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Piping Design Software – 5 Best to Use in 2026

Posted on March 7, 2022January 8, 2024 by Milan Stanojevic

Piping design is the detailed specification of the physical piping layout within a process plant or commercial building. In earlier days, this was sometimes called drafting, technical drawing, engineering drawing, and design.

Today this task is commonly performed by designers that have learned to use automated computer-aided drawing or computer-aided design (CAD) software.

However, it’s much easier to design complicated piping schemes and develop detailed projects using automated software that offers all the tools you need.

Given that these 3D designing tools are prevalent in the industry, they can be used in different areas for piping or plant designs. Plus, even large companies use this kind of software in order to build ambitious projects.

You can also confidently pick one of these 2D or 3D piping tools for more support on your engineering schemes.

In this article, we will list the best options for piping design CAD software available on the market.

Which software is best for piping design?

CorelCAD

CorelCAD is an affordable CAD solution for professional 2D drafting and 3D design. It offers industry-standard file compatibility with .DWG, .STL, PDF and .CDR.

CorelCAD has a new user interface that enhances time-saving and offers a more intuitive way to design professional 2D or 3D drafts.

The 2D drafting feature offers new helix tools for 2D spirals, advanced table tools, and a MultiLeader tool to configure and adjust callouts as your drawings evolve.

The 3D capabilities offered in CoredCAD offer you a simple way to transform your 2D designs into 3D layouts with a wide array of intuitive tools – EntityGrips, Properties palette.

ColedCAD is fully compatible with AutoCAD R2018 .DWG file format that ensures easy collaboration with your business partners.

Features:

Native .DWG files – easy sharing with bot internal teams and external suppliers
Compatibility with all major CAD programs
3D solid editing and modeling tools
Table supports – allows you to export and import tables in CSV format (Microsoft Excel)
Edit 3D objects by using smart tools
BlockAttribute properties and settings
Quick InputPlay – brings commands directly to the cursor to easily input coordinate positions, lengths, angles, lines, etc.
Auto-completion function for easy predictive typing
Ability to add drawing constraints
Dynamic blocks
Easy file sharing

CorelCAD

Get this 2D drafting software for manufacturing professionals who need to upscale their designing projects.

Check price Visit website

Edraw P&ID Designer

Edraw P&ID Designer is a professional tool that enables you to instantly generate piping and instrumentation diagrams. It can help you create professional-looking p&id, plant p&id, chemical p&id, distribution p&id, and also power P&ID.

Even beginners can easily use Edraw P&ID designer because of its predefined shapes and easy drag-and-drop creation process. All the shapes included in this powerful program are vectors allowing you to design high-resolution plans.

Edraw also bolsters a set of powerful and very useful tools called ‘auto-connection that helps you connect pipe shapes quickly. Some of the shapes used in the process of creation have text boxes attached so labeling is convenient.

The wide array of standard and smart shapes can also be used in many kinds of engineering diagrams. Shapes are constructed with a floating action button for flexible modifications and one shape has many varieties that users can change easily either by changing the theme or changing the font color and lines.

It is 100% integrated with MS programs and supports 18 formats of export. It was designed to work together with your colleagues, easily share designs with stakeholders and run design presentations.

The images created can be either simplified with black and white symbols or colorful photo-realistic images. One other great feature is the fact that the images are fully editable – you can change color, resize, separate.

You can find a full ‘How-to’ guide on the tool’s official page.

Edraw P&ID Designer

If you want efficient piping design software for building anything, do it facile with Edraw P&ID Designer.

Try it freeVisit website

Cadmatic Plant Design

Cadmatic 3D Plant Design is a powerful database-driven tool that gives you tools for creating 3D layouts, piping, HVAC, cable tray, and structural designs of plants in shaded and colored views. It also produces information for installation and ordering materials.

The piping design feature includes unique tools for piping designers to easily create complex piping designs. The design process is fully integrated with diagrams and pipe routing that ensure your design is intuitive and easy to understand.

Cadmatic Plant Design assures you that the correct components from the standards library are being used when creating a piping design. This program takes advantage of the suggested connection points according to the diagram and online collision control, allowing you to create piping designs without errors.

With each software update, extensive standards are provided (DIN, ANSI, ASME, EN, and others). The powerful piping design modification tools give you the possibility to change the pipe routing geometry, the nominal sizes of pipes, and separate components, checking pipe connection compatibility automatically.

Cadmatic Plant Design 3D viewing technique and model database structure keep your designs extremely light and user-friendly even in the most complicated plant models.

The pipe and cable tray routing is constructed so it is driven by your specifications, ensuring that the correct materials, sizes, and components are being used.

Other features include:

Component Manager – allows you to model different kinds of components such as pumps, tanks, etc.
Integration with P&ID
Ability to share data between the diagram and 3D models
Compatible with Microsoft products and MTOs
Follow-up reports
Automated and semi-automated annotation functions

⇒ Get Cadmatic Plant Design

CADWorx

CADWorx is an integrated complete AutoCAD and BricsCAD based software that provides intelligent drawing and database connectivity, a professional level of automation, and easy-to-use drafting tools.

This software is quick and easy to set up and use. The bi-directional links between CADWorx and analysis programs for pipes and vessels enable you to easily share information while keeping the entire information database synchronized.

You can as well use this drawing design tool to improve collaboration with instruments such as markups, design comments, or redlining. With CADWorx Review you can review models by designers or other stakeholders anytime.

Moreover, using CADWorx P&ID Professional drawing piping or instrumentation diagrams becomes easy and fast enough to meet your workflow standards. Also, it provides flexibility in sharing your results with the stakeholders, constant support with plant project execution, and so on.

The main idea is that with such an integrated suite of benefits you can maximize your piping projects and easily create impressive designs.

Therefore, this platform provides complex piping and design instrumentation services, using intelligent features made to help you design successful projects.

Key features include:

Intelligent design – easily create diagrams and share data with stakeholders
Supports different industries – chemical, offshore, piping, power, etc.
Link information to P&ID components
Place P&ID components accurately by piping specifications
Easily publish to a browser
Automatically create instrument loop diagrams
CADWorx Instrument & Equipment Datasheets
Use 3D visualization to check for errors

⇒ Get CADWorx

Aveva Everything3D

Aveva Everything3D is another software option for pipe designing offering you complete support for migrating from AVEVA PDMS projects reducing cost, timescale, and project risks.

AVEVA 3D has the ability to shorten project stages, reduce efforts and eliminating errors and rework while offering options for more efficient collaboration.

At the same time, this advanced 3D design solution can boost your engineering drawing reports exponentially thus generating a time-effort balance. The multi-disciplinarity of this software can guide anyone to create 3D designs regardless of the industry.

Other important features imply fast deployment and project start, easier regulatory compliance to ensure your drawings or clash-free design efficiency.

Besides all, such potent software can be used in power industries as well, such as the marine sector, plant projecting.

Hence choosing this solution to design your buildings of any infrastructure you assure designing productivity and design successful outcomes.

Key features include:

Rapid project star-up
Design efficiency
Easy to adhere to regulatory, industry , company and project standards
Side-panel that lists all related available documentation in the Digital Asset relating to a selected object
Universal viewer – presents information directly inside AVEVA

⇒ Get Aveva Everything3D

Conclusion

In this article, we listed some of the best options of piping design software offering you a wide range of features to cover all your piping design needs. These options give you the tools you need to create 2D and 3D models at a professional level.

Let us know what you think about these tools in the comment section below.

Fix: Office 365 cannot open any more databases (error 3048)

Posted on March 7, 2022October 4, 2023 by Vladimir Popescu

Are you unable to access Microsoft Office 365 after a recent update? And it is showing a “Cannot open any more databases (error 3048)” error message.

If so, then you have landed on the right page. Because in this guide, we will explain what could be the reason behind cannot open any more databases error 3048, and give you a set of solutions that would hopefully fix the error at hand.

To give you a brief overview of this issue, the Microsoft Office 365 error 3048 which shows cannot open any more databases error message is a bug that is found at the runtime.

When this error occurs, Microsoft Office 365 fails to run properly or crashes while it is running. This issue has been reported by multiple users on Microsoft’s official support pages as well as other forums.

This cannot open any more databases error 3048 is not a new problem. However, it seems like, after a recent update, this error has accelerated and is troubling more users than before.

The fact of the matter is that even though this is not a new problem, it has been overlooked by the developers of Microsoft Office 365. As there isn’t a permanent solution or fix for this cannot open any more databases error 3048, as of yet.

Whatever the case may be, in this guide, we will list down all the solutions that you can try and apply and possibly fix the cannot open any more databases error 3048 issue in the process.

What actually are the reasons behind cannot open any more databases error 3048 in Microsoft Office 365?

Before we take a look at the solutions, it is important to understand the reasons that are causing that particular issue.

The cannot open any more databases error 3048 in Microsoft Office 365 is a runtime error. As already mentioned, when it surfaces, you will face trouble opening or operating the Office 365 software.

However, this error does not mean that the software is corrupt in any way. There is a possibility that it is caused by a virus or malware, but this is not always the case.

It could be that the underlying code did not work during the Microsoft Office 365 runtime. And if that happens, you will see this annoying pop-up on your screen.

There isn’t a specific error message for this error either. You will see different types of error messages, which are all related to error 3048.

Here is a list of some of the error messages for the cannot open any more databases error 3048 issue, you could come across:

Microsoft Access Error 3048 Application Error.
Microsoft Access Error 3048 not valid.
Sorry, Microsoft Access Error 3048 encountered a problem.
Cannot find Microsoft Access Error 3048.
Microsoft Access Error 3048 can’t be found.
Problem starting application: Microsoft Access Error 3048.
Microsoft Access Error 3048 not working.
Microsoft Access Error 3048 failed.
Microsoft Access Error 3048: App Path is Faulting.

There are chances that this error could pop up because of a virus infection, or because of a sudden drop in internet connection. Moreover, it could be because of important file deletion or faulty installation also.

An important point to note is that these error messages could pop up with any of the Microsoft Office 365 related apps, including MS Word, MS Excel, MS OneNote, MS Access, or MS Publisher.

Now that you have some idea about Microsoft Office 365 cannot open any more databases error 3048, let us check out the solutions that could help you resolve it.

How can I fix cannot open any more databases error 3048 in Microsoft Office 365?

1. Close the affected program

Press Ctrl + Alt + Del and open Task Manager.
Select the affected program from the list.
Click the End process button at the bottom of the window.

This method gives you some extra information about this error. Notably, when you close programs one by one, you will see the cannot open any more databases error 3048 message appear for the program that is affected by this bug.

So, this method lets you identify the affected program. You can then proceed with the other solutions listed below as it has now narrowed down the problem.

2. Re-install affected program

Open the Start menu from the Taskbar below.
Search for Control Panel and open it.
Select Programs and Features.
From the application manager, select the affected program.
Hit the Uninstall button.

A faulty installation could also be the reason behind this being unable to open any more databases error 3048 with Microsoft Office. In such a case, you can follow the above steps to completely uninstall the product from your PC.

After the process is complete, re-install Microsoft Office on your PC, Make sure there are no interruptions while the installation process is going on, and check if this fixes the issue or not.

3. Perform a virus scan

Click on the upward arrow button on the bottom-right taskbar.
Select Windows Security.
Click on Virus & threat protection.
HIt the Quick Scan button and let Windows Security scan your PC for virus and malware.
You can also select the Scan options button.
Under Scan Options, you can also choose Full scan to deeply scan your PC for virus or malware.

While we don’t have any third-party antivirus applications installed on our PC, we made use of the Windows Security Defender.

But the above steps would give you an idea that you need to perform a scan to check for any viruses or malware.

4. Clear system junk files

Click the Start menu.
Search for Command Prompt and open it as an administrator.
Type in cleanmgr and hit Enter.
Select the drive from where you wish to clean the junk files. Preferrably select the drive where you have installed Microsoft Office.
Disk Cleanup will now begin calculating the amount of storage space you can reclaim.
Check the boxes of the categories you want to clear, and hit OK.

Over time, your PC accumulates several temporary files from various apps and games that you install. These files may have become redundant as you may have uninstalled much of that software.

So, one of the best ways to clean out junk files from your PC is to make use of the Disk Cleanup tool, which comes in-built with the Windows OS.

Most likely, these temporary or junk files are corrupt and conflict with Microsoft Office, resulting in the error. Check if this resolves your issue or not.

5. Revert back to an old build

Download the Office Deployment Tool and install it on your PC.
You will see three configuration files along with a setup.exe file.
According your PC configuration right-click on the appropriate configuration file and select Edit. Notably, for 64-bit OS select configuration-Office365-x64.xml, and for 32-bit OS, choose configuration-Office365-x86.xml.
Select Notepad to edit the file.
As far as what changes you need to do, visit this official Microsoft website to decide a previous version you wish to revert back to.
Now edit as shown in the image below:
You can change the Channel from Monthly to Broad for Semi-Annual Channel or Targeted for Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted). Additionaly, change the Version to the appropriate previous version.
Once that is done, save changes and close the file.
Again open Command Prompt and run it as an administrator.
Switch from the default C:\WINDOWS\system32 and enter the below command to the ODT folder in desktop.cd C:\Users\hugol2\Desktop\ODT
Do note that hugol2 is the username of the PC showing this procedure. You need to change it as per your PC’s username.
Enter the below command line to download the Office 365 package. setup.exe /download configuration-Office365-x64.xml
A new folder will appear inside the ODT folder.
After the office installation package is downloaded, you can now uninstall the Microsoft Office 365 from your PC.
Now, to install the previous version of Office 365, open Command Prompt and run it as an administrator.
Switch from the default C:\WINDOWS\system32 and enter the below command to the ODT folder in desktop.cd C:\Users\hugol2\Desktop\ODT
Do note that hugol2 is the username of the PC showing this procedure. You need to change it as per your PC’s username.
Type the below command and press Enter. setup.exe /download configuration-Office365-x64.xml

This will install the previous version of the Microsoft Office 365 you desired and possibly eliminate the error as well.

6. Set up Trusted Location

Open the Microsoft Office app with which you are facing the cannot open any more databases error.
Click on the File menu option.
Hit Options.
Select Trust Center from the left side pane.
Choose Trust Center Settings.
Click on Trusted Locations from the left pane.
Select Add new location.
Add a new trusted location and hit OK.
Save the changes and exit.

For several users, adding a new trusted location has fixed the cannot connect any more databases error 3048 on Microsoft Office.

7. Run a SFC Scan

Click the Start menu.
Search for Command Prompt and open it as an administrator.
Type the below command and hit Enter.sfc /scanow
You PC will start scanning for error code 3048 and in the process, will try to fix the issue as well.

8. Run Check Disk utility

Click the Start menu.
Search for Command Prompt and open it as an administrator.
Type the below command and press Enter.chkdsk /f

If the check disk utility says that it cannot run because the volume is being used by another process, you can simply type in Y to schedule a scan, next time the system restarts.

9. Reinstall Runtime Libraries

Open the Start menu from the Taskbar below.
Search for Control Panel and open it.
Select Programs and Features.
Uninstall all Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package applications one by one.
Visit the official website and download the latest Visual C++ Redistributable Package then install it.

What has Microsoft done about this issue?

Open the problematic Microsoft Office app.
Click on the File menu option.
Select Accounts from the left menu.
Under Product Information, click on Update Options button.
From the drop-down menu, select Update Now.
If a new update is available, follow the onscreen process to install it.

Since this issue was reported extensively very recently, Microsoft released a new update on February 8, 2022. The new update arrives with build number 14827.20192.

According to Microsoft, the update includes a fix for the problem of being unable to open any more databases error 3048.

There are chances that the update hasn’t downloaded and installed automatically for you. So in such a case, you need to manually check for the update, and if available, download and install it by yourself.

We hope that this guide helped you fix the “can not open any more databases error 3048” in Microsoft Office.

Let us know in the comments below which methods did the job for you. If you have any other solutions to this problem, you can share them as well.

Sea of Thieves Season Six set for release on March 10

Posted on March 7, 2022 by Radu Tyrsina

In January, Microsoft’s Sea of Thieves video game had indicated that it had big plans for 2022. Later on, in February, we saw the pirate-themed video game release its first action-packed adventure dubbed Shrouded Islands.

Then on March 5, through their official Twitter account, Sea of Thieves made it known to their fans that Season Six was going to be launched officially on March 10.

Sea of Thieves Season Six begins on March 10th. pic.twitter.com/i693nh187E

— Sea of Thieves (@SeaOfThieves) March 5, 2022

As spotted by the folks at Pure Xbox, Rare provided a detailed account of what gamers should expect of the sixth season. “The headline addition to Sea Of Thieves’ sixth season is Sea Forts, a new type of ‘mini raid’ intended for single teams. ” It will also come with emporium content, three new adventures, a new plunder pass, as well as a new mystery.

Sea of Thieves released a video on their YouTube channel, on March 7, a few days before the official launch, which walks you through the game in terms of the adventures and improvements expect upon release.

Are you a Sea of Thieves player? What do you think of Season 6? Let us know in the comments below.

13 new games coming this week on Xbox

Posted on March 7, 2022 by Robert Collins

A total of 13 games are set to be released on Xbox Consoles this week. While none of them are blockbuster, triple A titles, there is a good lineup here, with something to suite just about any type of gamer. Let’s have a look.

Things start out a little slow for the week, with only two games lined up for the first half, those being Dawn of the Monsters on Tuesday and Splash Cars on Wednesday.

Things really ramp up on Thursday, though, with 9 games releasing on the 10th. Here’s the list.

Aztech Forgotten Gods

Dungeon Color

Hotel Transylvania: Scary-Tale Adventures

The Last Cube

Radioactive Dwarfs: Evil from the Sewers

Retro Pixel Racers

RPG Time: The Legend of Wright

Submerged: Hidden Depths

Time Loader

The week in Xbox releases closes out with two more titles coming on Friday: WWE 2K22 and Cosmos Bit.

In all it looks like another good week for Xbox owners, as these games are playable on either the Xbox One or the Series X/S. And there is a good variety here, too, with everything from sports sims to role playing games to retro-inspired indie side-scrollers.

Microsoft announces its fourth datacenter region in India; the largest one yet

Posted on March 7, 2022 by Radu Tyrsina

In a press event at the Microsoft India Development Center in Hyderabad today, Microsoft announced its intent to establish its latest datacenter region in India. The Hyderabad datacenter region will be an addition to the existing network of three regions in India across Pune, Mumbai, and Chennai. It will offer the entire Microsoft portfolio across the cloud, data solutions, AI, productivity tools, and customer relationship management (CRM).

There’s no definite timeline for the datacenter to be operational, but at the launch, Anant Maheshwari, President of Microsoft India, shared that it typically takes 24 months to setup a datacenter region. Across India, the demand for cloud as a platform for digital transformation, driving economic growth and societal progress, is increasing. The new datacenter region in Hyderabad will play an important role in meeting India’s burgeoning cloud requirements.

