In this article, we’ll discuss why your PlayStation 4 console keeps disconnecting from WiFi, and we’ll show you several potential fixes. However, you’ll have to do some troubleshooting first to discover the reasons behind the constant disconnections. Fortunately, all the proposed fixes are quick to try and you’ll be back playing your favorite PS4 games in no time.

Why Does My PS4 Keep Disconnecting from WiFi?

If your PS4 constantly drops the WiFi connection, it could be due to:

1. Outdated firmware of either the console or the router. If the PS4 or router’s firmware is outdated, they would be incompatible with one another. Your PS4 will keep disconnecting from WiFi.
2. PS4 database corruption. A corrupted or overloaded database table of PS4 can cause PS4 network modules to fail executing their operations and the result would be frequent internet disconnections.
3. Wrong DNS settings. Your WiFi router could forcefully close any PS4’s web requests if the DNS servers are experiencing any issues and fail to respond. This often happens when the DNS servers can’t translate the web addresses of the PS4-related traffic due to wrong settings.
4. Wrong router configuration. It could be that your router is not properly configured and it causes frequent WiFi disconnections.
5. Weak WiFi Signal. WiFi signals can easily weaken if it’s affected by interference. Maybe your router is too far away from the console.

As you can see there are different reasons why your PS4 gaming console keeps disconnecting from WiFi. So try to figure out why you are experiencing this issue or simply apply each fix on our list until one works for you.

1. Perform a Connection Test

If you’re wondering if your PS4 has a stable WiFi connection, you should perform a connection test. It’ll help you get an insight into the network problems that are causing your gaming console to frequently drop the WiFi connection.

1. Start your PS4 console and go to Settings.
2. Select Network from the menu.

3. Select Test Internet Connection.

4. Once the test is over check if the PS4 problem is solved.

If you’re certain your PS4 console has a stable WiFi connection, but you keep getting disconnection errors, you should know that some games, such as Ghost of Tsushima, send false disconnection notifications during the gameplay.

2. Move Your PS4 Console Closer to the WiFi Router

If you notice your WiFi connection is not stable, just moving your PS4 console closer to the router could solve this problem. This will increase the signal strength and reduce the chance of experiencing disconnections. You can also opt for moving the router somewhere where it won’t be physically blocked by anything else. Metal objects that are blocking the router are the main problem, so make sure there are no house appliances, other gadgets, or even walls between your PlayStation 4 and the router.

If you’re not only experiencing frequent WiFi disconnections but also noticed your games are lagging, you should consider switching to an ethernet cable. Don’t rely on a patchy WiFi connection when an ethernet cable ensures optimal connection stability and speed.

3. Power Cycle the PS4 and Restart Your WiFi Router

Your PS4 device might be getting constant WiFi disconnects because there’s a temporary glitch with your console or router, such as a glitch in the communication modules between the PS4 and the router. The best course of action is to perform a cold restart of both devices.

Follow these steps to Power Cycle the PS4 gaming console and the router simultaneously:

1. Open the Quick Menu on your PS4 and select the Power button.
2. Select Turn Off PS4.

3. Once you are sure your console is completely powered down, unplug the power cable.
4. Turn your router off and unplug the power cable.
5. Wait at least 30 seconds before turning both devices on again. This will allow them to fully power down and clear their memory.
6. Plug back the cables in the router and turn it on.
7. Make sure there are no other devices connected to the WiFi.
8. Plug the cable back into your PS4 console and turn it on. Check if the WiFi connection is stable.

If the problem persists, check if other devices work properly when they are connected to the same WiFi.

4. Change the WiFi Frequency Settings

While the old PS4 models support only the 2.4 GHz frequency, PS4 Pro supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. However, the 2.4 GHz frequency is the default one for all PS4 models. If you have PS4 Pro don’t hesitate to change the frequency settings. 5 GHz offers a faster rate of data transmission. This could resolve your issue with the WiFi connection.

Follow these simple steps to change the frequency settings on your PS4 Pro console:

1. Turn your console on and go to settings.
2. Select Network from the menu, and then select Set up Internet Connection.

3. Select Use Wi-Fi from the offered solutions.

4. On the next screen choose Easy.

5. Now press the Options button on the controller and select Wi-Fi Frequency Bands.
6. Now select 5GHz and apply the changes.

Make sure you reboot your PS4 and see if this solves your WiFi issues.

5. Update the PS4 Firmware

Updating the PS4 firmware to the latest version is a great way to deal not only with the WiFi connection issues but also with any glitches and bugs you might be experiencing with your console.

Here’s how you can update PS4 firmware:

1. Go to Settings and select System Software Update.

2. Select Next, and then Update or Update Now, and your console will automatically install the update.

3. The console will reboot after the updates are fully installed. After the system is on again, check if the WiFi problem is still there.

6. Change DNS Settings

DNS stands for Domain Name System and it’s a crucial part of the PS4 network connection settings. Its role is to make the communication between the console and the router seamless. Changing the DNS settings might fix network problems and help your PS4 console establish a stable wireless connection.

Follow these steps to change the DNS settings on a PS4 console:

1. Go to Settings and select Network, then Set Up Internet Connection.

2. Select Use Wi-Fi.

3. Choose Custom.

4. Select Automatic under the IP Address Settings.

5. Select Do Not Specify under the DHCP Host Name.

6. Choose Manual under the DNS Settings.

7. Enter the following Primary and Secondary DNS values:

Google
Primary: 8.8.8.8
Secondary: 8.8.4.4

Cloudflare
Primary: 1.1.1.1
Secondary: 1.0.0.1

8. Next, in the MTU Settings select Automatic, and at the Proxy Server window select Do Not Use.

Finally, select the Test Internet Connection button to check if your Wi-Fi connection works properly.

7. Restore Default PS4 Settings

If your PS4 console settings are improperly configured, you might experience frequent WiFi disconnections. Just resetting them to default might fix the issue for you. If you opt to reset the console’s settings, you should know you might lose some game saves, but no content will be deleted. All your games, screenshots, videos, and apps will remain intact.

Here’s how to reset the PS4 settings to default:

1. Power off your console and press and hold the power button to enter the safe mode.
2. Wait until you hear the second beep sound and only then release the power button.
3. In the safe mode screen select the Restore Default Settings. It’s the fourth option.

4. Once the console’s system is back up, check if your WiFi connection issue is resolved.

8. Rebuild PS4 Database

Maybe your current data table on the PS4 is overloaded, or not optimal, and is causing constant WiFi disconnects. If this is the case, your only option is to rebuild the PS4 database. During the process, the system will scan the storage drive and create a new database of all the content. All the corrupted data discovered during the scan will be automatically deleted. But don’t worry, but that doesn’t mean you’ll lose data from your console. The deleted corrupted files will simply be replaced with fresh versions. This means rebuilding the PS4 database is a safe process. Here’s how to do it:

1. Power off your console and press and hold the power button to enter the safe mode.
2. Wait until you hear the second beep sound and only then release the power button.
3. In the safe mode screen select the fifth option, Rebuild Database.

4. Wait until the system finishes the process. Depending on how big your database is, this could take anywhere from several minutes to several hours.
5. Once the process is done and the database is rebuilt, check if you are still having WiFi connection issues.

If this didn’t solve your issue you might want to try rebuilding the database for the second time. But this time, keep your PlayStation 4 console powered off for a whole day.

Remember that a stable Wi-Fi connection is crucial for an uninterrupted gaming experience, and by following these steps, you can regain control of your gaming destiny. Whether it’s resolving interference issues, optimizing your network settings, or performing a factory reset, these methods can help ensure your PS4 stays connected to the internet, allowing you to immerse yourself in your favorite games without interruption.

The post PS4 Keeps Disconnecting From Wi-Fi? Try These 8 Fixes first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

What Causes the Spotify Error 409?

Error 409 is most commonly caused by a conflict with your account or a Spotify server. That said, it can also be caused by the following reasons:

• Using an incorrect password when updating your Spotify account.
• Trying to update your Spotify account with an email that’s already in use by another account.
• Creating a new account with an already registered email.
• Corrupted registry entries and files.
• Outdated operating system on your device.

Now let’s see what you can do to attempt to fix the Spotify error code 409.

1. Check Your Spotify Login Details for Mistakes

The most common reason why Spotify users experience Error 409 when trying to log in is that they’re using incorrect login credentials. To remedy this, simply try logging in again, but be mindful of what you’re typing. The smallest mistake in the email or password could trigger the error.

Make sure that the caps lock is off and that all the keys on your keyboard are working correctly. If you’re having trouble remembering the password, you can try resetting it and using a new one to log into Spotify.

Finally, if you’re able to log in to the web version of Spotify but can’t log into the app with the same credentials, the problem might be with your device. If this is the case, continue reading.

2. Restart Your Device

If your login issue persists, it could be a sign that your device is experiencing a glitch. A simple restart takes care of all minor glitches on smartphones. So go ahead and try turning your device off and on again.

To restart the iPhone X or later versions, press and hold the Volume Up + Side button or Volume Down + Side button. When a slider appears on the screen, drag it to turn off your iPhone. To turn it on again, press and hold the side button.

If you’re using an Android, press and hold the Power button and select restart.

When your smartphone turns on, try launching the Spotify app and logging into your account.

3. Update the Spotify App

Sometimes, it’s the Spotify app that causes Error 409 to pop up. You can fix this issue if you simply update Spotify to the latest app version.

On an iPhone:

1. Open the App Store.
2. Access the Updates by clicking on your profile picture in the top right corner of the screen.

3. Tap Update next to Spotify.

4. Once the update is done, try logging in and see if the problem persists.

On an Android:

1. Launch the Google Play Store on your phone.
2. Find the Spotify app.
3. Tap the Update button if it’s available. If it’s not, then there is no update to be installed.

4. Reset the Spotify App on Windows

If you’re experiencing login error 409 on your Spotify desktop app, you could try resetting the app and see if this fixes the issue. Windows allows users to reset all the apps downloaded from the Microsoft Store. Here’s how to do it:

1. Type Installed apps in your Windows search bar to access them.

2. Find the Spotify app, and click the three dots menu.

3. Select Advanced Options from the drop-down menu.

4. Scroll down to the bottom and select the Reset button.

5. Click the Reset button to confirm.

Resetting the Spotify app will get rid of all the cache files, including the login information.

5. Clear Spotify App Cache

Corrupted files in the Spotify cache folder can cause the login error 409. Since the cache files are temporary data generated by the apps to reduce their load time, the apps can work just fine without them. They’ll just generate the new cache data the next time you run them.

This section will teach you how to clear the cache on iOS, Android, and Windows operating systems.

Clear Cache on iOS Devices

Unfortunately, there’s no direct way to clear the app cache on iOS devices. You’ll have to do it through the Settings app because you won’t be able to navigate to the Spotify settings due to error 409.

