At last, Microsoft Word on the web is getting a dark mode

If you’ve ever worked late at night you probably understand the problems with light mode. Your screen is way too bright, and there’s a particular strain on your eyes. That is why Microsoft is now adding a dark mode to Word for the Web, helping make it easier for you to focus on your document when the lights are turned out (via Neowin.)

As with most of these incoming features for Microsoft 365 apps, mention of this one is on the Microsoft 365 roadmap. It has the feature ID of 93328 with the appropriate title “Word: Dark Mode.” Microsoft doesn’t dive into many details, but mentions that it hopes Dark Mode in Word on the web will “provide a modern look for documents while giving users the ability to reduce eye strain and accommodate light sensitivity from long hours at a computer screen.”

Other than that, Microsoft says it is targeting a May 2022 release for this dark mode feature. But seeing as though the month of May is now over, we think June could be a better bet. We also aren’t sure of how the dark mode might work, but it can be expected to automatically respect your system’s light or dark theme, as well as your web browser’s settings. A possible toggle switch could also be added under the settings gear, too, but we’ll have to wait and see.

These features are being removed from subscription-based Microsoft Excel in June

Several features are being removed from the Microsoft 365 subscription-based versions of Microsoft Excel next month in June. Spotted by Thurrott.com, the list includes Money in Excel, Wolfram Data Types in Excel, as well as several offers from Microsoft’s partners.

If you recall, Money in Excel was first introduced back in June of 2020, and we even went hands-on with it. The feature was designed to help you track your finances. Unfortunately, though, come June 30, 2023, Microsoft will disconnect your financial institutions from any Money in Excel workbooks you have, and you won’t be able to refresh transitions. The data in the workbook will stay in place, however, and you even can take advantage of an offer from Tiller to enjoy a 60-day of personal finance spreadsheet service.

As for Wolfram Data Types in Excel, this too was introduced in June 2020. Yet come June 11, 2023, you’ll no longer be able to add new Wolfram data types. This means you won’t be able to refresh data, follow links, view new images, or download templates with Wolfram data.

The last of the features removed in Excel isn’t really an Excel feature. Rather, it’s a partner feature. Typically you’d be able to go to an offers website and enjoy discounts on things like Shutterfly, Pocket, and Experian ID protection. But come June 30, these will no longer be available. So, you might want to redeem these as they last if you’re a Microsoft 365 subscriber.

How to Ignore Chrome Certificate Errors & Access Sites With No SSL

To ignore Chrome certificate errors, you’ll have to tweak your security settings. Once you do this, you’ll be able to access sites that don’t use encryption.

This gives you more freedom for web surfing, but be warned: ⚠️ this is only recommended if you 100% trust the site you want to access⚠️. Otherwise, you’ll cause more harm than good.

How do I turn off certificate checks?

1. Allow invalid certificates from localhost

  1. Launch the Chrome browser.
  2. On the address locator input the link below.
    chrome://flags/
    open flags google chrome
  3. Type secure in the search box and click enter.
    secure search box chrome
  4. Scroll down to the Allow invalid certificates for resources loaded from localhost flag.
  5. Click on the dropdown list and select Enabled.
    enable flag chrome
  6. Restart the browser and try to reaccess the link.

Following these steps will allow all invalid certificates for resources loaded from localhost.

2. Enable Insecure origins treated as secure

  1. Launch the Chrome browser.
  2. On the address locator input the link below.
    chrome://flags/
    open flags google chrome
  3. Type secure in the search box and click enter.
    secure search box chrome
  4. Scroll down to the Insecure origins treated as secure flag.
  5. Click on the dropdown list and select Enabled.
    insecure origins treated as secure chrome

3. Ignore certificate errors for domain

  1. Navigate to your Chrome launcher location (This is the shortcut used to launch the browser).
  2. Right-click on it and select the Properties option.
    chrome properties
  3. Click on the shortcut tab and add the text below to the Target text field, then click Apply and OK.
    --ignore-certificate-errors
    chrome ignore certificates target
  4. Launch Chrome and try to access any website.

4. Ignore certificate errors for trusted sites

  1. Click on the Start menu, type in control panel, and open the app.
    control panel windows
  2. Select the Network and Internet menu.
    Network and Internet
  3. Click on the Network and Sharing Center option.
  4. At the bottom of the left pane, click on Internet options.
    internet options network and sharing center
  5. In the new window click on the Security tab, select the Trusted Sites icon, and click on the button for Sites.
    trusted sites
  6. In the Add this website to the zone text field, you should input any sites that give a certificate error and click the Add button.
    add this website to the zone
  7. Once you are done, choose Apply and close.

This should help with the doh.xfinity.com certificate error.

Why does Chrome require SSL certificates?

Chrome requires SSL certificates to encrypt data transmitted between a user’s web browser and a website. This encryption ensures that sensitive information like payment details remains secure, providing visitors with a safer browsing experience.

padlock icon in chrome

Sites using SSL display HTTPS in the URL and a padlock icon, indicating encryption. Without SSL, sites risk lower conversion rates and traffic due to being marked insecure and avoided by most internet users.

Most common certificate errors

Below are a few common certificate errors and why you may see them.

  • NET::ERR_CERTIFICATE_TRANSPARENCY_REQUIRED – When you access an HTTPS site with SSL/TLS Certificate problems, you could trigger this Chrome browser error message.
  • ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH – When website browsers and website servers don’t support the same SSL protocol edition, you will get this error message.
  • NET::ERR_CERT_WEAK_SIGNATURE_ALGORITHM – This error occurs when the server and your computer do not have a secure SSL connection or when the SSL certificate is expired, not correctly configured, or doesn’t correspond to the domain you are attempting to access.
  • ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR – You are getting this message because you have an incorrect date configuration on your computer.
  • NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID – Issues with the network, your device, or a browser may be causing the error by preventing the SSL certificate from being correctly read.
  • ERR_CERT_SYMANTEC_LEGACY – This error commonly arises because a Symantec SSL / TLS certificate issued before June 1, 2016 is no longer recognized by Google Chrome.
  • NET::ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID (this occurs when the certificate does not match the domain)
  • ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED – This is usually due to a server-side issue and not the individual connection attempt.

The above solutions will be valuable ways of avoiding SSL certificate warning messages. As we mentioned earlier, the errors you get can be caused by various factors.

We also recommend you keep your device and browser updated, get rid of old cookies and cache and make sure you have the correct time and date set up on your machine.

If you need more assistance to ignore Chrome certificate errors, don’t hesitate to ask in the comments below.

Microsoft Entra is Microsoft’s new product family, focused on identity and access capabilities

Microsoft has just announced the launch of Entra, the latest entry to its family of products. Entra brings together Microsoft’s identity and access capabilities in one place. It includes Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), as well as Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) and decentralized identity.

Per Microsoft, Entra comes at a time when there’s a need for trust in a hyperconnected world. The company sees that it is important to help address attack surfaces and vulnerabilities as more organizations are advancing their digital activities. It’s not always a straightforward task to do this, so Entra helps fill the gap in these core ways:

  • Protect access to any app or resource for any user.
  • Secure and verify every identity across hybrid and multicloud environments.
  • Discover and govern permissions in multicloud environments.
  • Simplify the user experience with real-time intelligent access decisions.

“Microsoft Entra embodies our vision for what modern secure access should be. Identity should be an entryway into a world of new possibilities, not a blockade restricting access, creating friction, and holding back innovation. We want people to explore, to collaborate, to experiment—not because they are reckless, but because they are fearless,” explains Microsoft.

As pointed out by Mary Jo Foley, Entra will help provide “identity and access management, cloud infrastructure management, as well as identity verification,” Entra works with most clouds, including Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, and other Microsoft apps and websites.

Microsoft Edge is getting a new cross-platform “Drop” space for note, file storage

Microsoft is testing an interesting new productivity-first feature for the Edge browser. As spotted by Neowin, the Canary version of Edge now has a new feature dubbed as “Drop,” where you can leave select files, notes, or other content and visit it again on your other computers, tablets, or phones.

Currently, it looks as though this new “Drop” feature is still in A/B testing with Edge Canary 104, as we’re not seeing it on our end just yet. However, you’ll know when it is available for you when you see a new envelope icon at the top of your web browser, near the other icons for collections, and favorites. You also can toggle it by going to Settings and then Appearance and scrol down the list to look for the icon.

Image via Neowin

 

Once you enable and then click on that icon, you’ll get a new sidebar, where you can attach a file, or a note, and leave it in the space. It looks as though the feature is depending on OneDrive to work, as you’ll see a message showing you the total space used in your OneDrive account. Microsoft even will prompt you to scan a QR code to download Edge on mobile, too.

Overall, this can prove to be a useful feature for storing PDFs you might want to see across devices. It even can replace Sticky Notes for some people, which can already be accessed via the Outlook.com experience. We’re hoping that this feature is one that eventually rolls out to everyone, but for now, it is best to hold your breath. Not all features seen in Edge Canary make it down to the final, stable version of Edge.

Windows Video Editor Custom Audio Not Working [Fix]

Windows 11 features a Video Editor in the Photos app that functions similar to the Windows Movie Maker. The Windows integrated video editor can be used to edit and trim videos and create slideshows, clips, and movies. 

The Windows integrated video editor exists as a part of the Photos app and can be accessed either through the Photos app or directly using the search bar. 

One of the many features of the Windows integrated video editor is its ability to automatically create videos from your photos. You can also edit or create new videos manually by using the available tools in the app. 

The problem with the custom audio in the video editor may be linked to your windows audio service, in which case restarting the audio service should fix the problem. If you’ve had any of these issues with your Windows Video Editor, here are some recommended steps to fix them. But first, let’s look more closely into the Photos app.

Is Microsoft’s video editor any good in Windows 11?

The Photos app’s inbuilt video editor features various video-making and editing tools such as motion, effects, music, graphics, and text. 

The video editor follows the movie maker and offers easier ways to create and edit videos and images. The Windows video editor allows users to add audio to their videos either by selecting from the music provided by the video editor or by adding custom music or audio. 

How do I use custom audio in Windows video editor?

  1. Open the Photos app.
  2. Open the Video Editor.
  3. Click on New video project to start creating or editing a new video.
  4. Click on Add and select new video from this PC.
  5. Add your project to the storyboard. 
  6. Click on the top right-hand corner icon and select custom audio.
  7. Select add audio file. 
  8. Select the audio of your choice and adjust it as required to suit your video.
  9. Click done to add the audio to your video. 

Quick Tip:

You can use the integrated video editor on Windows 11 for basic editing, but you have to upgrade to professional software for better quality.

Adobe Premiere Pro has cutting-edge film editing tools that will improve your videos. Plus, there are skilled audio features for a smooth sound without errors.

⇒ Get Adobe Premiere Pro

What can I do if my custom audio isn’t working in Windows 11’s video editor?

1. Restart the Windows Audio Service 

  1. Press Windows + R. 
  2. Type services.msc into the search box and press enter.
  3. From the new window, locate and select Windows Audio. 
  4. Right-click on it and select restart.

2. Change sound settings 

  1. In the taskbar, right-click on the audio icon. 
  2. Select Sounds.
  3. From the playback section, right-click on your audio device.
  4. Select properties.
  5. Go to the advanced tab.
  6. Uncheck allow applications to take exclusive control of this device.
  7. Apply changes.

Windows Video Editor custom audio not playing

The Digital Theatre System (DTS) is another audio output provided by the Windows utility. Although the DTS is useful for certain projects, it may be the reason why custom audio is not responding or playing in the Windows Video Editor.

Turning off this service is a sure way to fix the custom audio problem.

Windows Video Editor custom audio not extending

Restarting the Windows Audio Service works perfectly for the Windows Video Editor custom audio is not extending error. However, if you’re still experiencing the issue, you can convert the audio file from one version to another, switching one codec to another, e.g AAC to MP3.

Unable to trim/expand the custom audio file in video editor

Users have also experienced issues where the custom audio file (represented by a long bar) added to a project cannot be trimmed or expanded. Here, the bar simply won’t stretch, meaning that you can’t edit the custom audio for the video editing project.

In this case, the best solution is to change the format of the video file as the issue may result from the incompatibility of the video file format. 

You can also turn off the exclusive mode from your computer’s sound settings to solve the audio problem with your video editor.

Which is the best video editing software for Windows 11?

The Windows operating system has a variety of video editing software that you can use, depending on your needs and the features they offer. One of the best video editing software for Windows 11 is Adobe Premiere Pro.

Its user interface and creative features set the software at the top of the list of video editing software for Windows. Other software for video editing in Windows 11 includes the Davinci Resolve, Shotcut, Light Works, VSDC video editor, Open Shot, etc. 

Finally, if you’re having issues exporting videos with the Photos app, here are three step-by-step fixes.

Thank you for reading this piece! Your comments are welcome in the section below.

3 Easy Ways to Fix ‘We’re Processing This Video Error’

Google Drive and YouTube are both great platforms to store and share videos. The former is relatively intimate when compared to the latter. However, on both these platforms, several users reported encountering We’re processing this video. please check back later error.

This is the case when you try to access a video uploaded on either of these platforms, and there are a bunch of factors behind it. The problem could have to do with the Internet speed or the platform’s server, amongst other factors.

But, as is the case with other issues, We’re processing this video. please check back later error too is easily fixable with some quick methods.

How long does a video take to process on Google Drive?

There is no definite answer to this question. It is very similar to asking how long it would take to reach from one place to another. There are several factors involved and if all these play out in our favor, we could come up with a figure, but that too would be an approximate one.

For instance, processing a 50MB video should take around 2-5 minutes while a 1 GB video would take, on average, 10-15 minutes. Processing a bunch of large videos could take hours. This gives you a fair idea of how long We’re processing this video. please check back later error would be present.

But again, it’s not definite. Google Drive makes several changes to the video before uploading and processing in order to make it accessible across devices. And if there are a lot of changes to be made over a poor connection, you might witness a higher processing time.

Another critical factor here is your device’s performance. If the one you are using to access Google Drive is all hogged up, it will take a longer time. So, make sure to boost your computer’s performance in order to reduce the video processing time on Google Drive.

This should provide you with a basic idea of the video processing time on Google Drive. Not, let’s see the most effective solutions for We’re processing this video. please check back later error.

How do you fix We’re processing this video. Please check back later?

Note icon NOTE
All the browser-related fixes listed below would be for Google Chrome and should provide you with a basic understanding of the concept. In case you have a different browser, check its official website for the exact steps.

1. On Google Drive

1.1 Re-login to your Google Account

  1. Click on your Profile icon near the top-right corner, and then click on the Sign out button.Sign out to fix we're processing this video. please check back later
  2. After you have logged out, re-enter your login credentials to sign back in.

After you have logged back into Google Drive, check if you can access the video that earlier showed the We’re processing this video. please check back later error.

1.2 Clear browser cache and cookies

  1. Press Ctrl + H to launch the History section in your browser.
  2. Next, click on the Clear browsing data option on the left.clear browsing data
  3. Now, select the desired option from the Time range dropdown menu, untick the option for Browsing history, and then click on Clear data at the bottom. Clear cache to fix we're processing this video. please check back later
  4. After the data is cleared, restart the browser for the changes to come into effect.

In most cases, We’re processing this video. please check back later error should now be eliminated, if it was caused by a corrupt browser cache.

1.3 Download the video

  1. Right-click on the video throwing the error, and select the Get link option from the context menu.Get link to fix we're processing this video. please check back later
  2. Now, click on the Copy link button, choose the required sharing settings from the dropdown menu, and click on Done.Copy link
  3. Paste the link you copied in a new tab, and click on the Download icon at the top-right to get the video.Download

If you are trying to view the video that is throwing the We’re processing this video. please check back later error, a simple workaround would be to download it. Also, with the right sharing settings in place, others can download it too even if it’s not completely processed by Google Drive.

If these three methods didn’t work, you can use reliable video compression software, and once the size of the video is reduced, it should get quickly processed on Google Drive.

The size of the video is one of the three critical factors that affect the processing time, the other two being Internet speed, and the performance of the device.

So, from now on, you should be able to eliminate the We’re processing this video. please check back later error, and if not, at least be able to view the video.

2. On YouTube

2.1 Update the browser

  1. Click on the ellipsis near the top-right, hover the cursor over Help, and select About Google Chrome from the flyout menu.About Google Chrome
  2. Now, if an update is available for the browser, it will automatically be downloaded.Update browser to fix we're processing this video. please check back later
  3. Once the browser is updated, click on the Relaunch button for the changes to come into effect.Relaunch

2.2 Use a reliable VPN

If you are using a VPN, it could be the reason behind encountering the We’re processing this video. Please check back later error. You can verify that by uninstalling it, and then getting a reliable and effective VPN.

Several VPNs are known to throttle the Internet speed which is one of the likely reasons behind the issue. Switch to a VPN that helps maintain optimal Internet speed while changing servers, to eliminate the error.

If you’re not sure where to begin your search for a trustworthy open-source VPN provider, we recommend Private Internet Access (PIA).

It is designed to fit into the award-winning VPN service since it employs the WireGuard tunnel protocol and is completely open-source.

You can set up a WireGuard tunnel to connect automatically at startup, opening a port and forwarding it to transmission, for a steady and fast connection.

2.3 Disable upload-related browser extensions

  1. Click on the Extensions icon in the browser’s toolbar and select Manage extensions.Manage extensions to fix we're processing this video. please check back later
  2. Now, click on the Remove button under the upload-related extension.Remove extension to fix we're processing this video. please check back later
  3. Again, click Remove in the confirmation prompt that pops up.Confirm

If any of the extensions added to the browser deal with uploads, it’s time you remove these to fix the We’re processing this video. please check back later error on YouTube. Some of these are known to conflict with the upload process on YouTube, and it’s best to disable all similar ones.

How do I speed up Google Drive processing?

  1. Click on the ellipsis near the top-right corner, and select Settings from the menu.Settings
  2. Next, click on the Advanced option to view the tabs under it.Advanced
  3. Select the System tab.System to fix we're processing this video. please check back later
  4. Make sure that the Use hardware acceleration when available option is enabled. If not, click on the toggle to do that.Hardware Acceleration

This is one of the simplest, amongst the many, ways to speed up the Google Drive processing. Apart from this, you can try the methods listed earlier, for instance, compressing the video, removing conflicting extensions, or clearing the browser cache.

These are all the ways you can fix We’re processing this video. lease check back later error while accessing recently uploaded videos on Google Drive and YouTube.

Also, do not hesitate to find out the best Google Drive alternatives with low processing time to quickly and safely back up your data.

Do not forget to tell us which fix worked and the platform you were facing the issue on, in the comments section below.

Bethesda Account not Linking to Steam: Easy Solution

Are you failing to link your Bethesda account to Steam? If so, you aren’t alone because many other people are experiencing this issue and cannot connect their Bethesda accounts to Steam.

Fortunately, this guide will help you fix the Bethesda account not linking to the Steam issue.

Bethesda is a big name in the gaming industry and is an American video game publisher. It is known for publishing multiple triple-A gaming titles, including Fallout and The Elder Scrolls series.

However, the Bethesda game launcher is not the best, and users have reported multiple issues. For instance, the Bethesda account not linking to Steam is one of the most common problems users have faced for quite a while.

Linking your Bethesda account with Steam is excellent for cross-platform play. But connecting your Bethesda account to Steam is crucial for cross-platform playing between the two clients.

This guide will provide you with some solutions that will help you fix the Bethesda account not linking to the Steam issue. So let us check it out.

How can I fix the Bethesda account not linking to the Steam error?

If you have followed the above steps carefully and tried to connect your Steam account to Bethesda, you are getting an error message saying Account linking failed. Please retry or contact Customer Support. Then you might have the Steam Client already installed on your PC.

You might have installed the Steam Client and have played a Bethesda game before, such as Doom Eternal. Steam must have automatically linked itself to the Bethesda account in such a case. And if the Steam account isn’t the correct one, you will face issues connecting the Bethesda account to Steam.

What can you do in such a scenario? To get around this, you need to unlink any current Steam account linked to your Bethesda account. You can also contact customer support to remove any automatic linkage.

Alternatively, you can also follow the below procedure to unlink your Steam account from your Bethesda account.

  1. Open any web browser.
  2. Navigate to Bethesda’s official website.
  3. Login to your Bethesda account.Bethesda account not linking to Steam
  4. After successfully logging in to Bethesda, under Account Settings, select Linked Accounts.Bethesda account not linking to Steam
  5. On the next page, you will see all of your linked accounts.
  6. If you see a trash icon next to the Steam account, click on it.
  7. You will be prompted to answer a security question.
  8. Once you enter the correct answer, the Steam account will be unlinked from Bethesda account.
  9. If you do not see a trash icon next to the Steam account, you need to raise a ticket to customer support to remove your Steam account from Bethesda.
  10. You can submit a ticket here by providing the below information:
    • What is the Steam Username / ID that you linked?
    • What is the Bethesda.net account ID that you linked?

An important point to note here is that not all accounts are eligible to unlink Steam accounts. However, it’s worth trying to follow the above method to unlink the Steam accounts from Bethesda.

Once you have successfully unlinked your Steam account from Bethesda, all you need to do is link it back again. For that, you can follow the steps mentioned in the next section.

How to link the Bethesda account to Steam?

  1. Open any web browser.
  2. Navigate to Bethesda’s official website.
  3. Login to your Bethesda account.Bethesda account not linking to Steam
  4. After successfully logging in to Bethesda, under Account Settings, select Linked Accounts.Bethesda account not linking to Steam
  5. Click the Plus (+) sign inside an empty box and select Steam from the menu.Bethesda account not linking to Steam
  6. Now, log in to your Steam account.
  7. Confirm the Bestheda and Steam linking.
  8. Once linked, you will see the Steam logo in the Linked Accounts section.

There are options to link other accounts, such as Twitch, Facebook, Xbox Live, PlayStation, and Amazon. Once you link your Bestheda account with Steam or any of the accounts mentioned earlier, you can access promotional discounts from these accounts on any of the Bethesda games.

Besides, to link another account, you need to head over to the Linked Accounts page, click on the Plus (+) button, and click on Add a Platform, Social Media, or Game Account.

How can I transfer Bethesda games to Steam?