Microsoft has a long history with Hyderabad (and the state of Telangana) which hosts the company’s largest development center outside of the Redmond headquarters. This will also be one of the largest foreign direct investments (FDIs) the state has attracted. Microsoft is also partnering closely with the government of Telangana to accelerate the adoption of cloud, AI, IoT and cybersecurity solutions for governance with a variety of skilling programs.

From left to right: Rajiv Kumar (Managing Director, Microsoft IDC), Anant Maheshwari (President, Microsoft India), and Rajiv Sodhi (Chief Operating Officer, Microsoft India)

According to IDC, Microsoft datacenter regions in India contributed $9.5B revenue to the economy between 2016 and 2020. Beyond GDP impact, the IDC report estimated 1.5 million jobs were added to the economy, including 169,000 new skilled IT jobs.

The new datacenter region will be built with sustainable design and operations in mind, enabling Microsoft to responsibly deliver cloud services at scale. The company has already committed to have a 100 percent renewable energy supply equivalent to the electricity consumed by Microsoft datacenters by 2025.

StartAllBack for Windows 10 & 11: How to Download & Use

Posted on March 6, 2022October 24, 2025 by Cesar Cadenas

If you want to get back the customization options Windows 10 had, you should download and install StartAllBack. Don’t worry, we’ll walk you through all the steps to set it up perfectly.

How do I get and use StartAllBack?

1. Download and install it

Open the StartAllBack webpage.
In the page, scroll down and click the Download button with the latest version of StartAllBack.
Click Save File in the new window that appears.
Locate the file’s location and double-click it to begin installation. Then select Install For Me.
Next, a window will asking you if you want to stick with Windows 11 look or switch to a Windows 7 or Windows 10 appearance.
As an example, this guide will choose the Windows 10 option.
As you can see from the taskbar, the style has changed to look similar to Windows 10.
To change the layout, right-click the Start menu and select Properties.
StartAllBack appears and you can continue customizing.

In case you’re wondering, StartAllBack is safe to use, and it doesn’t come with any hidden malawre.

2. Customize the settings

The settings options for StartAllBack appears in the left hand menu.
The Start Menu allows you to customize the Start menu.
You change the visual with the drop-down menu at the top. You can change it to match Windows 7, 8, or the default.
You can also change how big the icon should be, what is displayed on the right, and what is highlighted.
After configuring the settings, click the Start menu to see how it looks like.
Taskbar, as the name suggest, allows you to change the taskbar.
You change the Start menu icon, where the taskbar sits, and how big the icons should be.
Customize the settings however you like.
Explorer customizes the File Explorer.
Options include three different styles, context menus, and a details pane.
The File Explorer options are admittedly a little difficult to gage.
Advanced allows you to change the color of the Start menu and taskbar.
It also includes options on how to store and display recently opened files.
Once done, the Start menu and taskbar look very different.
About doesn’t offer any customization options other than giving the opportunity to purchase the full version and tell you how long you have in the free trial.

3. Create a new Start menu

To create your own Start menu, begin by selecting what style and how many icons you want.
For example, the Start menu will be in a Windows 7 style with 20 small icons.
You can allow what the Search function finds under Search and have the menu highlight new apps.
Under Right Side Items, you can select which apps and feature appear in the Start menu. Selecting Link adds them to the left side and Menu adds them to the right side.
Open your Start menu and see how it all looks.

4. Create a new taskbar

Say for example, you want a segmented taskbar that sits at the top with its icons centered in a Windows 7 style with large icons.
In the Taskbar section, go to the Tweak behavior and superpowers section.
Make the changes you want like having the taskbar sit at the top segmented with dynamic transparency.
Underneath Choose Taskbar style, select the changes you want like the visual style, icon size, and margins.
Once done, the changes will appear immediatedly.

How can I get rid of StartAllBack?

You have two options when it comes to removing StartAllBack and getting back to the original version of Windows 11:

Disabling the app – the quickest method from the two, and it also allows you to activate it with ease at any point in time if your choose to do so
Uninstalling the app – this process can take a bit more time, and the process of re-installing the app again will also take extra time.

If you’re not sure which of these options suits you best, think about it like this: If you’re still undecided if you will want to use the app in the future, disable it, and then enable it whenever you need to.

In case you don’t plan on using the app anymore, simply uninstall it and remove the app entirely from your hard drive.

Below, you will find both of these methods described in a step-by-step fashion:

➡ Disable the app

Go to the Advanced tab on StartAllBack.
At the bottom of the window will be a box with text that reads Disable program for current user. Click it.
Next, open the Start menu and click the arrow next to Shut down.
Select Sign out.
Sign back in to your Windows 11 computer.
You will find that all the changes you made have now been disabled.

To learn more, we also have an in-depth guide on how to disable StartAllBack, so don’t miss it.

➡ Re-enable the app

To enable StartAllBack again, go to the Control Panel.
Click StartAllBar and the app will open again.
If StartAllBar isn’t in the Control Panel, open the file explorer.
In the address bar, type in C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\StartAllBack\StartAllBackCfg.exe. Where it says USERNAME, type the name of your own.
StartAllBack will appear. Return to Advanced and deselect the Disable option at the bottom.
Sign out and back in again. The changes you made previously are now back.
Conversely, you can uninstall StartAllBack.

➡ Uninstall the app entirely

Start by opening the Settings menu.
Select Apps on the left hand side.
Click Apps & features.
Locate StartAllBack in the Apps list.
Click the three dots on the right and select Uninstall.

If you want to avoid going through all these steps to uninstall software and want to ensure that all pieces of any software are removed from your device, we recommend that you use a specialized software uninstaller like CCleaner.

What is the StartAllBack feature?

StartAllBack is a user interface app that intends to “fix” everything that’s wrong with the Windows 11 user interface. It does this by giving people the option to revert things to a Windows 10 style, or even a Windows 7 style for those who miss the old interface.

And it doesn’t stop there as there are a lot of customization options on StartAllBack. You can even make the user interface look like something straight out of a Chromebook.

Other customization options include an improved File Explorer, Control Panel, the ability to move the taskbar to the top of the screen, new menus, new fonts, fast search, and so much more. There’s something it for everyone.

Now, this isn’t a free app that you can download. You do have to purchase a license to get yourself a copy, and there are even Business versions for purchase that allow you to change up to 400 different PCs.

Fortunately, StartAllBack is cheap and there is a free trial available if you want to try out the app.

This guide will show you how to download the free trial of StartAllBack and take you through some of the key features available on that particular version, so you can decide for yourself if you want the full version. The guide will also show how to access the settings and how to uninstall them.

Are there other ways that I can customize my Windows 11 computer?

There are a lot of different ways to customize your machine. For example, you can customize what your Function Keys do thanks to an app called Microsoft PowerToys. After opening the app, you go to the Keyboard option, select which Function Key you want to change, and type in the command. Although, you can’t add CTRL+ALT+DEL to the app.

It’s also recommended that you purchase yourself a remote control software for your computer. It’s a useful app that gives you the ability to control another computer and certain aspects of it from anywhere, so long as the main computer has access to the host.

As for the future, a leak on Twitter has revealed that Windows 11 desktop stickers are making their way to the system. They’re stickers that allow you to pick and place decorative images of cute animals over your desktop. Nothing crazy or life-changing, but it’s certainly a cute way to change your computer’s look.

Summary

Why did Microsoft undo Windows 10’s user interface? People liked that version. It does appear that Microsoft took inspiration from macOS when it was developing Windows 11 and got rid of a lot of the customization options people expect to have.

The changes made to the Start menu, right-click context menu, taskbar, and others have rubbed people the wrong way. People started to raise the question of why fix what wasn’t broken.

If you’re looking to install StartAllBack on ARM version of Windows, you’ll be pleased to hear that the software is fully compatible with it. Moreover, if you’d like to look into viable alternatives, we’ve got you covered.

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

Fix: YouTube Kids Is Not Available In Your Country Error

Posted on March 6, 2022October 24, 2025 by Vladimir Popescu

There are a few ways to get around the YouTube Kids is not available in your region error. Whether you are outside of the supported areas or there’s a geolocation error, the steps below will help you access it.

How can I fix the Sorry, YouTube Kids isn’t available in your country error?

1. Use VPN

To begin, go to the PIA VPN website to create an account and purchase a subscription.
Choose your preferred plan on the following page.
Fill up your payment information and follow the on-screen instructions to complete your purchase and create an account.
After that, launch Chrome, then select the three-dot icon in the top-right corner of the window.
Then, with your mouse hovered over More Tools, click Extensions.
Click the humberger menu in the top left corner of the window, then select Open Chrome Web Store at the bottom left.
Then, in the search box, type PIA VPN and hit Enter.
Click on Private Internet Access from the search results.
Following that, select Add to Chrome on the next page.
You’ll get a message asking if you want to add “Private Internet Access”? To add it to Chrome, select Yes and wait a few seconds.
The PIA icon can now be found in the Chrome extensions section. If you don’t see it, click the puzzle icon and select the pin next to the PIA extension to add it to the bar.
Click on PIA VPN, then enter your credentials.
Once you’ve signed in, select a country where YT Kids is available, then refresh the YouTube Kids website and enjoy the vids.

You can mask your location and trick the YouTube Kids into believing you’re from somewhere other than where you are by using VPN. PIA has a huge server base, covering all YouTube Kids countries.

Plus, it’s super fast and works seamlessly on YouTube, without being detected.

2. Clear the Cache

Click on the three-dot on the top right corner of the Chrome browser.
Hover your mouse over History and choose History from the list that appears.
On the left side of the browser, select Clear browsing data.
Change the time range to All time from the menu that opens, then select the Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files check boxes.
Following that, click on Clear data.

Check to see if the Error YouTube Kids Is Not Available In Your Country has been resolved. If not, move on to the next solution.

It’s not uncommon for adblockers and privacy extensions to interfere with YouTube’s scripts. Follow the instructions below to disable browser extensions.

3. Disable Browser Extensions

If you’re using Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the upper right corner of the browser.
Then, by hovering your mouse over More Tools, select Extensions.
You’ll now see a list of the extensions installed on your browser. Toggle the slider under each extension off to disable them.
After you’ve disabled all of the extensions, visit YouTube Kids and check to see if it’s working properly.

4. Check your internet connection

Unplug your router’s power cable and wait for two minutes. Then plug the power cord back in, power up your router, and check the results. If you don’t have enough bandwidth, switch to a cable connection and disconnect all the other devices using the connection.

Enable Airplane mode for a few seconds and then re-enable it if you’re using cellular data. Alternatively, switch to a Wi-Fi connection and check if YouTube Kids videos are playing now.

5. Create a new Apple ID (iOS users)

If you have a Mac, go to the Apple menu, select Sign in, and then Create New Apple ID; if you have a Windows PC, open iTunes and select Accounts, then Sign In.
Fill in all the required fields and select a new country, where YouTube Kids is available then click on Continue.
Next, you’ll get an email with a verification code. Enter the code on your device to complete the account creation procedure.
Now, on your iPhone, go to the App Store.
Click on the human icon which you will find at the top right corner of the page.
Then scroll down to Sign Out option and tap on it.
After you’ve entered your new Apple ID account credentials in the Username and Password fields, touch Sign In, and then Done.
Next, in the Apple Store’s bottom right corner, hit the magnifier icon, and then type YouTube Kids into the search field.
Tap the Get button next to the YouTube Kids app.
Now a pop-up will open, tap Install, then you’ll be prompted to sign in with your Apple ID. Don’t forget to use your new Apple ID account to sign in.
After signing in with your new credentials, you’ll be required to enter details about account billing information to complete the process.
Open the app and have fun with it.

NOTE

To create an Apple ID, you must provide a valid payment method. In addition, if you want to access YouTube Kids, you’ll need to use a VPN to hide your current location if it’s not one of the supported countries.

Now check to see if the Sorry Youtube Kids isn’t available in this country yet error on your iOS device has been fixed. If not, move on to the next step.

6. Update the App (iOS & Android)

iOS:

Go to App Store.
After that, tap on magnifier icon and type YouTube Kids into the search box.
Select the Update option next to the YouTube Kids app.

Android:

Open Google Play Store.
Search for YouTubee Kids and open the app.
If you have an update button next to it, tap it and wait for the process to complete. If you don’t it means the app is up to date.

YouTube kids is a good app if you want your kids to watch age-appropriate content, without the like/comment focus of standard YouTube. You can create profiles based on age groups (Preschool: 4 and under, Younger: 5-8, Older: 9-12) to filter content.

The parental control software can also be installed on a computer or phone.

With a reliable VPN you can watch YouTube Kids even if it’s not available in your country. Remember, while they bypass geo locks, using VPNs can limit some of the other functions in your device, so make sure to turn the VPN off when you are done.

Microsoft news recap: product sales suspended in Russia, Microsoft Flight Simulator joins Xbox Cloud Gaming, and more

Posted on March 6, 2022 by Radu Tyrsina

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!

2.3 million Xbox consoles have been sold in Japan all time, according to new report

According to a new report, 2.3 million Xbox consoles have been sold in Japan, with the majority of those sales being during the Xbox 360 era, though it looks like the Xbox Series X|S is off to a good start. The breakdown of reported sales figures by console is as follows:

Xbox – 472,992
Xbox 360 – 1,616,128
Xbox One – 114,831
Xbox Series X/S – 142,024

Microsoft has suspended new sales in Russia in response to attack on Ukraine

As the conflict between Ukraine and Russia continues, Microsoft has announced that it has suspended all new sales of its products in Russia.

It will soon be easier to switch between multiple accounts in Microsoft 365 online apps

Using multiple accounts in Microsoft 365 web apps can be tedious, as they only support being logged into one account at a time, whereas Google allows multiple accounts and easy switching between them within each app. But that might be about to change, as Microsoft is now working on account switching within Microsoft 365 web apps.

Microsoft Flight Simulator comes to Xbox Cloud Gaming

If the thought of having to download Microsoft Flight Simulator gives you nightmares of the amount of storage required, fear not, as the game has now arrived on Xbox Cloud Gaming. This allows gamers to stream the game via the cloud, removing the need for a large download and storage space. It also means the game is available on any device in which you can access Xbox Cloud Gaming, including mobile.

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

Will Upgrading to Windows 11 Delete my Files?

Posted on March 6, 2022July 25, 2024 by Loredana Harsana

Concerns have been raised about the Windows 11 upgrade, namely whether or not data, directories, and applications would be deleted following the installation.

Therefore, here comes the answer to the question of whether upgrading to Windows 11 will delete my files and programs.

Firstly, remember that nothing is forcing you to update from your current Windows 10 operating system. But if your computer fulfills the system requirements, you will be able to do so for free.

It is crucial to know that while upgrading the operating system to a clean installation, some differences should not be missed.

It’s important to look upon all aspects when installing the Windows 11 OS, to check on requirements and have a clear understanding of how to do it.

Meanwhile, if you are running a Windows 10 PC, it will be fully supported until October 2025, so there is no rush in doing the changes.

Do I have to reinstall software and apps after installing Windows 11?

If you upgraded through an update, every app and software from before the update will remain as if you never touched it. Thus, upgrading to Windows 11 files and other data won’t be deleted if you do it correctly.

Consider the upgrade to be a typical Windows feature update. Everything will be back to normal when you restart, however some things may be different. In the new Windows 11 OS, you will find some features missing.

You may opt-in to maintain your files and apps when upgrading to Windows 11, so you won’t lose any data.

Those features that will not be found in Windows 11 are as follows:

Math Input Panel Desktop Wallpaper News & Interests
Quick Update
Keyboard with Touch
The Tablet Mode
Wallet

Of course, missing features will be replaced by other great functionalities and user interfaces that awe and are straightforward to understand.

So, no, if you upgrade properly and correctly, everything should be back to where it was before the upgrade. However, we recommend that you back up all of your important files before any changes.

When installing a new version of the system, you may wonder how to backup Windows 11 without data loss, and we understand that can be quite troublesome but we got you covered.

How do I backup my files and folders before setting up Windows 11?

At the very least, you should have a local backup of any critical data files. Keeping the majority of your data files in a secure cloud-based service adds an extra layer of security and saves you lots of work.

You may start a manual backup for all your important data following these steps:

Go to Search in the taskbar and type in Control Panel.
Click on System and Security.
Select the drive or network you want to make the backup on, then turn on File History.

Manually backup files may result in spending a lot of thinking about doing it right or wrong. Even if the system helps you with the steps, there may also be something missed during the backup process.

If you are unsure about which Cloud service you can rely on, we recommend EaseUS Todo Backup. It is free to download, you can take advantage of using the utility and save time with the process.

Backup and restoring software.
Back up your system, file, disk, partition.

When something goes wrong, you may also restore lost files, data, or anything else that is valuable to you.

In case you lose data when updating your operating system, you may recover it with EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, which is also free of charge. This all-in-one file recovery software simplifies and accelerates data recovery.

There may be some other related problems when installing Windows 11, therefore you may find helpful some tips and workarounds that will help you further in the process.

Last but not least, we have a handful of Windows 11 TPM workarounds to go around the restrictions and install the OS without issues on your device.

Hopefully, this clears your concerns regarding the upgrade to Windows 11, and if you have any other questions, be sure to check our website for more information.

Did you upgrade to Windows 11 and interfered with other issues? Leave a comment in the area below and tell us about your experience.

How to Fix Xbox Series X Frame Rate Issues

Posted on March 6, 2022January 16, 2024 by Vladimir Popescu

Are you experiencing frame rate issues with your Xbox Series X and looking for solutions to fix it? If so, then you are in the right place.

Because in this guide, we will share a curated list of solutions that would help you to troubleshoot the Xbox Series x frame rate issues and also possibly help you fix them.

Microsoft introduced the Xbox Series X back in 2019. Though it came out way later than the Sony PlayStation 4, the graphics and performance were neck-to-neck with the latter.

Even after launching in 2013, many preferred the Sony PlayStation 4 for the crisp graphics. We won’t get into that debate since it is a matter of personal choice.

Notably, we are here to resolve the Xbox Series X frame rate issues that several users are experiencing across the globe.

The best part about the Xbox Series X frame rate issue is that it can be improved by applying a few fixes that we have mentioned in this guide.

Moreover, we will share some tips that will help you get a performance boost and hopefully increase the frame rate on your Xbox Series X console.

Let us dive into this guide, where we have discussed multiple solutions to help you fix Xbox Series X frame rate issues.

What can I do to get 120 fps on Xbox Series X console?

Press the Xbox button on your Xbox controller to open System guide.
Select Settings.
Choose General.
Select TV & display options.
Under Refresh rate options select 120Hz.

Gaming consoles have gotten better and better over the years. The same is the case with the Xbox Series X console. Along with 4K gaming, you can also enjoy supported games to up to 120 framerate per second (fps).