1. Open the Settings app from the home screen and tap General.

2. Scroll down to the bottom and tap iPhone Storage.

3. Find Spotify in the list of installed apps and tap on it to reveal more options.

4. Tap Offload App.

5. Tao Offload App to confirm.

By doing this, you’ll remove all the app data, including the Spotify app itself. Now you’ll have to go to the App Store and reinstall Spotify.

Clear Cache on Android Devices

1. Launch Settings and select Apps.

2. Search for Spotify and tap on it to reveal more options.

3. Select Storage.

4. Tap Clear Cache.
5. Tap Clear Data too.

6. Select Delete from the pop-up window to confirm.

Launch Spotify and try to log in to see if you’ll encounter the 409 error.

Clear Cache on Windows

Although you can clear Spotify cache through the Reset app method, you can also do it manually on a Windows PC. Here’s how:

1. Type Run in the start menu search bar.

2. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to open the Run Window.
3. Type appdata and hit Enter or click the OK button. This will open the appdata folder.

4. Double-click the Local folder to open it. Find and delete the Spotify folder.from there.

5. If you can’t find the Spotify folder you’ll have to do some digging. Go to Packages > SpotifyAB.SpotifyMusic_zpdnekdrzrea0 > LocalCache > Spotify > Data. Then delete all the folders within the Data folder.

Launch Spotify and try logging in with your account credentials to see if this fixed the issue.

6. Reinstall the Spotify App

If updating the Spotify app on your smartphone didn’t help with the issue, nor did deleting the cache files, the problem might be in its core files. If this is the case, the only way to get rid of error 409 is to completely remove the app from your device, and install it again. That way, all the core files will be removed.

Reinstall Spotify on iOS

1. Launch Settings, and go to General.

2. Go to iPhone Storage.

3. Find and select Spotify from the list of installed apps.

4. Tap the Delete app.

5. Press OK to confirm.
6. Go to the App Store and find the Spotify app. Download it.

Reinstall Spotify on Android

1. Launch Settings and go to Apps.

2. Find and select Spotify.

3. Tap Uninstall at the bottom of the screen.

4. Go to the Google Play Store, find Spotify, and tap the green Install button.

Reinstall Spotify on Windows

1. Go to the Installed apps.

2. Find Spotify from the list of apps and click the three dots to open up the menu.

3. Select Uninstall.

4. Select Uninstall again to confirm.

5. Go to the Microsoft Store and install Spotify from there.

7. Update Your Device’s Operating System

Sometimes, it could be that a bug in your device’s operating system is causing the Spotify login error 409. If that’s the case, you can try fixing the issue by updating the OS to the latest version. New versions of OS come with the fixes for the known bugs and typically fix the issues with the apps you might be experiencing.

Update iOS

1. Go to Settings and then select General.

2. Tap Software Update.

3. Tap Download and Install or Install Now, whichever option is available to you.

Update Android

1. Launch Settings and select Software Update.

2. Tap Download and Install.

3. Select Install Now to install the downloaded updates. If your Android is up to date, the phone will let you know with the message.

Update Windows

1. Open up the Settings and click on Windows Update.

2. Select Check for Updates.

3. If any updates are available install them by clicking Install Now button.

8. Check the Firewall Settings on Windows

A firewall sometimes prevents some of the services from functioning properly. It could be causing Spotify Error 409. Try turning the firewall off to see if this will allow Spotify to work without interference. You can also set Spotify as one of the allowed Firewall apps so that the software won’t block Spotify anymore. Here’s how:

1. Launch Control Panel on your Windows PC.
2. Select System and Security.

3. Under the Windows Defender Firewall option click Allow an app through Windows Firewall.

4. Click the Change Settings in the upper right corner, then find Spotify on the list of apps and tick the box next to it. Select the OK button at the bottom of the screen to apply changes.

9. Disable the VPN on Your Device

Finally, if you tried all of the above and none of the offered solutions worked for you, check if you are currently using a VPN service. Due to the nature of VPNs, they can prevent some apps from communicating with Spotify’s servers. The result would be the login fail error 409. Try disabling your VPN to see if this fixed the issue.

Tackling the Spotify “Login Failed” Error 409 can be a head-scratcher, so make your way through our troubleshooting guide to find the solution. By addressing common culprits like login credentials, network configurations, and app updates, you’re now equipped with a comprehensive toolkit to troubleshoot and bid farewell to pesky error messages.

The post How to Fix Spotify “Login Failed” Error 409 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

But there’s more than one way to zoom in or out in Photoshop. You’ll have to choose the zoom option that will fit your workflow the best.

1. The Zoom Tool

Using the zoom tool is the default way of zooming in and out in Adobe Photoshop. You’ll just have to use the magnifying glass icon near the bottom of the toolbox on the left side of the Photoshop screen.

When you select the zoom tool, your cursor changes into a magnifying glass with a + sign. Use it to click anywhere on your image to zoom in. If you want to zoom out, simply hold the Alt key (Windows) or Option (Mac) on your keyboard and click on the image. You’ll also notice that the plus sign inside your cursor changed into a minus sign.

The keyboard shortcut for activating the magnifying glass icon is the letter Z on your keyboard.

You also don’t have to click on the image each time you want to zoom in or out. There’s an Animated Zoom option that turns zooming in or out into a continuous feature. But first, you’ll have to enable this feature. Here’s how:

1. Go to Edit in the menu bar at the top ribbon.

2. Hover over Preferences in the drop-down menu, and select Tools from the sub-menu that’ll show up.

3. Tick the checkbox next to the Animated Zoom.

Now, you don’t have to click to magnify your image each time. Simply click once and hold until you reach the magnification percentage that you need. However, not all graphics cards will support the Animated Zoom feature. Check if your PC’s graphics card is compatible with the Photoshop version you’re running.

Another way to omit clicking each time to magnify or reduce the image size on your Photoshop screen is to enable the Scrubby Zoom option in the Zoom Tool’s options bar at the top, just under the ribbon. These options will be available only while the Zoom Tool is active. Simply click the checkbox next to Scrubby Zoom to zoom in and out by holding the mouse and dragging it right or left.

2. Using the Keyboard Shortcut

Using Photoshop’s keyboard shortcuts is the quickest way to zoom in or out on your image or canvas. Press CTRL and + (Windows) or Command and + (Mac) to zoom in. If you want to zoom out, press CTRL and – or Command and –.

If you hit CTRL + 0 or Command + 0 on your keyboard, your image will automatically fit on the screen, whether it means zooming in or out.

3. Zoom with the Scroll Wheel on Your Mouse

Another quick way of zooming in and out is using the scroll wheel on your mouse. To enable this feature, you’ll have to:

1. Go to Edit in the ribbon.
2. Hover over Preferences and select Tools in the sub-menu.
3. Tick the checkbox next to Zoom With Scroll Wheel.

4. Scrubby Zoom With the Move Tool

If you’re using the Move tool and need to access Zoom quickly, you can use the Scrubby Zoom feature.

Select the move tool from the left toolbox of your main Photoshop window. Alternatively, hit the V on your keyboard to access it.

While the Move tool is active, you can hold down Spacebar + CTRL (Windows) or Spacebar + Command (macOS), then click and drag the image to zoom in or out. Dragging to the right zooms in, while dragging to the left zooms out the image or canvas.

That way, you don’t have to change the Move tool into a Zoom tool, especially if you know you’ll have to switch between the two often.

6. The 100% Zoom View

Whenever you want to get the most accurate view of an image, you should look at it at 100% zoom. That’s because, at 100%, one monitor pixel will display one image pixel. To quickly jump to 100% view you can select it from the View menu on the ribbon. Simply choose the 100% option from the drop-down menu.

If you want a quick way to jump to the 100% View, you can do it with the keyboard shortcut. Simply press CTRL + 1 on Windows or Command + 1 on macOS.

Viewing an image at 100% is the only way to get the most accurate view. You’ll be able to see all the details in the picture. Of course, you can zoom in even past 100%, but you won’t see more details because the image will be too pixelated.

Viewing an image or a picture at 100% is especially significant if you’re sharpening it. This lets you easily see when sharpening effects affect the image’s details.

7. Navigator Panel

You can also use the Navigator Panel to Zoom in or out of your image or canvas in Photoshop. You’ll find the Navigator Panel on the right side of the Photoshop screen by selecting the icon that looks like a ship steering wheel.

If you don’t see the Navigator Panel in the right-side menu, you’ll need to enable it. Here’s how:

1. Go to the Window option in the ribbon.

2. Select Navigator from the drop-down menu.

Once you’re in Navigator Panel, you can click the big mountains icon to zoom in, and the small ones to zoom out. You can also click and drag the slider between the mountain icons to zoom in and out.

How to Navigate the Image While Using the Zoom Tool

When you zoom in on an image, you’ll notice you can’t see all of it at once. That’s where panning and scrolling the image gets useful. There are several ways to navigate your zoomed-in image. Let’s take a look at what options you have and how to use them.

The Hand Tool

The Photoshop Hand Tool is typically used to pan the image from one area to another. The Hand tool is in the Toolbar just above the Zoom Tool.

Once the Hand Tool is active, your cursor will change into a hand icon. To grab the image simply click it, and while holding the mouse button down, drag the image around. This will allow you to inspect different areas of the zoomed-in photo. To let go, you need only to release the mouse button.

Although the Hand Tool is easily accessible from the Toolbar on the left side of the Photoshop screen, switching between the Zoom and Hand tool can get annoying. Instead, there’s a quicker way to temporarily access the Hand Tool while the Zoom Tool is active. Simply press and hold the space bar on your keyboard. This will turn your cursor into a hand, which you can use to move your zoomed-in image around.

Flick Panning

Flick Panning is not a feature in itself. You can observe it as part of the Hand Tool feature. When you’re in the middle of a drag, you can release the mouse button and toss your image in any direction. It will keep moving and gradually come to a halt. But you can also stop it manually by clicking on the image again.

However, you might need to enable the Flick Panning in your Photoshop. Follow these steps:

1. Go to the Edit option on the ribbon, and hover your mouse over Preferences.
2. Select Tools from the sub-menu.
3. Enable Flick Panning by checking the corresponding box, and clicking the OK button to close the dialog box.

Panning With the Scroll Bars

When you zoom in on an image, you’ll notice a scroll bar on the right side. Use it to pan up or down.

There’s another scroll bar along the bottom edge of your Photoshop window. Use it to scroll left or right.

Panning With the Mouse Wheel

You can also use your mouse scroll wheel to pan the zoomed-in image up, down, or sideways. You don’t have to use the hand tool when you are panning with the scroll wheel. You can use any of the many Photoshop’s tools.

Scrolling the wheel up moves the image up. Scrolling it down moves the image down. But if you want to pan to the right or left, you must hold the CTRL key on Windows or the Command Key on Mac keyboards. While holding the CTRL or Command, scroll the wheel up to pan the image to the left and scroll down to pan the image to the right.

