Billable Hours Software: 8 Best to Use in 2026

Posted on August 30, 2022February 4, 2025 by Radu Tyrsina

Time-tracking software allows users to track billable hours, and such tools will turn out ideal for HR consulting businesses for instance, by pairing it with a good CRM for HR, project and task management can be brought to another level. In the consulting business and not only, but clients are also billed on an hourly basis, and sometimes you don’t know how to track your time accurately. This is where billable time-tracking software comes in handy.

The ideal software for tracking billable hours will offer at least one free integration with a popular tool; it will provide a project management feature, a billing system, and maybe even a mobile solution.

We picked out five of the best tools for tracking billable hours that are also compatible with systems running Windows, so make sure to check their features and functionalities.

Track billable hours with these programs on Windows 10

TimeCamp

Another great software that can help you track billable hours is TimeCamp. This tool supports visual time tracking so you can easily see all activities and their durations on a calendar. Thanks to this feature, you can easily add subtasks and notes, and with the support for both mobile and desktop apps, you can always keep track of billable hours.

Another great feature of TimeCamp is the ability to calculate income and create detailed reports. To make sure that all your activities are perfectly logged, there’s an automatic time-tracking feature available as well.

The application also supports invoicing, so you can easily create professional invoices for your clients. The automatic invoicing feature is available, and it allows you to create invoices based on the number of billable hours easily. This feature also has an integrated payment gateway, and it even supports notifications, so you’ll know as soon as your client views the invoice.

The Time Management feature is also available, so you can easily see what your employees are doing. Thanks to this feature, you can see the most time-consuming websites and applications and track offline activity with ease. There’s also automatic usage tracking, so you can easily see how each employee spends their day in order to ensure maximum productivity.

Another feature that’s worth mentioning is Attendance tracking, and thanks to it, you can easily see who’s in and who’s out at any time. In addition, you can easily track the attendance, absence, and holidays of your employees. You should also know that TimeCamp is compatible with 70+ different online services, ensuring maximum productivity.

Overall, TimeCamp is an amazing service for tracking billable hours, so feel free to try it out.

Overview:

Visual time tracking
Income calculator, detailed reports
Automatic time tracking
Automatic invoicing, integrated payment gateway, invoice notifications
Time management
Attendance tracking
Compatible with over 70+ online services

Get TimeCamp today

FreshBooks – Most professional

FreshBooks is an accounting software for individuals/businesses that focuses on professional time-tracking for both employees and projects. With a simple feature, everyone can bill their own time into important projects so no work time is missed. Also, it can automatically add billed time to invoices for improved efficiency.

This soft was created for anyone to use, from freelancers, self-employed professionals or businesses of any kind. Following, FreshBooks features:

Professional invoicing to impress your clients, show them clearly the costs and the project’s time management from the time-tracking option
Plenty of payment options to satisfy every client, as well as automated reminders for every unpaid invoice
A simple database of your every expense with attachable receipts and option to import them right from your bank account.
A smart management of all the sides, contractors, teams and clients where they can update each other with ease about any change in the project, about any reached milestone and so on.
Dashboards and reports about every area of your business right from the database, progress on each project, billable hours and whatever data you need to have a better overview.
Business Health reports created by the data you provided to see how healthy the cash flow is, the profitability and detailed reports of spending.
Mobile compatibility, keep your business connected with clients from anywhere in the world, send invoices, check projects and track expenses at the touch of the screen.

FreshBooks is going for a professional take on every features that it provides. Having a tool that makes sure that all your clients are satisfied, all the invoices are sent in time, and no payment is late is the perfect way to boost the image of your work.

Fresh Books

A professional approach to every detail of your work.

Free Trial Visit Website

ZoHo Books – Best overall

While it’s easy to track each employee’s billable hours with this tool, ZoHo Books also provides the ability to track how much time was spent on a project, on a task or even turn that time into money. On top of the amazing time-billing system, it centralizes all data from your business into one single app.

ZoHo provides a full package of features that will boost your business’s productivity. These features allow you to:

Boost the time efficiency of your business with a time-tracker for individuals, projects and tasks with easy logging right from the clock widget.
Save time by assigning tasks and checking their progress right from the tool, also track unbilled hours and expenses.
Create invoices in seconds, directly from projects with online payment options for clients as well as the choice to send reminders directly to them.
Know where every cent is going by having all your expenses packed into one database, and also have the ability to upload receipts to keep track of all the payments you’ve made.
Keep your employees connected with integrations through Slack, share and save important documents through Office or DropBox and secure all your payments with Stripe and PayPal.
Get a smart overview of your business with customizable dashboards, data filtering and easy access to the report for better insights.
Keep inventory levels at a glance if you are based on palpable products, also keep track and set reminders to replenish when it gets low

As every company needs a tool to keep track of billable hours, accounting, inventory, etc, ZoHo Books compiles all these features into one software, so any business can reach the top.

ZoHo Books comes with a free version, but for unparalleled results and features, it comes with a few upgrade options.

ToDo

ToDo is a simple software that is able to pack a bunch of amazing features that will support the organization of your business stuff. It is easy to implement and use, and the tool requires no training at all. This makes it also suitable for beginners who have never used a time-tracking tool before.

Check out some of its great features and functionalities:

This program allows organizations to centralize their tasks, to offer them to the right personnel, and to organize assignments easy and fast.
The tool comes with a user-friendly interface, and the system is backed by 16 years of experience in the business management software industry.
This tool offers impressive solutions for smaller teams, start-ups, and also for larger enterprises as well.
You will be able to decide what you need to get to work and how to keep track on the progress.
This program also allows you to share files and integrate your account on Dropbox, Google Drive and more.
You will be able to keep track of the billable hours of your employees in order to enhance productivity.
ToDo is a scalable tool that allows users to grow and it will adapt to your needs.

There are three pricing plans that are offered by this program, and it’s best to head over to ToDo’s official website to check them out: Basic, Pro, and Plus.

Get started with ToDo

Check out more of its useful functionalities on the program’s website and see if it suits your needs.

All these tools for keeping track of billable hours are compatible with Windows systems, and they all come with their unique sets of features.

Make sure to visit their official websites in order to be able to analyze more in-depth functionalities and make the right choice for your needs and skills.

Harvest

Harvest just happens to be one of the best time tracking tools out there. This is a web-based business management tool that has been created to provide individuals and businesses with very useful time monitoring features.

Take a look at some of the most interesting ones below:

Aside from monitoring personnel time, this software is also able to generate professional-looking invoices straight to your clients.
This software comes with a brilliant interface which is also user-friendly and fast.
There are other exciting features included in this tool such as powerful reporting tools that offer users real-time access to information regarding budget, projects and time.
You will be able to get reliable and actionable insights in order to make intelligent business decisions, enhance your profitability and estimate various projects.
Using this tool, you will be in control of billable time tracking with a single click of a button.
Automated notifications are sent to the staff to show them their time reports and to help them with productivity management.
You will also be able to generate and send invoices in order to speed up the sales process and boost revenues as well.

This tool works on Windows systems and more, and you can check out more of its great features and functionalities on Harvest’s official webpage.

Editor’s Note: If you’re interested in other employee management software, check out our wide collection of guides.

You will get the chance to try the program for free, so its’ best to start with the 30-days trial just to see how this software works for your business.

ClockShark

ClockShark is another robust program that is also easy to use and that will successfully track time.

Using this tool, construction and field service providers, for instance, will no longer have to monitor the crew’s billable hours manually. This is because this software offers them the opportunity to track the employee’s hours automatically through their mobile devices including systems running Windows.

Check out the most exciting functionalities and advantages that come packed into this tool:

Using ClockShark, the companies will no longer have to hand out paper timesheets to their crew and manually count their billable hours.
The program works on desktops and mobile devices as well; of course, this includes Windows phones.
This tool allows the companies to save lots of money because they will not have to purchase dedicated hardware in order to be able to monitor the employees.
ClockShark also offers you all the necessary tools that you need to manage your workers.
The program lets you drag-and-drop the employees’ names to a calendar and set the work schedule while the staff receives notifications that will let them know where they’re expected for a job.
The real-time reporting features let employers keep tabs on their workers at all times.
The clock punch locator feature uses the GPSTrack technology that monitors workers.
Because of this tool’s integration with QuickBooks, ClockShark makes it easy to transfer payroll information.

Using this program, businesses will be able to rest assures that the employees are paid the right amount of money, and the clients are billed flawlessly.

You can start tracking time for free, and all you have to do is to head over to ClockShark’s official website.

Replicon

This is a useful suite that packs versatile business management and workforce solutions. All the features that are included in Replicon make this software a popular choice among companies. The program offers user lots of choices that they can implement in their organizations.

Take a look at some of the best and the most useful functionalities that are included in this tool:

To use Replicon, you will not have to perform complicated setups or to go through sophisticated training.
There’s no need for installing any additional hardware at your workplace on your systems.
This tool will help you manage your employees in the most efficient way possible using the flexible client management and its amazing billing features.
It’s not important what size your business is because Replicon can serve both start-ups and enterprises.
This tool has received a lot of recognition and award for its capabilities, and this is one of the reasons for which it’s getting more and more popular.
The Professional Service Automation feature offers users lots of customization options for tracking time.
You will be able to track your employees, projects, clients and all kinds of tasks.
Using Replicon, you can manage your customer and your portfolios effortlessly.
There are various reporting options that come with user-friendly interfaces.
It’s also essential that real-time data can be exported anytime in order to reduce the need for manually entering the errors.
Payroll management lets managers handle employee statistics regarding leaves, absences and more.

You can check out more features that are packed into this useful tool and sign up for a free trial on Replicon’s official website just to get the hang of how everything works.

Trigger

TriggerApp is another program that is extremely useful to keep tabs on billable hours for your employees. You can adopt this solution in order to improve your business tracking, collaboration, invoice related work processes and more.

You will be able to add tasks, projects, and companies to organize the office tabs efficiently. You can also check the allocated budget precisely.

Take a look at more useful functionalities included in Trigger:

Using this tool, you can monitor the deadlines, allocated hours, and the budgets for all of your projects.
This program was created to enhance the productivity of your business.
It mixes a variety of functionalities into a single working place.
Trigger comes with a beautifully designed workflow that lets your team discuss with customers and among themselves, and they can also share files, manage projects and more.
This tool lets you accurately track time, and this will definitely boost your business’ productivity.
You can invoice customers for projects with just a single click.
Trigger allows you to set and monitor your work budget and you can integrate the program with the platforms that you are using including Google Apps, Xero and more.

You will be able to access this tool anytime from any browser, and this will make it really easy to stay updated on your projects, deadlines and more.

The program is compatible with systems running Windows, and you can find more about Trigger by heading to its official website.

How to Use Firestick Without a Remote

Posted on August 30, 2022October 21, 2025 by Tashreef Shareef

Amazon’s popular streaming device Firestick TV comes with its own Alexa-enabled remote helping with voice commands and navigation.

However, what if you have to use Amazon Firestick without remote?

It happens that we misplace the TV remote more often than not. Thankfully, Amazon allows you to use your iOS and Android smartphones as a replacement for most of the functions.

In this article, we walk you through a step-by-step guide to help you use the Fire stick without a remote, by using your smartphone.

Control Fire Stick without remote

1. Download and install the Amazon Fire TV app for Android or iOS.
2. Open the app once the installation is complete.
3. Make sure your Firestick TV and the phone with the app are connected to the same network.
4. Select your Amazon Fire TV from the list of available devices.
5. Enter the code displayed on your TV on your smarthphone to pair it to the TV.
6. You can now use your smartphone as a Firestick remote.

If you cannot find your TV remote or simply want an alternative, you can use your smartphone as a replacement for the Firestick remote. All you need to do is download and install the Amazon Fire TV app on your phone, then pair it to your TV.

Using the app is fairly simple. To navigate across the device, use the touchpad on the app and swipe left/right/up/down. To select an item, simply tap once after highlighting the item.

The app also offers voice search, playback controls, a keyboard for text input, and quick access to your apps and games. You can play casual games just like you used to do with the Amazon Firestick TV remote.

However, according to Amazon, not all the games are supported or playable using the remote app. To play games, you are better off purchasing the official game controller from Amazon.

That’s it about how to use Amazon Firestick TV without a remote. This will save you an additional $30 in buying a new remote in case you have lost it.

While all the features of the remote may not be available, the remote app works perfectly fine for the most frequently used features of Firestick TV.

After setting up control through your smartphone, you can also activate the History Channel on your Firestick TV to start streaming documentaries, shows, and exclusive content directly on your screen.

Let us know in the comments section below if you succeeded in using your Firestick without a remote. If you encountered any difficulties, let us know in the comments section below.

Edit your PDF Documents with UPDF Software Across all Platforms

Posted on August 30, 2022October 10, 2024 by Claudiu Andone

PDFs are the most popular type of document used by businesses and organizations. And here, we’re going to talk about an editor that makes it all a lot simpler: UPDF across all platforms.

Everyone is using PDF documents because they have a modern design, they can be standardized and, most of all, they are secure.

Besides being supported on all platforms, UPDF is free and comes with a simple interface that makes creating and editing PDFs easier.

What are the best features of UPDF?

1. Edit text and image in PDF

With UPDF, editing the text and images in a PDF is as easy as clicking the paragraph and starting to write.

Of course, for text, you may also choose a font from the hundreds available, the alignment, the style, and even the color.

Adding or deleting images is now restricted to the Mac version of UPDF only, but image editing is coming also for the Windows version very soon.

With this feature, you will even be able to crop, extract, replace and rotate the images.

2. Convert PDF to other formats

Another important feature of UPDF is that you can save the PDF in PDF/A format or export it in many other formats.

You will be able to save it as Word, Excel, CVS, RTF, TXT, image, XHL, or HTML formats. And for the image option, you can choose from BMP, JPG, PNG, TIFF, and GIF formats.

The real advantage of UPDF is that when you’re saving a PDF in another format, you can turn on the OCR feature.

That will help tremendously when you have a PDF that was scanned because this way you will have a perfectly readable and editable document at the end of the conversion.

3. Annotate PDF

UPDF also has some excellent collaboration features because you can annotate a PDF in a lot of ways.

After you click on the annotation feature from the top-right, you can strikethrough, underline and highlight any portion of the text.

But there is also an option to enter text or text boxes and our favorite, the sticky note. It’s like a text box only that it’s invisible until you double-click its icon to see its content.

This way, you will be able to leave longer text modifications without messing up the document too much.

3. Organize Pages

As you’ve guessed, with UPDF, you may also organize the pages within a PDF document very easily.

After you click on the Organize Pages icon from the left menu, just select the pages you want and use the simple upper menu.

That’s how you can insert a new page, replace, delete, extract or split a page or even rotate it clockwise or counterclockwise.

Also, double-clicking a page will get you straight to that page for editing or reading.

After you’re done editing or annotating a document, you don’t need to look all over your PC for it.

Just hit the envelope icon from the top right, select the email client and click OK. The document will be uploaded automatically into your email.

There is also the option to create a link for your PDF and only send that for the recipient to view the document directly from his or her browser.

4. UPDF’s best mobile features

Above, we have outlined the best features for the desktop versions but the ones for Android and especially for iOS are even more solid.

For instance, you may add signatures to PDF documents on your iPhone and iPad straight with your pen or finger.

Scan photos, receipts, invoices, business cards, and other documents on the go right from your smartphone. Then, save the scanned files in PDF format to go fully digital.

To top that, it supports Face ID and password to access your UPDF iOS app and inner Security Space to keep your files privately protected against unauthorized access.

On iPhone and iPad, you even benefit from a document management feature. You can use it to open, view, search, copy & paste, delete, rename, compress, move, share and secure PDF documents.

You can even create PDFs from scratch or compress files to zip archives so you can keep or send them easier.

What are the pros of UPDF across all platforms?

As we’ve mentioned above, UPDF is free, but it’s limited to saving changes to one file per day and converting 5 files.

However, for only $29.99 a year, you eliminate all the limitations on any platform, and you will get free updates and upgrades and top customer support.

UPDF also features a nice, modern and simple UI that it’s easy to use by anyone from any device.

And if you encounter any issues, the responsive customer service will help you at any moment.

⇒ Get UPDF

Giveaway

If you find this article helpful, share it on any social media with #UPDFgiveaway, the publishers will randomly select 5 winners to give away a yearly plan of UPDF for free.

Contact [email protected] to claim the license!

You might also be interested in our list of the best PDF reader software for Windows 11 and get other suggestions. We also have a new guide on the best fill & sign PDF tools you can use, so feel free to check it out.

Have you tried UPDF yet? If so, share your experience and thoughts in the comments section below.

