As Google continues to ramp up pressure on ad blocking methods like browser extensions and VPNs, the cat-and-mouse game between the blockers and Mountain View has grown in breadth and complexity.

What are the best ways to block ads on YouTube?

First, we should establish the two platforms you can access YouTube on: mobile and desktop.

If you’re accessing YouTube via desktop, you have several options to block YouTube ads including web browser extensions and VPNs.

Meanwhile, if you access YouTube through the mobile app, your only effective ad blocking method will be a VPN. But those results may be spotty, as we’ll get into later.

How can you block ads on desktop YouTube?

The fastest, and generally most reliable way to block ads on YouTube while browsing on your desktop is to use an extension that’s embedded in your web browser.

The two most popular options at the time of this writing are AdBlock Plus, and uBlock Origin, however the latter comes with a catch. Since uBlock has proven incredibly effective at getting around Google’s efforts to show ads on desktop YouTube, the company has disabled access to the extension entirely if you’re trying to install it on a Google Chrome browser.

That said, ABP is still available on Chrome as of this writing, and is just as effective in most instances. You can also continue to use uBlock Origin on alternative browsers, such as Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera.

The second method of blocking ads on YouTube using your desktop is to install a virtual private network, or VPN.

VPNs come in many shapes and sizes, at every price point from free, up to around $15 per month. And while most of the top options in the category, like NordVPN, Surfshark VPN, and Windscribe VPN, all have ad blockers built in, dozens of others don’t.

This is why we suggest carefully reviewing the feature list of your preferred VPN before committing to a subscription, to ensure the service offers some level of ad blocking on its network. This issue is further compounded by the fact that even though your VPN may offer an ad blocker, the only way to find out if it will successfully block a YouTube ad (some do, some don’t) is to try the service out for yourself.

If you’re worried about compatibility, some VPNs offer a short trial period that allows you to test the service ahead of time. Most also support a 30- to 90-day money-back guarantee in case the VPN doesn’t perform as expected.

How can you block ads on mobile YouTube?

As mentioned earlier, the primary method for blocking YouTube in the mobile app is via a VPN.

Because the YouTube app is developed and maintained directly by Google, there’s no way to install an extension on top of the app that could capably block ads.

Previously, there had been a number of third-party ad blocking apps that were available on iOS and Android, but since Google's latest crackdown users have reported that most of them have lost all functionality.

Mobile VPNs, meanwhile, take control of the internet pipe for the entire device. This means it can filter out certain types of traffic, including ads, before they’re delivered to your device through the YouTube app.

However, a word of caution. As spotty as ad blocking can be for VPNs on desktops, it’s even spottier on mobile. Due to limitations on what parts of your device the VPN can access, especially on iOS, the success rates for VPN-based ad blocking are even lower than on desktop. Once again, the only way to find out if VPN ad blocking will work for your device, in your region, is to sign up for a subscription and try it out yourself.

Which VPNs are best for blocking ads?

As we’ve said, no VPN is ever a 100% surefire method for getting around Google’s ads on the YouTube platform. That said, a rule of thumb in the VPN space is, generally, “bigger = better.”

This means the larger a VPN company is, the more resources it will have to bolster its ad blocking efforts while also adding more features alongside ad blocking that make for a more holistic online privacy experience.

At LaptopMag, we’re especially partial to some of the biggest names in the game including NordVPN and Surfshark VPN. Both VPNs are deeply rich in features (including ad blocking), and also support massive global networks of servers.

The more servers the VPN supports, the more likely you are to find an option that’s close to you. The closer a VPN server is, the faster it will be, and the higher your bandwidth stays while doing everything from streaming videos on YouTube or Netflix, to gaming, and more.

Right now NordVPN is running a special deal for new subscribers, and you can click here to find out more about the money you might save on your next VPN!

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The world is a better place when we can enjoy room-filling sound.

As a major movie and music fan, someone who has an encyclopedic knowledge of every alternative-rock band in existence and follows science-fiction movies with religious vigor, I can tell you that pristine high-res audio can impact your mood and help you find some peace and serenity in a chaotic world.

I know this from personal experience. A few years ago, I added tower speakers to my office using a standard AV receiver connected to my Apple MacBook. It was like finding an ancient treasure — my office now has rich, high-fidelity audio.

I used to pound away on a keyboard while wearing headphones or listening to cheap bookshelf speakers.

However, having tower speakers changed my attitude about work for a far more transformative experience. I now enjoy superb audio quality and have been known to sneak into my home office just to play a new album.

The setup is easier than you think, and the costs can vary widely depending on your budget and desired level of sound quality.

I’m not advocating for audiophile levels of fidelity here since most of us likely won’t know the difference between $800 speakers and $8,000 speakers. Tower speakers, in particular, will help you stay productive, tuning out the world and allowing you to focus on your work.

Here’s all the equipment you’ll need to make it work. I used a MacBook for this, but just about any recent laptop with a USB-C port will work fine with this setup.

Getting the right gear

One thing that can happen right away when you are trying to upgrade the gear in an office is analysis paralysis. There are so many speaker brands, cables, and wiring that it can lead to some serious confusion. Not only that, but the costs can vary wildly from a few hundred to a few thousand.

Here are a few essential considerations to make right away, though. I’d start by picking your overall budget right away.

I wanted to test a good setup without edging into audiophile territory. A friend of mine has a home setup that costs $40,000. I was thinking more like $2,000. You can easily make this all work for under $1,000. I’ll explain how.

I started with the SVS Prime Wireless Pro SoundBase. I wanted some flexibility in how I connected, and the SoundBase has connections for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, a digital optical cable, HDMI, and 3.5mm.

That should cover just about anything. I knew I would use a USB-C to digital optical cable (this one) because it would give me excellent audio quality, and the connection is simple and uncluttered.

I paired the SoundBase with the SVS Prime Tower speakers, which cost $1,200. This was still under $2,000 for a primo but affordable kit. I won’t bore you with the technical specs of the Prime Tower speakers except to say they provide a rich, organic sound with distinct bass and vocals that are not muddy at all.

You can spend a lot more, or you can spend less. However, this was an impressive setup for me.

Making the connections

To make it all work, you’ll need to plug the USB-C to digital optical cable into a free port on your MacBook and run the other end into the digital optical port on the SoundBase.

The optical port looks like a bite-sized ethernet jack. On the SoundBase, it’s marked Optical In. SVS includes a remote with the receiver, so press the Optical button to choose that connection.

Your MacBook won’t automatically switch to the USB-C connection, so go to the Apple menu > System Settings > Sound and select USB for output. Turn up the volume a little on the MacBook and the SoundBase.

Connect the SoundBase to the speakers using standard speaker wire. You'll be ready to go once you have the MacBook connected and the speakers wired.

I use the Tidal app for high-res audio playback. Apple Music also offers lossless audio quality, and there are persistent rumors that Spotify will soon offer it.

I like Tidal because it is good at suggesting new albums. Just make sure you enable the highest audio quality settings. In Tidal, this is called Max. That means you are streaming at 24-bit 192-kHz sound quality to SoundBase.

Play one of your favorite songs as a test. You’ll probably notice sound quality is noticeably good, loud and rich — distinct enough for even discerning ears.

Why this setup works so well

My setup is simple. There’s one cable running from my MacBook to the SoundBase, and the overall price is reasonable.

Because my eyes tend to glaze over when people talk about meaningless technical specs, let me explain why this setup hits the sweet spot for me by relaying a few real-world examples.

I’ve been listening to a new album by the artist Cassandra Jenkins on repeat ever since it came out. “Aurora, IL” is great for testing because, later in the song, there’s a chaotic segment with multiple guitars that sounds like a mess on a car stereo or bookshelf speakers.

Tower speakers like the Prime models sound better because they are bigger -- they can replicate what the artist intended.

Another excellent test track by Adrianne Lenker is “Sadness is a Gift.” Listen for the creaking sounds from the recording studio and the supple, woody guitar — the SVS setup will make it seem like you’re listening to live music in the room.

You can choose any recent audio receiver if you want to spend less than $2,000. I like the SoundBase because it’s small enough to fit on my desk. To keep it simple, I recommend sticking with a digital optical connection.

You’ll feel more productive when you can enjoy audio that fills the room, played right from your laptop.

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If you're new to PC gaming or have just upgraded your hardware after years of use on an Nvidia GTX 1060 machine, you need to know some new tips and tricks to get the best performance from your new gaming laptop or handheld gaming PC.

Over the last few years, Laptop manufacturers have made it easier to get better performance by adjusting your settings with power modes and user scenarios. Plus, there are some general tweaks you can use to get a bit more power in your Windows settings.

So, here are three things to check after you unbox that new laptop or handheld PC.

OEM performance settings

A few years ago, the major manufacturers didn't all have proprietary performance optimization software pre-installed on laptops. And you may not have gotten too granular about your Windows power settings either.

Some basics still apply, such as ensuring the proper drivers are installed for your CPU and GPU.

Computer manufacturers have been creating proprietary settings-management applications to supplement the Windows setting controls over the years. These applications all have different names depending on the manufacturer.

Depending on who makes your laptop or gaming handheld, you'll want to find and open one of these applications:

• Acer: NitroSense or PredatorSense
• Alienware: Alienware Command Center
• Asus TUF and ROG: Armoury Crate
• Dell: Dell SupportAssist
• Gigabyte and Aorus: Gigabyte Control Center
• Lenovo Legion: Lenovo Vantage for Gaming or Legion Space (Legion Go only)
• MSI: MSI Center
• Razer: Razer Synapse

All of these applications will allow you to change your performance mode. Most laptops ship in a "balanced" or "AI" mode by default, though some manufacturers will ship their laptops in the "performance" mode.

These settings applications come with optimized "performance" modes for your laptop, including thermal controls, but some will also allow you to overclock your hardware.

Performance mode allows you to boost your CPU and GPU clocks without needing to go into the system BIOS or run MSI AfterBurner and go through the lengthy GPU Overclocking process.

Windows power settings

Many of the OEM settings applications will also make changes to your Windows settings, but not all do. So it's worth taking a look at your Windows 11 power settings.

To make sure you've got the best power settings in Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Open "Settings"
2. Select "System"
3. Click on "Power and battery"
4. Open the "Power Mode" menu
5. Select "Best Performance" from the dropdown for "Plugged in" settings
6. (Optional)
7. Select "Best Performance" from the dropdown for "On battery" settings

While the process above won't necessarily net considerable gains in your framerate, it is worth double-checking to make sure your operating system isn't throttling your CPU and GPU performance by operating in the "Balanced" or "Best Power Efficiency" modes.

If you're using a gaming handheld PC, you'll want to adjust your power settings while plugged in and on battery.

Most gaming laptop owners won't get much game time with the laptop operating running solely on battery power. This makes adjusting the "On battery" setting optional for laptop users.

Drivers and GPU settings

This tweak has always resulted in reliable gaming performance upgrades, but of course, you want to ensure your hardware is running the latest, most optimized drivers.

While many computers ship with drivers pre-installed, those drivers can be outdated depending on when your laptop or handheld was manufactured compared to when you take it out of the box.

If you don't know who makes the CPU and GPU running your laptop, you can check those specs by checking your Windows settings or by opening Device Manager and noting the name of your processor and display adaptor.

Drivers and automatic driver update software, such as Nvidia GeForce Experience or Intel Support Assistant, can be downloaded from the manufacturers' websites.

Sometimes, drivers can negatively impact the performance of your hardware due to poor software optimization. However, installing your CPU and GPU's latest drivers is the best practice for getting the most out of your computer.

If that's not enough power

For most gamers, checking your settings applications and ensuring you've got the best drivers will free up enough power and performance to keep a steady, playable framerate.

If you've already followed these steps, and you're still unhappy with your laptop or handheld's performance, you can try adjusting your game's settings to make sure you're running at a more optimized combination of resolution and graphics presets.

Some CPU and GPU combinations aren't built to game at 60+ fps on your hardware's max resolution, so you may need to drop down to "Medium" settings and 1440p or 1080p resolution.

There is also the option of overclocking your system, but overclocking a laptop comes with several caveats because you've got fewer thermal management controls on a laptop compared to a desktop PC. Y

That said, if you decide to go the overclock route on your laptop, we have a handy guide for how to overclock your GPU. To overclock your CPU, you'll need to enter your machine's BIOS and manually adjust the CPU clock speed. You'll want to work slowly and carefully while manually overclocking.

However, most gaming laptop and handheld manufacturers include overclocking settings in the performance settings application. And we'd recommend opting for those overclock settings rather than doing it manually.

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Restarting your Chromebook isn't necessarily difficult, but there are plenty of reasons why you might be blocked out of one method or the other. And considering there are different ways to restart the device, ranging from shutting it down and turning it back off again to performing a full reset, you'll want to know every way you can do it.

Some of the best Chromebooks are also the best college laptops, and of course, if you're on a budget, you might be running something lower in processing power or RAM that will need occassional resets to keep it running as best as possible. 

And don't worry, Chromebook is intuitive and there are methods of restarting it without losing progress in your work and other projects. However, there are also ways to perform a hard reset that can result in lost progress in your work, but will also clear the cache and can potentially improve performance.

So without further ado, here are a few ways you can restart your Chromebook.

How to restart a Chromebook

There are several ways to restart your Chromebook, so even if you find yourself stuck with one or more methods not panning out, you can alternate between each to see what works.

1. The first method is by simply pressing and holding the Power Button for a few seconds. A screen will appear with a menu that allows you to select the Restart option. You can also select the Shut Down or Sign Out option. In the case of Shut Down, you will have to turn it back on manually.

If that doesn't work, you can alternatively hold the Power Button down for around eight seconds, and the Chromebook will shut off. From there, you can turn it back on by pressing the Power Button again.

2. If you'd prefer to do it through the Chromebook's operating system itself, you can simply select the widget that holds the time in the bottom right. From there, click the power icon (when hovering over it, it will say Shut Down) and the Chromebook will begin to turn off. You can then press the Power Button again and it will turn the laptop back on.

This is one of the best methods of shutting down the PC, as allowing the operating system to take care of this function will ensure that your work will be saved before it shuts down.

3. Chromebook also has a method of force resetting the laptop built into its keyboard. By pressing Ctrl + Shift + Q twice in quick succession, the laptop will go into a hard reset state. 

This is probably best reserved for emergencies, like if your laptop isn't responding or you cannot access certain parts of the user interface. Keep in mind that this performs a full restart of the PC, so you will lose any in-progress work.

4. Another way to force it into this hard reset state is by holding the Refresh and Power Button at the same time. Once your Chromebook starts back up, you can release the Refresh button.

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Copilot may have paled in comparison to Google Gemini at first, but not anymore. 

Microsoft has upped its AI game by adding Copilot Voice, a tool that lets you speak to the AI and hear a spoken response in return. And just like with Gemini Live (and ChatGPT's Voice Mode), you can interrupt the AI by talking, so you don't have to wait through a long, drawn-out answer if you don't need to.

Because this feature isn't exclusive to Copilot Pro, it'll be free to use wherever you prefer. It's not clear yet how much Microsoft might limit the free version of Voice, but regardless, it's still a win compared to ChatGPT's Voice Mode, which requires a premium AI membership for $20. Gemini Live is also free, but it's only available on Android—Copilot Voice is available for everyone.

Which devices support Copilot Voice?

Microsoft is in the process of rolling out Copilot Voice to its Android and iOS mobile apps, Windows 11, and on the Copilot website at copilot.microsoft.com. 

At launch, the Voice feature is available in English in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Microsoft has plans to include more languages and regions in the future, as well as bring Copilot to WhatsApp, but no additional details on the languages or timing are available at the time of publication.

How to use Copilot Voice

Using Copilot for AI assistance would typically involve typing or speaking your question or conundrum, waiting for a few seconds, and then getting an extensive typed response from Copilot.

With the updated Voice feature, you can speak continuously to Copilot in a normal, conversational way. Plus, the refreshed Copilot can remember context better, making it easier to ask questions without needing to list all the important details you've already mentioned.

Once the new feature reaches your device, here's how to use it.

1. Download the Copilot app for Android or iOS. If you don't already have a free Microsoft account, create one or log in with your existing account.

2. Tap the microphone icon next to the bottom query bar.

3. Once you see the 'I'm listening' indicator, you're off to the races! Start chatting to Copilot and pause when you're ready to hear it respond.

You may hear an "um" or a "like" mixed into Copilot's response to help it feel more familiar, and you don't need to wait for it to finish speaking entirely before moving on — just interrupt!

There are four different voices to try out, titled Wave, Meadow, Grove, and Canyon for fun. Give them all a try to see which voice you like the best.

If you want to try Copilot Voice, but you're not sure what to ask, here are a few example prompts to get you started: 

• I'm going to a baby shower and I want to get a practical gift. Can you help?
• I'm supposed to write a 5-page paper on an important moment in my life. What could I write about?
• I'll be spending 5 days in Jamaica next summer. What should I do? And where should I stay?
• I need to divide up the chores in my household. Any tips?

Voice may be the biggest upgrade to Copilot, but Microsoft added quite a few other features that'll improve your experience as well, like Copilot Daily to read out news and weather info to you or Copilot Discover to help you get the most out of the AI service.

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Even when I’m on my Mac, I reach for my iPhone out of habit and, at times, need. It could be to check a mobile-only app or notification, access a two-factor authenticator, browse out-of-sync photos, send a payment, and more. More often than I like, it acts as a distraction and sends me doomscrolling on social media, especially when the phone isn’t right next to me. Thankfully, on the latest macOS Sequoia and iOS 18, you can mirror and control your iPhone from your Mac.

Over the years, Apple has added tools to macOS and iOS that allow its buyers to perform several phone functions on their MacBook, from picking up calls to responding to texts to even syncing the clipboard. But as a former Windows 11 user — accustomed to practically mirroring their smartphone screen on their PC — Apple’s suite of continuity features still felt incomplete, and its tight restrictions meant third-party apps couldn’t help either.

With the new macOS Sequoia and iOS 18 updates, however, Apple has gone all in. It has introduced a Continuity option called “iPhone Mirroring,” which is exactly what it sounds like. You can mirror your iPhone’s screen in real-time to your Mac and, more importantly, control it with a keyboard and a mouse, like any other macOS software. Here’s how it works and how you can set it up.

How to set up iPhone Mirroring on macOS Sequoia

Like most iPhone-Mac features, iPhone Mirroring works almost seamlessly, but it requires you to check a few boxes first. Once you have updated your devices to macOS Sequoia and iOS 18, make sure both are signed into the same Apple Account. If you’ve got multiple iPhones paired to your ID, you can select which one to mirror from Settings > Desktop & Dock > Widgets > iPhone.

Since iPhone Mirroring wirelessly connects over Bluetooth, your phone and your computer have to be close enough to each other. That said, I’ve managed to activate it even when my phone was in a different room without experiencing any compromises in performance.

Next, find the “iPhone Mirroring” app on your Mac either from Finder > Applications, Launchpad, or from Spotlight search. When you do that, you’ll be asked to enter your iPhone passcode on your phone to approve the connection and grant your Mac permission to access your phone notifications. This will allow you to sync your phone and computer alerts so that you can access both from your Mac’s notification center.

