Hongkiat https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/author/karrar_haider/ Tech and Design Tips Thu, 02 May 2024 08:21:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 1070734 15 Common PC Problems and How to Troubleshoot Them https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/pc-hardware-problems-solutions/ https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/pc-hardware-problems-solutions/#comments Tue, 26 Mar 2024 10:00:29 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=39242 There’s no need to rush off to the tech repair store for every problem your PC might have. A lot of usual computer issues can be solved quite easily on your own, allowing you to handle them with a few straightforward steps. This guide is here to help you fix common PC issues by yourself.…

The post 15 Common PC Problems and How to Troubleshoot Them appeared first on Hongkiat.

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There’s no need to rush off to the tech repair store for every problem your PC might have. A lot of usual computer issues can be solved quite easily on your own, allowing you to handle them with a few straightforward steps.

This guide is here to help you fix common PC issues by yourself. Below, you’ll find a rundown of the top 15 hardware problems that PC users encounter and how you can deal with them without outside help.

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How to Fix Corrupted Windows System with System File Checker

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1. PC Overheating

A heating PC slows down the entire system and can lead to frequent crashes. Moreover, PC components might permanently damage due to continuous exposure to heat.

There are two primary reasons your PC might overheat: either the cooling system isn’t functioning correctly, or the PC is generating more heat than the cooling system can manage. For both scenarios, I’ve detailed a comprehensive guide on various methods to manage an overheating PC. Make sure to check it out.

2. Dysfunctional USB Port

If your USB port stops working, it might not necessarily be broken. Here are some solutions that can help resolve this issue:

Method 1: Restart the PC

Restarting your PC can solve many issues, including problems with the USB port.

Method 2: Uninstall USB Port Driver

Uninstalling the driver of the USB port will prompt Windows to reinstall it upon restarting your PC, potentially fixing the issue. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Press Windows + R keys and enter devmgmt.msc in the Run dialog to open the Device Manager.
  2. Expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers option.
  3. Right-click the entry USB Host Controller and then click on Uninstall.
  4. Repeat this for all entries with USB Host Controller to uninstall drivers for all the USB ports.
  5. Once deleted, restart your PC, and Windows will automatically reinstall the drivers, fixing any driver-related issues.
Hardware problem uninstall driver
Method 3: Disable USB Selective Suspend

The USB Selective Suspend feature in Windows saves power by suspending idle USB ports, but sometimes it might prevent a USB port from working. Here’s how to disable it:

  1. Press Windows + R keys and type powercfg.cpl in the Run dialog to open Windows Power Options.
  2. Click on Change plan settings next to your current plan, then click on Change advanced power settings.
  3. Expand USB settings and disable USB selective suspend setting.
  4. Restart your PC to see if the issue with the USB port is resolved.
Disable USB suspend

Note: Keep this option enabled to save battery power. If disabling it doesn’t resolve the USB port issue, consider enabling it again.

3. PC Keeps Disconnecting from WiFi

If your Wi-Fi is functioning properly but your PC keeps disconnecting from it, the issue may be due to your PC’s network card not receiving full power. Windows features a built-in power saver option that reduces power to the network card. You’ll need to disable this feature by following these steps:

  1. Navigate to Advanced settings in the Power Options.
  2. Expand Wireless Adapter Settings and then Power Saving Mode.
  3. Adjust this to Maximum Performance.

Alternatively, if your PC continues to disconnect from Wi-Fi and the issue persists, the problem might be a faulty wireless adapter driver. Consider using Auslogics’ Driver Updater to detect and resolve issues with device drivers by fetching and installing the latest official driver software.

Maximize network card performance

4. PC Beeps

The motherboard of your PC is equipped to detect issues and uses beeps of varying rhythms to communicate problems. For an in-depth understanding of what different beep patterns mean, check out this detailed article on interpreting these signals.

If your PC fails to start after emitting these beeps, solving the problem can be challenging. Nonetheless, I’ll discuss two common issues that cause beeps and how you can resolve them yourself.

Problem 1: RAM Displacement

One common issue I encountered is the RAM becoming loose or displaced, leading to 2-3 beeps from the PC without it booting up. The solution is straightforward: open up the PC (though laptop users might prefer professional help) and reseat the RAM. Here’s how:

  1. Clean any dirt from the RAM slot using a cotton bud after removing the RAM completely.
  2. Reinsert the RAM, applying sufficient pressure on both ends to ensure it is fully seated.
  3. Secure the clips, ensuring they’re properly locked, as even slightly loose RAM can prevent your PC from working.

Refer to this video for guidance on installing the RAM properly:

Problem 2: Issues with Newly Added Hardware

Beeps can also result from damaged or incorrectly installed hardware components. Remove any hardware you’ve recently added to see if it addresses the issue. If your PC functions correctly afterward, ensure the component is installed correctly or consider repairing or replacing it.

5. PC Fans Not Working

If you discover that one or more fans within your PC are not functioning, it might be due to accumulated dirt. You’ll need to open your PC and clean the fans and other components using a can of compressed air or a leaf blower.

For guidance on the cleaning process, watch this helpful video:

If cleaning doesn’t solve the issue, consider using the SpeedFan app to diagnose and possibly fix the problem. This app allows you to control your PC’s fans, though your motherboard must support fan control to utilize this feature.

SpeedFan application interface

6. PC Not Using Full RAM Capacity

There are times when your PC might not utilize all the RAM installed. For instance, you could have 4GB of RAM, but the Task Manager only shows 2GB in use. Often, this is due to a specific Windows setting.

Note: If a small amount of RAM (200-400MB) is not being utilized, it’s likely reserved for hardware use, and there’s not much that can be done about it.

The solution is straightforward – Windows may have been set to use only a part of the available RAM. Here’s how you can adjust it:

  1. Press Windows + R keys and type msconfig in the Run dialog to open System Configurations.
  2. Navigate to the Boot tab and click on Advanced options.
  3. Check the box next to Maximum memory and enter the total amount of RAM installed (in MBs).
  4. Click OK and restart your PC to apply the changes.
System configuration for maximum memory usage

Good to know: While adjusting these settings, also consider checking the Number of processors option to ensure your PC is using all available CPU cores. Set it to the maximum number to utilize full CPU power.

If the issue persists, it’s possible that one of the RAM modules may not be properly installed. Attempt reinstallation to see if it resolves the issue.

7. Overworking Fan

Your PC’s fan speeds up based on your PC’s temperature—the higher the temperature, the faster the fan runs. If your PC’s temperature is normal (you can check it using HWMonitor), but the fan is still running at full speed, you might need to manually adjust the fan speed.

The SpeedFan app can help you monitor and adjust the speed of your PC’s fans. This issue of fans overworking typically occurs only with motherboards that have fan control capabilities, so compatibility with the app shouldn’t be a concern.

8. PC Crashes Before Loading the OS

If your PC crashes immediately after showing the manufacturer logo and before loading the operating system, the issue likely lies with the RAM or the hard disk. This means the operating system can’t load because the RAM is corrupted or the hard disk is damaged.

For those with multiple RAM slots, removing each RAM module one at a time and starting the PC can help identify the faulty component. Ultimately, you’ll need to replace the corrupted RAM or hard disk.

9. PC Isn’t Powering On

If your PC isn’t powering on at all, with no lights turning on, the problem could be with the power source.

Desktop users: Ensure that the extension cord, power outlet, and all connections are functioning correctly. If they are, try swapping the power cable with another one, such as the monitor’s, to see if the PC turns on. If this resolves the issue, you’ll need a new power cable.

Laptop users: Try removing the battery and then reinserting it before starting the laptop. If that doesn’t work, remove the battery again and connect the laptop to the charger to try powering it on without the battery. If the laptop powers on, the battery may need to be replaced.

Note: It’s also wise to disconnect any external devices from your PC when attempting these solutions, as a malfunctioning device could be the cause of the power issue.

10. Noisy PC

A noisy PC often signals the need for a thorough cleaning. You can clean it yourself using a can of compressed air or a leaf blower. Overclocking your PC’s GPU and CPU might also contribute to the noise.

Here’s a video demonstrating simple methods to clean your PC:

Sometimes, the noise could be coming from a disc in the DVD ROM. For more details on PC components that can cause noise, check out this informative article.

11. Noisy Hard Drive

Clicking or grinding noises from your hard drive are warning signs that it may be failing. Hard drives have a finite lifespan, and these sounds often indicate imminent failure. The CrystalDiskInfo hard drive monitoring tool can help assess the health of your hard drive, displaying conditions like “Good,” “Caution,” or “Bad.”

CrystalDiskInfo interface showing hard drive health

It’s crucial to back up your data immediately and consider acquiring a replacement hard drive before the current one fails.

12. Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)

The feared Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) can be triggered by both software and hardware issues, though it often points to hardware problems. It’s crucial to address BSOD promptly as it indicates significant trouble.

Blue Screen of Death

BlueScreenView, a helpful Nirsoft utility, provides valuable information following a BSOD event, aiding in the identification and resolution of the issue. Here are some common BSOD triggers and their fixes.

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How to Fix “Apps Not Responding” in Windows 10

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Corrupted Drivers

Corrupted drivers can lead to BSOD. To diagnose and address this issue, follow these steps:

  1. Access Device Manager by typing devmgmt.msc in the Run dialog.
  2. Expand each category and look for any drivers marked with a yellow triangle icon.
  3. If any are found, right-click on the driver and select Update Driver Software to update it.
Driver update process

Alternatively, third-party apps like IObit Driver Booster can automate the process of identifying and resolving driver issues.

Excessive Load on RAM

Opening more programs than the RAM can handle might freeze the system and trigger BSOD. Limit the number of concurrent programs or consider upgrading your RAM to avoid this issue.

Faulty Hard Disk

A BSOD can also signal a failing hard disk. Refer to the guidelines in problem #11 to detect hard disk issues.

Overheating PC

An overheating PC may lead to BSOD if excessive stress is placed on the components. Follow the instructions provided in problem #1 to address this.

13. Blank Monitor

If your monitor displays nothing, it could indicate an issue with the monitor itself or the graphics card. Test the monitor with another PC to determine the source of the problem.

If the monitor doesn’t power on at all, try replacing the power cable with one that’s known to work. For more troubleshooting tips, here’s a useful article on fixing a monitor that shows nothing.

14. Monitor Goes Black After a Few Seconds

If your monitor goes black after displaying for a few seconds, it may be related to color quality or screen adjustment settings. Try pressing the auto-adjust button on your monitor. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, consider changing the display color from 32-bit to 16-bit.

Connecting your PC to a different monitor to adjust the graphics card settings could also be helpful. Using the auto-adjust feature might briefly restore the display, allowing you to tweak the color settings in that short window.

15. Keyboard Issues

If your keyboard is noisy or fails to type repeated words correctly, it’s likely not a hardware issue. Windows settings such as toggle keys and filter keys might be activated, leading to these symptoms. To disable them, follow these steps:

  1. Access the Control Panel and select Ease of Access.
  2. Click on Change how your keyboard works.
  3. Uncheck the boxes next to Toggle keys and Filter Keys to resolve the issue.
Disabling filter keys
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How to Fix Mouse Left-click Malfunction in Windows

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Wrapping Up

While many hardware issues can be resolved by adjusting settings or using specific software, some problems may necessitate a trip to the computer repair shop. Knowing what’s wrong with your PC enables you to take appropriate action. We’d love to hear about any PC hardware problems you’ve encountered and how you solved them, so please share your experiences in the comments.

The post 15 Common PC Problems and How to Troubleshoot Them appeared first on Hongkiat.

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Winxvideo AI: AI-powered Video Enhancer (Review) https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/winxvideo-ai-video-enhancer/ Mon, 11 Mar 2024 10:00:31 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=71457 We’ve explored tools designed to enhance old or low-resolution photos, many of which use AI. Today, we’re discussing an app that applies similar technology to videos. Winxvideo AI is a desktop app that utilizes artificial intelligence to upscale low-resolution videos, stabilize shaky footage, and increase frame rates, among other video editing features. If you have…

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We’ve explored tools designed to enhance old or low-resolution photos, many of which use AI. Today, we’re discussing an app that applies similar technology to videos.

