getting a Connection failed with error 691 messages, you can fix it simply by deleting and creating your VPN connection again. This is quite simple in Windows 10, and you can do it by following these steps:

Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
When the Settings app opens, go to the Network & Internet section. Now navigate to the VPN tab.
In the VPN section, you should see all your available VPN connections. Select the connection you want to remove and click the Remove button.
Now you need to add a new VPN connection. To do that, click Add a VPN connection button.
After doing that, enter the necessary information to set up your VPN connection.

After creating a new VPN connection, try to connect to it and check if the issue still persists.

15. Use PAP instead of LDAP

Users reported that you can’t use the MS-CHAP v2 protocol with an LDAP server setup. By doing so, you’ll cause Connection failed with error 691 messages to appear.

To avoid this problem, simply switch from the LDAP server setup to PAP and the problem will be fixed.

16. Add ports to WAN/virtual server port forwarding

This error can appear if you’re trying to use a VPN in your network. According to some users, you can fix Connection failed with error 691 error message by adding ports to the WAN/virtual server port forwarding.

If you’re not a network administrator, be sure to contact your network administrator and ask him to make the necessary changes.

17. Contact your ISP

Sometimes Connection failed with error 691 messages can be caused by problems with your ISP. A few users reported that the error was caused by their ISP, but after contacting the ISP the issue was resolved.

Connection failed with error 691 messages can prevent you from using your VPN, and if you have this problem, we encourage you to try some of our solutions.

Let us know how it worked for you in the comments section below.

5 Ways to Fix YouTube VR if It’s Not Working on Oculus Quest

Posted on September 14, 2022October 4, 2023 by Hasibul Kabir

Is YouTube VR not working on Oculus Quest? We have come up with helpful information and the most effective solutions for you.

Facebook’s virtual reality headset is a perfect and affordable choice for VR lovers. There are countless apps and games on VR. However, like any other device, these apps or VR have problems.

One of the most common issues with this VR you may face is with YouTube. You may find that this video streaming app is not working on this device.

We have shown solutions to fix Oculus Quest 2 charging problem in another article. This article will feature solutions that will help to solve YouTube VR-related issues.

Can I watch VR videos on Oculus Quest 2?

Yes. You can easily watch any virtual reality or 360 videos on Oculus Quest 2. There are apps like YouTube, Prime Videos, Netflix, etc. You will also find dedicated 360 video apps on this VR.

So, you won’t have to worry about watching VR videos on this device.

Why is YouTube VR not working on Oculus Quest?

If you cannot watch YouTube VR videos on this device, it may have several reasons. These are:

A known bug with this app
Problematic cache or process on VR
Oculus Quest software is outdated

But don’t worry. You can try several solutions to fix YouTube VR not working issue on Oculus Quest. You can find them in the next part of this post.

How do I get my YouTube VR to work with Oculus Quest?

1. Relaunch the YouTube VR app or watch from the browser

The first thing you can do is relaunch the YouTube VR on Oculus Quest. You can try this method if you can open the app but cannot watch videos. If the app doesn’t open, you can continue watching YouTube videos on the browser.

Another thing is you may not be able to watch 360 videos from a browser. In this case, you can skip and go through the following methods.

2. Restart the Quest

Restarting Oculus Quest is an excellent way to deal with any error. After running it for a while, some internal issues may appear. If you restart the device, it will clear the corrupted cache and restore other things.

As a result, if any of these things cause YouTube VR, not working problem, a simple restart will fix it quickly.

3. Re-install the YouTube app

3.1 Uninstall YouTube

Go to Quick Settings.
Go to Settings.
Next, go to Storage.
Click on the Delete/Uninstall button next to the YouTube VR from the list of apps.
Click on Uninstall on the popup.

3.2 Install YouTube VR again

Go to Store.
Search for the YouTube VR.
Click the app from the Search results.
Click the Install button.

The above steps should fix YouTube not working on Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2, and you can try to watch YouTube VR videos again.

4. Update Oculus Quest

Go to Oculus Quest Settings like before.
Navigate to the Software Update.
If you find any available updates, click on the Update/Install button.

After updating, you will need to restart the device. Then see if it has fixed YouTube VR not working issue on Oculus or not.

5. Factory reset

Turn off your Oculus Quest VR.
Press the Power and Volume down buttons together and hold until you see a menu.
Go to Factory reset and complete the process.

There are other ways to do a factory reset. But, this one is the easiest method. Of course, after resetting, you may need to set up the VR headset again. Nevertheless, using the YouTube VR app on Meta’s virtual reality headset may also fix your problem.

What VR video apps work on oculus quest?

Oculus Quest has amazing VR video apps. You can find almost all popular video streaming apps on this platform. These are the most mentionable ones:

YouTube VR
Netflix
ShowTime
Prime Video VR
ESPN
BigScreen
Skybox VR
Vudu
National Geographic

You can find even more in its app store. Indeed, there are enough apps to give you an excellent VR video experience.

Oculus Quest 2 YouTube VR low quality

Low-quality video playback on YouTube VR is a widespread problem on platforms like Oculus Quest. In many cases, it is related to the internet bandwidth you have. Else, it may be because you have manually selected low resolution.

We suggest you have a decent internet connection and manually select the best resolution. You also should ensure that the VR headset software and the YouTube VR app are up-to-date.

Ensuring these things will help eliminate low-quality video issues on YouTube VR on Oculus Quest 2.

If interested, you can learn how to fix Oculus not working on Windows 11.

This article has mentioned the steps and methods to fix Oculus Quest YouTube VR not working problem. Let us know in the comment box if you know any other better ways to troubleshoot this problem.

How to Turn Any Book Into an Audiobook

Posted on September 14, 2022October 4, 2023 by Matthew Adams

An audiobook is an audio narrative version of a book that you can play on your desktop, mobile, or tablet. You can listen to the books on your mobile much the same as any other audio file whilst jogging in the park, washing dishes, etc

These aren’t really something new, but the audiobook industry has expanded considerably since the rise of ebooks. There are now myriad audiobooks retailing on Amazon.

However, you can also convert your e-book collection into audiobooks with text-to-speech software, and we will show you exactly how to do it yourself.

How can I turn my book into an audiobook?

1. Download the Balabolka tool from the official website. The downloaded file will be in .zip format.
2. Open the ZIP in File Explorer, and press the Extract all button to decompress it.
3. Launch the setup wizard from the extracted folder.
4. When you’ve installed Balabolka, open the software’s window.
5. Click File > Open and then select to open the e-book file you need to convert into an audiobook.
6. Press on the SAPI 5 tab and select Microsoft Hazel Desktop from the drop-down menu.
7. You can test the converted book now. Press the Read Aloud button on the toolbar to play the book.
8. Further configure the audio narrative by adjusting the Rate, Pitch and Volume bars.
9. To configure the audio file output, click Options > Audio Files to open the window directly below. There you can adjust the bitrate settings for various audio formats.
10. Click File > Save Audio File to convert the e-book to an audiobook.
11. Select the MP3 format for the audiobook from the Save as type drop-down menu.
12. Choose a folder to save the audiobook to and press Save.
13. Now you can play your new audiobook in a media player.

There are freeware TTS programs that turn eBooks into audiobooks. Our recommendation is Balabolka, a freeware text-to-speech tool that supports numerous e-book formats, which include EPUB, AZW, AZW3, HTML and LIT.

Create Your Own Audiobooks With Audacity

Balabolka is fine if you only need to convert ebooks to audiobooks for your own playback. However, authors will need recording software to set up an audiobook for distribution on Amazon or Audible.

You can submit your own audiobooks (that you hold rights to) for distribution on Amazon or Audible to the Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX). ACX only accepts audiobooks with recorded narratives.

What is Audacity?

Audacity is among the best audio-recording software for Windows that has plenty of post-production options to edit recorded output with. So you can record a narrative for your audiobook from the original text manuscript with that software and a PC microphone.

Some laptops have built-in microphones that you can record with. Click on Audacity 2.1.3 installer on the website page to add the software to Windows.