Before you can get started, the only tip you must remember is your iPhone must be locked while you’re on the iPhone Mirroring app; otherwise, you’ll run into an “iPhone in Use” error. It can’t be at two places simultaneously.

Getting started with iPhone Mirroring on macOS Sequoia

Open the iPhone Mirroring app to begin controlling your phone from your computer. You will have to punch in your Mac password each time you reconnect, but within seconds, your iPhone screen will appear on your Mac in a window. You can move it around like any other Mac app or even resize it.

To manage it, your keyboard and mouse will automatically be compatible with your iPhone’s feed: you can click the left mouse button to tap, hold it, and swipe to move around, use the scroll-wheel to scroll on apps, and right-click to open the long-press menu, such as a homescreen icon’s quick shortcuts.

Of course, iPhone gestures, like swiping up to go home, won’t feel natural via a mouse and a keyboard. For that, Apple has included a couple of custom Mac shortcuts. For example, you can press Cmd+3 to pull up Spotlight search, Cmd+1 to go home (or click the bar at the bottom of the iPhone Mirroring window), and Cmd+2 to open the app switcher (multitasking menu). When you hover the mouse pointer over the top of the iPhone Mirroring app, it will also reveal a pair of handy buttons to return home and launch the app switcher.

iPhone Mirroring is a game-changer

Since I updated to macOS Sequoia, I’ve appreciated how thoughtful Apple has made the iPhone Mirroring app — so much so that I rarely pick up my iPhone anymore when I’m at my computer desk. Your iPhone can behave like an extension of your Mac and the iPhone Mirroring app reflects that ability by treating it as a dedicated app, as opposed to simply casting your phone’s screen.

For example, instead of sticking to your iPhone’s screen size, you can enlarge and decrease it with the Cmd+Plus and Cmd+Minus shortcuts. In addition, you will receive your iPhone’s alerts on your Mac like you would any other macOS notification. You can, though, opt out of this from Settings > Notifications > Notifications from iPhone.

There are a handful of functions off the table, though. While iPhone Mirroring will play any audio from your phone through your Mac’s preferred output, you can’t access its camera or microphone. However, if you wish to use those peripherals on Mac calls, you can with another macOS feature called Continuity Camera.

Similarly, turning on iPhone Mirroring won’t automatically let you take phone calls from your Mac; You will have to do that from Settings > Apps > Phone > Calls on Other Devices on your iPhone. At the moment, it also can’t authenticate you on iPhone apps with your MacBook’s TouchID, FaceID, or passcode; You will have to do that on your iPhone first.

Plus, you can game on the iPhone Mirroring app, and it can switch to landscape mode, but those that take advantage of your iPhone’s sensors, like the accelerometer, won’t work. You will either have to rely on your keyboard and mouse or pair a wireless game controller to your iPhone, not your Mac. It doesn’t take any significant hit on your iPhone’s battery life either. Compared to typical iPhone usage, mirroring will consume about 5% extra.

It's only going to get better

iPhone Mirroring is probably my most used feature of the new macOS Sequoia and iOS 18 updates, and it will soon become even better. Later this year, Apple will roll out an update that will allow you to drag and drop items between the iPhone Mirroring app and your Mac. It will supercharge the iPhone-Mac Continuity experience and will be a natural addition to the workflows of those who live inside the Apple ecosystem.

MacOS Sequoia and iOS 18 are now available as free updates to compatible iPhone and Mac models.

A "congratulations" is in order if even more physical buttons was on your iPhone 16 bingo card.

With the addition of the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max Apple is adding a new Camera Control button to complement the iPhone 15 Pro's Action Button.

In theory, a dedicated Camera Control button should make taking photos and videos on your iPhone easier, giving you speedier and more tacticle control over important camera features like zoom, shutter, and more.

Though the iPhones aren't yet available, Apple's "Glowtime" event gave us enough information to put together a list of tips and tricks on how to get the most out of the iPhone Camera Control button that will hopefully help alleviate any new feature confusion. Here's how to become a Camera Control pro.

How to take a photo with the new camera controls on iPhone 16

• Click the Camera Control button or open the Camera app from the Home screen
• Bring the person or object you want to photograph into frame
• Click the Camera Control button again to take a photo

How to take a video with the Camera Controls button on iPhone 16

• Click the Camera Control button or open the Camera app from the Home screen
• Center the person or object you want to film
• Click and hold the Camera Control button to take a video
• Release the Camera Control button to stop filming

How to adjust exposure, focus, and zoom with the new camera controls on iPhone 16

• Click the Camera Control button or open the Camera app from the Home screen
• Center the person or object you intend to capture
• Lightly press on the Camera Control button to bring up the new UI
• Select the element you want to change: exposure, focus, or zoom
• Slide to adjust exposure, focus, or zoom
• Click or click and hold the Camera Control button to take your photo or video

How to use the two-stage shutter with the new camera controls on iPhone 16 Pro

Apple is introducing a two-stage shutter to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max to automatically lock focus and exposure the way you do on professional-grade cameras with a light press of the camera control button.

Unfortunately, this feature is not going to be available at launch but will be part of a software upgrade coming to iPhone 16 Pro later this year. Thankfully, we already know how the two-stage shutter should work thanks to Apple's rundown.

• Click the Camera Control button or open the Camera app from the Home screen
• Center the person or object you intend to photograph
• Lightly press the Camera Control button to change focus, exposure, or zoom
• Lightly press down and hold the camera control button to initiate the two-stage shutter and lock focus and exposure
• When you're ready to commit to the shot, finish pressing down the camera button to complete the two-stage shutter process and take the photo

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Microsoft 365 apps can be incredibly helpful for work, school, and personal use, but unlike Google's tools, they're hidden behind a subscription. That means no Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, unless you pay up.

And sure, there's usually a free, cloud-based Google tool that mimics what many Microsoft 365 tools do (Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.) but sometimes you just need the classics.

If you're itching to use all that Microsoft 365 has to offer but don't feel like forking over your hard-earned money, we've compiled several methods that can get you to the PowerPoint promised land, sans credit card. Here's what you need to know.

Use your student or educator status

If you're a student or a teacher with a school email address, you can grab Microsoft 365 apps absolutely free, no strings attached.

1. Head to the Microsoft 365 Education website.

2. Click the blue Get Started button on the home page.

3. Enter your school email address, and click Sign up to continue.

Microsoft uses an automated verification process to verify your school email address, so typically, you'll be granted access instantly. In some cases, your email might need to be manually verified and it could take up to a month to verify your institution's eligibility.

After your school email address is verified, you're free to start using Microsoft 365 apps for free. As long as you're a student or educator with a school email address, you'll be able to access these apps at no cost. You will occasionally be asked to re-verify your status to keep the subscription going.

Use the free versions of Microsoft 365 apps

If you're not a student or teacher and can't utilize the handy Office 365 Education apps for free, don't fret just yet. There's still a way anyone can use Microsoft 365 apps at no cost, with only a slight catch.

1. Navigate to the Microsoft 365 website.

2. Click Sign up for the free version of Microsoft 365 on the home page.

3. Enter your email address. If that email address is already associated with a Microsoft account, you'll be prompted to sign in.

4. Once you're logged in, click on the Services & subscriptions tab on the left side.

5. Scroll down to the bottom of the page, and click Use Microsoft 365 for the web. Here, you'll be able to play around with free, limited versions of Word, PowerPoint, Excel that have enough functionality for most people.

The only small catch with using these free, web-based versions of Microsoft 365 apps — other than their limited feature sets — is that you can't use them offline. But if you're constantly around an internet connection, this won't be an issue.

After analyzing the apps in our Microsoft 365 review, the service earned an impressive 4.5 out of 5 stars. So, if you end up needing to pay for Microsoft 365, it's not the worst deal in the world. A personal subscription costs $69.99 a year, while a family subscription costs $99.99 a year.

That's not a ton of money outright, but over the course of a few years that total starts to add up.

If your calls and texts aren't getting through to someone, there's a chance your number might have been blocked. 

But don't jump to conclusions just yet. It's just as plausible that the person's phone you're trying to reach has been turned off or is out of service.

There are a few telltale signs that indicate you've been blocked, but they're not 100% foolproof. Still, until you've tried out these methods to test whether your number has been blocked, don't fret too much.

Try calling the person you think blocked your number

One of the easiest methods to figure out if you've been blocked is to simply call the person you think blocked you. By paying attention to how many rings, if any, there are before being sent to voicemail, you can figure out what's going on.

If you hear multiple rings before being sent to voicemail, the person on the other end has likely just missed your call. Only a few rings or a ring interrupted by the voicemail prompt indicates your call has been rejected.

When you call someone and immediately get their voicemail, this means their phone is currently turned off. If the call is perpetually ringing, it's possible the person has never set voicemail up and isn't able to take your call at the moment.

If you've been blocked, look for a single ring followed by the person's voicemail. If you leave a voicemail at this point, it'll be directed to a special voicemail area for blocked numbers, not the person's regular voicemail.

To double-check your findings, call the number in question from someone else's phone.

Use someone else's phone to make the call

Try calling the person you think blocked you from someone else's phone to see if you can get through. If you have a work phone or home phone with a different number to your phone, you can use that. Otherwise, you'll need to borrow a friend's phone.

There's a chance the person you're calling could answer. But we're hoping for the default response to an unknown (or even known) number: not answering and letting it go to voicemail.

If you get multiple rings or no rings before reaching voicemail — compared to one ring before voicemail — that's a pretty solid indication you've been blocked. If you get some type of "unavailable" message from both your phone and someone else's phone, the person might have changed their number.

Before trying this method, you should be prepared with what to say or ask if the person you think blocked you answers the phone. Furthermore, be ready for the person to potentially hang up on you or not explain why you're blocked. If someone blocked your number, the best thing you can do is give the person space.

For anyone who doesn't want to make a call for fear of the person actually picking up, there's one more method you can try.

See what happens when you send a text message

This method is easier for seeing if you've been blocked on iMessage for iPhone, but it's also possible to discern some details from Android messages.

On iPhone, you'll typically see 'Delivered' or 'Read' under a message you send. If you don't see any text below your message, one of two things is going on. You're blocked, or their phone is currently in Do Not Disturb mode. Once the person turns off Do Not Disturb, a message will appear if you haven't been blocked.

If your iMessage bubbles turn green when they've always been blue, that's another indicator that your number might be blocked (or that the person switched to Android).

It's a bit harder to tell if you've been blocked from sending a text from an Android phone. If you get an "unable to send message" response, you could be blocked, or the issue could be related to a connection or billing issue.

Checking 'suggested contact' recommendations might be a more foolproof method for Android users. 

You'll first have to delete the person in question's number (make sure you write it down somewhere if you don't want to lose it). Then, search for their name in your contacts. They probably haven't blocked you if you see them pop up as a suggested contact. If you don't, you've likely been blocked.

Don't pester someone who's blocked you

It can hurt if you find out a friend or family member has blocked you. You might be angry, embarrassed, sad, or any combination of these emotions, but it's important not to act rashly and continue contacting the person who blocked you from other phones or apps.

It's possible the person who blocked you could need a little space before unblocking you and having a mature conversation, but you have to be willing to give them that space. On the other hand, that person might keep you blocked for a while, and it's up to you to make peace with that and respect people's privacy.

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The PS5's most customizable controller is finally getting its time in the PC spotlight. Sony unveiled the PlayStation Accessories app, which lets you customize the DualSense Edge controller directly on your PC.

Unfortunately, the regular DualSense controller doesn't benefit from the same customization. However, you'll still be able to receive firmware updates for your regular DualSense, so it's worth installing the PlayStation Accessories app.

Here's where to install it and how to start customizing your PS5 DualSense Edge controller.

PlayStation Accessories: Where to download

The PlayStation Accessories app is currently available only for Windows, but you can download it directly from PlayStation's website.

You might already have the original app, which was previously called "Firmware updater for DualSense wireless controller." If you haven't already, it will take up 250MB of space.

PlayStation Accessories: Connecting your controller

You can connect your DualSense Edge controller via a Type-C cable or Bluetooth.

If you haven't connected your DualSense to your PC via Bluetooth, turn it off first. Then, hold the Create button (three lightbulb rays) and press and hold the PS button until the controller blinks.

This should initiate Bluetooth, so it'll appear when your PC detects Bluetooth devices. Select it, and you're set.

PlayStation Accessories: Customizing your controller

Like in the video above, once your controller is connected, you'll see four doors you can navigate down. 

You can customize button assignments, which is exactly what it sounds like. Everything from the DualSense Edge's additional back buttons to the touch bar can be swapped. However, be careful about doing this, as games likely won't recognize your swapped inputs. Hell, I still see Xbox controller inputs when I use my DualSense.

Then there's the Stick Sensitivity/Deadzone, my favorite part about this controller. You'll get to adjust the kind of sensitivity curve that works best for you, and you get the choice of six presets: Default, Quick, Precise, Steady, Digital, and Dynamic. On top of this, you can adjust the curve itself with a slider as well as the deadzone.

Trigger Deadzone lets you customize how far you need to depress the triggers until the controller registers your input. Finger slipping be gone!

Finally, there's the Vibration/Trigger Effect Intensity. PlayStation's DualSense controller's innovative handling of dynamic haptics received substantial praise at launch, and it's getting better. You can adjust how it feels in your hand (it may just be me, but I'd blast these to 100%).

PlayStation Accessories: Is it worth buying DualSense Edge for PC?

The DualSense Edge is a wonderful premium option for an already excellent controller, and if you want to make the most of your gaming experience, it's the controller to get. That's what I'd say if you were playing on PS5 a few days ago, but now I can say the same thing for PC.

However, it's still a mighty $200. Listen, the holidays are coming up, and we both know that we're going to see some discounts on a lot of products. We'll likely see a PS5 Pro launch sooner than later. So, if you don't already own the DualSense Edge, you may want to wait for Black Friday or another of the upcoming sales events.

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I'm constantly seeing my phone deliver low-battery notifications, and I'm sick of it.

My phone, the Galaxy S21 Ultra, is three years old at this point, and that means its battery life isn't what it used to be. Between accidentally leaving it plugged in and charging overnight (multiple times), forgetting to close apps when I'm done with them, and the usual wear and tear on batteries, my phone's battery life drains way too quickly.

All that said, I'm not ready to upgrade my phone yet, especially not just for a battery life boost. If you're in the same boat (or if you're just trying to get the most life out of a single charge for a concert or a hike), check out these three changes I made in settings to extend my phone's battery life.

Turn on battery saver mode

Your phone jumps into battery saver mode automatically when your phone reaches a certain percentage, usually 20% or 15%. But you can turn this feature on even when your phone is fully charged to help extend battery life.

1. Open your phone's Settings app.

2. Scroll down and tap on the Battery section.

3. Next to Power saving or Battery saver, toggle the switch on.

Alternatively, this could be a toggleable option in your phone's Quick Settings menu. Swipe down from your home screen once to open Quick Settings, then swipe down again to fully see all your options. If you see Power saving or Battery saver, tap it to turn it on.

Turn on dark mode

Turning dark mode on can be great for eye comfort as well as battery life, and it's a super quick process.

1. Open the Settings app.

2. Scroll down and select Display from the Settings menu.

3. Change your display from Light to Dark mode. Or, depending on your phone, you might need to toggle on a switch next to Dark mode.

Lower screen time out time

When your screen is on, your phone is using up more battery life. By lowering the time it takes for your screen to time out and go dark, you can get more battery life out of your phone.

1. Head to your phone's Settings app.

2. Scroll down and select Display.

3. Find Screen timeout as an option in the Display menu.

4. Change the time it takes for your screen to timeout to a lower option, like 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, or 2 minutes.

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Using a slow phone can make you want to chuck it across the room, especially if you're trying to get something done quickly. Luckily, there's an easy setting you can change in just a few minutes to make your phone feel faster.

This nifty hack I discovered won't actually make your phone faster — only updated software and hardware or possibly clearing out old apps and files can do that. Instead, this trick makes your phone look and feel faster.

If you haven't guessed it yet, I'm talking about changing your Android's animation speed. By speeding up or eliminating animations, your slow phone will feel rejuvenated, like it was when you first got it. You can even remove animations altogether, but using your phone without animations might take some getting used to.

Whether you're trying to breathe new life into an old phone or make a new phone feel even faster, here's how to change animation speed on Android.

How to change animation speed on Android

Changing animation speed on Android is a two-step process. First, you have to enable Developer Options, a hidden tool that allows access to more advanced settings. Once that's enabled, you can start adjusting animation speed.

Because some settings in Developer Options can be dangerous to your phone if used incorrectly, there's not a simple toggle switch to enable and disable it. To enable Developer Options, here's what you'll want to do: 

1. Navigate to your phone's Settings menu.

2. Scroll down and tap About phone from the Settings menu. If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone like me, you might need to then tap the Software information option before the next step.

3. Locate your phone's Build number and tap it seven times to enable Developer Options in your settings menu. Depending on your settings, you might need to enter a PIN, password, or pattern to enable Developer Options.

Once you've successfully enabled Developer Options, you can start the process of changing animation speed.

1. Find the newly enabled Developer Options in your phone's settings menu. On my Galaxy S21 Ultra, it appears as an option under About phone, but you may need to navigate to System first to find Developer Options.

2. Scroll through the long list of options to the Drawing section.

3. Tap Window animation scale, and then change it to the 0.5x option or None/Animation off.

4. Repeat the process with Transition animation scale and Animator duration scale, changing both to either 0.5x or None/Animation off.

Now, your phone should feel faster to use! If you decide you don't like how the speedier animations feel, you can always follow these steps again and change the animation speed back to its default of 1x.

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You should know how to clear the cache in Google Chrome. The last thing you want to experience is a severe browser lag while you're trying to get work done. It just happened to me as I was planning my D&D session in Roll20.

Clearing your cache could also help troubleshoot issues with certain websites. However, keep in mind that clearing your cache deletes the settings you have on some sites. Everything also needs to be reloaded, so sites will seem slower at first but eventually improve.

Whether you're using your PC, Android, or iPhone/iPad, here's how to clear cache in Google Chrome.

How to clear cache in Google Chrome on PC

Step 1. In Google Chrome, click the More button (three vertical dots) at the top right and then select Delete browsing data from the dropdown menu.

Step 2. Now, you'll have a few choices, including deleting your browsing history, cookies, and cache images/files. If you're not sure if the issue involves the cache or cookies, try the cache first, and if that doesn't work, then delete the cookies. You can also choose the time range, including the last hour, 24 hours, 7 days, or 4 weeks.

Step 3. Hit Delete data, and all that information will disappear. If you need to delete cookies, you'll be signed out of every site except Chrome (as long as you're signed in).

How to clear cache in Google Chrome on Android

The steps for Android are mostly the same as PC.

Step 1. Open Google Chrome and click the More button (three vertical dots) at the top right. In the drop-down window, select Delete browsing data.