  1. Open any web browser.
  2. Navigate to Bethesda’s official website.
  3. Login to your Bethesda account.Bethesda account not linking to Steam
  4. After successfully logging in to Bethesda, under Account Settings, select Linked Accounts.Bethesda account not linking to Steam
  5. Click the Plus (+) sign inside an empty box and select Steam from the menu.Bethesda account not linking to Steam
  6. Now, log in to your Steam account.
  7. Confirm the Bethesda and Steam linking.
  8. Once linked, you will see the Steam logo in the Linked Accounts section.
  9. Go back to your Account Settings and select Transfer Library.
  10. Now on the right side, you will be displayed plenty of information on what will be moved and what will not be moved.
  11. Here, under the Transfer, Your Games section, click on the green START STEAM TRANSFER button.
  12. Next, you will be asked to confirm the transfer. Press YES, TRANSFER TO THIS ACCOUNT button.
  13. You will see a TRANSFER IN PROGRESS page.
  14. After the process completes, you will see all games visible in your Steam account.

Below we have mentioned some burning questions you might have while making up your mind to transfer your Bethesda games to Steam.

➡ Do save files and progress transfer?

The answer to this is yes. However, you may want to check out this page to get information about specific games. For example, some games may automatically transfer save files and progressions, whereas some may require different processes.

➡ Are the games still playable on Bethesda?

Unfortunately, no. Once you have completed the transfer process, you won’t be able to access the games on the Bethesda launcher. Because the transfer process completely copies all information and deletes the game from Bethesda’s database.

Let us know if the above solution helped resolve the Bethesda account not linking to the Steam problem. You can also share any other solution that fixed the situation at your end.

20 Surprising Facts and Stats About Google Drive That You Didn’t Know

Google Drive is a file storage service provided by the tech giant Google that allows people to save on the company’s cloud. Drive also synchronizes those files across various devices for both Windows and macOS.

You can upload a document onto your PC and then grab it on your iPhone or Android tablet. In addition, Drive incorporates other apps like Docs, Sheets, and Slides, which are all a part of Google’s office suite.

These apps allow for collaboration among many. A big group can edit documents, spreadsheets, presentations, drawings, etc. Google Drive has effectively revolutionized work collaboration.

It isn’t easy to imagine a world without it. Seeing Google Drive crash before you while working on a project is a gut-wrenching feeling.

This resource guide won’t go through how to fix Google Drive but rather share 20 facts about the service that you didn’t know.

Does Google Drive have analytics?

Google does have analytics for its Drive service, but it’s only for your account. A lot of the information and the fact that you will see come from a wide variety of sources.

Google rarely publishes information and analytics on its services; it prefers to keep them under wraps. It’s unknown why they don’t share everything about the website. It may have to do with some business concern.

Whatever the case may be, the information is scattered. Everything had to be collected from news articles discussing previous Google events, while some came from the tech giant.

Although sheepish with numbers and data, Google has been kind enough to loosen its grip on certain aspects. As a result, all you have is information on your side of things; analytics for your Google Drive account.

You may be asking yourself, “how do I track user activity on Google Drive?” Google has provided many tools to its users so people can track information.

If you’re the administrator of a Google Drive account, you can utilize the audit and investigation page to search for information connected to specific log events. For example, you can see what other people in your business/organization are doing in Drive.

The log events include whatever people create in Docs, Sheets, or other Drive apps, plus whatever is uploaded to the account. There’s also the Activity API for developers.

The Activity API allows apps to obtain information about a group’s Google Drive activity. It displays information on user activity and file changes. There’s also an option for a browser extension.

It’s called Drive Insights, and it was created by a third-party developer known as Clasefi. You can download it from the Google Workspace Marketplace, where you can get other Drive-specific apps.

With Drive Insights, you can see data about the files stored on your Google Drive. It’s displayed in an easy-to-understand user interface. For example, you’ll see how much is stored, recent activity, and the collaborators who have access.

And then there’s Google’s own Analytics web page. Typically, it just provides you information on your website, but Zapier has a way to connect Analytics to Drive so you can send data between the two.

It’s a convenient way to see data without downloading an extra app or extension.

20 mind-blowing Google Drive statistics and facts

1. One billion users as of 2018

In 2018, Google announced that it had reached a billion users during the Google Cloud Next conference in San Francisco. However, the company hasn’t said how many users it has currently.

However, the number as of this writing is, in no doubt, much higher. It’s probably nowhere near two billion, though. So it may be a while until Drive reaches that benchmark.

2. It hosts over two trillion files

Around the same time that Google announced that Drive had a billion users, it also told that it had over two trillion files in its databases. This includes things like text documents, images, and videos.

This far exceeds what rivals like Microsoft and Apple have. Other services like Dropbox and iCloud come pretty close, but neither overtakes Drive.

3. One Google doc can hold 1.02 million characters

4. 31,255 companies use Google Drive

This data comes from Enlyft, a software developer who collects information on other companies’ behalf. It helps B2B sales and marketing teams seek out new customers.

Some of the companies include Finn Partners, Inc and Zendeck Inc, having revenue of around a billion dollars a year.

5. Google Drive takes up 36.81 percent of the file-hosting industry

Google, without a doubt. Takes up a portion of the file hosting service industry. According to Enlyft again, the next biggest is Dropbox with 25.78 percent, then Microsoft OneDrive at 14.08 percent.

Last place is WebDrive at 7.33 percent, and then it’s everything else in the industry.

Credit: Lukas Blazek/Unsplash

6. American companies take up 23,588 out of the total 31,255

This means that 76 percent of Google Drive users are in the United States. Followed by the 1,809 United Kingdom users, who make up 6 percent. From there, it just goes down.

Canada is third, followed by India, Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Italy.

7. The maximum size a Google Docs page can be is 50 MB

8. Google Drive has around 800 million monthly active users

This information comes from an old Google Cloud Next event that the company held back in 2017. It was part of a more prominent announcement to make Google Workspace (then G Suite) more competitive against similar services.

9. Google Drive has over five billion downloads

This information comes from the official Google Drive page on the Google Play Store. It effectively retains most of its users, making it one of Google’s top products.

10. One Google Sheet can hold 10 million cells

Holding 10 million cells is a recent update. Google added this feature on March 14, 2022. The company states it did this further to help users with their data on a bigger scale.

Google has been slowly increasing the Sheets limit over the years. Back in 2019, it grew to five million, up from two million. This makes Sheets bigger than Microsoft Excel.

11. One Google Sheet can hold 18,278 individual columns at once; the final column is titled ZZZ

As a result of the cell increase, Google added more columns to house everything. The final column at the far end of Sheets is now ZZZ.

Credit: PhotoMIX-Company/Pixabay

12. One Google Slide presentation can hold 100 MB of data

13. Six million businesses pay for Google Drive

Google Drive is a part of the Google Workspace collection (formerly known as G Suite). It’s a bunch of productivity apps that include Google Drive, among others. What’s unique about this version of Drive is that it expands its storage.

The free version of Google Drive offers 15 GB of storage. The paid version of Google Drive offers an unlimited amount of space and access to Vault for Drive so you can manage users and files.

The pricing for businesses varies, but other plans have a set price. Those plans still offer a considerable amount of space, such as five terabytes worth of storage.

14. Google Drive supports over 50 different file formats

Looking at the Google Drive Help page, the service supports various formats. You have the shared DOC and JPEG files, but Drive also supports WebM and SVG (scalable vector graphics) formats.

Apple-specific files are limited to a few editor files, but hopefully, this gets expanded.

15. Many third-party apps work with Google Drive

Back in 2013, Google released the Google Drive Realtime API. To make it simple, it’s a way for developers to incorporate Google Drive into their apps.

The API handles storage, communication between users, and other essential app features. It’s unknown just how many apps work with Drive because of this API. Unfortunately, there are so many out there that it’s impossible to count them all.

But rest assured, Google Drive compatibility is more common than not.

16. some countries block Google Drive

Google Workspace is banned in various countries, to be precise. It’s unknown just how many blocks Workspace, but the tech giant does provide a shortlist.

According to Google, the countries that block Workspace include Crimea, Iran, Syria, and the Donetsk People’s Republic.

Credit: Tima Miroshnichenko/ Pexels

17. Google Drive helped Alphabet earn $10 billion

Alphabet is Google’s parent company, and they reported back in late 2020 that its Cloud services raked in $10 billion. So, of course, Google Drive is included in that entire package.

2021 saw less money rolling in, but it’s still a massive amount. In 2021, Google Cloud brought in $5 billion; again, Drive is a part of that.

18. Google Drive has robust security settings

In the past, Google has been criticized for poor security measures. Over the years, Google has worked hard to get rid of this stigma and implement many different types of security.

Google Drive will actively scan your files to ensure they’re not infected with malware or some phishing scam. You can control what other people see, and it uses reCAPTCHA to protect against fraud.

19. Google Drive has a 99.9 percent uptime reliability

In an old Google for Work Help page, the company states it makes sure its services have a 99.9 percent availability with no scheduled downtime. That means Google Drive is rarely unavailable.

The last time Google Drive was down was back in December 2020.

20. Google Drive has been around for over 10 years

And the last shocking fact is that Google Drive has been around for a little over a decade. The original version launched on April 24, 2012, and has gone through many changes.

New features keep getting added, and Google always makes it easier to access Drive’s files. For example, in 2021, Drive for desktop was replaced with Backup and Sync to make it easy to grab files from any device.

Photo and video management have been made more straightforward over the years. And just recently, Google made it possible to move files with special keyboard shortcuts.

What are the benefits of Google Drive?

As briefly alluded to earlier, the main benefit of Google Drive is just how useful it is. It has an easy-to-use interface that clicks for many people, for starters.

Creating a new document is straightforward, and you have a great navigation bar on the left-hand side. Plus, the service is compatible with lots of different services and apps.

For example, it works perfectly with all of the apps on Microsoft Office. However, you may run into syncing problems sometimes with Drive. Fortunately, fixing syncing problems on Drive is also super easy to do.

A common problem with the Drive desktop app is that it can clash with your computer’s firewall program. You’ll have to turn it off or give the Drive app permissions to work. If all else fails, use the browser version.

Also, Drive on Windows 10 and 11 are identical to each other, so you won’t have to worry about a big difference, at least for now. Google might add Windows 11-specific changes, but that’s unlikely.

Another boon to Google Drive is that you can access files and documents from anywhere on any device. So as quickly as you can sign in to Drive, you can grab whatever you got on there.

This level of access is great, but you must make sure your security is top-notch. Luckily, Google has tons of tools at your disposal to protect yourself. For example, you can scan Google Drive for viruses, and it’s highly recommended that you do so.

Windows Security has a feature just for that. Google may also block email attachments from infecting your Drive account. This is a great feature but can be annoying when you know the attachment is safe.

Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions on other Windows 11 apps or if you have some that you recommend. Also, feel free to leave comments about guides that you’d like to see or information on other Windows 11 features.

7 Ways to Solve Bethesda.net Launcher Not Working

Bethesda has had its own unique launcher for a while now where you can play all of their popular games. It’s a handy way to keep some of your favorite games under one location.

However, there have been issues in the past concerning the Bethesda launcher. Unfortunately for fans, it’s one among many other problems plaguing the game studio.

What are the problems with the Bethesda launcher?

There are a wide variety of problems plaguing the Bethesda launcher, but just to give an example, people have dealt with the app not loading or updating.

Some of our readers have also complained about the launcher appearing as a white screen.

This guide will show you how to fix the seven most common problems plaguing the Bethesda launcher.

What can I do if the Bethesda launcher is not working?

1. Bethesda launcher stuck loading – Task Manager

  1. Open the Search bar and search for the Task Manager, then click on the app from the results.
  2. Under the Processes tab, right-click Bethesda.net Launcher and select End Task.
  3. Hover over the Bethesda.net Launcher and right-click it.
  4. Select Properties.
  5. In the Properties window, click the Compatibility tab.
  6. Check the box next to Run this program as an administrator.
  7. Click Apply then OK to save these changes.

Closing the service and opening the Bethesda app as an administrator can fix the launcher problem so it’s the first thing to try.

2. Bethesda launcher stuck loading – Drivers

  1. Bring up the Search bar by clicking on the magnifying glass icon.
  2. Search for the Device Manager and click on the entry that appears.
  3. Click on the Display adapters to expand its category.
  4. Right-click the graphics card and select Update driver.
  5. In the new pop-up window, select Search automatically for drivers.
  6. Your computer will begin to search for any missing drivers and update instantly.
  7. If the best drivers are already installed, a new window will appear telling you so.
  8. Open the Bethesda Launcher and see if the issue has been resolved.
  9. Updating your drivers will fix the problem most of the time. If nothing else works, default to updating drivers.

Driver updates make the routes used by the Graphics Card perform their functions quicker by reducing needless operations or better dividing the workload.

It is essential that you use the most recent versions of your drivers. If you find this procedure complicated and time-consuming, there are third-party tools that can do it for you automatically.

Outbyte Driver Updater, which has a large database of drivers for all types of PCs, is one of the best tools our software experts tested for finding and replacing old graphic card drivers. Try it out and do let us know if it found your missing drivers.

⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

3. Bethesda launcher not updating

  1. Open the Search bar and type in uninstall.
  2. Click on the entry that reads Add or remove programs.
  3. On the Installed apps page, scroll down and locate Bethesda.net Launcher.
  4. Click on the three dots to the far right and a context menu will appear.
  5. Select Uninstall.
  6. Once uninstalled, go to the Bethesda Launcher webpage.
  7. Click Download For Free to begin reinstallation.
  8. Follow the prompts as the installation wizard makes them appear.

If the launcher doesn’t update, you will have to uninstall and reinstall the software and as you can see, it’s very easy to do that.

4. Bethesda launcher white screen

  1. On the desktop, right-click on the Bethesda Launcher icon to make the context menu appear.
  2. Select Properties.
  3. In the Properties menu, select the Shortcut menu.
  4. In the Target box, type in -usesoftwarerendering at the end of the name.
  5. Click Apply then OK at the bottom of the window to save the changes.
  6. Conversely, you can also update drivers or run the app as an administrator to do the same.

5. Bethesda launcher is shutting down

  1. Right-click the launcher’s desktop icon to make a context menu appear and select Properties.
  2. Select the Compatibility tab.
  3. Under the Compatibility mode section, tick the box next to Run this program in compatibility for.
  4. Click the drop-down menu and select Windows XP Service Pack 3.
  5. Click Apply then OK to save the changes.

Reinstalling the launcher or even running the app as an administrator are the most common solutions to sudden shutting down.

But as that doesn’t work all the time, there’s a good idea to run the Bethesda Launcher in Compatibility mode.

6. Bethesda launcher is not connecting to the Internet

  1. Click on the magnifying glass icon and search for Windows Defender Firewall.
  2. Click the entry that appears. Make sure it’s not the Advanced Security version.
  3. In the Defender Firewall, select Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall.
  4. Select Change settings in the upper right corner.
  5. Then click the Allow another app button.
  6. In the small window that appears, select Browse.
  7. Locate where the Bethesda Launcher sits on your computer and click Open.
  8. Select Add to give the Bethesda launcher Firewall permissions.
  9. Click OK at the bottom of the Firewall to save the changes.

If the launcher isn’t connecting to the Internet, this solution helps you add it as an exception to Windows Firewall.

7. Bethesda launcher not opening

  1. Open the Bethesda launcher and go to the problematic game.
  2. Click on Game Options.
  3. Select Scan and Repair.
  4. Give the launcher time to finish validating. Afterwards, you’ll see a message appear at the top when it’s finished.

If the launcher itself is having problems with opening, you can either run the app as an administrator, run it in compatibility mode, or reinstall it.

However, if you run into a problem with a particular game not launching, you’ll need to verify it just as you see in our solution above.

Are there other game fixes or tips that I should be aware about?

You may be interested in learning about games that you can play right now without a single download. Games like Forge of Empires and Slither.io are all browser-based, so that’ll save valuable space.

A popular PC title right now is Halo Infinite, which, unfortunately, has had its fair share of crashing problems.

Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions about other gaming apps. Also, leave comments about reviews that you’d like to see or information on anything video game-related.

Consolidate your Scheduling, Calendars and To Do’s with the Morgen App

Morgen simplifies demanding schedules, time-blocking to get work done, and facilitates booking time with others.

You will ask why it’s important to have a separate calendar app when you already have one in Windows.

Because this is not just your average calendar. In fact, this is a calendar that consolidates all calendars and comes with powerful scheduling tools that will immensely boost your productivity.

That’s why we tested the Morgen calendar app and here we’re going to talk about its best features and how to set it up for Windows PCs.

How can Morgen help me organize my schedule?

Morgen calls their product the Superhuman of personal time management, and that’s because it performs most of the tasks of a real personal assistant, except for the calls, of course.

First of all, it integrates personal and professional calendars including Google Calendar, iCloud, Office 365, Exchange, and a lot more.

It then integrates tasks from major productivity platforms including Todoist, Google Tasks, Microsoft ToDo, Outlook, and others.

Morgen streamlines scheduling right in the calendar app, making it easy to book time with others and avoiding conflicting commitments from both your personal and professional calendars.

What are Morgen’s best features?

1. Clean, slick, and fast UX

Calendars are only helpful if they are clear, comprehensive, and easy to read at a glance, otherwise, they will confuse rather than help.

And Morgen’s interface is right on the spot because at any moment, you can clearly see your schedule on a single page, without any glitter or special effects.

You can also select and change your view at any time, be it seeing all calendars consolidated or viewing a subset.

Of course, it’s possible to color-code every type of task, meeting, list, and whatnot to differentiate them easily.

2. Task management integration

Few calendars available to Microsoft users offer as many task management integrations as Morgen.

You can add all your to-do lists and tasks from Todoist, Google Tasks, Microsoft To Do and Outlook, and they promise to add more soon.

And connecting to all these services is simply a matter of signing into the third-party app accounts and granting Morgen data permissions.

After that, all will be imported right into your calendar to plan, schedule, and block time for getting tasks done.

3. Video conferencing connectivity

Include meeting rooms for all your virtual meetings right in Morgen. When you integrate your Zoom, Teams, and/or Google Meet accounts, you can create a new dynamic room for each meeting you book. Or set a static virtual room to be used when others book meetings with you.

Morgen makes it easy to launch virtual meetings right from your calendar, even prompting with a Join button as a meeting approaches.

We haven’t seen too many calendars with this feature and Morgen does it seamlessly. You can also set a static virtual room to be used when others book meetings with you.

4. Streamlined scheduling

Gone are the days of lengthy back-and-forth coordinating meeting times. Morgen facilitates scheduling in 2 ways, using a scheduling link or a personal booking page.

A scheduling link is a great tool for sharing availabilities for a specific meeting. Just mark your availability in your calendar, share the link, and others can choose when works best for them.

Once they select one of your suggested times, an invite is sent. Alternatively, you can set up your personal booking page to share your availabilities broadly for anyone to book.

Create your personal booking page by simply sharing available times, setting constraints such as meeting length and buffer time, and adding an optional message. You can then share your booking page URL or embed it on your website.

People can then book time with you in one of your available slots and that’s it. The meeting will immediately show up on your calendar.

How do I download, install and set up Morgen?

  1. Go to the Morgen calendar webpage and click the Get started for free button.
  2. In the next window, click the Download .exe button to get the Windows 10 & 11 compatible version. As you can see, there are also versions for Linux and Mac available.
  3. Download the installer and initiate the setup process. First, type in your email address and verify it by entering a code they send.
  4. The next step is to link your calendars from Google, Office, Exchange or Outlook, iCloud and more. Don’t worry, you can add more from the app itself later.
  5. Now, select the task managers you use and of course, you can add more later.
  6. The next step is all about choosing a video conferencing service. You can do that later as well.
  7. Next, select your time zone, a regional format, and the first day of the week.
  8. And that’s it, as we opted for the free trial, we’ve got 14 days to test it, more than enough to see if it meets our requirements.
  9. As we’ve mentioned before, you can tweak all the settings and add more integrations just by clicking the Plus sign.
  10. From the Settings menu, you can add accounts and integrations, create virtual rooms, change your profile data, and a lot more.

As you can see, it’s really simple to install and set up Morgen and after that, the menus are all straightforward on a clean and modern interface.

We also love that Morgen consolidates calendars across platforms. For the Windows/iPhone users, integrating with iCal is a huge plus. What’s more, Morgen’s iPhone app is in development.

Morgen’s calendar synchronization is in real-time. When you update your calendar, be it in Morgen directly or in one of your integrated calendars, it will immediately synchronize across calendars.

When it comes to bookings, Morgen goes beyond scheduling tools like Calendly to give you options for how you schedule meetings.

Create personalized scheduling links to send to individuals for specific meetings or create a personal booking page to share your availabilities broadly.

However, the best thing about it is that you can test Morgen for 14 days before committing to any license so don’t take our word for it, just try it!

⇒ Get Morgen

Pros
Simple and comprehensive user interface
Unmatched third-party integrations of task management tools
Compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux
Video conferencing connectivity right from the calendar
Realtime calendar synchronization
Cons
A white-labeled booking page is not available in the free trial
The free plan allows you to synch only one calendar account

Final notes

We were definitely impressed with this tool on all levels and most of all because it removes the clutter from the daily scheduling and task management.

The setup procedure, after you install the tool, is simply excellent because it guides you through the whole process.

As we’ve learned from the developer, Morgen is constantly evolving, adding new integrations, and the Android and iPhone apps are already in development.

While we’re on the subject of organizing, you might also be interested in our selection of the best weekly planner software.

Have you already tried Morgen? Tell us all about your experience in the comments section below.

Change Wifi Password in Windows 11 [3 Quick Ways]

Are you having trouble getting access to the Internet due to an incorrect WiFi password? Perhaps you want to change your WiFi password on Windows 11 but are unsure of how to do it. 

This is a common problem that many people face when they don’t know how to change the network settings. 

A good password is essential for security. If a malicious person gets access to your password, he/she can use it to access your personal information such as emails, bank account details, and other sensitive information.

Changing the password for your WiFi network can be a key step in securing your home network. Whatever the reason, changing your WiFi network password is simple and only takes a few minutes.

How to see WiFi password in Windows 11?