Then you can record your narrative for the audiobook with Audacity’s recording tools and microphone. Record each of the chapters separately and save them as MP3s.

Each file should be no larger than 170 MB. The official web page provides further ACX audio submission details.

When you’ve recorded the book, click Sign Up Now on the ACX website to set up an account. However, note that ACX is only open to audiobook submissions from Americans.

If the audiobook meets the required specifications, you can accept a distribution agreement and upload each chapter.

So that’s how you can transform e-books into audiobooks with text-to-speech and recording programs. Now you can playback the e-books with media players or audiobook player software. Alternatively, you can submit your own recorded audiobook to ACX.

Let us know in the comments section below if you managed to turn your favorite books into audiobooks and whether you have any questions regarding the process.

Windows 11 Thinks I Have 2 Monitors: 5 Quick Ways to Fix It

Posted on September 14, 2022October 12, 2023 by Megan Moore

Having more than one monitor is helpful for productivity and makes multitasking seamless and easy. However, users report that their Windows 11 thinks they have two or more monitors connected to their PC. Follow the steps below to remove a false monitor easily.

If you need to multitask while using a PC, then a second monitor is a must. But if you’re PC thinks you have more than one display connected, it can create frustrating issues.

Keep reading to find the solution to this issue quickly. If you’re having an issue with Windows 11 not detecting a second monitor, we offer solutions for that as well.

Why does my PC say I have two monitors?

If your PC indicates that you have another monitor, it could be due to communication issues between your PC and the Windows update servers. If your mouse goes off the screen as if there was a second monitor, it might be because of updated or corrupted graphics card drivers.

Be sure to remove any display cable from your PC if you have previously connected another monitor. If you’re experiencing your mouse getting stuck when using multiple monitors, we have a guide on that.

How do I get rid of the second screen in Windows 11?

1. Adjust display settings

Click on Start and open Settings (or press Windows + I).
Under System, select Display.
Click on Extend these displays to open the dropdown menu.
Select Show only on 1.

Switching your display settings from extending the display or duplicate display to show only on your computer, then it may fix the issue.

2. Disable monitors

Click on Start and search Control Panel, then hit Enter.
Select Hardware and Sound then click on Device Manager.
Expand Monitors and check if there are any Generic PnP Monitors.
If there are, right-click on the Generic PnP Monitor and select Disable device.
Restart your PC.

If your computer is detecting a false monitor, it would be displayed as a Generic PnP Monitor in the device manager. Make sure you disable it and not uninstall it. If you uninstall it, then your PC will automatically reinstall it upon restart.

3. Update the graphics driver

Click on Start and search Control Panel, then hit Enter.
Select Hardware and Sound then click on Device Manager.
Expand Display adapters.
Right-click on your graphics card then select Update driver.
Click Search automatically for drivers.

If your graphics card driver is out of date, then it will result in an issue with your screen. Thus Windows 11 may think you have two monitors. If updating the driver doesn’t work then try re-installing it as shown in the next step.

4. Reinstall graphics driver

Click on Start and search Control Panel, then hit Enter.
Select Hardware and Sound then click on Device Manager.
Expand Display adapters.
Right-click on your graphics card then select Uninstall device.
Restart your PC to automatically reinstall the driver.

Reinstalling the driver will get rid of any corruption in the driver. After you uninstall a driver, restarting your PC will reinstall the driver by default. If it doesn’t, you can download the driver from the graphics card manufacturer’s website.

5. Roll back the driver

Click on Start and search Control Panel, then hit Enter.
Select Hardware and Sound then click on Device Manager.
Expand Display adapters.
Right-click on the graphics card and select Properties.
Click on the Driver tab, then select Roll Back Driver if available.
Click OK.

The Roll Back Driver button should be available if your PC detects any problems or failures with it. If the button is greyed out, try updating the driver first as detailed in the above solution. Rolling back the driver will revert to an older version, but keep in mind that this will cancel any future automatic updates.

How do I reset multiple display settings?

Right-click on Start and select Run.
Type regedit then click OK.
Copy and paste the following file path into the navigation bar then press Enter: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers
Locate the Configuration key and right-click on it then select Delete.
Repeat for the Connectivity key and ScaleFactors key.
Restart your PC.

Deleting the Configuration, Connectivity, and ScaleFactors key will remove any multiple display settings. Upon restarting your PC, the keys will be created again and thus clearing any configuration for multiple displays.

on a second monitor in Windows 10 effortlessly.

If your app is opening on the wrong monitor in Windows 11, you need to edit the display settings; read this guide to know more.

We hope the solutions in this article helped you fix the issue of Windows 11 thinking you have two monitors. Let us know in the comments below which solution worked for you.

8 Simple Methods to Fix Acer Swift 7 Touchpad Not Working

Posted on September 14, 2022October 9, 2025 by Farhad Pashaei

Many people have reported that their Acer 7 Swift touchpad is not working, and many of us have experienced how aggravating it is to be unable to use the touchpad.

Acer Swift 7 is one of the finest laptops with an on-clicky touchpad. However, for some reasons, such as liquid spilling on your trackpad, it may not work. Also, there are software issues as well, causing the problem for many users.

So, let’s find out why Acer Swift 7 touchpad is not working and the solutions that fixed things for most users.

What causes Acer Swift 7 touchpad not to work?

Your touchpad may malfunction due to hardware defects or an outdated driver. In this case, you need to run a full scan on your driver.

Also, there may be some stuff, such as dust or even liquid, stuck in your trackpad. Additionally, your touchpad may not work because of some system misconfiguration.

In case you encounter left or right-click touchpad issues in Windows 10 and 11, these, too, are easy to fix.

What can I do if Acer Swift 7 touchpad is not working?

1. Update the touchpad driver

Press Windows + S to open the Search menu, type Device Manager in the text field, and click on the relevant search result.
Now, expand Mice and other pointing devices.
Right-click on your touchpad device and select Update driver.
Now, you have two options ahead: Search automatically for updated driver software and Browse my computer for driver software.
If you have already downloaded your drivers manually from official websites, opt for the second choice and manually locate and install them. If not, choose the first option and let Windows automatically detect the trackpad drivers.

We recommend installing Outbyte Driver Updater if you’re not tech-savvy. This tool is an astonishing lightweight software to scan your system for reinstalling or updating missing drivers.

After you install Outbyte Driver Updater, it will automatically detect and download the most recent Acer touchpad driver and maybe fix the Acer touchpad not working problem.

Outbyte Driver Updater

A specialized program that helps you update your drivers automatically and increase your PC’s condition.

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2. Reinstall the touchpad driver

Press the Windows + R to open Run, type devmgmt.msc in the dialogue box, and hit Enter.
In the Device Manager window, double-click on the Mice and other pointing devices category.
Then, right-click on your driver and choose Uninstall device.
Click Uninstall in the confirmation prompt that pops up.
Restart your system.
Your computer will automatically reinstall the driver after it boots up. If this does not happen, return to the device manager and click the Scan for hardware changes icon.

You can also use Outbyte Driver Updater to reinstall the most recent version of the Acer touchpad driver after uninstalling it.

3. Change touchpad settings in BIOS

First, restart the OS, and when your system boots up, repeatedly press the BIOS key. It can be F10, F2, F12, F1, or DEL, depending on the system manufacturer.
Then, use arrow keys to navigate the Main tab.
Now, look for the Touchpad option and press Enter.
Following that, choose the Basic option and then saves your changes.
Reboot your system.

Configuring the touchpad via BIOS is one of the best ways to fix the Acer Swift 7’s not working touchpad.

4. Enable your touchpad

Press Windows + I to open Settings, select Bluetooth & Devices from the left, and then click on the Mouse option in the right pane.
Now, click on Additional mouse settings.
After that, from the Mouse Properties menu, switch to the last tab (This tab is named after the touchpad, which in this case is ELAN).
Uncheck the Disable when external USB pointing device plug in option to enable the touchpad.
Finally, click on Apply and then OK to save changes, and restart your system.

The problem could be caused by the touchpad being disabled unintentionally. If that’s the case, enable it and verify if the Acer Swift 7 touchpad starts working.