Step 2. You'll get a range of choices just like on PC, except that the starting duration is 15 minutes instead of 1 hour. It'll also delete the history gathered from all your open tabs. Clicking More options will reveal choices for passwords, autofill form data, and site settings.

Step 3. Click Delete data and say bye-bye to your Chrome issues.

How to clear cache in Google Chrome on iPhone or iPad

The steps for the iPhone or iPad are similar to Android despite their distinctly different operating systems.

Step 1. Go to Google Chrome and click the More button (three horizontal dots) at the bottom right (iPhone) or top right (iPad). Then, Press Delete Browsing Data.

Step 2. The next prompt will provide you with a selection of the aforementioned choices. Pick and choose which is best for you, but make sure that Cache is selected.

Step 3. You'll click Delete Browsing Data > Clear Browsing Data > Done, in that order. Then you are literally done.

That didn't work: My browser is still slow

If your browser is still slow, there could be several issues. Make sure you're clearing both the cache and cookies. Otherwise, try updating the browser (found in the More section) or uninstalling and reinstalling Google Chrome.

If that doesn't work, check out Google's troubleshooting guide.

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The gaming industry is rapidly approaching the introduction of the next-generation GPUs into the market, with Nvidia's 50-series expected to launch between early 2024 and late 2025 if it follows the trend set thus far.

With new hardware just around the corner, you might be wondering if what your gaming laptop or PC currently packs is underpowered. One solution is to bite the bullet and purchase a whole new laptop or parts for your desktop PC, but that costs money. Instead, there might be an even simpler solution to your problem.

Gaming laptops don't allow you to easily disassemble and replace their parts (unless you really know what you're doing), so the next best thing is to make the changes you can on the software side.

Some of these Windows 11 features are more hidden than others, and we don't recommend having them on at all times, but using them when playing demanding titles can be vital for ensuring your experience is as good as it can be.

1. Checking GPU temperature

While this may be a simple feature that won't blow your mind, knowing exactly how hot your GPU is running while gaming can be vital. Overheating can result in crashes and shutdowns, and in more severe cases, it can even damage the hardware if it's not sufficiently monitored.

Thankfully, seeing your GPU's temperature is rather simple:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open up Task Manager. Alternatively, you can right-click on your taskbar and select Task Manager. Or, if you want to do it the old-fashioned way, press the Windows key and type Task Manager into the search bar.

2. On the left, there will be a collection of icons. Select the one that looks like a graph, or if you have the icons expanded, it's called Performance.

3. Select GPU. Mine was located at the very bottom of the list and is called GPU 0.

4. The top section will be dedicated to a graph, but the bottom will showcase the information you seek. Here, you can see GPU Temperature, how much of your GPU is being used under Utilization, and plenty of information about the GPU Memory. You can even see your driver date and driver version.

This is vitally important, as if you're suffering from an overheating issue, your gaming experience will quickly become less pleasant.

Ideally, if you're playing on a gaming laptop, the laptop manufacturer should have already done a decent job managing temperatures on the laptop. However, mistakes can happen, and there's always the possibility that something goes wrong.

But what's abnormally high for GPU temps? Anything above 85 degrees Celsius while gaming might be cause for concern, and if it's above 95 degrees, you'll definitely want to look into your GPU's temp load and ensure that it's within the expected range.

If it doesn't seem to be within that expected range, you can use your laptop's built-in software to change fan speeds. For example, if you're using an Asus ROG gaming laptop, Armoury Crate features a Fan Speed section in the Dashboard that allows you to modify Fan Speeds.

If you're having trouble finding your laptop's built-in application, we recommend MSI Afterburner. It is an official MSI application that is excellent for modifying fan speeds if you're worried about heat issues.

2. Change your Power mode

This is a classic recommendation that everyone and their mother has probably screamed at you about, but I'm here to remind you how vital it is. If you're not keeping up with your PC's settings, you could be shocked at how big of a difference you can make in-game.

1. Open Settings.

2. Select System.

3. Under Power Mode, change the setting to Best performance.

While we don't necessarily recommend having this option on at all times (it can drain battery life pretty swiftly), it can help in performance when plugged into an outlet. It's especially vital if you're gaming, but prepare for your computer to go into overdrive.

3. Turn Memory Integrity off

This recommendation comes straight from Microsoft itself, but it has a massive disclaimer to ensure you toggle it back on after you're done with your gaming sessions (as it could be a security risk).

1. Open Windows Settings.

2. Go to Privacy & Security.

3. Select Windows Security and then press Open Windows Security.

4. Select Device Security.

5. Underneath Core isolation, select Core isolation details.

6. Underneath Memory Integrity, toggle the slider to Off.

Once again, we highly recommend turning this back on when you don't need that extra performance. Microsoft claims "it can help improve your performance," so check and see what kind of difference it makes.

When you think of overclocking, you probably think of a custom-built PC, but you can also overclock a laptop — as long as you're careful.

Overclocking is the process of raising the clock speed of a processor on your PC. You can overclock a computer's CPU, GPU, or both to increase performance, which may also increase your power supply and cooling requirements. Because most laptops optimize for portability and battery life, overclocking the CPU or GPU would be working against their purpose. However, gaming laptops, particularly in the desktop replacement category, do make a case for laptop overclocking.

Essentially the only reason you'll want to overclock a laptop GPU is if your 16- or 18-inch gaming laptop with a high-end GPU is underperforming in a game. And even then, there are other avenues to try before you adjust the clock speed of your processors. 

Ensure you have the latest GPU and CPU drivers and run any Windows or OEM updates, as these steps can often solve minor performance issues. You can also try adjusting your game settings to enable GPU performance boost technologies like Nvidia DLSS or AMD's FSR.

If, after all that, your GPU is still performing below expectations for your build, adjusting the GPU boost clock may be the best solution. While this guide is geared toward laptop users, the steps for overclocking a GPU are identical on desktops and laptops.

However, if you're overclocking a laptop, there are a few extra considerations to consider.

What you need to know before you start

One of the critical things to know about adjusting your GPU's operating frequency is that overclocking will raise the core temperature of your computer. Silicon can handle some pretty high temperatures, but there are some critical thresholds to be aware of before you begin.

The upper limit of an Nvidia GPU's core temperature is between 95 and 100 degrees Celsius, while an AMD GPU's core temperature is between 90 and 100 degrees Celsius. To ensure your GPU doesn't overheat, its core temperature should remain between 65 and 85 degrees Celsius. Running an overheating GPU can lead to performance drops and even computer crashes, and over time, it will damage the graphics card.

Laptops, as a form factor, have even lower heat thresholds than desktops simply because there's less airflow and less cooling to the GPU and CPU. So, you will want to be very careful as you adjust the core clock frequency. You may not be able to make much adjustment to the laptop's clock speeds without hitting a critical threshold considering the heat limits of laptops, and some specialty gaming laptop manufacturers may have already adjusted the CPU and GPU clocks to their maximum safe operating speeds before shipping.

Additionally, overclocking your laptop may void the warranty should your machine incur damage from the overclocking.

What to do before you overclock your GPU

Before you start overclocking, you'll want to monitor your computer's core temperatures. You can do this through the BIOS or through Windows Task Manager, but to capture your GPU's temperature variation while gaming, it's easier to use a GPU software tool like the Nvidia or AMD Overlay.

You'll also want to decide on a good benchmark and stress test before you overclock the system to have a good idea of your computer's current performance. This will help evaluate your overclocking.

For a GPU, UL Benchmark's 3DMark is a good free choice, with both the Fire Strike and Time Spy benchmarks available on the free version of the software. You can also use a game's benchmarking tool if your favorite game has one. Titles with benchmarking tools include the Assassin's Creed franchise starting with Origins, several of the Far Cry games, Sid Meier's Civilization VI, Metro Exodus, Grand Theft Auto V, Red Dead Redemption II, Cyberpunk 2077, the F1 series, and Final Fantasy XIV.

It's good to stress-test your system by running the benchmark several times. You'll want to record your machine's current (pre-overclocked) benchmark performance and track its operating temperatures.

If your laptop is already running at a high temperature (75 to 85 degrees Celsius) after stress testing at the current performance settings, it's best not to overclock the machine.

How to overclock your GPU

• First, download and install MSI Afterburner (or a similar overclocking tool like EVGA Precision X1 or AMD Ryzen Master)
• Then, open Afterburner and make a record of the starting values for the power limit, temperature limit, core clock, and memory clock (taking a screenshot can also work)

• To overclock your GPU, you'll be changing the power limit, temperature limit, core clock, and memory clock.
  • Power limit
    • On a laptop, leave the power limit where it is
    • On a desktop, you can start by increasing the power limit by 10%
  • Temperature limit
    • On a laptop, leave the temperature limit where it is
    • On a desktop, move the temperature limit to the maximum threshold
  • Core clock
    • On a laptop, increase the frequency by 15 MHz
    • On a desktop, increase the frequency by 50 MHz
  • Memory clock
    • On a laptop or desktop, increase the frequency by 50 MHz
• Click the check mark at the bottom of the window to accept the changes

• Stress test the GPU by running a game benchmark or 3DMark benchmark anywhere from 5-10 times in a loop (Metro Exodus's benchmarking tool makes looping the benchmark easy)
  • Watch the benchmark runs for any signs of artifacts or crashes
    • If the computer crashes or you experience any artifacting, you'll want to return the Power limit, temperature limit, core clock, and memory clock values to their defaults as your GPU cannot handle overclocking.
    • If the computer experiences no artifacting or crashes, you can continue with the overclock.
• To continue fine-tuning your laptop's performance, increase the core and memory clocks by 5-10MHz at a time and stress test the GPU after every increase.
• When you hit the phase where the laptop or desktop reboots or the benchmark crashes, go back into Afterburner and drop the clock speed by 10MHz. This will give you some extra headroom and keep the overclock from damaging your hardware.

If your machine crashes at any point after you overclock it, whether during a game or general tasks, you'll need to dial the clock speeds down again. Persistent crashes indicate an overheating GPU, which can damage your computer over time.

It's perfectly reasonable to want to get the best possible performance out of your hardware, but don't push it too far as you don't want to find yourself in the market for a new gaming laptop by frying your GPU.

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It's time to learn how to Xbox game share, which counts for Game Pass and your entire Xbox game library.

Xbox raised its Game Pass prices and made it more confusing than ever to figure out what you need to experience the games you want to play. If you want everything, it's $20 for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. You and I both know it's time to split that cost with a friend. (Only two people can share their libraries at a time.)

We don't know if this is the last time Xbox will raise its prices, so start splitting the cost now and save yourself some money. Here's how to Xbox game share on PC and Xbox.

How to Xbox game share on PC

Sharing games on PC is a relatively simple process.

Step 1. You've probably already done this, but log in to the Microsoft Store on your PC with the account that is subscribed to Xbox Game Pass.

Step 2. Now hop onto the Xbox app and sign in with the account you want to link to.

Step 3. Once you're signed in, go to Settings > Accounts. Now click on Change my Microsoft Store account and then Use the account with Game Pass subscription.

How to Xbox game share on Xbox

Sharing on Xbox takes a few more steps than it should.

Step 1. Once logged into your Xbox, click the Xbox button and head to the left side of the screen to Add New.

Step 2. Log in using the account you want to share with and set it up if you haven't already.

Step 3. With that account, go to Settings > Personalization > My home Xbox. Now you want to click Make this my home Xbox.

Yes, the secondary account technically needs to be the primary account holder of the console, and vice versa, with the other console you're trying to connect to. 

The only caveat with doing this is that you need to be connected to the internet if you're playing games that your account owns. Otherwise, Xbox will block you until it can verify that you own it.

Additionally, the Home Xbox can only be changed five times in one year. This is ridiculous, but that's the way it is, so don't go bouncing around if you don't need to.

Can we play the same game at the same time?

Yes, but you cannot play the same game on the same account. 

As long as you're playing on separate accounts, the accounts you are usually assigned, then you should have no problem playing the same game.

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In an age of security threats and breaches across several companies, it's vital you know how to change your Apple ID password.

The Apple September Event is also coming soon, which will deliver the official release of iOS 18 — making this a great time to freshen up your Apple software knowledge. We've been swooning a little bit during the iOS 18 public beta, and this is a great slice of knowledge to carry with you into the next major iOS release.

Changing your Apple ID password is simple, and you can do it across most of your Apple devices. Let's jump into the how.

How to change your Apple ID password

How to change Apple ID password on Apple iPhone/iPad/Watch/Vision Pro

Thankfully, this method is the same across the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro.

Step 1. Get yourself down to Settings and then click on your name > Sign-In & Security.

Step 2. Select Change Password. This is where it'll prompt you to enter your current Apple ID password or device password. Then you'll enter your new password twice.

Step 3. If you forgot your password, you can go to Apple's iForgot website.

Step 4. Once you're done, you can confirm the change.

How to change Apple ID password on Mac

Since Mac uses macOS as opposed to the many iOS variants (iPadOS, watchOS, etc.), this method is only slightly different.

Step 1. Click that big ol' Apple menu button and then go to System Settings > Your name.

Step 2. Select Sign-In & Security > Change Password. Then you'll be prompted to enter your current Mac password (not Apple ID password).

Step 3. Then you'll enter your Apple ID password and now you can change your password and confirm said change.

How to change Apple ID password on web

This is the simplest method since you can access the web pretty much anywhere and it likely won't be different depending on the software you have.

Step 1. You'll need to hop over to appleid.apple.com and sign in. (Forgot your password? Go to Apple's iForgot website.)

Step 2. The Sign-In and Security section is the first tab under your name and that's where you need to be.

Step 3. Click Password then enter your current password and your new password twice. Finally, hit Change Password.

How to change Apple ID password on child's account

You should be able to do this on the iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro.

Step 1. Run over to Settings > Family > your child's name.

Step 2. Click Apple ID & Password.

Step 3. Now you can select the option to change your child's password. You'll need to enter your device password to access it.

Step 4. Follow the instructions that prompt on-screen to change your child's password. It's as simple as that.

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Apple’s upcoming annual update for Macs looks to be one of its most significant in years.

Called macOS Sequoia, it not only adds a handful of major new features — from iPhone mirroring to a unified password manager app — but also addresses long-overdue concerns.

It also features Windows-style multitasking and a smarter, AI-powered Siri.

But you don’t have to wait for the macOS Sequoia update to roll out publicly this fall — or fumble through sometimes buggy beta versions that are out this summer.

You can replicate some of the best features of macOS Sequoia now, even on older Macs.

That's because many of macOS Sequoia’s headlining additions are inspired by existing third-party apps and ideas.

You can head over to the App Store to recreate some of Sequoia’s features, such as an AI writing assistant and automatic window tiling.

Here’s how to get started.

Snap and resize macOS app windows

Unlike Windows 11, resizing windows on a Mac to accommodate multiple windows in the same space has always felt like a chore. Sequoia’s new window tilting option overcomes this, allowing you to quickly snap windows onto one of the screen’s edges to arrange them into a side-by-side view. Several multitasking apps like Magnet let you easily replicate this on prior macOS versions.

Once you activate Magnet and grant it the necessary permissions, it will work in the background. To resize a window, drag it to an edge, and an outline will appear to tell you the size it will be resized into.

Say you want a grid of four app windows on your screen: You can select and move a window to the top right corner, and Magnet will rescale it to fit into that quadrant. Alternatively, you can use keyboard shortcuts to place a window into a set position, such as “Top Left” or “Left Two Thirds.”

Magnet costs a one-time $5 fee and can be downloaded from the App Store. If you’re OK with fewer positional choices, you can try the $3 BetterSnapTool.

Control your iPhone from your Mac

You don’t need macOS Sequoia to cast and control your iPhone from your Mac, either — you just have to download a free Mac utility.

The Screen Mirror app only has one catch: It works over a USB connection instead of Sequoia’s wireless function. Apart from that, though, it works as intended.

When you connect your iPhone to your Mac, the app pulls up your phone’s live screen in a window. You can drag it to adjust size or demonstrate something on a video call. There are no latency issues; it nearly instantly mirrors what you do on your iPhone.

The app requires you to pair your iPhone and Mac via Bluetooth to control it. When you do that, you can also manage your iPhone from your Mac and interact with it through the computer’s mouse and keyboard.

Screen Mirror is a free download, but if you pay for the $3 license, it won’t constantly nag you to upgrade.

Give your Mac an AI refresh

MacOS Sequoia also marks the debut of Apple Intelligence, a series of AI-enabled tools and features, such as a writing aid and a more contextually aware Siri. A combination of third-party programs can also bring AI capabilities to older macOS versions.

An app called Elephas, for example, adds an always-on text assistant to your Mac. Any time you come across a text box, whether that’s in the Notes app or a browser tab, you can pull up Elephas to generate text based on a prompt, summarize emails, fix your grammar, and rewrite in a different tone.

Since Elephas runs on a Generative AI model, it acts as a general-purpose bot and is not restricted to plain text. It can whip up programming code, Excel formulas, and more from scratch.

Another AI utility you can install on your Mac is Rewind. This app behaves like your personal assistant and records everything you see, say, and hear on your Mac. It will then compose a searchable timeline and allow you to go back in time to look for a piece of information you accessed on your Mac. Its highlight is a built-in chatbot that enables you to ask questions directly.

Say you’ve been in and out of calls all day and don’t have the time to write follow-up emails. You can ask Rewind to take and summarize your meeting minutes and draft an email based on your schedule and past conversations. Rewind stores and processes your data offline on your Mac and doesn’t upload it to any servers.

Math superpowers for your notes

The default Notes app on macOS Sequoia can evaluate math expressions as you enter them in natural language. You can replicate this ability with Soulver, a free app that combines a calculator and a note-taking tool.

Soulver looks and works like your Mac’s native Notes app. However, when you type in math expressions alongside other text, it begins to solve them live in the extra panel on the right. It’s not limited to essential addition and subtraction either.

You can enter multi-step calculations, assign percentages and proportions to variables, and mix them with unit conversion. On a trip, for example, you can list your expenses in various currencies, and the app will automatically convert and tally them up. Moreover, Soulver can even fetch the latest stock prices and weather forecasts. In addition, its native AI assistant can fill in values from the internet if you can’t recall them. For instance, if you type in “population of Spain = ?”, it will replace the question mark will be replaced with the country’s population figure.

Modern computers have many helpful built-in tools to make life easier, including the ability to zoom in and out on your Windows screen. These magnification tools can be helpful for those who simply need larger text at all times or who need to get a closer look at something specific in an image or a document.

Whether you're using a laptop with a touchpad or a desktop computer with a mouse and keyboard, learning how to zoom in or out on Windows is easy. These 3 simple methods will cover all the bases, and you'll be zooming in and out like a pro in no time.

1. Use a quick keyboard shortcut

I find this to be the fastest method of zooming in and out on Windows. Remembering which keys to use in this shortcut will only take a little time.

1. Press the Control (Ctrl) key on your keyboard.

2. While holding the Ctrl key, press the plus (+) key to zoom in on your screen and the minus (-) key to zoom out.

Alternatively, if you're using a mouse with a scroll wheel, you can hold down the Ctrl key and scroll forward to zoom in and backward to zoom out.