Winxvideo AI is a desktop app that utilizes artificial intelligence to upscale low-resolution videos, stabilize shaky footage, and increase frame rates, among other video editing features.

Winxvideo AI
Winxvideo AI interface

If you have old videos or low-resolution clips sitting unused in your archives and you’re considering enhancing them to look as if they were shot with a high-end camera, Winxvideo AI might be worth considering.

Continue reading to see if this app suits your video enhancement needs.

Winxvideo AI’s Features:

Winxvideo AI is a desktop video editing app that goes beyond basic video editing. It offers a wide range of video editing options, including cutting, cropping, merging, and trimming videos.

It also supports compression of video files across various formats, catering to different devices, and even supports downloading online videos.

Winxvideo AI Features
Winxvideo AI’s features: Enhance images and videos, convert videos, download videos and screen recording.

Download Winxvideo AI for Windows

Let’s take a closer look at the features it offers.

Basic Editing Tools

Winxvideo AI comes equipped with the essential tools expected from a video editing software, such as cutting, cropping, and rotating videos.

Cut drop rotate video

It also allows users to add effects, insert watermarks, and include subtitles. The Toolbox tab unveils additional functionalities like denoise, merge, trim, split, as well as mirror and flip options, enriching the video editing experience.

Denoise merge trim video
Winxvideo AI’s Edit Video interface

Below is an screenshot showing the video trimming feature, where you can split videos into segments of specified seconds.

Trim and Split Video
Splitting video with Winxvideo AI
Video Compression

Winxvideo AI not only edits videos well but also makes them smaller in size. This means you don’t need other programs like Handbrake to do this. One can effortlessly drag videos into the app, choose the desired final format, and compress them accordingly.

Video Compression
Compress and changing video formats with Winxvideo AI

It supports compressing originally uploaded videos into multiple formats for device compatibility, featuring numerous preset profiles for easy compression without the need for manual setting adjustments.

Video Compression Profiles
Winxvideo AI’s preset profiles for video compression
Video Downloading

Additionally, Winxvideo AI can also be use to download internet videos. By entering the URL of the desired video, reviewing, and confirming the settings, you can then download videos with the click of a button.

Download Videos
Downloading online videos with Winxvideo AI
Stabilization & Frame Rate Boost

Winxvideo AI is equipped to tackle shaky videos or clips suffering from low frame rates. It offers stabilization and can enhance the frame rate up to 120/240/480 fps, ensuring smooth and high-quality playback.

Stabilization and Frame Rate Boost
Quality Enhancement

One of the main things Winxvideo does pretty well is make low-quality videos look better. It uses something called CineAI technology to do this. But don’t worry about the complex tech behind it. What matters is that you can easily upload a video to the app, and it will improve its quality for you.

We tested it by uploading a video that wasn’t very clear to begin with. First, we clicked on the Video AI icon, dragged the video into the app

Drag and Add Video for Upscaling

Then we chose the “Super Resolution” option, picked a 4x improvement under "Model Settings", and then hit the “Run” button to start the process.

Video Upscaling Process

Below, you can see pictures showing the video before and after we used the app. The improvement is quite significant.

If you’re curious to see how the video itself changed, here are the download links to tbe (before and after) videos.

[download button placeholder]

And here’s a complete list of Winxvideo AI’s features that we’ve come to know:

  • AI-powered video and image enhancement
  • Video/image upscaling
  • Video stabilization
  • Frame rate boosting
  • Video conversion and compression
  • Comprehensive video editing features like trimming, splitting, and removing distractions
  • Improvements in video quality by removing blur, noise, blockiness, and interlacing
  • Batch video processing
  • Video speed control from 0.1x to 16x
  • Video rotation and flipping
  • Fisheye lens distortion correction
  • Background noise reduction
  • GIF creation, snapshot taking, image extraction, and resizing
  • Audio enhancement through syncing, volume adjustment, and track enabling/disabling

This concludes the features of Winxvideo AI, and now, on to the pros and cons of the app.

Pros
  • Addresses broad video issues: noise, blur, more
  • Packed with features for stabilization, upscaling
  • Enables professional video enhancements
  • Speeds up editing, ensures wide compatibility
  • Boosts appeal across various content types
Cons
  • Can overwhelm newcomers with features
  • Demands modern, powerful computer setup
  • Potential for overuse, making videos look artificial

Hardware Requirements to Run the App

  • Minimum Requirements: For AI video enhancement, ensure your Windows-based system has Vulkan 1.2.x, OpenCL 1.0, 2GB RAM, and 1GB of disk space. This feature needs a high-end setup for best performance due to its intensive computational demands.
  • Operating System: The app is currently compatible with Windows only.
  • Enhancement Speed: On a high-spec PC (13th Gen Intel® Core i7-13700K, AMD Radeon RX7600), enhancing a frame from HD to 4K takes 2 seconds, and from SD to HD takes about 0.3 seconds, thanks to full GPU acceleration.

Is This App for You?

Winxvideo AI is suitable for a broad range of users, from professional videographers seeking to improve event recordings to content creators looking to enhance their digital presence.

It’s also a valuable asset for marketers in need of high-quality promotional materials, adventurers wanting to share their experiences in the best light, gamers aiming to present their gameplay more clearly, and educators enhancing instructional content.

The app addresses common video issues such as noise, blur, and camera shake, providing features like stabilization and upscaling. If you’re interested in elevating the quality of your videos for any purpose, Winxvideo AI might be worth exploring.

Pricing and Availability

Winxvideo AI can be downloaded for free, allowing you to test and explore its features. However, exporting your video requires purchasing one of its plans. Here are the costs associated with Winxvideo AI’s plans:

  • 1-Year Plan for 3 PCs at $25.95: Suitable for amateurs, providing 1-year access to all features, including AI video/image enhancement and free upgrades.
  • Lifetime Plan for 1 PC at $45.95: Designed for professionals, offering lifetime access to all features, continuous AI updates, and new capabilities.
  • Family Plan for 3-5 PCs at $57.95: Ideal for families or small groups, includes everything in the Lifetime plan with installation for up to 5 computers.

Learn more about Winxvideo AI’s pricing.

Conclusion

Winxvideo AI appears as a great tool for anyone looking to enhance their video quality. Its array of features, from basic editing to advanced AI-powered enhancements like upscaling and stabilization, cater to a wide audience.

Whether you’re a professional videographer, content creator, or just someone wanting to breathe new life into old footage, this app has something to offer. While it boasts impressive capabilities, it’s important to note that its extensive features may require a bit of a learning curve for newcomers.

Additionally, to unlock its full potential, a purchase is necessary after the initial free trial. Overall, if improving video quality for various purposes is your goal, Winxvideo AI could be a worthy investment, provided you have the hardware to support its demands.

Download Winxvideo AI for Windows

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How to Convert Hindi Videos into English (Updated) https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/convert-videos-hindi-english-blipcut/ Wed, 07 Feb 2024 05:00:18 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=71213 As communication continues to evolve, visual and interactive media play an increasingly significant role, with video content leading the charge. Videos serve as a crucial bridge, connecting individuals across different cultures and continents. By translating videos – especially those from Hindi into other languages – we can broaden access to diverse content, fostering greater cross-cultural…

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As communication continues to evolve, visual and interactive media play an increasingly significant role, with video content leading the charge. Videos serve as a crucial bridge, connecting individuals across different cultures and continents. By translating videos – especially those from Hindi into other languages – we can broaden access to diverse content, fostering greater cross-cultural understanding and breaking down linguistic barriers.

In this guide, we look into the process of using an AI video translator to seamlessly translate videos online.

Translating Hindi Videos into English

Screenshot of BlipCut Online AI Video Translator interface

For those seeking to translate Hindi videos into English, BlipCut AI Video Translator can come in handy. This online AI video translator enables conversion into various languages, supporting over 35 languages including English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and more. BlipCut stands out with features like human-like AI voices and a voice cloning tool that transforms your voice into different characters.

BlipCut is user-friendly, making it ideal for beginners and non-technical users. It includes a ChatGPT translation feature for enhanced accuracy in video translations. Additionally, it functions as an online voice changer with realistic AI voices, allowing you to modify the voice in your videos.

Key features of the app includes:

  • Translate videos into over 35 languages without limitations.
  • Supports translation from Hindi to English.
  • Wide range of human-like AI voices for dubbing.
  • Auto Caption Generator for creating subtitles in any language.
  • Online Free voice changer with realistic AI voices.
  • ChatGPT translation feature for more precise video translations.
  • Export options in formats like .mp4, .mp3, .vtt, .srt, and more.
  • Suitable for marketing, educational content, game videos, and more.
  • Capability to translate movies into various languages.
  • Features to auto adjust volume and speed.
Advantages
  • User-friendly interface, ideal for beginners.
  • Extensive range of realistic AI voices.
  • No watermark on translated videos.
  • Cost-effective pricing.
  • Supports downloading videos in popular formats like MP4.
  • Offers over 35 languages, including English and Hindi.
  • Web-based, requiring no downloads or installations.
Limitations
  • Some AI voices may sound robotic.
  • Limited features in the free version.
  • BlipCut logo present in the free version.
Pricing
  • $16.99 per week.
  • $39.99 per month.
  • $299.99 per year.

Guide to Translating with BlipCut AI Video Translator

Here’s a simple guide to translate a Hindi video into English.

  1. Launch a web browser on your PC and visit the BlipCut official site. To begin, click on ‘Upload a File‘.
  2. BlipCut Upload a File interface
  3. Choose to upload a file from your PC or paste a link from YouTube, TikTok, or Twitter (Now known as X).
  4. BlipCut File Upload Options
  5. After uploading the video, select the language for translation and choose a voice. Then, click ‘Translate’.
  6. BlipCut Language and Voice Selection
  7. Wait for the video translation to complete. Avoid cancelling the process or disconnecting from the internet.
  8. BlipCut Translation in Progress
  9. Once translated, click the download button and choose ‘video’ to download in MP4 format.
  10. BlipCut Download Translated Video

And that’s it! You’ve now learned how to translate videos into languages like English.

FAQ

How many languages does BlipCut support?

BlipCut currently supports over 35 languages, including English, Spanish, Hindi, French, and more. It allows translation from any source language to your desired language.

Can I edit and download the subtitles of the translated video?

After translating with BlipCut, a window will show the translated subtitles, which you can edit and download as an SRT file.

The post How to Convert Hindi Videos into English (Updated) appeared first on Hongkiat.

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8 Ways to Fix the “Sorry PowerPoint Can’t Read 0” Error https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/sorry-powerpoint-cant-read-0/ Wed, 31 Jan 2024 07:00:54 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=71103 If you’ve ever encountered the “Sorry, PowerPoint can’t read” error while trying to open a PPT file on your Mac, you know how stressful it can be, especially if you’re gearing up for an important presentation. Don’t worry, though; in this article, we will delve into the causes of this issue and offer eight practical…

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If you’ve ever encountered the “Sorry, PowerPoint can’t read” error while trying to open a PPT file on your Mac, you know how stressful it can be, especially if you’re gearing up for an important presentation.

Don’t worry, though; in this article, we will delve into the causes of this issue and offer eight practical solutions to resolve it. Plus, we’ll share handy tips to prevent this problem in the future. Let’s dive in!

Troubleshooting PowerPoint on Mac

“My PPT is showing a repair message and an error like, ‘Sorry, PowerPoint can’t read 0.’ I created a PPT on my MacBook Air, transferred it to a USB, made some edits, and then replaced the file. Since then, I’m getting this error. I’m not sure if the problem is with my laptop or with Microsoft. What should I do?” – A Question from Reddit

Understanding the “Sorry PowerPoint Can’t Read 0” Error

The “Sorry, PowerPoint can’t read 0 Mac” error indicates that PowerPoint is unable to open or process the presentation file. The 0 in the error message might point to a missing or invalid element in the file’s structure.

Here’s a look at why this error might occur on your Mac:

A widespread issue with PowerPoint affecting multiple files could stem from an improper installation of the software.