  1. Click on the magnifying glass icon from your Taskbar then type in Control Panel and open the topmost result.
    control-panel-search change wifi password windows 11
  2. Select Network and Internet followed by Network and Sharing Center.
    net-int change wifi password windows 11
  3. Click on your Wi-Fi name next to Connections.
    wi-fi name change wifi password windows 11
  4. Select Wireless Properties.
    wireless-prop change wifi password windows 11
  5. Finally, navigate to the Security tab and check the Show characters box in order to know your Wi-Fi password in Windows 11.
    security-show change wifi password windows 11

Is it necessary to have a WiFi password?

If you’re like most people, you have a wireless router at home that connects to the Internet and allows you to share files and printers on your network. But is it really necessary to have a WiFi password?

In most cases, yes. For example, if you don’t secure your WiFi network with a password, anyone can use your Internet connection – which can be costly if they use up all of your monthly data.

change wifi password

There is also a possibility that they could access sensitive information on any of your connected devices, such as photos or personal documents.

In some cases, it may not be necessary. For instance, if you live in a remote area and don’t have any neighbors nearby who could access your network, then there may not be much point in securing it with a password.

The WiFi password is there for security reasons and for your safety. It ensures that you do not allow unknown people or devices to connect to your network and use your bandwidth. This means that no one can access your data or files without first getting past the firewall in place.

If you’ve never changed your WiFi password, there’s a good chance that you’re using the default password that came with your router. 

There is also a possibility that anyone could have looked up that default password on the Internet and gained access to your WiFi network. 

You may also have forgotten the password and simply want to update it to something you can easily remember. So, how do you go about changing your WiFi password on Windows 11? 

How can I change the WiFi password on Windows 11?

1. Use the Settings App

  1. Hit the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open Settings.
    open settings
  2. On the left plane, select Network & Internet then click on Advanced network settings on the right pane.
    network-advanced minecraft not installing windows 11
  3. Select More network adapter options.
  4. Right-click on your wireless network and select Status.
  5. In the dialog box that pops up, select Wireless Properties.
  6. Navigate to the Security tab, edit the Network security key entry with the new password, and press OK.

2. Use the Control Panel

  1. Hit the Windows key, type Control Panel on the search bar, and click Open.
  2. Under Network and Internet, select View network status and tasks.
  3. Select Network and Sharing Center panel then click on Change adapter settings.
  4. Right-click on your wireless network and select Status.
  5. In the dialog box that pop up, select Wireless Properties.
  6. Navigate to the Security tab, edit the Network security key entry with the new password, and press OK.

3. Use the router page

  1. Navigate to your browser, enter your router’s IP address into the search bar and press Enter. 
  2. Next, enter your current router’s Username and Password and Login.
  3. Then, click Wireless.
  4. Next, change your new WiFi name and/or password.
  5. Finally, click Apply or Save.

Can I view saved WiFi passwords on Windows 11?

Yes, you can. There are times when you need to connect with a new device and your computer is not around or you have forgotten to write down the password. The other reason could be that the previous user has changed it and now you want to change it back.

We know it’s a pain to remember all your passwords. But with so many digital services, each with its own requirements and restrictions, you need a unique and strong password for each site.

That’s why we recommend using RoboForm so you can easily manage your passwords across all your devices.

So, how do you view your saved passwords? Follow the steps below:

1. Use Command Prompt

  1. Hit the Windows key, type cmd and select Run as administrator.
  2. Type in the following command, and press Enter: netsh wlan show profiles
  3. Next, type in the following command replacing Wi-Fi name with the name of your wireless network then press Enter: netsh wlan show profile name=“Wi-Fi NAME” key=clear

2. Use Powershell

  1. Press the Windows key, type in Windows Powershell, and click Open.
    windows powershell
  2. Copy and Enter the following command: (netsh wlan show profiles) | Select-String "\:(.+)$" | %{$name=$_.Matches.Groups[1].Value.Trim(); $_} | %{(netsh wlan show profile name="$name" key=clear)}  | Select-String "Key Content\W+\:(.+)$" | %{$pass=$_.Matches.Groups[1].Value.Trim(); $_} | %{[PSCustomObject]@{ PROFILE_NAME=$name;PASSWORD=$pass }} | Format-Table -AutoSize
  3. You will be able to view any saved WiFi password in Windows 11.

You can also view saved passwords on Windows 10 and Mac devices.

Where are the WiFi settings in Windows 11?

  1. Open Settings by holding Windows and I together then navigate to Network and Internet on the left-side menu.
    network change wifi password windows 11
  2. Next, click on Properties under the WiFi name. You will be redirected to all the WiFi settings that you want to tweak.
    prop-net change wifi password windows 11

Why can’t I change my WiFi password?

The most common reason you can’t change your WiFi password is that your device is using an old cached version of your network information. Try disconnecting from the network and then reconnecting.

It’s also likely that the network is being managed by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), employer, or another entity and your router has been configured in a specific way. If this is the case, you will have to contact your ISP and ask them to help you change the WiFi password.

In other instances, you may not be connected to the network. To change your WiFi password, you’ll need to be connected to the Internet. You also need to know your current password. 

Should you encounter any other problems with your wireless connection such as Wi-Fi disappearing in Windows 11, we have a step-by-step guide to bypass the issue.

It is our hope that you were able to successfully change your WiFi password with the help of this guide. Did you know that you can easily share a Wi-Fi password as a QR code on Windows 11? That’s right, and our latest article shows you how to do it.

If you encounter any other issues relating to this matter, leave us a comment and we’ll be sure to get back to you.

Best Krunker Settings for Low End PC [5 Quick Fixes]

Getting the best performance in the game is important, especially if it’s an FPS. Speaking of which, many users are wondering what are the best Krunker settings for low-end PC.

To give you a brief, Krunker is a free-to-play multiplayer arena-based online shooting game. Up to 8 players can join the game and shoot each other to death to win the game.

The graphics are not very intense and it is much like what you have with Minecraft or Roblox. It is kid-friendly, meaning there is no blood or gore in the game. But Krunker is a shooting game, so take note of it.

Krunker is a web-based game, though it can also be downloaded via Steam. Several users have reported that they are facing lag or stutter while playing the game on their PC. If you are among such users then this guide is here to help you.

Quick Tip:

Because Krunker is a web-based game, it will be much more fun to play with a dedicated gaming browser. To help you get the most out of both gaming and surfing, the Opera GX browser integrates unique features such as CPU, RAM, and network limiters.

This allows you to run Opera GX alongside online gaming or other resource-intensive applications.

Opera GX

Opera GX Control lets you set limits on how much RAM, CPU, and network usage your browser takes up.

In this guide, we will list down the best Krunker settings that you can set on your low-end PC to enjoy smooth gameplay. Let us check it out.

What are the best FPS settings for Krunker?

1. Tweak in-game settings

  1. 1. Launch Krunker

  2. 2. Click on Settings.

    go to settings
  3. 3. Select the General tab.

  4. 4. Click on the Performance option.

    go to performance
  5. 5. Switch to the Display tab. Now set all the settings to the lowest values.

    set display settings to low
  6. If you have a low-end PC and want to play Krunker on it, what you need to do is set your in-game Display settings to low.

    The lower the game’s visual settings are set, the better the performance will be for your PC.

2. Change the power plan

  1. Open the Start menu.
  2. Search for cmd and select Command Prompt to open it.
  3. Type the below command and press Enter. This will activate Ultimate Performance mode on your PC: powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61

Now you need to change your settings by doing the following:

  1. Open the Start menu again.
  2. Search for Choose a power plan and open it.choose-a-power-plan windows 11 won't go to sleep
  3. Expand the Show additional options section.
  4. Check Ultimate Performance located right at the bottom.

3. Change performance settings

  1. Open the Start menu.
  2. Search for View advanced system settings and open it.
  3. In the Advanced tab, under Performance click on Settings.
  4. Select Adjust for best performance.
  5. Click on Apply and OK to save changes.

4. Change graphics settings

  1. Open the Start menu.
  2. Open Graphics Settings.
  3. Click on Default graphics settings.
  4. Toggle on the Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling option.
  5. Go back and under Custom options for apps, click on Browse.
  6. Select Krunker from the Steam folder, if you are using it via Steam.
  7. After adding the game, click on Options.
  8. Select High performance.

After making these changes, check if the problem is still there.

5. Enable Game Mode

  1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
  2. From the left pane select Gaming.
  3. Click on Xbox Game Bar.
  4. Disable the toggle for Open Xbox Game Bar using this button on a controller option.
  5. Go back to the Gaming tab, and click on Game Mode.
  6. Toggle on Game Mode.

Best Krunker settings to copy paste

Users have been wondering how to import the best Krunker settings from their favorite gamers such as Sorable, undercoverdudes(ucd), and Kashy Kans. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. For Sorable fans, go to the linked PasteBin page to find the Krunker settings, and select the text file to copy it, and later import it. Do the same for UCD and Kashy Kans.copy-krunker krunker settings import best
  2. Next, open your game, go to Settings followed by Import then hit Ctrl + V to paste the settings inside the window that will open up and say Copy paste settings text here. That’s it!import krunker settings import pastebin

Why is my FPS so low in Krunker?

In most cases, the issue stems from your game settings or your browser, so you need to adjust the settings or change the browser.

Your PC settings can also cause performance issues, so adjusting them is a great way to fix this issue.

These are the best Krunker settings for low-end PC, so be sure to try them if you want to get the maximum performance during your gaming sessions.

Let us know in the comments below if the above settings helped you get the best FPS while playing Krunker on your low-end PC.

Moreover, if there are a few other tweaks that did the job for you, then feel free to share them in the comments.

5 Best Solutions for Avast Secure Browser Not Responding

This article will explore issues relating to Avast Secure Browser not responding.

Avast Secure Browser is a free Chromium-based browser from Avast, released in 2018. This browser is essentially a substitute for Avast’s SafeZone Browser, which has been discontinued.

Avast Secure Browser was developed to give consumers better privacy, faster browsing, and protection from online threats.

The browser is available as a standalone product or as part of an Avast security package.

The browser’s features can be expanded with seven extensions, but it also includes an anti-fingerprinting technology that ensures no one can track you.

Furthermore, its anti-phishing protection will keep you safe from dubious websites, an extension guard will keep you safe from untrustworthy extensions, and its stealth mode will allow you to surf without cookies.

This is a great browser, and to see how it stacks up to other browsers, visit our Avast Secure Browser vs. Opera guide

Why is Avast Secure Browser not working?

There are a few reasons why your Avast Secure Browser may not be working. First, an incomplete update is a common culprit. But other than this, issues like viruses or malware infections could make it not work. In such cases, a proper scan of your PC would be a good solution.

It may even be due to conflicts with other software, especially antivirus software on your computer. While antivirus software would generally work with the Avast Secure browser, it is recommended to use the Avast antivirus on systems running this browser.

No matter the case, you should use any of the fixes mentioned below to get it working again.

?️ Quick Tip!
To get back online as soon as possible, you can use another browser with similar security features. Look into Opera One, it’s Chromium-based as well. It has built-in anti-tracking, an adblocker, and a simple VPN with unlimited bandwidth. 

⇒ Get Opera One

How do I fix my Avast Secure Browser?

End and restart the process

  1. Right-click the Start menu and choose Task Manager from the drop-down menu.
    avast secure browser not responding
  2. Select the Processes tab.
  3. Search for the Firefox process in the left pane, right-click it, and select the option to End task.
    avast secure browser not responding

End task is a tool on the Application processes tab of Windows Task Manager that allows you to halt any process that isn’t responding. End Task can be used to end a frozen or non-responsive application without having to restart your computer.

Restart your computer

  1. Close the window by clicking the close button, the X sign at the top right corner of your browser (This is only useful if the browser is already open).
  2. Click on your PC’s Start button, click on the Power button, then the Restart option.
    avast secure browser not responding
  3. Wait for the machine to turn back on, then reopen the browser to see if the problem has been resolved.

If you restart your computer, it will run more smoothly. A reboot clears the computer’s memory, putting a stop to any processes that are consuming RAM. Furthermore, a program can devour your memory long after you’ve closed it, and a restart ensures that this doesn’t happen.

Finally, a reboot may help with hardware and peripheral issues.

Sign in as an admin

  1. Using the hotkeys Windows+ R, open the Run dialog box.
    avast secure browser not responding
  2. Enter the code in the box below and press Enter.
    control userpasswords2
  3. Click the Properties button to see if your user name appears in the list of administrators.
  4. Select the Administrator option from the Group Membership tab, click Apply, and OK.
    avast secure browser not responding
  5. Try restarting the browser.

If your Avast Secure Browser is still not working, skip to the next solution.

Turn off your antivirus temporarily

  1. Select Windows Security from the Start menu after typing it in the search box.
    avast secure browser not responding
  2. Select Virus & Threat Protection from the left pane, then scroll down to the Virus & Threat Protection Settings menu and choose the Manage settings option.

  3. In the Real-time protection section, toggle off the switch.
    avast secure browser not responding
  4. Select Firewall & network protection from the left pane, then Private network from the right pane.
    avast secure browser not responding
  5. Switch the Microsoft Defender Firewall off.

  6. Restart the Avast Secure browser.

Reinstall the browser

  1. Visit the official website.
  2. To begin the Avast Secure Browser download, click the FREE DOWNLOAD button.
    avast secure browser not responding
  3. Double-click the setup after opening the download location.

  4. Click the green ACCEPT AND INSTALL button on the installation.
    avast secure browser not responding
  5. Wait while the installation completes.
  6. Complete the setup by clicking Finish setup.

Note that even though other Avast products may employ an offline installer, there is no official Avast Secure Browser offline installer.

Using a secure browser in today’s information age is an absolute necessity. Many browsers are famed for specializing in security, but Avast Secure Browser is at the top of the bunch.

With the solutions in this article, you should have successfully resolved any problems stopping Avast Secure Browser from responding. We have also explored Avast Secure Browser download and installation, as this may be a last resort for solving browser-related issues.

Of course, you could equally find out How to uninstall the Avast Secure Browser with just a few clicks.

Let us know in the comments if you have found this article useful.

How to Fix Outlook Error Code 0x800ccc92: 5 Tested Solutions

When trying to send or receive emails in Outlook, it won’t be a surprise if you come across the error code 0x800ccc92.

With Outlook, you may often encounter different types of errors while trying to access your mail or when trying to open the app.

Hence, this is another common error that often becomes a cause of worry for many users.

After seeing the error, you keep receiving Outlook reminders to enter a password whenever you try to send/receive emails.

While the error may show up due to an incorrect username or password, there could be other possible reasons as well.

If you encounter any other error while trying to check or send emails, you can read our detailed guide on the most annoying Outlook errors & their solutions for a quick fix.

This post will not just address your query, how do I fix the error 0x800ccc92 in Outlook, but it will first tell you more about the symptoms and other possible causes.

?️Quick Tip:

When a password issue arises, it is often better to have a backup, especially if you are in an unfavorable situation and cannot access your emails. The advantage of using decentralized email, such as Mailbird, is that there is no central server where all messages are stored, therefore no one can see your emails except you, and no one can hack your email.

Mailbird is also one of the greatest email apps for handling multiple accounts. It works with any IMAP email account, as well as POP3 and Exchange. When it comes to intuitiveness, Mailbird much outperforms Outlook.

⇒ Get Mailbird

What does error code 0x800ccc92 mean?

So, what is the error 0x800ccc92 in Outlook?

The Outlook error message reads: Receiving reported error (0x800CCC92) Your email server rejected your login. Verify your user name and password for this account in Account Settings. The server responded: ERR (AUTH) Incorrect username or password.  

While the message says that the error could be due to an incorrect username or password, in some cases, even after you enter the correct username and password a couple of times, the error persists.

Before we get to the solutions, let’s understand why you keep receiving the reported error 0x800ccc92 your email server rejected your login.

Why does the 0x800ccc92 error occur?

A lot of times, there can be other reasons why you may bump into the 0x800ccc92 error on Outlook. Some of the reasons include:

  • POP3/IMAP/SMTP settings are not configured correctly for different email accounts (Gmail/Hotmail/AOL) in MS Outlook
  • Outlook account is active on multiple devices
  • The Allow less secure apps option is disabled in Gmail on Outlook
  • Outlook fails to sync with the server
  • PST file size exceeds the required limit
  • PST file was affected by the virus
  • Failed SMTP or POP3 protocols
  • Outlook shuts down unexpectedly

In this post, we have created a list of the top 5 tested solutions that may help you fix the Outlook error code 0x800ccc92.

How do I fix error 0x800ccc92 in Outlook?

1. Verify your username and password

  1. Sign in to your Outlook account and navigate to the File tab on the upper left.
  2. Now, click on Info on the left pane and select Account Settings from the drop-down on the right.
  3. You will now see the Email-accounts section under Account Settings. Select email to check credentials. select email n account settings
  4. Check your username and password here and verify if the credentials are correct. Press Cancel to exit if it’s fine. check if the credentials are correct
  5. If not, then select the email address and click on Change. update password
  6. Now, update the correct password.

Alternatively, you can also reset the password and create a new one, update the same in Outlook.

2. Check the server settings of the email account in Outlook

  1. Launch the Outlook app and click on the File tab.
  2. Tap on Info on the left side and then click on Account Settings on the right.
  3. Next, click on Server Settings.
  4. In the IMAP Account Settings window, review your incoming mail settings: User Name: Your email address Password: You use to log in to your webmail Server: imap.gmail.com Port: 993 Encryption: TLS/SSL Secure Password Authentication (SPA): Noconfigure incoming mail settings
  5. Now, review your outgoing mail settings: Server: smtp.gmail.com Port: 587 Encryption: SSL/TLS Secure Password Authentication (SPA): No Outgoing server authentication: Yes, same settings as of your incoming server. configure outgoing mail settings
  6. Click on Done once you have verified all the settings.

So, if you see the error 0x800ccc92 on Gmail, it should be fixed and you can now try sending/receiving the emails via Gmail on Outlook.

4. Minimize the PST file size

4.1 Set auto-archive in Outlook 2013

  1. Open the Outlook app and click on the File tab on the top left.
  2. Now, click on Options on the left bottom.
  3. In the Outlook Options window, click on Advanced on the left.
  4. Next, on the right side, go to Autoarchive and press the Auto Archive Settings button.
  5. As the AutoArchive dialogue box opens, go to the Run AutoArchive every field and set it to 14 days, and check all the boxes as shown in the below image.Set Run Auto Archive every to 14 days

4.2 Set to archive manually

  1. Open Outlook, and select the File tab on the upper left.
  2. Next, on the left side, click on Info, and then on the right, click on Mailbox settings and click on Set Archive Folder below. click on archive
  3. Now, in the Archive window, select Archive this folder and all subfolders and choose what you need to archive manually.
  4. Press OK to save the changes. Archive - choose to archive manually

4.3 Extract the Outlook archived folder

  1. Launch the Outlook app, go to the menu and click on the File menu.
  2. Click on Open and Export on the left pane.
  3. Now, on the right side, click on Open Outlook Data File, select the necessary file and click on OK. Click on Outlook data file
  4. Next, go to the File tab again.
  5. Click on Mailbox settings on the right side of the pane, and then click on the Set Archive Folder option.
  6. Now, check the Archive file and review if any of the information has been changed.
  7. If any data is changed, Outlook will prompt you with a message.
  8. Exit the Archive data file. Now, right-click on the archive data file that you see in the folder panel and select Close Archive.

This will help you search and view the data for the archived emails.

4.4 Clear the recycled items folder

  1. Launch Outlook and navigate to the File tab.
  2. Now, from the left ribbon, select Options.
  3. In the Outlook Options window, click on Advanced on the left.
  4. On the right side, under the Outlook, start and exit section, check the box next to Empty Deleted Items folders when exiting Outlook.
  5. Press the OK button and it will automatically clear all your deleted items folder.
  6. To receive notifications before the removal, click on Advanced on the left again and check the box in the prompt to confirm before deleting items.

Before you proceed to clear your recycled items, follow the above instructions to recover any of the important messages that might have been deleted accidentally.

Simply drag and drop the OST or PST data file from your recycled items folder to your desired location.

5. Generate the app password from your AOL account

5.1 Get the app password from AOL

  1. Sign in to your AOL account.
  2. Now, open a new tab on your browser.
  3. Copy and paste this link on the second tab and hit Enter.
  4. The Account Security page will open. On the right side, scroll down to App Password and click on Generate and manage app passwords. Generate and manage app passwords
  5. In the pop-up window, type Outlook desktop under Enter your app’s name field and click on Generate password. Generate password
  6. It will generate a one-time app password (16 letters) for your Outlook desktop. Click on Copy and press Done. Copy app passowrd

Now, proceed with the below steps to update the password.

5.2 Update password in Outlook

  1. Open Outlook, sign in, and click on File on the upper left.
  2. Select Account Information from the left pane.
  3. Choose the email (that’s having problems) from the drop-down.
  4. Now, click on Account Settings.
  5. In the Account Settings window, select the email and click on Change. select email and change
  6. In the Change Account dialogue box, go to Logon Information and paste the one-time password. update one time password
  7. Press Next and follow the on-screen instructions to finish updating the password.
  8. You can now, log into Outlook with the original username.
  9. Now, enter the one-time app password instead of the original password.

This should update your password successfully and fix the error code 0x800ccc92.

Note icon NOTE
The one-time password is auto-generated, so you do not need to remember it, and it does not replace your original password.

What else can I do to confirm the Outlook credentials?

Besides, while configuring an email account in Outlook, you must check if your username matches the account’s full email address.

For instance, if you have set up a Gmail account using POP3 in Outlook, you must enter your complete Gmail address in the user name field as [email protected].

Also, make sure that the same username and password are used for both incoming and outgoing mail servers.

For instance, you must use the same username (the email address: [email protected]) and the same password (password: yourpassword).

Alternatively, you can also create a new Outlook profile to get rid of the Outlook error prompt or remove the email account from any other devices.

That’s all. If you bump into the error code 0x800ccc92 on Outlook 2010 as you try to send/receive emails, following the above methods should help you fix the problem.

However, if you encounter an error where Outlook is sending too many messages, you can refer to our detailed guide to troubleshoot the issue.

But if you are still unable to send/receive messages in Outlook, you can let us know in the comments box below.

How To Install the CLR Browser Source Plugin and Enable It

Live video creation, video recording, and live broadcasting are all possible with OBS, and here, we take a look at how to install the CLR browser plugin in OBS.