How to Add Multiple Accounts to Outlook

Posted on August 30, 2022October 4, 2023 by Vladimir Popescu

Microsoft Outlook is being used by millions of people across the globe, so it’s natural that people will want to add multiple accounts.

Even though the main purpose of Outlook is to send and receive emails, this app also contains a task manager, contact manager, and other useful features.

Because Microsoft Outlook is such a versatile application, people want to connect all email accounts they use.

This will allow you to be able to manage all aspects of your email services from one hub. This method also allows you to save time and browse your emails fast.

For these reasons, in this article, we will explore some of the best ways to add multiple email accounts to Outlook.

How can I add multiple email accounts to Outlook?

It is very simple to add multiple emails to your Outlook account. You can do this through the app’s built-in Info tab. Form there, you can connect as many emails as you want to your account.

1. Open Microsoft Outlook.
2. From the top part of your screen, select the File menu and enter the Backstage view.
3. Inside the Info tab, under Account Information, click Add Account.
4. Type your email address inside the dialogue box and then click Connect.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions.
6. After this process is completed, you’ll see your account listed in the Navigation Pane.
7. Repeat the steps above for each of the emails you want to connect to Microsoft Outlook.

In this article, we explored the fastest and easiest way to add multiple accounts to your Microsoft Outlook application.

This will allow you to see an overview of all your emails, no matter what email provider you’re using.

The emails that are attached to Microsoft Outlook will be listed inside the Navigation Panel to the right of your screen.

You can select to see the entire list of incoming/outgoing emails or select each of the emails to separate them by the email provider. To enhance this feature, you can even open multiple Outlook windows and have each account in a separate window.

We would love to know if this guide helped you add multiple accounts to your Microsoft Outlook software. Please feel free to let us know by using the comment section found below this article.

Classic Start Menu for Windows 10: Download and Use Guide

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

Understandably, you may be looking to change the Windows 10 Start menu to classic. Some consider the Windows 7 and XP Start menu more valuable than Windows 10.

When Windows 8 dropped, there was an uproar from users regarding the fullscreen Start menu.

Despite Microsoft responding by modifying the Start menu in Windows 8.1 and later, fans took things into their own hands and devised ways to get back the classic Start menu. This guide explores everything you should know about the classic menu.

Can I get the classic Start Menu for Windows 10?

Yes, you can get the classic menu on Windows 10. However, it does not ship with the OS natively since its Start menu is redesigned to shift away from the look and feel of XP and Windows 7.

However, a few free tools will help you customize and change the Windows 10 Start menu. We will go through this as we discuss some cool customization options.

How do I get my classic Start Menu back on Windows 10?

The top solution to change the Windows 10 Start menu is employing third-party applications. We love to recommend a tool called Classic Shell. The program is created to change the operating system’s look and feel, making it more like previous editions.

The tool offers a Start menu and Windows Explorer customization. It also offers skins and styles, and keyboard shortcuts to aid easy navigation of the OS.

How do I download classic Start Menu for Windows 10?

You can easily change Windows 10’s Start menu to classic if you use the third-party app called Classic Shell. It is a specially designed program that allows users to change their UI’s to previous versions of other Oss.

1. Download and install Classic Shell.
2. Launch the application.
3. Select the Start menu view between Classic, Classic with two columns and Windows 7 style.
4. Hit the OK button.
5. Back up the selected styles as XML.
6. Apply the settings.

How can I use classic Start Menu on Windows 10?

After downloading a third-party application like Classic Shell, right-click on the Start menu and select Settings if you need more customization.
Select any of the styles displayed.
Press the Windows key. You should have your most used apps displayed on the left-hand side. Type the name of the app you need in the search box.

How to remove the classic Start Menu in Windows 10?

Press Windows + R, type appwiz.cpl, and hit Enter.
Locate the installed Start menu application.
Click on it and select Uninstall.
Follow the wizard to complete the uninstallation.

We hope this guide has proven helpful in your case and that you now have the Start Menu and icons in the exact way you wanted. If the apps become too much, you can remove program groups to take more control of your Start Menu.

You can also customize your Windows 11 Start menu layout as per your preferences. To know more, read this guide.

Let us know if this guide has helped by using the comment section below.

How to Show Hidden Files on Windows 10: 5 Quick and Tested Ways

Posted on August 30, 2022April 9, 2024 by Milan Stanojevic

Some files are marked hidden automatically, to prevent being modified by changing, deleting, or even moving them from their location. The easiest way to see hidden files in Windows 10 is to open File Explorer, and go to View > Options > Change folder and search options. Here, go to the View tab and check Show hidden files, folders, and drives and hit OK.

How can I show hidden files on Windows 10?

1. Use Windows Settings to show hidden files

Hit the Windows key, then type Show hidden files, and open the first result.
On the right side of the opened window, under the File Explorer section, look at the Change settings to show hidden and system files, and click on Show settings.
Make sure that the Show hidden files, folders, and drives is checked.
Scroll down to the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) option, then uncheck the box.
Confirm by clicking on Yes.

2. Use Command Prompt to show hidden files on Windows 10

Press on the Windows key, type cmd, then right-click on the first result and choose to Run as administrator.
In the opened window, type the following command, then hit the Enter key: dir/ ah
In case you’re not sure what folder includes the hidden files you need, just run a hidden file scan on a parent folder.
To do this, in the Command Prompt window, type cd, then hit the Space key, input the full path of the folder, and press Enter.
Then, run the following command: dir /ah /s

3. Show hidden files by accessing PowerShell

Hit the Windows key, then type PowerShell, and open Windows PowerShell.
In the opened window, use the following command, then press Enter: cd C:\Users\USER\Desktop\MyDocuments
When you run the above command, make sure that instead of C:\Users\USER\Desktop\MyDocuments you input your specific full path of the folder.
Now, to reveal your hidden files and folders, input this, and hit the Enter key: dir -force

4. Use a file search tool to open hidden files on Windows 10

A safe way to open hidden files in Windows 10 is by using a search tool. With this type of tool, you need not make any changes to your Windows settings, but this doesn’t mean you’ll be able to see the hidden files in the usual File Explorer view.

Glarysoft Quick Search is a free file search utility, which quickly indexes your files thanks to its features. This software has an extremely intuitive and easy-to-use interface. So, if you’re a beginner, it won’t give you headaches.

It displays search results on a small screen and you can press CTRL to show or hide the search bar or open Quick Search to filter your options to show shortcuts, folders, documents, pictures, and other media files.

Glarysoft Quick Search

Quick Search is the best free file search tool, so make sure you try it to open hidden folders.

Free Trial Visit Website

5. Show hidden files using Control Panel

1. Hit the Windows key to open the search box.

2. Type Control, then click on the result for Control Panel.

fix-bluetooth-not-finding-devices-windows-10

3. Navigate to Appearance and Personalization.

4. Click on File Explorer Options.

5. Select the View tab in the File Explorer options window, then navigate to the Hidden files and folders category.

view hidden files and folders windows 10

6. You will now see two options: Don’t show hidden files, folders, or drives or Show hidden files, folders, and drives.

7. If you select not to show the file, it will hide the files, folders and drives with hidden attributes.

show hidden files on windows 10 settings

8. In the case you choose to show them, it will allow you to see and open the hidden files.

9. Click OK after you make your selection.

10. Test your hidden files to see if they’re still hidden. If you don’t see the ProgramData folder, then the hidden files/folders are still hidden from view.

It is possible to configure your operating system to show or hide hidden files in easy steps anyone can get done, through Control Panel.

Among the common hidden files and folders are included ProgramData or pagefile.sys, and in older versions, you can find boot.ini, io.sys, or msdos.sys as hidden files.

Why are my files hidden on Windows 10?

If it’s still not clear to you why Windows would hide certain files, make sure you read what we’re about to say. The first and most important reason for this is to reduce the probability of accidentally deleting or modifying folders.

Plus, your OS also wants to prevent casual snoopers from getting into your files, which are probably private and crucial for you and your network.

Another reason you should consider is reducing visual clutter in the file directories. Thus, it helps you locate content in an easy and convenient way.

In case you’ve already upgraded your OS to the new and improved design, make sure you check how to view Hidden Folders and Files in Windows 11.

Are there other ways you use to open hidden files in Windows 10? Share with us in the comments section below.

8 Best PDF to JPG Converters for Windows [Free & Paid]

Posted on August 30, 2022March 21, 2024 by Tashreef Shareef

While the PDF (Portable Document File) is a popular document-sharing format, at times you may want to convert the PDF files to JPG and then share them on web pages or social media.

In this article, we’re going to talk about all the characteristics of a great PDF to JPG converter for Windows 10 & 11.

Unlike images, PDF files are arguably more difficult to integrate into web pages. On the other hand, only dragging & dropping an image does the job very quickly. That is one of many reasons why you want to have a PDF to JPG converter for Windows.

What is the best PDF to JPG converter?

UPDF – Great PDF conversion

If you’re looking for a fast tool to convert your PDF into images, such as JPG, BMP, PNG, TIFF, and GIF, UPDF is perfect for that job.

Not only that, but you can select exactly the pages or the range of pages you want to convert so you don’t fill up your drive with unnecessary images.

The PDF to image conversion is only one of the features of this smart tool. You can use it to edit the text, rearrange the pages, rotate, extract, and insert new ones.

There’s also the option to convert your PDF into other document files and if the pages come from scanned images, there is a built-in OCR feature that will restore the text to its digital form.

UPDF has collaboration features because you may annotate the text with a variety of markup tools including highlighter, underline, shapes, stamps, and more.

Take a look at its best features:

Lowest price to enjoy UPDF across all platforms
Converts PDF to JPG, BMP, PNG, TIFF, and GIF
Beautiful, modern design
Responsive customer service
Simple to use, fast

UPDF

Edit your PDF documents and save them JPG, BMP, PNG, TIFF, or GIF quickly and safely!

Free Trial Visit Website

Soda PDF – 3D page-flipping technology

Soda PDF comes second on our list, as it’s the best free pdf to jpg converter thanks to its online conversion tools.

It is very easy to use, all you have to do is drop your document, convert it, and after that, the file will automatically download.

With Soda PDF, you can also merge, compress, and edit your files so you’ll be able to manage them however you need.

It has advanced features, such as OCR tools to recognize and edit texts within all kinds of scanned documents and images.

Moreover, you can sign your PDFs electronically and track and manage e-signatures while protecting your files with 256-AES password encryption.

Other best features of Soda PDF include:

Batch-conversion
Add sticker notes and comments
Create fillable PDF forms
3D page-flipping technology
Reduce file size without affecting file quality

Soda PDF

Convert PDFs to JPG with ease by using Soda PDF’s online converter tool.

Free Trial Visit Website

Adobe Acrobat – Best native converter

Adobe Acrobat is one of the best tools for PDF manipulation and sharing. The two of them are so deeply connected that PDF has practically become synonymous with Acrobat in the collective perception of users.

And there’s a good reason for that. With just a couple of clicks, you will be able to convert your PDF into JPG in no time.

Furthermore, you can batch convert multiple files to save time (and we all know how valuable a resource that is especially these days).

To convert a PDF you will need to use the Export option on the right panel and just choose your format as JPG.

Besides that, Acrobat is great for enhancing scans to become more visible, passing e-signatures, combining PDFs, adding bookmarks, editing documents, converting PDF/A to PDF, and a whole lot of other useful features.

Let’s review some of its key features:

PDF batch converting
Native PDF support
Export document to TIFF, JPG, or PNG
Easy to use
Secure documents and sign

Adobe Acrobat

Enjoy the most complex PDF editing, converting, and sharing tools all wrapped in the friendliest UI!

Free trial Visit Website

Icecream PDF Converter – Intuitive interface

If you’re looking to convert PDF to JPG in Windows 10 then this tool is a great high-quality solution that will help you get work done with professional results.

It comes in both free and premium versions, but the free version is sufficient to convert PDF to JPG.

One of the unique features of the Icecream PDF converter is that it allows you to merge all files in one PDF document. It also has an inbuilt PDF reader and supports password-protected files.

Icecream PDF Converter supports conversion from PDF to JPG, DOC, ODT, BMP, TIFF, PNG GIF, and even conversion of password-protected PDF documents.

The bulk conversion feature works as a batch converter allowing the users to add multiple files to the queue of the PDF converter and convert with a single click.

Here are some of its best features:

Wide variety of PDF to image conversion
Batch conversion
Convert PDF to JPG for free
Built-in OCR feature
Convert PDF to Word document

Icecream PDF Converter

Convert your PDF documents to all popular image formats for easy file reading and management.

Free trial Visit Website

Wondershare PDFelement – Great integration

The PDFelement by Wondershare is one of the best PDF to JPG lightweight converter tools that works flawlessly on both Windows and Mac infrastructures.

This PDF editor may be as easy as it gets in terms of usability and interface, but its powerful features will not fail to impress you.

It is a robust PDF editing toolkit that also provides review, comment, and sign functionalities.

Conversion is particularly speedy thanks to a powerful and accurate conversion engine which is why you can obtain sleek-looking results upon converting to JPG, Word, PPT, and many more.

It offers full cross-platform compatibility and is designed for both Windows and Mac, in addition, it also offers seamless integration with iOS and Android devices allowing you to perform your tasks on the go.

Let’s see some of its key features:

Very light on your system
iOS and Android integration
Review, comment, and sign functionalities
Seamless PDF to JPG conversion
Combine and convert PDF to various formats

Wondershare PDFelement

Discover excellent PDF software with a user-friendly interface that provides a multitude of functions!

Free trial Visit Website

SwifDoo PDF – Excellent PDF compressor

SwifDoo is a great help when it comes to converting your PDF file to JPG format. This software offers an online converter to make file conversions effortless.

This flexible PDF program allows you to edit, merge, split PDFs, and convert PDF files to JPG images on Windows 10, 8, 7, and XP. It supports converting PDF to JPG, BMP, TIF and PNG with distinct resolution options available.

What’s important is that it can convert a multi-page PDF into one JPG image or individual image files and group convert multiple PDFs to JPG images at once.

When you convert PDF files to JPG images, it doesn’t change the font or image quality. But, when it is needed, it lets you edit the text easily.

If your PDF is full of images and you want to convert it to smaller images, you can compress the PDF file or split the PDF into smaller files before using the conversion tool.

Other great features:

Convert PDF with digital signatures to JPG images
Identify and recognize text within unsearchable scanned PDFs
Batch convert PDF files
Intuitive design

SwifDoo PDF

Create, compress, and convert PDF documents to JPG images in a blink of an eye.

Free Trial Visit Website

iSkysoft PDFelement – Great OCR scanner

Iskysoft hit the spot with the PDFelement, a feature-rich PDF solution that allows you to edit, convert, share, and sign your files effortlessly.

And we do mean hassle-free as this editor even supports OCR technology, thus allowing you to integrate scanned documents into your workflow without any other additional arrangements or third-party tools required.

Furthermore, the software also acts as a powerful file converter allowing you to convert PDFs to JPG and practically any other format with top-notch results, which is why this is a PDF to JPG high-quality software

From now on you can edit PDFs like a pro, modify watermarks, images, texts, extract, crop, replace, split pages, and more.

Annotate with important info by adding comments, and sticky notes, and enjoy customizable drawing features.

This great software provides OCR support to identify scanned text, extract it from images, and more.

Here are some of its core features:

Built-in OCR scanning
Powerful file conversion features
Modify watermarks, images, texts, extract, crop, replace, split pages, and more
Edit, split, and merge PDFs

iSkysoft PDF Editor

Get your hands on this great PDF editor that comes with advanced functions and tool!

Free trial Visit Website

Movavi PDFChef – Good for PDF editing

Movavi PDF Editor is another strong tool that performs beautifully on Windows and Mac both.

This tool takes PDF editing to a whole new dimension allowing you to update old presentations with fresh tables, images, and charts and even import files extracted from different apps such as AutoCAD, Excel, and more to perfect your project.

Conversion is seamless and you are to expect nothing less than professionally looking results (PDF to JPG including) every time.

Feel free to edit PDF documents, remove, reorder, or rotate pages, format text, insert and scale images, and you can even apply your digital signature and password to protect your document.

Take advantage of a native PDF reader with customizable settings, merge files in different formats, and import files from different apps.

Convert Files to and from PDF (DOC, TXT, HTML, JPG, PNG, BMP, EPUB, and more)

Let’s review some of its top features:

Store and access files in the cloud
Shared access to documents and projects
Add and edit text, insert and resize images
Rearrange, delete, and rotate pages
Convert PDFs to and from HTML, EPUB, JPEG, TXT, and other formats

Movavi PDf Editor

Enhance your PDF files with high-quality elements by using this excellent software!

Free Trial Visit Website

All the desktop apps and online tools listed in this article allow you to convert PDF files to JPG almost instantly, with crisp-looking results, that’s why they are the most efficient PDF to JPG converter tools for Windows 10.