If you need to alternate between panning and zooming with the mouse scroll wheel, you can do it simply by changing the keyboard buttons you’re holding. Use the Alt or Option key on your keyboard to zoom in and out, and CTRL or Command to pan the image.

And that’s it! You now know all the basics of zooming in and out in Photoshop, and you can navigate faster with the panning tools. Photoshop is a complex tool with a bit of a learning curve, so start getting in the habit of using keyboard shortcuts or key + mouse scroll combinations to speed up your workflow.

The post How to Zoom (In and Out) in Photoshop first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Understanding Why Discord User Volume Keeps Resetting

When you join a Discord voice channel, you’ll have access to your audio level setting, independent of other users. This setting is known as Discord user volume. It’s crucial that everyone can set the voice chat volume as they see fit in order to keep effective communication. This is especially true for gaming, where it’s important for all gamers to communicate the gameplay strategies.

Sudden changes in audio levels can be really frustrating, especially during gaming sessions. If you are wondering why your Discord user volume keeps resetting, you should know there could be many different reasons. Some of them are:

• Corrupt User Settings when your Discord audio settings reset due to power surges, malware, or device failures.
• Hardware issues with your headset or microphone.
• Buggy Discord app.
• Voice Activity Detection setting.
• Discord updates. Sometimes, the latest update might interfere with your personal settings.
• Corrupt files in Discord’s dispatch cache.
• Interference by third-party software.

The solution to the Discord user volume resetting issue will depend on what’s causing it. That means you’ll have to do some troubleshooting to find out the root of the problem so you know how to deal with it. However, if you’re not sure what’s behind the constant resetting of your volume settings, it won’t hurt to try these fixes in order until one of them resolves the issue.

1. Clear Discord Cache

The Cache folder contains temporary data that improves Discord’s performance. However, over time, these files can get corrupted, and they can cause the user volume to keep resetting. In fact, they can cause many different bugs that keep your app from working properly. That’s why it’s smart to clear your Discord cache occasionally. Here’s how to do it on your Windows 11 or 10 PC.

1. Click the Start button and type %appdata% in the search bar.

2. Find the Discord folder and double-click to open it.

3. Locate the Cache folder and open it.

4. Select all the files in the cache folder and press the Delete button on your keyboard. Alternatively, right-click the selected files and choose the Delete option from the menu.

Note: Clearing Discord cache files won’t change your personal Discord settings. However, it might help the app perform better.

2. Disable Automatic Gain Control

If your Discord user volume settings keep resetting, you’ll have to make sure that the Automatic Gain Control is disabled. It’s this setting that may initiate the volume reset. Automatic Gain Control is an automatic volume adjustment setting. It’ll increase or decrease the volume during audio calls.

1. Access the Discord User settings by selecting the gear icon in the bottom left corner of the Discord app. It’s next to your username and profile image.

2. Go to the Voice & Video option under the App Settings section. This is where you’ll find various volume options.
3. Make sure that Automatic Gain Control is turned off.

Automatic Gain Control is set in place to keep the audio experience on Discord of high quality. But many users complain it doesn’t work properly, and it’s the reason behind their user volume setting resetting.

3. Disable Audio Enhancements in Sound Settings

Windows audio enhancements can sometimes interfere with how Discord works. If you want to ensure a stable and consistent Discord audio experience, you should consider turning these enhancements off. Follow these steps to disable Windows audio enhancements:

1. Press Win + I on your keyboard to open the System Settings.
2. Select Sound from the menu.

3. Select All Sound Devices.

4. Select the Input and Output audio device you want to disable the Audio Enhancements for.

5. In the Audio Enhancements section, select Off from the drop-down menu.

Once you’re done, close the Settings app, head to Discord, and make a voice call to see if this resolved the issue.

4. Reset Voice Settings to Default

Resetting any Discord voice settings you altered might help with the issues you have with user volume. Any faulty configuration affecting the volume could be eradicated, and your Discord might work properly. To reset voice settings:

1. Launch the Discord app and go to the User Settings icon.

2. Go to the Voice & Video option under the App Settings section.

3. Scroll all the way down and hit the Reset Voice Settings button.

5. Adjust VAD Settings

VAD stands for Voice Activity Detection. The Discord client will start the audio transmission from your end as soon as it detects you are actively speaking. This can help with the reduction of ambient noise, and it’ll enhance the quality of your voice.

However, there is no guarantee that VAD will help with the Discord user volume resetting issue. You’ll have to play with the settings and see what works best for you and your friends. Perhaps the better solution would be to use the push-to-talk option instead of VAD. On the other hand, just changing the VAD’s sensitivity settings can improve your audio experience.

Test various settings during the voice call and see which one ensures that your volume levels are consistent. To find the Voice Activity Detection:

1. Launch Discord and go to User Settings.

2. Select Voice & Video from the left side menu.

3. Find Voice Activity in the main window and activate it.

4. Play with the Input Sensitivity settings and find the right one for you.

6. Uninstall and Reinstall Discord

If you tried all of the previously described fixes and nothing worked, try uninstalling and reinstalling your Discord app. Uninstalling Discord is the same as uninstalling any other app:

1. Go to the Control Panel on your PC.
2. Select Uninstall a program.

3. Find and select Discord, right-click it, and select Uninstall.

To reinstall Discord, head to their official website and download the latest version. Follow the on-screen instructions to install it.

7. Update Your Operating System

Keeping the Operating System up to date is essential if you want all your apps to work properly, Discord included. It’s possible that the interaction between your outdated OS and the DIscord app is causing the user volume to keep resetting.

Check for available updates and install them if necessary. For Windows OS, it’s enough to go to the start menu and type “Check for Updates” in the search bar.

If any are available, they’ll be displayed. Don’t hesitate to hit that Download & Install button.

By taking the time to troubleshoot and resolve the Discord user volume resetting problem, you’ll not only enhance your own communication experience but also contribute to an enjoyable environment for your fellow users. Remember, the solution may vary depending on the root cause of the issue, so it’s essential to follow these steps systematically until you find the one that works for you.

The post Discord User Volume Keeps Resetting? 7 Ways to Fix first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

OpenAI designed the chatbot to interact with people in a natural language. ChatGPT is a large language model capable of learning and developing itself. It uses artificial intelligence to communicate with its users through text chat. It’s so powerful that if you try it, you’ll feel you are talking with another person.

How Does ChatGPT Work?

ChatGPT is an AI chatbot that relies on reinforcement learning with human feedback (RLHF) to work. It can intelligently process its environment and adapt to different situations with what it learned from human interactions. As a result, ChatGPT is incredibly useful for creating written content, translating from one language to another, and even writing code.

It’s owned and developed by OpenAI. Before releasing it, the developers trained ChatGPT with a massive amount of data, but the AI continues to learn and gather the knowledge we, the users, provide. That’s why this AI chatbot can give educated responses on a myriad of topics and can even have a deep conversation with you on many topics. However, how credible these responses are depends on the learning material we feed it.

What Can You Use ChatGPT For?

You can use ChatGPT for everything text-related. Your imagination is the only limit. From writing a screenplay to researching cooking recipes.

Here’s how you can use ChatGPT:

1. Natural Language Understanding: ChatGPT can analyze and interpret text, extract relevant information, and provide meaningful responses. This makes it useful for building chatbots, virtual assistants, and customer support systems.
2. Language Translation: ChatGPT can translate text from one language to another fairly accurately. This can be valuable for individuals, businesses, or organizations that need to communicate across language barriers.
3. Outline Generation: ChatGPT can generate outlines based on prompts or instructions. It can assist in creating articles, blog posts, stories, and other forms of written content.
4. Information Retrieval: ChatGPT can search and retrieve information from large knowledge bases or documents. It can answer questions, provide explanations, or summarize complex information. This can be helpful in research, education, and general knowledge acquisition.
5. Personalized Recommendations: ChatGPT can analyze user preferences and provide personalized recommendations. It can suggest products, movies, food recipes, books, or other items based on individual tastes and interests.
6. Tutoring and Education: ChatGPT can act as a virtual tutor or educational assistant. It can answer students’ questions, explain concepts, and provide additional learning resources.
7. Creative Writing and Storytelling: ChatGPT can assist in creative writing projects, helping authors develop characters, plots, and dialogues. It can also generate unique storylines or contribute to collaborative storytelling efforts.
8. Conversation and Social Interaction: ChatGPT can engage in casual conversation, provide companionship, or simulate social interactions. It can chat about various topics, tell jokes, and engage in light-hearted discussions.

It’s important to note that while ChatGPT is a powerful natural language processing model, it also has limitations. It may generate plausible-sounding responses that are not factually accurate. That’s why it’s crucial to validate and fact-check the information provided by ChatGPT before you use it.

A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Sign Up for ChatGPT

ChatGPT has a very intuitive design. Its interface is easy to use for both tech-savvy people and beginners. What’s best is that during the ChatGPT sign-up process, ChatGPT won’t ask you for too much personal information. Follow these steps and finish the sign-up process for ChatGPT in no time:

1. Go to the ChatGPT login page. You can use any web browser to access it. Once there, you can log in to your existing OpenAI account, or create a new one.
2. Click the Sign up button to create an OpenAI account.

3. You have a choice now. You can either enter your email or use a single sign-on via your Google, Microsoft, or Apple account.

• By entering your email address you’ll create a stand-alone OpenAI account.
• If you choose to sign up with your Google Gmail or Microsoft account, follow the on-screen instructions for SSO.

4. After you type your email, click Continue and create a password for your new account. Click Continue again.

5. You’ll receive an on-screen message to go to your email and click the account verification link the platform sent you. You’ll need to do this in order to finish the process.

6. When you click the verification link, the ChatGPT platform will open a Tell us about you page. Here you’ll type your full name and your birthdate. When you’re done, click Continue.

7. The next page will ask you to verify your phone number. Simply input it and click Send Code.

8. Once the code arrives on your smartphone, copy it or type it in the designated place on the website.

And that’s it! You successfully created your ChatGPT account. You can start using it immediately. The first ChatGPT screen you see will teach you some examples of how you can use it, and explain the capabilities of the platform and its limitations.

After creating your OpenAI account, you can easily log in to ChatGPT at any time. Head over to the Login page, select Log in, and enter your ChatGPT login credentials.

Optional Upgrade to ChatGPT Plus

ChatGPT is 100% free, but it comes with some downsides. For example, the platform will be available to you only at times when the demand for ChatGPT is low. That means that users who opted for a paid subscription have priority over you. With the free account, your ChatGPT has a standard response speed and regular updates, while ChatGPT Plus users benefit from a faster response speed and priority access to updates and new features.

All in all, paid members have access to GPT-4, a larger and more advanced language learning model. Free plan users have access to the older, GPT-3.5 version.