OBS can blend various visual and audio sources into a live environment for video production. At installation, a setup wizard gives the option to optimize the program for live streaming and recording.

This software also has several plugins that may be used to enhance its capabilities, such as VST plugins, NDI support, and stream deck controls.

Its plugins are used to enhance OBS’ capabilities by adding specific code to do certain tasks.

Also, users will notice that support for NDI is an integral part of the most used OBS plugins. The  VirtualCam plugin is another easy-to-use option that enables you to link your videos inside OBS to other cameras through virtual webcam sources.

If you need help, this easy-to-follow article will show you all you need to download OBS studio.

How do I add a browser plugin to OBS?

  1. If you do not have Visual C++ Redistributable Packages on your computer, download it from the official Microsoft website.
    how to install clr browser obs
  2. Download .NET Framework from the official website.
    how to install clr browser obs
  3. Download the 32 or 64-bit version of the CLR browser plugin.
  4. After the download, extract it to the following path:
    C:\Program Files\OBS\Plugins
  5. Once in this path, the plugin has been properly installed. Then, you can restart your OBS, and you will get all the functionality of the newly installed plugin.

After these steps, the CLR OBS studio browser source plugin should be functional.

Note that this process will work for any browser plugin on OBS. You need to extract the zip file to the plugin folder, and you are good to go. The plugin used will work only on the OBS classic version and not the studio version in this example.

Now that we are done installing the OBS studio CLR browser let’s talk about browser sources.

How do I enable browser sources on OBS?

  1. Start your OBS Studio.
  2. On the main OBS window, navigate to File, then Settings.
  3. On the left pane, select the Advanced tab.
  4. Untick the Enable Browser Source Hardware Acceleration checkbox.
    how to install clr browser obs
  5. Close and restart the application, then test the browser source.

How do I fix the OBS browser source not working?

1. Disable browser source hardware acceleration

You can follow the steps in the how do I enable browser sources on OBS? section. The only difference will be to untick rather than tick the source acceleration option.

Using Open Broadcast Software with hardware acceleration might assist create a quicker user experience. This is particularly true if the software uses a significant CPU and functions badly.

In general, enabling hardware acceleration can only be advantageous if your computer has a powerful GPU. This will allow the GPU to perform to its maximum potential, resulting in a more fluid user experience across all programs.

2. Restart OBS

If you have disabled browser source hardware acceleration and the problem is still not fixed, close the application and restart it. This may force this setting to take effect.

We have covered in this article all you need to know about how to install the CLR browser plugin and other operations in OBS.

We would love to hear from you in the comments, so let us know if you have found this helpful guide.

Note that you can add browser sources to OBS studio to extend the tool’s functionality.

VLC Not Working in Windows 11? Fix it in 3 Easy Steps

The VLC media player is the best free open-source cross-platform media player worldwide. This media player offers features like good video quality, control over subtitles, and cross-functionality with other devices.

But recently, many users have complained about the VLC media player not working on Windows 11. Issues like these mainly occur due to corrupt cache data. However, there are many other reasons why users may face this error.

Keep reading this post to know how to fix the VLC media player not working on Windows 11.

Does VLC support Windows 11?

The latest version of the VLC media player is now available in the Microsoft Store app on Windows 11. All you need to do is download VLC from the Microsoft Store and start using it.

Can I download an older version of VLC?

Although the VLC media player comes with many built-in features, there are still some reasons why someone may prefer the old one. You can download an older version of VLC right away.

How do I make VLC my default player in Windows 11?

  1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
  2. Navigate to Apps and click on Default Apps.
    Default apps
  3. Scroll down and click on VLC media player.
    vlc media player not working windows 11
  4. Click on .3G2 at the top.
    3g2
  5. Select the VLC media player from the pop-up.
  6. Click on OK to save the changes.
    VLC as default

Several users complain about VLC audio not working. Rest assured that our guide shows you what to do in case that happens.

What can I do if my VLC media player is not working?

1. Increase Cache Values

  1. Open the VLC media player, click on Tools, and go to Preferences.
    VLC prefrences
  2. Navigate to the Show Settings option and select All.
  3. Now click on Input / Codecs option. Change the values for File caching (ms) to a higher value.
     vlc media player not working windows 11
  4. Click on Save and restart VLC and check if the VLC media player could not start error in Windows 11 is fixed.

If you are facing other issues, like VLC could not open the MP4a audio encoder issue, we recommend you check out this informative guide to find solutions.

2. Configure Video Output Mode

  1. Open the VLC media player, click on Tools, and go to Preferences.
  2. Navigate to the Video section, check Enable Video, and then the Window Decorations box.
    VLC media player not working Windows 11
  3. Now click on the dropdown menu beside Output.
  4. Select DirectX (DirectDraw) Video Output.
    Drop down menu
  5. Click on Save once done and quit the VLC media player.
  6. Now restart the VLC player.

3. Disable Hardware Video Decoding

  1. Open VLC, click on Tools and go to Preferences.
  2. Click on the Show Settings option and select All.
  3. Click on Input / Codecs option.
  4. Now expand Video codecs and select FFmpeg.
    VLC media player not working Windows 11
  5. Navigate to Hardware decoding and select Disable.
    Disable1
  6. Once disabled restart VLC and forget all about VLC crashing on startup or other similar issues.

How do I reset the VLC media player?

  1. Open the VLC media player, click on Tools, and then on Preferences.
  2. Click on Reset Preferences.
     vlc media player not working windows 11
  3. Now, click on the OK button.
    Confirm reset

Several users have complained about an error while checking for updates in VLC. If that troubles you, read our post to fix this issue.

Well, that’s all from our side on how to solve the VLC media player when it’s not working on Windows 11. If this guide was helpful, do let us know in the comments below.

Manage your Restaurant and Employees with the BarSight Software

If you own a restaurant, you know already how difficult is to manage your employee scheduling, update the manager logbook, or record restaurant expenses accurately.

But with the BarSight restaurant software, all those worries are gone because today we’re talking about a restaurant management system that will revolutionize the way you work.

We tested this solution and we’re going to emphasize its best features and use all the tools to increase your restaurant’s profitability.

How can BarSight help me manage employee scheduling?

First of all, the BarSight software is actually a web app, available online from wherever you are on virtually any device that can load a browser.

That means after you’ve created a schedule, you and all your employees will be able to quickly and easily check their weekly schedule on their phones or computer.

Your employees can also download the free mobile app to their phones, so they can get notified immediately when new shifts are published.

With all this information right at their fingertips, your restaurant will see a decrease in personnel problems.

So, BarSight has a very simple restaurant scheduling software, allowing you to create precise scheduling for all your staff but that’s not all.

For instance, at the end of the month, or pay period, it’s easy to download the restaurant’s labor reports as an excel spreadsheet and send it to your accountant or import it into your payroll software.

Moreover, BarSight provides a very clear report of your restaurant expenses so you can track down your budget easily.

What are the most important features of the BarSight app?

1. Restaurant employee scheduling the easy way

The main feature of BarSight is its employee scheduling tool which is extremely easy to use and manage.

You simply add the employees and set the working times and as you’re building the schedule, the staff will see the schedule on their apps instantly.

The scheduling software automatically validates the start and end times of the shifts and will let you know if there are conflicts with employee availability or approved time-off requests.

That way, you can be sure your staff is ready to show up for their scheduled shifts.

If your staff are unable to work the shifts you have assigned to them, they are able to either request shift trades (aka shift swaps) or drop the shift (aka submitting shift cover requests) and wait for another employee to pick it up.

Once a shift has been requested to be picked up or both employees agree to a shift trade, your restaurant managers will be notified and are able to make a decision.

If the scheduling changes are approved, the changes are effective immediately and all employees are able to see the newly revised schedule.

After you make the schedule for a day or a week, you can just copy and duplicate the data for the next days or weeks.

You can even create and save different schedule templates that you can use when required, such as special event weeks or a summer schedule and a winter schedule.

As you build the schedule, you can see in real-time, the estimated labor costs displayed on the screen.

If you connect your POS system to BarSight, the software will automatically forecast your daily sales and display other critical financial data to help you budget your schedule and reduce labor costs.

2. Simple reporting

To keep your accountant’s head from exploding due to frustration, BarSight makes it easy to record and generate reports for your restaurants’ expenses, such as vendor invoices and store receipts.

With BarSight, you can connect your POS system and create accounts for your vendors so all of them will be in one

With BarSights’ Accounts Payable module, you are able to create accounts for your vendors so all of them will be in one place, in a digital format.

Vendor contact information (such as phone numbers or account information) can be stored as well as the ability to instantly see the buying history from each vendor.

Either you or an employee you designate is able to enter the data from invoices right into BarSight and record the method of payment (credit card, direct debit, etc).

So, at the end of the month, all you need to do is to go to the Reports tab, select Accounting from the list, and hit the Get Report button for the desired period.

You will get the Excel file that you will be able to send directly to your accountant who will be finally happy and stress-free.

In the Reports section, you will also find detailed overviews of the attendance of your employees, their availability, and even their scheduled time off.

3. Workforce management

In addition to being more than just employee scheduling software, BarSight comes with additional tools that will help you communicate with your restaurant staff, and manage their time off requests, availability, and employee profiles.

Gone are the days of chasing down employees to make sure their address is correct so you can mail out important tax documents on time, or having random notes left on your desk with time-off requests.

Your restaurant employees will be able to simply make these changes and request time off or changes to their availability from the free mobile app.

Once a request has been made for time off or availability changes, you or your manager will see them instantly on your Work Force dashboard, and with a simple click, they can approve them instantly.

Also included is the ability for you and your employees to send messages to each other.

This will help improve team communication when you need to make important announcements, such as menu changes, an upcoming event, or staff meetings.

As a manager, you’ll also be able to check up on who has read the messages you’ve sent, and who hasn’t by simply clicking on the message.

How can I implement and use the BarSight app?

  1. Go to the BarSight dedicated website and click the Try it for Free button to test the app.
  2. Enter your email address to create an account and hit the Start Free Trial button.
  3. Next, you will need to enter some details about your company and location.
  4. Now, you can enter the functions for your staff and create the departments like Front of House, Back of House, and more. You can start out with the basics for now, as you will have the ability to modify these roles and departments later.
  5. Of course, next, you may enter the employees’ names and their email addresses but it’s possible to do that later as well.
  6. That’s it! Now, you can see your dashboard but at first, it’s going to be pretty empty.
  7. However, straight away you can create a daily manager log book by clicking on New from the Logbook Entries and selecting Daily Log Book.
  8. By default, it’s an empty window where you can add lots of elements like cook times, reservations, freezer contents, and a lot more, but BarSight provides a predefined free form, so you don’t have to worry about that either.
  9. And after that, just access the entry and you will see all the relevant data for that day.

As you see, it’s very easy to create an account and start using BarSight just with a few data entries and a few clicks.

On your dashboard, you will see a brief report on all important data like the scheduled hours, turnover rate, operation costs, margin, and more.

How can I add employees and create a schedule for them?

  1. To start adding employees, click the Work Force section, select Employees, and click the Add Employee button.
  2. Now, just enter their data, select the role, wage, and click on Send Email to let them know you added them.
  3. After you add all of them, it’s also a good idea to click on the Export List to download an excel table with all that data. You’ll be able to double-check all the employee information and verify it is correct.
  4. Now, you can click on the Schedule section from the left, select Create and choose the Plus sign from the daily schedule calendar.
  5. In the new window, set the working hours, select the employee from the list, and hit the Save Shift button to add the entry.
  6. Then, you can access the department drop-down menu to see the schedules for each one or for all of them.

This is how you can easily add your employees and create an employee schedule in BarSight with just a few actions.

As you’ve read above, there are plenty of other functions and options you can access, and you can do a lot more with this amazing employee scheduling software.

It is also worth noting, that while this program is geared towards the restaurant industry, we think it would be useful for almost any workplace with shift schedules.

While we have only scratched the surface, we believe that we managed to capture the essence of working with this software and its ease of use.

Anyway, if it got your attention, you can test it yourself for 30 days before making any financial commitments.

⇒ Get BarSight Restaurant Systems

Pros
Simple and comprehensive user interface
Simple and quick employee scheduling
Cloud-based app, available on any device that can load a browser
POS integration
Export payroll and employee reports instantly
Cons
Can take a bit of time to add all your employees

Final notes

Honestly, we don’t know much about restaurants except for good places where to eat around our houses, but we do know a lot more about scheduling apps.

And BarSight has all it takes to be an ideal tool for this job, especially because it adds the interaction of the employees who can change their shift on their own devices.

We also found very useful the reporting features that will help you effectively manage your business.

The cherry on top is that you don’t need to download an app or maintain a physical server because everything is online.

You might also be interested in our selection of the best small business finance software because they might help with budget keeping.

If you’ve tried BarSight already, feel free to share your experience with the app in the comments section.

Restaurant Scheduling Software: 6 Best to Use in 2026

Research studies have repeatedly shown that a common cause of failure in restaurant businesses is a failure to properly handle their most important asset: human talent.

Too often, businesses that lack the tools to properly manage their workforce end up incurring massive losses because of staff-scheduling inefficiencies like improper clocking and unplanned overtime.

Now, rather than spend as much as 8 hours chopping and changing the restaurant staff schedule, managers can automate the cumbersome process by investing in a good restaurant employee scheduling software.

These programs are packed full of great features:

  • They save up to 75% of manager’s time by automating employee scheduling.
  • The software drastically reduces scheduling errors saving on labor costs.
  • They streamline staff communication helping to avoid conflict.
  • Most integrate with POS systems for accurate payroll processing.

What to look for in a restaurant employee scheduling app?

These software have a profound impact and can greatly boost profitability. But you need to sift through a bevy of options as you chase an ideal solution.

Here are some questions to ponder before deciding:

  • How many restaurant employees do you need to schedule?
  • How many shifts is the software supposed to cover?
  • Are the shifts uniform or irregular?
  • Can the suggested solution share data with other restaurant software like the POS?
  • Is the software easier to use for your staff?

Answering these questions will put you in a prime position to land a magnificent scheduling system.

There is a host of amazing employee scheduling automating software. Here are some formidable choices.

What is the best employee scheduling app for restaurants?

BarSight – Best app for employee scheduling

BarSight is certainly one of the best employee scheduling software but actually, it doesn’t only keep the restaurant schedule but a lot more.

The tool is a whole restaurant management system that integrates with your POS system and offers automatic labor cost forecasting, and daily sales estimates among other data.

For instance, create schedule templates for any routine and special events so you don’t waste time doing that every week.

It also provides employee scheduling to check if their hours are programmed correctly and the system works flawlessly.

That’s because all employee availability requests can be approved by your managers and they will show up on the schedule as you’re building it.

The payroll data can be downloaded into an excel spreadsheet instantly and sent to your accountant or imported into your payroll software.

And the app is also available for the mobiles of your staff where they can even request shift swaps to be approved by the manager.

You can also check out our BarSight review and read detailed information on its best features and on how to use it.

Take a look at BarSight’s key features:

  • Quick and simple employee schedule creation
  • POS integration
  • Export payroll and employee reports instantly
  • Cloud-based app, accessible from any platform or device
  • Check employee availability without leaving your office

BarSight Restaurant Systems

Get the best employee management tool with schedule templates, mobile access, and more!
Free trial Visit website

7shifts – Great web-based scheduling solution

7shifts is absolutely easy to use for managers and staff because it comes with a straightforward scheduling mechanism.

Indeed, you simply drag and drop the staff details to build a schedule.  Plus, managers can use the auto-scheduling feature to speed up scheduling.

So, why does it work so well? Well, 7shifts relies on its custom shift templates to quickly generate a schedule as soon as it confirms staff availability.

Even more, staff members are alerted of their shifts immediately after the schedule is published or changes are made.

If you’ve been struggling to rein in your labor costs, then you should get 7shifts. It turns out that the tool monitors your spending in real-time to help stop overspending.

The program also seeks to help restaurant owners comply with local labor laws. For instance, staff members won’t miss their minimum scheduled breaks, so you won’t be paying penalties.

You can even approve or refuse staff requests for time-off on the go from the free 7shifts app.

7shifts comes with a free plan, as well as several paid options. You can try out the free plan and see how it works for you. The paid ones can also be tried for free for 14 days, with all features available.

Let’s review some of its key features:

  • Drag-and-drop functionality
  • Labor law compliance
  • Custom shift templates
  • Labor costs monitoring and reporting
  • Time clocking and logbooks

7 shifts

Create shift templates and help employees stay productive with real-time alerts.
Free trial Visit website

SageHR – Best choice for employee management

Sage HR is yet another suitable tool for employee management. It comes with complex features that help you with shift scheduling, expenses, leave management, and more.

The software comes with the Timesheets feature which is used to record the time employees spend working. This module comes with its own sub-features, all well-integrated within an intuitive UI.

Employees can submit their timesheets for approval, and the requests go directly to the people who have permission to manage and regulate such issues. You can also easily generate reports that show the total hours worked, overtime hours, and more.

Another feature that works hand-in-hand with the Timesheets is the Shift scheduling feature.

It allows you to easily add, edit, move and copy shifts. You can create separate shifts for different teams or different company locations and get an overview of all of them via the UI.

Moreover, employees can use this feature to show you their preferred working hours and also to inform you about their availability. All these and more are done hassle-free with drag-and-drop. 

Sage HR is a paid service with custom plans based on the number of your employees and also your preferred feature set. It comes with a 14-day free trial.

Other key features of Sage HR include:

  • Fast, digital time off management
  • Employee database
  • HR analytics
  • Expenses management feature with automatic expense recordinga and detailed reports
  • Integrates popular employee apps like G-Suite, Slack, Active Directory & any custom-built app
  • Onboarding feature witha workflow builder, automate task assigning & reporting
  • Mobile app for Android and iOS

Sage HR

Schedule efficiently and manage employee-related tasks with the all-inclusive Sage HR.
Free trial Visit website

Findmyshift – Great third-party app integration

Findmyshift is one of the scheduling software that gives you real freedom when it comes to employee shifts.

You see, everything is available from their interactive website meaning you can make and monitor schedules any time and from anywhere.

It integrates with loads of platforms to track employee vacations, send emails and automated shift reminders to employees, and set alarms for upcoming shifts.

Now sample this: It can pay the staff different hourly rates, deduct unpaid breaks, and combine employee timesheets, schedules, and overtime rates to arrive at accurate payroll costs.

Subscription is charged per employee added and it allows you to add unlimited staff. And as a welcome, you don’t pay a dime for the first month!

Employees have also praised its simplicity and functionality. You see, unlike some of the competitors, they can request, cancel, and swap shifts with colleagues using the FindMyShift website on the go.

The website is encrypted so your restaurant’s data remains protected not to mention the system runs automated backups in case you erase some schedules.

You will benefit from the following best features:

  • Send emails and automated shift reminders to employees
  • Pay the staff different hourly rates, and deduct unpaid breaks
  • Web-based solution
  • Very simple and effective interface
  • Great third-party platform integration

⇒ Get FindMyShift

Planday – Very efficient employee scheduling tool

Planday also makes a compelling case to be considered among the elites and you feel it could actually be a step-up on some of the other entrants in this exclusive list.

Created to make staff scheduling simple and fun for both owners and workers, PlanDay allows you to save your favorite schedule as a template.

You can then customize it to fit the needs of each week or to schedule shifts well in advance.

The software prioritizes efficiency over aesthetics so essentials like the dashboard are plain but very detailed.

Depending on your needs, you can view a snapshot of the work week or month, the hours each employee will work, and how much it will cost your business.

Its wonderful collection of communication tools allows managers to pass the right message to every worker (or groups of employees) to ensure teamwork.

Employees clock in quickly through the app (Apple and Android) as soon as the shift begins while you get a bird’s-eye view of the happenings from the focused reports.

Overall, PlanDay could prove a masterstroke for both employees and management in your growing business.

Take a look at its best features:

  • Save your favorite schedule as a template
  • App clock in for employees
  • View a snapshot of the work week or month
  • Built-in communication features
  • Clean UI design

⇒ Get Planday

HotSchedules – Great for managing day to day operations

HotSchedules is one of the most advanced scheduling software for restaurants and the hospitality industry at large.

Its impressive suite of clocking, communication, and tracking technologies includes features to help man employees across locations and a powerful native mobile app.

Thus, HotSchedules would be great if you’re searching for a product that not only monitors staff but also helps manage day-to-day operations.

Some of its excellent abilities include enforcing punctuality to reduce time-theft, a straightforward payroll aggregation, meal and breaks enforcement, multiple payroll exports, and more.

These features will save you money and help satisfy the requirements of employee regulations across all your locations.

Incidences of shortages and overages will be long gone as will annoying last-minute calls to the managers.

Employees are also fully catered for and can check schedules, request time off, and pick-up or drop shifts, from their phones.

Ultimately, HotSchedules will do more than just enabling owners and supervisors to schedule employees.

This is also a paid service, with the price depending on the number of employees. In contrast with the other software discussed above, HotSchedules doesn’t come with a free trial. 

Take a look at some of its most important features:

  • Payroll aggregation
  • Pick-up or drop shifts
  • Time management
  • Web-based app for employees
  • Simple and effective reporting

⇒ Get HotSchedules

Using the best restaurant employee scheduling software solves many of the headaches that managers and owners face with manual and spreadsheet scheduling methods.

The fruits will be a smooth-running business, better management/employee relationships, and compliance with local labor laws.

Such benefits outweigh the meager investment in the software by far but you need to pick the right one for your business.

If you’re just starting, you might be interested in our best marketing tools & software for startups to promote your business.

If you’ve tried other tools that you believe are relevant to our list, don’t hesitate to let us know about them in the comments section below.

Safely Backup and Restore Data with HP Recovery Manager

HP Recovery Manager is a critical software that recovers your media after you set up your system. When your hard disk crashes, you can use recovery media to retrieve your system.

You can also use this tool to reinstall some software programs for the HP system. Note that, this app is available only for HP laptops.

In this article, we’ll go over how to use HP Recovery Manager and how to download and install it for free on Windows 11.

It’s possible to get efficient data recovery on your HP system using dedicated software that can automatically backup or bring back any lost files.

Stellar Data Recovery

Rescue every single file on your Windows PC and take back your lost or deleted files in a few clicks.
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You can also apply the same procedures to download HP Recovery Manager for Windows 7 and 10 so that you may backup and restore your data on any of your systems.