To enjoy your games at 120fps, you need to enable the 120Hz option under the Refresh rate settings of your Xbox series X console.

Do note that you can enjoy 120fps gameplay only if your TV or monitor allows for 120fps gaming. Additionally, you would also need a TV with HDMI 2.0 or 2.1 port.

With HDMI 2.0, you can play your games at a maximum resolution of 1440p @120fps. On the other hand, if you plug in your console to HDMI 2.1 port, then you can enjoy 4K gaming up to 120fps.

To know about all the games that support 120fps gaming on Xbox Series X, you can visit the official Xbox website, which is regularly updated.

What are the steps to enable FPS boost or increase FPS on Xbox Series X?

Power on your Xbox Series X console.
Press the Xbox button on your controller.
Select an FPS boost compatible game from the list.
Press the Start button on your Xbox controller.
Choose Manage Game and Add-Ons.
Select Compatibility Options.
Check the box next to FPS Boost to enable it.
Head back to the main screen.
You can perform the same steps for other compatible games as well.

Microsoft introduced the FPS Boost feature with the Xbox Series X and Series S consoles. This feature was designed to improve the performance across several gaming titles.

A certain game may be locked to be played at 30fps on the Xbox One console. However, after enabling, the FPS Boost feature unbinds the game to run at 60fps on the Xbox Series X console.

Higher framerate gives you a smooth and responsive gameplay experience. Do note that enabling FPS Boost will also take more juice out of your system.

Also, note that if the FPS boost is greyed out on your Xbox Series X, then the game you are playing doesn’t support this feature.

What are the steps to check FPS on Xbox Series X?

Press the Xbox button on your controller to open System menu.
Click on Settings.
Select General.
Hit the TV & display options.
Now, under Setup select 4K TV details.
Here, you will see all the details about your TV and all the features that it supports.

If your TV supports 120Hz fps then, it will show a tick mark next to the details.

As far as checking fps for games on Xbox Series X is concerned, there isn’t a native way to do it. There are games that provide the option to view FPS, but that is an in-game setting.

Now let us check out the list of solutions that will help you fix Xbox Series X frame rate issues.

How can I fix Xbox Series X frame rate issues?

1. Force stop and re-open the game

Press the Xbox button on your controller.
Select the game with which you are experiencing frame rate issues.
Hit the Menu button.
Select Quit and press A to close it.
Open the game once again and see if this fixes the issue or not.

There are chances that you are facing Xbox Series X frame rate issues because of a minor issue that has recently popped up for that particular game.

In such a case, it is advised that you follow the above steps to force close the game and re-open the game, and check if this fixes the Xbox Series X frame rate issue or not.

2. Restart your Xbox

Press and hold the Xbox button on your controller.
Select the Restart console option.
Press A button on your controller to confirm the action.

Many underestimate the power of a simple restart. If you are facing any issues with an app or a technology device, the first thing you should do before trying anything exquisite to fix the problem is to restart or power off your device.

The same is in the case with the Xbox Series X frame rate issue. There are chances that some important system files didn’t load during the previous session. If that is the case, then it will not only cause frame rate issues but other problems such as stutters, or game lag.

Perform a simple restart and see if this fixes the Xbox Series X frame rate issues or not. Restarting your console using this method could also help you clear the cache on Xbox Series X; read this guide to learn more.

3. Select a different graphics setting

Press the Xbox button on your controller to open System guide.
Click on Settings.
Select General.
Hit the TV & display options.

Under TV & display options, you need to tweak your graphics settings, preferably to lower settings if you are facing series frame rate issues.

Chances are the game that you are playing a game that is not properly optimized to be played in the graphics settings that you currently have.

So, we would advise you to dial down the graphics settings a bit and adjust them accordingly for optimum output.

4. Ensure sufficient storage space

Press the Xbox button on your controller.
Select Settings under the System menu.
Head to System.
Under the System tab, choose Storage.
You will see the amount of storage space currently used or left in your Xbox Series X console.

If there isn’t sufficient storage space, then also your Xbox Series X console would misbehave and show up problems such as Xbox Series X frame rate issues.

To fix this, follow the steps mentioned in the next solution, to delete the games that you do not play to clear some storage space.

5. Clear storage space

Navigate to the Homescreen.
Press the Xbox button.
Select My Games & Apps.
Highlight the game that you wish to uninstall.
Press Menu button.
Choose Manage Game option from the pop-up menu.
Select Uninstall.

Your Xbox needs to have some clear storage space to run everything perfectly and smoothly. There are chances that because of the loaded storage space in your console, the Xbox Series X isn’t giving optimal performance. Hence, the frame rate issues.

In such a case, it is time for you to uninstall the games that you do not play that often. Following the above-mentioned steps, you will be able to uninstall the unwanted games and free up storage space in your console in the process.

6. Clear system cache

Press the Xbox logo on your Xbox Series X to turn it off.
Unplug the power cable from your Xbox.
Wait for about 10-20 seconds.
Plug the power cable back into your Xbox Series X and power it on.

Your Xbox console stores game data in the form of cache files. These files help the console run the games smoothly, with no hiccups.

But this game data could pile up and take a huge amount of storage in your console. Besides, if it gets corrupted, it can cause issues such as Xbox Series X frame rate issues. Therefore, we advise you to perform this power cycle to clear the system cache.

7. Check your TV

There are strong possibilities that the Xbox Series X frame rate issues that you might be experiencing do not involve your console at all.

The problem could be with your TV or monitor itself. It is recommended that you try out connecting your console to a different TV or monitor and check if the frame rate issue remains.

8. Try with other games

As already mentioned, all games are not properly optimized to run as smoothly as you may find some popular titles. We would suggest you check and play other games as well and see if the issue still exists or not.

If other games play without any frame rate issue, then it could be the problem with that particular game. In such a scenario, you should wait for a new update of the game that would possibly fix the bug that is causing the issue.

9. Keep your Xbox Series X cool

Just like any other gaming console or a gaming laptop, Xbox Series X’s fans keep the device cool when you are killing your enemies in the game.

A hot console is a reason behind poor performance, stutter, lag, and frame drop issues. Therefore, to fix this, make sure to free up the area around your Xbox Series X console.

Also, check if the cooling wents aren’t blocked by anything, and give your console a break in between your gaming session to cool down.

What can I do to fix low FPS issue in different games?

Some users have reported specific game titles that they are experiencing low FPS issues with. Notably, users have reported this low fps problem with COD: Cold War, GTA V, Minecraft, Dishonored 2, etc.

Since players of all these popular titles are suffering from the same issue of low fps, the above-listed solutions would help you fix the problem.

Particularly, you can try enabling FPS Boost feature, clearing storage space, or selecting a different graphic setting.

If nothing works for you, then you can try hard resetting your Xbox Series X console. Simply press the Power button for about 8 seconds until it turns off.

Unplug the cable from your console and wait 2-3 minutes before plugging it back in. The solution to hard reset the Xbox console has also helped users fix motion blur issues as well.

Let us know in the comments below if you could fix the Xbox Series X frame rate issues using the solutions mentioned above or not. You can also drop a comment letting us know which method helped you.

Io.Netty.Channel.Abstractchannel [Minecraft]: Fix & Meaning

Posted on March 6, 2022November 2, 2023 by Matthew Adams

Some Minecraft players have posted on the game’s support forum about an io.netty channel error that arises when they try to connect with server. The io.nett error message states:

Failed to connect to server. io.netty.channel.AbstractChannel $AnnotatedConnectException: Connection timed out.

When that issue arises, Minecraft can’t connect with the server.

Why am I getting io.netty.channel.abstractchannel$annotatedconnectexception no further information error? There are many reasons for issues in Minecraft, and if you want to learn more, we suggest reading our common Minecraft errors guide for further information.

Keep in mind that this is a fatal Minecraft error, and it will cause your game to crash, so it’s important to know how to fix it properly.

In some cases, you’ll encounter a Minecraft error code 5, but this issue can be resolved by gaining administrative privileges.

How do I fix the Io.netty.channel.AbstractChannel error?

1. Reset Router

Reset button Io netty channel abstractchannel AnnotatedConnectException: Connection timed out fix

Resetting the router is a more straightforward resolution that might fix the io.netty channel error for some players. You can do that by turning the router off and unplugging it. Then plug the router back in and turn it on after a few minutes.

Some users have also confirmed that factory resetting their routers fixed the issue for them. To factory reset a router, press and hold its reset button down for 10-30 seconds.

A paperclip will usually be required to press a router’s reset button. Note that resetting a router in that way also erases all custom settings for it.

2. Check the firewall’s app permissions

The io.netty.channel error is often due to the Windows Defender Firewall blocking Minecraft’s server connection.
- To fix that, press the Windows key + S hotkey.
Next, enter firewall as the search keyword in the text box.
Click Windows DefenderFirewall to open the Control Panel as in the shot directly below.
Click Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall to open the firewall’s app settings.
Click Change settings to configure the firewall options.
Then select all the Public and Private check boxes for Java (TM) Platform SE binary as shown directly below.
Click the OK option.

Turn off the Windows Defender Firewall

Alternatively, you can turn off Windows Defender Firewall to ensure it can’t block Minecraft’s server connection.
- Open WDF’s Control Panel applet as outlined for the second resolution.
Click Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off on the left side of the Control Panel applet to open further options.
Click the Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) settings.
Then press the OK button to confirm settings.

Edit server info before joining server

Try manually entering server address info before connecting with server.
- First, press the Windows key + R hotkey for Run.
Type cmd in the Open box and press Enter to launch the Command Prompt.
Type ipconfig in the Command Prompt, and press the Return key.
Note down the IPv4 address listed.
Then open File Explorer’s window.
Open this folder path within File Explorer: Minecraft Servers folder > Maxwell (random numbers) > MinecraftServer.
Click the server.properties file to open it in Notepad.
Note down the port number listed within the server.properties files.
Open Minecraft, and select the Play Multiplayer option.
Select a server to join.
Click the Edit button to open server info.
Enter any title of preference in the Server Name box.
In the Address box, enter the IPv4 address and port number with the following format: XXX.XXX.X.X:YYYYY.
- The X characters there represent the IPv4 address, and the Y characters are for the port number.
Press the Done button.
Select the Refresh option.
Then select the Join Server option.

Those are some of the resolutions Minecraft players have confirmed fix the io.netty.channel error. Some Minecraft players might also need to update their Java to resolve the issue. Check out our download Java post for further details on how to install Java.

If you come across the error occurred during initializ a tion of VM, read this guide to fix it quickly.

For any other questions or suggestions, you can access the comments section below and let us know about them.

Games for Windows Marketplace Install Failed: How to Fix

Posted on March 6, 2022October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

Games for Windows Live is a popular gaming service for Windows, but it has been reported that it has some problems on Windows 10.

Namely, users report that games that use Games for Windows Live won’t work on Windows 10, and the list of games includes many popular games that were released a few years ago.

These games still have a great number of fans, so you can see why not being able to run them on Windows 10 can be such a problem for avid gamers. Speaking of problems, here’s what our readers reported in connection to GFWL.

Where can this error occur and what does it look like?

Games for Windows Marketplace install failed
Games for Windows Live install failed network error or connection error in Windows 10
Download error 0x800c0008 Games for Windows Live
Games for Windows Live cannot connect to the live service
Resident Evil 5 Games for Windows Live install failed
Games for Windows Live download Fallout 3 issues (Fortunately, we have prepared plenty of fixes for you to try when Fallout 3 does not work in Windows 10 or 11).

So if you’re having issues with Games for Windows Live on Windows 10, you should have a look at our solutions.

How do I fix Games For Windows Live issues on Windows 10?

1. Reinstall Games for Windows Live

Uninstall Microsoft Games for Windows Live Redistributable and Microsoft Games for Windows Marketplace from your computer. In order to do this, we recommend a dedicated software.
After you’ve uninstalled these applications restart your computer.
Download Games for Windows Live installer.
After you’ve downloaded the installer, right-click it, and choose Properties.
Go to Compatibility tab and check Run this program in compatibility mode for… and choose Windows 7 or Windows 8 from the list.
While you’re in the Compatibility tab make sure that you check Run as administrator.
Save the changes by clicking Apply and OK and install Games for Windows Live.
Everything should work now and your profile should be redownloaded and ready to use.

As mentioned, to uninstall the program in the first place, we suggest using dedicated uninstaller software, for clean removal. This is just to make sure that the process runs completely, without leaving traces in your system, which might cause trouble later on.

A standard uninstall sits in the shadows of a professional uninstall, which removes all residues, including checking for leftovers after the regular uninstall.

Some uninstaller software also has user-friendly interfaces, allowing you to view all installed applications on your PC in a single window. To make things easier, you can locate and remove unwanted apps faster and safer.

2. Install Live Sign-in Assistant

If the previous solution doesn’t work try downloading the latest Live Sign-in Assistant from the official Microsoft page. After downloading and installing Live Sign-in assistant enter your login details and try launching your games.

3. Transfer all xlive files

Go to the following location (if you’re using 32-bit Windows this location might be different): C:WindowsSysWOW64
Find the xlive, xlive.dll, xlive.dll.cat, xlivefnt.dll, xliveinstall.dll, xliveinstallhost.exe files and copy them to C:WindowsSystem32
Try running the game again
If this didn’t work, try copying those files in the installation directory of your game where the game’s .exe file is located.

That’s about it, we hope this article helped you to solve the problem with Games for Windows Live in Windows 10. If you have any comments or questions, just write them down in the comments.

How to fix the Outlook disconnected error on Windows

Posted on March 6, 2022February 9, 2024 by Vladimir Popescu

Microsoft Outlook is a communication manager, used by major organizations across the globe. It can be used as an email client by an individual or be used by an organization to access shared features such as mailbox, calendar, appointments, etc.

Microsoft introduced the Outlook personal information manager back in 1997. There are a lot of features that make Microsoft Outlook the best personal manager available as a part of the Microsoft Office Suite.

For instance, you can schedule emails, create meetings, appointments, tasks, and contacts from a single window. It offers Quick Parts that lets you send similar emails quickly, share calendars, create or assign tasks, and more.

Imagine if such a powerful tool stops working, what would you do? Several users are facing the Outlook disconnected error. This error is an issue regarding the connectivity of Outlook.

This Outlook disconnected error throws up different types of error messages. You may receive a The Microsoft Exchange Administrator has made a change that requires you to quit and restart Outlook. error message, or Trying to connect… error message.

Both error messages have the same underlying connectivity issue. If you are also facing Microsoft Outlook disconnected error, then you are in the right place.

Because in this guide, we will give you a set of curated solutions that will help you resolve the Outlook disconnected error on your PC. With that said, let us jump right in.

Why is Microsoft Outlook disconnected but the internet is working?

There are different types of errors Outlook users face from time to time. One such error that often troubles Outlook users is that, even though the internet is working, Microsoft Outlook is disconnected.

Your Microsoft Outlook client might be in handy, offline mode. Notably, Outlook comes with an option to work offline to avoid connection charges or sending/receiving emails due to a slow internet connection.

The offline mode could very well be the reason why Outlook is disconnected even though the internet is functioning properly.

Also, there are chances that the Outlook on your PC might have been disconnected from the Exchange server, which could result in this problem.

The availability of redundant extensions is also one of the key reasons for this problem. Some extensions may interfere with the connection process causing Outlook to misbehave.

It can be frustrating and annoying as it prevents you to send or receive emails. Thankfully, below we have listed some of the solutions that you can apply to fix this problem at hand.

Microsoft Outlook disconnected after password change

1. Delete old password from Windows Credential Manager

Press the Start menu key on the bottom task bar.
Search for Credential Manager.
Click on Windows Credentials option.
Under Generic Credentials, you will find your Microsoft Outlook and MS Office accounts.
Expand each one and delete them by pressing the Remove button.
Close Windows Credential Manager and open Outlook.
Enter your new password and remember to check the Remember my credentials box.

Microsoft Outlook users have reported an issue quite often for them just after a recent password change, they are facing connectivity issues with the Outlook client installed on their Windows 11/10/8 PC.

Notably, this could be because the client isn’t updating the password that you have set. In such a case, you need to clear the old password from the Windows Credential Manager.

2. Create a new profile

Open Control Panel.
Select Mail.
Click on Add to create a new profile.
Configure your email account.
Check the circle beside Always use this profile.
Press OK.
Restart Outlook and see if this fixes the Outlook disconnected after password change issue or not.

How can I fix the Outlook disconnected error in Windows 11/10/7?

1. Restart your PC

Press the Start menu button.
Click on the Power button.
Select Restart.

One of the easiest solutions to many of the common problems related to software is to perform a simple restart.

Restarting not only provides your system a break, but it also loads all system and necessary files from scratch. There are chances that some Outlook files failed to load during the previous session, due to which you are experiencing Microsoft Outlook disconnected error.

2. Check and re-enter your account credentials

Open the Outlook app on your PC.
Click on File.
Select Info.
Then besides Account and Social Network Settings, click Account Settings.
Again select Account Settings.
Select the account that you have connected.
Remove the account and re-enter your account credentials.

3. Ensure Outlook is online

Open the Outlook app.
In the Send/Receive tab, hit the Work Offline button.
Outlook will attempt to reconnect.

4. Remove trailing space from legacyExchangeDN

Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type ADSIEdit.msc, and press Enter.
Expand the Default naming context to CN=Users.
Select the user account on which Outlook is prompting the error.
Right-click and select Properties.
Locate the legacyExchangeDN attribute, and then select Edit.
Remove the extra space at the end of the username.
Click OK and Apply.
Exit ADSIEdit.msc.
Restart Outlook and see if this fixes the Outlook disconnected error or not.

After you remove the extra space from your username, all recipients who previously received a message from your username will get a non-delivery report (NDR) if they try to reply to the email with the old username.

5. Run Outloook in safe mode

Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
Type outlook.exe/safe and hit Enter.
Disable all installed add-ons.
Restart the program and see if this fixes the issue.

6. Create a new Outlook profile

Open the Microsoft Outlook application.
Click File tab and select Account Settings.
Select Manage Profiles.
Click on Show Profile.
Choose Add.
Enter the name for your new Outlook profile and press OK.
Add your email account to your Outlook profile.

7. Repair Outlook account

Open the Outlook application.
Click on the File tab.
Select Info.
Besides Account and Social Network Settings, click on Account settings.
Select Account settings again from the drop-down menu.
Select your account and hit the Repair button.

8. Configure a proxy server

Open the Outlook application.
Click on the File tab.
Select Info.
Besides Account and Social Network Settings, click on Account settings.
Select Account settings again from the drop-down menu.
Tap on your account and click on Change.
Then click on More Settings.
Choose Connection tab.
Select the option to Connect to Microsoft Exchange using HTTP.
Click on Exchange Proxy Settings.
Enter the URL to connect to a proxy server.
Select Connect using SSL only.
Also select Only connect to proxy servers that have principal name in their certificate option.
Enter must: URL.
Under Proxy authentication settings, select authentication type Basic authentication or NTLM authentication and press OK.