Besides, you get to enjoy a plethora of bonus features to facilitate your workflows – so what’s not to like?

How can a PDF to JPG converter help me?

There are lots of PDF editor software out there that can help you convert documents into images.

However, if you have a high volume of documents to transform, you should look for tools that perform batch conversion.

Also, most of the software below lets you choose the exact pages you want to convert into JPG. Otherwise, you will have to delete the unwanted images afterward.

So, without further ado, here are the best products to convert PDF to JPG in Windows 10:

UPDF – Great PDF conversion
Soda PDF – 3D page-flipping technology
Adobe Acrobat – Best native converter
Icecream PDF Converter– Intuitive interface
Wondershare PDFelement – Great integration
SwifDoo PDF – Excellent PDF compressor
iSkysoft PDFelement – Great OCR scanner
Movavi PDFChef – Good for PDF editing

Product	Conversion formats	PDF Editor
UPDF	JPG, BMP, PNG, TIFF, GIF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX	✅
Soda PDF	DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, HTML, TXT, JPG, PNG, GIF	✅
Adobe Acrobat	DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, HTML, TXT, JPG, PNG, TIFF	✅
Icecream PDF Converter	DOC, DOCX, ODT, XLS, HTML, BMP, JPG, PNG	✅
Wondershare PDFelement	DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, HTML, TXT, JPG, PNG, TIFF, BMP	✅

You should also take a look at our list including the best PDF editors for Windows 11. They also work in Windows 10 without any issues.

We also have a special guide that will help you get insights into the top-rated Kanji image translator tools, so don’t miss it.

Have you used any of the products from our selection? Share your experience in the comments section below.

How to Clear Clipboard on Windows 11 [3 Different Ways]

Posted on August 30, 2022September 25, 2025 by Vladimir Popescu

Due to security and privacy-related concerns, many people that use Windows 11 want to know how to delete their clipboard data and history.

A computer’s clipboard is a particular location in the memory of a computer system, where you can keep whatever information you want to copy.

Anything that has been copied can be pasted into any application that supports copy/paste, irrespective of the nature of the content.

If you don’t power down your computer or copy something to replace the present data, it will remain there.

For your peace of mind and the safety of other people and programs, you should periodically clear your clipboard.

At the end of this article, you’d have learned how to clear the clipboard history on your Windows 11 quickly.

Check out our guide on how to clear the clipboard on Windows 10 for more information.

Does Windows 11 have a clipboard history?

Windows 11 does have a Clipboard history. It works over the cloud and can be synced between your other devices. The Clipboard History component in Windows 11 enhances the standard Clipboard functionality.

First introduced in Windows 8, the actions are accomplished by introducing a UI that keeps track of what you copied, which can be text or graphics so that the content can be opened and pasted as needed.

Organization of the things copied might help you find what you need quickly.

How do you open the clipboard on Windows 11?

To open your clipboard, all you have to do is to press Windows + V. You can also choose to pin items you use frequently. When you pin an item, the clipboard history is automatically cleared to have enough space for any new item you copy.

When something is saved to the clipboard, where does it go?

Anything copied to the clipboard in Windows 11 is saved in the system RAM. Clipboard information will be deleted once the system shuts down.

?️ Quick Tip:

To get the job done quicker, you can use an automated tool to clean your Windows Clipboard History. It gives you a quick report on all the data stored on your clipboard.

This includes the number and type of files, plus how much space they take up. You can select which you want to delete in just a few clicks.

⇒ Try CCleaner

How do you empty the clipboard in Windows 11?

1. Clear clipboard from Settings

Press Windows + S to open Settings.
Click on System.
From the dashboard to the left of the new window, click on clipboard.
Click on clear clipboard data.

2. Clear clipboard in-app

Open the clipboard by pressing Windows + V.
Click on Clear all.

3. Clear clipboard via Command Prompt

1. Press Windows + R.
2. The Run dialog box will now be open.
3. In the box, enter the following command: cmd /c echo.|clip
4. Press OK.
5. Your clipboard is now clear.

A quick and easy method to clear the clipboard on your device is to use Command Prompt. All you need to do is open the Run dialog and input the command for cmd to clear your clipboard.

Why is my clipboard history not working?

A malfunctioning clipboard history in Windows 11 prevents users from using the panel for viewing past copies of their work. Most times, clipboard history does not work because it is not enabled.

If it is enabled and it still isn’t working, a quick remedy may be as simple as having to download new updates for your operating system.

Another option for resolving clipboard history issues is removing or deleting conflicting apps from the system launch.

How do I fix Copy and Paste on Windows 11?

If you’re having trouble copying and pasting, the quickest solution is to clear all unnecessary tasks from the Task Manager. It could just be that some programs are taking up more RAM than they should. You can also use the System File Checker to repair broken registry files.

Finally, you can always update your device drivers, just to be sure.

You can also read our article for more information on how the copy and paste feature works.

Most Windows users who have just upgraded to the latest version of the operating system can benefit from this simple and fast function.

We hope our solutions helped you clear your clipboard on Windows 11. If you have any questions, write them in the comments section below.

How to Share the Google Drive Folder with Non-Gmail Users

Posted on August 30, 2022October 4, 2023 by Matthew Adams

Google Drive is one of the world’s foremost cloud storage services. Its users will sometimes need to share folders or single files in their GD cloud storage.

Therefore, Google Drive includes a Share option you can select to share folders via links or email attachments with other users.

Can I share Google Drive with non-Gmail users?

Some users might assume they can only share GD folders and files with Gmail users who have Google accounts.

However, you can also share GD folders with users who don’t utilize Gmail or any other Google apps for that matter.

When you do so, non-Gmail users will be able to view shared files without signing in to Google.

How do I share a Google Drive folder with someone who doesn’t have Gmail?

1. Select the Anyone with link option for link sharing

To share a link with a non-Gmail user, right-click a folder or file to share in your Google Drive storage.
Click Share on the item’s context menu.
Click the Get link option.
Then select the Anyone with the link option.
Press the Copy link button.
Open Gmail, or whatever email you use, and click the Compose button there.
Enter a non-Gmail email address to share the link within the To box.
Type in an email title in the Subject box.
Press the Ctrl + V hotkey to paste the copied link into the message.
Click the Send option to share the link with the user.

Thereafter, the user who receives the link for the shared file will be able to view it without signing into a Google Gmail account.

However, bear in mind that selecting the Anyone with the link option for non-Gmail users will make the file available to users outside your domain.

If you want to customize your Windows 10 context menu, check out our dedicated article.

2. Share a Google Drive folder via email

1. First, open your Google Drive page.
2. Right-click a folder or file to share to open the context menu shown directly below.
3. Select the Share option on the context menu, which will open the sharing options directly below.
4. Next, enter the non-Gmail email address of a user to share the file with in the Add people box.
5. Enter some text in the Message box to tell the other user you’ve attached a shared file.
6. Click the Send button when you finish writing the message.
7. Click the Share anyway option to confirm.
8. Thereafter, the user you sent the attachment to will receive an email like the one shown in the shot directly below.

The email says that it grants access to the attached item without a login required. So, the user can click the Open button to view the folder’s files without needing to sign in to Google.

If you are looking to share a Google Drive folder with someone who doesn’t have Gmail, you can send the folder or file as an email attachment. The recipient will receive a link with which he will be able to access the Google Drive folder without having to log in to a Gmail account.

We also have an article to help you import old emails to your Gmail account, if you need the information.

So, you don’t need to ask non-Gmail users to set up Google accounts before sharing GD folders or files with them.

Instead, share your files with non-Gmail users with either of the quick and straightforward methods above.

Twitch Dark Mode: How to Easily Enable it

Posted on August 30, 2022September 23, 2025 by Radu Tyrsina

Lately, dark mode has become very popular on various websites, Twitch included, and many users are wondering How to enable Twitch dark mode in their browser.

If you are using Twitch, you should know that you can enable the dark mode easily and we’ll show you the exact steps you need to make in this article.

Why would I activate the Twitch dark mode?

Switching to dark mode can be a really beneficial change. Why is that? Because it can reduce eye strain, plus it often just looks better than the standard viewing mode.

It is preferred by users not only on Twitch, but also on other apps, sites, and even on their own operating system.

How can I enable Twitch dark mode on my browser?

Now, let’s see how you can easily activate Dark Mode on Twitch using different methods, according to your preferences.

1. Via Settings

The easiest and fastest method to enable dark mode on Twitch is through its built-in settings. All you need to do is turn on the dark theme using the app’s browser settings.

1. Navigate to the Twitch web version, known as Twitch.tv.
2. Locate the profile icon from the top-right and click on it.
3. Now, you will see a menu.
4. Navigate to the Dark Theme section.
5. Toggle Dark Theme on by pressing on the button.
6. Your Twitch tab now runs in dark mode.

2. Activate the dark mode extension

Another quick way of accessing Twitch in dark mode is to simply activate an extension on your browser that will do the job for you.

2.1 For Chrome

If you are using Chrome, then the Dark Theme for Twitch extension will work just great. Once you added the extension to your browser, make sure to turn it on, and that’s all.

2.2 For Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla browser also offers a dark mode extension that you can add to the browser.

After enabling it, you will see that Twitch will be in dark mode and you can also use these settings for other websites if needed.

3. Use a browser with a built-in dark theme

Opera GX is a versatile and reliable browser that comes with a dark option theme incorporated that you can simply activate from settings.

After doing this, the entire Twitch website will be in dark mode and, of course, you can disable it anytime you want to.

Moreover, you also have the option to activate a Dark mode extension in the browser and achieve the same result.

The software also has Twitch and Discord integration, so you can keep up with your favorite streamers at all times.

Check out these other Opera GX amazing features:

Easy to use and user-friendly interface
Free VPN
Built-in AdBlocker

Opera GX

Customize your Twitch website aspect exactly how you prefer with this browser built for gamers.

Free Visit website

Can I change back to Light mode in Twitch?

Many users are wondering if changing to Dark mode on Twitch is permanent. If it’s happening to be in the same boat, you should know that you can easily switch back to the Light mode on Twitch.

The process is the one presented in method one. You’ll only have to access the Twitch menu and deactivate the Dark Theme.

We hope that you found all the information needed to enable Twitch dark mode in your browser in this short guide.

As you could see, there are several ways of doing that, and each of the presented solutions takes just a moment to implement.

Please let us know in the comments section below if you have additional recommendations or suggestions.

Check out the latest changes Microsoft brought to the cloud

Posted on August 30, 2022August 30, 2022 by Alexandru Poloboc

We know that a lot of you use cloud services, so we’re going to focus on this for a little bit and see what changes will impact this environment.

Now, Microsoft is altering its licensing agreements in the European Union (EU), and the company will try to make it easier for smaller cloud service providers to compete with the big players.

Let’s get right into it and discover everything that the Redmond tech giant plans to deliver to its customers in the future.

Microsoft to make European Cloud Providers more competitive

Just so you know, these changes will in fact make it simpler for customers of rival cloud-service companies in Europe to move their existing software to these other networks.

Thus, the new terms will also ensure that cloud partners have access to the products necessary to sell cost-effective solutions that customers want.

So, as a response to a three-year-old complaint, Microsoft has assured it would address its licensing terms in the European Union.

The revised licensing terms, which are applicable to partners and customers in the EU, as well as Microsoft’s customers around the world, will begin on October 1st, 2022.

The tech giant said the licensing terms have been modified in order to help these partners to be more competitive and grow their businesses.

As you would have imagined, these policies will also provide more flexibility for their customers, as the company stated.

In order to further explain what we are in store for, the three primary changes Microsoft is making to its licensing terms are:

Make it easier for customers to bring their software to the partner’s cloud
Ensure partners have access to the products necessary to sell cost-effective solutions that customers want
Empower partners to build hosted solutions with speed and scale

As we mentioned, these major revisions and upgrades to its outsourcing and hosting terms have been brought on majorly by complaints from Microsoft customers in Europe.

All the complaints collectively alleged Microsoft was making it prohibitively expensive to run Windows and Office workloads on non-Azure cloud platforms like AWS and Google Cloud.

Also worth mentioning is that the tech giant also quickly admitted the complaints were valid. That being said, Microsoft seemed to drag its feet when it came to actually amend the situation in any way.

Earlier this year, Microsoft said it would make it less expensive for customers to run Microsoft software like Windows, Windows Server, Office, and SQL Server on non-Microsoft cloud platforms in the EU.

And, since we’re talking about Microsoft, be sure to also read up on the SEABORGIUM phishing campaign going on right now.

If you are into gaming, catch up with what’s happening in the gaming market, and remember that Windows 12 is allegedly already on the way.

What is your opinion on this situation? Share your thoughts and opinions with us in the comments section below.

How to Sync Folders Between PCs on Windows 10

Posted on August 30, 2022October 4, 2023 by Teodor Nechita

Those who work on a PC probably know what’s it like to switch between computers and set up a new laptop from scratch or use two computers: your main desktop and a travel laptop in order to work on the road or remotely.

You’re also probably familiar with the frustration caused by realizing that you don’t have the exact same data and software on both PC, especially when you work on one device more on the other.

That’s precisely why we’ve written this detailed article where we show how you can sync your data between multiple Windows PCs and even move all your software and settings in a quick and easy way.

How can I sync folders between computers in Windows 10?

1. Sync folders over the network

An easy method to sync a folder between two different computers that run the Windows 10 OS is to do it via the network. For this, you need a good internet connection.

1. Locate the folder that you want to sync.
2. Right-click it and select Properties from the list of options.
3. Navigate to the Sharing tab, then select Advanced sharing.
4. Check the box next to Share this folder.
5. Click on permissions so that you can set up your share permissions.
6. Press on OK to confirm the changes.
7. Open your other computer.
8. Press Windows + R to open the Run console.
9. Type in the following, but replace the computername with the name of the computer where you have created the shared folder:\computername

You can also simply type in the internal IP address of the computer.

While this method is great for quick updates and syncs between folders, it doesn’t work for data such as user customizations and settings.

It also can’t help you if you want to copy your installed software from one Windows computer to another. For that, you’ll need third-party software.

2. Sync folders and migrate data with FastMove

If syncing folders isn’t the only thing you have on your mind and you also need a fast and efficient way of migrating the entire contents of a PC in one simple move, then we recommend trying out a data migration tool.

There are a few of them on the market, which makes choosing the absolute best quite difficult, especially if you don’t know exactly what criteria to take in mind.

We’ve decided to help you make the right choice by recommending FastMove – an excellent all-in-one data migration program. What makes FastMove special is that it’s the only software of the kind that includes a folder sync feature that works both online and offline.

With FastMove you can move installed programs, and complete user profiles with all their settings and customizations, files, folders, and even device drivers. You can do all that over a network, offline using a local folder, or offline with the help of a data cable.

Syncing folders with FastMove can be done far faster than using Windows native method thanks to the dedicated Sync Folders tool designed specifically for this particular job.

Here’s how you can use FastMove to keep your data folders in sync between PCs:

Select two locations.
- They can be on two different computers, on the same computer, on your PC, and your external HDD, etc.
Let FastMove scan them and find which files are different or missing from one location.
Select the files you want to copy between the two folders and launch the sync.

The process is really simple and works fast. If you’re using online sync, the actual speed will depend on your network speed and stability. You can also sync folders in an offline mode using a data cable.

As we’ve mentioned above, FastMove is not just a folder sync app. It’s a great program for those who need to move all kinds of data between Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 PCs in one go.

FastMove

The folders you have on your secondary Pc will be the same as the ones on your primary one. Get FastMove today!

Check price Visit website

3. Sync folders using cloud services

While not specifically designed for this particular task, cloud storage services can all be used as a workaround method for syncing data between multiple PCs.

In fact, it doesn’t even matter if the cloud service that you are using has a downloadable client or not.

Here’s what you need to do in order to sync folders:

Log into both PCs using the same cloud account.
If the service has a downloadable client, add whatever folders you need to share in the client’s shared space on your primary PC.
Access the shared space from the secondary PC.

If you’re looking for efficient cloud service tools to try out, know that there are plenty to choose from, and many even offer free plans.

These future-oriented cloud storage apps will offer a positive impact on keeping data safe, backup essential files, or encrypting important information.

This concludes our list of methods through which you can sync folders between computers.

If you know of any other method that we may have missed out on, let us know by leaving a reply in the comments section below, and we’ll update the article accordingly.

Microsoft launches Adoption Score to help customers optimize Microsoft 365 subscriptions

Posted on August 30, 2022 by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has released Adoption Score, a tool designed to assist both Microsoft 365 admins and IT leaders enhance their productivity with Microsoft 365. The tool replaces the Productivity Score dashboards and unpacks a ton of features and controls that will in turn enhance effectiveness and efficiency.