  • The file might be inaccessible due to permission or security settings.
  • Your PPT file could be corrupted, possibly due to an unexpected crash or an error during saving.
  • The file is outdated or saved in a format that’s not standard.
  • You might be attempting to open the file with a version of PowerPoint that’s not compatible with it.
  • Complex features like advanced animations or unusual fonts might cause issues if they’re not supported by your PowerPoint version.

Easy Steps to Resolve “Sorry PowerPoint Can’t Read 0” on Mac

Often, the “Sorry, PowerPoint can’t read 0” error is caused by a damaged or corrupted PPT file. A quick solution is using a third-party tool like 4DDiG File Repair.

This tool simplifies the repair process to just three clicks and works on videos, audio, images, and documents, including PPT files. You also get to preview the fixed files before saving them. Here are the key features of this tool:

  • Repairs inaccessible or corrupted files across various formats like PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and Outlook.
  • Effectively fixes PPT files that won’t open, boasting a high success rate.
  • Batch repairs multiple PowerPoint files of different formats simultaneously.
  • Supports Office 365 and older PowerPoint versions from 2007 onwards.
  • Works on both Windows and macOS.
  • User-friendly interface, suitable even for those not tech-savvy.

To begin, download and install the repair tool on your Mac. Follow these steps to fix the “Sorry PowerPoint Can’t Read” error due to corrupted PPT files:

  1. Choose “File Repair” and click “Add File(s)” to upload the damaged PPT files, or drag and drop them into the tool.
  2. Adding Files to Repair Tool
  3. Hit “Start Repair.” The tool will begin scanning and repairing the corruption in your presentations.
  4. Starting Repair Process
  5. Once the scan is complete, click “View Results” to review the repaired PPT files. Choose “Export” to save them in a desired location.
  6. Exporting Repaired Files

Alternative Methods to Resolve “Sorry PowerPoint Can’t Read 0” Error

Besides using 4DDiG File Repair, there are several free alternatives to fix the “Sorry, PowerPoint can’t read” error without spending money. Let’s explore seven of the most effective ones:

Method 1: Change the Presentation Format

Incompatibility between your presentation format and the PowerPoint version can lead to the “Sorry, PowerPoint can’t read 0 Mac” error. Changing the file format of your PPT can solve this issue.

Here’s what you can do:

  1. Open the problematic presentation in a version of PowerPoint that’s compatible with it.
  2. Go to “File” and then choose “Save As.”
  3. Saving Presentation in New Format
  4. From the “File Format” dropdown menu, select the appropriate format. Use PowerPoint 97-2003 for .ppt files, and PowerPoint 2007 or later for .pptx files.
  5. Selecting File Format
  6. Give a new name and choose a location for the PPT file, then click “Save.”
Method 2: Update PowerPoint Regularly

Using an outdated version of PowerPoint can cause the “Sorry, PowerPoint can’t read 0” error due to potential bugs and glitches. Updating the app can often resolve this. Here’s how:

  1. Launch PowerPoint or any other Office application, click on “Help” in the top menu, and select “Check for Updates.”
  2. Checking for PowerPoint Updates
  3. If there’s an update available, click on the “Update” button to download and install the latest version.
  4. Updating PowerPoint
Method 3: Start PowerPoint in Safe Mode

Add-ins or extensions might conflict with PowerPoint, causing the “Sorry, PowerPoint can’t read 0 Mac” error. Running PowerPoint in Safe Mode disables these add-ins, helping to identify the culprit.

Follow these steps:

  1. For M1 Mac users, “Shut Down“; for Intel Mac users, “Restart” and hold down the Power button.
  2. M1 users should select “Macintosh HD” and choose “Continue in Safe Mode“; Intel users should press Shift after restarting, then open the PowerPoint file.
  3. Booting Mac in Safe Mode

Check if the “Sorry, PowerPoint can’t read 0” error persists in Safe Mode. If it doesn’t, an add-in is likely the issue. You can then disable the problematic add-in.

Method 4: Create a New User Account on Mac

The “Sorry, PowerPoint can’t read 0” error may be due to a corrupted user profile. Creating a new user account can provide a fresh start without any corruption or errors.

Here’s how to create a new user account on Mac:

  1. Click the Apple logo, navigate to “System Preferences,” and select “Users & Groups.”
  2. Accessing Users & Groups
  3. Click the padlock icon, enter your Mac password, and click “Unlock.”
  4. Unlocking System Preferences
  5. Press the “+” button to add a new user, fill in the account details, set a password, and select “Create User.”
  6. Creating New User
  7. Select the new user profile and tick the option for “Allow user to administer the computer.”
  8. Setting Admin Rights
  9. Log out from the current account (via the Apple logo), and log in with the new account. Then, try running PowerPoint.
  10. Switching User Accounts
Method 5: Open PPT in OneDrive

If you’re unsure whether the “Sorry, PowerPoint can’t read 0” error is due to the file or the app, try uploading the problematic PPT to OneDrive. Open it there to see if you can access its content.

This approach can help you determine the root of the problem.

Opening PPT in OneDrive
Method 6: Use Version History in OneDrive

To tackle the “Sorry, PowerPoint can’t read” error, consider restoring your PPT file from Version History. This is effective especially when dealing with files on OneDrive.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Navigate to “Finder,” right-click on the PPT file, and select “Version History.” You might find several versions of your file here.
  2. Accessing Version History
  3. Choose the version you want by clicking on the three dots next to it, then select “Restore” (or “Download“).
  4. Restoring Previous Version
Method 7: Reinstall PowerPoint

A faulty PowerPoint installation or corrupted Office files can lead to the “Sorry, PowerPoint can’t read” error on Mac. This usually happens when vital files or components are missing or damaged.

To fix this, uninstall and then reinstall MS Office. Here’s how:

  1. Go to “Launchpad,” find PowerPoint, and hold it until you see a cross icon on the app.
  2. Uninstalling PowerPoint
  3. Click “Delete” to uninstall PowerPoint, then visit the App Store to reinstall it.
  4. Reinstalling PowerPoint

Tips to Prevent Future PowerPoint Issues

After resolving the “Sorry, PowerPoint can’t Read 0” error, follow these tips to avoid similar problems in the future:

  • Authentic Installation – Ensure you install MS PowerPoint from a reputable source to guarantee its authenticity.
  • Protect Your Mac – Use a trusted anti-malware tool and perform regular scans to safeguard your Mac from security threats.
  • Regular Updates – Consistently update both MS Office and your Mac’s operating system for improved security and compatibility.
  • Safe Add-ins – Avoid untrusted PowerPoint add-ins. Stick to those that are compatible and have a good reputation.
  • Careful File Transfer – Handle your PowerPoint files with care. Ensure safe transfers and avoid abrupt shutdowns during file movement.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve examined the “Sorry, PowerPoint can’t read 0” error, its causes, and provided eight effective fixes. For issues related to file corruption, 4DDiG File Repair is a dependable solution.

This versatile tool not only repairs PowerPoint files in formats like .ppt, .pptx, and .potm but also fixes videos, audios, archives, and images. It’s an all-in-one solution for repairing various file types.

The post 8 Ways to Fix the “Sorry PowerPoint Can’t Read 0” Error appeared first on Hongkiat.

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71103
7 Ways to Repair Corrupt PowerPoint Files (2024) https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/how-to-repair-corrupted-powerpoint-files/ Mon, 29 Jan 2024 07:00:56 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=71104 PowerPoint has become a vital tool in education and the workplace, but sometimes these files can get damaged, leaving us unable to access important information. You might wonder if it’s possible to restore these corrupted PowerPoint files. Let’s find out. Don’t stress! In this article, we’ll show you how to use a top-notch PowerPoint repair…

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PowerPoint has become a vital tool in education and the workplace, but sometimes these files can get damaged, leaving us unable to access important information. You might wonder if it’s possible to restore these corrupted PowerPoint files. Let’s find out.

PowerPoint file repair illustration

Don’t stress! In this article, we’ll show you how to use a top-notch PowerPoint repair tool and six other methods to fix corrupted PowerPoint files. Plus, we’ll share tips on preventing PowerPoint file corruption. Stay with us to learn more!

Simple Steps to Fix a Corrupted PowerPoint File

Restoring damaged PowerPoint files is a breeze with 4DDiG File Repair. This easy-to-use software can repair multiple PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and PDF files quickly.

Whether you can’t open your files or they show up blank, this tool can bring them back to life. Once the repair is done, 4DDiG lets you preview and save the fixed files wherever you like.

Here’s how to mend a corrupted PowerPoint file using 4DDiG File Repair:

  1. First, download and install the PowerPoint Repair tool on your Windows or Mac. Open the tool, select “File Repair” on the left, and click “Add File(s)” to upload your damaged presentations.
  2. Adding files to 4DDiG File Repair
  3. Once your files are uploaded, start the repair by clicking “Start Repair“.
  4. Initiating repair process
  5. Wait for the repair to complete. Afterwards, preview the repaired files and save them using the “Export Selected” button.
  6. Saving repaired files

Download 4DDiG File Repair

Effective Strategies for Recovering Corrupted PowerPoint Files

Solution 1: Try an Alternative Viewer

Before diving into complex recovery methods, consider a simpler solution. Your PowerPoint file might not be corrupted; it could be a compatibility issue or a disk error preventing it from opening.

Try viewing your presentation in a different program, like Google Slides, or convert it to a different format before reopening it.

Solution 2: Launch PowerPoint in Safe Mode

Opening PowerPoint in Safe Mode is a straightforward way to fix corrupted files.

  1. First, ensure all your work is saved and close PowerPoint.
  2. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog, type powerpnt /safe, and press Enter.
  3. Opening PowerPoint in Safe Mode
  4. Reopen your PowerPoint file to check if the problem is resolved.
Solution 3: Adjust Trust Center Settings

If the previous methods don’t work, tweaking PowerPoint’s Trust Center settings might help. Follow these steps:

  1. Start PowerPoint in Safe Mode, as described earlier.
  2. Click on “File,” then “Options,” and go to “Trust Center.”
  3. Navigating to Trust Center in PowerPoint
  4. In the “Trust Center Settings,” select “Trusted Locations” and add the folder where your corrupted file is located.
  5. Adding Trusted Location in PowerPoint
  6. Try reopening the file from this trusted location in PowerPoint.

If your PowerPoint presentation is still not accessible, it’s time to explore more advanced solutions.

Advanced Methods to Repair a Corrupted PowerPoint File

Solution 4: Use PowerPoint’s Open and Repair Feature

For those who prefer not to use third-party tools, PowerPoint’s ‘Open and Repair‘ feature is an excellent built-in solution for fixing minor corruptions often caused by sudden shutdowns or power outages. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Launch PowerPoint, click on “File” > “Open” > “Browse.”
  2. Navigating to Open and Repair feature in PowerPoint
  3. Find the corrupt PowerPoint file.
  4. Choose the file, click the arrow next to “Open,” and select “Open and Repair.”
  5. Selecting Open and Repair option
Solution 5: Reuse Slides from Corrupt PowerPoint

This technique doesn’t directly repair corrupt files, but it allows you to salvage content from them. Be aware that it might not recover all formatting, animations, or embedded objects. Here are the steps:

  1. Start PowerPoint and open a new blank slide. Then, select “Reuse Slides” from the menu.
  2. Opening Reuse Slides feature
  3. In the right-hand panel, click “Open a PowerPoint file” and locate the corrupted file.
  4. Selecting corrupted PowerPoint file
  5. Once you’ve imported the damaged presentation, opt for “Keep Source Formatting” in the lower right corner.
  6. Opting to keep source formatting
  7. Go through each slide in the problematic document one at a time.
Solution 6: Convert PowerPoint to ZIP File

A more technical approach involves changing the file extension from .pptx to .zip and extracting the contents. This lets tech-savvy users identify and fix damaged slides. Follow these steps:

  1. Copy the corrupt PowerPoint file, rename the copy by changing its extension from .pptx to .zip.
  2. Renaming PowerPoint file to ZIP extension
  3. Use a ZIP extraction tool to open the .zip file and extract its contents to a new folder.
  4. Find the “ppt” and then the “slides” folder within.
  5. Extracting contents of ZIP file
  6. Inspect each slide to pinpoint the issue, then manually recreate any problematic slides.
  7. Identifying and recreating problematic slides

Proactive Steps to Prevent PowerPoint File Corruption

Understanding how to recover corrupted PowerPoint files is great, but it’s even better to prevent such issues from occurring. Here are some practical tips to help protect your PowerPoint presentations:

  • Save Properly: Always ensure the saving process in PowerPoint is complete before closing the program or shutting down your computer.
  • Regular Backups: Frequently back up your presentations to an external hard drive or cloud storage.
  • Antivirus Protection: Use trustworthy antivirus software on your computer and keep it updated.
  • Restrict Editing: For crucial presentations, consider setting them to “Read Only” to avoid accidental changes.