9. Disable extensions

Open the Outlook application.
Click on the File tab.
Select Options from the left side.
Select Add-Ins from the left pane.
On the bottom, select Go.
Uncheck all the extensions and hit the OK button.

There are chances that the extensions that you have installed or enabled for your Outlook app to enhance the productivity and features might be interfering with the connection.

In such a case, following the above-mentioned steps, you can disable the extensions and then try to connect them.

10. Rebuild Outlook data file

Open the Outlook application.
Click on the File tab.
Select Info.
Besides Account and Social Network Settings, click on Account settings.
Select Account settings again from the drop-down menu.
Select the Data Files tab.
Choose the email account that is causing the issue, then tap on Open File Location.
Rename the file or move it to another location.
Launch Outlook again and see if this fixes the Outlook disconnected error.

The Outlook application saves all the data in a particular folder. If you are experiencing connectivity issues, then you can try to rebuild the Outlook data file.

In this step, we will delete the old Outlook data file and rebuild the Outlook data file. This will help rebuild the missing or lost data files from scratch.

11. Reinstall Outlook

Press Start menu and search for Control Panel.
Select Programs and Features.
From the application manager, select Microsoft Office and hit the Change button.
Select Repair and hit Continue.
The repair will start.

If none of the above-mentioned solutions did the job for you, then, as a last resort, you need to repair the Microsoft Office app on your PC.

Repairing Microsoft Office will fix the application and install files that might have gone missing. The last method is also helpful if you are facing Outlook shows disconnected in Office 365 error.

Microsoft Outlook is a pretty powerful work management tool, as it gives you multiple options, one of which is the option to download all your Outlook emails to Excel.

If you extensively use Outlook for all your work-related needs, it is very important to know how to recover deleted or archived Outlook messages in the event of encountering issues with this element, as users reported seeing this problem quite often.

Coming back to the features, you can also add multiple accounts to Outlook and manage them seamlessly.

This Outlook disconnected error or connectivity problem isn’t the only error that users come across now and then while using this app. We also have a guide on how to change Outlook view back to normal, so don’t miss it.

On the other hand, if you are not able to open the app and you are getting an error that says the set of folders cannot be opened, it is good to have an idea about how to deal with it.

Let us know in the comments section below, which of the above-mentioned methods helped you fix the Outlook disconnected issue on Windows 10, Windows 10, and Windows 7 PC.

Installed Steam DLC Does Not Work [Fast Fixes]

Posted on March 6, 2022January 4, 2024 by Milan Stanojevic

Does your installed Steam DLC not work? Several reasons can explain this and to easily get rid of this issue, make sure you completely verify today’s guide.

Steam, which is currently the most used PC gaming store, supports a large number of video games and extra downloadable content.

Some users have reported that DLCs on Steam might not work at all in-game, even if the DLC appears as installed. Let’s take a look at how to solve this issue.

What does DLC mean in Steam and how can I find it?

For those of you who don’t already know, DLC stands for downloadable content. It is additional digital content a player can install on top of a complete video game.

If a game offers additional downloadable content, you can find it on the store from the base game page or by searching for it.

In Steam, you can view and manage the DLC owned by your account in your library, as follows:

Hit Windows, type Steam, then open the app.
From the main menu, click on Library.
Right-click on the game you need, then choose Properties.
Now, select DLC in the window that appears.

How can I download DLC on Steam?

Keep in mind that most DLC purchased from Steam installs automatically. However, some games require DLC to be authorized through a third-party app. Plus, other games require a verification code to activate DLC.

Now, let’s see how you can easily download DLC on Steam:

Press on the Windows key, type Steam, then open the app.
Click on Library.
From the left window pane, select the needed game, then click on the Store Page.
Scroll down and select the DLC you want under Content for this game.
Complete your purchase, then select Install content on the receipt page.

What can I do if my Steam DLC is not installing?

1. Check if your Steam DLC is installed properly

If your DLC is already installed, you will need to uninstall it and follow the next steps to install it properly
Open up your Steam game library and select the game on which you want to install the DLC
Click on Manage my DLC on the left side of the screen
Select the Enabled option under the DLC that you want to install
The selected DLC should start automatically downloading and installing

2. Verify if there aren’t any connectivity issues

There may sometimes be connectivity issues involved if your Steam DLC is installed, but not working. This is usually a result of Steam‘s servers being down or not functioning properly.

This may cause the DLC to appear as downloaded and installed, but not work in the game.

To fix this issue, check if Steam‘s servers are working properly on the app’s official status page.

If there are no Steam issues with the server, there might be an issue with your connectivity.

In case your Internet experiences slowdowns, this may affect Steam DLC installation. If you’re on a Wi-Fi connection, try using an Ethernet cable instead of downloading your Steam content.

3. Inspect the integrity of game files

Hit the Windows key, type Steam, then open the desktop client.
From the main shown menu, click on Library.
Right-click on the needed games, then select Properties.
From the left window pane, head over to the Local Files tab.
Click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.
This will prompt Steam to verify the game is installed correctly and fix any game file errors

4. Reinstall the Steam game

Hit the Windows key, type Steam, then open the desktop client.
From the main menu, click on Library.
Select your game in the Steam library, then right-click on it.
Choose Manage, and then Uninstall.
After the game has been uninstalled, download and install the game again on Steam, then reinstall your DLC’s

How do I download DLC on Steam without launching a game?

Many users are interested in whether or not they can download DLC on Steam without launching a game.

If you’re in the same boat, keep in mind that the only option you can try is to click on the Download button from a browser instead of Steam.

This ends up adding the license to your account instead of directly launching the game. You’ll get a message similar to the above one:

Product name is now registered to your account on Steam.

Steam DLCs should be fairly easy to install, however, if you’ve encountered issues with the installation, our guide provides the key solutions to this problem. Alternatively, you can get a refund on your DLC provided you meet the refund requirements.

In case of any related questions, do not hesitate to leave a comment in the dedicated section below.

HP Envy x360 touchscreen not working [Quick fix]

Posted on March 6, 2022October 2, 2025 by Loredana Harsana

When working properly, a touchscreen on a laptop or Windows tablet may be extremely useful and productive. However, users have been reporting that their HP Envy x360 touchscreen is not working as it should, thus we will address this issue today.

If your touchscreen isn’t responding at all, don’t forget to resort to the most basic solution which is restarting your computer. Don’t fall short for the general idea that restarting a device is useless. Most IT professionals will tell you that it solves more errors than you have previously thought.

This being said, we have prepared a list of methods that you can try in order to fix the HP Envy x360 touchscreen not working in Windows 11 error, right after we see the benefits of having a touchscreen laptop. Follow along!

What are the benefits of a touchscreen laptop?

A primary goal in developing the touchscreen capability on laptops was to make navigating simpler and more convenient for users. When compared to trackpads and mouse devices, this functionality allows users to complete a plethora of tasks.

Also made easier is the process of starting up applications and switching between them. It is easier for artists and graphic designers to use a touchscreen feature on their laptops since it allows them to work more quickly and efficiently.

When compared to regular computers, touchscreen laptops frequently have superior brightness as well as improved color accuracy, vibrancy, and reproduction. The majority of models that include this feature also have displays with greater resolutions than the competition.

However, in order to accommodate the addition of a touch panel, laptops with touchscreen capabilities are designed to perform an additional set of processing duties on the computer’s hardware. If you intend to utilize this feature on a regular basis, you should keep a backup battery on hand.

How can I fix HP Envy x360 touchscreen not working?

1. Enable the driver

To open Device Manager, you need to right-click on the Start icon then click on it.
Click on the Human Interface Devices section then right click on the HID compliant touchscreen option. Now click on Enable. In my case it is already enabled, hence the Disable option.

2. Driver update

Start by right-clicking on the Start icon then click on Device Manager to open it.
Expand the Human Interface Devices section then right click on the HID compliant touchscreen option, and lastly click on Update driver.
Select Search automatically for updated driver software and wait for your OS to install the apropriate driver.

Make sure to wait for the processes to finish before restarting your computer to verify that the changes are applied appropriately. In order to avoid manually upgrading your drivers and save time, we strongly recommend that you use a specialist driver update application, such as Outbyte Driver Updater.

3. Update Windows

Tap on the Windows key + I to open the Settings app, then select Windows Update as we have shown below.
Select the Install now option to install any new updates that are necessary to be downloaded. Otherwise, use the Check for updates button.

For more information and further solutions that could fix your issue, take a look at our article on Windows 11’s touchscreen not working.

Alternatively, for Lenovo Edge 15’s users whose touchscreen doesn’t work, we have already prepared a comprehensive guide for you to follow.

And lastly, if you find that the split-screen feature isn’t working anymore in Windows 11, make sure not to miss out on the link anchored in order to solve the error.

Don’t hesitate to tell us what you think about this guide in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!

Fix: This driver can’t release to failure [Full Guide]

Posted on March 5, 2022October 4, 2023 by Matthew Adams

This driver can’t release to failure is an error message that more specifically pertains to Gigabyte motherboards.

Some users have stated that the error message pops up after upgrading to Windows 10.

The error message is usually due to a motherboard‘s lack of built-in Wi-Fi, which is something required for the Gigabyte App Center’s Cloud Station Server.

Here are a few resolutions that can fix this Gigabyte motherboard error in Windows 10.

How do I fix the This driver can’t release to failure error?

Update the Motherboard Drivers
Switch off the Always run on next reboot setting
Reinstall Gigabyte Services via Command Prompt
Update the App Center
Uninstall the App Center

1. Update the Motherboard Drivers

You might need to update your Gigabyte motherboard drivers to fix the driver can’t release error message. However, the motherboard has various drivers.

As such, it’s probably better to utilize driver-updating software to ensure the motherboard drivers are updated. This includes updating old ones, fixing broken ones, and replacing missing ones.

2. Switch off the Always run on next reboot setting

First, open the Gigabyte App Center via the Windows system tray.
Then click the Cloud Station Server tab at the bottom of the app.
Switch off the Always run on next reboot setting for the Cloud Station Server.
Select the OC tab for Remote OC, and switch the Always run on next reboot option off.
Then select the Gigabyte Remote tab, and turn off the Always run on next reboot option.
Restart your desktop or laptop.

As mentioned, the Cloud Station Server is one component of the Gigabyte App Center that requires onboard Wi-Fi. The Remote OC and Gigabyte Remote are two are components that also need onboard Wi-Fi.

Thus, switching those components off can fix the issue.

3. Reinstall Gigabyte Services via Command Prompt

Press the Win key + X hotkey.
Then select Command Prompt (Admin) to open the Prompt.
Input sc delete gdrv in the Prompt, and press the Return key.
Enter the following line, and press Enter:

'sc create gdrv binPath= "C:Windowsgdrv.sys" type= "kernel" DisplayName= "gdrv"' and Return to reinstall the services.

Alternatively, reinstalling Gigabyte services might also resolve the issue.

4. Update the App Center

If you’ve recently upgraded to Windows 10, update the App Center to ensure that its compatible with the latest platform.

You can do that by pressing the GIGABYTE App Center Utility Download button on this page.

Then open the installer for the app to add the latest App Center version to Windows.

5. Uninstall the App Center

Press the Windows key + R to open Run.
Enter appwiz.cpl in Run and click OK to open the uninstaller window in the snapshot directly below.
Now select the Gigabyte App Center software, and press its Uninstall button.
Press the Yes button for further confirmation.
Then restart Windows after removing the App Center.

Some users have resolved the Gigabyte motherboard error message by removing the App Center from Windows. But there are also a few users who struggle with this. If that’s also your case, read on.

Can’t uninstall the Gigabyte app center

Using the Control Panel to remove a no longer wanted program (as shown above) is quick and easy, but it seems that not everyone can successfully use this option.

For some, the Gigabyte app center won’t uninstall no matter what they do. So, here’s what we suggest:

Clean boot your computer and manually delete the entire folder from C:\Program Files (x86)\Gigabyte\AppCenter directory
Use a good registry cleaner tool to remove any hanging, broken, or superfluous keys that might linger on.
Finally, use a professional uninstaller tool that takes care of all the leftovers for you.

One, or more, of those resolutions, will probably fix the driver can’t release error in Windows 10. If you have any further suggestions for fixing the Gigabyte motherboard error, feel free to share them below.

How to Download & Install OptiFine on Windows 11

Posted on March 5, 2022September 19, 2025 by Vlad Turiceanu

OptiFine is a mod that should not be missed by any player, whether they are experienced players who enjoy modding their Minecraft or new players who are just starting. Thus, today we will show you how to download OptiFine on Windows 11 as well as how to run it.

It’s important to note that, even though Minecraft is a pretty simple game at its heart, its environments are full of intricacies and physics that your PC must still calculate, making it difficult to play on low-end computers in particular.

It is one of the earliest optimization mods, and it has become such a mainstay in the Minecraft modding community that other popular mods now require it as a prerequisite for their functionality.

The likelihood is that you will want OptiFine if you plan on modding your game, adding shaders, or making other cosmetic modifications such as texture packs to your game. Follow along!

How can I optimize games?

Your graphics card is one of the most important components of your desktop or laptop computer. The graphics processing unit (GPU) is responsible for drawing every single pixel on your screen, whether it’s the Windows interface, websites, movies, or games.

drivers how to download optifine windows 11

It is necessary to have a driver installed on your computer because it allows your operating system — most likely Windows — to communicate with the hardware on your computer, such as your graphics card.

Moreover, keeping your graphics driver up to date is essential for getting the best performance out of your computer, your games, and any other graphics-intensive tasks you may be performing on it.

You can get a performance boost, repair problems, and sometimes even gain access to whole new features by updating your graphics driver. All of this can be accomplished for free if you update them manually, or at a low cost if you choose to use an automatic driver updater such as Outbyte Driver Updater.

How can I download OptiFine on Windows 11?

Use their official website

Start by navigating to OptiFine’s website where you will find the downloads page.
Now click on Downloads as we have shown below and click on the button with the same name that’s next to OptiFine HD U H5.
Latly, save the file and double-click on it in order to run it.

Why can’t I open OptiFine?

Developed by Sun Microsystems, Java is a programming language and computing platform that was initially released in 1995.

Through the provision of a dependable platform around which numerous services and applications are built, it has progressed from humble origins to power a significant portion of today’s digital world.

In the Java Runtime Environment, the Java Plug-in software is a component of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE). It enables some applications written in the Java programming language to be launched through certain web browsers.

And such is the software we have previously downloaded. To open OptiFine, you need to download Java and run the software with it.

For more information on how to fix failed installations, take a look at our post on can’t install Game Pass games on PC.

On the same note, if you can’t download games from Xbox Game Pass on Windows 11, don’t hesitate to access our article on learning what to do in this scenario.

And lastly, for our FIFA enthusiasts, check out our guide on how to fix FIFA 16 issues on Windows 10/11.

Don’t hesitate to tell us what you think in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!

FIX: Steam does not remember my password [7 solutions]

Posted on March 5, 2022November 27, 2025 by Elena Constantinescu

Many gamers claimed that Steam does not remember their password, and it can be pretty annoying to input it every time you access the app.

That’s why users are interested in discovering how they can make Steam remember passwords on their home desktops and laptops.

Otherwise, it becomes a drag to always have to log in every time you turn on your PC.

Here’s how people describe today’s issue:

It’s happening for around 1 month now, steam doesn’t remember my password and I have Steam guard active and its real pain logging in all the time.

Don’t worry since we’re here to set you on the right path and help you solve this problem.

What are Steam password requirements?

In order to have a strong password on Steam, you need to meet some specific requirements, as follows:

At least 6 characters
A combination of upper and lowercase letters
Include at least one number

All of the above criteria will certify your security and privacy and without them, you won’t be able to create or access your account.

Plus, to ensure your maximum security on Steam, you should also carefully take advantage of these recommendations:

Enable Steam Guard two-facto authentification
Verify your contact email address with Steam

What else should I know about my Steam password?

What can I do if Steam doesn’t remember my password?

1. Save account credentials on your PC

Hti the Windows key, type Steam, and click on the first result.
From the top-left corner of the window, click on Steam.
Now, go to Settings.
Fron the left window pane, select Account.
Uncheck the Don’t save account credentials on this computer option from the right pane of the window.
Click OK

2. Log in to Steam twice

Fire up Steam and log in without asking it to save your password.
Exit Steam right after the gaming platform loads (don’t launch any games).
Log in to Steam again but ask it to remember your password now.

This simple workaround seems to work for some users. It might have something to do with refreshing the Steam login settings and game cache.

3. Delete the Steam local folder

Use the following keyboard shortcut to open File Explorer: Windows + E.
In the search bar, input this location: C:\Users\YOURUSER\AppData\Local. Make sure to replace YOURUSER with the username registered of your PC.
Once you reach this location, select and delete the Steam folder.

4. Disable your VPN service

If you’re using a VPN to protect your online privacy and keep your device safe from hackers, it could be the reason why Steam keeps forgetting your password.

Because you’re logging in from a new IP address in a foreign country, Steam could interpret this as suspicious activity.

In this case, make sure to deactivate your VPN service before launching Steam on your PC.

But it’s not a permanent solution because you won’t be able to use your VPN while playing Steam games.

5. Use a VPN with split tunneling

A more viable fix to the VPN issue is to turn to a VPN service that supports split tunneling mode.

You can set up Steam to directly connect to the Internet and the remaining apps to the secure tunnel.

This way, you can still take advantage of the VPN benefits outside of Steam, like safely downloading or uploading torrents by protecting your true identity in the torrent swarm.

But you will have a hard time (if not impossible) finding a free VPN with split tunneling. Instead, we suggest investing in a reliable VPN service like Private Internet Access.

This VPN offers over 22,000 VPN and proxy servers in more than 77 countries. So, finding one that is close to your current locations won’t be a problem.

PIA uses WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols with up to military-grade 256-bit AES encryption.

It works amazingly on restricted platforms like Netflix US, HBO Mas, and other streaming services that don’t allow you to view specific content from certain locations.

Also, as it is specially designed to protect up to 10 devices using the same account, we strongly recommend sharing the experience with your close ones.

The most important features of PIA:

Uses WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols and 256-bit AES encryption
Unblocks Netflix US, HBO Max, and other streaming services
Protect up to 10 devices using the same account
A zero-logging privacy policy
24/7 live chat support

Private Internet Access

With PIA, you won’t have to worry about Steam password-related troubles, and if you don’t like it, manufacturers offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Check price Visit website

6. Don’t switch Wi-Fi networks too often

If you have a gigabit router at home, it’s likely that you have enabled two Wi-Fi networks: 5GHz and 2,4GHz.

Maybe your laptop is connecting to the 5GHz when you’re closer to the router but switches to the 2,4GHz network when you move farther away.

If you frequently connect to different Wi-Fi networks, it could be the reason why Steam fails to remember your password. It could perceive the network change as a hacker attempt.