According to Microsoft:

The anonymized metrics in Adoption Score help IT admins understand and optimize Microsoft 365 usage patterns in support of their digital transformation journey. The new name reflects the new product truth and provides clearer differentiation from other solutions that offer insights for business leaders and managers.

Microsoft further indicated that they will be rolling out additional new functionality to the tool with the aim of ensuring that organizations make the most out of their Microsoft 365, simultaneously ensuring that they do not break their commitment to user-level privacy. We saw Microsoft make some privacy changes to its Productivity Score software amid the COVID-19 pandemic because of the rising concerns that termed the tool “a full-fledged workplace surveillance tool”.

Time Trends will also be part of the Adoption Score Tool, which will help admins decipher admins understand historical insights data across the organization. “Time Trends is added to each people experience category across Content Collaboration, Meetings, Teamwork, Mobility and Communication, and extends organizational trend data from 28 days up to 180 days”. “IT admins can now understand how a particular behavior or insight, such as the response rate for new emails with @mentions, has evolved over the last 30, 90 or 180 days”. By monitoring @mentions, admins will be able to analyze and understand trends, ultimately helping them see whether they are close to achieving set goals or not.

The Adoption Score tool is available as part of users’ existing commercial Microsoft 365 subscriptions. As for Global admins, they can access the new tool via the Microsoft 365 admin center. They will also need to approve both Adoption Score and the people experiences category to access Time trend data.

How to Disable Cortana’s Web Search in Windows 10

Posted on August 30, 2022October 4, 2023 by Matthew Adams

Cortana mixes its web search with its file search. Thus, when you enter a keyword in the search box, Cortana will throw up both matching files and Bing web search suggestions.

Some users preferred to disable Cortana‘s Bing web search with the Group Policy Editor settings in Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise.

However, the April 2018 Update broke the Do not allow web search Group Policy setting for Windows 10 Pro uses.

Although that option still works for Enterprise users, selecting Do not allow web search in Windows 10 Pro doesn’t switch off Cortana‘s Bing search after the April 2018 Update.

This is how you can still block the Cortana web searches in Windows 10 Pro and other editions that don’t include the Group Policy Editor.

How can I disable Cortana web searches on Windows 10?

Edit the Registry
Turn Off Bing Web Searches With WinAero Tweaker

1. Edit the Registry

Managing Cortana web searches in the Registry Editor is very easy and can be done by anyone. Firstly, you need to create BingSearchEnabled, CortanaConsent, and AllowSearchToUseLocation DWORDs in your Registry.

After, enter 1 in both their Value data boxes to enable the Cortana web search, while a 0 data value for the BingSearchEnabled and the AllowSearchToUseLocation DWORDs turns off the Cortana web search.

1. Open Run by pressing the Windows key + X hotkey and selecting Run.
2. Enter regedit in Run to open the Registry Editor.
3. Then open this key path in the Registry Editor: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search.
4. Right-click an empty space on the right of the window and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Then enter BingSearchEnabled for the DWORD name.
5. Select DWORD (32-bit) Value on the context menu again to set up a new AllowSearchToUseLocation DWORD.
6. Choose a DWORD (32-bit) Value to set up a CortanaConsent DWORD if the registry does not already include that DWORD value.
7. Then you should have two or three new DWORD values in the Search key as shown directly below.
8. Double-click those DWORDs one by one to open their Edit DWORD windows.
9. The BingSearchEnabled and AllowSearchToUseLocation DWORDs turn off Cortana‘s web search when you configure their value data to 0 (which is the default value).
10. If you ever want to enable Cortana’s web search back on, enter 1 in their Value data boxes.

2. Turn Off Bing Web Searches With WinAero Tweaker

WinAero Tweaker is a great freeware customization program for Windows 10, 8 and 7. That program includes a Disable web search in taskbar and Cortana option that you can select to turn off the Bing web search. So instead of editing the registry as outlined above, you can select that WinAero Tweaker option as follows.

Navigate to the WinAero Tweaker download page to save the software’s ZIP to Windows.
Open the WinAero Tweaker ZIP in File Explorer.
Press the Extract all button to open the window shown below.
Press the Browse button to choose a folder path to extract WinAero Tweaker to.
Then press the Extract button.
Open the WinAero Tweaker setup wizard from the extracted folder to install the software.
Open the WinAero Tweaker window.
Expand the Desktop and Taskbar categories in the WinAero Tweaker window.
Click Disable Web Search on the left of the window to open the option below.
Then select the Disable web search in the taskbar and Cortana option.

Microsoft might bring out an update sometime that fixes the Do not allow web search Group Policy option in Windows 10 Pro. However, for now, you can block Cortana‘s web searches with WinAero Tweaker or by manually editing the registry.

We hope that this article helped you. If you have any questions, write them in the comments section below.

Microsoft applies for US Trademark for XCLOUD

Posted on August 30, 2022 by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has applied for a US trademark for XCLOUD, the former code name for what’s now known as Xbox Cloud Gaming. As spotted by @ALumia_Italia, Microsoft filed for the trademark last week:

New Microsoft Trademark: XCloud https://t.co/zZZ7rZbxlj pic.twitter.com/xodWvPYL1I

— Aggiornamenti Lumia (@ALumia_Italia) August 28, 2022

For those who don’t know, Xbox Cloud Gaming is Microsoft’s Netflix-like video gaming streaming platform that incorporates Xbox game pass ultimate. The service allows users to play dozens of games on smart devices like smartphones using a gamepad for a subscription price of $15 per month.

Will Microsoft use the XCLOUD name in the future?

When you compare the XCLOUD and Xbox Cloud gaming keywords in google trends software, you see that the searches for the XCLOUD are still very high but there is already a gap compared to Xbox Cloud Gaming. While it’s possible that the company may want to go back to using XCloud, what’s more likely is that this is a defensive move, protecting the mark while continuing to build on the marketing that’s accompanied the use of Xbox Cloud Gaming.

For more latest and exclusive tech news updates follow us on Google News.

How to Fix Your Laptop Wi-Fi Adapter if It’s Disabled & Hidden

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

Encountering the issue of a disabled laptop Wi-Fi adapter can be pretty infuriating, just like it was for other users.

This issue is more prominent amongst Windows 10 users, and many have complained about the same problems. However, the Wi-Fi adapter can be disabled automatically on Windows 11 also.

Most users complain that the issue began shortly after updating their Windows, and they find it challenging to use their Wi-Fi.

Since the Wi-Fi adapter houses the drivers that help the Wi-Fi function effectively, this issue can prevent your access to the internet, especially for users who rely on a wireless connection for their daily activities.

Hence, this guide will explain the causes and possible solutions to fix the problem.

Why is my Wi-Fi adapter disabled on my laptop?

Outdated/missing drivers: If the network adapter driver is obsolete, it could easily malfunction, leading to this issue. Often, an outdated driver will alter the performance of the Wi-Fi. So, apart from missing, it could also cause a problem with the Wi-Fi not connecting or working.
Hidden in Device Manager: It isn’t uncommon for drivers to be hidden in Device Manager. Once there is a mix-up in the settings, your Wi-Fi Adapter could be hiding in the Device Manager. Hence, you won’t be able to access it until it is made visible.
Power management issues: Your laptop follows a strict power management approach to save backup for longer. This could have turned off or disabled the Wi-Fi Network Adapter. Hence, the reason you couldn’t access it.
Damaged NIC card hardware: If the NIC card hardware is damaged or faulty, this can cause the laptop Wi-Fi adapter to be disabled.

How do I fix my Wi-Fi adapter if disabled?

1. Update the Wireless Adapter driver

Press the Windows + R keys, input the devmgmt.msc, and click OK.
Locate the Network Adapters and expand them.
Select your driver and right-click on it, then choose Update driver.
Choose Search automatically for drivers.
Restart your PC to take effect.

2. Unhide devices and drivers

Press the Windows + R keys, input the devmgmt.msc, and click OK.
Click the View tab and select show hidden devices.
Click the Network Adapter option.
Choose the Action tab and scan for hardware changes.
Expand the Network Adapters and locate your wireless driver.

If the cause of the problem is the hidden drivers in the Device Manager, by doing this, it should be fixed. Also, you can check the device status under the general tab.

3. Reset Winsock from CMD

Press the Windows + R keys, input CMD, and launch it.
Input the following command and press Enter: nets win sock reset
Close the Command Prompt and restart your PC.

Using commands to fix the issue might be a worthy alternative forcefully. Unfortunately, since Winsock defines how Windows networks interact with network services, its data can be wrong.

4. Adjust Power Management settings

Press the Windows + R keys, input devmgmt.msc, and launch it.
Right-click the Network Adapter and select Properties.
Choose the Power Management tab.
Uncheck the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

Hence, the laptop will stop distracting the Network adapter’s performance when there are power issues.

5. Run the Network Troubleshooter

Click the Start button, input the Control Panel, and launch it.
Choose Network and Internet and select Network and Sharing Center.
Hit the Change adapter settings on the left pane.
Select your Wireless Adapter, right-click on it and choose Diagnose.
If there are issues, follow the prompts to fix them.

This Is an effective solution for Dell/HP/Lenovo/Surface/Asus laptops’ Wi-Fi adapter disabled problem. It will help diagnose and fix it in no time.

6. Reset the Network

Press the Windows + I keys to launch the Settings app.
Choose the Network & Internet option.
Select Network reset on the right pane and click on Reset now.
Your PC will be restarted automatically after this.

7. Repair NIC card

If none of the options above have worked for you, there is an issue with the NIC card hardware. Hence, you may need to repair or buy a new one to replace it.

What does it mean when a Wi-Fi network is disabled?

When the Wi-Fi network is disabled, you cannot use it. The issue could be that the device is turned off and unavailable. Also, the device won’t be able to connect via a wireless connection to any network.

Hence, you cannot use the Wi-Fi network until it is enabled. As earlier stated, the causes of this can be down to multiple reasons.

These are the most effective troubleshooting fixes if the Wi-Fi adapter is disabled automatically on Windows 10/11. Hence, ensure to follow the steps precisely for optimal results.

Further, if Wi-Fi is not working on your laptop but your phone, check out our guide to fix it. Also, our article on setting slow Wi-Fi connections on your computer can be pretty helpful if your Wi-Fi is slow.

In conclusion, if your Windows 10/11 device can not find a Wi-Fi network, it might be best to consider our step-by-step guide.

If this guide has been helpful to you, kindly leave your comments and suggestions below. We’d like to hear feedback from you.

How to Link your Arc Games Account to your Xbox One or PS4

Posted on August 30, 2022October 4, 2023 by Vladimir Popescu

If you want to link your Arc Games account to your Xbox One or PS4 account, you have found the right guide.

Being able to have your accounts connected across platforms can help make the entire process of keeping the settings up to date a lot easier.

It is worth noting that even though this enables easier management of settings, the characters you were using on your Arc Games account will not be ported to your Xbox One or PS4 platform.

If you don’t find this to be problematic, then read on to find out how you can link your Arc Games account to your Xbox One or PS4 accounts.

Note: If you perform the link between your console and Arc accounts by using the Neverwinter game, you will also get a bonus and exclusive companion named Renegade Illusionist as a reward.

How can I link my Arc Games account to Xbox or PS4 consoles?

1. Open a game for the first time on your Xbox One/PS4 console. In case you skipped the initial linking window, you can still choose to do it later by clicking Link Account inside the game’s Options menu.
2. A splash screen will appear that will ask if you would like to link your Arc account to your Xbox Live/PSN accounts.
3. Press the Y button (Xbox) or the Green Triangle button (PS4) to open the browser.
4. This webpage will allow you to log into your Arc account, or create a new account.
5. Once your account is registered, and you’ve signed in successfully, tick the box next to the option Link your Arc Account to your Xbox Live Gamertag or PSN user name.
6. Once this process is completed, your accounts are linked and you can enjoy the benefits of this.

It is very easy to link your Arc Games account to your gaming console account, no matter whether it is an Xbox or a PS4 one. All you need to do is open one of the games you have on them and click on the option that allows you to link the accounts. After, all that remains is for you to follow the on-screen instructions.

Some of the perks of having your accounts linked is receiving exclusive content in-game, that cannot be obtained in any other way.

For example, in Neverwinter, once this process is completed, you will be able to claim the Renegade Illusionist from the Rewards Agent in the Protectors Encvale after completing the quest Rags to Riches. This quest comes immediately after the tutorial.

In today’s guide, we explored the best and fastest way of connecting your Arc Games account to your Xbox One or PS4 console.

You need to understand that your character from the Arc Games or any of the console accounts will not be ported once you connect the profiles.

Please feel free to let us know if this guide has proven useful to you. You can do so by using the comment section below this article.

How to Change the Scrollbar Width and Height in Windows 10

Posted on August 30, 2022October 4, 2023 by Ivan Jenic

Changing the scrollbar width or height in Windows 10 can be done very quickly without requiring somebody to have a lot of tech knowledge.

If you increase the width or height of the scrollbar, then every time you scroll with your Windows 10 tablet or Laptop through the content of a folder or web page, it will appear on the right side of the screen or on the left and will show a bigger or smaller scrollbar depending on what changes you apply.

Increasing the scrollbar width/height on Windows 10 PCs or tablets has been an issue for many Windows 10 users.

Although you can do it very quickly, this feature is a bit tricky to get to, but we will see below in a short and very easy-to-do tutorial on how we can change the width/height of the scrollbar in Windows 10.

How can I change the width and height of the scrollbar in Windows 10?

1. Press and hold the Windows and the R buttons at the same time on your keyboard. This is a shortcut for opening the Run dialog.
2. When the Run window pops up, type in the command regedit and press Enter to run it.
3. If you get a message from UAC (User Account Controls), then click on Yes.
4. Now you should have in front of you the Registry Editor window.
5. Click on HKEY_CURRENT_USER, which is situated on the right side of the window.
6. Under the HKEY_CURRENT_USER folder, click on Control Panel.
7. Under the Control Panel folder, click on Desktop.
8. Under the Desktop folder, click on WindowsMetrics.
9. The full path above should look like this : HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelDesktopWindowMetrics.
10. Now, in the right panel, you should have there ScrollHeight. Double-click on it.
11. A window named Edit DWORD should appear.
12. In the field that says Value Data, there should be the value -255. This is the default value.
13. Change this value so that the height of the scrollbar increases or decreases. The values that you can enter can go up to 1500, this will increase the height of the scrollbar to the maximum. What you input depends on you as how much you want to increase the height of the scrollbar on your device.

If you enter for example in that field 600, it will increase your height of the scrollbar to about double its current size.
14. For increasing the width of the scrollbar double click on ScrollWidth, which is on the right side panel in WindowMetrics.
15. Now in the EDIT DWORD window, put the same data value you entered in the ScrollHeight and click on OK when you finish.
16. In order for the changes to take effect in Windows 10, you will have to reboot and sign in again into your user account.

The scrollbar’s width and height on Windows 10 PCs can be easily modified via the Registry Editor. After you access it through the Run dialog, all you need to do is navigate to the DWORDs that are responsible for modifying the scrollbar’s size, and tailor them to your liking.

If you managed to change these parameters without any problem, you may want to do more things with your scrollbars, and we have just the proper guides for you. Your primary approach should be to have the Windows 11 scrollbar always show up.

You may be one of the users that want to reverse its direction as it is known that many people are used to scrolling down in order to get to the top of the page.

If you are interested in this particular manipulation, we have a complete step-by-step guide to help you reverse the scrolling direction on Windows 10.

This is it, now you can see how easy it is to change the height and width of the scrollbar in Windows 10, please write us below for any input on the subject, and best of luck with using it.

Microsoft To Do rolls out to Outlook for Windows

Posted on August 30, 2022 by Radu Tyrsina

Microsoft has just announced that it is rolling out Microsoft To Do to Outlook for Windows. This means that users can get more productive by staying on top of their To Do tasks and planning your day right from Outlook for Windows. For those not familiar with Microsoft To Do, you can check out our insightful piece that will help you get started.

Here’s a glimpse of the Microsoft To Do and Outlook for Windows for the Current Channel users (starting with Current Channel version 2207) integration.

This integration adds a new feature that lets users view their flagged emails in Outlook in the Flagged email list of the To-Do app directly.

You will be able to get a snippet of the email, but if you want the full details you will have to open it in Outlook. The feature should be on by default, but if it is not available navigate through To Do Settings > Connected Apps > Turn on Flagged email to enable it.

Besides all this, the integration will allow users to find all the assigned tasks from Planner as well as shared lists, right in the Assigned to me list. It also comes with a dark theme to enhance readability that can easily be set by changing your Outlook theme to dark. Microsoft To Do is available to Microsoft 365 Current Channel users running the following versions of Outlook for Windows:

Current Channel Version 2201 (Build 14827.20000) or later: Available by turning on the Coming Soon toggle.