FAQs about PowerPoint File Repair

1. Is it possible to repair a corrupt PowerPoint file online for free?

While many online services claim to fix corrupted PowerPoint files, most are not free, especially those with better success rates. Common paid services include PPTX Repair and Online Office Recovery.

The cost for repairing each PowerPoint document generally ranges between $5 and $10.

2. What causes PowerPoint files to become corrupted?

PowerPoint files can get corrupted due to several reasons:

  • Software glitches
  • Unexpected system shutdowns
  • Incompatible add-ons
  • Virus or malware attacks
  • Corruption in storage media

3. How do I open a corrupted PowerPoint file?

Initially, try opening the corrupt file in another application like Google Slides or LibreOffice Impress, as they may handle the corruption better. If this fails, open PowerPoint in Safe Mode by pressing the Control key while starting the program.

Conclusion

While various factors can lead to PowerPoint file corruption, fortunately, recovery is often feasible. With appropriate tools and techniques, anyone can fix corrupted PowerPoint files, even without deep technical know-how.

Tools like 4DDiG File Repair, known for their effectiveness and ease of use, have become popular among Microsoft Office users.

The post 7 Ways to Repair Corrupt PowerPoint Files (2024) appeared first on Hongkiat.

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71104
How to Make and Customize Ringtones on Android Phones https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/customize-ringtones-on-android/ https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/customize-ringtones-on-android/#respond Tue, 05 Dec 2023 07:01:49 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=39744 Many apps and websites let you download ringtones for your Android phone. But sometimes, you might not find the ringtone you want, or it might not sound the way you like. In such cases, you can make your own ringtones using your favorite songs. In this article, I’ll explain how you can make a ringtone…

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Many apps and websites let you download ringtones for your Android phone. But sometimes, you might not find the ringtone you want, or it might not sound the way you like. In such cases, you can make your own ringtones using your favorite songs.

In this article, I’ll explain how you can make a ringtone from any sound file without spending any money. If you are using iOS, check out our article on how to create ringtones and text tones on iPhone. Additionally, if you want to turn TikTok videos into ringtones, we have a guide for that too.

How to Make Ringtones on Android

To make ringtones on your Android phone, you need a special app. There are many apps on the Google Play Store that help you do this. One of the best ones I’ve used is Ringdroid. It’s a free app that doesn’t show any ads. Plus, it’s very easy to use, so I’ll show you how to use it in this guide.

If Ringdroid isn’t right for you or you want more features, there are other apps you can try. Ringtone Maker and MP3 Cutter are also good choices. They’re free but might show some ads, and they have useful features.

How to Use Ringdroid

After you install and open Ringdroid, it will show all the sound files on your phone or SD card. If you can’t find the sound you want, click on the “Menu” button in the top-right corner (three vertical dots). Then pick “Show All Audio”. This will search for all sound files so you don’t miss any.

Display all sounds in Ringdroid

Remember, Ringdroid will show every sound file, even system sounds and other app sounds. To avoid confusion, use the “Search” bar at the top to find the sound files you need quickly.

Make Ringtones with Ringdroid

To begin, click on the sound file you want to change. Ringdroid will open it in its editor. You’ll see the sound as waves with two sliders to choose where the ringtone starts and ends. Underneath, there are “play/pause” buttons and the “start/end” times in seconds.

Ringdroid sound editor

You can set the start and end points in different ways. Move the start and end sliders to choose the exact points for the ringtone. Playing the sound can help you choose the right spots. But you can also set the points without playing the sound.

Sliders to adjust sound

Another method is to play the sound and click “Start” when you hear the beginning of your ringtone. Click “End” when you hear the end. This takes longer but is very accurate.

Marking start and end points

You can also type in the start and end times in seconds. To do this, tap the counters next to the “Start” and “End” buttons. For this method, you need to know the exact times in seconds.

Entering start and end times

After setting the start and end times, click “Save” at the top to save your ringtone. Then, you can name it and set it as your default ringtone.

Saving the ringtone

That’s it! Your ringtone will be saved as a new file, separate from the original one.

Additional Ringdroid Features

Ringdroid offers more helpful features. Let’s go over them.

Using the Search Bar

The search bar on the main screen is very useful. It’s great for finding the right sound file. Since Ringdroid shows every sound file on your phone, you might often use this “Search” bar. It updates instantly, and you can search by song title or artist name.

Searching for ringtones in Ringdroid

Setting as Default

You can choose a sound file as the default ringtone, notification sound, or alarm sound directly in Ringdroid. Just click the arrow beside the sound file and pick “Set as default”.

Setting default ringtone in Ringdroid

Assigning to a Contact

If the sound is a ringtone, you can set it for specific contacts. This helps you recognize who’s calling. Click the arrow next to a ringtone and pick “Assign to Contacts”. Then choose the contact you want.

Assigning ringtones to contacts in Ringdroid

Recording Sounds

You can record new sounds to make into ringtones. Click the “microphone” icon at the top to start recording. When you’re done, hit the “Stop” button. Your recording will appear in the Ringdroid editor where you can make it into a ringtone.

Recording sounds in Ringdroid
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Conclusion

I found Ringdroid quick and easy for making custom ringtones on Android. The fact it’s open-source and doesn’t have ads is a big bonus. If you want more features, like adjusting volume or fading sounds in and out, Ringtone Maker is also a very good choice.

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6 Smartphone Overhead Tripods for Perfect Top-Down Videos https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/smartphone-overhead-tripods-gadgets-tutorials/ https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/smartphone-overhead-tripods-gadgets-tutorials/#comments Fri, 17 Nov 2023 15:01:10 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=37936 If you’re into food blogging or product photography, capturing the perfect shot often means shooting from above. Overhead photography brings focus to your subject by eliminating extra dimensions. But, snapping those perfect 90-degree overhead shots isn’t always straightforward, especially when using a smartphone. To nail those top-down photos, you need a reliable overhead tripod. While…

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If you’re into food blogging or product photography, capturing the perfect shot often means shooting from above. Overhead photography brings focus to your subject by eliminating extra dimensions. But, snapping those perfect 90-degree overhead shots isn’t always straightforward, especially when using a smartphone.

Tripods for top-down shots

To nail those top-down photos, you need a reliable overhead tripod. While the choices for these tripods are somewhat limited, I’ve found 6 outstanding options. Some are specifically designed for smartphones, while others are versatile enough to do the job. If none of these catch your eye, don’t worry – I’ve also got some DIY tripod ideas for you. So, let’s explore these options.

Alzo Smartphone Camera Horizontal Mount

ALZO Smartphone Camera Mount for Overhead Photography
Pros
  • Versatile mounting with adjustable rod.
  • Wireless Bluetooth shutter included.
Cons
  • Lacks tripod.
  • Missing weight bag.

For an affordable yet effective overhead photography solution, check out the ALZO tripod mount. It’s a versatile tool that fits onto your existing tripod and is ideal for top-down photos. It’s robust enough to support all iPhone models and most Android phones.

You can adjust the rod to your liking and position your smartphone both vertically and horizontally.

Its standout feature is a wireless Bluetooth shutter, allowing you to control the camera remotely – perfect for creating demonstration videos.

View on Amazon

Klsniur Gooseneck Tablet Holder

Flexible Klsniur Gooseneck Holder
Pros
  • Easy to adjust and use.
  • Secure clamping to surfaces, no weight bag needed.
Cons
  • Limited arm length of 29 inches.

The Klsniur Gooseneck Tablet Holder might not be a traditional tripod, but it’s a great tablet and smartphone holder for those who need flexibility. It’s designed to support devices up to 10 inches, making it suitable for both smartphones and tablets. Plus, its flexibility makes it useful for overhead photography, even though it’s not its primary purpose.

Despite not being specifically made for overhead shots, its affordability and versatility make it a surprisingly effective option for such tasks.

The holder features a 360-degree adjustable mount, and the stand itself is very flexible. This means you can position your device just the way you want, even at a 90-degree angle. It clamps securely to surfaces up to 2.5 inches thick, making additional weights unnecessary.

View on Amazon

Overhead Smartphone Tripod Kit

Complete Overhead Smartphone Tripod Kit
Pros
  • Compact and portable.
  • Highly flexible and adjustable.
  • Stable with rubber legs.
  • Supports smartphones up to 150g.
Cons
  • Unsuitable for heavier phones.

The Overhead Smartphone Tripod Kit is a comprehensive solution for overhead smartphone photography. This kit includes a tripod with three adjustable legs and a lengthy, adjustable arm. The tripod can extend up to 5 feet in height, while the arm can reach a length of 3 feet.

It’s compatible with all iPhone models and most Android phones, featuring a mount that can rotate 360 degrees for the perfect shooting angle.

Designed with travel in mind, the tripod has a hand grip for easy transport and comes with a carrying case.

View on Overhead Pro

Acuvar Camera Tripod

The Acuvar Camera Tripod is a budget-friendly complete set that includes a smartphone mount, suitable for both overhead and standard photography. Priced at just $13.95, it offers all the essentials for smartphone photography from above.

But why so affordable? The answer lies in its lightweight and somewhat delicate build, weighing barely 1 pound.

Lightweight Acuvar Camera Tripod

It’s a good choice if you handle it with care and if it can support your smartphone’s weight. While it can extend up to 50 inches, using it for overhead shots at this height might be challenging due to its lightweight build.

Pros
  • Highly affordable.
  • Comes with tripod and smartphone mount.
  • Lightweight and portable.
Cons
  • Delicate construction; handle with care.

View on Amazon

Arkon Pro Phone Stand

Stable Arkon Pro Phone Stand
Pros
  • Supports heavy smartphones.
  • 360-degree adjustable mount.
Cons
  • Limited stand height and arm length.

The Arkon Pro Phone Stand is a solid choice for creating top-down videos. Although not a traditional tripod, it performs admirably. The stand’s arm can extend up to 12.5 inches and the height is adjustable to 29 inches.

With its square base, it provides enough stability to support most Android phones and all iPhone models. It can accommodate phones (including those in cases) up to 2 pounds and 4 inches wide.

View on Arkon

ChromLives Copy Stand

Lightweight ChromLives Copy Stand
Pros
  • Affordable and effective for overhead shots.
  • Portable due to its foldable design.
Cons
  • Potential for tipping over with heavier smartphones.
  • Limited height adjustment.

The ChromLives Copy Stand is another budget-friendly option for overhead photography with smartphones. While it’s constructed of metal, it’s relatively lightweight and may become unstable with heavier smartphones. However, it features flat legs that can be secured to a surface or weighted down to enhance stability.

Its foldable design makes the stand easy to transport, and you can adjust its height up to 18 inches.

View on Amazon

Ideas to DIY Your Own Overhead Tripod

If you’re feeling creative, you can make your own overhead tripod stand using common household items and a few simple steps.

While you’ll need to purchase a smartphone mount (which are quite affordable, often under $10, like this Ulanzi Tripod Mount for $7.99), you can also opt to build one yourself.

Here’s a tutorial to create a DIY tripod mount:

PVC Pipe Overhead Tripod

Create a cost-effective and simple PVC pipe overhead tripod using elbow, caps, and tee PVC pipes. Don’t forget, you’ll need a smartphone mount to attach to your DIY tripod.

Water Bottle Overhead Tripod

This one is a bit more limited in its use but is incredibly easy and cheap to make. Simply modify a large water bottle to hold your smartphone. For stability, you can use either water or sand as a weight.