2. Try the Magnifier tool

Using Windows' built-in Magnifier tool is similar to using the keyboard shortcut above, but it allows you to zoom in on specific areas of the screen in addition to zooming in on your entire screen, just like a magnifying glass.

1. To pull up the Magnifier tool, press and hold the Windows key and press the plus (+) key. This keyboard shortcut is on by default in Windows.

2. Once Magnifier is open, you can hold the Windows key and press the + key to zoom in and the - key to zoom out.

If you'd like to zoom in on specific parts of your Windows screen, here's how.

1. Within the Magnifier window, click on the Settings icon (gear) and select Go to Settings from the pop-up.

2. Next to the View option in the Magnifier settings menu, use the dropdown menu to change the view from Full screen to Lens. Alternatively, you can use this keyboard shortcut when Magnifier is open: Ctrl + Alt + L.

3. This will pop up a small rectangular box on your screen that acts as a magnifying glass. Now, when you use hold the Windows key and press the + or - key to zoom in or out, only the portion of your screen highlighted by the magnifying glass window will be affected.

4. To get rid of the magnifying glass effect, use the dropdown menu in Magnifier settings to change the view back to Full screen or use this keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Alt + F.

3. Use your touchpad or touchscreen

If you're trying to zoom in or out on a Windows 11 laptop that has a touchscreen or touchpad, you can use a simple touch gesture to do so.

1. Move your cursor to the spot on your screen you want to zoom in or out on.

2. To zoom in, put two fingers close together on your touchpad or touchscreen and then move them away from each other. To zoom out, start with two fingers away from each other and pinch in.

I typically use my pointer finger and middle finger for these gestures, but some people find it easier to use their thumb and pointer finger.

Once you've mastered the art of zooming in and out on your computer, check out these 11 hidden Windows 11 settings that'll upgrade your experience.

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Rumors of an Xbox gaming handheld have been heating up ever since the beginning of the year, but what if you already had one without realizing it?

The Asus ROG Ally X launch on Monday resulted in the best Windows gaming handheld I've ever tested, and things get even better from a software side when you realize you can control your Xbox remotely.

This isn't necessarily exclusive to the Asus ROG Ally X. Any device with the Xbox App can manage this task, meaning even the original Ally, MSI Claw, or Lenovo Legion Go can accomplish the same feat.

It means you can play all of your Xbox games from the comfort of your Windows gaming handheld console through an internet connection. Of course, it may not seem super necessary, considering many games that launch on Xbox also come to PC and, by extension, the Asus ROG Ally X. 

But if you're sporting an Xbox Series X and a strong internet connection, having that level of power behind your Windows gaming handheld is intoxicating.

I once did the same but for PlayStation, where I turned my ROG Ally into a PlayStation Portal, and I can thankfully say that Xbox has made it far easier than PlayStation did.

How to use your Xbox through Asus ROG Ally X

Turning your Asus ROG Ally X into a portable Xbox console isn't super complex, and it doesn't require a third-party application, functioning perfectly through the Xbox App and nothing more. With that said, there are quite a few steps, so pay attention carefully.

1. Open your Xbox Console

2. Go to Settings

3. Go to Devices & connections.

4. Select Remote features.

5. Toggle Enable remote features on.

6. The Xbox console will test its Remote Play capabilities and let you know what can be improved for an ideal experience. Decide which of these queries you want to address and then click Next.

7. It will then say This console is ready for remote play. Select Close.

8. Go to Power Options. While you can typically find these settings underneath Settings -> General, they're also available on the same screen where you enabled remote play. Look at the bottom right and select Power Options.

9. Select Sleep. Keep in mind that this will consume a lot more power than Shutdown (energy-saving). This means your console won't turn off when it actually powers down and will instead be in sleep mode. You might not want to do this if you're concerned about power consumption, but it is necessary for remote play on Xbox to work.

And just like that, the Xbox portion of this is complete. We can now move on to the Asus ROG Ally or whichever device you're planning to connect to your Xbox.

10. Open up the Asus ROG Ally, or any Windows device that can run the Xbox App.

11. Open the Xbox App.

12. Select your Avatar icon on the top left.

13. Click View profile.

14. Underneath the Where I Play section will be a widget for your Xbox console. Your console might already appear; if not, click Add a Console and follow the prompts on-screen. Remember, this will NOT appear until you have completed the previous steps. In particular, you must set your Xbox console to sleep mode for this to show up at all.

15. Once your Xbox console shows up in this part of the tutorial, click on the three dots to the right of your Xbox's console name (mine is just called Xbox One, in this case) and select Remote Play.

And that's it! You'll be treated to a cute little visual of a plane flying through an endless void as the connection establishes itself, and once it's through, you can control your Xbox freely with your Asus ROG Ally X.

Most people are familiar with an "image search," in which you type a word or phrase into a search engine and see countless related images appear. But what if you need to search for an image rather than search for an image? That's where a 'reverse image search' comes in handy.

Reverse image searches can help students and journalists find the origin of an image to ensure it's properly cited. Reverse searching an image can also help people find similar images, which can be great for gathering ideas for a themed party or vetting a dating profile to prevent getting catfished.

Whether on an Android phone, an iPhone, or your computer, performing a reverse image search is a quick and painless process — here's how.

How to reverse image search on Google's website

The easiest way to do a reverse image search is via Google's website.

1. Head to Google.com, and make sure you switch to the Image tab.

2. Search for the image you're looking for and select it.

3. In the bottom left corner of your selected image, tap the Google Lens camera icon to perform a reverse image search.

How to reverse image search from a website

To reverse image search from a website, you'll first need to have the website open in a supported browser or the Chrome mobile app on your phone.

1. Locate the image you want to search.

2. If you're on a computer, right-click the image and select Search image with Google or a similar message, like Search the web for an image. Tap and hold the image to bring up the pop-up menu if you're on a phone.

After selecting this option, you should see multiple instances of the image being used elsewhere on the internet, as well as similar images taken from the same photoshoot.

It's worth noting that many native mobile browsers, like Samsung Internet or Safari, don't currently support reverse image search. Instead, you'll need to navigate to the website you're trying to search from in the Chrome app, tap and hold the image in question, and select Search image with Google Lens.

How to reverse image search with your device files

If there's a photo on your phone or computer you want to do a reverse search on, you can! The easiest way to do this is via Google's search engine.

1. Head to Google.com in your preferred browser. If you're on mobile, you might need the Google or Chrome app for this to work.

2. Click on the Google Lens multicolor camera icon in the search bar.

3. If you're on a computer, you'll be prompted to drag an image to the box, upload an image from your computer, paste an image link in the box, and then click Search. 

If you're on a phone, tapping the camera icon will automatically allow you to search with your camera or load your device's recent images and screenshots to choose from, as long as your browser has the proper permissions. After selecting or taking a photo, tap Search.

4. Optional: For mobile users, there's an option to add more details to your query after searching for an image or screenshot from your device. You could type in price, location, what is this, or buy.

App alternatives for reverse image search

For most people, native reverse image search solutions within your preferred browser work perfectly. But if you'd prefer to have an app dedicated to performing reverse image searches, there are two great free options to choose from:

• Reversee for Android or iOS
• Photo Sherlock for Android or iOS

The first wave of AI-powered Microsoft Copilot+ PCs has been on the market for a few weeks now. They are powered by the latest Snapdragon X Elite processors, which offer staggering performance metrics and excellent battery life. One of its most interesting and controversial features, though, remains difficult to access.

Recall, a somewhat contentious upcoming Copilot+ exclusive feature that takes frequent snapshots of what the user is doing at any given time — whether that be through applications, websites, documents, or more — is essentially meant to act as a memory for your laptop.

With those snapshots saved, users can go back in time and find any information that they might have trouble remembering themselves.

All of that user data is stored locally on your PC. The feature can not only be turned off, but the user can omit certain applications or websites from appearing in Snapshots if they so please.

However, Recall was delayed from its June 18 launch to a release that's exclusively available to participants in the Windows Insider Program, an open software testing initiative for Microsoft users who want to try out features before they go live.

Now, you can only access the feature by jumping through a few hoops on your Copilot+ PC, with a full launch "coming soon," according to the Windows Experience Blog.

Keep in mind that you cannot use Recall unless you have a Copilot+ PC. Check out our full list of Copilot+ PCs announced so far to get an idea of the types of devices we're talking about.

Without further ado, here's how to activate Recall on your Windows 11 Copilot+ PC.

How to access Recall on Copilot+ PCs

Because Recall is currently trapped behind the walls of the Windows Insider Program, several steps are required to turn it on. 

This process should become significantly simpler when the feature is officially available for all Copilot+ PCs, but for now, let us explore what you need to do.

1. Go to Settings.

2. Go to Windows Update.

3. Select Windows Insider Program.

4. Press Get Started next to where it says Join the Windows Insider Program.

5. Select Link an account when it says Link an account to join the program.

6. Once your Microsoft account is linked, select Continue when it asks to Review the agreements for your account.

7. When it says Choose your Insider channel, select Release Preview.

8. Select Continue when it says Review the agreements for your device.

9. It'll ask you to Restart this device to finish. Select Restart now.

10. Once your laptop has restarted, return to Settings.

11. Go to Windows Update.

12. If it says To access the Insider program, you'll need to turn on optional diagnostic data, select the Open Diagnostics & feedback link at the side.

13. Underneath Diagnostic Data, there will be an option that says Send optional diagnostic data. Toggle that to On.

14. Return to the Windows Update section and select Check for updates next to where it says You're up to date.

15. Once the update is finished, it will say Restart Required. Select Restart Now.

16. Once your laptop is done restarting, go to Settings.

17. Select Privacy & Security.

18. Go to Recall & snapshots.

19. Toggle Save snapshots to On.

Recall is now activated! You can make further changes to the settings, including adding app or website filters to prevent them from being a part of the snapshots, alongside storage allocation options that allow more or less dedicated storage to the feature.

While Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptops aren't meant to replace a gaming laptop, casual gamers may be surprised by what's possible with their performance. Copilot+ PCs even introduce a new AI-powered feature in Windows 11 that's supposed to enhance gaming, but in our experience, it doesn't.

This new feature is called Automatic Super Resolution, or Auto SR for short, and according to Microsoft, it's supposed to provide "a smoother, more detailed gaming experience." by "automatically lowering the game's rendering resolution to increase framerate, then [employing] sophisticated AI technology to provide enhanced high-definition visuals." 

That sounds fantastic on paper, but one of Laptop Mag's own, Rami Tabari, unfortunately didn't experience the positives promised for Auto SR.

Laptop Mag's frustrating experience with Auto SR

Rami was fighting against strange resolution and frame rate problems with multiple games.

When he first launched Control, the game automatically lowered its resolution and apparently lowered the resolution of the laptop's display as well. According to Microsoft, you can turn off this display resolution change in settings, but that's an annoying default feature.

When Control finally launched and was playable, Rami ran into "stuttering and spiked frame drops in combat" — not a great start.

He ran into the same issues with Dark Souls III, even though both Control and Dark Souls III are two games supposedly verified by Microsoft to work with Auto SR. When Rami turned off Auto SR, Control and Dark Souls III instantly captured the native resolution of his Microsoft Surface Laptop review unit.

There are several FAQs covering potential problems and solutions regarding Auto SR, but here's my question: If there are this many possible issues and/or if the feature isn't intuitive for resident gamers to use, why is it available right now?

You can read through Rami's gamer troubleshooting night experience or keep scrolling to see how to turn off the feature if you don't even want to bother with it.

How to turn off Automatic Super Resolution in Windows 11

If you don't even want to risk troubleshooting Auto SR and trying to get it to work correctly with your Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptop, you can turn the feature off — here's how.

1. Open Settings in Windows 11 by using the Windows key + I shortcut or clicking the Start menu button in your taskbar and selecting Settings. 

2. Navigate to the System menu.

3. Click on Display at the top of the System menu.

4. Scroll down and select Graphics from the Display menu, under the Related settings header.

5. Under Default settings, switch the toggle off next to Automatic super resolution. You'll only see this option listed if you have a Snapdragon X Elite-powered PC. 

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If you own a personal computer, you've probably heard this recommendation multiple times: back up your data. But what if you've backed up your data via an external drive, and now you can't seem to access that drive on your computer?

It's incredibly frustrating and worrying not to see your external drive pop up, especially when the data it contains includes precious family memories or important work documents. 

If your drive is dead, it'll be difficult to get your data back, if at all. Luckily, there are multiple troubleshooting steps to try before declaring your data lost, whether you're trying to use your external drive with Windows or macOS. 

We'll start with the simplest solutions for how to fix your external drive not showing up, and then, if you still can't access your drive, dive into more complex solutions to try.

Make sure your drive is receiving enough power

If your hard drive isn't even powering on, a lack of power could very well be the culprit. 

Sometimes, simply connecting your external hard drive to your computer via a single USB port delivers enough power, especially if it's a smaller drive. But if you have a larger drive, it may need to be plugged in with an AC power adapter or two USB ports instead of one.

Take a look at your external hard drive's enclosure and check its available ports. If you see a circular power supply port, you likely need an AC power adapter — preferably the one your drive came with — to fully power on your external drive. 

You can always look through your external hard drive's paperwork or, if purchased recently, its listing online to see what cables it came with and what specific power requirements it may have.

Try the classic ‘turn it off and back on’ solution

The cliché advice of restarting your computer is an oldie but a goodie. Computers are finicky, and sometimes a simple restart can be the zap it needs to finally display your external hard drive when you connect it.

Before you restart your computer, make sure your drive is unplugged. Then, wait for your computer to fully boot before trying to plug in the external drive again.

Try a different cable, USB port, or computer

If you know your external drive is receiving enough power, and you've tried restarting your computer, it's time to start troubleshooting your port, cable, and computer. It's important to test only one variable at a time, so you know exactly what's causing the issue.

Start by unplugging the drive, and trying it in a different USB port. If you're using a USB hub or docking station, it's worth unplugging that and trying to connect the external drive to your computer directly.

If your external drive still isn't showing up, test a different cable. It's always best to use the cables that came with your drive, but it's entirely possible that even these included cables could be malfunctioning.

Finally, if you've tried a different port and a different cable, it's time to switch up your machine. Plug your external drive into a different computer using the first cable you tried.

If it's possible to plug it into a computer running a different operating system (OS) than your computer, even better. External drives sometimes aren't formatted for cross-compatibility between operating systems, so a drive may work with macOS and not with Windows, or vice versa.

If you see the drive pop up on a different OS, it's likely a formatting issue. You can easily format the hard drive to be cross-compatible with your computer's OS if you're okay with wiping its data, and then connect the drive to your own computer again to see if it hopefully appears.

For the more technically advanced with desktop PCs, you can also remove the drive from its enclosure, and then test the bare drive by plugging it directly into your PC's motherboard. If your drive finally appears in File Explorer, you'll know there's an issue with your enclosure.

Check and update your drivers

Windows is pretty good about automatically updating drivers, but it's possible something could've malfunctioned or corrupted and caused an issue with the OS recognizing your external drive, so it's definitely worth a shot.

On your keyboard, press the Windows key and X, and select Device Manager from the pop-up menu. Find Disk drives in the Device Manager menu, and click the arrow to its left to expand the Disk drives menu.

Right-click your external drive and select Uninstall device from the pop-up menu. You can also select Update driver here, but fully uninstalling the drive, unplugging it, and reinstalling drivers automatically when you plug it back in is often a better bet.

Similarly, macOS automatically updates drivers along with operating system updates, but it's still worth quickly checking for software updates to see if that's the issue. To do this, you'd click the Apple logo in the top left corner of your screen, select About This Mac, and then Software Update to see if there are any outstanding updates.

Enable or format drive in Disk Management or Disk Utility

If you know your external drive still isn't showing up in File Explorer, check Disk Management in Windows 11 or Disk Utility in macOS to see if it appears there.

On Windows 11, type "create and format..." into the Search box at the bottom of your screen and click Create and Format Hard Disk Partitions when it pops up in the menu. This will open Disk Management, where you should be able to see or scroll to your external drive.

If your external drive appears both online and formatted, you can try resetting communication between it and your computer by changing the letter assigned to the drive. Right-click the drive's name in the Volume column, and select Change Drive Letter and Paths to switch the letter associated with your drive.

If your drive is offline, right-click the drive's name towards the bottom of the Disk Management window (typically Disk 1, Disk 2, etc.), and select Online from the pop-up menu.

If you see an 'Unallocated' label under a black bar, that means your drive hasn't been formatted. Right-click it using the same process above, and only if you're okay with erasing any data on the drive, select New Simple Volume.

The macOS version of Disk Management is Disk Utility, which you can access by typing "disk utility" into Spotlight. If your device appears grayed out on the left side of the Disk Utility window, you'll need to mount the drive, which is the equivalent of allocating it on Windows 11. 

To do this, select Mount in the top right corner of Disk Utility. If this doesn't work, you can instead select First Aid from the top menu and click Run to see if macOS can troubleshoot and fix your drive for you. 

If your drive doesn't mount and the First Aid process finds no issues, it might be time to erase and format the drive, which would unfortunately delete any data on the drive. Select Erase at the top of Disk Utility, name the drive, select a format from the dropdown menu, and select Erase again to complete the process.

Your last resort is to contact the manufacturer

If you've tried all these fixes and your external drive still isn't powering on, showing up in File Explorer, or letting you access its data, there's a very high possibility it's a dead drive that's no longer salvageable.

From there, the only tool left in your toolbox is to contact your drive's manufacturer. Sometimes, they may have more specific advice for you to try based on your unique situation, or they might be able to start the process of replacing your drive if it's still under warranty. 

If your drive isn't under warranty and can't be replaced by the manufacturer, it's time to start looking for another external drive.

Formatting your USB drive is an efficient way to erase all your data, freeing the drive to be used elsewhere. While this is the most common reason people format a USB drive, other use cases exist.

If you're trying to use the same USB drive between macOS and Windows, formatting it can be easy to ensure the file system is compatible with both operating systems before you start using the drive. Formatting a USB drive can also improve performance, remove pesky viruses, and allow you to customize security settings.

Whether you need to format a USB drive for data, cross-platform compatibility, or optimized performance, here's how to do it on both Windows and macOS.

What you should know before formatting a USB drive

The most important thing to know about formatting a USB drive is that it'll wipe your drive of any data. Plug your USB drive into your computer to see if there are any important documents, photos, videos, or other data you want to back up before formatting it.

It's also worth noting that USB drives have multiple file formatting systems. The most common formatting option is FAT32, which is recognized by macOS, Windows, and Linux. However, it limits files to 4GB in size and offers zero security.

The more updated version of FAT32 is known as exFAT. This file formatting system is also compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux but has a much larger file size limit.

Because FAT32 and exFAT file systems are multi-OS compatible, these are typically the most intelligent choices when selecting a format option.

That said, there are also macOS- and Windows-specific file systems that can be beneficial if you only use one ecosystem. 