Current Channel Version 2207 (Build 15427.20000) or later: Available by default. (Feature rollout is still in progress. Some users may still need to turn on the Coming Soon toggle until the feature has fully rolled out).

However, if you have an eligible Microsoft 365 subscription and user license for the Microsoft To Do app, “you will be able to easily access To Do alongside the main Outlook functions such as email and calendar which are now displayed vertically to the left of the folder pane.,” explains Microsoft.

In other related news, Microsoft To Do on Android recently got a new rich text editor as well as new ways to customize the widget. And finally, Marvel’s She-Hulk theme is now available for both Android and iOS users.

Microsoft addresses anti-competitive cloud licensing, but only in certain regions

Posted on August 30, 2022 by Kareem Anderson

European Union cloud users are getting a bit of reprieve from Microsoft’s draconian-like licensing terms that many have claim tether the line of anti-competitive practices.

Earlier this week, Microsoft announced the changes to its EU cloud licensing structure via a blog post titled Making European Cloud Providers More Competitive, wherein the company lays out its three primary goals to assist customers in their flexibility of choice for cloud service products, and presumably, avoiding another anti-competitive strike from the EU in the process.

According to Microsoft, on October 1, 2022, EU partners and their customers should see the following:

Make it easier for customers to bring their software to the partner’s cloud
Ensure partners have access to the products necessary to sell cost-effective solutions that customers want
Empower partners to build hosted solutions with speed and scale

Microsoft gets into the nitty gritty of the licensing terms on another post via its Licensing blog that includes information regarding new flexible virtualization, options for Software Assurance or subscription licenses to license Windows Server on virtual core basis and one- and three-year subscription choices for several products.

We’ll introduce a new Flexible Virtualization benefit for customers that will greatly expand customer choice when outsourcing. Under this benefit, customers with Software Assurance or subscription licenses will be able to use their own licensed software to build and/or install solutions and run them on any cloud provider’s¹ infrastructure—dedicated or shared. This will give customers more flexibility to run their software on multitenant clouds. This benefit will be available beginning October 1.
We’re adding the option for customers with Software Assurance or subscription licenses to license Windows Server on a virtual core basis. Under this model, customers can buy licenses for only the virtual cores they need (subject to a per VM minimum), without being tied to a physical number of cores on the server. With the virtual core licensing option, customers can license Windows Server by the number of virtual cores they are using in virtual machines, making Windows Server easier to license when virtualizing or outsourcing.
We’re making it easier to virtualize Windows 10 or Windows 11 by eliminating the Virtual Desktop Application (VDA) add-on license requirement for Microsoft 365 F3, Microsoft 365 E3, and Microsoft 365 E5 users who want to virtualize Windows 10 or Windows 11 on servers and don’t have a primary Windows Pro device.
Under the new Flexible Virtualization benefit, customers can work with partners in the Cloud Solution Provider program to get pre-built hosted desktop and server solutions and either bring their own license or get the license from the partner. A Microsoft Customer Agreement with the participating partner and proof of license will be required to run these hosted solutions.
Customers will have the choice of one- and three-year subscriptions for many products including Windows Server, Remote Desktop Services (RDS), and SQL Server, through partners in the Cloud Solution Provider program, to offer price stability with long-term subscriptions.

The changes come as three years of disgruntled customer experiences began to boil over after Microsoft’s 2019 license overhaul that raised prices across its cloud services portfolio while simultaneously building in discounts for first party integrations.

For the past three years, many partners and customers have complained that the 2019 licensing overhaul was a thinly veiled shift towards “tying” and thus ultimately an anti-competitive decision that heavily disincentives users in choosing AWS or Google Cloud while also running Office or Windows workloads.

In April 2022, Microsoft President and vice chair Brad Smith finally acknowledge the growing concerns over the company’s erratic and prohibitive licensing by saying, “there definitely are some valid concerns, it’s very important for us to learn more and then make some changes.”

Over the next two months leading up to the official licensing changes proposed by Microsoft, the company will also be addressing its outsourcing and hosting terms to more fairly compete with competing cloud platform pricing and services.

It should be noted that the October 1, 2022 due date for licensing changes only apply to the EU and do not address the concerns raised by US-based partners and customers who have raised similar alarms as the EU over the past three years.

Valorant is Not Working on Windows 11: Why & How to Fix it

Posted on August 30, 2022October 13, 2025 by Vladimir Popescu

Is Valorant not opening on your Windows 11 device? Then, this might be the result of a Valorant bug attacking your operating system.

Several people have also tried to install the game onto their devices. This is despite the game developers categorically indicating that you need the TPM 2.0 feature to play the game on Windows 11.

Remember that gamers cannot enjoy Valorant on unsupported Windows 11 devices, especially if they do not meet the set system requirements. Therefore, the absence of either one of these features might prevent Valorant from opening.

This article will address this problem in-depth and give you the best solution.

Why can’t I play Valorant on Windows 11?

Valorant is a relatively new game in the market. Therefore, there is no clear explanation for why some people face challenges while trying to open it.

However, the issue might occur because some of its main features are still in beta. As a result, gamers experience some glitches, ultimately disrupting gameplay.

There might be instances where your device cannot launch Valorant despite meeting Windows 11’s system requirements. Here are some of the most important:

Minor bug during game launch – This includes using a device that is not eligible to play the game, software glitches such as using outdated graphics drivers, and incorrect installation practices. It often leads to Valorant Error code 59.
Secure boot is off – The Valorant anti-cheating system depends on Secure boot and it can cause additional problems. We have a guide on how to resolve VAN9003 error in Valorant on Windows 11, so don’t miss it.
Overclocking graphics card – Pushing the system to the limit can trigger many unexpected events and even prevent Valorant from opening.
Logging into multiple devices with the same account – This issue can occur with any game, not Valorant, so you should check the devices you use.
Background apps – Some apps running in the background might block Valorant from opening.

We have solutions for all the problems above, so you can proceed and use the methods listed below to fix the issue.

How do I fix Valorant not working in Windows 11?

1. Run the game in compatibility mode

In the following guide, we’ll show you how to run the game in compatibility mode and quickly fix Valorant not working on Windows 11 devices.

1. Right-click Valorant and choose Properties.
2. Under the Compatibility tab, tick the box of Run this program in compatibility mode, then choose an older OS.
3. Click the drop-down list and choose an older version of Windows.
4. Click on OK to save the changes.

Updating Windows can prevent you from running Valorant on your system or even cause a compatibility error, ultimately derailing your efforts to play the game.

In such a situation, try to run the game in compatibility mode and check whether you can resolve the issue.

2. Update your graphics card driver

Launch Device Manager by searching for it on the search bar.
Expand Display adapters by clicking the toggle.
Right-click the GPU driver, and choose Scan for hardware changes.
Let Windows automatically search for the latest driver for GPU and install it on your PC.

If your device operates on an outdated graphics card driver, it may prevent the Valorant game from launching. Therefore you will need to update your graphics card driver.

Keeping your graphics drivers up to date can also help you prevent other game issues like a critical error that has occurred in Valorant; read this guide to learn more about it.

To ensure a faster resolution when it comes to drivers, you can use a dedicated tool such as Outbyte Driver Updater to keep your drivers updated automatically.

⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

3. Run the game as an administrator

3.1 Try running the game with administrator rights

Right-click the Valorant icon and choose Run as administrator.
See if the game runs with this option activated. If it does, close it and set admin settings permanently by following the next step.

3.2 Set permanent administrator settings for this game

Right-click the executable file and choose Properties.
Click the Compatibility tab.
Check the box of Run this program as an administrator.
Press OK.

Another workaround would be trying to run the game with administrator privileges, and then attempting to open the game once more.

NOTE

If this method works for you, you must set up Valorant, which always runs with administrative rights.

4. Close all Riot-related processes

Launch Task Manager in Windows 11 by typing Task Manager into the search box and clicking the result.
Under the Processes tab, find Riot processes (usually have a Valorant or Riot logo), click one and choose End task.

If one of the Riot processes is not working correctly, then that may be why Valorant is not opening. However, closing the processes might help you resolve the issue.

5. Update your OS

Press the Win + X key combination, and choose Settings.
Choose the Windows Update button from the left pane.
Click the Check for updates button and wait for Windows to check/install them.

Now open the game and verify that the problem of Valorant not opening in Windows 11 is resolved.

6. Reinstall Valorant

Click the Search button, type in control, and open the Control Panel.
Click on Programs.
Then, click on Programs and Features.
Select the game and click on Uninstall.

In case you are not able to uninstall the game, try using the methods mentioned in this guide to fix the Valorant not working issue.

If you have tried the above methods and none have worked, you can try installing the game on your device again. An error could have possibly occurred while you were establishing the game initially.

Once uninstalling the game, visit its official website and download its latest version. Then, reinstall the game on your device and check whether you can now open the game successfully.

Riot Games updated their Vanguard anti-cheat system, heavily dependent on the Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 features exclusively available on Windows 11.

This move ensures that gamers do not try to cheat the hardware or device ID if they have already been banned from accessing this game.

Besides, Trusted Platform Module 2 (TPM 2) and Secure Boot are all about security. This means they cannot use a new device ID instead of its original identification that was already banned from accessing the game.

However, the ban does not apply to Windows 10 users, who can still run Valorant on their devices despite the absence of Secure Boot and the TPM 2.0 feature.

How do I fix Valorant crashes on Windows 11?

When you receive the Unable to Start Correctly error, it simply means that Valorant cannot start properly.

One of the most straightforward fixes you could implement in such a situation would be to restart the device. After applying this solution, then check whether the issue has been remedied.

Users should try this several times and let the game start from scratch. Ideally, this is supposed to let you open the game properly. Moreover, it could also present another error leading to a proper fix.

This will allow all your programs to get a fresh start, install any pending updates, and even remove any potential blocks preventing Valorant from running correctly. Furthermore, it will help you clear any issues with the Vanguard anti-cheat software.

We suggest running the games as an administrator and in compatibility mode.

Now let us see detailed solutions to Valorant not opening in Windows 11.

Why is Valorant not responding?

If the game is not responding, it could be because of any of the following:

Conflicts between Windows and Valorant
An old OS and outdated graphics card driver
Secure boot is disabled
Faulty game installation or damaged game files
Apps running in the background

It will most likely respond after using the solutions mentioned in this guide. However, you must note that Valorant heavily depends on Windows 11’s system requirements, specifically the TPM 2.0 feature, because of the hardware and security-related actions.

By complying with the system requirements, you can avoid errors, including the Windows 11 Valorant TPM error.

The feature in Windows 11 provides users with an extra layer of security. For more information about the TPM 2.0 feature, look at our TPM 1.2 vs. 2.0 guide.

Also, check out these great VPNs for Valorant to fix lag and reduce ping. Our top suggestions won’t disappoint you since they can automatically detect the best server to decrease latency.

Before you leave, don’t miss our guide on VAN error 1067 in Valorant on Windows 11, since it can provide you with more useful information.

We hope you were finally able to fix the issue of Valorant not opening in Windows 11. Which of the above methods helped you resolve the problem? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section.

Windows Defender Firewall Can’t Change Some of Your Settings

Posted on August 30, 2022October 4, 2023 by Andrew Wafer

You probably got a message that reads Windows defender firewall can’t change some of your settings. So let us show you all you must know.

Along with Windows Defender, the built-in Microsoft security solution, the Windows Firewall is an essential feature that can protect your computer against malware or virus attacks.

Thus, you have all the reasons for being worried when receiving error messages related to the Windows Firewall functionality.

However, it would help if you didn’t panic, as you can always fix system errors by applying the right troubleshooting solutions.

So, in our case, we will detail the methods that should be applied when the Windows Firewall can’t change some of your settings.

The reasons why this message appears can vary from one situation to another. Therefore, the guidelines below will try to find a fix for each situation.

Why can’t the Windows Defender firewall change settings error appear?

There are a few reasons why a user may experience this error in Windows OS. First, this error could occur if Windows does not have one of its necessary services operating.

Conversely, this problem may also be brought on by a deactivated BITS (Background Intelligent Transfer Service). Therefore, the Background Intelligent Transfer Service must be in a functional condition.

Other common reasons include:

Firewall managed by third-party software
Corrupted Windows Files
Zero access rootkit infection

Most common variations of this error

This error could come in any of the following forms:

Windows firewall can’t change some of your settings 0x800706d9 – Simply said, it indicates that Windows Firewall must be enabled.
Your Windows firewall can’t change some of your settings 0x80070422 – A corrupt user profile might be the issue. Your profile may get damaged for various reasons, but you may create a fresh profile.
Windows defender firewall can’t change some of your settings group policy – It is most likely because the domain controller’s Group Policy Object has made it impossible to alter these settings.
Windows could not start the windows defender firewall service on the local computer – The likelihood is that your Firewall is contaminated. However, it might only indicate that you terminated the Firewall services and that you must restart them to make changes to their settings.

Now let us look at some of the best resolutions for these errors.

How do you fix Windows Defender Firewall can’t change some of your settings?

1. Enable Windows Firewall services

Click on the Cortana icon (it will launch the Windows search engine).
In the Search field, type services, right-click on the first result with the same name, then pick Run as administrator.
From Services, scroll down and find the Windows Firewall entry.
Go to the General tab and change the Startup type to Automatic.
Save these changes.
Then, right-click on the Windows Firewall service and choose Start.
Close the Services window and reboot your computer.

If the Windows firewall fails to launch at start-up, you will receive the Windows Firewall can’t change some of your settings error message.

2. Apply any pending updates

Press the Win + I keyboard hotkeys.
From System, Settings, choose Update & Security.
From the left side of the main window, go to Windows update.
If there is an update patch waiting for your approval, apply it.
Then, reboot your computer and check if the Windows Firewall can’t change some of your setting’s error message is still there or not.

If your Windows system is not updated correctly, you might experience Windows Firewall problems. You may want to explore the Microsoft list of updates and ensure you are current.

3. Reset Windows Update Components

Right-click on the Windows Start button.
From the list, choose Command Prompt (Admin).
Now type in the commands below, hitting Enter after each one.
netsh advfirewall reset
net start mpsdrv
net start bfe
net start mpssvc
regsvr32 firewallapi.dll

When done, close the cmd window and restart your computer.

4. Configure Background Intelligence Transfer Service

Click on the Cortana icon (it will launch the Windows search engine).
In the Search field, type services, right-click on the first result with the same name, then pick Run as administrator.
Scroll down and find the Background Intelligent Transfer Service entry.
If this feature is disabled, double-click on it, and modify the Startup type to Manual.
Then, click on the Start button beneath Service Status.
Restart your Windows 10 system.

5. Disable third-party antivirus software

In some situations, Windows Defender might not run properly if another third-party antivirus program is on the computer. In addition, conflicts between built-in and third-party programs might cause the Windows Firewall to malfunction.

So, to eliminate the Windows Firewall that can’t change some of your setting’s error messages, you should disable this third-party antivirus software.

You can choose to disable them or to uninstall the programs entirely temporarily. If afterward Firewall works correctly, it means that you found the problem.

If not, you should disable Windows Defender and reinstall your third-party antivirus program, as your Windows 10 system might have viruses or malware.

Keep in mind that not all antivirus software is compatible with Windows. Check out this list of the best antivirus tools compatible with Windows 10.

6. Run a security scan and remove the infected files

Press the Win + R keyboard hotkeys.
In the Run box, type msconfig and press Enter.
From System Configuration, switch to the Boot tab; under Boot Options, select the Safe Boot checkbox and the Network option from beneath.
Save your changes when done, and reboot your computer.
In safe mode, launch the antivirus program and initiate a full scan.
In the end, complete the removal process – reinitiate a scan to ensure all infected files were successfully deleted.

If you cannot fix the issue with the help of the already explained guidelines, you should consider initiating a security scan on your Windows 10 device.

It would help if you did that because your computer might have a virus or malware. And that should be the reason for the Windows Firewall can’t change some of your settings error message.

First, make sure you use a trustful antivirus or antimalware program. In a dedicated review, we already discussed the best antivirus programs on the Windows OS as an alternative to the built-in Windows Defender solution.

However, if you are still using Microsoft’s default security features, the troubleshooting solutions explained above should help you fix the Windows Firewall can’t change some of your settings error message.

If you have questions or if you need our further assistance, don’t hesitate and get in touch with our team. Then, based on the info you provide, we will try to find the perfect solutions for your problems.

How to archive Outlook mails

Posted on August 30, 2022July 3, 2024 by Radu Tyrsina

Archiving your emails helps you save your emails and their data for later use. It also makes it easy to quickly look up your files when you need to find them. Additionally, it can also come in handy in abrupt data losses where you might otherwise end up losing your critical information.