5. Install a PC repair tool

The failure of your Acer touchpad could be caused by a problem with your computer’s operating system. To resolve this, you must either reinstall the Windows operating system or use a dedicated repair tool.

After the installation of a system repair tool, the app scans your computer for any problematic system files and replaces them to resolve the issues. Other features that these tools may include are the removal of malware threats, the detection of harmful websites, and the freeing up of disk space.

6. Disconnect Bluetooth devices

Sometimes, Bluetooth devices connected to your system interfere with other devices. In this case, you need to unpair every non-critical device and peripherals, such as the controllers, speakers, and printers, among others.

Also, disconnect the USB devices, which may create conflicts. A simple trick would be to remove them all at once and then connect them one at a time until the problem reappears. This way, you would be able to identify the device behind Acer Swift 7 touchpad not working.

7. Update your OS

Press Windows + X to open the Power User menu, and select Settings.
Now, choose Windows Update from the left pane, then click on Check for updates.
Install the available updates, and then restart the computer for the changes to come into effect.

8. Remove dust or dirt

Last but not least, cleaning the touchpad can help you resolve the issue. Are you one of those people who eats lunch at their desk? Have you ever spilled something on the touchpads, water, coffee, or any other item?

Cleaning away grime or dust will help your touchpad regain its functionality. Isopropyl can be used to eliminate dirt specks, which can then be wiped away with a soft cloth.

9. Re-enable touchpad using keyboard

Simply press Fn + F6 or F7 keys together. The use of the Fn key here depends on whether the function key is locked or unlocked.

The keyboard shortcut is used to enable/disable the touchpad. And if nothing else has worked, you may as well give it a try.

If the Acer Swift 7 touchpad is still not working, the issue may be due to hardware failure, and we recommend taking the laptop to a reliable repair shop.

Also, find out the best settings for improved performance in Windows.

In the comments section below, let us know the method that fixed the Acer Swift 7’s malfunctioning touchpad.

How to Access Firefox Task Manager

Posted on September 14, 2022September 13, 2025 by Teodor Nechita

Mozilla Firefox has been around for some time now and has eventually made its way into being one of the most popular web browsers on the market today.

This is mostly due to the fact that it is extremely modern, resource-efficient has extensive add-on support, and the fact that it is frequently updated by its developers.

Speaking of which, one update that Mozilla Firefox received included a new feature called the Process Manager.

The guide below will show you in a step-by-step manner what you need to do in order to access the Process Manager. More so, we will be providing you with some information about what does it.

What is Firefox Process Manager?

Firefox has a built-in process manager that lets users view overall memory and CPU usage by this web browser.

The usage details are available for any open and active tabs, extensions & add-ons, and some other services running on this browser.

Is the Firefox Process Manager reliable?

Yes. Firefox’s process manager is very much reliable. Even though you can view CPU, Memory, and Network usage details for any browser in Windows Task Manager or Mac’s Activity Monitor, these will not show you as many details as the built-in process manager of this browser.

In that sense, we can say that this process manager is reliable.

Quick Tip:

Opera One’s process manager or task manager is as reliable as Firefox’s. The difference is that Opera One uses the Chromium engine and has some additional controls.

Opera One reduces resources allocation due to it’s many built-in features, such as VPN, Ad Blocker, AI, social media and messaging apps.

Opera One

You can view what processes are active by using Opera’s internal task manager.

Free Download Visit website

How do I access Firefox Task Manager?

1. From the menu

1. Launch the Mozilla Firefox browser on your PC.
2. Click on the three vertical dots in the top right corner.
3. Select More Tools from the options.
4. Click on Task Manager.
5. You can now use Firefox Task Manager to check which processes are running, as well as how much memory and CPU they use.

If you’re not sure what is affecting your computer’s performance, you can check the Firefox task manager. It can be easily accessed via Firefox’s built-in menu.

This method applies to the latest versions of Firefox. Older versions may have a slightly different option for accessing it, but it should be pretty similar.

2. Using the address bar

Type the following address in Firefox’s address bar and press Enter: about:performance
It will open the Task Manager.

This is the best shortcut way to open Firefox Task Manager.

Mozilla’s Process Manager vs. Task Manager

Firefox has another similar tool that can also show you CPU and memory usage details. That is Process Manager. It doesn’t only show the CPU and Memory usage for active tabs and extensions but also the GPU usage details.

Keep note that Mozilla Firefox Task Manager focuses on memory and energy usage of opened tabs and active add-ons.

However, Task Manager has even more differences if you compare it with the Process Manager. It shows only a few details.

The process manager shows resource usage details for any services the browser is using. That makes it a more appealing option.

If you want to open this tool, you will need to follow these steps:

Type the following address in the address bar and press Enter: about:processes
It will open the Firefox Process Manager, where you can view CPU, GPU, and Memory usage details.

Available with Mozilla Firefox version 78 and later, this feature is a welcome addition to a browser that is already at the top of the best browser list of many Windows 10/11 users.

Alternative browsers with similar tools to Firefox’s Task Manager

Another amazing web browser that has a similar feature is Opera GX, and this one is recommended to common users, not just devs.

This is all because Opera GX advertises itself as the world’s first web browser for gamers and thus comes with gam-boosting tools like a memory and RAM limiter via the GX Control Panel.

This way, you can enjoy running other programs in the foreground without having to worry that your browser is eating up all of your RAM, regardless of how many tabs are open.

More so, GX Control lets you monitor in great detail which process is taking up the most memory and which are the ones that take up most of the bandwidth.

Do you find Mozilla Firefox‘s Process Manager useful? Let us know what you think about this feature by leaving us a message in the comments section below.

How to Disable Reserved Storage in Windows 10

Posted on September 14, 2022October 4, 2023 by Matthew Adams

Microsoft released many new Windows 10 builds in January that provide a further glimpse of what spring’s 19H1 update has in store for the platform.

Reserved storage (otherwise Storage Reserve) is one of the new things that preview build showcases to Windows Insider users.

The reserved storage holds back a certain amount of hard drive storage to ensure there’s enough HDD space for Windows 10 updates.

What is reserved storage used for?

Windows 10 requires some space to be able to operate correctly. Though it can do a lot with a small amount, being close to your storage limit is likely to restrict performance and result in failed updates that could contain critical fixes.

Reserved storage is a new feature introduced to Windows to combat that method. The new reserved storage consists of reallocated temporary files.

Those temporary OS files will then be erased when Windows 10 needs the storage space for its updates. The current default value for reserved storage is about seven gigabytes.

How do I disable reserved storage in Windows 10?

1. Press the Windows + R hotkey on your keyboard to open the Run dialog.
2. Enter regedit in Run, and then press the OK button.
3. Navigate to the following:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ReserveManager
4. Double-click the ShippedWithReserves DWORD to open its Edit DWORD window.
5. Adjust the value in the Value data box to 0.
6. Click OK to close the Edit DWORD window.
7. Finally, close the Registry Editor window.

Reserved storage can be easily disabled using the built-in Registry Editor. In just a few clicks, you can perform the Registry tweak and get rid of the unwanted feature.

Note, however, that Windows Insiders need to enable reserved storage by adjusting the ShippedWithReserves DWORD value to 1.

Thus, Windows Insider users don’t need to turn off reserved storage unless they’ve already enabled it.

How can I manage reserved storage in Windows 10?

manage optional features in windows 10 menu

The amount of reserved storage primarily depends on pre-installed optional features. As such, users can configure the amount of reserved storage by removing optional features.

To do that, enter the keyword optional in Cortana’s search box. Then users can click on Manage optional features to open the menu from which they can manually uninstall optional features one by one.

It is more useful to manage your reserved storage space than entirely disabling it. You can organize it by removing the installed optional features that are no longer needed.

Nevertheless, reserved storage will be enabled by default in Windows 10 version 1903.

Let us know in the comments section below if you found this article useful and managed to disable reserved storage from your Windows 10 PC.