How do I open the HP Recovery Manager from Windows?

In Windows:

  1. First, open the search field and type HP Recovery Manager then open it.Search for HP Recovery Manager
  2. Then choose HP recovery environment and click on OK to continue.HP Recovery Environment
  3. Your computer will restart; after that, select Troubleshoot.
  4. Afterward, click on Recovery Manager.
  5. Follow the on-screen tutorial.

From BIOS:

  1. Turn on your computer and press the F11 key constantly.
  2. Then, a window opens on your screen; click on Troubleshoot.
  3. For the next step, click on Recovery Manager.
  4. Finally, follow the on-screen instructions.

You could previously open HP Recovery Environment through the HP Recovery Manager application, but not anymore. Now, in the last official version, you encounter the Can’t open file error message when you open it.

By installing the SoftPaq application, which removes the error message, you can open the HP Recovery Manager easily.

How do I run HP recovery media creation?

  1. Open HP recovery media creation by searching in the search field.
  2. When the User Account Control window opens, click on Yes.
  3. Then, click on I accept and Continue.
  4. The supported media appears on the Create Recovery Media.Create Recovery Media
  5. Choose the media that you want to use.
  6. Finally, tap on Continue to start HP recovery media creation after inserting the USB flash drive.

This app is only available for HP laptops, as we mentioned earlier in the introduction.

How can I download and install the HP Recovery Manager in Windows 11?

HP Recovery Manager used to come preloaded on HP computers till 2018. HP discontinued them afterward. You should also note that you could have only used this app on HP systems.

There is no longer a download link for this tool. Even if you find one, it is of no use if you do not own an HP computer or if you do not have a Recovery partition (preloaded on HP systems).

However, if you only want to download recovery media, you can make a bootable USB recovery drive. HP cloud recovery tool can help you with it if you have a 2016 model or newer PC.

How to open HP Recovery Manager from the command prompt

  1. Press Win + S, search for PowerShell, and click on Open.Open Windows Powershell
  2. Then, type the following command and hit Enter:
    shutdown /r /oType a command in powershell
  3. Then, click on the close button when the prompt appears.
  4. Select Troubleshoot from the window that appears
  5. Finally, click on Recovery Manager.

If you want to create HP recovery media on a USB flash drive, you need 32 GB capacity or more and an available USB port.

Remember that after you perform any recovery activities, you need to update your anti-virus software to protect your computer. 

Run Windows Update from time to time to keep your operating system up-to-date. It will help you have the latest security patches and Windows defender updates.

Do not hesitate to check out this article if HP Recovery Manager is not working on Windows 10/11. Our detailed procedures will definitely help you.

Please let us know whether you were able to download and install HP Recovery Manager in the comments section below.

Choose your preferred Teams download location after next update

Recently, the ultra-popular Teams app has officially become available on the Microsoft Store, making it even more accessible by eliminating the need to visit a separate website in order to get it.

The conferencing app has also been receiving a constant flow of tweaks and new features, making it a user favorite and further widening the gap between the competition.

And, just when you thought the Redmond giant was taking a break from improving Teams, know that yet another interesting feature is well on its way.

We get to choose our Teams download folder with next update

We’re sure you would like to know that, according to the Microsoft 365 Roadmap, Microsoft recently added a new entry for a highly requested feature.

Soon, we will be able to set our preferred download location for all the files we download through the Teams app.

For the time being, Teams files are going straight to the default Downloads folder of the Windows operating system.

This, however, is going to change shortly, much to the delight of the ever-growing Teams user community.

After the following update, users of the Windows and Mac desktop app should be able to choose any directory as the preferred download location.

Keep in mind that this change will only apply to the Teams desktop app on Windows and Mac. The web version will continue to respect the download location you have configured for your browser.

As you noticed from the screenshot above, the Microsoft 365 Roadmap entry says that this feature will hit general availability in May.

That is surely not going to happen now, considering that the month is almost done, so we will most likely get it in early June.

Excited about his new feature that is coming to Teams? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

Vanguard Error 84 In Valorant: 4 Tested Fixes

Valorant error code 84 indicates that your client can’t connect to the game servers. Find below easy ways to get rid of this Vanguard issue within minutes.

How do I fix error code 84 in Valorant?

First, go to the Riot Games Service Status to make sure there’s no outage on their end. If that’s it, all you can do is wait it out. Also, consider restarting your game and computer and try again.

If those simple tricks don’t work, follow the advanced steps below:

1. Flush your DNS

  1. Type Command Prompt in the Windows Search bar and select Run as administrator.
  2. Enter the following commands:
    • ipconfig /flushdns
    • ipconfig /release
    • ipconfig /renewFlush DNS
  3. Once the process is complete, try to access Valorant again.

This process clears your DNS cache, removing networking issues caused by outdated or corrupted DNS records.

2. Disable IPV6

  1. Press Win + R, type ncpa.cpl, and press Enter.
  2. Right-click on your active network and select Properties.properties
  3. In the list, find Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6), uncheck the box and click OK.uncheck IPv6
  4. Restart your computer to apply the changes and try to connect to a Valroant server again.

3. Use a VPN

  1. Get a reliable VPN for gaming. We like ExpressVPN because it’s fast and has unlimited data.
  2. Install the VPN on your PC and connect to a server. For good speed pick a server close to your actual location.expressvpn connect to us server
  3. Try opening Valorant again.

Practically with a VPN, it’s easy to change your IP address. This lets you connect to less populated Valorant servers. Not only that, the private network may also boost your Internet speed.

⇒ Get ExpressVPN

4. Update network drivers

  1. Open Device Manager.
  2. Locate the Network Adapters section and expand it.
  3. Select the adapter corresponding to your current connection.network adapters in device manager
  4. Right-click on it and select Update.update driver to fix ERROR_TOO_MANY_NAMES
  5. Select Search automatically for drivers and wait for the process to complete.

Error code 84 in Valorant manifests itself if there are issues with the game’s connection to the server. This occurs most frequently during periods of server failures, whether they are scheduled or unforeseen.

Check out our post on how to fix various Valorant error codes in Windows 11 in order to get back to playing your favorite game.

We also have a guide dedicated to VAN 1067 Valorant on Windows 11, so you might want to visit it.

We hope our guide proved to be helpful to you. Make sure to leave a comment in the section below and tell us what you think.

3 Ways to Fix Postman Extension in Chrome if It’s Not Working

The Postman Chrome extension is one of the most advanced tools for developers but it has some glitches that prevent it from working from time to time.

Chrome extensions are a powerful way to add new features and functionality to the browser. Extensions can be used by millions of people, and their use is growing every day.

If you would like to get more out of your extensions, we have a dedicated article on tips and tricks to use Chrome extensions on Opera.

Although extensions are great and offer a unique browsing experience, sometimes they may fail you when you need them the most.

Is Postman a Chrome extension? 

Postman is a Chrome extension. You can install it from the Chrome Web Store or by downloading it directly as an application. It is available on Mac and Windows machines, as well as on Linux.

The extension makes API development faster and easier, saving you time and allowing you to build better applications.

It’s the perfect tool for developers who are looking for an efficient way to test their web service APIs, mock HTTP requests, create test data, and share API documentation.

How do I add the Postman extension to Chrome?

The Postman Chrome extension has since become deprecated with the introduction of the updated version known as Postman Native Apps.

With the app version comes new and improved features. You can still use the Chrome extension but the app has more features plus all your data in the extension will automatically move to the app once you download it. 

To add Postman to Chrome, follow the instructions below:

  1. Navigate to your Chrome browser and Enter the following address in a new tab: chrome.google.com/webstore/category/extensions
  2. Type Postman in the search bar and click Enter to search.
  3. Click the Add to Chrome button.
  4. In the pop-up window, click Add extension.

What can I do if Postman isn’t opening? 

1. Disable and enable the extension

  1. Navigate to your browser and in a new tab, Enter the following address: chrome://extensions/
  2. Locate the Postman extension and click Remove.
  3. Follow the steps above in the (How do I add the Postman extension to Chrome) section.

2. Enable Javascript in Chrome

  1. Navigate to your Chrome browser and click on the three horizontal ellipses at the top right corner.
  2. Click on Settings.
  3. Select Privacy and security on the left pane and click on Site Settings on the right pane.
  4. Scroll down and click on JavaScript.
  5. Select Sites can use Javascript.

3. Restart Chrome

  1. Open a new tab in Chrome and type the following address: chrome://restart
  2. Try the Postman extension again.

Is there a Postman Chrome extension alternative worthy of my attention?

Postman is an awesome Chrome extension for testing APIs and with great features. If you are looking for an alternative to Postman, here are some of the best ones:

  • Advanced REST Client – This is a Chrome extension for testing APIs. It’s very similar to Postman, and it has many of the same features.
  • Requestly  – Requestly has some features that make it stand out from other Chrome extensions such as Postman. Its interface is more streamlined than Postman’s and supports most of the features you’d expect from a modern HTTP client.
  • Mokku – It has a lot of features that are useful for developers, including the ability to share your API calls with others, as well as being able to execute them via the command line.

We hope that with the solutions listed above, you have been able to get your Postman extension working again. 

Sometimes, an extension may be infected by bugs or downloaded from an unverified source. In such a case, you need to follow the steps of removing malicious extensions from Chrome to secure your browser.

Let us know what solution worked for you in the comments section below.

3 Ways to Get Rid of the Certificate Validation Failure on VPNs

VPN, an acronym for Virtual Privacy Networks has certificates by a public authority that manages them. They are essential electronic documents, as VPN devices use them to indicate if they are the ones you connect to. Thus, it is imperative to quickly fix any VPN certificate validation failure.

Digital certificates of VPN are also used for authentication, and this is more secure than preshared keys. VPN certificates expire due to security reasons and when there is a need to replace them.

It used to take a more extended period of time for a valid VPN certificate to last, however, in 2021, SSL certificate expiration was reduced and a valid certificate lasted for 12 months only.

Still, this may not be the sole reason you are getting a failure in certificate validation. There are many other reasons why this may be happening with Cisco or some other VPN service provider.

Virtual Privacy Networks improve your security and privacy as you browse the Internet, which is why people use them. Therefore if you cannot validate VPN security, the purpose of getting the VPN in the first place is defeated.

How do I get a VPN certificate?

  1. Visit the Azure portal as an administrator.azure certificate validation failure vpn
  2. Click on Azure Active Directory on the left menu.azure-active certificate validation failure vpn
  3. Go to the Manage section in the Azure Active Directory menu and click on Security.
  4. Click on the Protect section on the Security page and select Conditional Access.
  5. Go to the Policies page on the Conditional access page and click on VPN Connectivity.policies certificate validation failure vpn
  6. Click New Certificate and generate one for yourself.

To have access to generate a new VPN certificate, you need to create an Azure Microsoft account. Microsoft has a free trial that you can use to gain access before you need to pay.

When your VPN certificate expires, you need to update it. If you do not update your VPN certificate, you lose security and become exposed to threats that make your private and classified information vulnerable.

How do I update my VPN certificate?

In order to update your VPN certificate, you will have to enter the Certificates – Local Computer app from your system and tweak your current certificate.

For an in-depth, step-by-step guide on how to achieve this, follow the second solution from the list below in order to update your VPN certificate.

Do VPN certificates expire?

VPN certificates are issued with an expiration date for the sake of increased security. After that date has passed, the certificates must be updated with fresh ones.

There is a validity period of three years attached to the VPN certificates that were issued by both the Internal RSA CA for Gateways and the Internal ECDSA CA.

How do I fix VPN validation failure?

1. Check the validity of your VPN certificate

  1. Press the Windows and R keys on your device to open the Run tab and type in mmc then press Enter.mmc certificate validation failure vpn
  2. Click on the File option in the top right corner and select Add/Remove Snap-in from the drop-down menu. snapin certificate validation failure vpn
  3. Choose Certificates from the Available snap-ins section then click on the Add button.cettificate-add certificate validation failure vpn
  4. From the three options, click on My User Account.my-usrr certificate validation failure vpn

These steps will enable you access to the current User certificates to see the certificate that you have in the system. When you double-click on the certificate, you can see the details, which include the validity and expiry date.

After you check, and find that your VPN certificate may have expired, proceed to renew it.

2. Update your VPN certificate

  1. Click on the magnifying glass icon from your Taskbar then type in certlm.msc and select the topmost result.certlmsc certificate validation failure vpn
  2. Right-click on the open space and select All Tasks.all-tasks certificate validation failure vpn
  3. Click on Advanced Operations and select Create Custom Request.
  4. Select Proceed without enrollment and continue with the onscreen steps.
  5. Click on the arrow next to Details and select Properties from the drop-down menu.details-prop certificate validation failure vpn
  6. Name the certificate a title that is easy to remember then click on Subject and select common name from the Full QDN drop-down menu.
  7. Enter the Fully Qualified Domain Name and click Add followed by Next.
  8. Go back to Properties and select the Extensions tab.extensions-tab certificate validation failure vpn
  9. Select Extended Key Usage, and click on Server Authentication and Add.
  10. Click on the Private Key tab then select Cryptographic service provider and check the Microsoft RSA or Microsoft DH option as you wish.security-microsoft certificate validation failure vpn
  11. Save everything by clicking on Apply and OK then click on the magnifying glass icon on your Taskbar and type PowerShell. Finally, click on the topmost result in order to open it.powershell-search certificate validation failure vpn
  12. Type in the following command and press Enter: cd $home\desktopcd-home certificate validation failure vpn
  13. On the next line, type in the following command and replace the FILE_NAME with your certificate’s name: certutil.exe FILE_NAMEcertutil certificate validation failure vpn
  14. Copy the content of the file and submit it to your public certification authority for signing.

To fix certificate validation failure VPN Cisco, and certificate validation failure VPN anyconnect, you have to first verify that the hostname and host address are still valid and then check if the certificate has expired before you proceed to install a new certificate or update the existing one.

3. Turn on OCSP Nonce on the Windows server

  1. Press the Windows and R keys to open a command bar and type certlm.msc to open the Certificate Service Management Console.certlmsc-run certificate validation failure vpn
  2. Select Certificate template from the left menu and click on Manage then find OCSP Respond Signing from the drop-down menu and select it.template-ocds certificate validation failure vpn
  3. Right-click on it and select Properties.
  4. Click on the Security tab and add the server that will be hosting the OCSP services. security-add certificate validation failure vpn
  5. Check Read and Enrol then go back to Certificate template. Click on New, select Certificate Template to issue, and choose OCSP signing.read-enroll certificate validation failure vpn
  6. Click on the certificate server and select Properties.
  7. Select the Extension tab and choose Authority Information Access. Select the URL of the server and click on Add.extensions-click
  8. Go to the dashboard of the server manager of the OCSP service and click on Add roles and features.
  9. Check Active directory services and select Role services. Uncheck Certification Authority and check Online Responder.
  10. Launch the Online Responder management console.

OCSP is Online Certificate Status Protocol, and it is a method that browsers use to ensure that a security certificate is valid. Enabling OCSP service nonce protects secure network communication.

Microsoft Windows uses RFC 5019 while Cisco AnyConnect VPN ASA uses RFC 2560. This disparity causes VPN validation failure, and as such needs fixing.

When OpenVPN certificate verification failed and VPN certificate validation failure occurs, these are the steps that you can follow to rectify them.

Also, for IBM VPN certificate validation failure, there is a renew certificate application in the IBM store that can help you with renewing your certificate if it is outdated.

How do I add a VPN certificate to Windows 10/11?

  1. Open Settings by holding Windows and I together then go to Network and Internet followed by VPN.network-vpn sett
  2. Click on Add VPN. vpn-add settings
  3. On the dropdown menu, select Windows built-in as the VPN provider.windows-builin certificate validation failure vpn
  4. Type in a name for the VPN connection in the Connection name field.
  5. Get the server name and address from the provider and type it into the Server address field.
  6. In the Type-of-sign-in info bar, type in the one your VPN provider uses and click on Save.type-signin certificate validation failure vpn
  7. When the name of the VPN appears, connect to it.connect-vpn windows

Is there any good 3rd party VPN for business?

There is another security method to protect all your business data and avoid certificate validation failure for your VPN protection.

You can use the Perimeter 81 as a Zero Trust Application Access software and secure any sensitive data from public use. This way, you guarantee private communication with IPSec or WireGuard technology.

Plus, it provides safer digital support against data leaking or cyber threats with access by role, a cloud-based interface, or monitoring tools.

⇒ Get Perimeter 81

In conclusion, VPN is vital because of the protection and security that users get from it. These steps will fix the validation failure that pops up. However, if these do not work, you can disconnect completely and start a new connection.

Check out our post with the five best VPNs for Windows 11, after 3 months of usage and tests, to decide which one to get on your devices.

We hope our guide proved to be useful to you. Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!

8 Best Password Managers with Emergency Access

It is nearly impossible to use an online service without creating an account. In addition, it can be overwhelming to remember multiple passwords and login information, so using a password manager with emergency access is of paramount importance.

Using the infamous Forgot password link will be frequent, and you may even resort to using the same password across multiple sites.

This way, you’ll continually put your privacy at risk because a regularly used website may be hacked. If the website gets hacked, the passwords of all the site members will no longer be private. 

If you use the same website for all your accounts, the hackers will be able to access all your other accounts using the same password. 

Brute-force attacks are always possible but might take several years for an attacker to find a password.

Some websites utilize the one-time password method to improve security. However, a password manager is the best thing that will enhance your online privacy and security. 

What is an emergency access password manager?

An emergency access password manager protects your digital privacy and security in the event of death or a medical emergency. 

A medical emergency or death requires someone you can rely on to access your accounts and personal notes. It’s like having a private emergency line for your online life.

What are the best emergency access password managers?

NordPass – Secure note section

Currently, NordVPN is among the best and most reliable VPN services available. In addition, NordPass, a password manager provided by the company, is also available.

Exporting a .CSV file from your current password manager and importing it into NordPass makes transferring passwords a breeze.

As a result, you can be done in a jiffy instead of dedicating a considerable amount of time to entering passwords for various online accounts. 

When you first set up NordPass, it will automatically fill in your username and password whenever you visit a website or open an application. Auto-filling online forms, generating complex passwords, and evaluating the security of your current passwords are all features of NordPass.

A secure note section and a password manager are included in the app to help you keep track of crucial information that you don’t want to be compromised, such as your credit card number, when making online purchases.

NordPass also has an emergency access feature only available for premium users. 

This feature allows authorized users to access another user’s password vault in an emergency. Only authorized users of NordPass can access another person’s vault when there is an emergency. 

This feature allows loved ones or relatives to ask for access to a person’s vault without knowing the master password. 

NordPass

In an emergency, family or friends can request access to a user’s vault without knowing the master password.
Free trial Visit Website

RoboForm – Bookmarks for easy access

RoboForm is a password management software that you can use to simplify the procedure of storing your passwords for all your accounts.

It has an Emergency Access feature that allows access to your trusted contacts for all your data in the event of death, helplessness, or just as an option for account recovery.

This feature allows secure access to your contacts without the grantor’s Master Password because it uses public-private key encryption, and it also can be revoked at any point.

What’s more, RoboForm has advanced encryption, namely the AES-256-bit algorithm with PBKDF2 SHA256, to protect your activity against brute force, and other threatening attacks.

In addition, it increases the protection of your account with an extra layer by using a multi-factor authentication method.

RoboForm helps you avoid dull, old, or reused passwords that are easy to break and generates strong and unique passwords, further improving your security.

You can have all the features offered in the convenient subscriptions that also include the emergency contact for extra safety, so don’t hesitate to take it.

RoboForm

Grant your trusted contacts access to your information with this all-rounded app.
Free trial Visit Website

Dashlane – Unusual activity alert

In terms of password managers, Dashlane is among the best. It can be accessed from any device.

It helps you create secure passwords and watches over your accounts in real-time to alert you to any unusual activity or to suggest a password change.

For those who like to purchase online, the app provides a virtual wallet feature that may securely save your various payment methods, making it possible to complete a transaction quickly and with minimal form-filling.

Dashlane has an emergency access feature that can only be accessed with a premium plan.

Dashlane

Add any trusted close person to access passwords in case of great need, without compromising the privacy of other users.
Check price Visit Website

1Password – Travel mode

It keeps all your passwords in a safe vault that only you can have access to via your master code. 

Two-factor authentication and AES-256 encryption keep all your data safe, while browser extensions simplify entering login information online. For example, when you shop online, you can pull up your saved credit/debit card and bank information whenever you need to pay.

In addition, 1Password has a unique feature that allows you to store all of your passwords and other sensitive information on the company’s server. Travel Mode is designed to be used when traveling to foreign countries where you may not have access to WiFi or cellular data networks.

All you have to do is turn off Travel Mode to get your data back when you get back home.

If you are using 1Password for your family, you can create an emergency kit, an emergency access tool. 

While death is a topic no one wants to think about, it is inevitable, and you should create a way to allow your loved ones to access your accounts. 

1Password

Enables the ability to handle accounts on your behalf in a simple and secured encrypted environment.
Free trial Visit Website

LastPass – Intuitive interface

You should check out the LastPass app if you’re searching for a great and affordable password manager for your household. 

You can share passwords with your loved ones using LastPass’s family plan, covering up to six accounts.

With this family package, you’ll get access to all premium features.

Clicking on “forgot password” is something many individuals tend to do, and it’s pretty difficult to remember different usernames and passwords used for various sites and apps.

LastPass

By becoming an emergency contact, you can gain access to passwords, accounts, and private notes.
Free trial Visit Website

Keeper – Zero-knowledge policy

This is a great password manager equipped with 256-bit AES encryption, a zero-knowledge policy, and many MFA(multi-factor authentication) choices.

These choices include regular ones such as the google authenticator compatibility and more complex ones like biometric logins on gadgets. 

To top it off, Keeper is highly user-friendly and easy to use. All its features work without any flaws.

Keeper also auto-fills users’ passwords and other web forms with great accuracy. Once you create a new password and login, Keeper offers to save them for you immediately. 

Sharing login details with other users and setting specific sharing permissions is also a breeze with this app.

Keeper also has an excellent emergency access tool. Its emergency access feature gives up to 5 trusted relatives or loved ones access to your keeper account in the event of death or a medical emergency. 