It makes sense, then, to archive your emails regularly. This article looks at how you can do that without any hassles. So let’s dive right in.

How to archive Outlook emails

Before you begin to archive your Outlook emails, it’s essential to understand that moving your Outlook emails to archived emails is different for different Outlook setups.

For instance, if you’re using Outlook Web you’ll simply move your emails from your inbox to the Archive mailbox. On the other hand, if you’re on the Outlook desktop app, archiving your emails can also be about moving your emails from the mail inbox folder to the Archive folder. So let’s look at both procedures.

How to archive emails on Outlook desktop

To archive your emails on Outlook desktop, you can use the AutoArchive feature in the Outlook app. Made available for free from Outlook, when you’ve enabled this feature, your emails will be archived automatically after a specified period of time. Pretty handy, right? Here’s how you can set up this feature:

Open the Outlook app and select the File option.
Click on Options > Advanced.
Look up the AutoArchive feature and click on the AutoArchive Settings feature when you find it.
Select the Run AutoArchive every radio box and choose how often the AutoArchive feature should run.
From the Default folder settings for archiving section, choose when your Outlook emails should be archived.
Click on Browse and choose a destination for archiving your folder.
Click on OK to save your changes.

That’s it — your Outlook emails will be archived as per your specified settings. If you want to disable the Outlook feature in the future, all you’ve to do is uncheck the Run AutoArchive every radio box again and save your settings—the archive feature will be disabled.

How to archive email on Outlook Web

Archiving your emails on Outlook web is a straightforward affair; much simpler than for Outlook desktop surely. To get started with it, follow the steps below:

Head to Outlook.com account, log in, and go to Inbox.
Select all the emails you’d like to archive and select Archive.

All the selected emails will be archived instantly. If you want to unarchive them later on, head to the Archive folder and select the email. Then click on Move from the top, and choose the location where you want to move your emails.

Archiving your Outlook emails with ease

So that was all about archiving your emails on Outlook, folks. Archiving your files can be super helpful to keep your files protected against accidental data losses and help you pull up your emails instantly. I hope you were able to archive your email successfully after this.

To learn more, we have a great guide on how to apply AutoArchive settings to subfolders in Outlook, so don’t miss it.

Ventoy vs Rufus: Safety, Speed & Functionality Comparison

Posted on August 30, 2022October 24, 2024 by Claire Moraa

Creating a bootable USB drive is a convenient way to install an operating system on a PC. There are many tools that can help you with this, and today we’ll take a look at two of the best on the market: Rufus and Ventoy.

Both programs have their strengths and weaknesses. Let’s take a closer look.

What are Ventoy and Rufus?

Rufus and Ventoy are utilities that can create bootable USB drives. They are both open-source, portable, and free to use. This means that you can easily use either to copy your favorite operating system on a USB stick or external drive and run it directly from there.

Is there anything better than Rufus?

Rufus isn’t perfect. It features a very simple interface and you can use it to format any type of USB flash drive to either FAT32 or NTFS file system.

But the most useful feature of this tool is that it allows you to create bootable USB flash drives. What makes this app so popular? Well, besides being completely free, it supports a wide range of ISO file formats.

It also allows you to create bootable USB drives for all versions of Windows. The best thing about this app is that it can make installing Windows on Mac computers easier as well. The portable version of this program can be run from any location and doesn’t need to be installed.

Most utilities like Rufus need to be downloaded and extracted. A majority of them also don’t allow multiboot which makes Rufus a top contender among others.

Is Ventoy safe to use?

Yes. Ventoy is a 100% free and open-source application. The source code is available for anyone to download, modify, and redistribute. This allows users to verify that Ventoy does not contain any malicious code.

What are the differences between Ventoy and Rufus?

Both Rufus and Ventoy share similarities but they also have their own differences. The bottom line is that either can create bootable USB drives.

Rufus has a very easy-to-use and minimal interface, but it also has some advanced options for those who need them. Ventoy has its users singing praises as the best one yet since you can create multiboot USB drives.

Do Rufus and Ventoy support Windows 10/11?

Rufus and Ventoy both support Windows 11 in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. This is a great advantage because it means that you can use either application to create bootable USB drives for the latest version of Windows.

With Ventoy, some Windows 11 system requirements may show up during installation but you can easily bypass them.

Both Rufus and Ventoy work with BIOS and UEFI. Booting from a USB drive requires having BIOS or UEFI firmware support for it. UEFI is newer than BIOS, but not all computers have it yet.

If you’re having trouble booting from a USB drive, the most likely cause is that you haven’t set your BIOS or UEFI firmware to support booting from USB drives.

Users with older systems that use BIOS, should look up whether their motherboard supports booting from a USB drive. If not, then you’ll need to upgrade to a newer model with UEFI support (which most modern systems have).

User interface

Rufus is popular because it’s simple to use and supports many different types of file systems (NTFS, FAT32, etc.).

Both programs are very easy to use; however, Ventoy has a simpler interface compared to Rufus. Rufus may make it harder for beginners to use this program effectively. Without any prior knowledge about how these programs work, they can be difficult to navigate.

Also with Ventoy, you do not have to extract any files and you can directly copy and paste like regular files.

Performance and speed

Both Rufus and Ventoy are very fast when compared to other similar tools. However, there are some minor differences between them in terms of performance.

Rufus has a slightly faster benchmarking time than Ventoy. This difference may not be noticeable for most users but it can be an important factor if you need to create multiple bootable drives at once.

The most important feature of Ventoy is that it creates bootable USB flash drives without having to go through a complicated process that normally requires a command prompt or third-party software.

It also allows you to create multiple partitions on your hard drive, each one with its own operating system so that you can use more than one OS at the same time.

If you need more control over what happens when your computer boots from a disc or flash drive, try Ventoy instead of Rufus.

Ventoy vs Yumi vs Rufus

There are several tools that can create bootable USB drives, but not all of them are created equal.

Ventoy	Yumi	Rufus
Support UEFI and BIOS	Support UEFI and BIOS	Support UEFI and BIOS
Supports drive partitioning MBR/GPT	Supports MBR partitioning	Supports drive partitioning MBR/GPT
No extraction necessary	Extraction necessary	Extraction necessary

Conclusion

Creating a bootable USB drive is a very simple task. All you have to do is download the ISO of the operating system and then use the right tool to create a bootable USB drive.

When selecting a utility, it should have support for multiple operating systems, can create multiple partitions on the drive, and supports UEFI and BIOS systems.

You can also check out other software to create multiboot USB drives if you are looking for more options.

Don’t forget to install an antivirus program whenever you are using multiboot tools to ensure your system is protected at all times.

If you’re a fan of Rufus, don’t miss our guide on the best Rufus settings for Windows 11. If you’re using legacy systems, we have a fresh guide on how to run Rufus on Windows 7 that you might want to check out.

If you have gotten a chance to use any or all of these tools mentioned here, be sure to let us know what your experience was like.

Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G with 12th Gen Intel processor launched in India

Posted on August 30, 2022 by Radu Tyrsina

Xiaomi officially unveiled its new Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G and Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120 laptops in India. The Notebook Pro 120 and Pro 120G are the successors to the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro, which was launched last year. The latest Notebook Pro 120G comes with a bunch of improvements compared to the last generation devices.

Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G features a 2.5k resolution 120Hz display, 12th Gen Intel processors, dedicated Nvidia GeForce MX series GPU and much more. The base variant Notebook Pro 120 comes with the integrated GPU, and the rest of the specifications are the same as the 120G variant.

Take a closer look at the detailed specifications, features, price, and availability of the Notebook Pro 120G laptop.

Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G Specifications

The newly launched Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G flaunts a 14-inches 2.5k resolution display that offers a 120Hz refresh rate, a 16:10 aspect ratio, 100 percent sRGB color gamut, and DC Dimming. The panel of the machine is TUV Rheinland certified.

The Notebook Pro 120G laptop is powered by a 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450H series processor coupled with an Nvidia GeForce MX550 dedicated GPU. The machine comes with up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 512GB of PCle Gen4 SSD storage and it runs on Windows 11 Home out of the box.

The machine has a full-sized 3-level backlit scissor mechanism keyboard that offers 1.3mm deep key travel. The laptop has WiFi 6 and Bluetooth v5.2 support.

Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G draws power from a 56Wh battery. To recharge that big battery, it has 100W fast-charging support. Xiaomi claims that the laptop charges 0 to 50 percent just in 35 minutes. (Via Xiaomi.com)

Talking about the design of the laptop, it has an Aerospace Grade Aluminum alloy build, and a thin and lightweight design (weighs just 1.4kg). It has thick top and bottom display bezels.

As for the port options, the Notebook Pro 120G comes with

1x Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 2
1x Type-A USB 3.1 Gen 1
1x Thunderbolt 4 ( for data transfer and Charging)
1x HDMI 2.0 Port
1x 3.5mm Headphone Jack

Other features of the Xiaomi Notebook Pro include dual stereo speakers with DTS audio, a 720p HD webcam, a fingerprint sensor integrated with the power button, a hurricane dual cooling system, and an in-built microphone.

The base variant i.e The Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120 laptop follows similar specifications as the Pro 120G variant. The only difference between Notebook Pro 120 and the Notebook Pro 120G is that the former ships with integrated Intel UHD graphics.

Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G Price & Availability

The latest Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120G retails at ₹74,999 (roughly $942) while the Xiaomi Notebook Pro 120 is priced at ₹69,999 (roughly $880).

The laptops will be available for sale from 20th September in India via Amazon, Mi India’s official website, and Mi stores across India.

For more latest and exclusive tech news updates follow us on Google News.

Images Credit~ Xiaomi.com

Killer Network Service: What is it & do You Need it?

Posted on August 30, 2022October 11, 2025 by Claire Moraa

Many users noted Killer Network Service on Windows 11 and other versions of Windows, and they are concerned about it.

In today’s guide we’re going to take a closer look at this service, and see what exactly it does.

What is Killer Network Service and do I need it?

With this service, you can prioritize your online gaming, streaming, and downloading activities on the network by giving them higher priority over other things.

It works by prioritizing your most important tasks so that they get more bandwidth than other tasks.

Why is Killer Network Service on my computer?

The Killer Network Service is a Windows service that allows programs to send and receive network data.

If you have recently installed any network drivers from the Internet, it is possible that Killer Network Service was part of the installation package.

Is Killer Network Service needed?

The service is optional so you get to choose whether you really need it. It has been designed to improve the performance of your computer in games by prioritizing traffic.

If these programs aren’t given priority, they may suffer from lag or buffering issues during peak usage times.

Can I turn off Killer Network Service?

NOTE

To avoid any inconvenience, we suggest to always performing scanning of any file or program you are downloading. To do so, you can rely on a trustworthy antivirus, such as ESET HOME Security Essential, to scan, detect and remove the malware.

Hit the Windows + R keys simultaneously to open the Run dialog box.
Type services.msc and press Enter.
Navigate to Killer Network Service and double-click on it.
Click on the Stop button under Service status then press OK.

As an alternative, you can opt for bandwidth optimization software to manage your bandwidth usage and allocate it accordingly.

There are other lesser-known services, and we already wrote about NetworkCap.exe in one of our previous guides, so don’t miss it.

Now that you are aware of the Killer Network Service in Windows 11, we’d love to know your experience with it. Have you encountered any performance issues? Start us off in the comments section below.

Network Adapter Driver for Windows 11 [Download/Update]

Posted on August 30, 2022October 13, 2025 by Matthew Adams

Network drivers in Windows 11 are required for the computer’s network adapters. Your PC’s network adapter is the device needed for Internet connectivity. Wireless network adapters’ drivers are also known as Wi-Fi drivers.

Drivers facilitate communication between Windows 11 (or any other OS) and internal and external hardware devices. Companies regularly update drivers for their hardware devices.

Therefore, the original drivers that came with your PC will get outdated.

Windows 11 doesn’t include any new utility for updating device drivers. Therefore, there isn’t any new way you can update network drivers in the latest OS.

However, you can still easily update adapter drivers in Windows 11. In our article today, we will teach you how to update the network drivers.

Do I really need to update my PC’s network driver?

Updating the driver for the network adapter can enhance both its performance and reliability. For example, an antiquated network driver might reduce the download speed on your desktop or laptop.

For the sake of faster download speed, it’s worth updating a network adapter’s driver. Furthermore, connectivity issues will more likely arise on a PC with an outdated network adapter driver.

If you can’t connect to the Internet, you won’t be able to download a new driver to fix that issue. So, it’s best to update your computer’s network driver when you can do so to forestall connection inconveniences.

How to install network adapter driver Windows 11 without Internet?

Without a doubt, our computer and operating system will not function normally if we do not have the appropriate drivers installed.

Before we go any further, you need to be aware that the installation of drivers on Windows 11 may be performed with or without an Internet connection.

It is essential to have up-to-date drivers because, in the event that they become corrupted or otherwise inoperable, hardware may become unresponsive or malfunction.

In addition to this, they conceal the fundamental workings of your hardware devices, so enabling you to make use of an incredibly user-friendly interface.

We prepared a dedicated article on how to manually install your drivers, which we recommend you check out as the first two solutions do not require an Internet connection.

How can I update my PC’s network driver in Windows 11?

1. Use Device Manager

Press the Windows key and X simultaneously to open a menu that includes some handy shortcuts.
Click the Device Manager shortcut to open that utility in Windows 11.
Double-click Network adapters to expand the device list for that category.
Then right-click your Internet network adapter there and select the Update driver context menu option for it. You can do this for any Ethernet driver in Windows 11 as well.
Select the Search automatically for drivers option to initiate a Windows search.
If the updater utility detects a better driver, wait for Windows to install it.

2. Use the Windows Update Service

1. Open the Start menu by clicking on the Start button on the taskbar.
2. Click on the Settings app pinned to the Start menu.
3. Next, click the Windows Update tab on the left of Settings.
4. Select Advanced options on the Windows Update tab.
5. Click Optional updates within Advanced options.
6. If a network adapter driver is listed within the optional updates, select its checkbox.
7. After, press the Download & install button.

If you are not fan of using Device Manager to update your network adapter drivers, you can instead use the Windows Update Service. It is also a built-in tool, and it is responsible for keeping your device up to date.

From the Windows Update Service menu, you can scan for, download and install new updates for your network adapter driver at any time.

NOTE

To check for new updates, you’ll need to press the Check for updates button in Settings.

3. Manually update your PC’s network adapter driver

Open a web browser in Windows 11 and search for your network adapter’s driver provider website, which will be the manufacturer’s site. For example, Intel provides the drivers for Intel network adapters.
Then open the manufacturer’s website and click the link for the driver download section of the website. It is usually found under Support.
Select the network adapter (or wireless) product category.
Then enter the name of your network adapter, as specified within Device Manager, in the website’s device search box.
Click the Download option for your network adapter’s latest driver package listed on the website, which must be compatible with your Windows 11 platform.
Thereafter, select a folder to download the driver package to and click the Save button.
When you’ve downloaded the driver package, click File Explorer’s taskbar button.
Open the folder you saved the driver package in.
Double-click the driver package’s EXE file to open its installer window.
Then go through the installer window’s instructions to install the network driver. You can do this for any network controller in Windows 11 that you need to be updated.

NOTE

Some driver packages have a CAB format. If you download a driver with a CAB format, you’ll need to extract its ZIP archive first. Then select the Browse my computer for drivers option in Device Manager’s Update Drivers utility to install it.

If you are looking for a quicker and easier solution, using a specialized tool is what you need. You can update any of your PC’s drivers by selecting the download and install options within the driver updater.

How do I reinstall network drivers in Windows 11?

Right-click the Start icon and select Device Manager.
Expand the Network Adapters section, right-click on your network drivers, and select Uninstall device.
Reboot your PC to reinstall the drivers automatically. That’s it!

How can I enable (or disable) automatic driver updates in Windows 11?

Windows 11 will automatically download and install some device drivers if configured to do so. You can enable automatic driver downloads with device installation settings. This is how you can do that in Windows 11.

Press Windows then type device installation settings within the search box. Click Change device installation settings to open that window.
Select the Yes option on the Device installation window if it’s not already selected. Or you can select No if the opposite is true.
Press the Save changes button to confirm.

Bear in mind that enabling automatic updates doesn’t mean Windows Update will update all device drivers on your PC. However, it will at least update the more essential device drivers.

So, there are numerous ways you can update your computer’s network driver. Choose whatever method you prefer for updating the network adapter and other device drivers.

Connectivity issues will less likely arise on your PC if you keep its network adapter driver up-to-date with the above methods. It’s best to update network drivers to prevent connection issues from arising in the first place instead of waiting for them to happen.