To solve this matter at home, make sure that your laptop always connects to the same Wi-Fi network (5GHz is faster, 2,4GHz is more reliable for long distances to the router).

For any unused Wi-Fi network, head over to its settings on Windows 10 and disable Connect automatically when in range. Switching from Wi-Fi to cable mode is even better.

7. Set up a static IP address

Home networks with dynamic IP addresses could fool Steam into thinking that an unauthorized user is trying to log in to your account.

As a result, Steam always asks you to input your password, in order to verify that it’s really you. It happens because your IP address changes frequently. Switching to a static IP address might repair this issue.

With Private Internet Access, you can get a dedicated IP address for an extra cost, drop split tunneling mode, and play Steam games from your own IP address that no one else uses.

Why do I have to enter a Steam Guard code every time I log in?

It seems like many Steam users also reported that they need to enter a Steam Guard code every time they log in, and it can be pretty annoying and time-consuming.

With Steam Guard, the app saves a cookie to remember your PC or browser. Your browser must have cookies enabled for Steam Guard to work properly.

If you are being repeatedly asked for a Steam Guard code on the same computer, you will need to ensure your browser has cookies enabled.

Here is how you can turn them on the most popular available browsers:

1. Google Chrome

Hit Windows, type Chrome, then open the browser.
From the top-right corner of the window, click on the 3-dots menu, then navigate to Settings.
From the left window pane choose Security and Privacy.
In the right window pane, click on Cookies and other site data.
Make sure that the Allow all cookies option is marked.

2. Mozilla Firefox

Press on the Windows key, type Firefox, then open the first result.
From the top-right corner of the page, click on the 3 horizontal lines, then navigate to Firefox Settings.
Select Privacy & Security located in the left window pane.
In the Browser Privacy section, checkmark the Custom option, then make sure the Cookies section is enabled.

3. Microsoft Edge

Hit the Windows key, type Edge, then open it.
From the top-right corner of the window, select the 3-dots menu.
Go to Settings.
Click on Cookies and site permissions located in the left side of the window. Then, from the right window pane choose to Manage and delete cookies and site data.
Enable the Allow sites to save and read cookie data (recommended) option.

4. Opera

Hit Windows, type Opera, then click on the first result.
Use the following keyboard shortcut to open Opera Settings: Alt + P.
Scroll down, then hoose Cookies and other site data.
Checkmark the Allow all cookies option.

To summarize, if you can’t get Steam to remember your password every time you want to play games, make sure to disable the Don’t save account credentials on this computer option.

You can sign in to Steam twice (without checking the remember option in the first attempt). Another solution is to delete the Steam local folder from your machine.

It’s also a good idea to disable your VPN service or use a VPN with split tunnelling, always connect to the same Wi-Fi network, and set up a static IP address. For any other Steam sign-in errors, check out our fix article.

You can also review this guide on Steam password reset problems to fix cases where the platform will not let you update your account password.

Did these solutions work for you? What else have you tried that actually worked? Let us know in the comment section below.

Is Steam Link not going full screen? Here’s the solution

Posted on March 5, 2022July 23, 2024 by Milan Stanojevic

Playing games on a bigger screen is one of the main reasons people use Steam Link. Many users want to see their favorite Windows games on a greater resolution on their TV to enhance the gaming experience.

However, they encountered a major issue. Steam Link won’t go full screen on TV devices.

According to them, this problem appears because the screen resolutions from the computer and the TV are different. Also, the in-game resolution might not be compatible with the TV or HDMI monitor resolution.

Still, some people said that the games displayed a full screen once they start, but this is not always the case.

This issue is an important setback for your gaming experience and today we will show you how to solve this problem.

How can I force something to go full screen?

Before discovering certain steps to make your Steam Link go full screen, you should know that the easiest way to force something go full screen is by using this keyboard shortcut: Alt + Enter.

Sometimes, you’ll probably need to use the F11 key.

This method works for most games and apps unless they use it to enable other features.

Do not forget that you can also simultaneously press on these two keys to switch from full-screen mode to windowed.

What can I do if Steam Link won’t go full screen?

1. Change the resolution

Use the following keyboard shortcut to open the Windows search bar: Windows + S.
Search for Steam, then open it.
From the top-left corner of the window, click on Steam.
Now, go to Settings.
Go to the In-Home Streaming tab and select the Advanced host options.
Check the box for change desktop resolution to match the client.
In games, set the resolution to 1920×1080.

2. Twitch some settings in the Steam menu

Go to the Steam menu on your PC.
Select the In-Home-Streaming option, then go to the Advanced host options.
Deactivate hardware encoding.
Restart the Steam Link streaming.

This is a problem that comes in different forms (literally). In other words, your Steam Link won’t go full screen in various ways.

For example, some users encountered that the left and right margins of the TV screen remained black, while the rest displayed the game correctly.

This is a fortunate situation, but not all examples are the same. Other users reported that the image is much smaller than the screen and also is not displaying in the center of the monitor.

Why won’t my Steam game go full screen?

Well, you should know that Steam Link might not be the only feature that sometimes might not be able to go full screen. Some users reported this issue appearing while playing their favorite games on Steam.

If you ever face it, make sure you check the screen resolution and the text size directly related to the harmed game.

In other cases, you might need to carefully customize certain options like full-screen optimization.

So, for these people, not showing the full screen in Steam Link is a major problem that makes them return to traditional PC gaming.

Moreover, the culprit might be your HDMI monitor. The default resolution for your display is not compatible with Steam Link.

Try another monitor to see if you can replicate the issue. In this matter, we strongly recommend checking the best cheapest HDMI monitors to buy.

In case your Steam Link is not working, do not hesitate to check a useful guide. We also have a guide on what to do if you encounter Streaming error couldn’t connect to relay message.

Did our article help you? What resolutions are you using in Steam Link? Do let us know in the comments section below!

Steam doesn’t show what game I’m playing [Quick fix]

Posted on March 5, 2022October 4, 2023 by Madalina Dinita

Steam is one of the biggest gaming platforms for PC, millions of gamers use Valve’s platform to download and play games daily. However, some users reported that Steam does not show what game users are currently playing.

Just like other gaming platforms, Steam can inform your friends about your current activity which makes it easier to find friends to play with.

An issue about this feature has been reported by many players though, not allowing them to show their gaming activity.

How does the Steam doesn’t show game playing error manifest?

To be sure that you’re experiencing the same issue, take a look at how one user described today’s issue on Reddit:

Not sure what happened with Steam recently, but my status is permanently stuck as Online, so when I start playing a game my friends aren’t notified and if I’m online they can’t see what I’m doing.

Fortunately, we were able to come up with a guide on how to fix this problem.

What can I do if Steam does not show what I am playing?

Change your Privacy Settings

Hit the Windows key, type Steam, then open the desktop client.
From the top-right corner of the window, click on your Steam profile.
Now, choose to View my profile.
From the left window pane, go to Privacy Settings.
Under My Profile, find Game Details, if you have it set as Private, change it to Friends Only.
Save changes, and check if the problem is resolved.

To make sure that your friends can see what game you are playing, you need to enable a specific feature in your Privacy Settings.

When you install Steam, by default, it has your Privacy Settings set to Private. This makes your gaming activity invisible to your friends.

What games can I play on Steam?

Steam offers a variety of games and you can sort them according to the category you’re most excited about. In this matter, these are the categories you can find:

Action and adventure – CS, Lost Ark, Destiny 2, GTA V, Forza Horizon 5, Cyberpunk 2077 and many others.
Casual – The Sims 4, Cities: Skylines, Planet Zoo, Vampire Survivors, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, and so on.
Early Access – PUBG: Battlegrounds, Rust, Ready or not, Project Zomboid, Raft, The Forest, etc.
Free to play – Apex Legends, Destiny 2, Dota 2, War Thunder, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and many more.
Indie – Rust, Dread Hunger, Hades, Project Zomboid, Phasmophobia, etc.
Racing – GTA V, Forza Horizon 4 and 5, BeamNG.drive, iRacing, and many others.
Sports – FIFA 22, NBA 2K22, Football Manager 2022, theHunter: Call of the Wild, etc.

If Steam does not show you’re currently playing, the issue is most likely related to your privacy settings, so you need to adjust them to share your gaming activity with your friends.

In case you were able to get it working, leave us in the comment section below

Steam Link not working [Easy Fix]

Posted on March 5, 2022October 4, 2023 by Milan Stanojevic

Steam Link represents a great way to stream games from PC to your TV. For many users, this piece of hardware works perfectly and is easy to use.

However, quite a few users encountered a major issue: Steam Link is not working. Users reported the message No Signal appearing on a black background on their TV.

Also, some said that Steam Link works for a second, and then it is all over when the black screen appears. There is some activity from the controller at the beginning, so we know it’s receiving a signal.

Fortunately, you can solve this error in no time and today we will show you how later in this guide.

Dose Steam Link work only on LAN ?

Keep in mind that Steam Link is not built as a LAN-only feature. You can extend your gaming experience to your mobile device TV or any other computer.

All you’ll need is a local network or a stable Internet connection.

Plus, do not forget that Steam Link now supports Remote Play Together which allows you to invite your Steam Friends to join your local co-op sessions remotely. This happens without being necessary to own or launch the game by themselves.

With the Steam Link app, you can extend your Remote Play Together access to any supported devices with the installed app.

What can I do if Steam Link is not working?

1. Unplug everything

Unplug all the cables from Steam Link.
Plug only the power cable.
Wait at least 30 seconds.
Plug the HDMI again and check to see if anything changed.

2. Replace the HDMI cable

Nothing is forever, and the HDMI cable is no exception. We all know how fragile some pieces of hardware are, so there is no surprise if Steam Link is not working because of a faulty cable.

So, many users reported that the HDMI cable was the culprit. Replace it with a new one. Choose wisely the best HDMI cables from our list for enhanced performance.

You might also check if other cables or other components of Steam Link are intact.

As you can see, this is more of a hardware problem that can be solved pretty easily by unplugging and plugging back everything.

Also, your HDMI cable could be old and worn out so connection issues might appear. Replace your duff HMDI cable with a new one if thatțs the case.

What other Steam Link issues should I be aware of?

Indeed, Steam Link might sometimes not work as expected, but let’s see what are the most common specific related errors:

Steam Link won’t go full screen – According to some users, this issue appears because the screen resolutions from the computer and the TV are different. Also, the in-game resolution might not be compatible with the TV or HDMI monitor resolution.
Steam Link not recognizing controllers – It is worth mentioning that this issue appeared on wired controllers, so it’s important to make sure you use the right device. Fortunately, if you check our dedicated guide, you’ll discover all the controllers models that work with the Steam app.

So, there you have it: two easy solutions for a major issue. Moreover, make sure your hardware is intact and change any component if necessary.

Did our article help you? Did you find another method to solve this problem? Do let us know in the comments section below.

Lenovo IdeaPad touchpad not working [Quick fix]

Posted on March 5, 2022October 27, 2025 by Loredana Harsana

It’s possible you’re one of those folks who ignore the touchpad on your laptop in favor of a mouse. However, if you primarily rely on your touchpad and it stops working, such as users reported happening with the Lenovo IdeaPad touchpad, you may be unable to control your computer at all.

There are a few frequent reasons why your touchpad may not be working, which occur more than we would like to admit. Even though IT experts always recommend keeping a close eye on one’s drivers and OS updates, people ignore this message and bump into could-be-avoided errors.

Anyways, on a more positive note, let’s jump into the list of solutions right after we see the causes of this issue and what other issues users reported along the way. Follow along!

Why is Lenovo IdeaPad touchpad not working?

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 as well as Lenovo IdeaPad 5 encounter issues with their touchpad when specific drivers are not installed, are out-dated, or even corrupted. Driver errors can cause the following issues that were reported by our users as well:

Lenovo IdeaPad touchpad not detected – This error message can show up when one’s drivers are out-dated. We have shown below what to do in this case.
Lenovo laptop touchpad not working when charging – Unlike the general note of this article, driver updates are not the cause in this case, but you need to restart your computer or check the charging cable.
Lenovo IdeaPad touchpad not working properly – Users have been wondering what to do when their touchpad is glitchy, and to this we have come in aid.

On top of this, the error can occur on multiple OS iterations under similar error messages such as:

Lenovo IdeaPad touchpad not working Windows 11 – Windows 11 users are now quite familiar with glitches and errors popping up since the new OS iteration is still perfectioning.
Lenovo IdeaPad touchpad not working Windows 10 – Our cousins are no exception to this error and they have also reported getting annoyed at the touchpad not working issue.
Lenovo laptop touchpad not working Windows 7 – The veterans out there might want to consider upgrading their OS since Windows 7 will receive less and less troubleshooting in the future.

What can I do if Lenovo IdeaPad touchpad is not working properly?

1. Make sure it is turned on

Tap on the Windows key + I and navigate to Bluetooth & devices in the left panel followed by Touchpad from the right side.
Now make sure the toggle next to Touchpad is turned On.

2. Download the latest drivers

Head to Lenovo’s support page and enter your laptop’s model in order to look for drivers.
Now click on Drivers & Software, enter touchpad in the search bar, select your OS iteration and download any driver that shows up. Follow the on-screen steps in order to install them and restart your computer afterwards. That’s it!

It is critical to wait for the processes to complete before restarting your computer to confirm that the changes were correctly applied. To prevent manually upgrading your drivers and save time, it is strongly advised that you use a specialist driver update application.

For complete troubleshooting steps and model specific fixes, check our full Lenovo touchpad not working guide.

For more information, visit our dedicated guide on how to download touchpad driver for Lenovo laptops on Windows 11.

Alternatively, check out our list with 10 best driver updater software for Windows 10/11 if you wish to use another program.

And if you bump into the Windows cannot download drivers error, don’t miss out on our guide with what to do when that’s the case.

Was this guide helpful for you? Don’t hesitate to tell us in the comments section below as well as if you have any other solutions in mind. Thanks for reading!

Fix Elden Ring not showing keyboard controls in just a few minutes

Posted on March 4, 2022September 25, 2025 by Alexandru Poloboc

Elden Ring, one of the most anticipated Dark Souls-like games, is now available for all interested players on PC, PlayStation, and of course, Xbox.

The graphics, sound, and overall difficulty of this masterpiece will surely captivate even the most pretentious gamers and will surely remain a classic.

But, as with every new game, there are a lot of bugs and errors that keep players from actually enjoying themselves.

However, we can show you how to fix Elden Ring not downloading, not working with a controller on PC, not using the GPU correctly, or the Easy Anti Cheat error.

That being said, if your problem has nothing to do with any of the above-mentioned ones, we pretty much know what you are after.

Some players have reported not being able to reconfigure their keyboard controls because they simply can’t find them in the options menu.

We’re about to show you exactly what you have to do in order to fix this in just a couple of minutes.

How can I change my PC keyboard controls in Elden Ring?

FromSoftware, one of Elden Ring’s developers, added the option to show mouse and keyboard prompts instead of controller options in Sekiro.

As expected, the studio also added the option to Elden Ring, making it easier to switch between the two control options.

Most games you play today that support controllers will automatically switch their icons based on whatever you played last.

That’s where this Elden Ring PC control problem generates from and this is what you have to do in order to overcome it.

Run Elden Ring.
Press Esc to access Settings, then select System.
Select the Sound & Display category.
For Device for On-Screen Prompts select Keyboard and Mouse.
Select the Keyboard/Mouse settings tab and click on Key bindings.
Now you should be able to customize controlls however you want.

This is pretty much all you have to do if you were previously struggling with modifying the way keyboard keys are assigned for Elden Ring.

But what about when your mouse and keyboard won’t work at all when playing Bandai Namco’s latest title?

Elden ring keyboard and mouse not working

Run the game as administrator.
Disconnect aditional input devices.
Disable mouse acceleration.
Disable touchscreen.
Run the game in clean boot mode.

It should only take you a few minutes and you will be good to go, off on the adventure of a lifetime, slaying evil bosses and rescuing worthy prisoners.

Keyboard and mouse problems in Elden Ring may also be caused by corrupt, outdated, or missing drivers. To safely overcome this problem, you can use an automated driver updater.

We suggest Outbyte Driver Updater because it is light, easy to use, and can take care of your drivers on a regular basis so you won’t have this type of issue in the future.

⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

As banal and useless as assigning personalized keys to your actions might prove to some, we all know the value of a key binding when we’re in the midst of battle.

Make sure you also find out everything there is about multiplayer before you decide to crossplay Elden Ring with your friends, just to avoid surprises.

Was this guide helpful to you? Share your experience with us in the comments section below.

How to fix Failed to host game error in Total War: Warhammer 3

Posted on March 4, 2022October 4, 2023 by Alexandru Poloboc

We previously covered what you can do if you are unable to join an online Warhammer 3 game because of the Failed to join the game. No response from host error.

But Total War: Warhammer 3 is still a pretty young game, considering it was released a little over two weeks ago and has a lot of other bugs that frustrate users beyond imagination.

However, since multiplayer has been one of the biggest selling points of the game, with simultaneous turns and up to eight players able to play at the same time, players want these issues fixed ASAP.

If you simply can’t host Warhammer 3 multiplayer games and the only response you get is the Failed to host game error we can show you what to do while waiting for an official fix.

What can I do to fix this error?

Don’t think that there is an elaborate fix for this issue for the time being, as there really isn’t one. However, judging from what other players had to say after dealing with the same problem, there are some workarounds.

Apparently, if you take a closer look, Steam will show you if you are running any servers, whether you intend to or not, which can actually be the root cause for this annoying error.

It just so happens that one of the affected users checked this and he was running a Space Engineers dedicated server by accident.

Thus, all you have to do is access Steam and stop any server instances that you might have running in the background.

How can you do that, you ask? We’re about to show you the easiest way.

Open Steam.
Press the View button and then click on Servers.
Select the LAN tab.
DIsconnect any servers you are inadvertently running and close the window.
Restart Steam.
Run Total War: Warhammer 3.

All players that try this tweak reported being able to host and play multiplayer games afterward without any other issues.

Remember to also do the same if you are dealing with the same problem until we get an actual official fix from The Creative Assembly or Feral Interactive.

Have you managed to solve the issue using this guide? Let us know in the comments section below.

How to Increase FPS on Laptop: 100% Boost & Amazing Gameplay

Posted on March 4, 2022October 31, 2025 by Ivan Jenic

While Windows 10 has been optimized for gaming, you might encounter FPS issues like spikes and freezes, and the easiest way to increase your PC’s performance is by tuning up your system.

The frame rate is the frequency at which an imaging device produces unique consecutive images called frames, being expressed in frames per second (FPS).

If you want to increase your Windows 10 performance, these tips can help you get a more impressive graphical performance from your games.

Also, if we’re talking about gaming on Windows 10, maybe you might be interested in reading more about DirectX.

How do I get better FPS on my laptop?