3 Ways to Fix PuTTY Software Caused Connection Abort Error

Posted on September 14, 2022October 4, 2023 by Loredana Harsana

PuTTY is a cross-platform program that uses SSH (Secure Shell) protocols to provide secure communication between networks, systems, and applications over an unsecured network. But many reported the Software caused connection abort error in PuTTY.

There can be several reasons why you may receive this specific error message, but one of the most common is a shaky Internet connection. If your Internet connection isn’t as stable as it could be, it will cause intermittent interruptions in your session that could result in this error message.

Another reason you might get this error message is if you leave your session open for an extended period. PuTTY can be configured to abort the connection when it has been left open for a specified time.

PuTTY is a utility that can be used to transport data in order to send and receive files swiftly and securely. The program also allows for serial port connections, which support Telnet, rlogin, SCP, SFTP, and other protocols.

PuTTY has several advantages, especially while working remotely. It’s simpler to set up and more reliable than VNC or other protocols built into the operating system.

It is also more persistent in comparison to others, as a remote connection can be resumed as soon as the connection is restored after an interruption. It is a completely free and open-source software package and has an easy-to-use graphical user interface.

Now that you have a basic understanding of the tool, let’s find out how to fix the Software caused connection abort error in PuTTY.

How can I resolve the Network error: Software caused connection abort in PuTTY?

1. Check your Internet connection

Press Windows + R to open Run, enter cmd in the text field, and click OK.
Paste the following command while replacing the IP address with yours, and then hit Enter: ping IP address -t
If you see more than one message like Request timed out, press Ctrl+C to stop the operation, and note the Lost rate in the ping statistics.

The lost packets will tell you the Internet’s condition, packet loss, and connection drop rate. The simple way to combat an unreliable Internet connection is to restart PuTTY and re-establish the connection.

If you still encounter the Software caused connection abort error in PuTTY, try the following method.

2. Configure PuTTY to enable TCP keepalives

Open the PuTTY software, and then select Connection from the navigation pane on the left.
Mark the checkbox for Enable TCP keepalives (SO_KEEPALIVE option) under Low-level TCP connection options.
Next, set the value of Seconds between keepalives(0 to turn off) to somewhere between 5 to 30 seconds.
Click Open and check if the idle connection remains open for the set duration.

Your network routers and/or firewalls usually keep track of all the connections. However, they may assume that a connection is dead if no data is transferred in either direction after a certain time.

This happens because the firewall software has a timeout, closes the connection after that timer runs out, and leads to the Software caused connection abort error in PuTTY.

You can solve this issue by configuring PuTTY to send null packets and TCP keepalives every few seconds. It will make sure that the session does not abort even if the connection is not transmitting data.

It is recommended to keep the keepalive value comparatively low. The keepalives are not always helpful and can make things worse. Because it will increase the probability of PuTTY attempting to send data during a break in connectivity.

3. Switch to static IP

Press Windows + R to open Run, enter ncpa.cpl in the text field, and click OK.
Right-click on the active network, and select Properties.
Next, select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and click on Properties.
Select the Use the follow DNS server addresses, enter the following values in the provided field, and click on OK.
- Preferred DNS server: 8.8.8.8
- Alternate DNS server: 8.8.4.4

Once done, flush the DNS cache, and things should now be up and running.

That’s it! You would have the Software caused connection abort error fixed in PuTTY by now and the utility up and running like before.

Also, find out how to fix the Connection timed out Network error in PuTTY, another common issue reported by many.

Which one of these solutions works for you? Share your experience in the comments section below.

VGA Extender Not Working? 3 Quick Ways to Fix it

Posted on September 14, 2022October 4, 2023 by Alexandru Poloboc

There is nothing more annoying than trying to go about your day and something malfunctions just as you were getting ready to use it.

Although most devices we have today actually connect with monitors and TVs via HDMI, there are still some older gadgets that still use a VGA connection.

Luckily, there are adapters and extenders that can make your life easier. But what happens when these extenders don’t want to work properly?

Well, we are about to show you what you can do in such a situation. Before we do so, make sure to check out the article on how to fix your VGA light if it’s not turning on.

How can I transmit the VGA signal to another place?

Well, the best way is to utilize a VGA extender, which includes a signal transmitter and receiver and is optimal for this job.

When using it, the transmitter that is linked to the main engine will convert the VGA signal into the TCP/IP standard and transmit it over the Internet.

And, as you might have expected, the receiver connected to the screen will convert the standard TCP/IP signal into the VGA signal.

Now that this is out of the way, let’s see exactly what you can do when this process fails to work as it really should. Don’t worry, this won’t take long.

How can I fix my VGA extender if it’s not working?

1. Check/replace the cables

Even though we explained that the signal goes through the internet and comes back to you, there are a lot of cables involved when dealing with a VGA extender.

That being said, cables are not indestructible and can sometimes be the cause of why everything is falling apart instead of functioning properly.

Inspect the cables you are using and check for any frays or other visible damage. If you find any, you will have to replace the cable. Also, be careful with uninsulated cables, as they represent a major health hazard.

2. Check/replace the VGA extender

These devices don’t just run on air, and they require electricity to actually turn on and function as they were intended to.

That being said, as with any other devices we use, they can sometimes break or simply come defective from the factory, which is why it’s important to check.

Plug it in and check for any lights or other indicators that the device is still running properly. If you aren’t getting any signs of life, it is time to buy another VGA extender.

3. Check IP address settings

Hold Windows + R keys to open the Run search box.
Open the Start menu, type ncpa.cpl and then press Enter.
In the new pop-up window, right-click on Wireless Network Connection if you are using Wi-Fi or Local Network Connection if you are using cable Internet, then tap Properties at the bottom.
Double-click on Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
In the new window, check if both Obtain DNS server address automatically and Obtain an IP address automatically are selected. If not, make sure they are. After that, click OK.

Does cable length influence quality?

Yes, it certainly does. Since you want to use a VGA extender, we’re going to guess that the receiving end is not that close to the source.

Although you can transmit over long distances, we strongly recommend that you limit the cable length used, for better quality.

Yes, specifications for some extenders go to hundreds of meters, but for the optimal experience, 200-300 meters is way too long.

Also, when using VGA extenders, make sure the cables being used in the process are not obstructed, or that there aren’t any heavy items on them. This can also prevent it from working.

Has this article been useful to you? Make sure your share your experience in the comments section below.

VGA Light Not On: Causes & How to Fix it

Posted on September 14, 2022October 4, 2023 by Alexandru Poloboc

Out of all of the things that can malfunction when it comes to PCs, this has to be amongst the worst scenarios, as it involves a lot of hardware troubleshooting as well.

Even a software troubleshooting process can sometimes prove overwhelming for some, and most of us lack the skill or time to fiddle with our device’s innards.

Yes, we’re talking about the VGA light on your motherboard, which some users reported not going on anymore, so we decided to come and lend a helping hand.

We can also help if your laptop’s VGA signal when it’s not working. Even more, you can find information on how to download and install FTDI drivers on Windows 10 & 11.

Does my motherboard have a VGA light?

Yes, it does. In fact, VGA lights on motherboards are present there to indicate malfunctioning hardware, if there is any.

The GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is known to be susceptible to malfunctioning, so if that is the case, the light will turn on and remain on until the error is fixed.

Now, depending on the manufacturing year, motherboards may have multiple LEDs on the board for specific CPU components to detect the issue quickly.

You should also know that older models mostly have one light on their motherboards, and whenever the light is turned on, it is required to inspect the PC components to detect what is wrong.

Newer PC/laptop models come with several LEDs on the motherboard connected with different parts of the computer, such as the CPU, RAM, GPU, and Boot.

However, before we get to these fixes, make sure that the motherboard and the GPU are compatible, as there are situations when they simply aren’t.

How do I fix the motherboard VGA light not turning on?

1. Check/replace the power supply

As we all know, the power supply unit is the main component of the CPU that helps provide power to the parts for them to work.

Please keep in mind that low-wattage PSU (Power Supply Unit) for your system can stop some parts from functioning, in this case, the graphics card.