If you want to upgrade to the Plus membership simply click on the Plus button on the lower-left side of the menu. A Plus membership costs $20 per month, and you’ll have to provide the payment information in order to finish the process.

How to Access ChatGPT Without Logging In

You don’t have to log in every time you want to use ChatGPT. Instead, you can use Bing Chat. It’s also free, and it’s built with the newest OpenAI product, GPT-4. But in order to have long conversations without a ChatGPT account, you’ll need to use your Microsoft account to log into Bing.

A Quick Guide on How to Use ChatGPT

After you sign up, you’ll arrive at the ChatGPT main screen. This is where you can start using it. As mentioned before, OpenAI gives some examples of how you can use their language model. But this will give you only a general idea of what you can do with this AI-powered tool.

What you need to do is formulate a question or a task for ChatGTP and type it in the designated text bar. You’ll find the chat bar at the bottom of the screen. Your entries are called prompts. To submit them simply press enter. ChatGPT will take a bit of time to generate an answer for you. Besides the basic questions such as “What’s Quantum Mechanics?” you can develop your prompt and give ChatGPT instructions on how to answer it. For Example “Explain what is quantum mechanics as if I’m 5 years old”

Or “Explain what is quantum mechanics in an academic language.”

Adding more information to your prompt can control the tone and style of the answer. That’s how ChatGPT understands the instructions you give it.

Your prompts can range from simple questions to very complex tasks. Did you know ChatGPT can even write code? But that doesn’t necessarily mean AI is dangerous and turn into Skynet… hopefully.

The post How to Sign Up for ChatGPT first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

1. Highlight Cells

Highlighting the entire cell is pretty straightforward. You can choose to highlight only one or a group of cells. Follow these steps:

1. Select the cell or a group of cells you want to highlight.

2. Select the Fill color icon from the toolbar, and choose the highlight color you want.

3. The selected cells will automatically become highlighted with a different fill color than the others.

And that’s all there is to it. Highlighting cells might be the easiest thing to do in Google Sheets.

2. Highlight Text

If you don’t want to highlight the whole cell but only the data inside it, you can do it by changing the text color. It doesn’t matter if it’s a particular value, the whole text, or just a part of the text in a cell you want to highlight; the concept is the same.

1. Select the text within the cell or part of the text you want to highlight. Double-click the cell with your cursor to access the text to do this.

2. Select the Text color icon from the main toolbar, and choose the desired color.

3. The selected text will automatically change to the color you chose from the color palette.

Note: You can use as many colors as you want to highlight your text. But remember that some colors might be difficult to read depending on the cell background color. You can combine cell and text highlight methods to achieve different effects. You can also change the formatting style of your text to Bold, Italic, or Strikethrough to put even more emphasis on the text or a cell.

3. Conditional Formatting

For data analysis, you can format the cells based on their content. For example, you can change the background color of cells with the same value. Conditional formatting will save you time if you need to highlight several different cells with the same value and you don’t want to manually search for them to select and highlight those values.

Let’s see how to automatically highlight cells that begin, end, or contain a specific value, word, or phrase, changing only the conditional formatting rules.

Note: Conditional formatting is less powerful in Google Sheets compared to Microsoft Excel. The former limits you to 50 rules per sheet, while you can create up to 256 rules in Excel to highlight your data.

1. Highlight Text That Begins With a Specific Word

1. Select a cell (or multiple cells) that contains a specific word, phrase, or value.
2. Open the Format menu from the ribbon at the top of the screen.

3. Select Conditional Formatting from the drop-down menu. The Conditional Formatting menu will open on the right side of the Google Sheet.

4. If you want to apply Conditional Formatting to multiple cells that contain the same word, you’ll have to input the range to which the formatting will be applied. Click on the Apply to Range box.

5. When the dialog box opens, type in the range of cells where you want to apply the formatting. Look at the cell numbers and column letters and type in the range— e.g. A2:A16. This will highlight the cells that meet the conditional formatting rule .

6. In the Conditional Formatting menu, under Format Rules (or Conditional format rules), click on the drop-down menu for Format cells if…

7. Select Text starts with from the drop-down menu.

8. In the Value or formula box, type in the specific word (or a custom formula) with which the cell begins.

9. In the Formatting Style section, you can select the text and background color you want added to the text or the whole cell and text formatting options such as Bold, Italic, and Strikethrough.

10. When you select all the desired options in Formatting Style, hit the Done button.

The cells containing a specific word will be highlighted automatically (in our example”, the word is “Best”).

2. Highlight Text That Ends With a Specific Word

You can also highlight all the cells that end with a specific word. The steps are almost the same. However, when you come to the point where you need to select Format rules, You’ll choose Text ends with from the drop-down menu.

All the steps before and after this are the same as described in the previous section. Once you are ready to apply the highlight to all the cells that end with a specific word, phrase, or value, hit the Done button.

3. Highlight Text That Contains a Specific Word

You probably guessed that to highlight text that contains a specific word you have to follow the same steps as previously described in the Conditional Formatting section. But when you reach the point to select Format rules, you’ll choose Text contains from the drop-down menu.

Select the formatting styles you desire and hit the Done button to finish.

Manually highlighting text gives you precise control over the selection process, allowing you to emphasize specific data points, labels, or insights. This hands-on method is ideal for smaller datasets.

On the other hand, automatic highlighting with conditional formatting offers efficiency and scalability. It allows you to set up rules that dynamically highlight cells based on specific criteria, making it perfect for larger datasets. After using conditional formatting, you can also filter your spreadsheet data by color.

Whether you choose the manual or automatic route, highlighting the correct text enhances the clarity and readability of your spreadsheets, so keep experimenting with both methods.

The post How to Highlight Texts in Google Sheets (Manually and Automatically) first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

What’s in the Box

Your 70mai Power Station will be shipped in a compact box designed to protect it from possible transportation damage. It’ll also be covered in protective foam that you must remove to uncover the Tera 1000. Here’s what you’ll find in the box:

• 70mai Power Station Tera 1000
• AC Power Cord
• 12V car adaptor cable
• A bag for storing accessories
• User manual

Specifications and Overview

One of the recent additions to the power station market is the 70mai Power Station Tera 1000. If you have never heard of 70mai before, it’s a subsidiary company of Xiaomi. It’s worth noting that they are well-regarded for producing dash cams and their choice to produce power stations next might seem odd. However, the Tera 1000 is not only a multipurpose power station with tons of features, but it’s also one of the cheapest options in its class even when there are no discounts involved. That said, let’s take a closer look at 70mai Power Station Tera 1000.

With a battery capacity of 1000Wh and ten power outlets, Tera 1000 can power several appliances and devices at once. That means you can be as comfortable while camping or traveling in a remote area as if you were back home. But the versatility that 70mai Power Station offers is also handy at home when you need an alternative power source during a blackout.

Even if you drain it completely, you don’t need to worry about hours spent recharging it. Tera 1000 can fully recharge in just 2 hours. If you don’t have that time available, rest assured your power station will recharge to 80% of its full capacity in just around one hour.

The 70mai Power Station Tera 1000 is portable, handy, and fairly light for its battery capacity. Although 27.5Ib might sound like a lot, it is one of the lightest power stations in the 1000Wh capacity range and the ergonomic silicone handle ensures a comfortable and strong grip for easier handling.

Also, you can use the 70mai App to connect with the Tera remotely. Use this app to turn your portable power station on or off, manage various settings, check its battery status, and more.

Design and Build

70mai Tera 1000 has a somewhat retro look to it, but the design is very well thought for comfort and safety while handling it. The first thing that catches the eye is the big orange handle on the top.

It’s made of sturdy silicone, and it was designed for all hand types and sizes. Anyone can carry this power station with a little bit of effort put into it.

The Exterior Casing

The body of the Tera 1000 boasts a dual-layer plastic enclosure on the outside and a galvanized steel structure on the inside. That means that this power station is well protected from accidental drops or tumbles in your camper van while traveling. You also don’t have to worry about overheating since it has a cooling fan, located on the right side of the device, which will keep your power station cool.

After all, the Tera was designed as an essential device for outdoor adventures.

Also, it has large rectangular rubber stands on the bottom, so it can be safely placed on any surface without sliding off.

AC Outputs

The front of the 70mai Tera 1000 is where all the output sockets and ports are located. There are ten power outlets in total, and they provide users with a variety of connection options. All of them are controlled with a push button. The AC system consists of three sockets that support 1200W in continuous mode and 2400W in surge mode.

For the US market, the AC sockets accept three-prong plugs, while for the European market, there are two outlets that accept two-prong plugs (for this review, we’re using the European version). The sockets are well apart so devices with different plug footprints can be used simultaneously. This is probably why if you go with two-prong plugs, there’s room only for two of them.

Charging Ports

The low voltage section consists of seven ports that include one USB-A port and one USB-A QC port (for powering legacy devices), one Type-C 18W port (powers small devices such as smartphones), one Type-C 60W port (for charging laptops or tools), two 13.6V DC ports, and one car cigarette lighter charging port. To the right of the low voltage section is where you’ll find a 200W Anderson port that allows this unit to connect with a solar panel.

The Display

A bright LCD display is also placed at the front of the Tera 1000 unit, with the main power button.

The small LCD screen displays battery capacity in the center, while features, such as pairing, or fast charge status are represented by smaller icons at the top. Navigating the station’s menu is easy with the four push buttons just to the right of the screen. You can use them to find and activate this power station’s various features.

The Charging Port

At the back of the Tera 1000, there’s a charging port where the AC charging cord needs to be plugged. The elegant design of the built-in AC to DC adapter allows this cord to be very simple and lightweight. What’s even more important is that this design allows Tera 1000 to be charged fully in roughly 2 hours.

The Battery

70mai Power Station Tera 1000 uses lithium-ion batteries designed for smart car electronics and e-bikes. According to the manufacturer, these li-ion batteries have the best-in-class Battery Management System developed by Texas Instruments and are reliable and safe to use. This means that Tera 1000 has no problem with overcharging, over-discharging, or overheating. But it also means that the 70mai Power Station uses clean energy without carbon emissions.

The built-in 2-in-1 inverter allows for a bi-directional flow of electricity, resulting in efficient charging of the devices. It also helps the power station to remain cool while working. The heat dissipation is taken care of by a built-in aluminum heatsink. The fan is working not only fast but also silently. It won’t disturb your sleep if you leave the unit to charge your devices overnight. With that in mind, the Tera 1000 can power your CPAP machine for an entire night and more.

Smartphone Connectivity and App

The most interesting feature for regular users is the 70mai Power Station’s ability to connect to a smartphone through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). You can use this feature to control the Tera 1000 unit remotely via the app. The control range is around five meters. Even with the BLE enabled, there’s no noticeable drop in the unit’s energy.

The Mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices and it has a simple and easy-to-use menu. But to install it, the phone needs to have both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled. However, you’ll need to create a 70mai account to pair their power station with the app. Once this is done, just launch the app on your phone and it will immediately display all the necessary information about the portable power station and its performance. The on-screen buttons allow direct control of the AC and DC sections. You can also use the app to set the AC fast charge mode, control the LED light, change display brightness, and more.

70mai Tera 1000 in Use

The power button needs to be pressed and held for around 3 seconds to turn on the 70mai Power Station Tera 1000. The screen lights up and immediately displays the battery capacity percentage. What else will be displayed on the screen depends on personal settings each user can modify. On each side of the LCD display, there are what looks like two smaller square screens. However, they won’t display anything. Instead, they serve as low-power flashlights.

Unfortunately, the light they are emitting is low and very dim. It’s just enough to let you see the control buttons in darkness, but not much more.

This portable power station can handle over 1000 charge cycles before the battery capacity reaches 70%. Tera 1000 supports the DC pass-through charging while itself is being charged. That means the DC section will remain powered and you can use it to charge your devices, while the Tera 1000 unit itself is being charged. But this doesn’t stand for the AC section. It will be turned off completely while you are charging the power station.

As for powering multiple appliances with the 10mai Tera 1000 AC outlets, the 1200W is a hard limit. If you plug in a device that pulls more, let’s say 1350W, the Tera 1000 unit will shut off in around 30 seconds. That means this power station is easily capable of powering up multiple devices simultaneously, as long as they remain within the 1200W range. And the appliances this portable station can power up are various. For example, it can power up a mini fridge in your caravan for around 14 hours depending on the fridge model. Or it can power a fan for around 20 hours, and a power-efficient TV for up to 8 hours. That means you never have to give up comfortable living, even when outdoors.

Charging the Tera 1000 with the 70mai Solar Panels

As Tera 1000 was designed for outdoor living, it’s no wonder 70mai also offers a portable monocrystalline solar panel used to charge the power station. In fact, unlike its competitors, Tera 1000 boasts an Andersen-type connector with a maximum input of 200W. That means you can connect this power station to a wide variety of solar panels. You are not limited to the one produced by 70mai.

Setting it up takes no more than a few seconds. All you have to do is unfold it, place it in the best possible location to capture the sunlight, and plug it into the power station. The 70mai Solar Panel has a peak power of 110W which is enough energy to efficiently charge smart devices. It even comes with 2 USB ports so you can connect mobile devices directly to the panel.

However, it’ll take more than 6 hours to fully charge it with a solar panel if the weather is perfect. Fortunately, the Tera supports two 70mai solar panels or any other 200W solar panel alternative.

Should You Buy the 70mai Tera 1000?

The 70mai Power Station Tera 1000 is undeniably a powerhouse when it comes to portable power solutions. Throughout our review, it demonstrated its ability to keep cameras, smartphones, laptops, power tools, and small house appliances charged.

Whether you’re an avid traveler, an outdoor enthusiast, or simply looking for a reliable backup power source, the 70mai Power Station Tera 1000 offers the ample capacity, intelligent features, peace of mind, and convenience you need in a compact package.

The post The 70mai Power Station Tera 1000 Review first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

If Instagram works properly on your phone, you shouldn’t be seeing a loading screen when watching stories. At worst, you should see it for a split second if your internet connection isn’t optimal. But what to do if IG stories are not working, and the only thing you can see is that annoying spinning circle? This article discusses several possible fixes for both Android and iOS devices. Let’s jump straight to it.

1. Check Internet Connection

The most common reason behind Instagram stories and reels not loading properly is poor network connection which makes Instagram lag. Either the Wi-Fi or mobile data signal is weak, or something is wrong with your smartphone or network area. If you notice you have issues loading content on other apps, not just on Instagram, this is a clear sign the root problem is the internet connection. Try opening Facebook or YouTube videos and see if you have trouble loading them.

You can also perform an internet speed test to check if everything is okay with your connection. You can access SpeedTest by Ookla through the web browser or you can download their app. Using the speed test is more accurate than trying to figure out if your internet is okay. That’s because an intermittent internet connection might trick you into believing everything is fine. The speed test will show if there is an intermittent connection.

If there is a problem with your internet connection, you can try fixing it by turning the airplane mode on and off. This will force your phone to disconnect from the internet and reconnect.

If that doesn’t work, you’ll have to reset the network settings on your device. Here’s how to do it both on Android and iOS devices.

Reset Network Settings on Android

1. Open the Settings app and depending on what type of smartphone you have tap on General Management, Connections, or System.

2. If you selected Connections, scroll to the bottom and select More Connection Settings. If not, then select Reset or Reset Options.

3. Tap Reset Network Settings.

Your Android phone will restart, and once the system is up, you can check Instagram and see if the stories load properly.

Reset Network Settings on the iPhone

1. Open the Settings app and select General.

2. Scroll all the way down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.

3. Tap Reset.

4. Select Reset Network Settings from the menu that appears.

The iOS device will ask you to input your screen unlock code. The phone will restart and after the system is up you can try if Instagram stories are loading properly.

2. Restart the Instagram App

If you don’t have internet connection problems, but you can’t see the Instagram stories as they are continuously loading, the problem might be in the app itself. It’s possible it bugged out or it’s glitching. You should try restarting the app.

All you need to do is close the app and reopen it. But make sure to first access the multi-task menu to close all active tasks, among which the Instagram app should be. Both Android and iOS users can access the multi-task menu from the home screen and then swipe up to close the active apps.

Android device users also have the option of force closing an app. Here’s how:

1. Launch Settings and select Apps.

2. Select Instagram from the list of apps.

3. Select Force Stop in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

3. Check If Instagram Is Down

If your internet connection is not causing Instagram stories not to load, perhaps the problem lies with Instagram servers. If IG is down, you should check Twitter to see if there’s an announcement about it. Alternatively, you can go to a website such as Downdetector, type Instagram in the search bar, and wait for the results.

If Instagram servers are down, there’s nothing you can do to fix this. All you can do is wait until Instagram fixes this issue.

4. Restart Your Phone

It’s highly unlikely your phone is causing the problem with Instagram stories but you never know. It could be a system glitch or a background process that’s causing the Instagram app to not work properly. If you suspect this is the case, restarting your phone could help. It doesn’t matter if you have an Android or iOS device, power cycling should reboot and resolve all temporary system errors that could affect the app’s behavior.

Check out our guides on how to restart your iPhone and how to restart your Android if you need more help.

5. Update Instagram App

Updating the Instagram app is simple but it could fix various problems you might experience with the app, among which are stories stuck on the loading screen. All you have to do is go to Google Play Store for Android or Apple Store for iOS devices, search for the Instagram app, and see if there’s an update button available. Hit it to download and install the latest version of the Instagram app.

6. Clear Instagram App Cache

Every app has a cache folder in which it stores temporary files that help the app work faster and better. Unfortunately, these files can sometimes get corrupted and cause specific problems. Sometimes it’s Instagram stories not loading. That’s why you should clear the Instagram app cache if you are experiencing this problem. The way to do it will depend on whether you have an Android or iOS device.

On Android

1. Launch Settings and select Apps.

2. Select Instagram from the list of apps.

3. Select Storage.

4. Tap Clear Cache at the bottom-right corner.

Note: You can also tap Clear Data, it won’t affect Instagram stories but you’ll have to log back into your Instagram account. If you have any drafts made they’ll be lost.

On iPhone

1. Open the Settings app and tap General.

2. Select iPhone Storage.

3. Find Instagram and tap it.

4. Select Offload App.

7. Uninstall and Reinstall Instagram

If clearing the Instagram cache doesn’t work, and you are still experiencing issues with the Instagram app, you should uninstall it and install it again on your smartphone. This could get rid of any stubborn bugs and glitches your app was having. However, you should know that reinstalling the Instagram app will delete any saved drafts, and you’ll have to log back into your Instagram account again.

On Android

1. Open Settings and select Apps.

2. Select Instagram from the list of apps.

3. Select Uninstall.

4. Go to Google Play Store and search for the Instagram app.
5. Select Install.

On the iPhone

1. Open Settings and select General.

2. Select iPhone Storage.

3. Select Instagram from the list of apps.

4. Tap Delete App and confirm when prompted.

5. Go to the App Store and search for Instagram. Then select Get to download and install the new version of the app.

8. Check the Date & Time on Your Phone

Although it might seem odd, the Date & Time settings of your device can cause various problems on both Android and iOS devices. Although Date & Time should update automatically, it can glitch, or you could unintentionally change it. This could cause Instagram stories not to load fully. You should check and, if needed, correct the Date and time on your phone.

On Android

1. Go to Settings and select General Management.

2. Tap Date and Time.

3. Reset to Automatic Date and Time by toggling it off and back on. You can also update your Time Zone if needed.

On the iPhone

1. Launch Settings and select General.

2. Tap Date & Time.
3. Make sure that the option to automatically set a date and time is on.

9. Contact Instagram

If you tried all of the above solutions and Instagram stories still won’t work on your iPhone, consider contacting Instagram to report a problem you’re having. Describe your problem in detail and include what phone model you’re using, as well as which version of the app it’s running.

The post Instagram Stories Not Working/Loading? Try These 9 Fixes first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Luckily, when you get a black screen, it means the issue is relatively easy to fix. If you experienced a black screen while playing PS4 games, know you’re not the only one. Because it happens often, the users named it the Black Screen of Death, not because it means your gaming console is dead, but because it interrupts the gameplay. So don’t worry, your console is probably fine. This article will help you troubleshoot your PS4 black screen issue with seven possible fixes.

What Causes PS4 Black Screen of Death?

There are many reasons why the black screen error occurs on the PS4. Although it might be a troubling sign, more often, it’s a simple issue such as a PS4 connection error.

Here are some issues that can cause the PS4 Black Screen of Death:

• Hardware issue within the console.
• Damaged connectivity cable.
• Incompatible or incomplete software update.
• Corrupt system files.
• Power surges and overheating.
• A faulty PS4 HDMI port.

Now that you know why you’re experiencing the black screen let’s see how to fix it.

1. Restart Your PS4 Console

Whenever you encounter the black screen issue, you should try rebooting your PS4 console. There are many random problems your console might experience, and a simple restart can fix or temporarily eliminate them. By restarting the PS4, you won’t just get rid of the black screen but any possible error that could be behind it.

Restarting a PS4 console is simple. However, you can do it only if the black screen is temporary and you can access the menu. If you can’t see the menu, you must power cycle your PS4 console.

1. In the PS4 Home menu, select the Power button.

2. Select Power Options.

3. When the Power Options menu appears, select Restart PS4.

2. Power Cycle the PS4 Console

Power cycling your PlayStation 4 console helps eliminate minor glitches and bugs that can cause a black screen to appear randomly. Power cycle your console to reload the resources. This will refresh your console and remove bugs and glitches that might be causing the issue.