Overhead Tripod Using a Box

This straightforward DIY project requires just a box and a stick, like a broomstick. Just cut a hole in the box and insert the stick with your smartphone mounted on top, and you’re ready for overhead shooting.

Ending Thoughts

Overhead photography is fantastic, but the tools for it are somewhat limited. If your goal is simple functionality, the UTEBIT Copy Stand is a great, budget-friendly choice. However, for those more serious about overhead photography, the OverHead Smartphone Tripod Kit or the Arkon Pro Phone Stand are superior options.

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50+ Useful WordPress Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows and Mac https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/wordpress-keyboard-shortcuts/ https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/wordpress-keyboard-shortcuts/#comments Fri, 10 Nov 2023 13:01:49 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=30460 Understanding computer keyboard shortcuts can drastically elevate your productivity. In a similar vein, if you’re acquainted with specific WordPress keyboard shortcuts, your workflow can become notably smoother. This is particularly beneficial for individuals who prefer not to toggle between the keyboard and mouse. Hence, for such users, these shortcuts can be invaluable. WordPress offers an…

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Understanding computer keyboard shortcuts can drastically elevate your productivity. In a similar vein, if you’re acquainted with specific WordPress keyboard shortcuts, your workflow can become notably smoother. This is particularly beneficial for individuals who prefer not to toggle between the keyboard and mouse. Hence, for such users, these shortcuts can be invaluable.

WordPress offers an abundance of shortcuts for tasks like editing content, performing specific actions, or even simple navigation. In this article, we’ll delve into a detailed list of nearly all the WordPress keyboard shortcuts to enhance your efficiency.

Basic Navigation

Navigation in WordPress is akin to browsing through any other website. The essential keys you need for this are Tab, Arrow, Enter, and Backspace. Below, we elaborate on each of these keys and their functions.

Tab

By pressing the Tab key, you can move to the subsequent clickable link or option on the page, starting from the top. By pressing it successively, you can navigate from one option to another. If you need to navigate backward, simply hold Shift and press Tab.

Arrow Keys

Utilizing the arrow keys – , , , and – will enable you to scroll through the content of the post.

Enter/Return

To confirm a dialog box or access a specific option, all you need to do is press the Enter key.

Backspace

The Backspace key lets you navigate back to the preceding page. For forward navigation, hold the Shift key and press Backspace.

Post Editing

Here’s where the excitement truly kicks in. Mastering the post editor shortcuts can significantly streamline the process of editing and formatting your content. Below is a comprehensive list of shortcuts for content management, editing, and formatting – all the tools you’ll require to craft content on WordPress efficiently.

Content Management
Action Windows Shortcut Mac Shortcut
Highlight content per character Shift + / Shift + /
Highlight content per word Ctrl + Shift + / Option + Shift + /
Highlight above/below line Shift + / Shift + /
Select all content Ctrl + A Cmd + A
Paste content without formatting Ctrl + Shift + V Cmd + Shift + V
Content Formatting
Action Windows Mac
Strikethrough text Shift + Alt + D Shift + Option + D
Insert link Ctrl + K Command + K
Remove link Shift + Alt + S Shift + Option + S
Apply heading 1 Shift + Alt + 1 Shift + Option + 1
Apply heading 2 Shift + Alt + 2 Shift + Option + 2
Apply heading 3 Shift + Alt + 3 Shift + Option + 3
Apply heading 4 Shift + Alt + 4 Shift + Option + 4
Apply heading 5 Shift + Alt + 5 Shift + Option + 5
Apply heading 6 Shift + Alt + 6 Shift + Option + 6
Apply paragraph formatting Shift + Alt + 7 Shift + Option + 7
Start bullet list Shift + Alt + U Shift + Option + U
Start numbered list Shift + Alt + O Shift + Option + O
Blockquote Shift + Alt + Q Shift + Option + Q
Apply code formatting Shift + Alt + X Shift + Option + X
Apply Address formatting Shift + Alt + 9 Shift + Option + 9
Align center Shift + Alt + C Shift + Option + C
Align right Shift + Alt + R Shift + Option + R
Align left Shift + Alt + L Shift + Option + L
Justify Shift + Alt + J Shift + Option + J
Add media Shift + Alt + M Shift + Option + M
Toggle toolbar Shift + Alt + Z Shift + Option + Z
Insert Page Break tag Shift + Alt + P Shift + Option + P
Insert Read More tag Shift + Alt + T Shift + Option + T
Enable/disable Distraction free mode Shift + Alt + W Shift + Option + W
Open help Shift + Alt + H Shift + Option + H

Comments

WordPress provides specialized shortcuts for the comment moderation section to facilitate easier comment management. However, it’s imperative to first enable these keyboard shortcuts for comment moderation prior to utilizing them. Let’s walk through the process:

Begin by navigating to your WordPress user profile. Once there, select the option titled “Enable keyboard shortcuts for comment moderation”. Activating this option will make all the shortcuts mentioned below functional. It’s essential to note that each user must individually enable these shortcuts for them to work.

Enabling keyboard shortcuts for comment moderation in WordPress
Comment Navigation

The keys J and K are all you’ll require to seamlessly navigate through comments.

By pressing J, you can scroll downwards through the comments. If none are highlighted, it will select the topmost comment. Conversely, K allows you to move upwards.

Moreover, upon reaching the last comment, pressing J will take you to the next page of comments, whereas K brings you back to the previous page.

Comment Actions

The following shortcuts, which only require a single key press, become operational when a comment or multiple comments are highlighted:

Action Windows and Mac
Approve comment A
Mark as spam S
Move to trash D
Undo recent action Z
Unapprove comment U
Reply to comment R
Enable quick edit Q
Open comment editing screen E
Apply Actions in Bulk

WordPress comes with a set of shortcuts designed specifically for executing bulk actions in the comments section. The following table provides a comprehensive list of these shortcuts:

Action Windows and Mac Shortcut
Select all comments Shift + X
Approve all selected comments Shift + A
Trash selected comments Shift + T
Permanently delete selected comments Shift + D
Mark selected comments as spam Shift + S
Unapprove selected comments Shift + U
Restore select comments Shift + Z

Ending Thoughts

Utilizing these keyboard shortcuts can significantly enhance your productivity when managing your WordPress website. Personally, I seldom resort to using the mouse during the editing process, and, despite a brief lag in highlighting content, I’ve encountered no issues.

If you’re acquainted with other handy WordPress keyboard shortcuts or WordPress tips and tricks, we’d love to hear from you in the comments.

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20 Best iPhone Wireless Charging Pads and Stands to Buy https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/iphone-wireless-charging-pads/ https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/iphone-wireless-charging-pads/#respond Thu, 12 Oct 2023 13:01:43 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=38091 Wireless charging your iPhone can be cool too! Uncover the top iPhone charging pads and stands that blend functionality with style.

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Wireless charging is now a common way many iPhone users charge their phones. It’s easy and fits today’s modern lifestyle. With so many charging pads out there, it can be hard to pick the best one.

Collection of iPhone wireless charging pads

That’s why we’ve looked through all the options and picked the top 20 for you. These charging pads are both effective and easy to use. Check them out and find the perfect one for your needs.

3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand

3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand

Keep all your devices charged and organized in one place with the Satechi 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand. It features wireless charging technology to power up your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods Pro simultaneously, ensuring they are charged and ready whenever you are.

This stand offers the ultimate solution for convenient, wireless charging. It is designed to be cable-free, ensuring a clean and tidy desk. The snap-on magnetic connection is user-friendly and allows your iPhone to be viewed in both portrait and landscape modes.

Brand: Satechi

Price: $119.99

View on Amazon View on Satechi

Aluminum 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand

Aluminum 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand

The Satechi Magnetic 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand is a unique blend of power and convenience. It combines the capabilities of dual wireless charging with the added benefit of hands-free magnetic attachment. Specifically designed for iPhone 12/13 and AirPods Pro, this stand is equipped with a built-in magnetic charger and a dedicated wireless charging pad, ensuring both your devices are powered effortlessly.

What sets this charging stand apart is its thoughtful design. Not only does it have a built-in magnetic wireless charger for the iPhone 12 (7.5W) and a designated pad for AirPods Pro (5W), but it also boasts features like an LED indicator light to signal charging, a handy USB-C port, and non-slip padding at the base. This ensures the stand remains stable. Moreover, its sleek design, accentuated with space gray aluminum finishes, adds a touch of elegance to any space.

Brand: Satechi

Price: $59.99

View on Amazon View on Satechi

Aluminum Wireless Charger

 Aluminum Wireless Charger

The Aluminum Wireless Charger by Satechi offers a seamless and efficient wireless charging experience. Elevate the way you power up your devices with this charger that eliminates the need for constantly plugging and unplugging charging cables. Simply position your device on the pad, and let the magic happen. It’s designed to provide a hassle-free charging solution for those who value convenience and efficiency in their daily tech interactions.

One of the standout features of this charger is its elegant design. Crafted with precision, the charger comes in a variety of colors including Space Gray, Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold. This ensures that it not only functions efficiently but also complements your workspace or bedside table with its aesthetic appeal.

Brand: Satechi

Price: $9.99

View on Satechi

ArcField Flex Wireless Charger

ArcField Flex Wireless Charger

The ArcField™ Wireless Charger by Spigen is a flexible wireless charger with a ‘Designed for SAMSUNG’ certification. It offers up to 15W of wireless charging, primarily for Samsung devices.

This charger’s main feature is its adaptability, eliminating the need for cables. Simply set your device on it to charge. While it’s particularly compatible with the Samsung Galaxy series, it also provides a straightforward and sleek charging solution. It balances both design and function, charging your device efficiently.

Brand: Spigen

Price: $79.99

View on Amazon View on Spigen

Base

Base

The Base by NOMAD is a MagSafe Compatible Charger, offering a new approach to charging your devices. It has strong magnets and quick charging features, ensuring efficient power delivery. Its design combines simplicity with practicality, using a metal frame and a glass panel for a clean look.

A key aspect of Base is its magnetic alignment, matching the MagSafe magnets in iPhones. This ensures easy device placement for charging, whether during work or rest. For non-MagSafe devices, just place them in the center of Base. Weighing over 1 pound (536g), the charger stays put, allowing for smooth device pick-up. Its raised magnetic charging section adds to its user-friendly design. Overall, Base showcases NOMAD’s dedication to thoughtful design and functionality.

Brand: Nomad

Price: $110

View on Nomad

MagSafe Mount

MagSafe Mount

The MagSafe Mount provides a stable base for your MagSafe Charger, ensuring your iPhone charges securely. Made of zinc, it holds the MagSafe Charger in place, preventing it from lifting when you pick up your iPhone. It’s specifically shaped to fit the MagSafe charging cable, combining the efficiency of MagSafe with a well-balanced base for optimal home charging.

Constructed from sturdy zinc alloy with a sloped design, the MagSafe Mount makes it easy to lift your iPhone. It’s a durable addition to any desk or nightstand.

Brand: Nomad

Price: $27

View on Nomad

Drop Wireless Charger

Drop Wireless Charger

The Drop Wireless Charger powers AirPods up to 5W, iPhones up to 7.5W, and other Qi-compatible devices up to 10W. It’s crafted with a weighted aluminum base and home textile, ensuring a blend of functionality and aesthetics.

For added convenience, the non-slip silicone tread keeps your device securely in place during charging. The charger also features foreign object detection and thermal protection, ensuring safe charging. It offers hassle-free charging through cases up to 3mm and comes with a 6.5ft USB-A to USB-C cable for easy connectivity.

Brand: Native Union

Price: $49.99

View on Native Union

Essential Leather Designed 10W Wireless Charger

Essential Leather Designed 10W Wireless Charger

The Essential® Leather Designed 10W Wireless Charger offers a sleek and classy look with compact durability. Its slim design allows for fast charging capability without overheating and the modern look and leather detail makes it fit in any room. It’s so good, you’ll wish it was you laying on it instead of your phone.

Brand: Spigen

Price: $49.99

View on Spigen

Forté for iPhone

Forte for iPhone

Forté for iPhone is a contemporary wireless charging stand designed exclusively for the Apple MagSafe Charger. By integrating your MagSafe Charger into Forté, you gain a smart solution to dock your iPhone 12 or newer models. This allows for efficient wireless charging at an impressive 15 Watts. The stand’s design ensures your phone can be held both vertically and horizontally, facilitating hands-free usage.