Be absolutely sure that is properly plugged in and that the voltage is set to the correct level because if it is not, you will most likely need to replace the power supply.

Various online Power Supply Calculators show the requirement of your system’s supply, so you might want to check that out as well.

2. Boot PC without hardware

Now another proven method for solving this annoying situation would be for you to remove all peripheral hardware connected to your PC.

Why? Because removing all unnecessary hardware and booting up your PC will help you narrow down where the problem arises, so eject any USB devices, hard drives, and PCIe cards.

Just power on your PC only using the CPU, CPU fan, and RAM and, if the device turns on normally, reconnect the devices one at a time to determine which parts are causing the issue.

3. Inspect GPU or PCIe Slots for stains or damage

Another intricate and annoying part of this troubleshooting process is actually taking the PC apart and inspecting all these small details.

Don’t worry, fixing the VGA lights on the motherboard is not a daunting task, however, there are many possible reasons for this issue, therefore many solutions.

Know that damages on either the PCIe slots or the GPU can stop the motherboard from detecting the graphics card, or prevent the VGA light from going on.

You might not know it, but your PC’s GPU has a PCIe Express x16 connector that might get damaged, so you might want to have a look.

Also, dust can settle on the slot and can obstruct data flow between GPU and motherboard, so we recommend you clean this area thoroughly and carefully, maybe with some compressed air.

4. Reset BIOS

Click on the Power button, in your Start menu, and select Restart.
Press F10, F2, or F12 to access the BIOS menu on your PC (depending on the PC you have).
Go directly to the Exit tab.
Select Load Setup Defaults, then press Enter.
Select Yes.

5. Replace CMOS

This is the absolute last step in today’s troubleshooting process, and it will involve you leaving the house or ordering something off the internet.

If resetting the BIOS, as shown above, did not fix the issue, you can also replace the motherboard CMOS itself.

The Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) is a small amount of memory on a PC’s motherboard that stores the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) settings.

So, as the final solution, make sure you remove the CMOS from the motherboard and replace it with another one.

What if my VGA light never turns off?

As we said, this VGA light stays on when there is a problem. Everything can be working fine, but if one little detail is out of place, this will happen.

If this is the case, please consider resetting the jumper. Also, you should also think about reseating the graphics card, just to be sure.

If that doesn’t work, try powering up your device without the GPU altogether, and see if that works for you.

Has this article been helpful to you? Please make sure to share your experience in the comments section located below.

How to View Saved WiFi Passwords [Android, iPhone]

Posted on September 14, 2022March 13, 2024 by Milan Stanojevic

Wi-Fi is the most used type of connection on your phone, and you’ve probably connected to dozens of different Wi-Fi networks.

It’s not an unusual thing to forget your WiFi passwords. We might tend to use stronger passwords to make our WiFi network safer. Occasionally, you forget your WiFi password and if you want to connect to a new device, you’ve to remember it.

However, sometimes you need to view saved WiFi passwords, and there’s an easy way to do that on both Android and iPhone.

How can I view the saved WiFi passwords on my phone?

1. Use the Share Wi-Fi option on Android phones

1. On your Android phone, go to Settings > Network & Internet.
2. Now select Wi-Fi.
3. Click the Saved network option at the bottom, or tap the cogwheel icon next to the network name.
4. Select the desired network.
5. Choose the Share option.
6. Verify your identity if asked.
7. Now you should see a QR code along with the network’s password.

You can easily view your saved WiFi passwords on your Android phone by using the Share WiFi option. When the QR code is generated for sharing, the screen will also show you the specific WiFi’s name and password.

2. Use the Keychain Sync for iPhones

Go to Settings > iCloud > Keychain on your iPhone.
Now enable the iCloud Keychain feature.
Wait for a couple of minutes for the data to sync.
Go to your Mac and navigate to Applications > Utilities and start Keychain Access from there.
In Keychain Access, type the name of the Wi-Fi network whose password you want to see.
Double-click the Wi-Fi network from the list of results.
Now check the Show password checkbox.
If needed, enter your administrator password.
After doing that, a network password will appear.

For this method to work, iCloud Keychain sync needs to be enabled on your Mac. To do that, follow these steps:

Click the Apple menu and choose System Preferences.
Select iCloud.
Make sure that Keychain is checked. If it isn’t checked, check it and wait for a couple of minutes to sync.

It’s not possible to view saved Wi-Fi passwords on iPhone without jailbreaking your phone and using third-party apps, so this is the best legitimate way to do it.

To view saved WiFi passwords on your Android, you just need to go to the Saved networks section and choose the share option for the desired network.

On the other hand, the iPhone is a more closed system, and the only way to view saved Wi-Fi passwords is to enable Keychain sync and then view them on your Mac computer.

If you’re a Windows user, we have a similar guide on how to view Wi-Fi passwords on Windows 11, so don’t miss it.

For even more information our guide on how to find Windows 11 Wi-Fi passwords can be helpful.

Let us know in the comments section below if you found our article helpful and managed to find our desired Wi-Fi passwords.

3 Easy Ways to Crop in GIMP

Posted on September 14, 2022October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

GIMP is a great image editing software; as such, it has all the standard features of other image editing tools.

Speaking of which, in today’s article, we will show you how to crop images in GIMP. After reading this guide, you can crop images like a pro.

How do I crop an image in GIMP?

1. Use the Rectangular Select Tool

Open the image that you want to edit in GIMP.
Click on Rectangle Select Tool. You can also just press the R button on your keyboard.
Now select the area that you want to crop.
You can click the corner boxes to resize and move your selection.
Now go to the Image menu and select Crop to Selection.
Your image will now get cropped.

This method is pretty simple, but it also offers some advanced features while selecting. To change the selecting options, do the following:

Click the Rectangle Select Tool.
You’ll now notice a Rectangle Select Here you can change various settings, but we’ll briefly mention the most useful ones:
- Fixed-size: By using this option you can select fixed width, height, aspect ratio, or even size for your selection. This is incredibly useful if you need to crop an image at a specific size.
- Position and size: You can manually set the position of the selection or its size in px or any other unit.
- Highlight and guides: With these features, you can highlight your selection and make it easier to crop the image. You can also choose several different selection guides.

2. Use the Crop tool

1. Open GIMP.
2. Now click on File > Open and select the image that you want to edit.
3. Click on the Crop tool from the toolbar. You can also use the Shift + C shortcut.
4. Choose the area that you want to crop. If needed, move and resize your selection.
5. Press Enter to crop your selection.

Another method to crop in GIMP is via the built-in crop tool. It allows you to easily select an area to crop and perform the action within a few clicks.

Moreover, the crop tool has a few unique features that you can apply while editing your image in GIMP:

Current layer only: By checking this feature you can only crop the image on the current layer. Other layers won’t be affected.
Delete cropped pixels: This feature will delete non-locked layer data.
Allow growing: Using this feature you can actually expand the canvas if needed.

3. Use Crop to Content and Zealous Crop

Open the image that you want to crop.
Go to Image > Crop to Content.
Your image will be automatically cropped.

Using this feature, you’ll remove empty space larger than your image. You can also use the Zealous Crop feature that works almost the same, but it removes empty space around and between the image.

Cropping in GIMP is incredibly simple, and you can do it using these three different methods. In our opinion, cropping with the Crop tool is the best option because it’s the fastest and offers the most features.

If you’re not a fan of GIMP, you can always crop images using built-in Windows 11 tools or any other free image editing software.

Let us know if you found this article helpful, and write down any comments you might have in the comments section below.

Xfinity Blocking VPN? Fix Comcast & Xfinity VPN Issues

Posted on September 14, 2022December 1, 2025 by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

The Net Neutrality repeal and history of issues with the monopolized broadband market in the United States made a good reason for users to turn to VPN solutions.

Comcast is one of those providers (AT&T and some local providers) who is frequently criticized for geo-restrictions and throttling the internet speed when users try to use Peer-2-Peer services.

However, even though a VPN tool should help you avoid possible obstacles just fine, we need it to work to do so.