1. Press and hold the power button until you hear a second beep. It’ll take about seven seconds. The location of the power button will depend on the model of the Sony PlayStation 4 console you have:

• PS4 Standard: Front-center of the console, below the power indicator light.
• PS4 Slim: Far left side of the console, under the disc drive.
• PS4 Pro: Far left side of the console, above the power indicator light.

2. Unplug the power cable of the console, monitor, or TV. Wait for about 30 seconds before you plug them back in.
3. Once the power cables are plugged in, turn your PS4 on and see if the Black Screen issue persists.

3. Make Sure the HDMI Cable and Port Are in Working Order

HDMI cables and ports can easily get damaged, resulting in no signal transmission between the console and the display device. If you use an HDMI cable for the video output and experience a PS4 Black Screen, you should check it for wear and tear. Also, check the port while you’re at it.

The HDMI cable can easily be detached from a monitor and console. You can brush the ports gently to remove any dust particles that might cause connection interruptions. After this, you can reattach the cables if you find no obvious physical damage. If you do, you should replace the cable.

Even if you can’t see any apparent damage on ports or the cable, try another port or a cable to see if this fixes your black screen issue. Another thing you could try is to use another display. Perhaps your old one is broken, causing the black screen.

4. Change Resolution (in Safe Mode)

Changing the resolution of your PS4 in safe mode is another effective way to deal with the black screen issue. Safe Mode is a diagnostics mode, so it’ll allow you to access the more advanced features of your PS4 and help you reset the database or upgrade the firmware.

To change resolution in safe mode:

1. Turn off your PS4 console.
2. Long press the power button until you hear the second beep.
3. Use the USB cable to connect a controller to the PS4 console. Press the PlayStation button on the controller to boot it in safe mode.
4. Select the Change Resolution option from the menu and press the X button on the controller.

5. Select the suitable video output resolution and press the OK button.

5. Disable HDCP Feature

High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection is a protocol that helps prevent digital content piracy on PS4. However, your monitor, a TV, or any other display device may be incompatible with the HDCP feature. If so, the result would be a Black Screen. So, you can try turning off the HDCP feature to see if this is the problem. Here’s how:

1. From the Home screen, go to Settings.

2. Select System.

3. Uncheck the Enable HDCP option.

6. Rebuild Database

Sometimes, a corrupted file stored on your PS4 console can cause the Black Screen of Death. In that case, you can rebuild your PlayStation’s database to solve the error.

Follow these steps to rebuild the PS4 database:

1. Press the power button and hold it for 3 seconds. This way, you’ll enter the PS4 Safe Mode.
2. Again, hold the power button and release it only after you hear the second beep. This will start your console in the Safe Mode.
3. Connect your PS4 controller to the PS4 device with a USB cable. Press the PS button on the controller.
4. Press the X button on the controller.
5. Select Rebuild Database from the Safe Mode menu.

6. The process of rebuilding the PS4 database can take a while, so be patient and wait for your console to boot up.

Once the database is rebuilt and your PlayStation 4 is booted, try playing a game and see if the Black Screen issue reappears.

7. Factory Reset the PS4 Console

Performing a factory reset of your Sony PlayStation console should always be your last resort. So, try all the methods described above to fix your black screen issue before trying this out. If you perform the factory reset, you will lose all the data from your console’s system storage. Consider making a backup of all the critical PS4 data before trying this.

To reset the PS4 console:

1. Launch the Settings menu from the Home screen.
2. Select Initialization from the Settings menu.

3. Choose Initialize PS4 option.

4. On the next screen, select the Full option. This will completely delete the PS4 system storage.

5. The next screen will warn you about deleting all the data. Select the Initialize button to proceed.

6. To begin the Initialization process, select the Yes button.

Note: This process can be very long. In some cases, it can even take hours. Be patient, and don’t try to reboot your console.

We hope these troubleshooting methods helped you fix the pesky PlayStation 4 black screen issue. Whether it’s a loose connection, a software glitch, or a simple system hiccup, the problem is easy to fix if you troubleshoot it step by step.

The post Top 7 Ways to Fix Playstation 4 (PS4) Black Screen Issue first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

Power stations use larger and more efficient batteries to store and provide electricity, and they are safe to use both outdoors and indoors. They come in different sizes and have different features, so it can be hard to decide which one to invest in. This article will list some of the best portable power stations on the market today, and discuss why they are a top choice depending on your specific needs.

What to Look for When Purchasing a Portable Power Station?

Nowadays, we prefer power stations in most situations over diesel-powered generators, even though the second ones are cheaper. That’s because generators are noisy, and emit toxic carbon monoxide. Not to mention that generators can be a pain to carry on your camping trip, considering they also need fuel.

Power Stations are more expensive, but they have several benefits over generators. They are eco-friendly (and you use solar power to charge them), safe to use, quiet, and very portable. Their efficiency can vary, depending on the size and capacity of the battery. Some are small and easily portable, but their power output is not that great, while others are large and powerful enough to power an AC unit. That said, they can be useful for short trips out in nature when you need to charge your smartphone, laptop, electric grill, or camera battery.

When choosing the right portable power station to meet your needs, you’ll have to consider its size, capacity, time needed to discharge and recharge, as well as its voltage, available outlets, and charging ports. You should also consider what electronic devices you will power up with your power station and how much energy output those devices need.

Finally, you’ll need to consider your budget. Some basic small power stations cost as little as $500, while the big powerful ones can reach a price of several thousands of dollars. It can be hard to achieve the perfect balance between the cost and features, so carefully assess your needs and choose the best power station for your budget.

1. Ecoflow Delta Pro

Best Overall

Price: $3,199

• Runs almost all appliances.
• Multiple recharging options.
• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity and app.
• 3.6-25kWh expandable capacity.
• 3600 Watts output.
• Weighs 42.5lbs.

Ecoflow Delta Pro is one of the largest and heaviest power stations out there. That’s because it was designed for indoor use, as an emergency power source for homes, camper vans, and RVs. When it comes to power output, it can easily rival generators. It can power almost all house appliances, tools, and heavy-duty devices as it has an output of 3,600 watts. In fact, it can power up multiple appliances simultaneously.

With the built-in X-Boost technology, Ecoflow Delta Pro can bump the electricity output to an incredible 4,500 watts. This allows it to power up a full-size refrigerator for over 51 hours. That alone makes the Ecoflow Delta Pro a perfect solution for power outages. Once the capacity of its battery is down to 0, this power station can be recharged in two and a half hours. However, the recharge time will depend on the power source you are using. Luckily, you have several options as Ecoflow can be plugged into a standard 120-volt home outlet, EV charging stations, solar panels, or a car power outlet.

2. 70mai Power Station Hiker 400

Best small and budget-friendly

Price: $399

• 8 available ports.
• Quiet design of only 35dB.
• Capacity of 378 Wh.
• 400 Watts output.
• BLE wireless connection and app.
• Weight 8.6lbs.

The 70mai Power Station Hiker 400 is a compact but versatile portable electricity solution designed for everyone who wants some comfort while enjoying outdoor adventures. It doesn’t have a large battery capacity, but 378 Wh is more than enough considering this power station is so light and portable weighing only 8.6 lbs. It can supply multiple small appliances and devices with its 8 ports. It has three USB-A ports, a 100W USB-C port, a DC cigarette lighter port, a DC 5521 port, and finally two 400W AC ports.

This is truly a small yet versatile power station. You can power up a heater, toaster, or coffee maker, or charge your smartphone, laptop, or camera while on the go. This power station has a quick charge option from multiple sources. An AC fast-charging brick is included. It’ll charge this power station from 0% to 100% in just under three hours. You can also use the USB-C port, or solar panels for recharging your Hiker 400.

3. Anker 767 PowerHouse

Best for RV use

Price: $1,999

• Battery Capacity of 2048 Wh.
• 2400 Watts output.
• 1000W Solar Output.
• Durable design.
• 12 ports
• Weighs 67 lbs.

The Anker 767 PowerHouse is primarily intended for outdoor use. It has a high battery capacity and you can use it to power up some of your home appliances too, but keep in mind running it into your main breaker would take some advanced installation knowledge. Although an amazing device for all those who prefer a lifestyle in nature, it is rather a heavy device to carry around. That’s why it has wheels and a retractable handle, so you can pull it or push it into place. This power station is certainly not for hiking but for camping. It’s designed to power up your camper van and the appliances in it. It even has a TT-30R RV outlet.

The battery capacity is large (although not the largest on the market), with 2048 Wh. However, if you invest in an expansion, the capacity jumps to 4096Wh and that’s impressive. This device also has an incredible selection of ports, 12 in total, and it can power up several devices and gadgets simultaneously. You can connect your laptop through one of two USB-C ports, or one of four AC ports. There are also three USB-A-type ports for charging smaller devices, 2 carports, and the already mentioned T-30R RV outlet.

Also, check out the Anker 757 PowerHouse as an alternative.

4. Bluetti AC200MAX Portable Power Station

Best power station with solar power generation.

Price: $2,946

• Battery capacity up to 2048 Wh.
• 2200 Watts output.
• 17 ports.
• LCD touchscreen.
• 900 Watts solar input.
• Weighs 61.9lbs.

Bluetti AC200MAX was the first power station to use the LiFePo4 type of battery. That means its life cycle was upgraded from 500-1000 charges to 3500 charges, making this power station a great investment as it will last you around 9 years or possibly more depending on use. With 4,800 Watts in surge mode, it will keep your household appliances running even during harsh winter blackouts since it can power up to 17 devices simultaneously. The station is also Bluetooth enabled which means you can control it with a smartphone app.

The Bluetti Power Station truly shines when paired with solar charging panels. That’s why you can buy it with a solar generator kit and receive 3 PV200 monocrystalline portable solar panels with a maximum of 900 Watts solar input. That makes the Bluetti AC200MAX a great outdoor solar generator. In fact, you can charge this power station with solar panels and through the AC outlet simultaneously, and all that in just 2 hours.

5. 70mai Tera 1000

Best budget-friendly high-capacity power station.

Price: $1,099

• Battery capacity up to 1000Wh.
• 1200 Watts output.
• 10 ports and sockets.
• BLE smartphone connection.
• Weighs 27.5lbs.

The 70mai Tera 1000 has a battery capacity of 1000Wh that can power up all small and medium household devices in your home, car, or camper van. Also, it’s one of the smallest and lightest power stations with a high-capacity battery, which makes it perfect for traveling and camping where packing space is tight. But the best part of the 70mai power station is the great balance between its price and the features it brings.

You can control the Tera 1000 Power station with your smartphone through the Bluetooth app, but it also sports a large LCD screen and controls on the power station front side. It even has an integrated flashlight so you can see the controls in total darkness. It has 10 ports, including three AC and DC ports. The AC/DC Pure Sine Wave inverter is built into the power station, so no need to carry a brick with you. A 200W Anderson port allows it to be connected with solar panels for charging outdoors.

6. Jackery Explorer 1000

Best durable power station.