Additionally, the platform can tilt up to 70-degrees, making it an ideal viewing angle or even a charging base for your AirPods. For those on the move, the MagSafe charger can be effortlessly removed for travel purposes.

Brand: Twelve South

Price: $39.99

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HiRise 3 Deluxe

HiRise 3 Deluxe

HiRise 3 Deluxe is a luxurious, space-saving 3-in-1 wireless charger designed for your three most essential devices. Place your iPhone on the vertical charger to easily view notifications. The stand also features an Apple Watch Fast Charger, allowing you to power up in Nightstand mode.

Additionally, there’s a soft vegan leather charging base suitable for charging AirPods or even a second phone. The stand, with its aluminum post and vegan leather-wrapped base, is crafted to exude a sense of quiet luxury. It guarantees the fastest charging performance with the 15W MagSafe Charger for iPhone and the Apple Watch Fast Charger.

Brand: Twelve South

Price: $149.99

View on Amazon View on Twelve South

Rise Dock

Rise Dock

Elevating the MagSafe experience, the Rise Dock is a weighted metal stand designed to enhance the performance and convenience of MagSafe. It allows users to mount their MagSafe Charger, providing full portrait or landscape mode access to the iPhone 12/13/14 while charging. The dock is crafted to offer an unhindered view of the device, ensuring users can enjoy seamless vertical or horizontal access.

The premium weighted non-slip base ensures the iPhone remains in place, and the design is built to last with solid zinc alloy & Tarpaulin panel. The dock also offers effortless one-hand detachment, allowing users to simply grab & go.

Brand: Native Union

Price: $59.99

View on Native Union

Snap 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger

Snap 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger

The Snap 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger offers a hands-free, snap-to-charge experience for the iPhone 12/13/14 anad 15, integrated with a magnetic wireless stand. This modern and minimalist design enhances daily charging, providing a dedicated wireless tray specifically shaped for AirPods or AirPods Pro. Users can easily snap their iPhone onto the stand and place their AirPods or AirPods Pro in the tray. The charger supports iPhone charging up to 7.5W and AirPods or AirPods Pro up to 5W.

Additionally, the adjustable angle ensures versatile viewing, and the weighted base allows for effortless one-hand detachment.

Brand: Native Union

Price: $79.99

View on Native Union

Stand

Stand

The Stand is a well-crafted charger compatible with MagSafe technology. Its sturdy metal frame paired with a sleek glass panel is both functional and visually appealing. The magnetic feature ensures easy connection for efficient charging, and its weight keeps it stable.

Beyond just charging, The Stand has a 21º tilt, allowing you to view your device in both vertical and horizontal positions. This is convenient for checking notifications or reading, and the raised charging point makes picking up your device straightforward.

Brand: Nomad

Price: $80

View on Nomad

Trio Wireless Charger With Magnetic Pad

Trio Wireless Charger With Magnetic Pad

The Satechi Trio Wireless Charger With Magnetic Pad is designed to simplify the wireless charging experience by providing a centralized location for all your essential devices. This charger boasts faster-charging technology combined with intelligent safety features, ensuring your devices are powered efficiently. It is capable of simultaneously charging a Qi-enabled smartphone, Apple Watch, and AirPods Pro.

The design is not only sleek and modern but also offers convenience for users on the move. It’s compatible with smartphone cases up to 5mm thick and supports the Apple Watch in its Nightstand mode. However, it’s worth noting that it doesn’t work with phone cases that have metal plates or credit card holders.

Brand: Satechi

Price: $119.99

View on Amazon View on Satechi

Anker 315 Wireless Charger

Anker 315 Wireless Charger

The Anker 315 Wireless Charger (Pad) provides a straightforward charging method for phones and earbuds. Just position your device on the pad to start charging. With its slim design, the charger is only 8.5mm thick, resembling a coaster. It’s compatible with many phone models, including recent iPhone and Samsung devices, and various wireless earbuds.

The charger incorporates Anker’s specific safety features to ensure it adheres to all necessary standards and safeguards your devices. Inside the box, you’ll receive the Anker 315 Wireless Charger (Pad), a 4ft / 1.21m Micro USB cable, an instruction guide, and an 18-month warranty.

Brand: Anker

Price: $14.99

View on Amazon

Apple MagSafe Charger

Apple MagSafe Charger

The Apple MagSafe Charger revolutionizes wireless charging with its unique magnetic attachment feature. Designed primarily for the iPhone 12 series and later, it offers rapid wireless charging up to 15W. The charger’s magnets align perfectly with your device, ensuring efficient energy transfer and a secure fit.

In addition to its MagSafe capabilities, this charger is also compatible with Qi charging standards. This means you can wirelessly charge your iPhone 8 or later, as well as AirPods models equipped with a wireless charging case, just as you would with any other Qi-certified charger. However, it’s worth noting that the magnetic alignment experience is exclusive to the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, and iPhone 15. The package includes a USB-C integrated cable that measures 1 meter in length.

Brand: Apple

Price: $33.00

View on Amazon

FDGAO Wireless Charger

3-in-1 FDGAO Wireless Charger

The FDGAO Wireless Charger is a practical tool for charging various devices. It has a 20W charging capacity and works with devices like the Huawei Mate40 Pro+5G/Mate40 RS. It can also charge the iPhone 14/15/13/12 series, Samsung S23/S22/S21/S20/Note 20, and devices from LG and Sony at 15W. Other devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy 10/9/8 and Nokia/Google phones, can be charged at 10W. The iPhone 11 series, X, XS, 8, and SE can use its 7.5W docks. It also has a 5W charging mode for Airpods 3/2/Pro and Samsung Galaxy Buds.

This charger is designed for ease of use. It can charge through cases up to 6mm thick, except those with metal or magnets. It’s slim and has a non-slip rubber finish, making it easy to carry and use anywhere. The charger has a green light to show it’s powered on and a faint blue light to show it’s charging, so you can easily see its status without it being disruptive.

Brand: FDGAO

Price: $14.99

View on Amazon

NANAMI Wireless Charger

3-in-1 NANAMI Wireless Charger

The NANAMI Wireless Charger is a Qi Certified stand with 2-Coil technology, allowing faster charging than many standard chargers. It’s compatible with devices like the iPhone 15 series and Samsung Galaxy S23 series. The ergonomic “Sailing Design” lets you position your phone vertically or horizontally, enabling use during charging.

It works with most phone cases, but for the iPhone 12/13 series, cases should be 3mm thick or less. The charger has an LED status indicator, and NANAMI offers a one-year warranty for it.

Brand: NANAMI

Price: $18.99

View on Amazon

TOZO W1

TOZO W1

The TOZO W1 Wireless Charger combines a simple design with practical functionality. Its thinness of 5mm and width of 100mm make it easy to carry, suitable for both travel and everyday use. This charger offers a 10W fast charging feature, reducing the need for multiple cables and plugs.

The W1 charger has QI certification, ensuring it works with various devices and charges them safely. It has built-in protections against over-voltage, over-temperature, and other potential issues, providing a reliable charging experience. The LED indicator lights on the charger show the charging status. The W1 works with many iOS and Android devices, including the iPhone 15 series, Samsung Galaxy S22 series, and certain TOZO earbuds.

Brand: TOZO

Price: $12.99

View on Amazon

Yootech Wireless Charger

Yootech Wireless Charger

The Yootech Wireless Charger offers multiple charging options for various devices. It has a 7.5W mode for newer iPhones, a 10W mode for select Samsung Galaxy models, and a 5W mode for basic wireless charging devices like some Google Pixel phones. For optimal results, a QC 2.0/3.0 adapter (not included) is recommended.

Designed to fit AirPods with a wireless charging case, the Yootech charger ensures stability with rubber rings. It features safety measures, including temperature control and surge protection, and is made from fire-resistant material with a UL Certificate. The package includes the charging pad, a 3.3ft USB Type C cable, and a manual. Yootech also provides responsive customer support.

Brand: Yootech

Price: $13.99

View on Amazon

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7 Best Video Tools for Novice Users (2023) https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/video-tools-to-make-compelling-videos-easily/ https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/video-tools-to-make-compelling-videos-easily/#comments Mon, 02 Oct 2023 13:01:43 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=41429 From business pitches to personal memories, create videos effortlessly.

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A picture may speak louder than words, but what speaks even louder is a compelling video. Whether you need to create animated videos to pitch your business or want to compile a video montage for your friend’s wedding, there’s no need to hire a professional – as long as you have the right video creation tools at your disposal.

There are tools available that can transform your photos and movie clips into engaging videos. In this post, I’ve selected the best video creation tools that are feature-rich and user-friendly. Let’s take a look.

Prezi

Prezi

Prezi is more than just a presentation software; it’s also a versatile tool for making videos. Using a third-party screen recorder, you can easily turn your Prezi presentations into engaging videos.

With Prezi, you can place your ideas on a zoomable canvas, making your presentations interactive and fun. Customization is easy; you can change font sizes, add audio clips, and even tweak the angles. The software comes with a variety of ready-to-use templates, allowing you to make awesome videos in no time. Plus, you can import your existing PowerPoint slides and transform them into videos.

Pricing Plans

Standard Plan: $5/month

  • Who It’s For: Perfect for personal use.
  • Features: This plan allows you to create and share videos, presentations, and infographics. You also get advanced privacy settings and can work on an unlimited number of projects.

Plus Plan: $12/month

  • Who It’s For: Ideal for those who are experts in visual communication.
  • Features: The Plus Plan includes everything in the Standard plan, plus additional features like PowerPoint import, access to premium images, PDF export options, and video downloads. You even get a desktop app and can use Prezi offline.

Premium Plan: $16/month

  • Who It’s For: Tailored for business professionals.
  • Features: The Premium Plan offers all the benefits of the Plus Plan, along with powerful analytics and advanced online training courses.

Visit Prezi

Promo

Promo

Formerly known as Slidely Show, Promo is a user-friendly tool for creating slideshow videos from your photos, short clips, and other media. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, Promo makes video creation simple and quick.

Promo allows you to combine photos, short videos, and even snapshots into slideshow videos with ease. You can organize your media items in a sequence, add real-time effects, background music, and text messages to create a captivating video within minutes. The platform offers features for customizing colors and fonts, and even allows you to replace or edit footage. With the live-preview option, you can see your edits and changes in real-time before saving. Plus, you have the freedom to make and save as many drafts as you like.

Pricing Plans

Annual Basic Plan: $29/$59 per month

  • Key Feature: Comes with 36 premium clips per year.
  • Who It’s For: Ideal for individuals or small businesses that need a few premium clips for their projects.

Annual Standard Plan: $59/$119 per month

  • Key Feature: Offers unlimited premium clips.
  • Who It’s For: Perfect for frequent video creators in need of limitless premium content.

Annual Pro Plan: $199/$399 per month

  • Key Feature: Provides reseller rights and the ability to manage multiple brands.
  • Who It’s For: Designed for agencies and large businesses looking to manage multiple branding efforts.

Visit Promo

Vimeo Video Editor

Vimeo Video Editor

Looking for a video tool that simplifies the creation process? Vimeo Video Editor has got you covered. With this tool, you can shoot video clips, add photos, include audio or voice recordings, and even mix in additional videos to create a compelling movie effortlessly.

Vimeo Video Editor’s built-in functionalities take away the hassle of manual editing. The editor automatically selects the best clips, adds transitions, and enhances your footage. You can choose a style or theme for your video, and the editor will add effects, pan-and-zoom options, and much more, all automatically. You can also add a soundtrack from Vimeo’s own library or upload one from your personal playlist. Plus, tweak color and style settings to make sure your video aligns with your brand identity.

Pricing Plans

Starter Plan: $20/month per seat or $12/month per seat (Annual Billing)

  • Features: This plan allows you to share and collaborate on up to 60 videos. It includes features like screen recording, video sharing & embedding, password protection, as well as review and collaboration tools.
  • Who It’s For: Ideal for individuals or small teams looking for basic video editing and sharing features.