And, seemingly, some Comcast routers don’t support PPTP protocol, which is a commonly used (less encryption, but less latency and faster bandwidth) VPN encryption protocol.

Hence, VPN traffic being blocked by Comcast is relatively standard.

To address this, we prepared some equally common solutions, both recommended by Comcast’s support and knowledgeable users around the web.

If you cannot run a VPN with Comcast equipment or are facing VPN access being blocked in the Comcast network, make sure to check the steps we provided below.

Can Xfinity see my VPN?

Xfinity (Comcast) can get a hold of your online activity through data provided via your ISP modem, for example. This is why it is important to choose a VPN that bypasses ISP throttling; otherwise, related apps like Adult Swim may stop working.

➡️ Does Xfinity/ Comcast block VPN?

In the past, Comcast was infamously renowned for such practices that led to Xfinity not working with VPN.

Consequently, many Comcast/Xfinity users report Comcast dropping the VPN connection or blocking VPN ports.

Nevertheless, their policies have changed lately, and you can officially use VPNs with Comcast routers by enabling the Bridge mode in the XFINITY router’s settings.

How to set up a VPN on an Xfinity router?

Get a VPN subscription. For fast Internet, secure connection, and access to servers from 94 different countries, we recommend ExpressVPN.
Open the Xfinity Admin Tool page on your PC and enable bridge mode.
Confirm your change by clicking Ok.
Download the suitable ExpressVPN firmware for this router and upload it.
Wait for the firmware to install and save your settings.

How can I fix VPN issues with Comcast?

1. Make sure you’re using a proper VPN

This is quite important. As we already said on various occasions, choosing a proper VPN solution that suits your needs isn’t exactly a walk in the park.

Especially, when we take into consideration the fact that all valid solutions are mostly premium. Of course, if you only need to hide your IP address once in a while, going on a spending spree isn’t recommended.

On the other hand, if you want a permanent solution to avoid bandwidth throttling, privacy infringement, and geo-restrictions, you’ll need to invest some funds in a monthly subscription.

Going premium does not come free, but it does not necessarily mean you will have to break the bank. Considering what it offers, ExpressVPN is a very cost-effective option.

Comcast-wise, this best-in-class VPN solution is your best bet as it can overcome ISP blockages, allow you to access all geo-restricted content you need, and it does so without latencies and data limitations.

Boasting ultra-fast download speeds, unlimited bandwidth, and an impressive network of thousands of servers located in 94 different countries, ExpressVPN is ideal for Xfinity/ Comcast.

Unblock one website after another, regardless of your physical location, eliminate online censorship and enjoy a smooth, buffering-free Comcast experience.

ExpressVPN keeps your identity private, your browsing anonymous, and your data protected with the highest level of encryption.

ExpressVPN

Enjoy unlimited streaming, remove ISP throttling and browse any webpage around the globe with ExpressVPN!

Free trial Visit website

2. Update the router’s firmware

As the official source confirmed, a certain router model (Technicolor Wireless Gateway for XFINITY Internet Service) has had issues with the PPTP security protocol.

The problem is, allegedly resolved by updating your router’s firmware.

We can’t say with certainty that this was dealt with, as there’s no abundance of user feedback.

However, it’s worth a try, and hopefully, after you update your router’s firmware, the VPN solution should work as intended.

On the other hand, Xfinity blocking VPN traffic is a known matter. If you were wondering how to update the firmware on the Comcast XFINITY router, this is automatically done after restarting your devices.

Just wait for some time until upgrades are installed and try connecting via VPN tunnel again.

Also, if by chance, you have your own router, you can use it to bridge the connection, avoiding possible evasive measures.

Any third-party router would work, and the only thing you should do is enable the Bridge mode in XFINITY router’s settings.

In the address bar, type your IP address (Comcast changed private internet subnet to 10.x.x.x from 192.x.x.x)
Log in with your credentials.
Go to Gateway.
Select At a Glance.
Toggle the button to Enable next to Bridge Mode.

3. Change the protocol, change VPN encryption and switch servers

There are two protocol suits which are covering the same thing in a different manner.

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is a standard network and internet communication protocol, and there’s also UDP (User Datagram Protocol), a more app-oriented and faster protocol.

A lot of users who were using the latter have had issues with Comcast router blocking VPN. Therefore, even though it’s seemingly slower, TCP should be your communication protocol. You can configure it in the router settings.

➡️ Protocols

Besides that, we recommend changing two variable options in the VPN itself. Firstly, we recommend changing your encryption protocol to OpenVPN or L2TP/IPsec instead of PPTP. That should be an easy task to perform, as most VPN solutions offer a variety of alternative encryption protocols.

➡️ Encryption

Keep in mind that the encryption level is reversely proportional to speeds—basically, the better the encryption, the slower the bandwidth.

OpenVPN is in the middle, with both formidable encryption levels and average latency.

➡️ Server

Finally, we recommend switching to an alternative server or location or IP address.

Namely, even though we’re addressing the Comcast blocking VPN issue, there’s still the chance that your current server is overcrowded or unstable.

Give an alternative a try, and look for improvements.

Which VPN works best with Xfinity?

There are several options that work well with Xfinity routers (among others), such as ExpressVPN PIA or CyberGhost VPN , all owned by Kape Technologies or NordVPN.

That’s a wrap-up. In case you have any questions or suggestions on how to resolve the issues with VPN on Comcast, feel free to tell us in the comments section below.

You can also verify service interruptions in your region by checking this guide on Xfinity outages in my area to confirm whether the problem comes from the Comcast network.

Application Was Unable to Start Correctly 0xc0000005: 5 Ways to Fix

Posted on September 14, 2022October 23, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

The Application was unable to start correctly (0xc00005) error will prevent you from running certain apps on your PC, and this issue can be tedious. Luckily, there are a few ways to fix it, and we’ll show them to you in this guide.

What is 0xc00005 error?

The issue appears if there’s a problem with the necessary DLL files. In some cases, malware infections, or problems with registry can lead to this problem.

How do I fix The application was unable to start correctly 0xc00005?

Before we start fixing this issue, ensure that your Windows is up to date. Deleting spam emails can sometimes help, so try that as well.

1. Scan your PC

Type Windows Security in the search bar and select it from the search results.
In the Windows Security window, click on Virus & Threat Protection.
Click on Quick Scan in the Virus & Threat Protection section.
Wait for the scan to complete and review the results.

Alternatively, if you want more advanced protection, we recommend using a third-party tool like TotalAV.

It is very light on your system, offers very strong online and data protection, and will not interfere with your system or software.

TotalAV

The TotalAV solution not only will help you remove any malware from your PC, but it will also ensure perfect online protection.

Free trial Visit Website

2. Activate Windows Firewall

Press Windows + S to open the Search menu, enter Control Panel in the text field, and click on the relevant search result.
Next, click on Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off from the left.
Select Turn on Windows Defender Firewall under both Private network settings and Public network settings, and then click on OK to save the changes.

3. Use System Restore

Press Windows + S, type create a restore point, and then click on the relevant search result.
Next, click on the System Restore button.
Select Choose a different restore point and click on Next.
If available, check the box with Show more restore points, select the desired one, and click on Next.
Verify the restore details and click on Finish to complete the process.

4. Check RAM

Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
Type mdsched.exe and press Enter to open the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool.
Choose “Restart now and check for problems” to run the test immediately or “Check for problems the next time I start my computer.”
Follow the on-screen instructions and wait for the test to complete. Review the results for any issues with your RAM.

One of the solutions we have discussed here should help solve The application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000005). Click OK to close the application error.

5. Check for System File Corruption

Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
Wait for the scan to complete. It will attempt to repair any corrupted system files.

As this issue may be caused by spam, you should consider using one of the best e-mail scanning software available today to get rid of it.

This error comes with several different codes, and we covered the 0xc000012d application error and application error 0xc0000142 in separate guides.

Another issue from this family of errors is error 0xc00007b, and we have an in-depth guide on it.

Remember, you can always seek the help of an expert if you are unsure of yourself. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below.