NTFS, or NTFS5, is developed by Microsoft for Windows, though it's also compatible with Linux and offers high file size limits. Apple develops APFS to support higher file size limits for macOS, and it's only compatible with newer Macs running macOS 10.13 or higher.

How to format a USB drive on Windows

1. Connect the USB drive to your Windows computer via an available port.

2. Open File Explorer by clicking on the folder icon in the taskbar or using this keyboard shortcut: Windows key + E.

3. Choose This PC from the left menu in File Explorer.

4. Under the Devices and drives header, locate your USB drive and right-click it.

5. From the pop-up menu, select Format. 

6. In the dropdown menu below File system, select the default option. This will usually be FAT32, the most common format recognized by both Windows and macOS.

7. Choose the default option in the dropdown menu below Allocation unit size.

8. Below Volume label, type the name you'd like to recognize your USB drive by.

9. If you've formatted your USB drive before and know it's not broken, you can check the box next to Quick format. Otherwise, leave it unchecked.

10. Click the Start button. A pop-up message will appear, warning that "Formatting will erase ALL data on this disk." Select OK to proceed with formatting.

11. When your drive is finished formatting, click OK to dismiss the pop-up.

How to format a USB drive on macOS

1. Connect the USB drive to your Windows computer via an available port. Many modern MacBooks don't have a USB-A port, so you might need a USB-C hub to connect your flash drive.

2. Click Go from the top menu bar and select Utilities from the dropdown menu.

3. Find Disk Utility and double-click it to launch the application.

4. Locate your USB drive on the left side and click it.

5. Click Erase at the top of the Disk Utility window.

6. Next to Format, use the dropdown menu to select MS-DOS (FAT). You can also change the name of your USB drive here in the text box next to Name. 

7. Click Erase, and then click Erase again after being warned that this will delete all files on the USB drive.

8. Wait for the formatting process to complete, and then close the Disk Utility window. When the process is finished, you should see an icon for your USB drive on the desktop.

Trying to sync up your iPhone and iPad? No worries, we've got you covered. It's not too complicated, but it's not very intuitive either. It's also not free... depending on how much storage you use.

The best iPad deals are popping off right now, so it's unsurprising that folks are trying to figure out how to sync their iPhone to their iPad. But you already knew that probably, since you're here.

For new iPad owners, we've also covered how to edit Memoji on iPhone or iPad Pro and how to get Final Cut Pro on iPad.

But now, let's jump into how to sync your iPhone and iPad.

Are you signed in?

First things first, before you sync your iPhone and iPad, you need to be on the same account. If you don't know, go to Settings and look in the top left corner. 

Is your Apple ID identical to your iPhone and iPad? If not, click on the name there and press the Sign Out button on the bottom right.

From here, you can click the top left again and sign into the account you want both your iPhone and iPad to get access to.

Storage check: How much do you need?

How much storage do you have left in that bank? Each account comes with 5GB of free storage, which may not be enough to store all your data. My Google Photos are packing 150GB already, and that's from thousands of vacation photos (I can't stop taking pics of my cute baby).

Need more storage? Go to Settings and click on your name. Then, select iCloud and choose a plan that best suits your needs. There's 50GB for $1.29/month, 200GB for $3.99/month, and 2TB for $12.99/month. The 200GB plan should be more than enough for most people.

How to sync iPhone and iPad

Now that you've got the space, you can sync your iPhone and iPad without worrying about a traffic jam of data. Of course, don't forget to turn on iCloud backups in general, which you can do by going to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > iCloud Backup, then toggle everything. Now, here's how to sync your iPhone and iPad.

Step 1. Like before, go to Settings on your iPhone and iPad > Your name > iCloud.

Step 2. In the section labeled "Apps using iCloud," click Show All.

Step 3. This is important: Toggle the apps you want to sync across devices, BUT your iPhone and iPad must share the same settings. So, if you've enabled syncing for iCloud Photos on one device, you need to enable it for the other as well to sync seamlessly.

Step 4. You might also want to sync your downloads, which you can do by going to Settings > App Store > Automatic Downloads. Again, toggle everything.

Your devices should be synced up now. If something doesn't get synced, you can check its status by going to Settings > Your Name > iCloud.

For more news, how-tos, and updates on everything related to the iPad and iPhone and all things tech, follow Laptop Mag on X, Facebook, and Flipboard for the latest news as it arrives.

If you've run into some trouble getting your Windows laptop to run properly, you may need to update the BIOS (basic input/output system) of your computer. BIOS is a firmware that connects the hardware of your laptop to the operating system, though it is a slightly older version of firmware. Some motherboards use a UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) which fills a similar function.

BIOS updates aren't routine like updating drivers for your processor or graphics card or updating applications and security software. You'll only need to update the BIOS when the motherboard's manufacturer recommends or you receive a Windows update error. 

Additionally, BIOS update methods vary by motherboard manufacturer. With laptops, it is often best to go to the manufacturer's support page for your specific laptop model, but this general guide should help you get your laptop back up and running smoothly.

How to identify your BIOS/UEFI version

Before you try updating your BIOS or UEFI, you'll want to make sure you know which firmware version your laptop is running. Some laptops will receive BIOS updates through Windows Update, so it's possible you're already running the latest BIOS or UEFI version.

You can find your BIOS or UEFI version number through the System Information panel or using Command Prompt.

Find your BIOS/UEFI version using System Information

• Type "System Information" into the search box
• Open the System Information program 
• Scroll down to "BIOS Version/Date"

Find the BIOS/UEFI version using Command Prompt

• Open Command prompt with the keyboard shortcut Windows + R
• Enter "cmd"
• Click "OK"
• In Command Prompt, type the command "wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion" and hit enter

Write down the BIOS number and date. In this case, "UX3405MA.301" from 12/15/2023.

How to update your BIOS/UEFI via Windows Update

Probably the easiest option for updating your laptop's firmware is using the tools already built into Windows Update. Sometimes the manufacturer of your laptop's motherboard will push a BIOS or UEFI update through your usual Windows Update process, but often you'll need to manually select the update.

For folks who are a bit afraid to enter the BIOS or UEFI environment of their laptop, this is the most straight forward way to update your firmware.

• Open Settings
• Go to Windows Update
• Choose "Search for updates"
• Install the BIOS update file

How to update your BIOS/UEFI via a flash drive

The most foolproof way to update your BIOS or UEFI version is the most involved process, but it should work on just about any laptop. 

You'll need a clean USB flash drive with enough space to hold the BIOS update files, anything with a few gigabytes of storage should work fine. You'll want to format the USB drive to "FAT32."

• Download the BIOS or UEFI update files from the manufacturer's support page
• Extract or unzip the files
  • Open the downloaded ZIP file
  • Click the Extract tab at the top of the window
  • Select Extract all
  • Choose a destination folder to save the files
  • Click Extract to confirm
• Transfer the extracted update files to a formatted USB drive
  • Insert your USB drive
  • Open File Explorer
  • Right-click the USB drive
  • Select Format
  • Choose "FAT32" in the drop-down menu
  • Press Start to reformat the drive if necessary
  • Copy and paste the BIOS update file onto the USB storage drive folder
• Access the BIOS/UEFI environment
  • Depending on your laptop, you may be able to use a keyboard shortcut to enter the BIOS menu from the boot sequence
    • Common shortcuts are F1, F2, F10, F12, Del, or ESC
    • Press the shortcut button as the Laptop restarts
  • You can also enter the BIOS menu through the System recovery
    • Open Settings
    • Go to Windows Update
    • Choose Advanced Options
    • Select Recovery
    • Choose Advanced Startup
    • Click Restart now
    • Select Troubleshoot
    • Go to Advanced Options
    • Select BIOS/UEFI Firmware Settings
    • Click Restart
• Install the BIOS or UEFI update
  • This process can vary by manufacturer, but the general process is the same
  • Select the Boot tab
  • Open the Advanced tab
  • Choose USB configuration
  • Allow your computer's BIOS to complete the update

How to update your BIOS/UEFI through Device Manager

Other manufacturers will allow you to update your BIOS using Device Manager rather than an OEM-specific software. This will depend on the manufacturer of your laptop and motherboard.

• Type "Device Manager" into the search bar
• Open Device Manager
• Expand the Firmware menu
• Double-click System Firmware or Device Firmware
• Select the Driver tab
• Click Update Driver
• Select "Search automatically for updated driver" from the menu
• The update will automatically download, then follow the installation prompts

How to update your BIOS/UEFI through the internet

Some manufacturers have software and firmware update applications that let you update your BIOS or UEFI from within the Windows operating system. This is a pretty straightforward option for updating your BIOS because it allows you to skip using the BIOS/UEFI environment or a flash drive.

However, it can be a bit risky because if Windows crashes during the update, you could run into additional troubles getting your BIOS updated. So this version is better to use for a more routine BIOS update rather than while troubleshooting Windows issues on your laptop.

• Go to your manufacturer's software management program
• Select the updates tab or menu
• Wait for the system to automatically search for needed updates
• Install the BIOS/UEFI update
• Restart the computer when prompted

Critical things to remember when updating your BIOS

Any time you're updating firmware on your laptop, don't shut off the laptop while the update is running. This is true whether that's the BIOS/UEFI firmware or device-specific firmware for a keyboard, touchpad, or mouse.

In case your BIOS/UEFI update gets interrupted, make sure to have a recovery key for your Windows version handy. 

Also, be sure to have the repair and support page open for your laptop manufacturer incase the delayed update does more damage to your computer than you can fix on your own.

While BIOS/UEFI updates can go sideways and end up bricking your computer, they're generally nothing to worry about. But it's always good to back up all of your files prior to messing with the BIOS/UEFI just in case. If you need to back up your laptop with years' worth of documents and photo files, it may be a good idea to invest in one of the Best external HDD or SSD drives.

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Google's Android Gemini AI model, Gemini Nano, was made available on Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a devices on Tuesday. 

These features were only available to Pixel 8 Pro previously, but even though it's now on weaker devices, there's a major difference: 8 and 8a need to opt-in to experience Gemini Nano.

Seang Chau, Google Devices & Services Software VP, claims in the Made by Google Podcast that it "wasn't as easy a call to enable it on Pixel 8." 

"We've been doing a lot of testing and validation to make sure that we weren't going to deliver a much worse experience," he continues.

This issue comes from the Google Pixel 8 and 8a featuring 8GB of RAM, while the Pro has 12GB. Chau says "We want to make sure that our updates improve your experience and doesn't actually degrade your experience."

According to Chau, Gemini Nano is "available on PIxel 8 behind a developer option so that developers who know exactly what the impact to the user experience will be are able to use this feature. And of course, any users that also understand the potential impact to the user experience are also able to use this feature."

With these performance setbacks in mind, even if you can use Gemini Nano with a Pixel 8 or 8a, should you?

Is Gemini Nano worth activating?

The risk of activating Gemini Nano on Pixel 8 or 8a is a potentially inconsistent user experience. It may not seem like activating these features are worthwhile if it'll make things much worse, so let's go through what you get with Gemini Nano.

• Summarize in Recorder: The Recorder application's Summarize feature can take recorded audio and provide an AI-generated rundown of the most important notes.
  
• Magic Compose without wifi: Magic Compose now works without an Internet connection, allowing for stylized AI-generated responses when sending messages.
  
• Text summaries: Gemini Nano can analyze text and provide a digestible overview of its most important details, whether messages, emails, or documents.
  
• Image descriptions: Gemini Nano can use accessibility features like TalkBack to provide "vivid descriptions" about what's in photos. Again, this is entirely on-device, so it doesn't require an internet connection.

Gemini Nano's capabilities aren't extensive by any means. It's still early, and its growing availability will breed more features, but that's all there is to take from it for now. If these features seem worthwhile, keep reading to access Gemini Nano on Pixel 8 or 8a.

How to use Gemini AI on Google Pixel 8 and 8a

Google doesn't make activating Gemini Nano easy, as it's deliberately hidden from users. Here's how to get to it in 10 simple steps.

1. Go to Settings.

2. Scroll down and select About Phone.

3. At the bottom of the screen, there will be a section showcasing the Build number. Tap it seven times. After the first three taps, a notification will pop up saying, "You are now X steps away from becoming a developer."

4. After your seventh tap, you will be prompted to input your password, pattern, PIN, or other identification method.

5. You will receive a "You are now a developer!" notification.

6. Go back to Settings.

7. Select System.

8. Select Developer options.

9. Find AICore Settings. You can also select from dozens of experimental or developer-focused features from this list, but most aren't practical for the average user.

10. Select Enable on-device GenAI Features.

Google Nano is now activated. You can always turn this off if you experience performance issues. You can also go to Developer options and toggle Use developer options if you don't want any of them on at all.

Apple's WWDC 2024 keynote on June 10 was software-heavy, and one of the biggest new features for macOS Sequoia, or macOS 15, that made its debut at the event is iPhone Mirroring.

With iPhone Mirroring, iPhone users can pair their phones to their Mac device, and catch everything happening on their iPhone directly from their Mac. This exciting new feature lets you see notifications from third-party apps, respond to messages, and answer and make phone calls from your Mac.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this is a feature that Android phones and Windows PCs have had for years. And just last month, Microsoft expanded support for its phone-mirroring feature — called Phone Link — to include iPhones. 

So if you have an iPhone and a Windows PC, you're one of the lucky few that won't have to wait for macOS Sequoia to debut in the fall to experience a link between your phone and your computer. Here's exactly how to set up and use this helpful feature.

How to mirror your iPhone to Windows 11 with Phone Link

Enabling a connection between your iPhone and Windows 11 PC is a breeze, but you'll first need to make sure your devices fit the minimum requirements.

According to a Windows blog post, using Phone Link for iOS requires the following:  

• iPhone with iOS 14 or higher
• Windows 11 device
• Bluetooth connection
• Latest version of the Phone Link app

If you have everything listed above, you can set up Phone Link for iOS in just a few minutes — here's how.

1. Open the Phone Link app on your Windows 11 PC. You can quickly do this by typing "Phone Link" in the search box at the bottom of your screen.

2. After the Phone Link app opens, select iPhone below the Pick your phone heading and log into your Microsoft account.

3. Using your iPhone's camera app, scan the QR code that pops up on your computer. Follow any on-screen instructions that appear on your iPhone or Windows 11 PC. 

4. Optional: Customize your notification preferences in the General tab of the Phone Link app on your computer. 

Once you've paired your iPhone to your Windows 11 computer, you'll be able to see and respond to messages, look through your call history, search your contacts list, dial from your computer, and more.

In the blog post mentioned above, there were a few small restrictions noted for using Phone Link for iOS: "Messaging feature is limited by iOS. Image/video sharing and group messaging is not supported."

How to mirror your Android to Windows 11 using Phone Link

Phone Link for Android has been around since 2018, but it's entirely possible Android users might have been unaware of this handy phone-mirroring feature.

To set up a link between your Windows computer and your Android phone, here are the minimum requirements: 

• Computer running Windows 11 or Windows 10 (with the May 2019 update or later)
• Smartphone running Android 8.0 or later
• A shared Wi-Fi network between your computer and your Android phone

If your Windows PC and Android phone meet all the minimum requirements, setting up Phone Link can commence! The process follows the same exact steps listed above for connecting an iPhone to a Windows 11 PC via Phone Link, except you'll choose Android instead of iPhone. 

Here are the steps again for your convenience:

1. Open the Phone Link app in Windows 11 by typing "Phone Link" in the search box at the bottom of your screen.

2. Once the Phone Link app is open, select Android below the Pick your phone heading and log into your Microsoft account.

3. Using your Android phone, scan the QR code that pops up on your computer. Follow any on-screen instructions that appear on your smartphone or Windows 11 PC.

4. Optional: Customize your notification preferences in the General tab of the Phone Link app on your computer.

Different ways you can use Phone Link

Once you have Phone Link set up between your smartphone and your computer, there are a few different ways you can make the most of the connection. 

The most obvious way to use Phone Link is sending and receiving texts and calls from your PC. If you're working on a project for school or work on your computer, it's a lot more seamless to respond to an important text directly from your computer rather than pick up your phone, unlock it, respond, and potentially get tempted by a social media app or a mobile game. 

You can also manage your notifications on both iPhones and Android phones via Phone Link. Android phones can even control audio playback via the Phone Link computer app, and may soon gain the ability to access their phone's photo library through File Explorer, according to @PhantomOfEarth on X.

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Looking for a college laptop can be challenging if you don't know what is required of you in class. You also need to look for something effective and within your budget. Laptop Mag reviews more than 100 laptops a year, and we can help you answer both questions.

The best laptops for college are those that can do the most for as little money as possible. Listen, I didn't have enough spare change to even afford the bus ride to college back in the day, so I get the struggle is real.

You need something that works and won't add to what feels like insurmountable college debt, so let me guide you through some key features to look out for when buying a laptop for college.

4 key features a college laptop should have

There are quite a few aspects that determine if a laptop is good or not, and I'll talk about them further down below, but for right now, you should prioritize four things when shopping for a college laptop:

Battery life

The last thing you need is to run around class or the library looking for somewhere to plug your laptop in because it's about to die. No, thank you. I've spent way too much time suffering this fate to wish it upon anyone else. Want to survive college? 

Get a laptop with at least 10 hours of battery life. That should get you through your classes for the day without issue. Don't take a company's word for it, we test the battery life in laptops ourselves. Just keep in mind that Laptop Mag battery tests account for laptops set to 150 nits of brightness, so as a rule of thumb, keep that display brightness at 50%.

Portability

You could argue for lumping this in with battery life, but this is about size. You don't need to be pulling out an 18-inch monster on a small desk in the middle of class. Or worse, if you're in an auditorium, folks are going to glare at you for taking up both armrests. 

Stick to a reasonable size, like 14 inches. You might get away with a larger laptop since companies managed to fit larger displays in smaller chassis, but keep an eye out for the actual device width in the spec sheet.

Performance

My worst fear is my laptop freezing up when I'm trying to take notes in class. I've had a few close encounters with classes that require certain specs in laptops, and even specific laptops, like MacBooks. 

I can help you choose what you need on the performance end — the bare minimum should be a Core i5 or Ryzen 5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. However, if you want to guarantee you won't run into trouble, find a Core i7 or Ryzen 7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. 

An RTX 4060 GPU will take you far for classes involving graphically intensive tasks. However, if you know you're going into a field that might be intense on your laptop (like computer science or cinema), email your professors beforehand to ask about the minimum requirements to use the required software if those requirements aren't listed on any registration materials.

Operating System

An operating system is a critical feature you need to keep in mind because your classes might require specific laptops. And if not, they might require the use of specific software which may not be available on all operating systems.\

 One film class I took required us to use Adboe's video editor Final Cut Pro. Thankfully, I already had access to a MacBook at the time, so it wasn't a big deal for me. But it's rough if you don't have a readily available macOS device. 

If you're in a technical class, ask about software!