Keeper

Authorized users have a certain amount of time to visit the vault safely without invading the privacy of other users.
Free trial Visit Website

KeePassXC – Open-source software

In contrast to other password managers, KeePassXC is open-source software and doesn’t rely on a cloud service to store your passwords.

In addition, hackers can’t access the password database because it’s stored on your computer’s hard drive.

You’ll need a tool like Google Drive to retrieve your credentials on another device because they are encrypted and kept offline.

⇒ Get KeePassXC

Bitwarden – Free use for individuals

In contrast to its competitors, Bitwarden’s source code is available to the public. As a result, anyone who knows how to decipher code can examine its inner workings, which is a major reassuring factor that it is reliable and safe. 

In addition, Bitwarden is free to use for individuals. However, users have access to more advanced features with the Premium plan.

Still, the free version offers all the essentials, including having an unlimited number of users log in and sync across devices. 

Bitwarden can also store other sensitive info, such as your credit card number. It also has a username and a password generator. 

Bitwarden also has an excellent emergency access feature only available for premium users.

⇒ Get Bitwarden

A password manager can also help you generate robust passwords which prevent brute force attacks. Brute force attacks are a prevalent password-guessing attack faced by web developers. 

Hackers can use brute-force attacks to find a password by attempting every potential combination of characters, digits, and symbols until they find the one that works. 

Brute-force attacks are common on websites that need users to authenticate themselves. Using a password manager will significantly improve your security online.

You can also check out this list to help you select a password manager that suits all your needs. Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!

7 Easy Methods to Fix the Outlook IMAP 0x800cccdd Error

If you are coming across an error message saying Your IMAP server closed the connection and error code 0x800cccdd in MS Outlook and looking for solutions to fix it, you are at the right place.

Because in this guide, we will list down all the methods that you can try to fix the Microsoft Outlook IMAP Error Code 0x800cccdd.

Notably, the Microsoft Outlook IMAP Error Code 0x800cccdd is one of the most common errors experienced by Outlook users. Almost all versions of MS Outlook have been reported to show this error.

Two of the most common symptoms of the Microsoft Outlook IMAP Error Code 0x800cccdd are that you will get the error message. In addition, if your IMAP server terminates the connection, the Outlook application will frequently freeze while in use.

Besides, some Outlook users have reported they aren’t able to add a new account in Outlook because of this error code.

Whatever the reason, we have listed all the ways and solutions that you can apply to eliminate this error and use Outlook without any issues. This guide is applicable for all versions of MS Outlook, including 2007, 2010, and 2013. So let us get right into it.

What are the reasons for Outlook IMAP Error Code 0x800cccdd?

One of the annoying things when you come across the Outlook IMAP Error Code 0x800cccdd is that there is no one reason for this error to pop up.

Below are some of the reported reasons that trigger the problem for MS Outlook users.

  • Because of Send/Receive Groups feature.
  • Presence of corrupt temporary data.
  • MS Outlook data file is corrupt.
  • The account is not synced correctly.
  • Corrupt Outlook profile.
  • A faulty internet connection prevents send and receive operations from completing promptly.
  • Your email provider does not support IMAP.
  • Incorrect time and date.

Now that you understand what might cause the Microsoft Outlook IMAP error code 0x800cccdd let us look at how you can fix the problem.

How can I fix Outlook IMAP Error Code 0x800cccdd?

1. Disable Send/Receive Groups Feature

  1. Launch MS Outlook.
  2. Log in with your email ID and password if you haven’t already.
  3. Click on the Send/Receive tab on the top menu.
  4. Select Send/Receive Groups.
  5. Click on the Define Send/Receive Groups option from the list.
  6. Uncheck the Schedule an automatically send/receive every * minute box.
  7. Click the Close button.
  8. Restart MS Outlook and check if this fixes the issue or not.

Most of the reported cases of Outlook IMAP error code 0x800cccdd have been triggered because of the Send/Receive feature.

Notably, this feature isn’t meant to work with an IMAP connection, which is why users are experiencing the error code 0x800cccdd problem.

Turning off the Send/Receive feature gives IMAP complete control to take over the proceedings of MS Outlook, and you can check if this fixes your issue or not.

2. Create a new Outlook profile

  1. Close any running instances of MS Outlook.
  2. Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog.
  3. Type the below command to open the classic Control Panel and press Enter. control.exe
  4. Locate Mail in the classic Control Panel and open it.
  5. Under the Profiles section, click on Show Profiles.
  6. Select Outlook Profile and hit the Remove button to remove your currently attached Outlook profile.
  7. Click Yes to confirm the deletion.
  8. Open Outlook again and follow the steps to set up your account again. You will be asked to create a new profile since the previous one was deleted.
  9. Sync Outlook and send or receive a test email to see if this fixes the issue or not.

One of the most effective ways users have handled and permanently fixed this error code 0x800cccdd with Outlook is by deleting the existing profile and creating a new one from scratch.

You can follow the above steps and create a new Outlook profile and sync it with the client to see if this fixes the issue or not.

3. Check your internet connection

roku internet speed

For MS Outlook to work perfectly, you need to have a stable and fast internet connection. In the case of a faulty internet connection, Outlook will not perform optimally and will have sync and other issues.

We suggest you check if your internet connection is functioning correctly or not. Moreover, you can use Fast.com or Speedtest.net to get an idea of the internet download or upload speeds you are getting and match them with your data plan.

If the speeds are poor and you are experiencing frequent network drops, then it is recommended that you contact your ISP and get your internet connection fixed.

4. Extend server timeouts

  1. Launch MS Outlook.
  2. Click on the File option at the top menu.
  3. Head over to Account Settings and select Account Settings.
  4. Click on the Email tab.
  5. Select the email with which you are experiencing the issue.
  6. Hit the Change button.
  7. Click on More Settings at the bottom right.
  8. Switch to the Advanced tab.
  9. Slide the bar to the extreme right for Server Timeouts to Long (10 minutes).
  10. Hit OK to save changes.
  11. Restart your PC and check if this fixes the error code 0x800cccdd or not.

Outlook requires some time to send or receive information or procedures ultimately. By default, the server timeout frame is set to 1 minute.

If there are some underlying issues with your internet connection, then Outlook may not be able to perform the required procedures within the 1-minute timeframe.

For this reason, you can follow the above steps and extend the server timeout frame to the maximum, i.e., 10 minutes, giving Outlook more room to perform necessary actions.

5. Run the ScanPST.exe utility

  1. Close all your Outlook processes.
  2. Open File Explorer.
  3. Navigate to any of the below addresses based on your PC configuration. C:\ Program Files - 64-bit Versions C:\ Program Files - 32-bit Versions
  4. Using the Search bar, look for SCANPST.exe inside the folder and open it.
  5. Click on Browse and select the correct path of your PST file. The default location is usually Documents \ Outlook files.
  6. Hit Start to begin the scan for repair.
  7. Once the scan completes, you will be shown the result containing the errors the tool has found.
  8. Check the box for Make backup of scanned file before repairing option.
  9. Press the Repair button to fix the PST file.
  10. Restart your PC after the repair completes and check if this fixes the Outlook 0x800cccdd error or not.

There is a built-in email-repair tool in Outlook called the ScanPST.exe utility. Users have reportedly been able to fix the 0x800cccdd error using this email repair tool.

It can perform a quick scan of Outlook to detect any corrupt or problematic files and repair them after your consent.

You can follow the above steps and initiate the ScanPST.exe email repair tool and check if this fixes the problem at hand or not.

6. Change date and time

  1. Press Win + I to open the Settings.
  2. Click on Time & language from the left pane.
  3. Select Date & time.date and time
  4. Enable the toggle for the Set time and Set time zone automatically options.Microsoft Store update stuck on pending Set time and date settings
  5. Open Outlook and check if this fixes the issue or not.

If there is a big difference between your local time and the time on the server, MS Outlook will misbehave and show errors, including 0x800cccdd.

You should set the correct date and time for Outlook to match it with the server because several users have fixed this issue with this simple solution.

7. Re-add email account

  1. Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog.
  2. Type the below command to open the classic Control Panel and press Enter. control.exe
  3. Locate Mail in the classic Control Panel and open it.
  4. Click on the Email accounts button.
  5. Switch to the Email tab and click on the New button.
  6. Enter all the information asked in the list and click Next to complete the process.
  7. Select the newly created email and hit the Set as default button.
  8. Open Outlook again and log in with the same ID. Check if this fixes the issue or not.

How can I clear corrupted temporary data associated with the connected Outlook account?

The Outlook IMAP error code 0x800cccdd isn’t just the only error you might experience with MS Outlook.

Below are some of the most common errors and issues that Outlook users have reported.

➡ Outlook Meeting issues: If you are experiencing Outlook Meeting issues, where it isn’t showing up in the calendar, not sending invites, won’t open/cancel/delete invites, etc., you should check out our dedicated guide on how to fix the problem.

➡ Outlook can’t upgrade your database error: Users facing Outlook can’t upgrade your database error message can follow our guide on how you can fix the problem for good.

➡ Outlook not searching all emails: If the search bar in MS Outlook isn’t doing its job and letting you search for all emails, you can check out our guide to fix the problem.

Let us know which one of the solutions mentioned above helped you fix your PC’s MS Outlook IMAP error code 0x800cccdd. Also, if you have fixed the issue using a different method, do share that in the comments section below.

Microsoft news recap: hiring slowing down in 3 core areas, DuckDuckGo “privacy first” stance called into question, and more

Microsoft news recap is a weekly feature highlighting the top Microsoft news stories of the past week. Sit back, grab some coffee, and enjoy the read!

Xbox head Phil Spencer says Microsoft will recognize Raven Software union once Activision Blizzard acquisition is complete

One of Activision Blizzard’ subsidiaries, Raven Software, has seen its quality assurance department vote to unionise. Microsoft is currently in the process of acquiring Activision Blizzard. CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, during an all-hands meeting with employees said that Microsoft would recognise the union once the acquisition completes.

Xbox head Phil Spencer says Microsoft will recognize Raven Software union once Activision Blizzard acquisition is complete - OnMSFT.com - May 27, 2022

DuckDuckGo’s partnership with Microsoft calls into question its “privacy first” policies

DuckDuckGo has found its privacy-first stance being questioned after it was discovered that the search engine’s browser on iOS and Android sends data to Microsoft when visiting LinkedIn or Bing, and it has been discovered that this is because of a search syndication agreement that DuckDuckGo has with Microsoft, preventing it from blocking this tracking.

Microsoft is slowing hiring across the core Windows, Teams, Office teams

Hiring across the Windows, Teams, and Office teams is being slowed down as Microsoft prepares for its new fiscal year. New vacancies in those areas have to be approved by the leadership team, as Microsoft works to make “sure the right resources are aligned to the right opportunity”.

Microsoft is slowing hiring across the core Windows, Teams, Office teams - OnMSFT.com - May 26, 2022

Microsoft confirms “Keystone” Xbox game streaming stick is still in the works, but with “new approach.”

Microsoft is still hard at work on its Xbox game streaming stick, codenamed “Keystone”, but the company released a statement that it has changed its approach to the streaming stick, without giving any specific details.

Xbox Logo

That’s it for this week. We will be back next week with more Microsoft news.

Video Speed Controller Not Working? Here’s How to Fix it

Finding out Video Speed Controller is not working is always annoying, especially when watching a boring movie or show.

A video speed controller is a tool that allows users to adjust playback speed settings on HTML 5 videos. A good application can use it to speed up or reduce the video speed depending on your needs.

However, most users have been facing the problem of the video speed controller not working consistently. However, the issue is often associated with extension problems.

Since most video speed controllers are browser extensions, our troubleshooting solutions will cater to that.

How do I fix video speed playback?

The best way to fix any issues with the video speed playback on your device is to use the Video Speed Controller element.

Unfortunately, if this is not available or doesn’t work optimally, your capability to edit video speed playback will have to suffer.

In today’s guide, we will cover the exact methods to apply to be in complete control of your device’s video speed playback.

How do I use a video speed controller on Netflix?

Although Netflix had tried to integrate speed control into their apps, it was greeted with strong opposition. So, they ended the project.

Hence, to take advantage of what a video speed controller does, you will need to use a browser to access the streaming service, and you will get some useful information below about how that can be done.

How do I use the video speed controller on Edgenuity?

There might be situations in which you will need to speed up or slow down the playback of videos on Edgenuity, and for these cases, it is recommended to use a Chrome extension.

Unfortunately, this extension is initially made for HTML5 videos, while Edgenuity uses Flash.

The application will allow you to use it only if you disable Flash from running. Follow the following steps to achieve this result quickly:

  1. Type the following path in your Chrome URL box and hit Enter: chrome://settings/
  2. Choose Privacy & Security.
  3. Click on Site settings.
  4. Scroll down to Additional permissions.
  5. Choose the Additional permissions option.
  6. Finally, find and activate the Block sites from running Flash option.
  7. As a result, a number will appear in the top left corner of your screen, indicating the payback speed.
Note icon NOTE
After using x1.5 speed, there are situations where the extension doesn’t recognize that the video has finished. If seeing this problem, try rewinding the video a small amount.

How do you use the video speed controller on Android?

To control the video playback speed on your Android device, it is recommended that you install the Video Speed Controller extension on your Firefox browser.

Here is how to use it:

  1. Open a page with a video on it.
  2. Press the video once, and click on More.
  3. Click the Playback Speed option.
  4. Choose the speed you require.

How can I fix the Video Speed Controller not working problem?

➡ Chrome

  1. Make Video Speed Controller the only active extension
  1. Press the Windows key, search Google Chrome and launch it.
  2. Click the menu button (three dots), select More tools and choose Extensions.settings extension
  3. Toggle the blue slider next to the Video speed controller to enable it.
  4. Toggle the slider back for other extensions to disable them.
  5. Restart Chrome to take effect

Sometimes, the problem is caused by a faulty extension. Disabling them will enable smooth performance from your Video speed controller.

If this fails to work, try the next solution for the video speed controller on Chrome not working.

2. Clear Chrome Cache

  1. Launch the Chrome app, and click the menu button (three dots).
  2. Select More tools and choose Clear browsing data.
  3. Pick All-time, check Cookies and other site data, and Cached images and files.
  4. Click on Clear data.

Corrupted cache and cookies could cause the malfunctioning of the extension on Chrome. Hence, cleaning the cache will remove all corrupted files.

➡ Firefox

  1. Delete Firefox preference files
  1. Press the Windows key, search Firefox, and launch it.
  2. Click the menu button, select help (?), and choose Troubleshooting Information.
  3. Locate the Application Basics section, Select Show Folder beside the Profile folder.
  4. Search for prefs.js files and delete them all.

2. Reset Firefox to default

  1. Follow steps 1 and 2 above to access the Troubleshooting Information page.
  2. Click Refresh Firefox to restart in Safe mode.
  3. Refresh Firefox and confirm it.

Resetting Firefox to factory default will remove all add-ons and customization for best performance. Then you can reinstall your video speed controller after this. A good setup will fix all issues, including the video speed controller not working on Firefox.

These are the best fixes whenever your video speed controller is not opening. If you use a different browser, follow the same steps highlighted here. It is the same solution but may require slight differences in steps.

If the speed controller cannot get you the slow frame rate needed, check out this guide on the best slow-motion video software for Windows 10/11.

Further, if videos are not playing on your computer, this article might be able to help troubleshoot it.

7 Best CPU Coolers With Screen to Keep Your PC Cool

If you want to improve the appearance of your computer, consider purchasing a CPU cooler with a screen.

The ancient and noisy CPU coolers only served one purpose in the past: cooling the laptop’s core processor. However, times have changed.

Apart from performance, many gamers buy RGB keyboards, mice, and other accessories to make their setup look modern and vibrant.

Several factors should be examined when purchasing a CPU cooler with a screen to ensure that you are purchasing the proper equipment for your setup, both in terms of performance and aesthetics.

What are the qualities of a good CPU cooler?

Given that the majority of CPU coolers with screens are liquid coolers, the fan’s spinning speed and noise should be the first things to examine.

The best CPU cooler with a screen has a high spinning speed, little noise, and an extended life span. Additionally, it should have a good screen quality with high contrast.

What are the best CPU coolers with screens?

Deepcool Gammaxx L240 V2 – Powerful performance

  • Good performance
  • Anti-leakage Low noise Cheap
  • No controller for lighting
  • Too many wires

GAMMAXX L series AIO coolers are known for their powerful performance, tidy appearance, and appealing cost-effectiveness, and they are the first on the list.

With the “Anti-leak Tech Inside” technology, the GAMMAXX L240 V2 has improved its reliability, allowing users to enjoy maximum CPU performance without worrying about leakage.

What are the specs of this masterpiece of a CPU cooler with a screen? Here there are:

Radiator Dimensions     282×120×27 mm
Radiator MaterialAluminum
Pump Dimensions91×79×47 mm
Pump Speed2400 RPM
Pump Noise17.8 dB
Pump Connector3-pin
Pump Power Consumption2.4 W
Fan Dimension120×120×25 mm
Fan Speed500-1800 RPM
Fan Airflow69.34 CFM
Fan Air Pressure2.42 mmAq
Fan Noise≤30 dB
Fan Connector4-pin
Bearing TypeHydro Bearing
Fan Power Consumption2.04 W
Screen TypeRGB LED

Let us now discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this CPU cooler.

The Gammaxx L240 features an all-in-one design that integrates a radiator, a pump, and two fans (2 x 120 mm in this case) into a single closed loop.

If your motherboard doesn’t have any LED headers, you won’t be able to control the lighting because there is no Deepcool software and no SATA-powered lighting controller.

The new water-block and fans have a built-in 12V RGB lighting system with three RGB effects: breathing, static, and multi-color cycling, which suit your aesthetic preferences while also allowing popular motherboards to use synchronized lighting control.

The fans are barely audible while the machine is idling. The fans rotate at roughly 1500 rpm under wPrime; they are not silent, but they are relatively quiet.

We had no concerns about the pump because it was nearly inaudible (even when the fans were turned down).

NZXT Kraken Z63 – Visually appealing

  • High-quality
  • Sturdy
  • Solid radiator
  • Silent fans
  • Customization features for LCD
  • Pump headers and breakout cabling may get in the way of RAM sticks

NZXT’s Kraken CPU coolers are among the most well-known all-in-one CPU coolers available.

Let’s start with the specifications of this CPU cooler with LCD screen, then talk about the design and finish with a review of the cooler.

Radiator Dimensions     143 x 315 x 30mm
Radiator MaterialAluminum
Pump Speed800 – 2,800 ± 300RPM
Fan Speed500 – 1,800 ± 300RPM
Fan Airflow27.27 – 98.17 CFM
Fan Air Pressure0.21 – 2.71 mm-H₂O
Fan Noise21 – 38 dBA
Fan Connector4-pin
Screen Type24-bit True Color LCD

The NZXT Kraken Z63 RGB is a stylish, albeit pricey, CPU cooler. The Kraken Z-3 series is one of the most visually appealing CPU coolers we’ve ever seen.

Note that the pump’s LCD provides active temperature monitoring and the AER 2 fans enable multi-zone RGB with little cabling.

The latest software from NZXT, CAM, allows the user to fine-tune the parameters, making it ideal for reconfigurations.

Temperatures, speeds, power management, and cooling can all be changed. As a result, CAM’s user-friendly program gives you control over your PC.

This is a great CPU cooler with customizable screen, so it’s a must-buy for any enthusiast.

MSI MPG Coreliquid K360 – Numerous effects

  • High performance
  • Beautiful design
  • Very loud fans
  • Small and low-quality LCD

MSI’s first liquid AIO to bear the MPG name, implying that it will outperform the company’s prior MAG CoreLiquid coolers. The specs are next, followed by a review of the cooler.

Radiator Dimensions     394 x 120 x 27mm
Radiator MaterialAluminum
Pump Dimensions94.66 x 83.36 x 94mm
Pump Noise20 dBA
Pump Power Consumption4W
Fan Dimension120 x 120 x 25mm
Fan Speed2500 RPM
Fan Airflow77.4 CFM
Fan Air Pressure4.29 mmH2O
Fan Noise39.9 dBA
Fan Connector4-pin
Bearing TypeTwo Ball Bearing
Fan Power Consumption3.36 W

Each fan has eight blades, with each pair of blades working together to direct airflow and air pressure into the heatsink.

The fan blades appear white, however, they are translucent and frosted to distribute the RGB illumination evenly.

Rubber pads on the front and back corners of the fans serve to decrease or eliminate vibration noise. Each fan has a 4-pin PWM connector, and the ARGB lighting has its own connector.

The LCD is only 2.4′′, despite the fact that the CPU block appears to be quite large. On the sides, there are also black bars. the K360’s cooler screen contrast and color saturation are not its strong suits.

Even more, the RGB lighting is properly diffused, and the CoreLiquid program or the MSI Center app offers numerous effects to pick from.

The fans are also fairly strong, with speeds of up to 2,500 RPM. It can, however, become audible, especially when they’re moving at fast speeds.

ASUS Ryujin 2 360 – Compatible with Intel and AMD motherboards

  • Impressive cooling performance
  • Customizable 3.5-inch display
  • Low-noise operation
  • 360mm radiator demands a spacious PC case

Are ASUS CPU coolers good? Yes, they certainly are. If you’re planning a high-end construction but aren’t sure which cooler to use, this is the most secure option.

You will be blown away with the ASUS ROG Ryujin II 360! This CPU cooler with a screen is an AIO liquid cooler that is sure to include all of ASUS’ best features.

It’s a crown jewel, so it’ll be expensive, but it’ll be well worth it.

Radiator Dimensions     394.0 x 121.0 x 27.0 mm
Radiator MaterialAluminum
Pump Speed840-2800 RPM
Fan Dimension120×120×25 mm
Fan Speed500-1800 RPM
Fan Airflow71.6 CFM
Fan Air Pressure3.94 mmH2O
Fan Noise29.7 dBA
Fan Connector4-pin
Fan Power Consumption2.04 W
Screen Type3.5″ Full-Color LCD

A 3.5″ LCD panel on the ROG Ryujin II 360 may display customized visuals. It’s the world’s largest LCD on an AIO cooler.

The Armoury Crate software allows you to customize the LCD settings to display voltages, fan speeds, temps, and frequencies.