Headphones Recognized as Speakers on Windows 11 [Fix]

Posted on September 14, 2022October 24, 2025 by Henderson Jayden Harper

If you’ve connected your headphones but Windows 11 recognizes them as speakers, the sound will still play through the speakers, even though the headphones are plugged in.

What causes headphones to be named speakers are usually outdated audio drivers, boot errors, or faulty hardware. Luckily, none of these are unsolvable, and below we’ll explain all you can do, step-by-step.

How do I fix my headphones being detected as speakers?

1. Update the audio driver

Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager.
Select your audio device and right-click on it.
Select Update driver from the options.

If there are any updates, the installation wizard will install them automatically. Restart your computer after the installation is complete.

If Device Manager won’t detect new drivers or the process seems to complicated, you can use a third-party tool instead. Software such as Fortect Driver updater will simplify the process and keep your drivers updated in the long term with the help of scheduled scans.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

2. Restart your computer

Click on the Start button on your screen.
Select Power options.
Click on Restart and OK.

Restarting your computer will help fix any boot errors that may prompt audio mistakes.

3. Uninstall Realtek drivers on your computer

Press Windows + R keys simultaneously to prompt the Run window.
Type devmgmt.msc in the search space and press Enter.
Navigate to the Sound, video, and game controllers option and double-click on it.
Right-click on the Realtek High Definition Audio device and select Uninstall.
Confirm any additional prompts that pop up.

Restart the computer. Windows will have the proper drivers installed on the next startup. Hence, whatever causes Windows to think headphones are speakers will be fixed.

Users may be interested in reading our article about how to fix Realtek audio issues in Windows computers.

4. Set Headphones as the default audio device

Right-click the Volume Control icon on the taskbar and select Sounds.
Navigate to the Playback tab.
Right-click on Headphones in the Playback device windows and set it as the default device.
Click on OK to save the changes.

We recommend you restart your device for proper syncing of the changes.

The above fixes are the most efficient ways to solve the problem if Windows thinks headphones are speakers. Ensure to follow the steps strictly for optimal results.

However, we recommend you check our article about the causes and fixes for no speaker or headphones plugged-in issues. So, you can check out our list of the best speakers for PC.

If you have any questions or suggestions, you can leave them in the comments section below.

How to Change Your Skype Name

Posted on September 14, 2022July 19, 2024 by Madalina Dinita

Skype is a great tool to connect with potential employers and build a professional online image. Of course, business etiquette imposes certain rules.

You need to have a professional-looking email address and Skype name to inspire trust and professionalism.

However, many Skype users didn’t have this detail in mind when they created their Skype accounts. As a result, many used various nicknames which then became their official Skype username and ID.

That’s not a problem as long as you use your Skype account to connect with family and friends.

But if you’re planning to use Skype as a means to get a job, you need to use a professional-looking Skype user name and ID.

What is the difference between a Skype name and a Skype display name?

Your Skype name is your username, which you chose upon creating your account. It is your unique ID, with which others can look up your account via Skype search.

On the other hand, your display name is, as its name says, the name that shows up on your account, next to your username. It is what people see when they talk to you via Skype.

Can I change my Skype ID?

Due to Skype‘s increasing influence in the job market, many users are wondering what steps to follow to change their Skype account name and Skype ID.

How do I change my Skype account name as my current Skype name is not professional to be giving to recruiters and colleagues.

Unfortunately, we have bad news for you: Skype account usernames can’t be changed. Microsoft explains that:

Legacy (old) Skype account “names” or “nick-names” could not be changed prior to being transitioned to Microsoft accounts in September 2016, and neither can they be changed now. The only way to change how you are found on Skype is to create a new Microsoft account and a new e-mail address as part of the new account set-up process.

The solution to having a professional-looking Skype username and ID is to simply create a new one. Indeed, by creating a new user, you’ll lose all your contacts.

However, you can change your Skype display name, and we will show you how to do that in our guide.

How can I change my Skype display name?

1. Launch the Skype app on your device.
2. Click on your profile image in the upper-left corner of the window.
3. A menu will open. Under Manage, select Skype profile.
4. Click on the Pencil icon.
5. Select the section where your current display name is and type a new one in it.
6. Click on the Pencil icon again to save the changes.

Although you cannot change your Skype name, you can modify your display name. This can be done both on the web and via the PC app, in a few clicks.

You can change your Skype display name as many times as you want using this method.

As a quick reminder, Skype now allows employers to test the coding skills of candidates in real time. Read our dedicated article to find out more.

To wrap it up, once a Skype ID is registered, it can never be changed. What you can do is change your Skype display name.

We hope that this article cleared out the confusion around Skype usernames and IDs. Let us know in the comments section below if you have any questions.

File Deleter Software: 5 Best We Tested [2026 List]

Posted on September 14, 2022October 8, 2025 by Matthew Adams

When you delete files with File Explorer, they’re usually sent automatically to the Recycle Bin folder.

Thus, they’re not really deleted until you empty them. Even then you might still be able to restore some erased files with file recovery software.

Therefore, it’s better to add some third-party utilities to Windows 10 and 11 if you want to ensure your files will be permanently deleted.

How can file deletion software help me?

It’s all about your sensitive data and the needed measures you have to take in order to protect personal or valuable information. Nonetheless, performant tools combat the risks of file leaking very efficiently.

Hence it doesn’t matter if you need to delete your personal files completely or to highly protect your work, using the right methods will bring anyone mind-peace.

These are the best software packages for Windows 10, and other platforms with which you can erase files more thoroughly.

What are the best tools to erase data and files on Windows 10?

BitRaser File Eraser – Best for deleting online traces

BitRaser File Eraser is useful for erasing sensitive files, folders, application traces, system traces, Internet activities, or volumes from Windows-based systems and supported storage devices beyond the scope of recovery.

Unlike similar tools, this one is 100% safe for the system, as it never makes the mistake of erasing operating system files.

This isn’t just a simple file eraser. Aside from its data deletion key feature, it offers advanced options to schedule file eraser tasks at a predefined date and time.

Moreover, it guarantees file erasure beyond recovery via two simultaneous verification methods – Random Verification and Total Verification.

Don’t hesitate to evaluate and extensively use the software free trial to get rid of any confidential files that you want to eliminate.

In addition, you can use the software to keep your files on the cloud repository and eliminate any traces from your PC. And on top of that, it offers erasure certification for your deleted files.

Therefore, make the best use of the intelligent functionalities offered by this file eraser. No matter how you choose to manage your confidential files, you got a helping hand on your side.

Let’s see some of its most important features:

Advanced options to schedule file eraser tasks
File erasure beyond recovery
Two simultaneous verification methods – Random and Total Verification
Eliminate any traces from your PC

BitRaser File Eraser

Easily delete all your unwanted data and schedule future file eraser tasks with BitRaser!

Check Price Visit Website

IObit Unlocker – Very easy to use

IObit Unlocker can manage all your files and folders to keep them safe and available. The user interface is incredibly easy to use and there are no complex operations required in order to manage it.

If you want to delete, unlock, rename, move, copy, and so on, according to your specific needs, you just drag and drop the locked file or folder into the IObit Unlocker interface and choose the delete option.

So, you can forget about files impossible to delete from your PC, using powerful tools to protect against any digital risks.

With various features to manage inaccessible files, this software excels in helping to do this.

As we said before, it’s just drag-and-drop work to eliminate your precious and confidential data once and for all. Hence, it’s no need for more complicated operations to fix it.

With its new features, the software can terminate all related processes that lock one file when running in Force mode. Plus, it can unlock multiple files or folders at once.

Thus, a tool like this deserves a change by any person who takes data confidentiality seriously and tries to protect valuable self-data.

Let’s have a look at some of IObit Unlocker’s best features:

Easily unlock all files
Keep files safe and secure
Manage user permissions: run, copy, read, move, delete, modify

IObit Unlocker

Delete all files and keep them protected with the incredibly easy-to-use IObit Unlocker!

Free Trial Visit Website

Kernel File Shredder – Great for scheduling file shredding

Kernel File Shredder is another great utility for more thorough file deletion and even scheduled tasks.