4 college laptops to buy for varying budgets

Premium college laptop — Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (Q425)

Excluding those who need a graphic-intensive laptop, my top choice is the Zenbook 1. It offers nearly 16 hours of battery life in a compact 12.3-inch chassis with a 14-inch display. Top that off with snappy performance thanks to its Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD. It also comes in just under $1,000. It's the cheapest premium laptop you can buy to last you through your college experience. But it also offers great secondary features, like a pretty display, a comfortable keyboard, great speakers, and a privacy shutter for its webcam.

Budget college laptop — Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

I'm not a fan of Chromebooks, but if you find that your college life takes place mostly on the web (meaning that you don't use particular Windows apps), this is a solid choice. It's $499 and offers a Core i3 CPU with 8GB of RAM for that minimum speedy performance. Since it's a 14-inch laptop, it also keeps it light and compact. 

The battery life is solid as well, at 9:43, which is just a few minutes shorter than my 10-hour recommendation. A nice bonus is its great keyboard. However, keep in mind that since this is a Chromebook, you won't have access to the usual apps you would with Windows.

Gaming college laptop — Asus Zephyrus G14 (2024)

I say gaming, but this applies to any field requiring you to use a discrete graphics chip to run apps. But it definitely doesn't hurt to be able to game after a long day of schooling. The Zephyrus G14 is an excellent choice for college students. It supports a powerful AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 8GB GPU. 

It lasts 8:16 on a single charge (impressive for a gaming laptop). It's an incredibly compact 14-inch gaming laptop, measuring 12.3 inches wide and 0.6 inches thin. Other great features are its springy keyboard and stunning OLED display. You also really don't need to pay that much more for it compared with our top option, which currently runs for $1,299.

MacBook — The Macbook Air M3 is a great choice, and it's at the top of our best college laptops list for a reason. It checks all of the boxes: 15:21 of battery life, 12-inch wide and 0.4-inch thin design, and killer Apple M3 performance. And it's not nearly as expensive as you might think. 

You can find it on sale for $999, just barely staying within a three-digit budget. If a class requires you to use macOS apps, this is the device for you.

Outlook

Above are four great laptops that (mostly) fall into the four criteria I set earlier. Naturally, you know what works best for you, but the most important thing is to research when buying a laptop. 

Not everything a company writes in its specs is technically true. Battery life estimates are often run for unrealistic scenarios, and unit weight also differs based on the configuration you purchase. 

It's important to read our reviews to see what's what.

Google's AI Overviews search feature intends to provide helpful search results so users don't need to read the results on the search page. It's a timesaving feature that replaces Google's search results summaries with AI content.

As you may expect, these AI overviews are far from perfect. The nascent tech has taken results from satirical sites like The Onion, years-old Reddit comments, and general old disinformation. Not using credible sources has led some of us to recall Microsoft's Tay chatbot from 2016, which quickly began repeating hate speech after a brief lifespan on Twitter.

Google is reportedly manually removing harmful AI Overviews from the search engine. Still, that process can take time as users stumble across AI suggestions like putting glue on pizza or drinking vegetable juice to cure appendicitis. 

So you may want to remove the AI Overviews feature from your search results to save time and aggravation. 

While Google doesn't allow users to disable the AI Overview, a few workarounds exist. You can circumvent Google's AI summaries using Chrome and Firefox extensions or adjustments to the search results URL.

How to disable Google AI Overview with TenBlueLinks.org

TenBlueLinks.org will help circumvent Google AI Overview by functioning as the source for Google searches on Chrome and Firefox.

For Chrome on iOS and Android

• Visit TenBlueLinks.org
• Open a new tab and start a Google search
• Select the three dot menu in the lower right (iOS) or upper right (Android) screen
• Choose settings
• Select "search engine"
• Tap on "Google Web" in the recently visited section

For Firefox on Windows and Mac

• Visit TenBlueLinks.org
• Right-click on the address bar and select "Add Google Web"
• Open the menu in the top-right corner
• Choose "Settings"
• Select "Search"
• Choose "Google Web" from the "Default Search Engine" dropdown menu

How to disable Google AI Overview with "Bye Bye, Google AI"

There are several Chrome extensions for Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, including the Bye Bye, Google AI extension made by our friends at Tom's Hardware. Other extensions include Hide Google AI Overviews and Turn Off AI Overview (Google SGE).

The only trouble with using Chrome extensions is that Google can take them down at any time, making them easy to use but perhaps more unreliable.

• Go to Bye Bye, Google AI
• Click "Add to Chrome"
• Right-click the toolbar icon and select "Options"
• Select "Hide AI Overviews"
• Click "Save"

How to disable Google AI Overview using the URL

You can also adjust your google address bar search results to filter out AI overviews by adjusting the URL used for site search in Chrome.

• Type "chrome://settings/searchEngines" into your address bar
• Next to "Site search" click "Add"
• Fill in the following details
  • Search engine: Google Web
  • Shortcut: @web
  • URL: {google:baseURL}search?q=%s&udm=14
• "Google Web" will now be an option on the site search list
• Click on the icon next to "Google Web" and select "Make default"

Launched in February, Gemini Advanced is Google's "most capable, state-of-the-art AI model," and a year's worth of the experience can be yours for free when you buy a new Chromebook Plus — that's a value of $240. 

That's particularly notable as Chromebook Plus laptops start at just $349, so if have been considering a Chromebook for yourself or anyone in your life, this added incentive makes it really enticing. You can get the latest ChromeOS hardware and a free year to explore everything Google's Gemini Advanced offers.

Here's a closer look at what makes a Chromebook eligible for the Chromebook Plus certification, how to claim the free year of Google Gemini Advanced, and what you can do with it.

What is a Chromebook Plus?

According to Google, Chromebook Plus computers offer "double the performance" compared to traditional Chromebooks, as well as "best-in-price display and camera, built-in Google apps and powerful AI capabilities."

With a starting price of $349, every Chromebook Plus offers these minimum guaranteed hardware specs:

• Processor: Intel Core (i3), or AMD Ryzen (7000 series)
• Memory: 8GB
• Storage: 128GB
• Display & webcam: 1080p IPS display and webcam with TNR (Temporal Noise Reduction)

Keep in mind, these are the minimum specs, some Chromebook Plus laptops will offer a more powerful CPU, more memory and storage, or a higher-res display.

How to claim your free year of Google Gemini Advanced

According to Google, a shortcut for Gemini "will be installed in the ChromeOS Launcher and Shelf for Chromebook Plus devices." When you open Gemini on or after May 28 "on newly activated Chromebook Plus devices," a notification will pop up that says Get Gemini Advanced. 

From there, click Get perk to be redirected to the Chromebook Perks page. Once on the page, you find Gemini Advanced again, select Get perk one more time, and follow the on-screen instructions. 

After that, your 12-month free trial for Gemini Advanced will begin, and you can start exploring all the new features your Chromebook Plus offers, both AI-powered and not. 

What is Google Gemini Advanced capable of?

Gemini Advanced uses Google's next-gen model, Gemini 1.5 Pro, with a "1 million token context window." TechTarget defines a context window as "a textual range around a target token that a large language model (LLM) can process at the time the information is generated."

Put simply, a massive 1M token context window allows for better performance, reduced errors, and more accurate results.

With Gemini Advanced, you'll be able to use Gemini in Gmail, Docs, and other services, as well as upload Google Docs, PDFs, and other files to get quick, easy-to-read summaries and feedback. You can even upload spreadsheets "for faster data cleaning, charts, and insights" and "edit and run Python code."

And if you're not in the market for a new Chromebook Plus, you still have the option of a free two-month trial for Gemini Advanced. You just won't get some of the bonus AI features for ChromeOS.

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Want to know how to use Circle to Search? Google's latest search method is easy to enable and easy to learn.

Google first announced Circle to Search in a blog post on January 17, but it was originally limited to Pixel 8 and Galaxy S24 series. Google has been expanding it to more models and at Google I/O 2024 on May 14 reported it was now on 100 million phones with the company looking to double that by the end of the year. If you are using any modern Google or Samsung phone, you can Google anything that shows up on the screen with a simple scribble.

Before we jump in, you can also download the Android 15 Beta to get early access to all the latest Android features. However, it's not required to use Circle to Search. We are expecting the final release of Android 15 to launch in the latter half of this year.

Alright, let's teach you how to use Circle to Search on your Android device.

How to use Circle to Search

Step 1. You can start Circle to Search by long pressing the Home button (middle button at the bottom of the screen) if you're using 3-button navigation. And if you're using Gesture navigation, long press the navigation handle (bar at the bottom of your screen).

Step 2. If you've never done this, Circle to Search is likely not enabled, but don't worry, you don't have to go anywhere. Upon attempting to use Circle to Search, Android should prompt you with a "Try Circle to Search" button. Click that.

Step 3. Now simply circle, highlight, tap, or even scribble on the screen to Google any text, image, or video.

Step 4. And you've done it! Your results will appear at the bottom of the screen, and if you don't find what you're looking for, you can adjust your "Circle" accordingly.

4 tips for using Circle to Search

Tip 1: You don't need to restart Circle to Search to adjust your selection. Simply grab the borders of your current selection and drag them into the necessary space.

Tip 2: You can clarify your search by typing in keywords into the search bar.

Tip 3: The initial search results will appear at the bottom of your screen, so it might not display all of the content you're looking for. Drag the search bar up to see all of the results.

Tip 4: You can also translate your entire screen by clicking the Google Translate logo to the right of the search bar.

How to turn off Circle to Search

Step 1. Go to Settings and type "Circle to Search" in the "Search settings" bar.

Step 2. Press the "Circle to Search" button that you use for navigation (either Gesture or Button).

Step 3. Click the toggle button to disable Circle to Search.

Error: Screen search isn't available

If you're having some trouble using Circle to Search, like getting the "Screen search isn't available" error, here's how to fix it.

Step 1. Go to Settings > Search bar and then type "Digital assistant app" and click through.

Step 2. Ensure that the "Default digital assistant app" is set to Google and then check that "Use screenshot" is enabled.

You've successfully Circled to Search!

It's as simple as that. We hope you didn't catch too many errors along the way. Remember, if you don't find what you're looking for: search, search and search again!

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When you call a friend, the doctor's office, or even a pizza shop, chances are, they know who's calling because of caller ID. 

Hiding your phone number from friends and family members generally isn't necessary, but hiding your number from pizza shops, retail stores, and other places can help prevent your number from getting on marketing lists, or worse, spam lists.

Whether you want to manually hide your number for a single phone call, or adjust your Android phone's settings to hide your number for all calls — here's how to do it. 

Use the *67 method for one call

If you only need to hide your phone number for a single call, the *67 method is the quickest.

To use the *67 trick, simply type *67 on your Phone app before inputting the rest of the number. For example, if someone's phone number was 123-456-7890, you'd type *671234567890.

If you're trying to hide your number from someone in your contacts and you don't have their phone number memorized, you can copy their number from their contact details, paste it into your Phone app, and insert *67 before their number.

Hide your number on Android for most calls

There are some calls that you won't be able to hide your number from on Android, like toll-free services or emergency services (911). But for the rest of your calls, you can alter your Android settings to hide your number on a regular basis — here's how.

1. Open your Phone app.

2. Tap the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.

3. Select Settings from pop-up menu.

4. In your Phone app's settings, select Supplementary services if you have a Samsung phone or Calls if you have another Android phone.

Because all Android devices aren't built identically, you might not see either option listed above. Try looking for one of these options instead: More settings, Other call settings, or Advanced settings.

5. Then, select either Show your caller ID on Samsung phones or simply Caller ID on other Android phones. You may need to first select Additional settings before seeing one of these options, and on some Android phones, like those from OnePlus, this option may be titled something different, like My number.

6. After tapping on one of the options listed above, you'll see a pop-up menu with three choices: Either Network default, Never, and Always (Samsung) or Network default, Hide number, and Show number (other Androids). Select either Never or Hide number.

Once you've hidden your caller ID, your phone number and contact details will no longer appear to the person you're trying to call. If you want to reverse this decision in the future, simply follow the steps again, and select Network default or Always/Show number to display your caller ID again.

That's it, enjoy your newfound Android calling anonymity. 

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You can check the battery life of your AirPods with ease... as long as you are connected to an Apple product. You're not? No worries, we have a solution for that, too. It's not as pretty, but we'll get there.

We've been seeing AirPods deals drop recently, so it makes sense that there's an influx of Apple AirPods owners. Apple has seemingly taken notice, too—the tech giant published a support article about AirPods battery life back in March. How to check your AirPods' battery life if they aren't connected to an Apple device is not so obvious, but it can be done.

We'll also discuss a few tips for checking AirPods battery life physically and how best you can optimize charging your AirPods. We've also covered how to pair AirPods to your laptop and how to pair AirPods to iPhone, which are relevant to the following steps.

Here's how to check AirPods battery life.

How to check AirPods battery life

iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

Method 1: You can check the AirPods battery life by opening your Charging Case (while the AirPods are inside) and holding the case close to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. The battery life should appear on your device after a few seconds.

Method 2: Check the AirPods battery life by adding the Batteries widget to your home screen. You'll be able to see the battery life percentage of your AirPods and AirPods case as well as your device.

Mac

Step 1. Open your AirPods Charging Case or take the AirPods out of the case.

Step 2. In the top right corner, select the Control Center (looks like two toggle sliders).

Step 3. Scroll to your AirPods and if you hover or select, you should see the battery life percentage.

Android

There is no built-in function on Android to check AirPods battery life. However, that doesn't mean you can't still do it.

To check the battery life of your Apple AirPods on an Android device, you need to install a third-party app like AirBattery. Give the app permission to display over other apps, then select your AirPods model.

Windows

Similar to Android, Windows does not have a built-in function to check AirPods' battery life. Third-party apps to the rescue once more!

You can download Bluetooth Battery Monitor, which you can use to see the battery life percentage on your Apple AirPods and any Bluetooth device. Once the app is installed, open it and start adding your devices.

Charging Case

You can technically check your AirPods battery life via the Charging Case, but it's not helpful.

The status light will turn on when your AirPods Charging Case is open. If it's green, that means you have more than one full charge remaining. It will turn amber if it's less than one full charge.

Optimized Battery Charging

We also have a few tips to optimize your battery charging for AirPods. The Optimized Battery Charging feature is available for the AirPods Pro and the third-generation AirPods.

The iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch adjust how your AirPods Pro or third-generation AirPods charge based on your routines. So, they'll keep your AirPods at 80% until shortly before you need to use them.

This is mostly helpful for those who have scheduled charging routines, but if you can work one in, it might be a good idea for your AirPods' battery health. 

Optimized Battery Charging is enabled by default, but you can disable it by opening the Charging Case, going to Settings > Bluetooth > More Info, and turning off Optimized Battery Charging.

AirPods battery life: Checked

It's as easy as that. Now, you know every way you can check your AirPods battery life and optimize your battery life charging.

For more news, rumors, and how-tos on everything Apple AirPods related, and all things tech, follow Laptop Mag on X, Facebook, and Flipboard for the latest word as it arrives. We are also keeping track of the AirPods 4.

The latest version of OpenAI's generative AI software, ChatGPT 4o, was released on Monday and is now available for all users.

ChatGPT's current flagship iteration — GPT-4o codename "omni" — improves on the speed and capabilities of the previous GPT-4 large language model.

OpenAI claims GPT-4o is "much better than any existing model at understanding and discussing the images you share. For example, you can now take a picture of a menu in a different language and talk to GPT-4o to translate it, learn about the food's history and significance, and get recommendations," the company writes in an introductory blog post.

These innovations will make GPT-4o a stronger competitor against Google's Gemini AI. On Tuesday, Google leaders revealed plans to expand AI capabilities across various Google products including the Gemini AI assistant. Google's plans were explained in detail at its annual I/O conference.

How to enable GPT-4o on your phone

GPT-4o is currently only available to subscribers of ChatGPT Plus, a $20/month model that debuted in February 2023.

While the latest version of the chatbot will also be available to free users, OpenAI is rolling out GPT-4o in phases, with paying users getting early access to the new software.

Free ChatGPT users will gain access to GPT-4o in the coming weeks, as detailed in OpenAI's initial announcement on Monday: 

"GPT-4o’s text and image capabilities are starting to roll out today in ChatGPT. We are making GPT-4o available in the free tier and to Plus users with up to 5x higher message limits. We'll roll out a new version of Voice Mode with GPT-4o in alpha within ChatGPT Plus in the coming weeks."

• Install the ChatGPT app on your phone from the App Store or Google Play Store
• Sign in to your OpenAI account
• Tap on the menu in the top-left corner (iOS) or top-right (Android)
• Choose "GPT-4o"

For those without a ChatGPT Plus subscription, you won't be able to change your version of GPT as seen above. 

When GPT-4o launches on the free tier, the same steps will apply to activate GPT-4o (logging in with your OpenAI account, then selecting GPT-4o from the dropdown).

Paid users will instead see a dropdown menu like the one below (via Beebom).

How to use GPT-4o on ChatGPT.com

Much like the Android and iOS versions of ChatGPT, the web edition of GPT-4o is not yet available for free users. ChatGPT Plus users can enable GPT-4o on the browser edition of ChatGPT already, while free users must wait a few weeks to enable GPT-4o.

• Open chatgpt.com
• Sign in with your OpenAI account
• Click the drop-down menu on the top-left corner
• Select "GPT-4o"

Chat GPT will prompt free users to upgrade to GPT-4 with a ChatGPT Plus subscription, giving them the option to switch between GPT-4 and GPT-4o.

How to use GPT-4o on OpenAI Playground

While free access to GPT-4o is not yet available on chatgpt.com or through the ChatGPT apps, it is theoretically available on OpenAI Playground.

To access GPT-4o on the OpenAI Playground, the steps are pretty simple.

• Boot up OpenAI Playground in your web browser
• Sign in with your OpenAI account
• Click the drop-down menu on the top-left corner
• Select the "gpt-4o" model

While the OpenAI Playground version of GPT-4o is supposed to be available to free users, as you can see above I was unable to replicate this workaround. I was able to change between different editions of GPT-3.5, but I could not access GPT-4 or GPT-4o. 

How to use GPT-4o on macOS

ChatGPT is now available as a desktop app for macOS. Unfortunately, much like the web and smartphone versions of ChatGPT, the macOS version is also experiencing a staged roll-out process for GPT-4o, with paid users getting early access to the latest iteration of the AI.

For those with a ChatGPT Plus subscription, the process is slightly different for macOS than for the web or smartphone apps.

• Download the ChatGPT macOS app from the App Store
• Install the DMG file to your desktop
• Open the ChatGPT app
• Log in to your OpenAI account
• Access to GPT-4o should be granted on login, though you may need to wait for app access approval, as the macOS desktop app is also being rolled out in a staged process similar to GPT-4o.

How much does ChatGPT cost?

ChatGPT is free, but if you want immediate access to the best version of OpenAI's software it will require a ChatGPT Plus subscription.

• How much will GPT-4o cost?  GPT-4o will be available for free but is currently only available with the GPT-4 Plus subscription.
• How much does GPT-4 cost now? $20 per month ($240 per year).
• How much does 3 cost now? GPT-3 and GPT-3.5 are free.
• How much did 3 cost at debut? $20 per month ($240 per year).