Note that the ROG Ryujin II is compatible with both Intel and AMD motherboard platforms. This allows you to use it with any processor you want. Mounting and routing this AIO cooler will be easy thanks to its 38cm tube.

The newer multi-core GPUs can considerably raise the temperature of your system. ASUS integrated industrial-grade PWM fans from Noctua to address these thermal issues.

These provide excellent cooling performance while producing minimal noise.

Aorus RGB AIO 280 – Adjustable lighting patterns

  • Easy to install
  • Great cooling
  • Low noise
  • Customizable LCD display
  • Stock thermal paste isn’t that great
  • Lots of cables from the CPU pump block

Let’s talk about a CPU cooler with a temperature display. The simplest way to define the AORUS LIQUID COOLER 280 is as an AIO liquid cooler that looks attractive and performs well.

Radiator Dimensions     315 x 143 x 30mm
Radiator MaterialAluminum
Pump Dimensions80 x 80 x 60mm
Pump Noise17.8 dB
Pump Connector3-pin
Pump Power Consumption2.4 W
Fan Dimension140 x 25mm ARGB Fan x 2
Fan Speed2300 RPM +/-10%
Fan Airflow100.16 CFM
Fan Air Pressure5.16 mmH2O
Fan Noise22.3~44.5 dBA
Bearing Type2 Ball Bearing
Screen TypeFull-Color LCD

With the new high-performance pump efficiently dispersing heat from high-end CPUs, heat from the CPU should be no problem.

There are a lot of fancy CPU coolers with screens out there, and the AORUS LIQUID COOLER 280 is one of them. It’s in the expensive range, with a configurable LCD display and all the aesthetics you need.

While some people may be hesitant to spend money on something that simply has good aesthetics but poor performance, this is not the case with the AORUS LIQUID COOLER 280.

Users can change the lighting patterns on the AORUS Falcon logo and fan blades, as well as synchronize lights with accessories, allowing them to show off their personal flair.

Aorus WaterForce x360 – Suitable for a high-end gaming system

  • Easy to install
  • Excellent cooling performance
  • Three high-quality 120mm fans
  • Slightly expensive
  • Can get loud at max RPM

Here we have another Aorus cooler, and like the previous one, this one is the ideal combination of good looks and performance.

Radiator Dimensions     394 x 119 x 27mm
Radiator MaterialAluminum
Pump Dimensions82 x 82 x 74mm
Fan Speed800-2500 RPM +/-10%
Fan Airflow16.92~60.07 CFM
Fan Air Pressure0.25~3.14mmH20
Fan Noise7.9~37.6 dBA
Fan Connector4-pin
Bearing TypeSleeve (Graphene Nano Lubricant)
Screen TypeFull-Color LCD

The Aorus Waterforce X360 AIO cooler hits all the relevant boxes in universal tests to earn high marks.

One thing to keep in mind regarding the cooler is that it may get quite loud if the fan speeds are turned all the way up.

Apart from that, we believe the Waterforce X360 is one of the best AIO coolers available for your high-end gaming system.

ASUS ROG RYUO 120 RGB – High compatibility

  • Good performance
  • Best aesthetics among CPU coolers
  • Extended compatibilty
  • Noisy fan

If you are looking for good looks rather in cost of some performance, then ASUS ROG RYUO will certainly suit your needs.

With an OLED screen and good cooling capabilities, this cooler will make your PC look 100 times better. Let us look at the specs:

Radiator Dimensions     122 x 150 x 27 mm
Radiator MaterialAluminum
Fan Dimension120×120×25 mm
Fan Speed800 – 2500 RPM +/- 10%
Fan Airflow80.95 CFM
Fan Air Pressure5.0 mmH2O
Fan Noise37.6 dB(A)
Screen Type1.77″ Full-Color OLED

Speaking of this model, which is just $20 cheaper than its older brother and is one of the few OLED CPU coolers, its cooling capacity is weak.

Within the price range in which it is found, we have cheaper and better performing options; essentially, the price of this model is determined by the OLED screen rather than other elements.

Compatibility and installation are clearly the most important features of this model.

This CPU cooler includes comprehensive support for today’s sockets, from LGA-115x and AM4 to HEDT sockets like TR4 (thanks to the bracket that comes within the CPUs) and LGA-2066 in the 240mm version.

What is the advantage of having a CPU cooler with a screen?

The coolers with screens are more aesthetically pleasing and give the case a more attractive appearance.

The majority of them are also customizable, allowing you to show off your particular style. The temperature of the CPU and other relevant metrics are also displayed on cooler screens.

Among the CPU coolers introduced above ASUS ROG RYUO, 120 RGB has the best looks with the high-quality OLED screen.

To talk about the best performer, NZXT Kraken Z63 can provide amazing cooling power and prevents your CPU from throttling.

MSI MPG Coreliquid K360, on the other hand, is the most affordable and can be bought for low-budget builds.

Also, don’t worry it still works like a charm when it comes to cooling off the core processor utility of a PC.

If you have to upgrade your PC for the new OS, take a look at our list including the best CPUs for Windows 11.

Which CPU cooler would you choose? Tell us in the comments section below.

Posted in CPU

What is GameStop Wallet Extension and How to Use it

Over the last several months, GameStop has been making efforts to diversify its primary business, which has helped the company attain a reputation similar to that of a cult among investors since it has become a meme stock.

The cryptocurrency industry is becoming increasingly competitive, and GameStop decided to release a version of its digital asset wallet. This wallet enables anyone, including gamers, to store, transmit, receive, and utilize NFTs and cryptocurrencies.

Follow along as we will address your most asked questions such as the GameStop wallet extension price, how it works and how you can use it on your browser. Keep on reading!

What is the GameStop wallet?

The free GameStop wallet will be keeping your private keys, which are the passwords that enable you to access your cryptocurrencies, both secure and easy to access.

This will make it possible for you to transfer and receive cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum. Crypto wallets are available in a wide variety of formats, ranging from hardware wallets like the Ledger (which resembles a USB stick) to mobile applications like the Coinbase wallet.


With the GameStop wallet extension, it will be even easier to access your assets. According to the company, the wallet is a self-custodial Ethereum wallet. Moreover, the wallet extension will be able to be downloaded from the Chrome Web Store.

It will also enable transactions on GameStop’s NFT marketplace. Which according to a press release, is expected to launch in the second quarter of the company’s fiscal year.

How to get the GameStop wallet extension?

1. Download on Chrome

  1. Since the GameStop wallet extension is only available on the Chrome Web Store. Therefore you will be able to use the GameStop wallet extension for Chrome and Brave. Thus, open your Chrome browser and type in Chrome Web Store, or follow the direct link towards it.chrome-store gamestop wallet extension
  2. Next, type GameStop Wallet inside the search bar and click on the GameStop Wallet result.gamestop-wallet gamestop wallet extension
  3. Click on the Add to Chrome button.add-chrome gamestop wallet extension
  4. Next, click on the Extension icon from your Chrome and then click on the GameStop Wallet extension. You will be prompted with a pop-up window that will ask you to Create a new wallet or Recover one. That’s it!create-wallet gamestop wallet extension

2. Download on Brave

  1. Open your Brave browser and click on the burger menu from the top-left corner then select Extensions.gamestop-brave gamestop wallet extension
  2. Scroll down and click on the link to the Web Store.web store gamestop wallet extension
  3. Here, type GameStop Wallet in the search bar then select the topmost result.gamestop-wallet gamestop wallet extension
  4. Tap on the Add to Brave button then access the extension from the Extensions icon. Just like before, you will be able to create or recover a wallet.

Are crypto wallet extensions safe?

If you lose your private key or seed phrase, you will no longer have access to any coins that are connected with that key. Because of this, it is imperative that you save this information in a safe area.

It is strongly advised that at all times, at least one backup copy be kept in a distinct, safe location. Keep in mind that anyone who has access to your private key and/or seed phrase also has access to your funds.

People who are not familiar with cryptocurrency frequently get one element of it wrong, which is that it is possible to have your cryptocurrency coins hacked and stolen.


Even if there are countless cases of breaches from the past, the private key itself is not what is compromised when a hack occurs because it is the centralized platform that is targeted.

It is simply not feasible for a computer to guess a private key that is connected with a particular address since it would take the computer hundreds or even thousands of years to do so.

However, coins that are saved in a browser extension are still susceptible to several attack vectors. The safest option to keep your coins is on a hardware wallet or through a combination of a web 3.0 wallet and a hardware wallet.

Check out our post on the best cryptocurrency converter apps to start using today.

We hope our article proved to be helpful to you. Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with us in the comment section below. Thanks for reading!

How to Access CCleaner Advanced Options for Custom Settings

CCleaner is a third-party utility developed by Piriform to clean unwanted files on the system and clear storage space. There are a whole lot of sections in the CCleaner, but Advanced options are one of the most useful and offer a plethora of handy settings.

As the name suggests, these settings are truly advanced and CCleaner recommends you go with the default selections. But, what’s the fun in that?

So if you have ever looked through the Advanced options in CCleaner and wondered about these, here are the CCleaner settings explained.

Is CCleaner still good?

CCleaner was released in the year 2004 for Windows and in 2012 for macOS. It remains one of the most effective tools to delete unwanted, junk, and temporary files. Though the interface is not as appealing and user-friendly, CCleaner still works perfectly and helps clear a large chunk of storage.

Also, it offers a bunch of different settings and customizations to help users configure things as per the requirement. For those who are not yet willing to pay for the tool, there is a free version available as well.

If you haven’t tried it yet, we really suggest you to do so and don’t forget to let us know how you like it in the comments section.

⇒ Get CCleaner

How do I access the Advanced options in CCleaner?

  1. Launch CCleaner and select Options from the navigation pane on the left.Options to view ccleaner advanced options
  2. Next, click on Advanced in the list of options on the right.Advanced to view ccleaner advanced options
  3. All the Advanced options will now be listed on the right.View

If you ever run into issues with these, you can always go back to CCleaner default settings by clicking on the Restore default settings button at the bottom.

What are the various Advanced options in CCleaner?

Let’s find out the function of each of the settings in Advanced options in CCleaner.

  • Cleaning results level of details: Two options under it. Advanced Report, selected by default, to list the results of every cleaning option, or File List to mention the items in the form of a list.
  • Only delete files in Windows Temp folder older than 24 hours: This setting, selected by default, cleans files in the Windows Temp folder older than 24 hours. Ensures that files currently in use are not deleted.
  • Only delete files in Recycle bin older than 24 hours: This setting deletes files in the Recycle bin after 24 hours.
  • Hide warning messages: Hides the warning messages. Select it if you want to run CCleaner in silent mode.
  • Close program after a Custom Clean: When enabled, CCleaner would close after a custom clean operation.
  • Shutdown after a Custom Clean: When enabled, the PC will automatically shut down after a custom clean.
  • Show prompt to backup registry issues: This setting, enabled by default, sends prompts to backup your Registry before CCleaner is run.
  • Minimize to System Tray: Enable this setting and CCleaner will minimize to the system tray when you close it.
  • Save all settings to INI file: When the option is enabled, the app settings will be saved to the ccleaner.ini file and can be easily copied to other computers.
  • Skip User Account Control warning: As the name suggests, you wouldn’t receive any UAC prompts with this setting enabled. Though, it’s enabled by default.
  • Enable Windows Jump List Tasks: This setting allows you to execute various actions in the CCleaner when it is minimized.

This should provide you with a basic idea of the various Advanced option in CCleaner. And from now on, these wouldn’t be so advanced for you anymore.

Why do I need to access CCleaner’s advanced options?

The settings listed under Advanced options in CCleaner shouldn’t be modified under normal use. But some of these may help simplify things to a great extent. For instance, the option to automatically shut down after a custom clean will save you the effort of manually shutting down the PC.

The setting to Skip User Account Control warning helps save a lot of time. Imagine approving all the UAC confirmation prompts while executing a simple task on CCleaner.

In all, the CCleaner’s Advanced options are a great collection and can simplify the whole task, if used properly. Configure them as per your requirement and have the best CCleaner settings on the computer.

However, several users have run into issues with the Advanced options in CCleaner. Many had these settings enabled without realizing and believed that the tool malfunctioned. So, make sure to understand each setting before enabling/disabling it.

That’s all there is to Advanced options in CCleaner and how you can put these to good use. Also, find out what to do if CCleaner keeps disappearing on your PC.

If you have any other queries, feel free to drop a comment in the section below.

5 Ways to Fix Skywalker Saga When It’s not Working [Bugs & Crashes]

The excitement of the arrival of Lego Star Wars The Skywalker Saga was short-lived for some gamers after experiencing issues related to the Skywalker Saga not working.

Bugs and crashes are not peculiar to a specific game, especially newly launched ones. The manufacturer of the Skywalker Saga as expected will continually release updates and patches to fix issues as much as possible.

Most of the issues may not be fixable by patches but by a simple tweak of the computer configuration and game settings. Read along as we highlight how to fix Skywalker Saga when it’s not working.

Can you play Lego Star Wars Skywalker Saga on PC?

Yes. The Skywalker Saga can be played on PC, specifically, Windows-powered computers. Unfortunately, it only supports Windows 10/11.

It is expected that any system you are installing the Lego Star Wars The Skywalker Saga should tick all of these requirements:

Minimum requirements for PC

  • Operating System (OS): Windows 10 64-bit
  • Processor: Intel Core i5-2400 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: GeForce GTX 750 Ti or Radeon HD 7850
  • DirectX: Version 11

Recommended requirements for PC

  • Operating System (OS): Windows 10 64-bit
  • Processor: Intel Core i5-6600 or AMD Ryzen 3 3100
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics: GeForce GTX 780 or Radeon R9 290
  • DirectX: Version 11
  • Storage: 40 GB available space

How do you download Skywalker Saga on PC?

There are many platforms offering download links to the Lego Star Wars The Skywalker Saga. However, avoid them at any cost as they may contain dangerous files for your system.

Epic Games and Steam are the two popular and reputable platforms where you can download the Lego Star Wars and The Skywalker Saga. Steam Remote Play Together feature allows you to activate the Skywalker Saga co-op and play online.

To download the game, you only need to visit your preferred site such as the official Lego Star Wars The Skywalker Saga game page on Steam or on the Epic Games platform. Scroll down the page and follow the instructions on the screen to download it.

How do I fix Skywalker Saga on Windows 10/11?

1. Update Windows

  1. Launch a new Run box by pressing the Windows key + R, then type the command below and press Enter:
    ms-settings:windowsupdate
    Run Windows Update
  2. If there are Updates available to download, select Download now, otherwise click on the same blue button that will say Check for new updates.
    Download Windows Update
  3. Restart your PC to apply the changes made then go back to playing Skywalker Saga.

2. Update your graphics driver

  1. Open the Quick Access Menu by tapping the Windows key + X and select Device Manager.
  2. Click on the small drop-down arrow beside Display adapters. Right-click on the Graphic driver and choose Update driver.
    Graphic Driver Update

Ensure that you have the most recent versions of your drivers for Skywalker Saga to work properly. There are third-party tools that can perform this for you automatically.

A driver updater program such as DriveFix will instantly scan your computer and list any hardware that has outdated drivers. You may rely on Outbyte Driver Updater to make such changes to ensure a proper update with the most recent graphics card drivers.

⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

3. Disable Windows Firewall

  1. Press the Windows key + I to launch Settings then select Privacy & Security and choose Windows Security.
  2. Choose Virus & threat protection.
  3. Scroll, locate and click Manage settings.
  4. Toggle the button under Real-time protection to Off. When prompted by the User Account Control, select Yes.

4. Open the game file using its executable(.exe)

  1. Open the Steam application and go to Library.
    Steam Library
  2. Right-click on the Skywalker Saga game and choose Properties.
  3. Pick the Browse option then locate the executable file with .exe extension.
  4. Launch the game from the executable file. That’s it! The Skywalker Saga not working issue will be gone.

5. Verify the integrity of the Skywalker Saga game file on Steam

  1. Launch the Steam application and choose Library.
  2. Locate Lego Star Wars Skywalker Saga in your game lists and right-click on it to select Properties.
  3. Go to the LOCAL FILES tab and pick Verify Integrity.
  4. Select the option Verify integrity of game files…, then wait until the Validating Steam Files message reaches 100%.

What can I do if Skywalker Saga is not launching?

1. Check system compatibility

The Lego Star Wars The Skywalker Saga will not launch on your PC if the Operating System (OS) version is anything lower than Windows 10. The Direct X version must also be nothing lesser than Version 11.

It is recommended that you have up to 42 GB of space available on your system to allow the optimal functioning of the Skywalker Saga game. Also, if the Skywalker Saga keeps crashing, make sure to check the system compatibility.

2. Turn off the Steam overlay

  1. Open the Steam application and select the Library tab.
  2. Right-click on the Skywalker Saga game and choose Properties from the context menu.
  3. Choose the General tab and uncheck the box next to Enable Steam overlay while in-game.

How do I fix Skywalker Saga not loading issue?

1. Wait it out

Sometimes, when players encounter issues related to Skywalker Saga not working, it is only a result of a lack of patience.

The game might take a while to load. Just exercise patience. Wait for at least 5 minutes before thinking of tweaking any settings to fix the issue.

2. Run in a clean boot environment

  1. Launch Run by pressing Windows key + R and type the command below and press Enter to open the System Configuration:
    msconfig
    msconfig
  2. Go to the Services tab then check the box beside the Hide all Microsoft services. Next, click Disable all and then tap on OK.
  3. Reopen the System Configuration and select the Startup tab. Choose Open Task Manager.
  4. Right-click on each task and click Disable.

3. Adjust the system power plan

  1. Open Settings by tapping Windows key + I then select System and pick Power & battery.
  2. Scroll to locate Power mode and then choose Best performance.

Why is Skywalker Saga not updating?

There have been updates including patches for errors in the Lego Starwars: The Skywalker Saga. The failure of the game to update might not be caused by issues on the platform you are running it.

Sometimes, restarting your PC may help fix the problem. If the game is on Steam, you can check our guide on how to fix errors while updating games.

How can I solve Skywalker Saga not saving issue?

Until there is a patch to solve this issue, presently, there is no official fix for errors related to Skywalker Saga not saving.

For players using Steam, you can try to uninstall and reinstall the Lego Starwars: The Skywalker Saga. If you have the Steam cloud save enabled, then this may help fix it. You can read our guide on how to safely uninstall games on Steam to use this method.

What are some of the most common bugs in Skywalker Saga?

While there are methods to fix some issues related to the Lego Starwars: The Skywalker Saga, there are others errors caused by bugs. They can only be fixed by updates from the game developer.

Here are some of the most common bugs in Skywalker Saga reported by players so far:

  • Failure to install and error code CE-100005-6: There have been reports of the Skywalker Saga failure to install. In some cases, it gets stuck on the installation screen. The developer is expected to release a patch for this soonest.
  • Inability to throw the lightsaber: You may be unable to throw the lightsaber when facing Kylo Ren in Episode 7 of the Skywalker Saga. Using the Single sword swing might help to get past the stage.
  • Corrupt save file: Players have gone to sleep with their games saved only to wake up to continue and discover they can only make a new save or override the previous. Uninstalling and reinstalling the game might help fix it.
  • Login and disconnection issues: This Skywalker Saga has been reported to suddenly disconnect users while some were unable to log in. Confirm the status of the server by checking comments on gaming forums and official social media accounts of the game developer.
  • Malfunction when dubbing: It happens at some points such that you find it difficult to follow the plot in Skywalker Saga. The solution confirmed by many gamers is that you will need to restart the game and it comes at a cost; progress may be lost.

By now, you should have been able to resolve any problem with The Skywalker Saga and be able to enjoy the title as you intended to. For players launching the game using Epic Games and facing login issues, you can find out how to fix Epic Games woes.

Let us know in the comments section if you have any other solutions to issues related to Skywalker Saga not working.

Open Shell on Windows 11: How to Fix it if it’s Not Working

The Open shell not working on Windows 11 isn’t a new problem and has been troubling users since the arrival of this new OS.

The cause of the Open-Shell Windows 11 not working issue is not specific. It could be caused by an unexpected error in a program, the presence of a virus or malware, or corrupt system files as well.

For those who don’t know, Open-Shell is a replacement for the Classic Shell, which was discontinued in 2017. You can check out our guide on how to install Classic Shell on Windows 11.

You can learn more about bringing back a classic Windows layout by reading this guide on the Open Shell Classic Start Menu.

How can I replace Windows 11’s Start menu?

  1. Download Open Shell.
  2. Install the application and open it.
  3. On the Start Menu Style, you can change the Start menu look, and replace the Start menu icons.
  4. Under the Basic Settings tab, you can change the Start menu behaviors.
  5. Under the Skin tab, you can tweak the Start menu appearance.
  6. Switching to the Taskbar tab, you can change the Taskbar’s look, opacity, color, text color, and overlay.

How can I fix Open Shell not working on Windows 11?

1. Restart your PC

  1. Open the Start menu.
  2. Click on Power.
  3. Select Restart.
    restart-PC windows 11 scanner not detected error

2. Restart the file explorer

  1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del buttons to open the Task Manager.
  2. Select all instances of File Explorer from the Processes tab and press the End Task button.

3. Re-register Shell Experience

  1. Press the Start menu.
  2. Search for Windows Powershell and open it.
  3. Execute the below command. Get-appxpackage -all shellexperience -packagetype bundle |% {add-appxpackage -register -disabledevelopmentmode ($_.installlocation + “\appxmetadata\appxbundlemanifest.xml”)}
  4. Press Enter and let the command process.
  5. Close Powershell and check if this fixes the issue or not.

4. Rebuild the Windows Search Index

  1. Press the Win + R keys to open the Run command.
  2. Type the below command and press Enter. control /name Microsoft.IndexingOptions
  3. In the Indexing Options window, click on Modify.
  4. Click on Show all locations.
  5. Uncheck all locations and click on OK.
  6. Now back in the Indexing Options window, click Advanced.
  7. Select Rebuild in the new Advanced Options window.
  8. Click on OK to begin the process.
  9. Once done, close the Indexing Options window.
  10. Restart your PC and check if this fixes the problem or not.