Even more, driver problems occur while playing games such as Minecraft and BattleField. Check out this dedicated guide on solving outdated drivers’ errors on Windows 11.

Have the above procedures worked for you as well? Let us know in the comments area below.

How to add contacts on Outlook

Posted on August 30, 2022August 30, 2025 by Radu Tyrsina

In this article

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Outlook is the number one email service provided by Microsoft. The third most popular email service, Outlook comes packed with a ton of features. Be it managing your calendars, creating new meetings, or scheduling your emails, Outlook can help you do all from a single place.

Another such feature is the ability to add contacts to Outlook. You can add information such as name, email address, phone number, address, etc., to these contacts later on. Let’s look at how to get started.

How to add contacts on Outlook

After you’ve added the contacts to your Outlook account, you can then simply type in the name of the contact, and Outlook will autofill the email for you.

To add a person as your contact, head to the email sent by them and click on their name on the To, Cc, Bcc, or From line. Head to the Contact section and select Add to Contacts. On the next window, add in any and all details you want to fill in and click on Create.

Another way to add contacts on Outlook

So that’s one of the ways to add a contact on Outlook. But that’s not the only one. Alternatively, you can add contacts straight from a separate section—without getting into the emails.

To add the contacts in an alternate way, select People from the left-hand side of the main menu. From there, select the Add Contact button.

Enter the information such as First name, Last name, and any other relevant notes you’d like to add on. If you click on Add more, you’ll see a host of other fields you can fill in: email address, work, address, and so on. In fact, you can even put in an image for your contacts.

When you’re done adding in the fields, simply click on Create.

For Outlook app

The above methods are only applicable on Outlook web. If you’re using the Outlook app [Outlook 2013 and over], however, then your steps will be slightly different. Here’s how:

On the Outlook app, click on the People option from the bottom left corner. From there, under the Home tab in the Ribbon, click on the New Contact option in the “New” section from the top-left corner.

You’ll see a new window. Enter the contact details here and click on Save & Close option to save the contact.

Editing the contacts

After you’ve added the contacts, you can also edit them at a later time for whatever reason you need to. Here’s how:

On your Outlook account, head to the People section from the left corner. From there, select the contact you’d like to update and click on Edit contact. In the new dialog box, you can edit all the information you’d like.

Adding contacts on Outlook

If there are people you interact with on a daily basis, it might then be a good idea to add the contacts to your Outlook account. Not only does it help you send emails to multiple contacts right from a single place, but it also helps you keep your important contacts together.

Memory Management Blue Screen: How to Fix This Error

Posted on August 30, 2022February 26, 2024 by Ivan Jenic

The Memory Management stop code appears alongside the Blue Screen Of Death, which can be very annoying.

The error affects all the iterations of OS, including Windows 10 and Windows 11, and the underlying cause pretty much remains the same. It often occurs when users run highly demanding processes, such as complex games, VR games, watching 4K live streams, etc.

What is memory management blue screen?

Memory management blue screen is a critical memory error usually caused by RAM. If you bump into a Memory Management error on Windows 11 or Windows 10, first make sure to check your RAM modules.

This isn’t the only memory-related issue, and many users reported Video memory management internal error on their devices.

If your memory is the problem, you might encounter Your Computer is low on memory message, or in the worst case scenario, you might not be able to boot your PC at all.

The simplest and the most common solution for this problem is to restart your computer. After the restart, you shouldn’t get this error message anymore. So, before you try anything else, restart your computer and see if the issue has been fixed.

However, if the Memory Management error message still appears after you restart your Windows 10 PC, there are a few advanced troubleshooting solutions that you should try, so read on.

How do I stop blue screen memory management?

1. Run the SFC scanner

The SFC (System File Checker) scan is Microsoft’s tool for resolving various system problems, so you can run this scan to diagnose and resolve system issues that implies BSOD error codes.

1. Enter Command Prompt in the Search bar, and then click on Run as administrator.
2. Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
3. Paste the following line into Command Prompt and then press Enter:sfc/scannow
4. Wait until the process is finished (it may take a while) and see if any errors are fixed.

Even if it doesn’t sound like a full solution, a lot of users who received this error message said that this command fixed the Memory Management error on Windows 10 startup.

2. Run Windows Memory Diagnostic tool

Press Windows + S to launch the Search menu, enter Windows Memory Diagnostic in the text field, and then click on the relevant search result.
Choose Restart now and check for problems.
Let your PC restart, and on the next startup, the tool will report if something’s wrong with your RAM.

If the SFC command didn’t fix it and you still receive this error message, something’s probably wrong with your RAM.

If your RAM is corrupted, replacing it with a new one is best. But before you remove your current one, you should ensure it’s broken.

We recommend you run the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool, and if it tells you that your memory is the problem, you can change it.

3. Update your drivers

Outdated or broken drivers can cause the Windows Blue Screen Memory Management error in Windows 10. That’s why it is recommended that you always keep the installed drivers up-to-date.

If you want to keep your PC in optimal condition without wasting time performing some extra operations, then you need a great software solution.

For example, IObit Driver Booster is a handy driver updater tool that can install the latest driver versions for your device with just a single click.

⇒ Get IObit Driver Booster

Updating the driver can help you fix other issues like Aswhdske.sys blue screen; read this guide to know more.

4. Revert your PC settings to default

If you increase the PC’s clock rate to run it at a higher speed than initially designed, you should expect to encounter various technical issues.

So, if you’re using various overclocking tools, try reverting your computer’s settings to default and check if this Memory Management error in Windows 10 persists. In case it doesn’t head to the next method.

5. Run a full system scan

Type Windows Security in the Search bar at the bottom, and then click on the relevant result.
Click on Virus & threat protection.
Now, click on Scan options.
Next, select the Full scan option, and then click on the Scan now button.

Malware may cause various issues on your computer, including BSOD errors. Perform a full system scan to detect any malware running on your computer.

You can also use a reliable third-party antivirus to run the scan.

6. Repair your registry

In many cases, a corrupt or misconfigured Registry led to the Memory Management error in Windows 10.

Here, you will have to fix the corrupt Registry to get things up and running. Also, if you recently made any changes to it, restoring the Registry should do the trick.

7. Update your OS

Ensure you’re running the latest Windows OS updates on your machine. Microsoft constantly updates Windows to improve the system’s stability and fix various issues.

To access the Windows Update section, you can type Update in the search box. This method works on all Windows versions. Then go to Windows Update, check for updates, and install the available ones.

8. Clean your temporary files and folders

Type Disk Cleanup in the Search menu, and then click on the relevant search result.
Select the disk that you want to clean from the dropdown menu, and then click OK.
Select the files you want to clear and then again click on OK at the bottom.
Click on Delete files to confirm the change.

The simplest and quickest manner to delete your temporary files and folders is to use Disk Cleanup. As you use the computer or browse the Internet, it accumulates various unnecessary files.

These so-called junk files may affect your PC’s processing speed, causing apps to respond slowly, and may also trigger various error codes, including the Memory Management in Windows 10.

Clean your temporary files and then try to write data on the problematic storage device again.

9. Check your disk for errors

Press Windows + R to launch the Run command, enter cmd in the text field, hold the Ctrl + Shift keys, and then click OK.
Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
Paste the following command, replace C with the problematic partition in your case, and then hit Enter:chkdsk C: /f
Once done, run the following command to repair physical issues:chkdsk C: /r

After the check disk is done running, verify if the Memory Management error in Windows 10 is fixed. In case it persists, head to the next method.

10. Remove recently installed software

Press Windows + R to open Run, enter appwiz.cpl in the text field, and then click OK.
Select the program(s) recently added, and click Uninstall.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

If you recently installed new software on your computer, try uninstalling it. Then restart your PC, and see if the issue has been solved.

Also, check out the best uninstaller tools to remove residual files and registry entries, along with the app.

11. Check for programs causing memory leaks

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
Select the problematic process, and then click the End task button to terminate it.

For this method to work, you will have to check all the processes running on the computer and then identify the one causing the leak.

12. Manually increase Virtual Memory

Press Windows + S to open the Search menu, enter View advanced system settings, and then click on the relevant result.
Go to the Advanced tab, and then click Settings under the Performance panel.
Click the Advanced tab again, go to the Virtual Memory panel, and then select Change.
Clear the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives checkbox, select the desired Drive (Volume Label), and then choose Custom Size.
Add a new size in megabytes in the Initial size (MB) or Maximum size (MB) box, click Set, and then click OK to save the changes.

By increasing the virtual memory, you will be able to resolve the Memory Management error in Windows 10. Of course, you will have to do it manually, as there are no apps dedicated to this matter.

13. Run System Restore or reset the PC

Press Windows + R to open Run, type rstrui.exe, and click OK.
Click Next in the System Restore window.
Select a restore point from the list, and then click Next.
Now, click Finish to start the restore process.

The System Restore option allows you to revert to the previous well-performing system configuration without losing any files, except for a few customizable features and settings.

After the procedure has been completed, check to see if the problem persists.

Windows 10 offers advanced recovery options that allow users to clean install the OS. If you’re a Windows 10 user, you can also use the Reset this PC recovery option. To do that:

Press Windows + I to open the Settings app, click on Update & Security, and then select Recovery under the left pane.
Click on Get Started under Reset this PC, and choose to Keep your files.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset.

Once the reset process is complete, the Memory Management, as well as other errors in Windows 10, will be fixed.

How do I know if my RAM is corrupted?

RAM is one of the most critical components of the PC, and issues with it are pretty easy to identify if you keep a keen eye on them. When the RAM is corrupted, you would frequently encounter BSOD errors in Windows.

In addition to that, the computer’s performance would be affected, and the system would crash when running high-resource-consuming programs. Also, you may see a black screen when turning on the device.

Besides, the system might list the installed RAM incorrectly in Settings or the System Information window.

What causes Memory Management error?

The Memory Management error occurs in the following situations:

Memory Management on Asus, Acer, HP, Lenovo, Surface Pro and Surface Pro 3
- This BSoD error affects all devices, but when it comes to Microsoft’s Surface line, it seems that this issue is prevalent for Surface Pro and Surface Pro 3 devices.

I bought this computer about 2 months ago (Acer Predator g9-791) and whenever I play a game that is graphically intense, like Battlefield 4, I will get a blue screen with the error Memory Management error. I sent in the laptop to Acer and they replaced the motherboard and the ssd, I got the laptop back a week later but I still get the same error.

Memory Management crashes
- In most cases, this error message simply remains on the screen, forcing users to reboot their devices.
- However, it may also cause PC crashes, and sometimes even crash loops.

Way too many times in the recent past, I have gotten the Windows BSOD error of Memory Management for things that should have been fine for me to run. It was either when I was drawing, watching a livestream and messaging someone at the same time, especially when doing stuff in VR through my Oculus Rift + Touch controllers.

Windows 10 memory management loop
- This error message can throw your computer into a so-called error loop. More specifically, although the PC doesn’t crash, the Memory Management error is still there whenever users restart their devices.

Memory management BSOD resulted in laptop rebooting. Since then, I am stuck in an automatic repair loop.
I canot get Win10 to run, only access to the Recovery Environment.

That’s all there’s to fixing the Memory Management error in Windows 10 and identifying if something is wrong with the RAM.

Also, find out how to limit RAM usage on your PC for enhanced performance. You can also visit our guide on Megapersonals error 701, so don’t miss it.

Did at least one of these solutions help you with the Memory Management Error in Windows 10? Tell us in the comments section below.

xScreen portable Xbox console is back in stock and shipping globally

Posted on August 30, 2022 by Radu Tyrsina

The popular xScreen accessory that essentially allows gamers to take their Xbox Series S console on the road is now back in stock and has improved shipping and payment processing for those ordering from outside Australia.

“xScreen is now back in stock and shipping globally!! Order now @ https://UPspecGaming.com,” a tweet posted on the official UPspecGaming Twitter account read earlier this week. “We now have local US shipping and global shipping that includes all taxes at checkout.”

xScreen was first announced in mid-2021 and launched in early-2022. The device is designed to connect directly to the Xbox Series S console and features built-in stereo speakers and an 11.6″ IPS 1080p 60hz screen.

While Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming service does allow people to play console-quality games on their smart device or laptop, a consistent internet connection is needed. The xScreen, however, can play games locally and doesn’t require an internet connection to work. One is of course needed for online game though.

After more Xbox news? Give us a follow on Twitter.

Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass Family & Friends branding leaked

Posted on August 30, 2022 by Radu Tyrsina

Branding for the rumored upcoming Family & Friends tier of Microsoft’s Game Pass subscription service has been leaked by reliable leaker, Aggiornamenti Lumia, on Twitter.

This logo, which is really just the generic white-on-green Game Pass logo with the words “Friends & Family” in a white box underneath it, is more confirmation that this new tier for multiple users is planned for a near-future release.

pic.twitter.com/9K40x15Yhv

— Aggiornamenti Lumia (@ALumia_Italia) August 27, 2022

Curiously, there’s no mention of Xbox or PC so it’s possible that this upcoming Friends & Family plan will include both the Xbox console and PC video game libraries as default rather than providing multiple options which could confuse casual consumers. It could also include Xbox Cloud Gaming access, essentially making it like the Game Pass Ultimate tier, with the added benefit of multiple users being allow access to its perks. This is purely speculation though.

Previous reports had indicated that Game Pass Friends & Family could allow access for up to five individual Xbox/Microsoft accounts with a single account being designated as the admin or manager.

Would you upgrade to a Family & Friends tier of Game Pass or are you happy with one of the existing plans? Let us know in the comments below and then follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more Xbox news.

Windows Server 2019 VPN Setup: How to Easily Install a VPN

Posted on August 29, 2022October 4, 2023 by Aleksandar Ognjanovic

Using a VPN on a Windows Server has a lot of advantages.

It allows users in a small environment to access remote clients or firewalls to Windows Server.

If you’re here to discover the exact steps for installing a VPN on Windows Server 2019, here’s everything you need to know.

Does Windows Server have a built-in VPN?

Affirmative, you can set up a VPN on Windows Server using the right protocols. Plus, there are certain versions that allow this operation

More exactly, it’s possible to use a VPN connection on a Windows Server 2019 and get increased privacy for your server.

In order to set up a VPN connection on this Windows Server edition, you have to use L2TP or PPTP VPN protocols.

How can I set up a VPN on Windows Server 2019?

1. Install Remote Access using Server Manager

Open Server Manager
Go to Manage > Add Roles and Features Wizard
Check the Remote Access box and click Next
At Role Services, check the DirectAccess and VPN (RAS) box and click Next
Click Install
Once setup is over, you might have to restart the server

install remote access windows server 2019

An alternative solution is to install and configure Remote Access using PowerShell.

2. Set up the VPN

Click on the Open the Getting Started Wizard
Choose Deploy VPN only
In the Routing and Remote Access Management Console, right-click on the Server name
Select Configure and Enable Routing and Remote Access from the context menu
Choose Custom configuration and click Next
Select VPN access
Start the VPN service

Open the Getting Started Wizard Windows Server 2019

You shouldn’t stumble upon any issues at this stage if you use the dedicated wizard.

3. Configure VPN access

Static address pool vpn on windows server 2019

Finally, the only thing remaining is to configure the VPN User and Network Access. You have to open and forward ports from the firewall to the Windows Server.

Depending on the protocol you use, here are the ports you should open:

For PPTP: 1723 TCP and Protocol 47 GRE (also known as PPTP Pass-through)
For L2TP over IPSEC: 1701 TCP and 500 UDP
For SSTP: 443 TCP

If you don’t have a DHCP server, you can set a static IPv4 address pool. This can be done by following the steps below:

Firstly, make sure all users have Remote access enabled
Open the Properties panel of your VPN server
Click on the IPv4 tab and enable Static address pool
Click Add and add the same static IP address from the same Server subnet

How does VPN work on Windows Server?

Setting up a VPN on a Windows Server implies technical knowledge, so you have to learn how to configure it on your PC.

In a few words, you need to initially create a new VPN user and then set up routing and remote access features.

Here you have the required setup names and technologies you can use for securing your Windows Server:

Windows Server 2019 VPN setup L2TP
Windows Server 2019 VPN Ikev2 setup
Windows Server 2019 SSTP VPN setup
Windows Server 2019 PPTP VPN setup
setup IPSec VPN Windows Server 2019

In conclusion, you can install a VPN on your Windows Server 2019 in three easy steps: setting up Remote Manager using Server Manager or PowerShell, installing the VPN, and managing VPN access permissions.

In case you need a fresh OS install, simply download Windows Server 2019 right away! Plus, join our VPN Troubleshooting Hub for additional guides.

If you experienced any technical difficulties, please let us know by dropping a comment in the section below.