You can also opt for a more flexible pricing scheme using BatchAPI, which is geared for developer use. 

While plenty of people find various reasons to use generative AI for personal use, GPT-4o carries greater weight as a development tool designed to be incorporated into other systems. For an idea of the development cost for using GPT-4o, the cost listed on the OpenAI site as of Tuesday is $5 for 1 million tokens (one token being 4 characters) of input, while receiving 1 million tokens of output will cost $15. 

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Google's new Quick Share feature is finally here, so you can stop looking at Apple's AirDrop feature with envy. 

Google Quick Share is the universal Android replacement for Google's old Nearby Share feature (which was discontinued in early 2024) and Samsung's Quick Share feature. 

Essentially, Google Quick Share quickly sends content between Android devices and Chromebooks. (Why should iPhone users have all the fun with AirDrop?)

With the Quick Share app, you can even share content to and from select Windows devices as well. Whether you're sharing a funny meme with a friend via two Android phones or sharing content for work between your phone and laptop, here's how to use Quick Share on Android.

How to use Android Quick Share (previously Nearby Share)

Using Quick Share on your Android device, you can share photos, files, links, or videos with yourself or someone else in seconds.

1. Find the content you want to share — a website link, a photo, or any other file on your phone — and select the Share option in whatever app you use.

2. Tap the blue Quick Share icon among the sharing options.

3. After your phone has scanned the nearby area for discoverable devices via Quick Share, tap the name of the device with which you'd like to share the content.

4. If you're sending content to your device where you're already signed in, there's no need to approve the transfer. But if you send content to another person's device, they'll need to follow on-screen prompts to accept your transferred content.

And that's it! With the Quick Share app, you can quickly share files, photos, and videos with other Android phones and Chromebooks and select Windows laptops.

By default, your Windows 11 taskbar is centrally located and a boring color, and it takes up a small chunk of screen real estate. But it doesn't have to be that way, with these three quick tips, you can learn how to left-justify and hide your taskbar, as well as give it a pop of color.

An easy way to breathe new life into your computer is to change up its look. You can browse through the best Windows 11 themes or find a stunning new Windows 4K wallpaper, but choosing a theme or wallpaper can take hours if you're picky. Alternatively, freshening up your taskbar only takes a few minutes.

How to move your taskbar to the left side in Windows 11

The Windows 11 taskbar is central by default, but you can easily left-justify it to make it less distracting (and give it more of a Windows 10 feel). 

1. Right-click on any blank space in your taskbar. Select Taskbar settings from the menu that appears.

2. Click on Taskbar behaviors to open the dropdown menu. 

3. Scroll down, and next to Taskbar alignment, use the dropdown menu to change the alignment from Center to Left.

How to hide your Windows 11 taskbar

The Windows 11 taskbar takes up quite a bit of space at the bottom of your screen, and it doesn't need to. By hiding your taskbar, you gain precious screen real estate to read more of an article or see more of a photo you're editing.

And after following these steps to hide your taskbar in Windows 11, you can still quickly access your taskbar by dragging your cursor to the bottom of the screen.

 1. Right-click on any blank space in your taskbar, and select Taskbar settings from the menu that pops up.

2. Click on Taskbar behaviors to expand its menu options.

3. Click the checkbox next to Automatically hide the taskbar. You should see your taskbar disappear immediately.

How to change the color of your taskbar in Windows 11

One of the easiest ways to freshen up your taskbar is by changing its color. You can pick your favorite color or align its color with your Windows 11 theme.

1. Click on the Start button on your taskbar, or press the Windows key. 

2. Select the Settings app from the menu.

3. Click on Personalization in the left menu.

4. Find and click Colors in the Personalization menu.

5. Toggle on the switch next to Show accent color on Start and taskbar. You can see your taskbar's color change in real time, so it'll be easy to find the perfect color.

If the option to toggle on Show accent color on Start and taskbar is grayed out, it could be because you're not using Dark mode. You can scroll up in the Colors menu, find Choose your mode, and change it to Dark to add a taskbar accent color. 

For those who prefer Light mode, change the mode to Custom instead. Then, set Choose your default Windows mode to Dark and Choose your default app mode to Light. Now, your apps should appear in Light mode, but you'll be able to customize the color of your taskbar.

MORE WINDOWS 11 TIPS FROM LAPTOP MAG

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Working remotely from different devices throughout the day is business as usual for many people today, and on April 24 Google announced a new feature to Meet that'll make life easier by allowing you to juggle a call between multiple devices.

With this built-in feature, you'll be able to start a Meet call on your phone and seamlessly transition to your laptop when you get to your desk. According to Google, you'll be able to switch devices "while maintaining an ongoing conversation and without worrying about missing important information," so there shouldn't be too much lag time when switching.

This 'Switch' feature started rolling out April 26, but it might take a little while to roll out to everyone. Once the feature reaches your device, here's how to use it.

How to switch devices on Google Meet

Whether you're currently in a Meet call on your phone, laptop, or tablet, the steps to switch to a new device are the same.

1. Open Google Meet on the device you'd like to transfer the meeting to.

2. Click on the meeting you're currently in.

3. Select the Switch here button.

After you transfer the meeting, you'll be disconnected on the original device you joined on with a message of "Call switched to another device."  

If you frequently need to hop on Google Meet calls, you might also want to check out these Meet features that can make you look better.

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Xbox is planning to delete game screenshots and clips of your favorite Xbox games if they are older than 90 days on May 30, 2024. This is part of Xbox's push to move game captures OneDrive, which you can do from your console. You can also save your game captures on an external hard drive. We'll teach you how shortly. 

You may think that you don't have any game captures to save — think again. Certain games can take clips and screenshots based on the content you're playing. It's also super easy to take a screenshot or clip by using the capture button on the Xbox controller (the one in the middle).

This isn't the first time Xbox has done a wide purge. It started in January 2024, with Xbox sending a similar warning in October 2023. This also isn't the first big change sweeping across Xbox. The company recently rolled out its new Rewards hub, which focuses on "playing the games you love," thus encouraging more game captures.

Here's how to save and back up your Xbox game captures.

How to save and back-up Xbox game captures

Save captures on Xbox

Step 1. Click the Xbox button and go to My games & apps.

Step 2. Jump down the rabbit hole with See all > Apps > Captures.

Step 3. At this point, you can filter out the captures you want.

Step 4. There will be a prompt to select which back up option you want, choose either Upload to OneDrive or Copy to external storage. If you want to copy to an external storage device, it not only needs to be plugged in, but it also needs to be formatted (so make sure it's a clean drive).

Save captures on mobile

Step 1. Open the Xbox mobile app.

Step 2. Navigate to My Library.

Step 3. Select the screenshot or clip you want, then hit Save.

Save captures on PC

You're in luck. PC captures save locally, so they are not subject to the 90-day deletion policy.

Upload automatically to OneDrive

Step 1. Press the Xbox button and go to Profile & system > Settings.

Step 2. Now go to Preferences > Capture & share > Automatic uploads.

Step 3. Here you can enable automatic uploads for OneDrive.

It's as easy as that. Hopefully, you won't get caught in another deletion sweep coming later this year.

For more news, rumors, and updates on everything gaming related, and all things tech, follow Laptop Mag on X, Facebook, and Flipboard for the latest word as it arrives.

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Thanks to Microsoft, Windows 10 is slowly morphing into a billboard designed to pester you from all angles about various products and services. Are you tired of Windows 10's constant prompting to "Sign in to your Microsoft Account," or offering you to start "A new journey with Windows" as it tries to sell you on Windows 11? Us too!

Microsoft refuses to give up the hard sell on OneDrive and Windows 11, bashing users over the head with full-screen ads or pop-ups wherever it can. In the Windows 10 Build 19045.4353, a new banner once again pushes users to link their Microsoft Account to Windows to gain access to OneDrive's cloud storage. It never ends.

Thankfully, getting rid of these pop-ups for good is far easier than you'd think. It's just not as easy to find the options to do so if you don't know where you're looking. Let's dive into it to ditch those OneDrive and Windows 11 ads.

• Are you a Windows 11 user? Here’s how to block ads on your system too!

How to block built-in ads on Windows 10

Pop-ups, banners, full-screen ads! Windows 10 is constantly trying to give you the hard sell in one way or another. While they're not exactly the end of the world, they are intrusive and can be a pain to put up with as you go about your daily computing.

Thankfully, these ads can be turned off. Unfortunately, Microsoft likes to make it a little more fiddly than it needs to be — likely to keep hitting you with them for as long as possible.

Here's how to disable built-in ads on Windows 10 to keep your desktop free from Microsoft's hard sell.

How to block ads in Start Menu on Windows 10

• Step 1. Click the "Start" (or Windows) button and choose "Settings" (or click the image of a cog).
• Step 2. Now click "Personalization."
• Step 3. In the sidebar, look for and click on "Start."
• Step 4. Turn the toggle box saying "Show suggestions occasionally in Start" to "Off."

How to block ads in File Explorer on Windows 10

• Step 1. Click the "Start" (or Windows) button and choose "Documents" (or click the image of a document).
• Step 2. In the File Explorer window that opens, click the "View" tab at the top of the window.
• Step 3. Find and click the "Options" button in the ribbon below.
• Step 4. In the Folder Options window, click the "View" tab.
• Step 5. Scroll through the "Advanced Settings" until you find "Show sync provider notifications."
• Step 6. Uncheck this box, click "Apply" to save the changes, and then click "OK" to close the Folder Options window.

How to block ads in Settings on Windows 10

• Step 1. Click the "Start" (or Windows) button and choose "Settings" (or click the image of a cog).
• Step 2. Now click "Privacy."
• Step 3. Finally, turn the toggle box saying "Show me suggested content in the Settings app" to "Off."

Optionally, turn the toggle box saying "Let apps use advertising ID to make ads more interesting to you based on your app activity (turning this off will reset your ID.)" to prevent Windows apps from tracking your activity.

How to block ads from Notifications on Windows 10

• Step 1. Click the "Start" (or Windows) button and choose "Settings" (or click the image of a cog).
• Step 2. Now click "System."
• Step 3. In the sidebar, look for and click on "Notifications & actions."
• Step 4. Uncheck the box saying "Show me the Windows welcome experience after updates and occasionally when I sign in to highlight what's new and suggested."
• Step 5. Uncheck the box saying "Suggest ways I can finish setting up my device to get the most out of Windows."
• Step 6. Finally, uncheck the box saying "Get tips, tricks, and suggestions as you use Windows."

Before you go: A mild defense of Windows 11

While Microsoft's constant haranguing of users to upgrade to its latest operating system isn't winning it any fans, Windows 11, for its flaws, isn't quite the comic book villain it's made out to be.

While initially, the platform had its fair share of problems, a lot has changed since then. There are several key upgrades on the table, plus, many tweaks that will upgrade your Windows experience, and several options you can turn off to make the transition less annoying.

This is all string and sellotape solution for many, and likely won't prevent you from muttering "I never should have upgraded to Windows 11" at some point or another if change is not your thing. However, the operating system has come a long way since 2021, and there could be some benefits to giving it another shot in 2024.

Windows 11's ailing adoption rate is a problem. Not for you or me, of course. But it is a massive issue for Microsoft. This could explain why it gets pushy when it comes to ads on Windows 10. Especially as the company wants to continue in its efforts to bring AI to the desktop and popularize the AI PC, much of both being heavily interlinked with the Windows 11 operating system. 

Our most pressing matter, as Windows 10 holdouts, is the impending end of support judgment day on October 14, 2025. If, by then, Windows 12 hasn't descended from the heavens—offering us refuge in a desktop environment that's historically likely to be, at least, better—we'll be forced to concede defeat and grant Microsoft the Windows 11 market share it so craves. 

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Connecting a second display to your setup is an underrated way to increase productivity for work and make playing games more enjoyable. So when that second monitor is not detected in Windows 10 automatically, it's incredibly frustrating.

Usually, pairing an external monitor with Windows is a seamless process. But if there's an issue with your hardware or display driver, it can prevent the monitor from being detected — even if this second monitor has been in your setup for years. 

Luckily, there are several ways to troubleshoot this pesky issue. Here are all the hardware- and software-related fixes for your undetected second monitor.

Start with hardware troubleshooting to fix external monitor connection issues

Fixing the issue of your second monitor not being detected could be as simple as checking that it's plugged in and powered on. That's not always the case, but it's such a quick fix that it's worth checking before diving into software troubleshooting.

Here are a few specific things to check for: 

• Make sure the display is connected to a power source and that your monitor is powered on. 
• Try a different port if your monitor and/or graphics card offer multiple ports.
• Disconnect the signal cable from your monitor and graphics card or laptop, wait for at least one minute, and then reconnect the cable at both ends. 
• If you have another DisplayPort or HDMI cable, try that cable to see if there's a problem with your existing cable. 
• Try connecting your problem monitor to another device to determine whether the issue is with your monitor. 
• Use this Windows keyboard shortcut to try and wake your PC from a blank or black screen: Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B
• Try the classic comprehensive solution of restarting your PC. Sometimes, turning it off and on again is truly all it takes.

If none of these basic troubleshooting steps fix your undetected second monitor or point you in the right direction, there are a few software-related solutions you can try.

Try to manually detect your second monitor

Using the Settings app, you can sometimes force the system to detect your second monitor — here's how. 

1. From the Settings app, select System from the menu. 

2. Click on Display. 

3. Under the Multiple displays heading, click the Detect button to find and connect to an external monitor.

Roll back or update your display driver

If you've recently updated your PC or display driver, there could be something that's now not compatible with your second monitor. Rolling back, or returning, to the previous version of your display driver may fix the issue.

1. Push the Windows key + X key and select Device Manager from the menu that pops up. Alternatively, use the search bar to type "Device Manager" and pull up the app that way.

2. Find Display adapters in the menu and click the arrow next to it to expand the section.

3. Right-click your display adapter — which will likely say either Intel, NVIDIA, or AMD — and click Properties. 

4. Click on the Driver tab, and select Roll Back Driver.

Note: If this isn't an option, you can try to click Update Driver instead and then Search automatically for drivers to see if Windows can find any new available drivers.

5. Continue through the on-screen prompts and restart your device.

If neither rolling back or updating your display driver works, it's time to try reinstalling your display driver.

Reinstall your display driver

1. From the Device Manager window we opened in the previous section, locate Display adapters again in the menu and make sure the section is expanded.

2. Right-click your display adapter — which again, will usually say Intel, AMD, or NVIDIA — and choose Uninstall device from the menu options. 

3. Check the box next to Delete the driver software for this device and click Uninstall.

4. Restart your computer.

5. Open Device Manager again (via Windows key + X or the search bar) and expand the Display adapters section using the arrow next to it.

6. Right-click your display adapter and select Update driver from the menu.

7. Choose Search automatically for update driver software and follow the rest of the on-screen instructions.

Your second monitor should automatically be detected once the display driver is reinstalled if the issue is related.

If your second monitor is still undetected at this point, the monitor itself might be the issue. Check out our picks for best monitors if you need help deciding on a new display.

Got a ZIP file on your iPhone you're not sure how to unzip? No worries, I'll teach you how to unzip files on iPhone (it's not as complicated as it sounds).

If you need some other iPhone tips, like how to uninstall apps on iPhone or how to fax from iPhone, we have guides for that as well.

Otherwise, here's how to unzip files on iPhone.

How to unzip files on iPhone

Step 1. Open the Files app and go to the location where the file is stored.

Step 2. Select the ZIP file you'd like to unzip.

Step 3. Your iPhone should automatically unzip the files and create a separate folder containing the files. However, if it doesn't automatically unzip, press and hold the file, then tap "Uncompress."

Step 4. Now, tap the folder to gain access to your unzipped files.

You can do the same exact thing on your iPad or iPod touch. If you want to create a ZIP file, you also do the same thing, except you'll select "Compress" as opposed to "Uncompress."

For news, rumors, and how-tos on everything iPhone-related, and all things tech, follow Laptop Mag on Twitter, Facebook, and Flipboard for the latest word as it arrives.

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Need to know how to uninstall apps on iPhone? We'll guide you through it step by step. There's nothing better than keeping your tech all neat and tidy.

If you need some other iPhone tips, like how to fax from iPhone or how to set up a new iPhone, we've got you covered there too.

Otherwise, here's how to uninstall apps on iPhone.

How to uninstall apps on iPhone

Step 1: Go to App Library.

Step 2: Touch and hold the app.

Step 3: Click Delete App.

Step 4: Tap Delete

It's as easy as that. You can even uninstall apps that shipped with your iPhone, including anything from FaceTime and Calendar to Music and Wallet. If you uninstalled an app by mistake, you can reinstall it from the App Store.

For news, rumors, and how-tos on everything iPhone-related, and all things tech, follow Laptop Mag on Twitter, Facebook, and Flipboard for the latest word as it arrives.

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If you share a computer with multiple people, learning how to hide folders in Windows 11 is an excellent tool. And even if you're the only person who typically uses your computer, it's still a smart idea to hide folders with private information to make it more difficult to find financial, medical, or other personal info — just in case anyone ever gets their hands on your laptop with malicious intent.

In addition to the perk of concealing private info from prying eyes, hiding folders you don't use as often keeps File Explorer looking neat and organized. 

Whether you're trying to clean up your files, hide surprise party details, or protect sensitive information, here's everything you need to know about hiding folders in Windows 11.

How to hide folders on Windows 11

1. Open File Explorer using the Windows taskbar, the Start menu, or the Windows key + E shortcut.

2. Right-click the folder you'd like to hide.

3. Click Properties in the menu that pops up.

4. Toward the bottom of the Properties pop-up, click the checkbox next to Hidden.

5. Click OK. A message will pop up to confirm your changes and ask how you'd like the changes to apply, either to just the folder or the folder and its subfolders and files.

In most cases, the Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files option will be the best option. Once you've clicked the radio button next to your preference, click OK to finalize the action.

If you want to password-protect your hidden files to add an extra layer of security, opt for a third-party app like Wise Folder Hider from the Microsoft Store instead.

How to find hidden folders on Windows 11

You can't search for your hidden folders like you would a normal folder because it's, well, hidden. Nonetheless, finding hidden folders in Windows 11 is a simple three-step process.

1. Open File Explorer via your Windows taskbar, the Start menu, or the Windows key + E shortcut.

2. Toward the top of File Explorer, click View. 

3. In the dropdown menu that pops up, select Show and make sure there's a checkmark next to Hidden Items. If there's not, click Hidden Items. 

Once you choose to show hidden items, they'll be accessible in their original destination in File Explorer. Make sure you repeat these steps and click Hidden items again to remove the checkmark beside it if you don't want your hidden files to be easily accessible.