1. Update your drivers

Open a run window (Press [Windows Key] + R)
Type dxdiag and then hit Enter
Select the Display tab
Note the name and manufacturer of your card

Nvidia video card:
1. Visit Nvidia’s website
2. Select the Product Type, Product Series, Product, Operating System, and Language
3. Press Search
4. Press Download
5. When the driver is downloaded run the .exe file and if you are prompted by a warning message click on Allow
6. Follow the setup process
7. Restart your computer

Note: You can use nVidia GeForce Experience to automatically detect and install the correct drivers.

ATI video card:
1. Visit ATI’s website
2. Select the Type of System, Product family, Product and Operating System you have
3. Click on Display Results
4. Download and Run the file
5. Restart your computer.

Note: You can use AMD Adrenalin to automatically detect and install the correct drivers.

Intel video card (version 1):
1. Visit Intel’s website
2. Click on Check your system for updates and follow the guide.
3. If you need assistance, Intel’s Utility Page includes both a Troubleshoot Installation function and a support section to assist you.
Intel video card (version 2):
1. Visit Intel’s download page.
2. Find the product by category choosing the product’s family, line, and name

A driver is a program that helps you communicate with your hardware resources.

To have the best results from your video card, you have to have your drivers updated with the latest bug fixes and optimizations and download them from the manufacturer’s website.

Updating drivers manually is very annoying, so we recommend doing it automatically with the help of a dedicated tool.

Thus, downloading and installing the wrong driver versions will prevent file loss and even permanent damage to your computer.

⇒ Get Fortect Driver Updater

2. Adjust for best performance

Open Control Panel
Go to System
From the left column, select Advanced system settings
In the new window opened select the Advanced tab and on the Performance, section click on Settings
Check Adjust for best performance
Optional: Go to the Remote tab in the System Properties and untick the Allow Remote Assistance option
From Control Panel, go to Power Options
Select the High Performance / Ultimate Performance power plan

Before applying any additional tweaks, run a computer performance test to identify CPU, GPU, and RAM bottlenecks that may be limiting your FPS.

3. Turn on Game Mode

Click on the Start button
Select Settings
Click on Gaming
Go to Game Mode
Turn on

4. Lower your resolution

improve fps in games with resolution scale

You can also enhance FPS rates by lowering graphics settings. Reducing the display resolution may increase FPS rates depending on your hardware.

In other words, this is not a universal recipe, but you should test it to see if it works in your case.

In most cases, lowering the resolution will speed up the gameplay. The best solution is to adjust the resolution using the games’ graphics settings.

Additionally, some games offer you the possibility to adjust the rendering scale. You can lower this to improve the quality of gameplay but this feature is not available for all games.

Another option to keep an eye out for here is the FPS lock. If you’re using a 60Hz monitor and your FPS is well above that, you might experience tearing. To solve this, lock your FPS at your monitor’s refresh rate.

5. Configure FreeSync / G-Sync

These two technologies have the same functionality: dynamically adjust your monitor’s refresh rate to match the FPS. The difference between them is their compatibility.

G-Sync is an NVidia proprietary technology, whilst FreeSync is an open-source standard developed by AMD. Recently, NVidia has started allowing Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) on select FreeSync monitors. They are testing and adding support for more monitors with each driver update.

Keep in mind that these features are not available on all monitors, and you should check the specifications of your screen to see if VRR is available.

If your monitor supports VRR, make sure it is turned on from the monitor’s OSD, and then you can configure it in your GPU’s software.

VRR should not be confused with V-Sync as the latter is a software feature that limits your FPS to your monitor’s refresh rate. It works in the opposite way to VRR. If you are experiencing tearing in games, then you can turn on V-Sync.

However, if you don’t encounter this issue, then you should always turn it off, as it will have a negative impact on your gaming experience.

6. Overclock your computer

If you’re a casual gamer, we don’t recommend this solution. However, if you’re an avid gamer and know what you’re doing, you may want to overclock your computer to see if this action boosts your FPS rate.

You can use one of these overclocking software for Windows 10 to finish the job faster.

Keep in mind that overclocking your computer may cause overheating issues. To prevent this problem, you can install cooling software and use a cooling pad as well if you own a gaming laptop.

7. Install Razer Cortex

Razer Cortex is a free game booster that optimizes your computer for gaming. As Razer explains, this tool improves your PC’s performance by managing and killing processes and apps you don’t need while gaming.

In this manner, games can access and use computer resources and RAM, resulting in higher frames per second and smoother gaming performance.

Razer Cortex also comes with a built-in FPS counter that shows you the exact FPS that your system is pumping out, offering you real-time feedback on tweaking your game settings.

Using Cortex: Boost is very simple. The tool automatically kicks in when you hit the play button. When you close your gaming session, the software auto-restores your computer back to the state it was before.

⇒ Download Razer Cortex

Don’t forget to check out this list of the best game booster software that you can install on your computer to get an awesome gaming experience.

8. Close background processes and resources consuming programs

It can happen to have processes that consume a lot of resources and you don’t need to run at this moment (for example chat applications, browsers, etc.).

Right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager
From the Processes tab close any process you don’t need except the system processes

You can also take a look in Add/Remove Programs to uninstall software you don’t use anymore or it was installed along with another program.

Go to Control Panel
Select Uninstall a Program or Programs and Features
Look for the unwanted software and click on Uninstall

9. Scan for malware

The malware installs on your computer without your permission for the purpose of stealing data and damaging your system. You can find on the internet many malware removal free programs

For more information on malware removal solutions, check out this article on the best Windows 10 virus removal tools to vanquish malware for good.

You can also remove real-time protection software like Microsoft Security Essentials or Spybot Search and Destroy because they slow down your system.

10. Check your disk for errors

Start Command Prompt as administrator
Type the chkdsk C: /f command followed by the Enter key
Replace C with the letter of your hard drive partition

As a quick reminder, if you do not use the /f parameter, chkdsk displays a message that the file needs to be fixed, but it does not fix any errors. The chkdsk D: /f command detects and repairs logical issues affecting your drive. To repair physical issues, run the /r parameter as well.

On Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, go to hard drives > right-click the drive that you want to check > select Properties > Tool. Under the ‘Error-checking’ section, click Check.

Example: How to increase FPS in Fortnite

Adjust Windows for better performance, as shown above
Right-click on the drive you have Fortnite installed and select Properties
Untick the Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed… box (Apply to subfolders as well)
Disable Windows notifications and Focus Assist
Turn off Windows Game Bar
Turn on Game Mode
Update your system and drivers to the latest versions
Optional: Disable High Precision Event Timer. To do this, open CMD as an administrator and type in:
- bcdedit /deletevalue useplatformclock
Run Disk Cleanup on your system drive
Decrease graphics details in-game

While Fortnite doesn’t have the highest graphics requirements, as it was intended to run on most systems, you can still increase your FPS by following our guide and doing the tweaks we’ve shown here.

Example: How to increase FPS in PUBG

Follow the steps highlighted above
Go through the optimizations listed above for Fortnite
Set your in-game graphics lower, specifically Effects, Shadows, and Foliage

Note: If you are running out of video memory, follow our guide to fixing the issue.

Bonus: Use FPS booster software

Now, Fortnite or PUGB are two examples. But what about other games, how to increase FPS on Valorant, Minecraft, Warzone, and so on?

We reckon there is a simple way to do it regardless of the game you fancy: by using FPS booster software.

We know you have many questions, and we will try to address them all, starting with how safe FPS boosters are in the first place.

They are no different than any other apps you might be using to enhance computing performance in one way or another. Their role is to make your games run smoothly when your GPU usage is high with low FPS levels.

Of course, they will not act the same; some may perform different functions and tackle different aspects of the enhancing process.

For instance, some will lower your ping, while others will optimize effects and handle resource allocation in order to allow you to make the most of your rig when overclocking your system.

With such a generous offer, you might have difficulty picking the tool that best suits your needs. So, which game booster is best?

Once again, we ensured you have everything you need to make an educated choice, so feel free to explore our top picks for game booster software on the market. And don’t hesitate to check out our article including Warzone settings for FPS.

Before you go, why not check out this PC optimizer software for gaming and see if it can help you with your fps issues?

We hope that the solutions listed above helped you boost the FPS rate. If you encounter other workarounds to improve FPS, give us more details about these solutions in the comment section below.

[FIX] Total War: Warhammer 3 no response from host error

Posted on March 4, 2022October 4, 2023 by Alexandru Poloboc

No doubt many of you have already tried Total War: Warhammer 3 since its February 17 release. Fans of the series are absolutely thrilled with the game, even though it comes with some issues of its own.

Whether you choose to go on your own or enjoy some multiplayer gaming, Warhammer 3 will surely provide the entertainment and chaos you are looking for.

Without a doubt, multiplayer has been one of the biggest selling points of Total War: Warhammer 3, with simultaneous turns and up to eight players able to play at the same time.

However, some gamers have struggled while trying to play online and received a Failed to join the game. No response from host error.

How can I fix this error?

This issue most often occurs when players are playing on different platforms, meaning Steam players attempt to play multiplayer with Game Pass owners, and vice versa.

The quickest option to deal with this nuisance, for both players, is to play the game on the same platform. As for workarounds, you know how it is, modern times call for modern solutions.

Players have reported dealing with this issue in various ways, and each seems to have worked for some of them, while not for others.

One of these temporary solutions involved all players exiting the game until one creates the session they’re all about to play on. Note that this is only for PC players of Warhammer 3.

Everyone of the involved parties must exit Wahammer 3.
Let the host open it and create a game.
Click Join Game directly from your friend list and let Warhammer launch and join like that.

On Steam, you can do this by right-clicking your friend’s name in your friends list. As for Game Pass, you can do this through the friends list on the Xbox app.

The other option you have is to make sure the Game Pass player hosts the game, as for some reason, there’s an internet optimization issue with Game Pass that causes them to struggle to connect to Steam games.

You can sometimes bypass this by making sure your version of Windows and Game Pass is fully updated to the latest version.

However, if both players are on the same platform and they’re still receiving this error, stop trying to use the Join with Code function altogether and use the guide above.

Before we conclude, we must remind you to make sure you have forwarded your ports, as sometimes, when playing on different platforms, one platform will use a different port than the other to connect.

Going the extra mile and making absolutely sure you have your ports forwarded will prevent this issue for the most part, so keep that in mind.

Have you also encountered this error while playing Elden Ring? Share your experience with us in the comments section below.

5 Best Software to Recover Microsoft Excel Passwords

Posted on March 4, 2022October 4, 2023 by Tashreef Shareef

From billing and data management to keeping track of inventory, finance, and business tasks, Microsoft Excel is one handy program.

The fact that the Excel application is being primarily used by business owners, shouldn’t raise any eyebrows if the important Excel documents are encrypted with a password.

However, if you set a complex password and forgot it or someone else set the password while working on the sheet and forgot to remove it while leaving, you will be stuck with a password-encrypted Excel sheet with no recovery options by default.

Fortunately, there are a couple of password recovery programs to recover Microsoft Excel passwords on Windows devices. These are small, lightweight utilities equipped with different attack modes ranging from brute-force to dictionary attacks and support all versions of MS Excel.

If you are looking for free and paid software to recover MS Excel passwords, here are a few programs you should try.

So, in this article, we take a look at the best software to recover Microsoft Excel passwords on Windows computers.

What are the best software to recover Excel passwords?

Passware Kit Basic – Multi-purpose recovery tool

Passware Kit Basic is a multi-purpose Windows password recovery tool. It allows you to recover passwords for not only Excel files but also all MS Office documents, Windows administrator accounts, email accounts, web browsers, and more.

Passware Kit Basic is a premium tool, but there is a demo version on offer that you can download for evaluation purposes. The tool is capable of recovering or resetting multiple password types quickly.

Some of the advanced recovery attacks used by Passware Kit Basic include Dictionary, Xieve, Brute-force, Known Password/Part, and more. The combined attack mode uses a combination of letters and numbers to crack the password.

The software comes with an intuitive user interface. After launching the tool, you will see multiple options. To recover the Excel file password, select the Recover File Password option.

Next, you need to select the password-locked Excel file, select the attack type, make changes to the attack types (optional) and click on Start. The recovery process may take some depending on the complexity of the password. You can stop, pause and resume the operation if required.

All the recovered passwords are saved in a separate file and can be reused to unlock encrypted documents. To use Passware you don’t need any technical knowledge, it is fast, easy, and stable and most of the time can accurately recover the password for Excel documents.

Passware Kit Basic

Decrypt your Excel spreadsheets using this software designed for businesses and home offices alike.

Check price Visit Website

PassFab for Excel – Complex algorithms usage

This fast and reliable solution for unblocking Excel documents is created for anyone who needs to recover crucial files efficiently.

With this complete software is much easier to recover forgotten passwords of your Excel workbooks, and thus get back important business or personal data.

PassFab guarantees the recovery of blocked Excel files with a 100% success rate. You can decrypt protected sheets in a few moments by using complex algorithms for complicated symbols or characters in passwords.

Plus, you can be mind peace about your files because this tool can find out any password regardless of length or complexity.

Using verified recovering methods, you will regain access to read-only files or “can’t edit Excel” worksheets. More exactly, using dictionary attacks or different versions of Brute-Force attacks.

According to your password types, you will get back the Excel files using the mentioned techniques that help by trying all combinations of passwords in case you completely forgot them. Otherwise, you have another method if you know the range or length of the password.

You can thus retrieve multiple Excel files using this intelligent and automated method that will decrypt blocked files before you know it.

Passfab for Excel

Take back your worksheets in a fabulous manner with this smart password-recovering software.

Check price Visit Website

Dr.Excel – Easy to use

iSeePassword’s Dr.Excel is a password recovery program to recover locked Excel documents on your Windows PC. The software offers a trial-limited version of the tool, while the premium version will benefit you more.

Dr. Excel offers four types of attacks – Brute-force Attack, Mass Attack, Dictionary attack, and Smart Attack. There is a Batch Remove feature to remove spreadsheet and workbook protection.

Furthermore, users can customize and control the recovery process and its impact on system performance as well. If you go to Settings, you can change the number of CPUs the software can use along with enabling or disabling the GPU acceleration option.

You can also change the frequency of automatically saving the recovered password in a separate file.

Dr. Excel is compatible with all versions of Windows since Windows XP, however only supports MS Excel 2003-2016 file format. If you have a newer version, this may not be the right tool for you.

With a modern user interface, Dr. Excel has an intuitive UI. After launching the tool, click on Add File to add the password-locked Excel file to the dashboard. However, the drag-and-drop functionality doesn’t work.

Once the file is loaded, select the Attack Type you want to use. Begin with a dictionary attack and move on to other types if unsuccessful.

To make the recovery process faster you can provide information related to your password such as length, range, lower- or upper-case letters, numerals, etc.

Click on the Start button to begin the recovery process. After the process ends, it shows a Congratulation screen with a recovered password on a dialogue box. You can copy the password to the clipboard and use it to unlock the Excel file.

⇒ Get Dr. Excel

MS Excel Password Recovery Master – Straightforward app

If you have an older version of MS Excel from 97-2013, MS Excel Password Recovery Master can recover the password for your encrypted Excel file. It is also a premium tool and requires an installation to work.

It is a multi-lingual tool with support for English, French, German, Spanish, and Russian languages. The user interface is simple and easy to use.

You can modify or remove passwords for the Excel workbook and worksheet plus VBA projects using the tool.

Unlike other password recovery tools, MS Excel Password Recovery Master doesn’t make it clear what attack type it uses to crack the password except for the word “Hi-Tech” on its website.

However, we believe the tool uses either dictionary or brute-force attack mode to crack the password.

Using the tool is a straightforward affair. After launching the program, click the Open button and load your password-locked Excel file. Next, click on the Crack link beside password modification and removing options.

After the process is complete, MS Excel Password Recovery Master displays the recovered password on the same page.

⇒ Get MS Excel Password Recovery Master

SmartKey Excel Password Recovery – Simple tool

The Excel Password Recovery software from Smartkey is a lightweight Windows-compatible utility that allows you to recover passwords for 2013, 2016, and even the 2019 versions of Excel. If you have an earlier version of Excel format, that should work with the tool as well.

The software can recover lost passwords for Excel workbooks as well as spreadsheets. For complicated passwords, you can use all the resources of the CPU and GPU to speed up the cracking process. Although, this feature is limited to Pro users only.

If you don’t want to install the software on your PC, SmartKey offers an online Excel password recovery service but again for Pro users only.

The user interface of the tool is simple and easy to use. To recover the password, launch the tool and click on Add button. Select the password-locked Excel file and open it.

Next, you need to select the Attack Type. There are three attack types, select Dictionary Attack type for a quick recovery. Check the GPU acceleration option to speed up the decryption process.

By clicking on Settings, you can download a third-party dictionary or add one from your PC. Click on the Start button to initiate the password-cracking process.

The recovered password is displayed on a pop-up window with an option to copy it to the clipboard. However, for demo users, the password will be hidden behind asterisks and ask you to upgrade to see the password.

⇒ Get SmartKey Office Password Recovery

Remove Excel Password Manually using VBA Code

If you don’t want to use software to recover your Excel password, there is a workaround using VBA code to help you to cancel your original spreadsheet password and unlock the document.

Here are the steps you need to follow to remove the Excel password for any file manually.

To use the VBA code, you need to enable the Developer option in MS Excel. If you have the Developer tab visible, you don’t need to follow these steps
To enable Developer option, click on File and select Options.
Next, select Customize Ribbon tab. Under the Main Tabs section, check the “Developer” option. Click OK to save the changes.
From the Excel window, click on Developer and select Visual Basic option.
In the new window, click Insert and select Module. Now copy/paste the following line of code in the Module window.


Sub PasswordRecovery()
Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer
Dim l As Integer, m As Integer, n As Integer
Dim i1 As Integer, i2 As Integer, i3 As Integer
Dim i4 As Integer, i5 As Integer, i6 As Integer
On Error Resume Next
For i = 65 To 66: For j = 65 To 66: For k = 65 To 66
For l = 65 To 66: For m = 65 To 66: For i1 = 65 To 66
For i2 = 65 To 66: For i3 = 65 To 66: For i4 = 65 To 66
For i5 = 65 To 66: For i6 = 65 To 66: For n = 32 To 126
ActiveSheet.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _
Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) & _
Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
If ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False Then
MsgBox "One usable password is " & Chr(i) & Chr(j) & _
Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & _
Chr(i3) & Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
Exit Sub
End If
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
End Sub

Click on the Start button (green) or press F5. If successful it will show a “One usage password is” message on a dialogue box.

That’s it. You have successfully removed the Excel password without any software.

However, this method is only useful if you have put a password restriction on Excel to prevent modification and can open the file. If the Excel file is password encrypted and requires a password even to view it, this method won’t work.