5. Tweak the Start menu registry settings

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run command.
  2. Type regedit and press Enter.
    Run command - regedit - Enter
  3. Head to the below-mentioned path. Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
  4. Right-click on the blank space and select New > DWORD (32-bit value).
  5. Name it EnableXamlStartMenu.
  6. Double-click on the newly created value and set the Value Data to 0.
  7. Restart Windows Explorer and check if this fixes the issue or not.
  8. In the same location as mentioned above, locate Start_ShowClassicMode (If it is not available then you are good).
  9. Right-click on it and select Delete.

6. Check for the latest Windows updates

  1. Press the Win + I keys to open Settings.
  2. Select Windows Update from the left pane.
  3. Hit the Check for updates button.

What are the other things I should know about Open Shell?

➡ Open Shell works perfectly well with Windows 11. However, if you come across any issues, then you can follow the steps above to fix the issues you are experiencing with Open Shell.

➡ If you think Open Shell is causing multiple issues on your Windows 11 PC, then we would recommend you uninstall it. It can be done simply from the Control Panel.

➡ Open Shell does not completely remove the Windows 11 taskbar. However, you can make use of the various customization features in order to change the look and behavior of the Windows 11 taskbar.

Let us know in the comments below which one of the above-mentioned methods helped you resolve the Open Shell Windows 11 not working issue.

LockDown Browser: Quickest Way to Download & Install It

Respondus LockDown Browser is a specialized web browser that improves the integrity of Blackboard test delivery.

Students who attempt an exam using this browser cannot copy, print, use other apps, or navigate to a different URL. Learners are locked within an assessment once it is begun until they submit it.

This browser creates a bespoke interface for existing Windows or Mac apps. It does not alter an existing browser like Safari or Internet Explorer; instead, it installs standalone software that launches a custom browser.

The LockDown Browser makes use of the exact security mechanisms, and service packs are available for Safari as well as Internet Explorer. However, it makes no changes to the current edition of these browsers.

With a few steps, you will be able to solve any issues related to Respondus LockDown Browser not working.

How do I download the LockDown Respondus browser?

1. Downloading it as a student

  1. Navigate to the link sent from your institution (You can only get a download link from your institution).
  2. Click on the option to Install Now for Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs.
  3. If on a Windows 10 or 11 Chrome browser, click on the downloaded file at the bottom left corner of the browser.
    how to download respondus lockdown browser
  4. Choose the language and click on Next.
  5. Accept the terms and click Next.
    how to download respondus lockdown browser
  6. Finally, click on the Finish button.

These steps are perfect for a Lockdown browser download on Windows 10 and 11.

2. Download the trial version

  1. You must be an administrative contact for the institution.
  2. Complete the LockDown Browser License Agreement.
    how to download respondus lockdown browser
  3. Email the completed agreement to the Respondus sales rep.
  4. Finally, wait for a response email and follow the instructions in the email.

Schools that utilize Schoology, Moodle, Brightspace, Blackboard Learn, Canvas, or Sakai may use LockDown Browser for free for two months. This is the ideal approach for a school to test all of its learning management system’s features and functioning.

How do I install Respondus LockDown Browser on Mac?

  1. Get a link to the mac version of the software from your school or teacher.
  2. Open your Safari browser and input the link given to you on the address bar, then hit Enter.
  3. Double click on the download from the download folder.
  4. Click on Continue, then Continue again.
  5. Hit the Continue button and then the Agree button on the agreement.
    how to download respondus lockdown browser
  6. Click on the Install button.
  7. Lastly, input your password and click on Install Software if prompted to.

And there it is. After you download the Lockdown Browser on Mac, you can open up the new browser and take your tests.

How do I install LockDown Browser on my Chromebook?

  1. Click on the Respondus Lockdown browser link given by the school or teacher.
  2. This link will direct you to the Chrome store, where you should click Add to Chrome (without the link you will not be able to find the extension on the store).
  3. The browser will be installed, and you can locate tests and quizzes from your school.

Now you know how to download Respondus Lockdown Browser on Chromebook, let us discuss some other important details about this driver.

How does Lockdown Browser detect cheating?

This Lockdown Browser identifies cheating by recording a student’s video and voice throughout a test using the PC’s cameras and mic. These cameras identify potentially cheating conduct. Because not all highlighted events justify cheating, the instructors must investigate the situations.

The browser works in the same way as any other conventional webpage. But, the main difference is that certain functionalities are disabled or eliminated in order to conduct exams without cheating. 

Flags are occurrences that indicate a potential issue throughout the course of the online test or quiz. And on the Repondus monitor’s timeline, flagged events from the test session are shown.

The teacher may start watching the marked videos at any stage of the timeline.

Respondus Lockdown Browser detects the following events:

  • Another person in your frame – An incident might be notified if a different individual than the one who began the test is shown in the video frame. Aside from the learner, no one else should be engaged in the exam.
  • Eye movements – Abnormal eye movements may be detected with the use of eye-tracking devices. It is possible to get flagged if you spend too much time looking at anything other than the test. This normally requires a thorough review by the teacher. 
  • Audio and sound – Respondus solely captures ambient audio and sounds. When there isn’t a built-in response recorder, any audio from the pupils is flagged.
  • Away from the video – The event will be notified if the pupil disappears and isn’t identified in the frame for a period of time. So, you should sit till the exam ends.
  • Monitoring IP addresses – An issue is notified when a student attempts to contact Respondus servers using an IP address that the Responders servers are unable to utilize to contact the user.

Can LockDown Browser detect other browsers?

In general, browser lockout software like Respondus LockDown may detect attempts by students to open a different computer app or browser tab and the usage of keyboard shortcuts.

It can’t use screen capture, screen sharing, network monitoring software, messaging, and virtual computers. It’s also worth noting that any other browsers can’t view exams created for the Respondus LockDown Browser.

Here are the essential things to note with Respondus:

  • Students are not allowed to leave the test until they have completed it.
  • Removes the refresh, forward, back, and stop functions from the menu and toolbar.
  • The process of reducing the display screen of the browser is disabled.

Schools deplore the Respondus Lockdown browser to maintain the integrity of tests and exams. In this article, we have shown you how to download Respondus Lockdown Browser.

Remember, this is not like other browsers, and it is designed with the specific goal of being used for school examinations. So, if you do not have a link from a school or a school account, you will not be able to use this Lockdown server.

Lastly, If you have any issues installing the browser, follow these simple steps to install LockDown Browser.

How to Fix Google My Business When It’s Not Showing Messages

Google My Business is one of the many innovative platforms offered by Google that allows businesses to create a free listing for their company. So when the Google Business messages do not show issue hits, your business may be in trouble.

One of the features of Google My Business is the ability to send and receive messages from customers. If you can’t see messages, don’t worry – there is a way to fix it.

How do I enable Google Business messages?

  1. Sign up for a Google My Business account and create a listing for your business.google business messages not showing can be fixed
  2. Once you’ve created your listing, click on the Messaging section.
  3. Here, you’ll see an option to Verify for Chat. Click on this and follow the prompts to finish setting up Business messages.Verify to Chat to solve google business messages not showing

What can I do if Google My Business is not showing messages?

1. Add your number

  1. Open Google My Business and tap on the Add phone number button.Fixing google business messages not showing
  2. This will open a new page where you can enter your phone number. Input the digits and hit save.google business messages not showing
  3. You’ll then have to wait for a verification code that may take up to 14 days to arrive. Once your number is verified, you should start getting messages on your Google My Business account.

2. Check your internet connection

One other thing you can try is to check your internet connection. Poor connectivity can be the cause of the issue. Restart your router or modem, or check to see if there are outages in your area. If none of these work, contact your ISP for further troubleshooting.

3. Contact Google support

  1. Log in to your Google My Business.Business Profile
  2. Scroll down to the bottom and choose Support. This will open a dialogue box with suggestions of possible solutions. If you can’t find what you need, tap on Contact Us to get specific help with the messaging issue.Google Support

Google Business message unable to deliver

There are a few possible reasons why your Google Business Messages may not be delivered.

  • Incorrect or outdated contact information: Make sure that your business name, address, and phone number match what’s listed on your Google My Business page.
  • Messaging not enabled for your business: In order to start using Business Messages, you first need to enable messaging for your business. This can be done from the “Business Settings” page in your Google My Business account.
  • Business Messages not yet available in your country: Unfortunately, Business Messages are not yet available in all countries. If you’re trying to use Business Messages in a country where it’s not yet available, you’ll need to wait until it launches in your country.
  • Google My Business page not verified: In order to start using Business Messages, your Google My Business page must first be verified. This verification process can take up to a few weeks to complete.
  • Technical issues: There are a few potential technical issues that could cause Business Messages to fail to deliver. These include things like an outdated version of the Google My Business app, or problems with your internet connection.

While contacting Google support may not always result in a fix for your particular issue, it’s definitely worth a try if you’re still having trouble getting messages to show up on your listing. Keep reading our blogs to find more related solutions to everyday tech problems.

New Computer Checklist: 15 Things to Change for a Smooth Experience

Getting a new computer is exciting. You finally have that device you’ve been eyeing or needed to replace your old PC. But after the initial excitement passes, you soon realize that setting up and configuring a new computer is less thrilling.

You may want to go on with your work immediately after taking the computer out of the box. However, it’s better for you in the long run if you spend some time, in the beginning, making sure everything is configured just right. 

Checking your PC specifications is one of the most important things to do before installing or upgrading software. This is necessary to ensure that your computer is capable of running new programs because if it isn’t, you can experience problems such as slowness and system errors.

If you’re lucky, your new computer will come preconfigured with some of these things already taken care of and all you need to do is transfer your old settings to your new computer.

But if you’re like most people, you’ll need to install Windows 11 from scratch on your new PC and do a bit of work before everything is just how you like it.

How do I check my PC specs?

New computers are a huge investment, so it’s important to take the time to make sure they come set up just right. 

Many people confuse hardware specifications with software specifications. While both are important, hardware specifications refer to the physical characteristics of a computer. 

Software specifications refer to the operating system, programs, and other data that are installed on a computer. 

Hardware check

Before you even switch on your new computer, you need to take a good look at it. The hardware of the PC is the part that you can touch and see. You may know the parts inside the PC, such as the CPU, RAM, motherboard, hard drive, and graphics card. 

These physical components determine the capabilities of your computer and its performance. Feel free to refer to our guide on different ways to check for your computer specs to see what you are working with.

Before you proceed with checking any hardware, make sure that AC power is properly connected to the PC. It’s easy to forget about this step.

The hardware checks you need to carry out include:

  • Processor – The processor (also called a CPU) is what makes your PC tick, and it’s often referred to by its brand name and model number. The processor is the most important part of the computer. It’s what takes the instructions you give your PC and does something with them. Some processors have multiple cores, which means they can simultaneously process more than one task at the same time. 
  • Memory information – Memory is the another equally important component of a computer. If you don’t have enough, you’ll be waiting for things to load for a long time. But, how do you know how much you need? And how could it be wrong? The most important thing to remember is that the amount of memory that a computer needs depends on what it’s used for. 
  • RAM – RAM, or random access memory, is your computer’s short-term memory. It provides a space for your computer to process information before it is sent to the hard drive. The more RAM a computer has, the more programs and files it can work with at once without slowing down. Common amounts are 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB.
  • GPU – If you’re going to be doing a lot of graphic-intensive work, then the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is the most important component for you. The better your GPU, the better your frame rates will be and the smoother everything will feel.

Software check

  • Application programs – Most people think of applications when they think of computer software. We use applications to create documents, listen to music, surf the web, play games, send an email, design graphics, edit videos and do thousands of other tasks. 
  • Device drivers – Device drivers are specialized software that allows Windows to interact with your computer’s hardware. For example, your printer driver controls your printer, telling it how and when to print. Without a driver, the printer would not know what to do with the data being sent to it from the computer. When you buy a new device (such as a digital camera or monitor), you’ll need to install its driver before you can use that device with your computer.
  • Operating system (OS) – Your operating system is responsible for controlling nearly every aspect of your computer’s operation — from managing files on your hard drive to running application programs and device drivers. Check the OS version and whether it is up to date.

How do I transfer everything from my old computer to my new one? 

You can transfer data from your old computer to your new one in a couple of different ways.

  • Removable device – You can transfer files by copying them onto a removable device such as an external hard drive or flash drive. Ensure you have enough space for all your data.
  • Cloud services – You may have your files stored in the cloud on One Drive, Dropbox or Google Drive so depending on where your files are stored, you can sign in to your new computer and restore your files.
  • Transfer software – If you have both computers connected to the same network, you can use your operating system’s built-in file transfer software, which will let you move files from one computer to another.

Is there a general PC checklist template that I can use?

There are a lot of different types of PCs out there, and they all have their own unique features. But the good news is that a lot of the parts are standardized, so you can use the same kind of checklist for nearly all types of PCs.

The most important thing to remember is that you’re looking for a list that will cover every piece on your PC and what type of device it has.

Regular maintenance includes more than just running an antivirus program. It also includes regularly scanning your hard drive for errors and updating system drivers to improve performance.

These tasks may seem tedious, but they’re vital if you want your computer to keep running smoothly.

The general checklist includes:

  • Processor – This is what makes your computer run. The speed of your processor will determine how quickly your computer will be able to open and run programs, which makes this an important part of your system.
  • Storage (Hard Drive) – This is where all the files on your computer are stored, so it’s important that you have enough space for everything you need. Most PCs come with at least 500GB.

What to do as soon as you get a new computer?

Hardware changes

1. Check power connections

Before you start using your new computer, there are some basic checks you should make to ensure it is functioning properly. Connect the power cables to a socket and ensure the other end is firmly secured to your CPU and monitor.

If you are using a laptop, ensure that the charging port is working correctly when you switch it on.

2. Check ports

After confirming your new computer is connected to power, also, connect your ethernet cable and ensure it is secure before you power on your PC. Next, ensure your mouse and keyboard are connected to the USB ports available.

It is also a good idea to check for other ports such as the audio port, HDMI, CD/DVD drive, and the SD ports whether they are all in perfect condition.

Software changes

1. Add your accounts 

If you’re using Windows, you need to set up your main account with your Microsoft login. This will ensure that all of your files, settings, and data sync across all of your devices that use the same account. 

Windows PCs allow for multiple user accounts, so if you set up your computer with only one account, anyone who wants to use it has to log in to your account.

Think about how many people will share this device, and make sure each one has their own account. Having separate accounts helps keep your files organized and secure. You can also choose to set up user accounts with limited permissions.

2. Check your product key and update the OS

If you’re installing Windows yourself, make sure you have your product key number ready before starting.

While Windows Update typically runs automatically in the background when Windows is running, it never hurts to make sure that there aren’t any pending updates that need to be installed. 

Your computer has probably been in storage for some time so you want to ensure it is up to date. 

To check for updates:

  1. Hit the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open Settings.
  2. Select Windows Update on the left pane and click on Check for updates on the right pane.
  3. If there are any updates, download and install

3. Check your antivirus software

Many new computers come with trial versions of antivirus software that will only work for 30 days or 60 days. Your PC also has a default security system: Microsoft Defender but you may have to add an extra layer of protection with more reliable security software.

If your computer didn’t come with one or if the trial period has expired, install antivirus software immediately. Also, run the antivirus to ensure your PC does not have any issues. If possible, use the same software that you used on your old computer so that everything is in sync.

To run a scan, follow the steps below:

  1. Press the Windows key, search Windows Security and click Open.
  2. Select Virus & threat protection.
  3. Next, press Quick scan under Current threats.quick scan
  4. Wait for the process to finish and restart your system.

4. Get rid of bloatware

When you buy a new computer, it can be loaded up with all sorts of programs that you don’t really need such as trial versions, games, and all sorts of other bloatware. 

These programs are installed on computers at the factory to make it easier for customers to access their most used programs. Unfortunately, they don’t always serve the same purpose as what you want or need.

It’s amazing how much faster a computer can run after you’ve cleaned out all the unnecessary bloatware that slows it down. 

To uninstall any unnecessary program, follow the steps below:

  1. Hit the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open Settings.
  2. Select Apps on the left pane then Apps & features on the right pane.apps-apps&features chrome error code 5
  3. Scroll down and select an app you’d like to uninstall (in this case WSA).
  4. Click on the three horizontal dots and select Uninstall.
  5. Confirm that you want to uninstall.

5. Remove unnecessary startup programs

Any program that runs automatically when you turn on your computer will slow down its performance and hog your memory. You need to go through your list of startup items and disable anything you don’t use every single time you turn on the computer. 

Sure you will need some programs at startup to make your work easier but ensure your list consists of only the necessary programs.

To disable startup programs, follow the steps below:

  1. Hit the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open Settings.
  2. Select Apps on the left pane and Startup on the right pane.
  3. Select the apps you want to disable at startup and toggle the on/off button.

6. Set up anti-theft feature

Theft is all too common and no one wants to get their laptop stolen. Fortunately, many laptops come with a tracking program that will help you find your laptop if it ever goes missing. 

As technology becomes an ever-more-integral part of our lives, the need for security against theft is more important than ever.

Each computer is different but the majority require the user to verify their identity with a password or other method before allowing access to the computer. 

If your device ever got stolen, having the Find my device feature on can help you locate it. To set up the feature, follow the steps below:

  1. Hit the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open Settings.
  2. Click on Privacy & security on the left pane then Find my device on the right pane.
  3. Toggle the Find my device button on.

7. Install any missing drivers

Before you can enjoy the full potential of your new system, make sure everything is working correctly by installing any drivers that may be missing or updating any outdated software.

Drivers are programs that tell the operating system how to deal with certain hardware. For example, if you go to your printer settings and find no printer listed, there’s a good chance you need a driver. 

For a new computer, you will most likely need:

  • Windows update drivers.
  • GPU drivers.
  • Audio drivers.
  • LAN drivers.

To update drivers, follow the instructions below:

  1. Press the Windows key, type Device Manager in the search box, and click Open.run device manager
  2. Click on each device one by one, right-click on it and select Update Driver Software.
  3. Select Search automatically for updated driver software.
  4. Restart your PC.

Missing drivers are neither pleasant nor healthy for your computer; everything we try to do without appropriate drivers might result in major problems later on.

If you believe handling driver updates and installs is not your cup of tea, upgrading drivers through a professional program like Outbyte Driver Updater can help prevent potential unwanted issues and improve overall PC performance. Try it out and let us know if it found your missing Network Adapter drivers.

8. Set up file baackups

When you’re setting up your new computer, be sure to set up file backups. You never know when your computer might crash, or when you might accidentally delete important files. 

This is a good habit to get into early on in your relationship with your new machine so that you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that all those documents, pictures, and videos are safe no matter what happens. 

To set up automatic backup, follow the steps below.

  1. Hit the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open Settings.
  2. Select Accounts then Windows backup.
  3. Click on Manage sync settings to back up your files.

9. Optimize your power settings

The default power settings that come with most computers are not the best. Majority of these settings may not be cut out for the activities you do so it’s best to change them.

It’s important to make sure your computer’s power settings are optimized so you’re running at maximum efficiency. 

To optimize your power settings, follow the steps below:

  1. Hit the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open Settings.
  2. Select System on the left pane then Power & battery on the right pane.Power and battery
  3. Under Battery saver, toggle on Turn battery saver on automatically at and select an appropriate percentage.

10. Install a reliable VPN

VPN protects your online privacy by encrypting your data and hiding your location. This is extremely important if you ever use public Wi-Fi networks that you find at coffee shops and airports. 

You don’t want an attacker on the same network as you to read your private data or even hack into your device. Check out our comprehensive list of reliable VPNs to install on your new computer.

11. Enable automatic updates

One of the very first things you should do after setting up your new computer is to enable automatic updates for both your apps and operating system. This will ensure that you always have the latest software and security fixes, which helps keep your computer safe from hackers and viruses.

To turn on automatic updates, follow the steps below:

  1. Hit the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open Settings.
  2. Select Windows Update on the left pane and select Resume updates on the right pane.

12. Change default programs

Your operating system comes with a set of preinstalled programs, but these aren’t always the best options out there. 

For instance your browser. It’s likely that the default program is the one that came with your computer but if you don’t like it, you can easily switch to one that works for you.

To change your default programs, follow the steps below:

  1. Hit the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open Settings.
  2. Select Apps on the left pane then click on Default apps on the right pane.
  3. Click or search for the app you want to change default settings and assign your preferred app to open it.

13. Tweak privacy settings

Privacy is a big deal, especially when it comes to your computer. You need to know which apps have access to your camera, microphone, and location, as well as what information they can collect about you when you’re using them.

You can check the settings for all of your apps to make sure they’re what you want. You’ll also want to check your browser’s privacy settings, as well as any other applications you use that might have their own built-in privacy features.

14. Customize the look of your PC

If you are going to be spending hours on end on your new computer, you want it to be visually pleasing, but also easy to use. 

Some of the customization settings you can adjust include:

Change your wallpaper

Choose a soothing background image that you’ll enjoy seeing every day. You’ll have plenty of options to choose from, including ones that come with the Windows operating system or ones you can download from the Internet. We have a list of the best Windows 11 wallpapers apps you can use to enhance the look of your PC.

Organize your icons

You spend a lot of time looking at your desktop, so it’s important to keep everything organized. Create folders for documents, music, photos, and other files so they don’t clutter up your screen.

Change your theme

Windows comes with a few pre-installed themes, but you can easily download more—both free and paid. Once you find a theme that suits your personality, you can make it your own. Windows 11 now allows you to have dark themes so be sure to check out our comprehensive list of the best dark themes for your OS.

This is not an exhaustive list as there are still a handful of things you can do to ensure your new computer is set to your preferences and its performance is at its peak.

New computer setup checklist

ComponentChecklist
Physical set upPower cables, Ethernet, USB, Keyboard, and audio and ports
Updated OSUpdate to the latest version
Power settingsOptimize your power settings for perfect balance

New computer install checklist

ComponentChecklist
AntivirusInstall a reliable antivirus to protect you from viruses and malware
VPNInstall a VPN to protect your identity
BackupInstall backup software

New computer driver checklist

ComponentChecklist
Windows update driversDrivers to ensure all Windows drivers are up to date
GPU driversDrivers to ensure smooth graphics in gaming
Audio driversDrivers to ensure your audio devices are working
LAN driversDrivers to ensure your internet is working

Once your computer has fulfilled the above checklists, you can also opt to use customization software if you are more tech-savvy and enjoy things working for you automatically.

As always, we love hearing from you so engage us in the comment section below with some of the things you did when you first got your new computer.