Windows 11 Theme Keeps Changing? 5 Ways to Stop it

Posted on August 29, 2022October 11, 2025 by Sagar Naresh

Are you noticing that after every reboot or after opening Windows Explorer and returning to the desktop home screen, the theme changes automatically on your Windows 11 PC?

If yes, it could be pretty frustrating because several people go the extra mile to arrange their desktops as they like.

It becomes more frustrating for those who have applied a theme and did all the hard work matching the wallpaper and icons, cursors, etc., only to find it changing automatically every time after your reboot.

Well, this guide is here to help you out if you are facing the Windows 11 theme keeps changing issue on your PC.

In this post, we will share 5 of the best and most effective solutions that have helped users fix the Windows 11 theme keeps changing problem, and keep it stable. So, with that being said, let us jump right into it.

Why does Windows 11 keep changing my theme?

The Windows PC’s desktop consists of multiple elements such as icons, wallpaper, mouse cursor, the different colors of the taskbar, widgets, etc.

We use our Windows PC to go online, download software, and do other tasks on it. There are chances that because of our usage, there might be something that is malfunctioning with the Windows 11 system and causing Windows 11 to change the theme.

After careful research, we have deduced a list of the most common causes that could trigger the Windows 11 theme keeps changing:

Tablet mode is enabled (applicable for Windows 10 PC).
A recent Windows update contains a bug.
The desktop background is set as a slideshow.
Windows PC is syncing with other connected PCs.
Your Windows 11 PC is malware-infected.
Your user profile files are corrupted.

These are the most common causes for the Windows 11 PC changing the theme back to default automatically.

How do I stop Windows from changing themes?

1. Change desktop background settings

Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialogue on your PC.
Type powercfg.cpl and hit Enter.
For the selected power plan, click on Change plan settings.
Click on Change advanced power settings.
Expand Desktop Background Settings.
Set the slideshow to be Disabled or Paused for both On Battery and Plugged in options
Click on Apply.
Press OK.
Restart your PC and check if this fixes the Windows 11 theme keeps changing problem or not.

2. Scan PC for virus

Open the Start menu.
Search for Windows Security.
Click on Virus & threat protection.
Hit the Quick Scan button.
Windows Security will start scanning your PC for viruses and, if it detects one, will ask you to take appropriate action.

We have shown the steps for the built-in Windows Security antivirus tool with Windows 11 OS.

However, if you have installed third-party antivirus software, you can perform the same scan on your PC and remove any virus or malware.

If you are confused about which antivirus software to get on your Windows PC, then do not worry, as we have covered you. Instead, you can check out TotalAV. It comes with anti-phishing software and banking protection, and it can even prevent attacks from never-seen-before threats.

TotalAV

Protect your system against malware and other viruses to avoid any inconvenience.

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3. Disable sync settings

Press Win + I to open the Settings app.
Head over to Accounts from the left-hand panel.
On the right-side panel, select Windows backup.
Toggle off. Remember my preferences.

There are chances that your Windows 11 PC is syncing your desktop settings with another one of your synced PC, which is the reason you are seeing changed themes on your Windows 11 PC.

In such a case, follow the above steps, toggle off the setting, and check whether this fixes the issue.

4. Rebuild your icon cache files

Open File Explorer.
Navigate to C Drive > Users.
Open the folder that’s your username.
Select View and then enable the option Hidden items from the top toolbar.
Head over to AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer.
Select all the files that say iconcache. such as iconcache_32.db, iconcache_64.db, etc.
Delete them.
Restart your PC.

If you are facing issues where only the icons on your desktop change back to defaults, you can follow the above step to rebuild the icon cache files and restart your system.

This will fix any corrupt icon cache files or any issues with the icon files and possibly improve the Windows 11 theme that keeps changing the problem or not.

5. Uninstall a recent Windows update

Open the Settings menu by pressing Win + I buttons together.
From the left side, select Windows Update.
Select Update history.
Scroll down and under Related settings, click on Uninstall updates.
Select the recently installed update after which you are experiencing the issue.
Right-click on it and select Uninstall.
Follow the on-screen prompts.
Restart your PC.

This is one of the effective methods listed on this list, as it has helped several users get back their best settings and fix the problem at their end.

Where are Themes stored in Windows 11?

If you want to find the themes installed on your Windows 11 PC, then you can follow the steps below:

First, press the Win + R keys together to open the Run command.
Next, paste the below text and press Enter. %localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Themes

Here you will find two files:

Custom: This file contains the modified theme files.
Roamed: This file is created when you sync themes between multiple computers.

Moreover, you can find the wallpapers on your Windows 11 PC; you can head over to C:\Windows\Web\. Here you can find four sub-folders that contain wallpapers of different sizes. You must run to the 4K folder to get the full resolution.

If you find any additional entries here, remove the themes in Windows 11.

That is it from us in this guide. We hope this guide helped you resolve the Windows 11 theme-changing problem. Let us know in the comments below which solutions helped you fix the problem.

VPN Stopped Working: Here are 4 Quick Tips To Get It Back

Posted on August 29, 2022September 28, 2025 by Milan Stanojevic

When your VPN stops working, it could be due to several reasons, including internet connectivity, incorrect login details, unpaid subscriptions, or technical reasons such as server issues, among others.

A VPN restores privacy to your internet experience, so if it stops working, this privacy is no longer assured. However, you’ll have to check on things like the ports being used, your network, and much more before you pinpoint the main problem causing it not to work.

Why did my VPN stop working?

Virtual private networks (VPNs) have many benefits, but they can also have some very unpleasant downsides. A non-functional VPN is annoying, and a partially functional one isn’t much better.

One explanation might be compatibility concerns with your PC, or it could be network congestion somewhere in the connection that may be fixed with DNS flush. If your VPN is slow, won’t connect, constantly disconnects, or crashes, we have several options to fix it.

Before contacting your VPN provider, check out some of the common issues and their potential fixes listed below.

What can I do if my VPN stopped working?

1. Change your VPN Provider

If your VPN keeps cutting off or stops working altogether, then it might be because of system incompatibility. One surefire way to fix this issue is to switch to a tested VPN provider that has a long-standing record of creating stable software. We recommend Private Internet Access.

PIA caters to everyone’s needs, having covered all the major platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and macOS, as well as browser extensions for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

Additionally, you benefit from a 30-day money-back guarantee as well as excellent customer support to help you diagnose and fix any issues you might encounter. PIA has servers all over the world, which allows you to bypass geo-restrictions and keep your data safe at the same time.

If your current VPN solution has stopped working, then we recommend you check out Private Internet Access as a robust replacement.

Private Internet Access

Multiple VPN gateways through WireGuard, PPTP, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPSec protocols.

Check price Visit website

2. Preliminary fixes

If your VPN stops working, try the following general troubleshooting fixes before trying the next solutions:

Check if there’s a device that is causing the problem, by rebooting all affected devices such as your computer, hubs, your router, and/or modem, and whether your connection is working okay without connecting your VPN.
Connect your VPN on another device within the same network and see if it helps. If it does, then the issue is probably with the device you’ve been using.
Connect your computer directly to your modem – bypass your router – if this helps, then your router is causing issues with your VPN account as sometimes router settings can affect your VPN.
Check your firewall software and test if it’s conflicting with your VPN. Disable and try connecting again. If it works, then you need to set up an exception to use your VPN while your firewall is running, or, set an exception for all traffic to the VPN’s server address.
Delete the first VPN connection you created and see if the second one will work.
Check your country or ISP as they may block VPN connections. You can confirm with friends in the same area or contact your ISP directly.
Ensure you entered the correct passwords (without spaces) and usernames.
Check the date and time settings on your computer to ensure they’re correct.
If your VPN doesn’t support multi-device use on a single account, then check if you’re sharing with another device and use just one.
Change your time zone.
Clear your browser cache as the old information you used before is still there.
Ensure you’re running the latest version of your VPN.
Ensure the server you’re connecting to is online and available.
Try another internet connection.
Try changing the connection to another port/protocol and find one that works for you.

3. Flush the DNS

Doing this lets your computer access your VPN’s DNS automatically for the proper/correct entries. To do this:

Click Start.
Select All Apps.
Click Accessories.
Right-click Start and select Command Prompt (Admin).
Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter. A confirmation that says: Windows IP Configuration Successfully flushed the DNS Resolver Cache will be displayed.

4. Reinstall your VPN

Right-click Start and select Run
Type regedit and press Enter
You will now see the User Account Control dialog box.
Click Yes
In the Registry Editor, under Computer, double-click on HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
Under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, double-click on SOFTWARE and then [your]VPN.
If you cannot find [your]VPN directly beneath SOFTWARE, go to SOFTWARE > Classes> [your]VPN.
Right-click on [your]VPN and then click Delete. After deletion, you should no longer see your VPNunder Wow6432Node

Depending on which particular issue you have with your VPN stopping, the solutions above should allow you to fix it. Keep in mind that some services like Netflix have been known to stop working when a VPN was activated. If this is the case for you, then try connecting to a different server.

Do some routers block VPN?

Services like Netflix block thousands of IP addresses constantly, and VPN providers are always countering this by opening new servers and changing the IP addresses of their customers.

A VPN blocked by the router may potentially be the cause of your VPN service not responding as expected.

Isn’t it ironic that VPN connections are being restricted? After all, a VPN is the tool that allows you to unblock numerous online restrictions, and the fact that your ISP, government, or even a website can ban it may leave you with a bad experience.

If the problem began after you purchased a new router or received one from your ISP, the router may be incompatible with the VPN and its protocols.

VPN passthrough is a function available in routers. It permits your traffic to reach the internet without being censored using a VPN. Regrettably, some routers do not enable this capability, while others do not support the protocols used by some VPNs.

One possible workaround for this is to purchase a dedicated IP address from your VPN provider which only you will use.

One other thing you might want to do is to turn off temporarily the ad-block feature that is included in the VPN client.

Let us know in the comments section if any of these solutions helped.

How to Open Ports on Windows 10 PCs

Posted on August 29, 2022November 12, 2025 by Radu Tyrsina

If you’re looking for a simple solution for opening firewall ports in Windows 10, you’ll find all the necessary details in this article.

Opening Firewall ports allow apps and programs to communicate with the network. So, if some of your apps and programs fail to launch, opening firewall ports is one of the first troubleshooting solutions that you can use.

How can I open a port in Windows 10?

Users can manually allow a program to get access to the Internet by opening a firewall port. All you need to know is what port it uses and the protocol to make this function.

1. Navigate to Control Panel> System and Security > Windows Firewall.
2. Go to Advanced settings.
3. Right-click on Inbound Rules > select New Rule.
4. Add the port you want to open and then click Next.
5. Choose the TCP or UDP protocol and the port number, then click Next.
6. Select Allow the connection and then hit Next.
7. Choose the network type, then click Next.
8. Name the rule and press on Finish afterwards.

These are all the necessary steps for opening a port in Windows 10. Remember that you can also use this method for blocking programs or ports.

Why should I use a Firewall on my PC?

Firewalls are targeted at protecting your network from various threats coming from outside and trying to get in or threats coming from inside trying to get out. A threat does this by blocking network-enabled ports.

Every time a program tries to communicate through this port, the firewall verifies its database rules to check if it is allowed or not. If it doesn’t know, it will ask the user and that’s why you sometimes see a prompt asking you if a certain program is allowed or not to access the Internet.

A firewall is an essential issue regarding computing and every PC must have one installed. This is the reason why Windows has a firewall bundled and active as standard.

Check out our articles on the best firewalls and the best network security antiviruses to use on Windows for more information. To better understand how network file sharing depends on specific connections, see our guide on SMB ports 139 and 445.

Windows firewalls must occasionally be told to allow a program to communicate with the network and this is the point where opening ports step into the picture.

We hope that our article helped you open ports on Windows 10 devices. Let us know in the comments section below if you have any questions.

How to Recover an Excel File That Was Not Saved

Posted on August 29, 2022September 23, 2024 by Matthew Adams

Excel is one of the most essential MS Office applications that millions of users utilize for calculating and displaying numerical data. Two of the good things about Excel are its AutoSave and AutoRecover features.

They make it easy for users to retrieve spreadsheet files that weren’t saved. However, those features need to be enabled for users to restore an Excel file not saved.

How can I recover an unsaved Excel file?

1. Make sure the Save AutoRecover information option is selected

To check if AutoRecover is enabled, click the File tab in Excel
Click Options to open the window shown directly below
Click Save on the left of the window to open the tab in the snapshot below.
Select the Save AutoRecover information window every x minutes option if it’s not already checked
Select the Keep the last autosaved version checkbox
- You can change how often AutoRecover saves things by entering an alternative value in the option’s text box
- The AutoRecover filelocations text box includes the folder path where you can find unsaved documents.
  - You can change that path by clicking Browse
Click the OK button

Thereafter, a Document Recovery sidebar will open when you first launch Excel after it unexpectedly closed (crashed).

That shows you a list of files that it can recover. Note that the files it displays will have been saved at least once before. Nevertheless, it will enable you to recover content added to a document before the application closed.

2. Select the Recover Unsaved Workbooks option

1. Launch Microsoft Excel on your device.
2. Navigate to the File tab from the menu.
3. In newer Excel versions, click on Open. In older versions, you’ll need to click on Recent.
4. Select Recent to open a list of recent documents. If you are already here, skip to step 5.
5. Click the Recover Unsaved Workbooks button.
6. An Open window will then appear that includes a list of unsaved Excel documents.
7. Select an unsaved document from there.
8. Click the Open button to view the file.

To restore a file that has never been saved, you can use the built-in Recover Unsaved Workbooks option. All of your recent unsaved documents will be listed, and you will be able to select those that you want to recover.

So, that’s how you can restore an Excel file that’s not saved and lost document content.

You can also restore unsaved MS Word files much the same as that application has the same AutoSave and AutoRecover features.

To recover unsaved files, you need to know where are Excel autosave files stored, and we have a guide that can help you with that.

What methods do you use to recover unsaved MS Office documents? Share your experiences with us in the comments section below.

Track billable hours with these programs on Windows 10

FreshBooks – Most professional

Fresh Books

ZoHo Books – Best overall

ToDo

Harvest

ClockShark

Replicon

Trigger

Control Fire Stick without remote

What are the best features of UPDF?

1. Edit text and image in PDF

2. Convert PDF to other formats

3. Annotate PDF

3. Organize Pages

4. Share PDF

4. UPDF’s best mobile features

What are the pros of UPDF across all platforms?

Giveaway

How can I add multiple email accounts to Outlook?

Can I get the classic Start Menu for Windows 10?

How do I get my classic Start Menu back on Windows 10?

How do I download classic Start Menu for Windows 10?

How can I use classic Start Menu on Windows 10?

How to remove the classic Start Menu in Windows 10?

How can I show hidden files on Windows 10?

1. Use Windows Settings to show hidden files

2. Use Command Prompt to show hidden files on Windows 10

3. Show hidden files by accessing PowerShell

4. Use a file search tool to open hidden files on Windows 10

Glarysoft Quick Search

5. Show hidden files using Control Panel

Why are my files hidden on Windows 10?

What is the best PDF to JPG converter?

UPDF – Great PDF conversion

UPDF

Soda PDF – 3D page-flipping technology

Soda PDF

Adobe Acrobat – Best native converter

Adobe Acrobat

Icecream PDF Converter – Intuitive interface

Icecream PDF Converter

Wondershare PDFelement – Great integration

Wondershare PDFelement

SwifDoo PDF – Excellent PDF compressor

SwifDoo PDF

iSkysoft PDFelement – Great OCR scanner

iSkysoft PDF Editor

Movavi PDFChef – Good for PDF editing

Movavi PDf Editor

How can a PDF to JPG converter help me?

Does Windows 11 have a clipboard history?

How do you open the clipboard on Windows 11?

When something is saved to the clipboard, where does it go?

How do you empty the clipboard in Windows 11?

1. Clear clipboard from Settings

2. Clear clipboard in-app

3. Clear clipboard via Command Prompt

Why is my clipboard history not working?

How do I fix Copy and Paste on Windows 11?

Can I share Google Drive with non-Gmail users?

How do I share a Google Drive folder with someone who doesn’t have Gmail?

1. Select the Anyone with link option for link sharing

2. Share a Google Drive folder via email

Why would I activate the Twitch dark mode?

How can I enable Twitch dark mode on my browser?

1. Via Settings

2. Activate the dark mode extension

2.1 For Chrome

2.2 For Mozilla Firefox

3. Use a browser with a built-in dark theme

Opera GX

Can I change back to Light mode in Twitch?

Microsoft to make European Cloud Providers more competitive

How can I sync folders between computers in Windows 10?

1. Sync folders over the network

2. Sync folders and migrate data with FastMove

FastMove

3. Sync folders using cloud services

How can I disable Cortana web searches on Windows 10?