Price: $1,099

• 1000 Wh capacity.
• Output of 1000 Watts.
• Power up 8 devices simultaneously.
• Shock and fire resistant.
• BMS, Over Voltage, and short circuit protection.
• Weighs 22.04lbs.

Jackery Explorer 1000 is one of the most popular portable power stations out there because it’s light and easy to use when camping, and organizing outdoor parties or sports events. Explorer 1000 has similar features to the 70mai Tera 1000, but it’s built to take a heavy beating. This makes it a great choice if you are adventurous and you need a power station that can endure rough handling and the elements.

On the other hand, Explorer 1000 has only eight ports. Although this is more than enough for everyday use, it might not be enough if you want to use this power station as an alternative power source for your home during blackouts and emergencies. It also doesn’t have any app connectivity which means it can be controlled only with the controls on the unit itself.

7. GoalZero Yeti 1500X

Most versatile power station.

Price: $1,799

• 1500 Wh capacity.
• 2000 Watts output.
• Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity.
• Built-in cable storage.
• Weighs 45.6lbs.

The Yeti 1500X can be used as an emergency home power source, or as an off-grid power bank for camping, road trips, or partying outdoors. It’s also great for powering up CPAP machines or even power tools due to its 2000W output and high-capacity battery. It has enough power to supply four refrigerators with electricity for up to three hours.

However, the Yeti 1500X has a long charge time when using the wall outlet, up to 13 hours. But if you have access to a 600-watt power supply, that time can be cut down to only 3 hours. Other charging options are also available, such as car or solar power charging. The best feature of GoalZero Yeti 1500X is its multiple connection options. You can use either Bluetooth or WiFi to control the unit remotely.

From the compact and versatile options suitable for camping trips to the robust and high-capacity units that can power essential appliances during emergencies, there is a power station for every need. Moreover, with the integration of solar panels, fast-charging capabilities, and smart features, these devices have become more user-friendly and eco-conscious than ever before.

The post 7 Best Portable Power Stations in 2023 first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

You can also download other people’s stories and highlights that catch your eye. Perhaps you want to share them, but the creator turned off the sharing option, or maybe you just want to save them to your device and show them to your friends later.

You can download highlights without much effort on your Android device, iPhone, Windows system, or Mac. You’ll just need a bit of patience and one of our three methods described below.

What Are Instagram Highlights?

Instagram Highlights are stories you created and saved to your profile. Highlights are one of the most popular Instagram features because it’s not uncommon for users to want their stories to last more than 24 hours.

Once you decide to save a story to your profile as a highlight, Instagram will put it in a separate section, just above your posts. If you want to download yours or other people’s highlights, here’s how.

1. Download Instagram Highlights Directly

If you want to save your Instagram Highlights to your Android or iPhone, the platform lets you do so directly from the Highlight. Here’s how to do it:

1. Launch the Instagram app on your phone and go to your profile.
2. Tap on the highlight you want to download to open it.

3. Once it’s open, swipe up. A new window will open.
4. Select the download icon.

5. The highlight will automatically be downloaded to your Camera Roll.

This is the easiest way to download your own Instagram Highlight to your mobile device. The best part is it’ll work on both Android and iOS devices the same way.

2. Download Instagram Highlights Using Stories Archive

Although your story will be up only 24 hours after you publish it, after that, it’ll be archived. You can access them if you go to Stories Archive. But this is not an automatic feature, in fact, you’ll have to activate it if you want your favorite stories to be saved in the archive. In the Archive library, you’ll also find stories of other Instagram users in which you were tagged.

You can then use the Stories Archive to download your favorite highlights. If you have lots of stories saved in the archive library, you’ll notice they are arranged by date. Use this information to easily find the highlight you want to download. Follow these simple steps to do it:

1. Open the Instagram app and go to your profile.
2. Tap the three horizontal lines icon in the top-right corner.

3. Select Archive from the menu.

4. When the archive library opens, find and tap a story you want to download.
5. Tap the three dots in the bottom right corner also known as the More menu.

6. Select Save photo/video from the pop-up menu.

And that’s it. You successfully downloaded an Instagram Highlight to your device. Remember that this method will work both on Android and iOS devices.

3. Download Instagram Highlights Online on Your PC

If you want to save Instagram Highlights on your PC instead of a smartphone, you’ll have to use a third-party website. That means you’ll need to go through a web browser such as Mozilla, Google Chrome, Safari, or any other browser you prefer. You’ll use it to open Instagram and to search for a term such as Instagram Story Saver, Instagram Video Downloader, or Instagram Photo Downloader. You have a lot of options.

All these third-party websites that’ll help you download IG Story or a Highlight work on the same principle. You’ll have to provide it with a link to the Story or a Highlight and it’ll do the rest for you. The good part of such websites is that you can use them to download not only your Highlights but also the Highlights of other people. Just make sure their profile is set to public. It won’t work with a private Instagram account because you won’t be able to access the Highlight and grab its link.

Let’s see how to download IG Highlight using the StoriesIG website. Keep in mind the steps are similar for all other similar websites mentioned above:

1. Go to https://storiesig.info/en/ in your preferred web browser.
2. Go to the Ig Story Downloader tab on the website.

3. In the search bar type the name of the Instagram user whose Highlight you want to download. If it’s your own, type your Instagram account username. You can also copy a direct link to an Instagram video you want to download.
4. Once you provide the Instagram username or a direct link to the video, hit the Search button next to the search bar and wait for the website to find the results.

5. Once the provided username profile is found, you’ll see Stories, Highlights, Posts, IGTV, and Reels tabs available. Hit the Highlights tab.

6. If you want to download other content, select the appropriate tab.
7. Select the Highlight you want to download.

8. A green download button will appear. Click it.

Depending on your browser settings, the downloaded content will either go to your downloads folder or you’ll be asked where you want to save the highlight.

Note that some of these third-party websites for downloading Instagram content also have a mobile app. One such is Instagram Story Saver. You can use it to quickly find and download content from any public Instagram profile. It can also generate a download link for you that you can share with others.

So, there you have it, Instagram enthusiasts! You’ve cracked the code on how to download those awesome Story Highlights. Whether you’re aiming to relive memories or just keeping a digital scrapbook, knowing how to download Instagram Story Highlights gives you a whole new level of control over your social media.

The post How to Download Instagram Story Highlights first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

However, it’s not easy to find the trash can or a recycle bin on an Android phone. That’s because there isn’t one, especially not one like on Windows PCs. The Android operating system doesn’t come with a single recycle bin in which all deleted files are stored. Although there’s no such thing as a single trash can for Android users, many Android apps have their own trash files that you can empty or use to recover data. Let’s take a closer look at how to access these folders.

1. Android Email Recycle Bin

It doesn’t matter which email client you’re using, Yahoo, Outlook, or Gmail, they all have a trash folder where deleted emails are stored temporarily. Open up the email app on your Android smartphone, tap the trash folder and you’ll access the deleted items. You can recover them or clear them.

2. Recycle Bin in File Explorer

All File Explorer apps, such as Dropbox or ES File Explorer, also have their own recycle bin. Access it and you’ll easily find deleted files in there. How long the File Explorer app will keep the deleted files depends on the app you’re using. For example, Dropbox keeps them for up to 180 days. For cloud-based File Explorer apps, you might need to access them through the web in order to restore deleted data.

3. Photos App Trash Folder

The Android Gallery app has built-in trash folders where you’ll find trash you previously deleted. Note that they are not there forever, and you can retrieve only the images you deleted in the last 30 days. After that period, the trash folder will automatically empty itself to free up internal storage space.

To access the trash bin in the Android Photos gallery:

1. Tap the three lines (hamburger) menu on the bottom right side of the screen.

2. Next, select the trash bin icon from the pop-up menu.

4. The Trash in File Manager

Android’s native File management app also has its own trash bins. Just tap the File Manager, or My Files app and scroll down until you find the trash bin folder. You can restore deleted Android data from here, or empty the trash folder.

5. App Download History

If you accidentally deleted an app, you can always restore it from the app download history. On Android devices, this can be easily done through the Google Play Store. Here’s how:

1. Go to the Google Play app and make sure you’re logged in.
2. Tap on your profile picture and select Manage Apps & Device.

3. Tap the Manage tab and it’ll display the list of all the apps installed on your device.

4. Select the one you accidentally deleted and reinstall it.

And that’s it! You can now keep your digital space clean. Whether you’re deleting old files, freeing up memory, or just doing a little digital spring cleaning, finding the Android trash folder is your secret weapon.

The post How to Find the Trash Can/Folder on Your Android Phone first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

It used to be much easier to see other people’s likes with the old Facebook Graph Search, but since 2019, that feature has been replaced with a new API that no longer allows you to search directly for your friends’ likes. Luckily, there are other methods to check what someone likes on Facebook, and this article will show you how.

How to See Other People’s Likes on Desktop Device

The easiest method to see what someone likes is to go to their Facebook profile. But what likes you’ll be able to see will depend on that person’s profile privacy settings and whether you are Facebook friends.

You can use any desktop device to use this method and check out what someone liked on Facebook. Windows, Linux, or macOS will work the same way because you’ll do it using your web browser. Here’s how:

1. Open Facebook in the web browser and make sure you’re logged into your Facebook account.
2. Find the friend’s Facebook profile whose likes you want to see. You either use the search bar or click on their profile photo from a post on your timeline to open up their profile page.
3. Click on More, under their profile image.

4. Select Likes from the drop-down menu that opens.

This will take you to the Facebook page where you’ll be able to see this person’s likes. However, you can choose one of the categories offered to see which TV shows, or books someone liked. You’ll also notice that by using this method you’ll only be able to see what pages this Facebook user liked.

You might not be able to see likes if this person didn’t set their privacy settings to Public.

How to See Other People’s Likes on Mobile Devices

This technique is slightly different if you want to see what someone liked via mobile phone. However, it won’t matter if you use an Android or iPhone because you’ll use the Facebook app which is virtually the same on both platforms. Follow these steps to see other people’s likes on Facebook on your mobile phone:

1. Open the Facebook App and make sure you’re logged into your Facebook account.
2. Find the Facebook profile of a person who likes you want to see.
3. Once on their profile, tap the About section.

4. Scroll down and find Likes.
5. Tap See All.

6. A list of all the liked pages this person liked will be displayed.

Take note that you won’t be able to see someone’s likes if their profile privacy settings are not set to Public.

How to See Someone’s Posts and Comments Likes?

Unfortunately, there’s no list of Facebook posts and comments your friends might have liked. But you can still see these likes under certain conditions.

First, you’ll need to be friends with that person on Facebook.

Then you’ll have to set him as a “Favorite” friend. Here’s how:

1. Select someone in your friend list.
2. Click on the three dots next to their name
3. Select Favorites from the pop-up menu. It has a star icon in front of it.