Conclusion

So these are some of the best software to recover Microsoft Excel password-lock files. The success rate of password recovery depends on the MS Office version in use, the type of password, and of course the complexity of the password itself.

If you have a hard time remembering the password for all the accounts and files, let a password manager do this work for you so that you don’t have to remember any other password, ever again.

Fix: Your internet access is blocked in Windows 11

Posted on March 4, 2022October 6, 2025 by Claire Moraa

If you depend on the Internet to work, play games and do a bunch of other activities, you must have come across the Your internet access is blocked error in Windows 11 at some point.

Windows 11 is a great operating system with some fantastic features. However, just like any new release, there are bound to be some problems and issues once in a while.

When your access to the Internet is blocked, it can be a frustrating experience especially if you are working on a deadline and don’t know how to fix it.

Sometimes the programs you install on your computer can change your browser settings without your knowledge. This may result in some abnormal behavior of your browser like blocking the internet access or random redirecting of pages.

If you are the kind of user who likes to download APKs and software from unofficial sites, you may encounter this error often. This is because your firewall settings protect you from malicious sites. You need to install and open APKs the right way for the safety of your system.

You can easily bypass this issue by rebooting your router or PC but if that doesn’t work, it means the problem is more advanced and will require additional troubleshooting.

Why am I getting The Your internet access is blocked error in Windows 11?

One of the most common problems in Windows is the problem with Internet access. This problem may occur due to a myriad of issues.

Some of the possible reasons for the error include:

Wi-Fi is disabled – You may find that you mistakenly turned on Airplane mode and that’s why your internet access is blocked. Simply turn it off and sign into the network. If you can’t find the Wi-Fi, see why Wi-Fi option is not showing in Windows 11.
Firewall or Antivirus program is blocking access – Windows Firewall keeps a security check on programs that try to connect from your computer to the Internet. If any of these programs don’t meet the firewall requirements, then it’ll block that program in order to secure your PC.
Virus in your computer – If you see this error message often, it could also be a sign that your system is infected with malware. If you permanently want to get rid of this error, then you need to remove the malware from your computer.
Faulty VPN – If you are having trouble accessing the Internet and have verified that your connection is working outside of Windows 11, it is possible that a faulty VPN is causing the issue. Try disabling the VPN and see whether the problem persists.
Outdated network drivers – Some users face an issue where device settings fail to migrate when they upgrade to Windows 11 which makes the network drivers outdated. You can try updating the drivers or rollback.
Malfunctioned router – Sometimes routers and modems develop bad settings over time. Resetting them can help resolve these problems. To do this, unplug your router for about 30 seconds and plug it back in.

If any of these reasons are the cause of the problem, we recommend you attempt one or more of the solutions listed below.

What can I do if I get The Your internet access is blocked error in Windows 11?

1. Temporarily disable Windows Firewall

Hit the Windows key and click on Settings.
Select Privacy & security.
Click on Open Windows Security.
Select Firewall & network protection.
Click on Public network.
Next, toggle Microsoft Defender Firewall off.
Try accessing the page again.

2. Perform a Network reset

Hit the Windows key and click on Settings.
Navigate to Network & internet.
Select Advanced network settings.
Click on Network reset.
Next, hit the Reset now button.

3. Troubleshoot Internet connection issues

Hit the Windows key, click on System and select Troubleshoot.
Navigate to Other troubleshooters.
Press the Run button next to Internet Connections.
Select Troubleshoot my connection to the Internet in the pop-up window and wait for Windows to identify the problem and recommend a fix.

4. Rollback Network drivers

Press the Windows + I keys simultaneously to open Settings.
Type Device Manager in the search bar and click Open.
Navigate to Network adapter, right-click and select Properties.
Navigate to the Driver tab, select Roll Back Driver then press OK.
Press Yes in the dialog box to confirm rollback.
Restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

5. Update Network drivers

Hit the Windows + I keys to open Settings.
Type Device Manager in the search bar and click Open.
Navigate to Network adapter, right-click and select Update Driver Software.
Select Search automatically for updated driver software.

In addition to this, you can make use of a third-party tool to make work easier for you. The application is equipped with an automatic update function.

Unlike many similar products on the market, Outbyte Driver Updater does not require you to have any technical knowledge about PCs because everything is done automatically.

It can detect missing and outdated drivers and install the latest version on your system in a matter of seconds.

⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

6. Turn off your VPN

Press the Windows key and select Settings.
Next, select Network & internet.
Select VPN in the right-side menu.
Select the VPN connection you want to disable, click on the drop-down and select Remove.
Try accessing the page again.

Switching to a more reliable VPN also has been proven to work for some users, as free or built-in VPN on Windows tend to have bugs and errors. Our recommendation is to try Private Internet Access and see how it goes.

Could the Your internet access is blocked error occur because my system is hacked?

When you have a connection, the primary way in which your system gets exposed to hackers is via the Internet. Once it is blocked, hackers cannot access your system.

That’s not to say that your system cannot be hacked at all – there are many ways to hack a computer. Here are some:

USB devices – It is possible for someone to plug a USB device into your computer and inject malicious codes into it. If you’re in a public place, such as a coffee shop or library, it is easy for someone else to plug something into your computer without you noticing.
Malicious email attachments – If you receive an attachment from someone and open it, the attachment can contain malicious code that will infect your computer. This is the most common method of hacking.
Insecure websites – Some websites are vulnerable to attack and if you visit them then their malicious code can infect your computer.

How can I protect myself from hackers?

Hackers often find ways to exploit weaknesses in software applications or operating systems. Viruses and worms are examples of malicious software that hackers use to attack networks.

But there’s good news: You can avoid the dangers of hacking by taking a few simple precautions.

Here are some tips and tricks to stay safe:

Make sure you have the most up-to-date security software, web browser, and operating system (OS), as well as the latest versions of apps on your devices.
Use strong passwords for all your online accounts. Also, avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.
Watch out for phishing emails from fraudsters trying to steal your personal details. Avoid clicking on links from unknown addresses.
Be careful when downloading files from websites or social networks. Stay safe by downloading apps from official stores or only trusted websites.
Only connect to secure wireless networks (those that require a password) when surfing the web on your laptop or mobile device especially when using public networks.

We have also outlined top antiviruses for your PC if you want an extra layer of protection besides your Windows Firewall.

As you have seen, there are plenty of reasons why your internet access is blocked in Windows 11 but there are also plenty of solutions you can try to remedy the situation.

Feel free to also check out our excellent fix guide when your Internet connection is limited to quickly fix the problem.

If you have any other queries or suggestions, share your thoughts. Also, let us know what solution worked for you in the comment section.

Minecraft movie still in limbo on what should have been its release date

Posted on March 4, 2022 by Robert Collins

As of today, on what should have been the date of its premiere, the Minecraft movie appears to be in production limbo as far as anyone can tell. The premise of the film was/is, to use its own unofficial log line: “the story of a teenage girl and her unlikely group of adventurers. After the malevolent Ender Dragon sets out on a path of destruction, they must save their beautiful, blocky Overworld.”

The project was initially announced back in 2019 on Mojang Studios’ official site as well as on social media.

Dates! They are important, because they allow us to clear our calendars for exciting, nay, MONUMENTAL events. Such as the upcoming Minecraft movie, which finally has one! March 4, 2022. Just around the corner! A few more details here: https://t.co/JfIEBYpptc pic.twitter.com/CstpQVKPdY

— Minecraft (@Minecraft) April 16, 2019

But that was before the COVID-19 pandemic, in the wake of which Warner Bros. decided to shuffle part of its production schedule. Black Adam, a superhero flick starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, was also delayed alongside the Minecraft movie, but has since been given a new release date for late July of this year.

The Minecraft film however, has not been given the same treatment, leaving fans of the popular block building game to ponder the fate of the project, as no further news has been so much as hinted at thus far at the time of this writing. Will the project ever see the light of day again, or has it been unofficially shelved? Only time will tell, but in the meanwhile fans at least have the game’s cinematic mode to play director with.

Featured image courtesy of gameinformer.com

Microsoft and Nuance acquisition finalized, paving the way for ambient AI in healthcare

Posted on March 4, 2022 by Kareem Anderson

Microsoft has finalized its $19.7B acquisition of conversational AI and ambient intelligence solution provider Nuance Communications Inc. With the ink figuratively still wet on the deal, executive vp of Cloud + AI Group for Microsoft, Scott Guthrie offered some words of praise for Nuance as well as a hint at what’s to come from the collaboration.

“Completion of this significant and strategic acquisition brings together Nuance’s best-in-class conversational AI and ambient intelligence with Microsoft’s secure and trusted industry cloud offerings.

This powerful combination will help providers offer more affordable, effective and accessible healthcare, and help organizations in every industry create more personalized and meaningful customer experiences. I couldn’t be more pleased to welcome the Nuance team to our Microsoft family.”

Continuing the vision, Microsoft seems poised to leverage Nuance’s underlying ambient AI technology to help vertically stack Azure solutions for industries such as healthcare, financial services, retail and telecommunications to fill in service gaps for both consumers and businesses.

While Azure does offer similar Nuance-like solutions, Nuance already has “deep vertical expertise and proven business outcomes across healthcare, retail, telecommunications and more, which should accelerate Microsoft’s plans to deploy its services to those fields. In the end, Microsoft may be looking to Nuance to help brand services such as early detection, personalized customer experiences, and streamline online businesses processes with greater intuitive AI steps.

As for welcoming Nuance into the Microsoft fold, Nuance CEO Mark Benjamin will remain chief executive officer of the company and report Scott Guthrie and his Microsoft Cloud + AI department for the time being.

Microsoft has suspended new sales in Russia in response to attack on Ukraine

Posted on March 4, 2022 by Radu Tyrsina

Earlier this week Microsoft shared more about how it is responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It was a four-part response, but the company has now come out provided another update on what it is calling the “unjustified, unprovoked and unlawful invasion,” saying that it has suspended all new sales of Microsoft products in Russia.

The move should not come as much of a surprise, as Microsoft’s rival Apple made a similar decision to suspend sales in Russia back on March 1. Yet Microsoft also added that it is working closely and in “lockstep” with the government of the United States, the European Union, and the UK to stop many other aspects of their business in compliance with governmental sanctions. According to Microsoft President & Vice Chair, Brad Smith:

We believe we are most effective in aiding Ukraine when we take concrete steps in coordination with the decisions being made by these governments and we will take additional steps as this situation continues to evolve.

The situation in Russia is largely a political and humanitarian issue, but many big tech companies and even the video gaming industry have gotten involved to line up with decisions from United States officials. Intel and AMD stopped chip sales in Russia and Belarus, and Google is blocking many Russian outlets on its services. Microsoft also blocked state-sponsored content from RT and Sputnik on MSN.com and Microsoft Start, and re-ranked those search results on Bing, along with removing the Windows Store RT news app.

Bassmaster Fishing 2022 & Rims Racing are free this weekend with Xbox Free Play Days

Posted on March 4, 2022 by Robert Collins

The impending weekend is looking like a sporty one for Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold members with the two games lined up for Xbox Free Play Days.

The first of these is Bassmaster Fishing 2022. This is a highly realistic fishing sim with officially licensed content for the Bassmaster Elite professional bass fishing series. The game is at present having an online Bassmaster Classic Tournament where players can earn in-game prizes.

The second game in the lineup is Rims Racing. It bills itself as the most authentic motorcycle video game experience ever created, with simulation physics and over 500 replaceable aftermarket parts for the bikes. It also features 8 dream bikes and some of the most mettle-testing tracks in the world.

Xbox Free Play Days is another perk for subscribers to Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold, which allows members to try out a different lineup of games each weekend. It is a great way to discover new favorites or just try out something different.

Feature image courtesy of Chaospin.com.

9 Best Trading Software for PC in 2026

Posted on March 3, 2022November 6, 2025 by Ivan Jenic

By trading software, you can choose to analyze financial products and trade between stocks, bonds, options, currencies, and crypto coins.

They’ll certainly help you make informed decisions and invest successfully in different stocks, plus trade for the leading companies’ shares Additionally, some of the presented tools in this list can also support you as cryptocurrency converter apps.

In this post, we will be looking at the best trading software for Windows & Mac PC.

What is the best trading software for my Windows or Mac PC?

TradingView

TradingView is a social/trader network where anyone is allowed to publish a trade idea. It is the ideal trading software for PC and is accessible even on mobile phones.

You have over 12 chart types that are customizable to meet your viewing needs. Thus, you can analyze your investments with detailed reports and get more educated decisions.

Let’s quickly look at its key features:

Draw anything on any chart.
Slit screen
Multiple views
Accountability by sharing or publishing your trade ideas.

TradingView

The most active social trading platform with tools that scale from simple to complex to perfectly fit your needs.

Free trial Visit website

ZuluTrade

From a single copy-trading experience to automatic fully managed portfolio rebalancing with immediate initialization, you can go as basic or as advanced as you like.

In addition, this trading service is perfect for beginners who just need to learn more about stock or crypto transactions. You also have copy trading opportunities to learn from experienced investors.

Let’s quickly look at its key features:

Social Charts to share your comments, exchange views with other traders and explore trends visually
Tradewall to filter events according to your selected criteria such as open or closed trades
Calendar to schedule your important economic events
Forex tools including currency converter, pip value calculator, margin calculator, and profit/loss calculator
Automator feature to notify you when things happen or automatically execute actions based on predefined rules and settings

ZuluTrade

Get all the tools you need for simple, efficient, and profitable trading in a single app!

Free trial Visit website

eToro

This platform offers over 2,000 financial instruments, including cryptocurrencies, and is suitable for both novice and expert traders. It also provides ready-made copy portfolios and ensures strong privacy protection

With this financial solution, you can smartly expand your portfolio of investments for market-leading companies.

Plus, eToro is created as a social hub for anyone who needs to make informed decisions about their trade and observe what other investors are buying or selling.

Let’s quickly look at its key features:

Intuitive, user-friendly platforms adapted for all skill levels
Best-in-class security protocols and strong data protection
$100,000 virtual portfolio to practice your strategy
CopyTrader technology for an easy start
Charts and advanced analysis tools
Seamless integration with the eToro wallet

eToro

Try eToro and experience the world’s favorite social trading app!

Free trial Visit Website

eToro USA LLC and eToro USA Securities Inc.; Investing involves risk, including loss of principal; Not a recommendation.

MetaTrader 4

MetaTrader 4 is a platform specifically designed for trading foreign exchange, financial markets analysis, and expert Advisor’ use. It is compatible with major Windows OS.

In case you need to be part of the Forex trading community and consciously invest in this market, this platform is specially created to help you get the newest financial insights.

You can therefore use this financial analysis solution regardless of the trading experience and profit from advanced tools for your trades.

Let’s quickly look at its key features:

Advanced technical analysis
Flexible trading system
Algorithmic trading
Expert Advisors, as well as mobile trading applications.
Signal and market additional services extend the frontiers of MetaTrader 4. It allows you to copy the trades of other traders while providing you with several expert advisors and technical indicators that you can purchase.
Ability to check if there is still money available in your account
You can easily access history data by using the predefined arrays of Time, Open, Low, High, Close, and Volume
Very easy to get the information about errors in the program

⇒ Get MetaTrader4

Cobra Trading

This trading service is highly suitable for any person who needs trustful investing tools and active equity.

Employing this trading solution is a great method to capitalize on your market investments rapidly and with professional tools.

Cobra Trading offers multiple platforms to serve you different needs and help you make informed decisions about your stocks or equities tradings.

You can use the DAS trader platform, Sterling trading, or CobraPro cost-effective platform. Direct access software gives you direct availability for advanced order types, charting, and multi-account management.

That being said, this trading service has complete support and customizable charts for individual traders in order to deliver satisfying results.

⇒ Get Cobra Trading

eSignal

eSignal is one of the oldest and most reliable trading platforms in the market. On the retail side, they are among the early innovators of adaptive pattern recognition tools and advanced charting technology.

Their offerings and pricing categories can effectively accommodate casual investors to active traders and also provide 24-hour customer support Monday through Friday.

In addition, online trading capabilities can be integrated via plug-in directly to more than fifty partner brokerage firms.

Let’s quickly look at its key features:

Smooth and stable charting with flexible scaling.
Charts include a rich library of basic to advanced technical indicators.
Stable and seamless level 2, time and sales windows with the ability to add more depth with subscription agreements for ARCA book and Nasdaq Total View.
The Market Screener Plus enables users to scan by technical, fundamental, or values.
The user-defined alert configures the eSignal platform based on pattern, price, metrics, and several other parameters directly through the watch lists, scanner, or on charts.

⇒ Get eSignal

Sierra Chart

Sierra Chart has a large set of tools and indicators. Furthermore, its lightweight size makes it appealing to low resources PCs.

With this charting tool, you have detailed charts and reports to see the market changes and predict new strategies for future investments in your stocks.

Plus, using this solution you have complete access to technical analysis, historical and real-time charts about financial markets.

Let’s quickly look at its key features:

It is lightweight and can easily be modified
Simple, stable and offers helpful Support
Very good trading software
It is very appalling

⇒ Get Sierra Chart

MultiCharts

MultiCharts is known for upholding the best practices in the industry by offering users the freedom of choice.

If you’re searching for a qualitative trading platform to predict market changes and invest daily, this award-winning tool is for you.

You can utilize this platform for market charts, automated broker trading, or backtesting and improve your financial results using clear insights.

Let’s quickly look at its key features:

Users can obtain assistance via live chat, email, phone, remote desktop connection, video tutorials, discussion forum, and wiki.
Access to optimized reports is very easy.
It provides data management, simulated trading chart analysis, automated trading, walk-forward testing, global hotkeys, forex board, time and sales.
Chart analysis.
Several trading and testing tools, as well as drawing tools.

⇒ Get MultiCharts

Try any of the tools listed above and share your experience with us by commenting below.

Check out this Forex PC software Guide to boost your transactions.

Don’t be shy to explore our Business Hub as well for more lucrative tips and tools to enhance your business.

5 Best LMS With Integrated Video Conferencing

Posted on March 3, 2022October 4, 2023 by Claudiu Andone

LMSs or Learning Management Systems are great tools for training your employees or your clients if you have a dedicated business.

Such e-Learning software will help you with the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, automation, and delivery of educational courses, training, or development programs.

But nowadays, the tool is not nearly complete without the video conferencing system, and let’s face it, it’s indispensable if your students are scattered across the globe.

How can I choose the best LMS with video conferencing?

As we underlined above, LMSs are complex tools for e-Learning courses management but some of them even help you build the training modules within their application.

So, let’s look at the most important aspects that you should look for in an LMS with built-in video conferencing:

➡ Integration and usage

If you’re looking for a fully integrated solution, it should provide all the tools needed for the training operation, from original training module creation to management, delivery, and video conferencing.

For instance, the solutions from our list provide a complete platform and include all forms of training and seamless Zoom integration.