Standard Plan: $33/month per seat or $20/month per seat (Annual Billing)

  • Features: The Standard plan includes everything in the Starter plan, plus additional features like 120 videos, brand kits, custom fonts, an AI script generator, a teleprompter, text-based video editing, and basic marketing integrations.
  • Who It’s For: Perfect for medium-sized businesses or professionals who need advanced editing and branding options.

Advanced Plan: $108/month per seat or $65/month per seat (Annual Billing)

  • Features: In addition to everything in the Standard plan, this offers features like 500 videos, virtual events & webinars, simulcasting, live Q&A, attendee registration, and more.
  • Who It’s For: Designed for large enterprises that require extensive video creation and interactive features.

Enterprise Plan: Custom Pricing

  • Features: The Enterprise plan includes everything in the Advanced plan plus options for more team members, custom permissions, advanced marketing integrations, live Q&A moderation, backup streams, and dedicated support.
  • Who It’s For: Tailored for very large enterprises with specific, complex needs.

Visit Vimeo Video Editor

Animoto

Animoto

If you’re in the market for a slideshow video maker, Animoto is worth considering. Similar to Vimeo, Animoto allows you to combine pictures and video clips into captivating slideshow videos. Although you can’t capture photos or videos directly through the app, Animoto compensates with an impressive media library, featuring over 2,000 commercially licensed audio tracks and more than 100 styling options.

Animoto offers pre-built storyboards to kickstart your video creation process. You can add short voice-overs, customize text, and adjust the layout to meet your specific needs. The best part? You can create high-definition videos and download them in MP4 format if you’re using one of their premium plans.

Related: 10 Free Tools For Digital Storytelling

Pricing Plans

Free Plan

  • Features: Create unlimited videos, but with Animoto branding.
  • Who It’s For: Ideal for those who want to try out the platform before committing to a paid plan.

Basic Plan: $8/month

  • Features: You get unbranded videos in HD 1080p quality and unlimited downloads.
  • Who It’s For: Suitable for individuals who need basic, high-quality video creation features without any branding.

Professional Plan: $15/month

  • Features: The Professional plan includes everything in the Basic plan, plus you get a custom logo, access to 3,000 music tracks, and over 1 million Getty Images.
  • Who It’s For: Designed for professionals who require advanced customization and branding options.

Teams Plan: $39/month

  • Features: The Teams plan encompasses all Professional features and adds up to 3 users, access to 100 million+ Premium Getty Images, the ability to manage 10 brands, and additional team tools.
  • Who It’s For: Perfect for small teams who need collaborative features and advanced media options.

Visit Animoto

Kizoa

Kizoa

If you love photo blogging or creating GIFs, Kizoa could be the perfect video creation tool for you. This user-friendly platform allows you to combine photos – including GIFs, audio clips, and a variety of transitions and visual effects – to craft your own videos. You can also choose from pre-designed templates to make the process even easier.

Kizoa gives you the freedom to either use its array of tools to build your video from scratch or to take advantage of pre-designed templates. Features include cutting long videos into short clips, adding transitions and special effects, and incorporating music, audio clips, and text to your projects.

Pricing Plans

Basic: Free

  • Features: Create 1-minute videos in Full HD 1080p quality with a Kizoa logo. You get 1 GB of storage and access to 3 million+ free photos and 1 million+ free videos.
  • Who It’s For: Ideal for beginners who want to explore the platform’s basic features without any cost.

Starter: €29.9 (One-Time Payment)

  • Features: Create up to 10-minute videos, Full HD 1080p, no Kizoa logo, 10 GB storage, and priority customer support. You also get access to 3 million+ free photos and 1 million+ free videos.
  • Who It’s For: Suitable for individuals who want more features and no branding on their videos.

Creator: €49.9 (One-Time Payment)

  • Features: Create up to 20-minute videos, Full HD 1080p, 100 GB storage, and the ability to burn your projects to DVD. Priority customer support and no Kizoa logo.
  • Who It’s For: Designed for content creators who require extended video duration and storage space.

Professional: €99.9 (One-Time Payment)

  • Features: Create videos with no time limit, Full HD 1080p, unlimited storage, and add your own logo. You also get the option to burn to DVD and priority customer support.
  • Who It’s For: Perfect for professionals who need unlimited storage and customization options.

Business: €299.9 (One-Time Payment)

  • Features: Create unlimited videos in 4K 2160p quality. Includes commercial use license, unlimited storage, and the ability to burn to DVD and add your own logo.
  • Who It’s For: Tailored for businesses that require high-quality videos for commercial use.

Visit Kizoa

Flixpress

Flixpress

Flixpress offers a high-quality video creation experience without breaking the bank – starting at less than $1 per month. Designed to cater to both professional and personal needs, this tool enables easy sharing of videos on social media. It features an array of pre-built templates, some of which are free while others come with the paid plans.

Flixpress stands toe-to-toe with other video tools, offering various objects, photos, and audio libraries to unleash your creativity. You’re not restricted to using built-in media; you can also upload and integrate your own photos, videos, and audio clips. The videos you create can be saved in popular formats like MP4, MOV, or WMV.

Pricing Plans

Free Plan: $0

  • Features: 1-day storage, 2-minute monthly video allowance, 360p resolution, access to 15 templates, Flixpress branding, and no commercial rights.
  • Who It’s For: Ideal for those who want to try out the service before investing in it.

Personal Plan: $0.83/month (annually) or $3.49/month (monthly)

  • Features: 30-day storage, 10-minute monthly video allowance, 1080p resolution, 54 templates, no branding, but no commercial rights either.
  • Who It’s For: Great for personal use or small projects that don’t require commercial rights.

Expert Plan: $9.99/month (quarterly) or $19.99/month (monthly)

  • Features: 60-day storage, 30-minute monthly video allowance, 1080p resolution, 103 templates, no branding, and YouTube monetization rights.
  • Who It’s For: Suitable for YouTubers or video creators who need more minutes and want to monetize their content.

Professional Plan: $49.99/month (quarterly) or $69.99/month (monthly)

  • Features: 90-day storage, 60-minute monthly video allowance, 1080p resolution, full access to the template library, custom branding, and resale rights.
  • Who It’s For: Perfect for professionals or businesses looking for the complete package, including custom branding and resale rights.

Visit Flixpress

Movavi Video Suite

Movavi Video Suite

Movavi Video Suite is an all-in-one video creation software packed with a plethora of powerful features. If you’re looking to create professional-grade movies, slideshows, or even record videos using a webcam or screen capture, Movavi offers an extensive, yet user-friendly, solution.

Despite its extensive functionality, Movavi is designed for ease of use. You can cut and join video clips while preserving their quality, add various video effects, filters, music, and titles to make your project stand out. Importantly, Movavi supports over 180 media formats, and even allows you to burn your creations directly onto DVDs.

Related: 10 Vital Tips & Tricks to Using Movavi Video Editor

Pricing Plan

1-Year Subscription: $94.95

Included Apps:

  • Video Editor: Craft your videos with a variety of editing tools.
  • Video Converter: Easily convert videos into different formats.
  • Screen Recorder: Capture your screen for tutorials, demos, or other content.

Who It’s For: Ideal for both beginners and professionals looking for a comprehensive video creation solution.

Visit Movavi

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Best Time Lapse Apps For Your Smartphone https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/best-timelapse-mobile-apps/ https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/best-timelapse-mobile-apps/#comments Fri, 29 Sep 2023 07:01:24 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=43016 Create mesmerizing time-lapse videos right from your smartphone with these apps.

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Shooting time-lapse videos offers a unique perspective on the world, capturing the enchanting progression of events too slow for the human eye. The combination of a low frame rate and rapid video playback allows you to craft stunning visuals such as blooming flowers, sunsets, or drifting clouds.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need expensive equipment to create time-lapse content. In fact, your smartphone, coupled with the right app, can produce mesmerizing results. Here are 5 top-notch time-lapse apps available for both Android and iOS.

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Our Top Pick

Here are some of our favorite time lapse mobile apps for iOS and Android phones.

Time-Lapse Camera (Android)
Time-Lapse Camera App Interface
Pros
  • Supports photo & video time-lapse.
  • Control over frame rate.
  • Unlimited video recording.
  • Add soundtracks.
Cons
  • No user video import.
  • Requires frame rate knowledge.

A newer entrant to the Google Play Store, the Time Lapse Camera efficiently records time-lapse videos at no cost. It boasts two primary modes: Photo Lapse and Video Lapse.

Photo Lapse Feature

In the Photo Lapse mode, the app captures images at specified intervals and merges them to produce a video. This mode excels at capturing scenes with gradual changes, like blooming flowers or sunsets. Notably, Photo Lapse comes with no restrictions on video length.

Video Lapse Feature

Video Lapse, also known as hyperlapse, has the app record video continuously at a reduced frame rate while ensuring stabilization. For this mode, a consistent camera movement is essential for creating a smooth time-lapse shot.

It’s ideal for exploring varied locations, capturing your experiences in a sped-up time-lapse video. Video Lapse has an impressive maximum limit of 24 hours.

Additionally, the app lets users incorporate audio, use flash when necessary, and view top time-lapse videos from the community. All in all, Time Lapse Camera provides a compelling mix of control and advanced features without any charges.

However, it’s worth noting that the developer mentioned, “Currently, the app is entirely free“. This suggests that future updates might introduce ads or pricing.

Download Time-Lapse Camera

Hyperlapse by Instagram (iOS)
Hyperlapse App Interface by Instagram
Pros
  • Great stabilization.
  • Granular frame rate control.
  • Up to 24-hour recording.
  • 12x speed enhancement.
Cons
  • No video import.
  • No extra effects/filters.

Regarded as one of the premier hyperlapse video recording apps on iOS, Hyperlapse from Instagram stands out with its exemplary stabilization features. This app allows for the recording of seamless time-lapse videos, even during activities like biking or running. Whether you’re capturing the serene transition of a sunset or navigating through bustling urban streets, this app effortlessly documents day-long time-lapse sequences.

One of the notable features is the ability of the app to accelerate your time-lapse videos by up to 12 times. It also bestows complete control over the frame rate, letting users adjust it as per their requirements without consuming extra storage.

Regardless of the chosen frame rate, the output remains a smooth and stabilized time-lapse video.

Download Hyperlapse

Microsoft HyperLapse Mobile (Android)
Microsoft HyperLapse App Interface
Pros
  • Up to 32x video speed.
  • Export to SD card.
  • Intuitive interface.
  • Supports 720p & 1080p.
  • Video imports & recording.
Cons
  • No manual frame rate control.
  • No video effects/customization.
  • Video length limit.
  • Watermark in output.

From the tech giant Microsoft comes a formidable hyperlapse application that beautifully marries simplicity with a robust set of features. Notably, this app grants users the flexibility to either import pre-existing videos from local storage or Google Photos or to capture fresh time-lapse content directly within the app.

One standout trait of this application is its capacity to accelerate videos to a staggering 32x of their original playback speed, with output resolution options of either 720p or 1080p.

The user experience is delightfully straightforward, as the app autonomously manages most of the processes. This leaves users to simply select their desired video playback speed and perhaps tinker with a few output settings. Another remarkable feature is its adeptness at video stabilization. In fact, if desired, the app can even serve solely as a video stabilizer by maintaining the video speed at its original rate.

Features of Microsoft HyperLapse Mobile

However, it’s worth noting that Microsoft HyperLapse Mobile is primarily a hyperlapse tool, and hence, it’s best suited for short video clips. This is evident from its 20-minute cap on maximum video duration. Moreover, the automatic management of frame rates by the application results in comparatively larger video file sizes. A potential downside for some users might be the mandatory watermark that the app appends at the conclusion of every video, with no native option to omit it.

Download Microsoft HyperLapse

Time Lapse Camera & Video (Android)
User Interface of Time Lapse Camera & Video App
Pros
  • Supports image & video time lapse.
  • Unlimited video duration.
  • Scheduled recordings.
  • Full playback frame rate control.
  • Low storage notifications.
  • Recording delay feature.
  • Custom video resolution.
Cons
  • May be challenging for beginners.
  • No direct save to SD card.