This will allow you to follow this friend and in turn, you’ll see on your Facebook news feed his activities such as liked posts, comments he made on other people’s posts, and much more.

You won’t be able to see old likes this way, but only the new ones. That friend you just set as a favorite will have to perform some new Facebook activities for it to pop into your feed.

How to See Photos Someone Liked on Facebook?

The only way you can see if someone liked a photo on Facebook is if you stumble upon it by accident. There is no longer a way to check what pictures someone liked. However, you could open up a picture posted by a mutual friend and it should show as “Liked By (the name of your friend). Or, click on the number of likes on a photo and try finding your friend’s name among all the people who liked this photo.

There is no specific list of photos liked by someone on Facebook. That’s because Facebook works hard to improve profile privacy. The only other methods to check what someone liked on Facebook is to either manually check a friend’s posts, or to ask them directly.

And there you have it, Facebook explorers! Whether you’re satisfying your curiosity or simply trying to connect with friends on a deeper level, understanding how to see what someone likes on Facebook is a handy skill to have.

The post How to See What Someone Likes on Facebook first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

But words do not always express what we feel or think about other people’s messages. That’s why you can also react to messages on Instagram using emojis. This article will show you how.

How to React to Messages on Instagram

Reacting to Instagram messages is pretty straightforward. However, if you don’t have the latest version of the Instagram app, you might not even be able to see the option to react to messages. That’s why you’ll first need to update Instagram:

1. Visit the Google Play Store if you’re an Android user or the App Store if you’re an iPhone user.
2. Find the Instagram app and tap the Update button.

3. Wait until the update is finished.

Now that you updated your Instagram app, let’s learn how to react to messages:

1. Open up a conversation in your Instagram messages. Tap the Messages (paper airplane icon) on the top-right side of the screen and find the DM you want to react to.

2. Double-tap on a DM to react with a heart emoji. This is the default Instagram reaction.
3. To react with a different emoji, press and hold a message to bring up the list of emojis. To open the whole emoji list, tap the plus button.

4. Choose and tap the one that you’d like to react with.

And that’s it! You just reacted to an Instagram message with an emoji that clearly shows your feelings about its content.

How to React to Messages on Instagram from the Web

Reacting to Instagram DMs from your PC is as simple as from the mobile app. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Open your favorite web browser, go to the Instagram web page, and log in to your Instagram account.
2. Select the Messenger icon from the left side menu to go to Direct Messages. Find the conversation you’ll react to.

3. Place your cursor over the message you want to react to and select the reaction icon on the right side of the message. It’s represented by a smiley face or a heart icon and contains a list of emojis.

4. Select the reaction you like the most from the pop-up menu (thumbs up, laughing emoji, fire, heart, or any other available emoji).

As you can see, reacting to Instagram messages on a PC is just as easy.

Customize Default Instagram Emoji Reactions

By default, Instagram offers a list of six emojis to react with. But you can customize this shortlist and put your custom emojis instead. You can even replace the default heart emoji. They will always display first when you want to react to DMs.

Follow these steps to personalize the emoji reaction list:

1. Open your Instagram app and make sure you are logged in.
2. Open a DM you want to react to (or any other DM will serve the purpose).
3. Tap and hold a message. When the emoji list shows up, tap the Plus icon (+) on the right side.

4. When the emoji list opens, tap Customize.

5. Select the reaction emojis you want. When done, tap the check mark at the top right corner of the screen.

And there you have it! Three easy methods of reacting to messages on Instagram. Spice up your conversations and tell others how you feel or when you’re using sarcasm.

The post How to React to Messages on Instagram (Mobile and PC) first appeared on Online Tech Tips.

There are different benefits and drawbacks to PlayStation Plus and Game Pass. This article will explore them all so it’s easier for you to choose which one to go with if you also can’t decide which console to buy. Some aspects of these two services are different and you should be fully aware of where you’re putting your money.

PlayStation Plus

The first form of Sony’s subscription service was known as Sony Now, and it came out in 2015. This standalone subscription allowed its users to stream hundreds of Sony titles, old and new. But in June 2022, Sony decided to change its subscription service and expand it into three tiers. The new subscription plan was named PlayStation Plus, and the tiers are Essential, Extra, and Premium.

The Essential PS Plus plan gives you one PS5 game and two PS4 games every month. But you have access to online multiplayer and cloud storage. With it, you’ll have exclusive discounts on all games available for the Sony PlayStation console.

The PS Plus Extra plan gives you access to a catalog of over 400 PS5 and PS4 titles, all of them downloadable. Ubisoft+ Classic titles are included in this plan, so you can play some of the most famous Ubisoft games for no extra cost.

The PS Plus Premium plan is a combination of Essential and Extra tiers and more. You’ll be able to stream and download PS5 and PS4 games and only stream PS3 games. The catalog expands to PS1, PS2, and PSP games, adding over 340 titles to the already existing library of over 400 games. Ubisoft+ Classic titles are also included.

To stream games using the PS Plus Premium tier, you’ll need an internet connection. Sony recommends at least 5 Mbps for your stream to be smooth. Use the streaming service only if you don’t want to bother downloading the game. The only downside is that you can expect some lag and sudden fps drops on occasion.

Xbox Game Pass

Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass is available for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. But you can also get the Game Pass for PC if you have Windows 10 or 11. Until recently, Game Pass games were download-only. But Microsoft decided to offer their users a streaming service, and now you won’t have to fill your storage with games you want to try out. However, if you want to play online games, you’ll need Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Unlike PS Plus, Xbox Game Pass has no tiers, and it’s a pretty straightforward service. All the titles from any Xbox generation will be automatically available to you, and you can download and play as many as you want. That is, provided you have enough storage on your Xbox console.

To keep your Xbox Game Pass subscription valid, you have to check in with Xbox Live at least every 30 days. Some titles will leave Xbox Game Pass, the others will join it. Unfortunately, you can’t predict the games that’ll be in the Xbox catalog. However, as a subscriber, you get a discount on buying any game from the catalog, or any game’s DLC.

PlayStation Plus Vs Xbox Game Pass Pricing and Plans

Both PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass plans start at $10 per month. However, since PS Plus has three different tiers, it has a slightly different price for each of them. PS Plus also lets you pay monthly, quarterly, or per year. Check out the price comparison in the table below:

Xbox Game Pass for Console and for PC costs only $10 per month. You have access to the whole Xbox game library and you can download any game you want. But you can’t stream the games. In order to stream, you’ll have to go with the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which is $15 per month.

PlayStation Plus plans we explained in the section above. The Essential, which is the basic plan, is $10 per month and it gives you three downloadable games and access to online multiplayer support. For $15 you can upgrade to PS Plus Extra and get access to the whole Sony PlayStation game library. To stream the games however, you’ll have to pay $18 per month for the PS Plus Premium subscription.

PlayStation Plus Vs Xbox Game Pass Game Library

The whole vision behind both PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass is to give users access to a Netflix-like library of content. In this case, the content is games that you can download or stream, depending on the plan you choose. Both platforms have extensive video game libraries, but they have different approaches to maintaining their catalogs and how they add new titles.

While Sony waits a few months to add the newest titles to their PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium tiers, Microsoft adds the new titles to their Xbox Game Pass on their release date. This is a big deal if you like playing the newest games as soon as they’re released. On the other hand, if you prefer indie games, you’ll be happy to hear that Sony adds these titles to all their PS Plus plans on day one.

Both service providers also partnered up with various game studios and offered their games. For example, if you love EA Games and their titles such as Need for Speed, the Sims, or Star Wars, you might want to go with the Xbox Game Pass as you can play them on the Xbox console. Microsoft is also in partnership with Riot, and you can use their Game Pass for PC to play League of Legends. On the other hand, Sony partnered up with Ubisoft, and their catalog as well as the Ubisoft+ Classic games list, is accessible through the PlayStation console. If you love Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and the Tom Clancy franchise, you might want to go for PS Plus.

Not all games are permanently available in Microsoft’s or Sony’s game catalog. That depends on the publisher. For sure, all first-party games, developed and published by Microsoft or Sony, will stay in the catalog permanently. But the games made by third-party developers will rotate out of the catalogs. This is especially true for new games that have a set timeframe for how long they will be available. Classic first-party titles tend to stay available permanently.

That said, here are some of the most popular and successful games available on each console subscription service.

Most Popular PS Plus Games

• God of War
• Horizon Forbidden West
• Doom Eternal
• Final Fantasy 16
• Spiderman
• Death Stranding
• Red Dead Redemption II
• Assassin’s Creed franchise

Most Popular Xbox Game Pass Games

• Halo: The Master Chief Collection
• Ghostwire: Tokyo
• Minecraft Legends
• Goat Simulator
• Watch Dogs 2
• Among Us
• Forza Horizon 5
• Mass Effect

PlayStation Plus Vs Xbox Game Pass Game Streaming

Game Streaming, or Cloud Gaming is supported by Xbox Game Pass Ultra and PlayStation Plus Premium. You can use this feature to stream the games on your console, or other devices in case you don’t own Xbox or PlayStation.

Xbox cloud gaming with Game Pass Ultra lets you stream games on Xbox consoles, PC, tablets, smartphones, and some Samsung smart TVs. Some titles are even optimized for touchscreens, so you won’t need to use a controller to play them on mobile devices.

PlayStation Plus Premium offers streaming only on PS5 and PS4 consoles, and PC. For now, there’s no option to directly stream to smartphones or TVs. Games that were specifically developed for PlayStation 5 cannot be streamed yet. However, you can always download these titles to your host PS5 console, and then stream them to your PC, Mac, iOS, and Android devices.

The advantage of the PS Plus Premium plan is in its Play Share feature. Use it to share your screen with online friends and play games together as if you were in the same room. Xbox Game Pass doesn’t offer this or any similar feature.

PlayStation Plus Vs Xbox Game Pass Verdict

For now, the Xbox Game Pass wins over PlayStation Plus, but PlayStation Plus is catching up and offering some nice benefits to their subscription service too. Getting premium game titles and releasing them on the same day is a huge plus for Xbox Game Pass.

Although both Sony and Microsoft offer their subscription plans for PC gaming, Xbox does it with smartphones too and allows mobile users to enjoy some of their titles without even having to bother with the controller. Sony has yet to expand its offer of exclusive high-profile titles and device support.

Although Xbox Game Pass is a better bang for your buck, it’s only because it was on the market much longer and it had time to develop. Given time, Sony will catch up and it’s already catching up reasonably quickly. You can already spend thousands of hours with a PS Plus subscription.

That said, the ultimate decision about which to choose will depend on the games you want to play. Check out the full libraries of both Sony’s PlayStation Plus and Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass and look for the titles you want to play. In this area, it’s worth mentioning that the PlayStation Plus catalog is larger than the Xbox Game Pass catalog, and Sony has some of the most attractive and award-winning titles that are exclusive to the PlayStation console.

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