How to unhide folders in Windows 11

1. Open File Explorer. The quickest way to do this is by using the Windows + E keyboard shortcut.

2. Click View toward the top of the window.

3. From the dropdown menu that pops up, select Show and then Hidden files if there's no checkmark next to this option.

4. Find the folder you'd like to unhide, right-click it, and select Properties from the pop-up menu.

5. Uncheck the box next to Hidden and select OK.

6. Confirm how you'd like to apply the changes and click OK again.

And that's all there is to hiding and unhiding folders in Windows 11! To get more out of your Windows laptop, check out these hidden Windows 11 settings that'll make the OS less of a headache.

We've all been there — you're typing away and you notice your keyboard has a bunch of grimy dust clinging to the keys. If you're wondering how to clean your keyboard and get rid of all that debris, you're in luck. Cleaning your keyboard is cheap and easy, but there are a few cleaning methods you should avoid. 

If you want to make the most of your mechanical keyboard, you can also try some cheap and easy modifications that can improve sound and performance without damaging your keyboard. Make sure to check out our guide to the best types of mechanical keyboard switches, as well, if you're exploring keyboard customization.

Here at the top keyboard cleaning hacks that will safely freshen up your favorite keyboard.

Keyboard cleaning methods you shouldn't try

Before diving into the top ways to clean your keyboard safely, let's clear the air about a few tactics you shouldn't try. 

First, definitely don't use soap and water to clean your keyboard. Even if it's unplugged, dunking your keyboard in the sink can easily ruin it. That means no sticking it in the dishwasher, either. 

The same applies to other liquid cleaning methods, such as sprays or baking soda mixtures. As a general rule, if it's liquid, it shouldn't go on your keyboard. 

Luckily, there are plenty of other, much safer ways to clean your keyboard without breaking it or damaging your keycaps. Some keyboard cleaning hacks are so easy you won't even need to take your keyboard apart. 

How to clean your keyboard with a sticky note

You might be wondering how to clean your keyboard because you've noticed the bits of hair, crumbs, and dust that can get stuck under the keys. Cleaning up that debris is way easier than you might think. All you need is a sticky note. 

Simply swipe the sticky part of the sticky note underneath the keys and it will pick up most of the debris. You might need a couple of sticky notes to get it all, but you shouldn't need to do any disassembly. This hack is perfect for polishing up your keyboard a bit at the office without needing any special tools like a keycap puller. 

How to clean your keyboard with compressed air

The sticky note hack is a quick improvised way to clean your keyboard, but it's not the only easy solution for getting all that dust and debris out from under your keycaps. You can also use a cannister of compressed air to quickly spray dust out without disassembling anything. If you don't have one already, you can pick up a can of compressed air for electronics dusting for about $10 on Amazon. 

This method is pretty easy, but you need to be careful about how close you hold the can of compressed air. It won't hurt your keyboard, but the spray from it can be a bit harsh if you hold it too close to the keyboard. You don't want to accidentally chip off a bit of plastic, so just make sure to hold the nozzle of the air can at least a few inches away from the keyboard. 

Spray at an angle in one direction so the air chases the debris down to one end of the keyboard. 

How to clean your keyboard with a cloth and brush

Maybe you're wondering how to deep clean your keyboard rather than simply give it a quick dust off. This will require a bit of disassembly, but it's good to deep clean your keyboard once in a while, especially if its a premium mechanical keyboard or one of the best gaming keyboards. If you're spending a good bit of change your keyboard, you should take care of it. 

For an easy deep clean, you'll need a keycap puller, a switch puller, a microfiber cloth, and a small, soft brush (a soft bristle toothbrush works great). If you don't have a keycap puller or switch puller, you can get a combo tool for just $5 on Amazon. 

An old credit card or gift card can also work to pop keycaps off. Just make sure you don't use anything sharp or metal since that might damage the switches or keycaps. You can also swap out a microfiber cloth for some electronics-safe cleaning wipes, which are handy for cleaning your mouse and laptop, as well. 

Start by unplugging your keyboard and removing your keycaps. (If you want to clean those, too, set them aside in a bowl and check out the next section.) Once all of your keycaps are off, use the brush to sweep out all of the debris on the keyboard's top plate. 

Be careful to brush around the switches and don't push debris into them. The easiest strategy is to brush all of the debris down to one corner of the keyboard then simply tip the case to dump it out. 

If there are any stains, grime, or other residue remaining on the keyboard's top plate, use your switch puller to remove your keycaps, assuming your keyboard is hot-swappable. If it's not and the switches are removable, you have to be careful using your microfiber cloth or cleaning wipe to wipe off the residue. At this step, you can also flip over the keyboard and wipe down the bottom of it if necessary. 

Afterward, put the switches and keycaps back on and you're good to go. 

How to clean your keycaps 

If you're deep cleaning your keyboard, you might as while freshen up your keycaps, too. Oil from your fingers can easily build up on your keycaps, making them look grubby. Luckily, there's a way to get that residue off without ruining the paint job on your keycaps. 

Since keycaps are just plastic, they're the only part of your keyboard that's safe to clean with water. However, they must be removed from your keyboard first! Don't clean your keycaps with soap and water while they are still attached to your keyboard. You have to use a keycap puller first to remove them. If you don't have one, you can get a keycap puller from Amazon or use an old credit card or gift card. 

Once you have removed all of your keycaps and set your keyboard aside, grab a bowl of warm water with hand or dish soap in it, a dry towel, and a damp towel for scrubbing any tough stains. You should also find a spot to sit out all your keycaps to air dry overnight. 

Simply dunk your keycaps in the bowl of soapy water and gently scrub them with your fingers or the damp towel. Don't use a sponge or anything abrasive since that could rub away the legends on the keys or scratch the plastic. After you're done, set the keycaps aside to dry. It's best to leave them overnight to make sure they're completely free of moisture before going back on your keyboard. 

How to take care of your mechanical keyboard

Mechanical keyboards and gaming keyboards are a great addition to any desk, but they can be pricey. So, it's always a good idea to make sure you're taking care of yours, including cleaning it from time to time.  

If you like the keyboard featured in this article, it is the Epomaker x Leobog Hi75 with a set of aftermarket retro-themed keycaps and a coiled aviator cable from Amazon. 

Is that new PC game not all it's cracked up to be? Well, don't worry, we can teach you how to refund a game on Steam. There are a few stipulations when refunding a game on Steam, so read carefully.

You can refund a game on Steam only within 14 days of purchasing and if you've played less than 2 hours of it. Those rules aren't all that flexible, but you can still submit a refund request explaining your situation. Rules as written — Steam states that it'll "Take a look at it."

Here's how to refund a game on Steam. (Unless it's Dragon's Dogma 2, in which case you better get back in there and slay some dragons.)

How to refund a game on Steam

Step 1: Go to the Steam Help page and log in.

Step 2: Click "Purchases."

Step 3: Select the game you wish to refund.

Step 4: Choose the issue you're having. It's either "I purchased this by accident" or "Gameplay or technical issue."

Step 5: Click "I'd like to request a refund."

Step 6: A form will appear. Choose where you want the refund to go (either Steam Wallet or the original payment method). Then you can write the reason for the refund. You don't have to get fancy with it if you're well within the refund window. However, we recommend thoroughly explaining your situation if you fall outside of said window.

Step 7: Submit request.

It's not rocket science to request a refund, although some places make it just as difficult. Ideally, you'll be in the window of the refund, so you won't have any issues. You can also read up on Steam's refund policy if you'd like to make doubly sure you're in the clear when it comes to requesting your money back.

Hope it's an easy refund!

The solar eclipse is happening today on April 8, 2024, so it's time to get ready to snap some eclipse photos if you're in the path of totality. Hold on a second, though — you don't want to just point your phone at the eclipse without any protection. Looking directly at the sun could potentially do permanent damage to your eyes or your phone's camera lens. So proceed with caution, particularly if you are using an expensive new phone.

Here's how to take pictures of the eclipse without ruining your phone's camera. 

How to take pictures of the eclipse with eclipse glasses

If you're wondering how to take pictures of the eclipse safely, the easiest way is to simply hold the lens of a pair of eclipse glasses over your phone's camera. Just to be clear, though, don't take off your own eclipse glasses to cover your phone instead. You'll need a spare pair of glasses for this trick to work. 

While it's last minute, there are still plenty of places you can get a free pair of eclipse glasses, like local libraries, universities, and department stores, especially in areas that are in the path of totality. The best kind of eclipse glasses for using on your phone camera are the paper kind since you can flatten them against the back of your phone. If you know someone with an extra pair, you can even cut them in half so you each have an eclipse lens to protect your phone cameras. 

How to take pictures of the eclipse with a solar filter

Figuring out how to take pictures of the eclipse without damaging your phone camera is easier if you planned ahead, although it may not be too late. If you can't get your hands on a spare pair of eclipse glasses, you can also look for a solar filter designed for camera lenses. These are effectively the same as the lenses on eclipse glasses, but they're only certified for cameras, not humans eyes. 

You can get a solar filter on Amazon for about $9, although it will probably be tough for even Amazon to get it to you by this afternoon. So, you may want to check brick-and-mortar stores, as well, such as department stores or camera stores. 

Using a solar filter is super easy if you can find one. You simply hold it over your phone's camera while snapping your eclipse pics. They're more convenient than using a spare pair of eclipse glasses since they're more compact and usually have a larger filter than the little ones on eclipse glasses. 

How to take pictures of the eclipse with a telescope

What if you want to take pictures of the eclipse, but you can't find a spare pair of glasses or a solar filter? There still might be a way to get those solar eclipse shots without damaging your phone lens, but it will most likely require being at an eclipse viewing location where many other people are present. 

Community viewing events often attract local astronomy groups, hobby stargazers, and school groups, all of whom often bring telescopes with solar filters on them. If you ask around, someone with a telescope may be willing to let you hold your phone up to the viewing lens on it to snap a couple of photos. 

You do need to be careful, though. Always ask if the telescope has a solar filter on it. An unfiltered telescope can be more dangerous to your phone's camera (and your eyes) than looking directly at the sun without a telescope since it magnifies the light from the sun. 

If you use an Android phone and have close friends or family who use iPhones, you might feel like you're missing out on quick video calls through FaceTime. But fret not, because it's not only possible to hop in a FaceTime call on Android, it's really easy too.

As an Android user, you still can't initiate a FaceTime call, but you can answer a FaceTime via a link sent from an iPhone user. There are a few FaceTime features native to iPhones that Android users can't utilize, but you'll be able to join the FaceTime with your camera and microphone — here's how to do it.

How to FaceTime friends on Android

In order for an Android user to join a FaceTime call, a request link needs to be created by an iPhone, iPad, or Mac running at least iOS 15, iPadOS 15, or MacOS 12 Monterey, respectively. Once the link is created in the FaceTime app, it can be shared directly to an Android user in their messages app.

As soon as an Android user gets the link, there are only a few steps to take before starting the FaceTime call.

1. Open the FaceTime link in your messages app. Depending on your messages app, the link might open immediately in your internet browser, or you might need to tap the link and then choose to copy, share, or open it in your internet browser.

2. Allow your browser to access your camera and microphone for the call.

3. Enter your name, and tap Continue.

4. Select Join to hop into the FaceTime call.

At this point, the person who created the FaceTime link needs to accept your request to join via the FaceTime app. Once the host approves your entry to the call, you're good to go!

iPhone users can use all FaceTime features like normal, including Memoji stickers, filters, and in-app screenshots. Android users, however, will only be able to turn the camera and microphone on and off, switch camera view, and take manual screenshots without notifying other users.

When you're ready to leave the call, make plans for your next FaceTime call and simply tap the Leave button.

FaceTime is just one of those things that iPhones can do that Androids can’t — at least, not natively and without an iPhone initiating the call. Of course, there are third-party platforms that allow video calls with similar features to be initiated from both iPhone and Android users, but none are quite as polished as FaceTime.

Enshrouded just got a big update that you don't want to miss: a series of challenging dungeons called the Hollow Halls. Inside you'll find new types of enemies, intense boss fights, unique loot, and even a new NPC to summon to your base. If you want to know how to find the Hollow Halls in Enshrouded, this guide will walk you through every step, from getting the first quest marker to summoning the Collector. 

Here's everything you need to know about the Hollow Halls in Enshrouded and how to find and beat the first one. 

Spoiler alert: This guide does not contain spoilers for the final combat encounter of the Springlands Hollow Halls, but it does contain hints about the layout and content of the dungeon. There are no spoilers for anything in the Revelwood, Nomad Highlands, or Kindlewastes Hollow Halls. 

What are the Hollow Halls? 

The Hollow Halls are a new type of dungeon that was added to Enshrouded in it's first update since early access release. The update was released on March 26, 2024 and brought a lot of new items and fixes to the game, but the Hollow Halls were the main event. 

These dungeons are designed to be more difficult than the tombs, sanctums, and abandoned villages currently in the game. They function a bit like Ancient Spires and Flame Sanctums, with a teleportation pad that takes you in and out of a maze littered with enemies and loot chests. 

There is one Hollow Halls dungeon per biome, so there are currently four that are playable. Keep in mind, Enshrouded is still an early access so there are large portions of the map that aren't available yet. That means there will most likely be more Hollow Halls locations added down the line. 

If you've spent some time in Enshrouded, you've probably noticed that each biome has a different difficulty level. The Hollow Halls work the same way. So, you need to start with the Springlands location to unlock the more challenging Hollow Halls. 

Here's where to start — and a few tips for successfully beating the Hollow Halls. 

Step 1. Talk to the Alchemist for the quest "Explore the Hollow Halls"

If you want to know how to find the Hollow Halls in Enshrouded, start by talking to the Alchemist. He has a quest called "Explore the Hollow Halls" that will reveal the location of the Springlands Hollow Halls on your map. So, if you're still early in the game and haven't summoned him yet, you'll have some work to do first. 

If you do have the Alchemist but aren't seeing the quest "Explore the Hollow Halls," continue completing quests for the Alchemist and leveling up. The first Hollows Halls dungeon is designed for players who are minimum level 10 (the level of the enemies you will face there), so if you haven't unlocked the quest yet, you may simply be too low level for it. 

The other NPCs have comments and lore about the Hollow Halls as well, so if talking to them triggers conversations about the new dungeons, you should have the Hollow Halls Alchemist quest available. Once you get the quest from him, a quest marker should appear on your map directly west of Longkeep (the abandoned village near the starting zone). 

Step 2. Fly or run to the Hollow Halls quest maker

The Springlands Hollow Halls is in the hills east of Longkeep and south of Peaceful Acres farm. You can fly there with your glider, but it's also a fairly quick walk. Head toward the Flame Sanctum in that corner of the map and follow the edge of the mountain north until you get to a trail leading up into the hills. You'll find the first Hollow Halls location tucked away at the top.

Step 3. Head inside... but come prepared

Once you arrive at the first Hollow Halls location, you can head inside to take on the hordes of enemies waiting below. However, you might not want to go diving in without some preparation first. The Hollow Halls are designed to be challenging for a group, let alone a solo player (although it is possible to solo them). 

First, it's probably best to make sure you (and any co-op players) are at least level 10. My co-op group ranged from level 9 to level 18 and we were able to breeze through most of the first Hollow Halls dungeon, but still faced a challenge at the end of it. If you are trying to solo it, you will probably want to be well above level 10, depending on the class you're playing and the gear you have. I would recommend level 15. 

Before leaving your base, make sure you get the rested buff by sitting beside a fire for a few minutes. Cook plenty of food, too. Grilled game and grilled wolf meat are the best early game options, but if you are a bit further along, you can also craft meals with the Farmer, which offer better stat bonuses. Make sure to visit the Alchemist, as well, and craft plenty of healing potions (I'd recommend a couple dozen... yes, really). 

If you're a magic user, craft a dozen or so mana potions, as well. You should also stock up on spell charges if you're using a staff. Fireball II performed the best for me, but Fireball I is also good. Healing charges can come in handy, but potions are better since they restore health faster (which you'll want in the final combat zone of the dungeon). 

Finally, if you have a Flask of the Fell or any special items like a Prayer of the Flame Scroll, I would also recommend using those once you arrive at the Hollow Halls. 

Step 4. Navigate the dungeon by searching for runes to open magic barriers

Once you enter the Hollow Halls, you'll face a quick combat encounter against half a dozen or so skeletal enemies. Finish them off then head over to the teleporter in the center of the room. This will take you down to the first respawn flame in the dungeon below. 

After that, things are pretty straightforward. Expect to navigate a maze of rooms and hallways with groups of about six to twelve enemies throughout. Along the way, you'll run into glowing magic barriers. To deactivate these, you need to search for runes, which have a distinctive green glow. (Hint: make sure you bring your grappling hook.) 

Sometimes runes are floating around rooms in the dungeons, but enemies can also "carry" the runes, meaning you'll have to kill those specific enemies to deactivate the barrier. You can tell an enemy is carrying a rune if they have a glowing green rune icon floating above their head. Usually only the more powerful enemies carry runes (so the skeletal dogs are not your prime suspects here). 

Step 5. Awaken the Collector NPC at the end of the dungeon

Near the end of the dungeon, you'll arrive at a room with a giant hole in the floor. This is your point of no return. Once you jump through, you can't go back to the teleportation pad you entered the dungeon with, so you will have no choice but to face the final combat zone if you want to leave the Hollow Halls.

If you're sure you're ready to continue, jump through and use your glider to land on the platform below. Eventually you will arrive at the final room of the dungeon. I won't spoil what's waiting there, but here's a hint: there will be a bridge.

After defeating whatever awaits you in the final room of the dungeon, the last barrier will dissolve, allowing you to enter a room at the far end of the final combat zone. Don't skip this room! Inside you'll find a glowing coffin standing upright against the wall. Opening this coffin awakens the sixth NPC in Enshrouded, the Collector, who you'll need to summon back at your base to unlock the other Hollow Halls locations.

After awakening the Collector, make sure you check out the other rooms in the final combat zone to grab a few final loot chests. Then you can proceed through the room with the Collector's coffin to one last chamber, where you can use the teleporter pad get back to the entrance and head back to your base.

How to find the other three Hollow Halls in Enshrouded

After returning to your base, you can summon the Collector to unlock new quests and recipes. Among these are recipes for "bone keys", starting with the Revelwood Bone Key. 

You need one of each of these keys to unlock the other three Hollow Halls. You won't unlock all three recipes at once, though. You need to clear each Hollow Hall in order to unlock the next one. The order goes: Springlands, Revelwood, Nomad Highlands, Kindlewastes. 

Remember, the difficulty increases significantly with each new dungeon. So, make sure you take time to level up and improve your gear before trying each one, especially if you're trying to beat them solo. 

Here's one last hint: the gear you find in the Hollow Halls often provides damage bonuses specifically against enemies in the Hollow Halls. Pick up as much as you can and enhance it to give yourself a bit of an edge in the next biome's Hollow Halls dungeon. You can also replay any of the Hollow Halls after you finish them if you want some more loot or XP. 

Overall, I've enjoyed playing through the Hollow Halls and I can safely say they're best experienced with a couple co-op buddies. If you're a fan of co-op games, make sure to check out our full breakdown of Enshrouded vs Valheim and Enshrouded vs Nightingale. Can't run them? Check out the best gaming laptops of 2026.