The tool provides an easy alternative to completely erase confidential or no longer wanted files from your PC.

By putting the advanced file shredding algorithms on which the software relies to work, you prevent any unauthorized access to sensitive data.

You can even schedule file shredding tasks, rename the files before shredding them, and create log files to store shredding operation information.

File Shredder has a straightforward UI that enables users to erase files in just a few clicks.

Hence with this software, the process of shredding unwanted files is working efficiently and helps the users to restrict access to any undesirable characters.

Thereby benefit from superior services of file removal, assuring activity log or renaming files features as well for complete confidentiality of your information.

Take a look at its best features:

Simple and easy-to-use UI
Schedule file shredding tasks
Completely erase confidential documents and other files
Advanced file shredding algorithms

Kernel File Shredder

Hit the button to get Kernel File Shredder and have no concerns about your unwanted and confidential PC files.

Check Price Visit Website

Secure Eraser – Good for registry and system cleaning

This is a great multipurpose file eraser that also makes the most of high-end deletion algorithms. Secure Eraser is a versatile utility with a decent UI design.

The software has a freeware version, but also a professional one. Depending on your needs, you can best use this software to shred your files forever.

Aside from its thorough deletion of selected files and folders, the software can erase partitions and drives. It includes a registry cleaner and a system cleaner for deleting junk files.

Secure Eraser can also generate HTML deletion reports, which isn’t something every file deletion utility provides. Also, once removed the data can’t be restored even with the most powerful tools.

Other worth mentioning details entails powerful overwrite capacity of files, folders, or drives up to 35 times to completely erase any traces.

Let’s see some of its key features:

Built-in Registry and system cleaner
Generates HTML deletion reports
Removes the sensitive data completely
Simple user interface

Secure Eraser

For a safer solution, check out Secure Eraser for a complete deletion of your sensitive and confidential data or drives!

Check Price Visit Website

CCleaner – Great for PC optimization

CCleaner is an award-winning utility that the Piriform website proudly boasts has had more than 1.5 billion downloads.

It has an intuitive UI, extensive options for deleting files, and consumes minimal system resources.

You can add a freeware version to Windows, and CCleaner also has a Professional version that includes many more options.

The freeware version alone is a great utility. Its Cleaner tool scans for both Windows system and third-party software junk files to free up considerable disk space.

You can scan and clean the registry with CCleaner. It includes Uninstall and Startup tools to remove software and startup entries.

Among the optimization and security traits, this popular tool has the capacity to clean your sensitive files without traces in no time.

Hence confidently use this tool cleaning services to permanently delete your sensitive files, improving your system health to run smoothly as well.

The Professional and Plus versions also provide scheduled cleanup and disk defrag options.

CCleaner

Get CCleaner to delete junk files from your system with a minimum of used resources.

Free Visit Website

Now you can really delete your files with these terrific utilities for Windows. They have the most efficient deletion techniques to purge documents and folders.

With these secure file deletion software for Windows 10/11, you may also erase lots of Windows systems and junk files to free up some disk space.

Now, you should also check our list including the best software to force delete locked files on Windows 10/11.

Let us know which one worked best for you by leaving your feedback in the comments section below.

How to Install the Epson Scanner Driver for Windows 10

Posted on September 14, 2022July 26, 2025 by Vladimir Popescu

Drivers represent the most important software components which allow our PCs and apps to run optimally. Thus, proper installation is the essential step you should consider.

There is a wide variety of options that can prove useful to install your scanner drivers. Fortunately, you don’t have to be trained to understand them.

In this guide, you will find a selection of the best-proven solutions dealing with the Epson scanner driver error.

How can I install the Epson scanner driver on Windows 10?

How can I install the Epson scanner driver on Windows 10?

1. From the manufacturer’s website

1. Access the Epson official support website.
2. Select your current region from the list, if prompted.
3. Hover your mouse over the Support section from the top menu.
4. Choose Printers from the drop-down menu that opened.
5. Search for your product name and select the exact model.
6. Click on the Download button.
7. Follow the on-screen steps to complete the installation.

The best place to download Epson Scanner Drivers from is the manufacturer’s website, which is the Epson official website. The drivers in there are always up to date and perfectly safe to use on your Windows 10 PC.

In order to install the Epson driver for your device, you need to download it and then follow the on-screen installation wizard. It will automatically install the driver for you.

2. Via Device Manager

Open Device Manager.
Expand Print queues.
Right-click on the one you need, and select Properties.
Select the Driver tab and click on Update Driver.
Choose to Browse my computer for drivers.
Navigate to Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
Click on Have Disk…, and locate your driver file.
Select Next and wait until the installation is completed.

Alternatively, you can download the driver from the official website and manually install it via Device Manager.

This is recommended to do in case you encounter any problems using the traditional installing method.

3. Use third-party software

The methods presented above imply using manual steps in order to install the Epson scanner driver. We have one solution for you that will definitely save much more of your time.

Using dedicated third-party software will automatically install and update any driver you need.

Moreover, it will provide the latest compatible driver for your hardware components, straight from the manufacturer.

It is also important to mention that operating with specialized software is easy to use for everyone. Its friendly and intuitive interface allows you to understand anything you need to know.

You should know that with specialized tools you have all the support regarding problematic drivers, plus an extensive database with millions of driver versions.

To conclude, we advise you to employ an automated driver updater like this for maximum performance of your device.

These were our recommended suggestions that will help you to install the Epson scanner driver on Windows.

In order to keep your components safe, you can always check a full guide about how to update drivers in Windows 10.

Also, leave a comment in the section below and let us know which of the listed options suited you the most.

How to Reset your PC using Cloud Download on Windows 10

Posted on September 14, 2022October 4, 2023 by Claudiu Andone

Starting with the new Windows 10 version 2004, you can use the new cloud download option to get Windows from the cloud to reinstall.

If you have a strong Internet connection, resetting your PC with the cloud option can be faster and even more reliable.

In other words, you won’t need to download Windows 10 and create a bootable USB stick. The cloud download feature is already built-in.

What do I need for a cloud download?

Make sure you have more than 4 GB of free space on your drive, as the Cloud download option can use more than 4 GB of data.

For the same reason, you want to be connected to a reliable, paid Internet connection where you don’t have data restrictions.

How can I use cloud download to reset my Windows 10 PC?

If you have a Windows 10 Insider Preview Builds 18970 or newer, you can select the cloud download option using Settings.

All you need to do is navigate to the Reset this PC section via Settings, choose cloud download as your preferred method of reinstalling Windows 10, and then follow the instructions on the screen to complete the operation.

1. Press the Start button and choose Settings from the list (the cogwheel above the Power button).
2. Click on Update & Security, then click on the Recovery option from the left pane.
3. Press on the Get started button below the Reset this PC option.
4. You will be prompted to keep your files or to remove everything. After you validate your selection, you will see the option to Cloud download in the next window.
5. After you hit the Cloud download button, Windows will start the preparation phase, checking if you have the necessary requirements.
6. If all is OK, you will see the image below.
7. When you click on the Reset button, the download will begin. After this, everything will continue without anything to do from your part.
8. When the download completes, the system will reboot into Windows RE and start applying the image that was downloaded.

If you selected the option to keep your files, the system will get the user profile from the previous OS and will apply it to the new OS.
9. Next, it will apply the optional features and languages to the new OS. It Switches the OS root folder from the previous OS to the new OS and it deletes the downloaded payload.
10. Finally, it will reboot into the new OS and apply the drivers and OEM settings, including preinstalled Windows apps.

If you didn’t choose to keep your files, the system will reboot to the Out-Of-Box-Experience (OOBE). If not, it will skip OOBE and jump directly to the login screen.

What is the difference between cloud download and local reinstall?

A local Windows reinstallation uses the installation files that are already on your HDD. You don’t need anything special to be able to use it, not even the internet.

On the other hand, a cloud download installs a new fresh image of Windows 10 via the internet. In other words, it uses installation files downloaded directly from Microsoft’s official website.

Did you encounter any problems when performing this operation? Let us know about your experience in the comments section below.