➡ Accessibility

This is the most important aspect of an LMS, to be accessible from anywhere in the world and we’re not only talking about students, but also the trainers.

With a cloud-based platform, not only you can have clients from all over the globe, but also teachers. And you will still be able to monitor all their activity from a central console.

➡ Fast and easy to deploy

If you have everything set up for a course but the students can’t load it because it’s too large or not compatible with the conferencing solution, all your efforts have been in vain.

You will also need a quick method of sharing additional learning material and presentation tools to help you explain the content in a more comprehensive way.

That being said, we looked for the best LMS with video conferencing features in terms of usage, features, and, of course, budget.

What is the best LMS with video conferencing?

Adobe Captivate Prime

Adobe Captivate Prime is one of the best solutions for creating exciting and detailed e-Learning content and its integration of other products from Adobe makes it very versatile.

Content creation was taken to a whole new level but the app does take some time to learn so that you get to benefit from all the features it has to offer.

The integration with the Adobe Creative Suite not only provides compatibility with other tools for conferencing and course management but also offers a cohesive interface that will look familiar.

Captivate Prime comes with a lot of presets, built-in animations, and characters that will unleash your imagination, but one standout feature is the possibility of creating truly responsive content.

The app allows you to adjust, add, or remove elements based on the screen size, thus making your content perfectly easy to be followed on any device.

The key features of Adobe Captivate Prime are:

Create courses adapted for any screens and devices
Produce virtual tours, talking-head screencasts, and VR experiences
Create multiple modules of one course and impose restrictions via quizzes
Supports PowerPoint presentations and other media material
Free trial version for testing

Adobe Captivate Prime

Create and manage courses on this LMS that offers integration with other Adobe products.

Free trial Visit website

LearnWorlds

With LearnWords, not only you can create and promote your courses but you can also sell them so you will be able to really monetize your skills.

Engage your students by easily integrating interactive videos, eBooks, assessments, certificates, SCORMs, surveys, and much more.

LearnWords allows you to convert your videos with automatically extracted transcripts, quizzes, and tables of contents that will transform them into exceptional experiences.

The solution also has a webpage creation tool that comes with intuitive drag and drop functionality and you can start off by choosing one of the hundreds of templates available.

As we mentioned above, the tool features a powerful sales engine, with advanced pricing options for all kinds of digital products that will make it easier to sell your courses.

Basically, with LearnWorlds, you can create your own school and connect it with a lot of marketing and affiliate tools to increase your sales.

Let’s see some of its most important features:

24/7 technical support
Built-in visual editor
In-app purchases
Powerful sales engine
Advanced course building tools

LearnWorlds

This premium tool will also allow you to create your own online school and monetize your courses.

Free trial Visit website

ProProfs

ProProfs is another LMS to take into consideration if you want to create your own courses and other teaching material.

The tool also integrates a virtual classroom that allows you to centrally manage learners and courses, make announcements, view reports, and more.

And after the training, you may include quizzes and survey tools to help you assess the students and collect feedback on the impact of your course.

You can increase the power of the LMS by integrating several third-party tools, including email marketing apps, CMS, and CRM.

Its built-in AI-powered reporting and analytics tool enables your instructors to supervise each learner or group’s progress and view their training data.

After you deploy all your training programs, it’s easy to sell online courses directly from ProProfs or your own website.

Take a look at some of its best features:

Easily create online courses using simple steps
Premium library of over 100 professionally designed and customizable courses and templates
Track attendance and progress of individuals and groups
Increase the size of your online classroom easily according to your growing training requirements
Update training modules or an entire course easily and quickly

⇒ Get ProProfs

Kallidus Learn

If you’re looking for a more simple approach, Kallidus Learning is an LMS with a simple interface and deployment that will cater to your needs.

That’s because it’s a cloud-based learning management system with certification and compliance management, a built-in course library, and SCORM compliance.

The interface comes with course cards that you can search through to find relevant content and the best thing is that it’s accessible from everywhere, on any device.

Managers will have access to a calendar view, an overview of trainee progress, and more detailed data based on students or courses.

In the calendar view displays, you will see which team members are signed up for courses the completion deadline, and who has completed the most courses.

And if you need any assistance, support is offered via phone, email, and a well-designed ticketing system.

Let’s see some of its best features:

Intuitive classroom management system
Great UK based support team
High-level dashboards and in-depth reporting
Access your training wherever you are, from any device
Fast deployment and delivery system

⇒ Get Kallidus Learning

iSpring Learn

If you’re looking for the best e-Learning platform with video conferencing, iSpring Learn is definitely the best choice and Zoom integration is just a click away on the Integrations menu from Settings.

It’s a cloud-based LMS that you can use to launch a training program in a matter of hours because it’s super easy to use for both learners and training administrators.

Moreover, iSpring Learn comes with an award-winning authoring tool called iSpring Suite that will help you create fresh and amazing e-Learning courses.

With the Learn LMS, you will be able to automatically manage training deadlines, as well as sending invites and reminders so you can focus on what’s important.

And best of all, the integration is complete because you can share data with your HR system, CRM, and other back-office systems by using the iSpring APIs.

Your clients need confidentiality, and your business has to comply with all regulations, including GDPR.

That’s why all content, personal data, and statistics from the platform are securely stored on servers in the USA and Europe and the software ensures full compliance.

You should know that you will still be able to use all the content you’ve created until now on other platforms.

Upload your presentations (PPT), courses (SCORM), video tutorials (FLV, MP4), Flash clips (SWF), and audio content (MP3, WAV), as well as additional documents (PDF, DOC, XLS) on the platform easily.

Although it’s a complex solution, you are still able to test it because it offers a free trial version and you can also request a live demo anytime.

Let’s review some of the key features of iSpring Learn:

Integration with existing systems like HR, CRM and other back-office systems
Cloud-based console accessible from anywhere in the world
Fast and secure access to all resources
Full compliance with GDPR and other regulations
Extremely easy to use without any additional training

⇒ Get iSpring

How do you integrate Zoom with LMS?

You should know that not all LMS offer video conference capabilities and some of them prefer other communication tools, like Microsoft Teams.

As you could see, the top product from our list offers both integrations, providing that you have a license or a valid account for those particular solutions.

For instance, in iSpring Learn, you need to click on the Settings button, then navigate to the Integrations tab and hit the Zoom Enable button below.

Other LMS have a slightly different approach so you should look through their menus until you find the app integration category.

This concludes our recommendation list of the best LMS with conferencing features. We hope that you have found the right one for your needs.

And while you’re looking to deploy your LMS, you might also be interested in our best authoring software for your content list for more e-Learning projects.

Did you try any of the products listed above? If so, feel free to describe your experience in the comments section below.

Best Windows Customization Tools: Themes, Widgets & More

Posted on March 3, 2022October 14, 2025 by Madalina Dinita

Even if you’re the master of keeping your stuff uncluttered, you could get some help from some desktop customization software to make your life easier.

That’s why the best desktop customization tool would be a must to have everything tidy and organized.

What are the best Windows 10 and 11 desktop customization tools?

1. WindowBlinds

WindowBlinds is a dynamic tool that allows you to personalize the look of your desktop by modifying the Start menu, taskbar, and other elements.

You can choose from thousands of skins, change fonts, colors, and even adjust window frames, giving your PC a completely customized feel.

Additionally, you can download skins from the gallery and set them to change at random intervals.

Key features include:

Simple setup process
Personalized skins
Favorite skins presets
Randomized skin changes
Skin transparency options

⇒ Get WindowBlinds

2. Desktop.com

Desktop.com is an all-in-one online desktop solution for centralizing your apps, chats, and files.

You can organize your workspace efficiently with multiple desktops for different projects.

The tool also allows for quick access to web apps, chats, and cloud-based files with one click, improving your overall productivity.

Notable features:

Multiple workspaces
Bookmark management
Centralized file storage
Cloud-based remote work
Universal chat integration

⇒ Get Desktop.com

3. RocketDock

RocketDock is a sleek and space-saving alternative to the Windows taskbar.

It allows you to place a small dock on any edge of your screen, offering quick access to your favorite apps and files.

Customization options include skins, fonts, and opacity settings, making it a highly personalized and efficient tool.

Key features:

Lightweight and easy to use
Customizable placement on screen
Multiple customization options
Auto-hide feature
Hover pop-up effect

⇒ Get RocketDock

4. MyFolders

MyFolders is a time-saving tool that gives you quick access to your favorite folders.

Instead of navigating through File Explorer, simply right-click on your desktop and select from your predefined folders.

You can also copy or move files to these folders in just a few clicks, making file management faster and more efficient.

Key features:

Seamless Windows integration
Simple setup
Fast file access
Easy file transfer between folders

⇒ Get MyFolders

5. Winaero Tweaker

Winaero Tweaker is a free, powerful tool for customizing various aspects of Windows.

You can tweak system settings, the taskbar, context menus, and more.

The software allows you to restore classic features, adjust transparency, and modify fonts to make your Windows experience truly personalized.

Key features:

Restore the classic taskbar in Windows 11
Enable Ribbon in File Explorer
Taskbar size and transparency customization
Title bar color adjustment

⇒ Get Winaero

6. Launchy

Launchy is a fast and simple tool that allows you to search and launch programs, folders, and files.

By pressing Alt + Space, you can quickly open a search box, type what you’re looking for, and launch it immediately.

With its minimalist design and customizable skins, Launchy makes accessing your files and apps easy and efficient.

Key features:

Minimalist design
Quick program and file search
Command line integration
Instant web launch functionality

⇒ Get Launchy

7. NTLite

NTLite is a comprehensive tool that allows advanced customization of your Windows operating system.

It lets you modify system settings, integrate drivers, and pre-configure features before deployment.

Ideal for power users, it also provides options for registry editing and component removal.

Key features:

Windows settings configurations
Driver and registry integration
Pre-deployment feature customizations
Component removal options

⇒ Get NTLite

8. Multiplicity Pro

Multiplicity Pro allows you to control multiple computers from a single keyboard and mouse.

This tool lets you work on several systems simultaneously, transferring files easily between them.

It ensures data security with AES-256 encryption and supports clipboard and audio sharing for seamless communication.

Key features:

Simultaneous control of multiple PCs
Easy file transfer between devices
Clipboard sharing
Audio sharing for communication

⇒ Get Multiplicity Pro

9. Tiles 2

Tiles 2 offers an intuitive sidebar that helps you organize and quickly switch between apps and folders.

You can drag and drop items into the sidebar and easily toggle between them.

The program allows you to customize the appearance and size of the sidebar, making it a great tool for increasing your productivity.

Key features:

Organize apps and windows in a sidebar
Customizable tile appearance
Quick switching between apps
Auto-hide functionality for the sidebar

⇒ Get Tiles 2

10. Fences

Fences helps you organize your desktop by grouping icons into resizable “fences.”

This tool is perfect for keeping your desktop organized, eliminating clutter, and making it easier to find your programs and files.

You can create fences for specific categories and set rules for icon placement.

Key features:

Automatic icon organization
Roll-up feature for hiding icons
Snapshots to preserve layout configurations
Customizable fence colors and sizes

⇒ Get Fences

We hope that these recommendations from our list were helpful. For more suggestions or other questions, please access the comments section below.

You might also be interested in looking at our best Windows task scheduler software list because it may further help you get things organized on your PC.

To make your desktop even more lively, try Shimeji on Windows 11 and add cute animated characters that interact with your screen for a fun twist on personalization.

These are all great applications, and they can help you fix desktop icon spacing problems on your PC, so be sure to give them a try.

6 Best USB Software For Locking Your PC [2026 Guide]

Posted on March 3, 2022January 8, 2024 by Madalina Dinita

Data is one of the most critical assets in an organization, and the importance of keeping it safe cannot be underestimated.

To enhance data security, it is important to lock your PC even if you step out for just a few minutes. Why? An unattended PC with an unlocked desktop is an invitation for unwanted attention.

Even if you are at home, leaving your computer unlocked and running may expose your personal data to prying eyes or even leak confidential information that may end up in the hands of competitors.

There are several ways to ramp up your personal security on your desktop. You might choose to lock it with a strong password, a lengthy PIN, or even try Windows Hello.

What if I told you there is a way to even up your security by making your USB drive act as a control key to your computer?

This is not an armchair theory; it is a proven technique that works effectively, and it’s also very easy to use. All you need to do is take out your USB drive and boom, your PC is locked – and the moment you plug it back your PC will unlock. However, it’s not always sunshine and roses.

USB lock keys: The Good and the Bad

Even if you create strong passwords, relying on passwords alone is a big security misstep. Windows login passwords are vulnerable for those unaware and can be cracked via Brute Force Method.

The Brute Force method is one of the most popular hacking methods and it employs ‘permutations’ to pull all the possible combinations.

When used with a powerful Graphic Card such as the latest GeForce GTX 1080 that comes with 2560 processors, it will probably take a few days to weeks to crack the password using the Brute Force method.

This is why the best password is both hardware and software-based. Turning your USB flash drive into a security key makes your desktop impenetrable.

Another benefit of using a USB flash drive to unlock your computer is relieving yourself of the burden of memorizing the passwords. But it’s not all good.

You will get a headache if you lose or damage the USB lock key. You might not have access to your own computer if you lose the key.

Always make a backup of the USB security key so as not to lose essential data in the event the key is lost.

In this article, we are going to take you through the various software you can use to password-protect, lock, and unlock your Windows PC with a USB pen drive. Let’s have a look at them.

What is the best software to lock USB in Windows 10?

Gilisoft USB Lock – Very intuitive

Gilisoft USB Lock is a full encryption method to lock your PC safely and protect your data through high-end technology. With USB flash drive locking, you can increase your security exponentially immediately.

Your virtual activity is a very significant aspect of your digital experience. And no matter what actions you perform on the computer, it’s impetuously necessary to encrypt your data safely.

To do this, you can adopt a USB encryption offered by third-party software. Think of it as the most convenient way to assure the safety of your password.

Practically, you can use Gilisoft to protect your PC’s data with features like password protection, files protection, multi-layered patented security, no data loss, support for all kinds of external portable media.

To have a better idea, using this solution, you will set the USB stick divided into two areas, public and secure areas. So, with this facility, your data can be stored according to the confidentiality of your files.

Here are the main features of Gilisoft USB Lock:

Great compatibility with various portable devices
User-friendly interface and very intuitive
No leaking of sensitive data
Supports all Windows OS (2000 to 10)
Lifetime upgrade for free

Gilisoft USB Lock

Don’t let your data slip into inappropriate hands and increase your security with Gilisoft USB Lock!

Check price Visit Website

Predator – Customizable software

Predator is one of the most popular software to turn your USB into a security control device. It is a free Windows program that turns your USB drive into a key that locks your computer once unplugged.

To unlock the computer, you will need to plug the USB drive back in. Anyone who tries to access your computer without the USB drive receives an epic message “Access Denied”. To get started, follow the instructions below.

Download and install Predator
Run the program
Once prompted, plug in your USB flash drive. A dialogue box will then appear asking you to create a password.
Take note of the key settings in the preference Window. This is critical since it gives you the guidelines on how to unlock the computer should you lose the USB drive.
Click the ‘Register’ key button

Predator is one of the most powerful security tools, with per-user customization and a built-in scheduler. The built-in scheduler can limit computer access to certain times of the day.

In case you lose the USB lock key, the per-user password can be entered instead. These are very powerful features that you won’t find in its competitors.

⇒ Get Predator

Rohos Logon Key – Secure authentication

Rohos Logon Key is a multi-platform access control program and a secure authentication tool that makes use of a USB drive to lock and unlock your computer.

There is a free version and a paid version. Just like Predator, Rohos works by storing your login info and automatically inputs your credentials when the USB drive is plugged in.

Rohos conforms to the highly esteemed NIST principles on data security. Its USB security system does not allow the creation of key duplicates and all the data on the key is secured with AES 256-bit encryption.

This makes Rohos more secure as it does not allow anyone to make a clone or a duplicate copy of the key.

It’s also very convenient as it has an emergency login system that grants you access in case of lost or broken USB. Follow the steps below to set up and use the Rohos Logon key.

Download and install Rohos Logon key
Launch and run the key
Once prompted, insert your USB drive
Enter your Windows password
Click the setup USB key button
Done

Once you have Rohos up and running, you will realize it’s simpler and more straightforward than Predator.

⇒ Get Roho Logon Key

USB Raptor – Clear and simple configuration

USB Raptor enables you to turn any USB drive into a security key that can be used to lock and unlock your computer.

The tool automatically locks the computer when a specific USB drive is unplugged from the computer and unlocks when the USB is plugged back.

USB Raptor works by constantly checking the USB files for the presence of certain unlock tokens with encrypted content. If this specific file is found, the computer unlocks otherwise, it stays locked.

The program interface gives you clear and simple configuration options. All you need to do is create a password for your chosen USB drive, and the software will create the lock file it requires to lock and unlock your computer.

To avoid potential problems in case you lose the USB drive, you can enable two additional ways to unlock the system: via network message or password.

You can even set the time frame within which the system should lock after removing the drive and the system won’t lock during this timeframe, which is also necessary to avoid unwanted locks.

⇒ Get USB Raptor

WinLockr USB Lock Key – Popular freeware

WinLockr is another popular freeware that lets you lock or unlock a Windows computer using a USB flash drive. It features a simple interface that displays the main functions of the application in a single Window.

The first step in using WinLockr is to create a master password which will be needed in the unlocking process. When your PC is locked, the unlocking window is displayed in a full-screen mode or a mini window.

The program supports automatic keyboard locking. In addition, it features a unique shutdown prevention feature that prevents restarts or shutdowns when the computer is running.

WinLockr also disables both the keyboard and mouse for extra protection and can only be released by a key combination.

Even if someone discovers your password, their attempts will fail because they will need a key combination to unlock the keyboard.

This adds an extra layer of safety and keeps off any unauthorized access to your computer. To use this software, simply launch it after the installation process is complete and create a password.

Once prompted, plug in the USB and choose ‘Install on USB’. This automatically configures the device to act as a locking mechanism.

⇒ Get WinLockr

USB System Lock – Open-source

USB System Lock is an open-source locking freeware that enables you to unlock your computer when a specific USB drive is plugged in and automatically locks the system once the drive is unplugged.

The software can run on almost all USB devices including Card Readers, MP3 players, etc.

The only limitation with this software is that it can only protect your computer under the normal boot. It does not run under the safe boot.

Other than that, the program is really good and straightforward to use, adding an extra layer of security to your PC. You can lock your PC safely using multiple external storage drives to increase the security of your computer.

Hence, using USL software you encrypt your files and better secure sensitive information with USB key system locking.

⇒ Get USB System Lock

USB lock keys are very convenient as they don’t require you to memorize passwords from time to time. If you don’t prefer third-party solutions, you can just as easily create USB security key on Windows 11.

Have you used any of the above keys before, or perhaps you know of other handy USB lock key software? Let us hear your thoughts in the comments section below.