Emerging in the app market, Time Lapse Camera & Video boasts a combination of extensive customization options and dependable functionalities. It seamlessly accommodates both image and video time lapse recording, and impressively, places no constraints on the duration of the videos you can create.

One of its standout features is the scheduling option for recording. This makes it particularly apt for capturing scenes that are contingent on specific timings, like nocturnal illuminations.

User control stands central in this app. It allows complete authority over both recording and playback frame rates. This means even if your recording frame rate seems swift, you have the luxury to decelerate the playback frame rate subsequently, ensuring an optimal viewing experience.

For flexibility, users have the ability to pause recordings when there isn’t anything of interest to capture. However, it’s worth noting that this app does incorporate ads, and unlike many of its counterparts, it doesn’t provide an in-app option to eliminate these advertisements.

Download Time Lapse Camera & Video

iMotion (iOS)
User Interface of iMotion App
Pros
  • Selectable video resolution.
  • Adjustable frame & playback rate.
  • Supports reverse playback.
  • Apple Watch integration.
  • Video effects capability.
  • Auto-save during recordings.
  • No video length limit.
Cons
  • Full features need paid upgrade.

iMotion emerges as an all-encompassing time lapse solution tailored for iOS users, facilitating both time lapse and stop-motion video recordings. With this app, users are given the privilege to dictate frame rate, with a ceiling set at 10fps, and to select between 720p and 1080p resolutions. Moreover, it confers the power to manipulate the playback frame rate, thereby optimizing video outputs.

An intriguing aspect of iMotion is its capability to playback time lapse videos in reverse. This opens up creative avenues; for instance, presenting a sunset as if it were a sunrise.

Integrated compatibility with the Apple Watch accentuates its versatility. This feature enables users to preview and control videos directly from their wrist. Voice-activated recordings and remote initiation through an auxiliary app elevate its utility further. Bolstering its appeal, iMotion imposes no constraints on the length of the videos, deeming it an apt choice for both hyperlapse and time lapse endeavors.

Post-production, users can infuse videos with various effects, finetune the white balance, and deploy filters to enhance the overall appeal. A standout trait of this app is its auto-save feature during recordings. However, it’s pertinent to note that the complete suite of functionalities can only be unlocked by purchasing the full version at a price tag of $3.99.

Download iMotion

More Time Lapse Mobile Apps:

  • Lapse It: Enables capturing photos using the full sensor. Create time lapses from both pre-uploaded and fresh videos. [Download: Android | iOS]
  • PicPac Stop Motion & TimeLapse: A dual-purpose app supporting time lapse and hyperlapse videos with unique sound activation capabilities. [Download: Android]
  • Time Lapse by Sukros: Specialized in producing Time Lapse videos, it boasts 4k resolution support on compatible devices. [Download: Android]
  • TimeLapse: Offers 4k resolution video shooting and captures time lapse photos in the RAW format. [Download: iOS]
  • OSnap!: A well-endowed time lapse app that houses customized settings ideal for hyperlapse and daily portrait captures. [Download: iOS]
  • Framelapse: An all-inclusive time lapse app, notable for its integrated time lapse calculator. [Download: Android]
  • iTimeLapse Pro: This paid app accentuates tools dedicated to editing time lapse videos post-capture. [Download: iOS]

Wrapping Up

For those venturing into the world of time lapse and hyperlapse videos, the aforementioned applications will cater amply to your needs. If hyperlapse videos pique your interest, consider the offerings from industry giants like Microsoft or Instagram. Both come with an intuitive interface and guarantee splendid stability during movement.

Alternatively, for enthusiasts craving greater control over their videos, an integrated solution like Time Lapse Camera emerges as a prime pick.

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How to Fix the ‘The File or Directory is Corrupted and Unreadable’ Error https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/fix-file-directory-corrupted-unreadable-error/ Thu, 28 Sep 2023 10:01:31 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=69628 Learn the reasons behind file corruption in Windows and how to fix them seamlessly.

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When you connect a USB flash drive or an external hard drive to your computer, you may encounter a common and frustrating error: ‘the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable.’ This error can prevent you from accessing or moving important files on your storage devices.

Error illustration

In this guide, we will introduce you to the causes of this error and some viable solutions to regain access to your files and data. Try it now and see if the ‘file or directory is corrupted and unreadable’ error persists.

1. Reasons Behind the ‘File or Directory is Corrupted and Unreadable’ Error

Before we explore solutions for addressing the “File or directory is corrupted and unreadable” issue, it’s essential to understand why this problem occurs.

  • Disk Errors: Disk errors or bad sectors on your storage device can lead to data corruption and trigger this error.
  • Virus or Malware Attack: Viruses and malware can infect and damage files and directories, making them unreadable.
  • File System Issues: If there are problems with the file system structure, such as a corrupted Master File Table (MFT) on NTFS drives, it can result in data becoming corrupted and unreadable.
  • Faulty Hardware: Hardware issues, like a failing hard drive or malfunctioning USB drive, can cause data to be written or read incorrectly, leading to corruption.

This understanding not only helps us find the right solutions more quickly but also enables us to take preventative measures to avoid similar issues in the future.

2. How to Fix ‘The File or Directory is Corrupted and Unreadable’

There are a few ways to tackle this error. In the following content, we will explain how to first try a quick fix. If that doesn’t work, we will attempt to format the drive (without losing its data). If all else fails, we will resort to using a Windows tool.

Quick Fixes for the ‘File or Directory is Corrupted and Unreadable’ Error

Before delving into advanced troubleshooting methods, let’s begin with some quick fixes:

  • Restart Your Computer: Sometimes, a simple reboot can often resolve temporary glitches.
  • Disable Antivirus Software: Your antivirus software can block access to an external drive if it suspects a threat. To fix the ‘file is corrupted and unreadable’ error, you can try turning off or uninstalling the firewall and antivirus software.
  • Relocate Your Files: If you’re trying to open a file or folder from an external drive and encounter an error, copying the file or folder to your internal drive may help
Format Your Drive without Losing Data

Formatting can quickly resolve the error ‘file is corrupted and unreadable’ by wiping the file system and starting fresh. However, it will also erases all data on the device. If you didn’t have a backup, your files may be gone forever.

Don’t worry! Before formatting, you can backup all files or consider using a professional data recovery tool. We recommend using Tenorshare 4DDiG Data Recovery to get back lost data from inaccessibale drives. This powerful tool is easy to use and allows you to retrieve over than 2000 types of files, including photos, videos, audio, documents, and more from your drive.

Download 4DDiG Data Recovery

Follow these steps to restore your files with ease:

  1. First, install and open 4DDiG Data Recovery on your computer. On its main screen, you’ll see various partitions, external drives, and folders available. You can pick any drive or even navigate to a specific folder you want to scan. Once you’ve selected the location, just click the “Start” button.
  2. 4DDiG Data Recovery main screen
  3. 4DDiG will start scanning your chosen drive thoroughly to find lost or existing data. As it discovers files, it lists them in the File View. You have the option to pause or stop the process if needed, but it’s usually best to let it finish for better results.
  4. 4DDiG scanning process
  5. That’s it! Once the scanning is complete, all the recovered data will appear on the screen. Simply choose the files you want to save and click the “Recover” button.
  6. 4DDiG recovered data screen

Now, you can fix the error ‘the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable’ without losing any data.

  1. Press Windows + E on your keyboard to open File Explorer.
  2. Find the problematic drive and right-click on it. Then, select ‘Format…’ from the context menu.
  3. Right-clicking on the problematic drive in File Explorer
  4. In the Format window, you can choose the file system (usually NTFS for Windows drives) and allocation unit size (default is fine for most cases). Then, check the box next to Quick Format.
  5. Format window options
  6. Once you’ve configured the options, click the ‘Start’ button.
Use Windows’ Command Prompt

As mentioned earlier, file system issues are one of the main culprits behind the error ‘the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable.’ In such cases, the Windows’ Command Prompt tool can come in handy.

  1. Press Windows + S keys and enter cmd into the search bar. Then, select ‘Run as administrator’ to launch it.
  2. Command Prompt search result
  3. Type the following command and hit the Enter key: chkdsk X: /f (Replace X with the drive letter of the disk you want to check and repair.)
  4. Entering chkdsk command in Command Prompt
  5. After CHKDSK completes, it will display a summary of the scan results. If it found and repaired any issues, it will be noted in the report.

Alternatively, if you are not very familiar with the command line, there is another easy way to check and fix file system errors on your disk.

  1. Open the File Explorer by pressing Windows + E on your keyboard.
  2. Navigate to ‘This PC’ or ‘My Computer’ in the left sidebar. Then, right-click on the inaccessible drive and pick ‘Properties.’
  3. Right-clicking on the inaccessible drive in File Explorer
  4. Head to the ‘Tools’ tab at the top. Under the ‘Error checking’ section, click the ‘Check’ button.
  5. Error checking section in drive properties

3. What if the ‘File is Corrupted and Unreadable’ Error Occurs on Drive C?

The ‘file or directory is corrupted and unreadable’ error can occur not only when accessing data on external disks but also on your local drive, such as Drive C.

In addition to the methods mentioned above, there are two more ways to address this common Windows error: using Windows Startup Repair and reinstalling the OS itself.

Use Windows Startup Repair

Typically, if Drive C, which is your system drive, becomes corrupted, your computer should cease to function correctly. However, if your computer continues to operate after receiving the error ‘the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable,’ You may need to consider using Windows Startup Repair.

Here is how you do it:

  1. Press Windows + I on your keyboard and then click on ‘Update & Security.’
  2. Windows Settings Update & Security section
  3. Go to the ‘Recovery’ tab. Next, hit the ‘Restart Now’ button under ‘Advanced Startup.’
  4. Recovery tab in Windows Settings
  5. Once your computer restarts in the advanced startup mode, you’ll see some choices. Then, click on the‘Troubleshoot’ option.
  6. Advanced startup mode options
  7. Select ‘Advanced Options.’
  8. Advanced Options in Troubleshoot
  9. Look for the ‘Startup Repair’ option and click on it. Now, windows will start repairing your system.
  10. Startup Repair option
Reinstall or Downgrade your Windows OS

In the Microsoft Support Community, we find some users seeking solutions to problems such as ‘the file or directory is corrupted and unreadable Windows 11.’ The latest versions of Windows OS often have minor bugs and are vulnerable to attacks.

By reinstalling or downgrading the system, all hidden issues can be effectively resolved, but you may face the risk of data loss.

Windows OS installation screen

4. How to Prevent the Directory is Corrupted and Unreadable Error?

  • Regular Backups: Maintain regular backups of your important files and data.
  • Use Reliable Storage: Always use reliable storage devices and media. Low-quality or failing hardware can contribute to data corruption.
  • Safe Removal: Always use the “Safely Remove Hardware” or “Eject” option when disconnecting external drives or devices.
  • Update Software: Keep your operating system and software up-to-date. Updates often include bug fixes and improvements that can prevent such errors.

Bottom Line

With these solutions, you no longer need to worry about the error ‘the file directory is corrupted and unreadable.’ Some of these methods may put you at risk of data loss, such as reinstalling the operating system and formatting the disk. Fortunately, with 4DDiG Data Recovery, you can recover any lost files in the blink of an eye.

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69628
10 Best Windows Search Alternatives https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/windows-search-alternative/ https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/windows-search-alternative/#respond Thu, 31 Aug 2023 10:01:17 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=38858 Looking for more than just filenames? These Windows search tools dig deeper.

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The Windows Search feature is a convenient tool for easily finding what you’re looking for on your system. However, it has its own drawbacks; for example, it doesn’t search the contents of files and can be quite slow.

If the built-in search feature doesn’t meet your needs, you can customize your Windows by installing excellent third-party Windows search tools. Below, we’ve listed 10 of the best alternatives to the Windows Search feature.

1. WinFindr

winfindr

WinFindr is a free, user-friendly tool for Windows that allows you to search for files, folders, and registry data. You can employ various types of search keywords, including wildcards and advanced search patterns, all simultaneously. The tool even enables you to use “negative” terms to exclude specific results from your search. Once you’ve located what you’re seeking, you can effortlessly save the results in text, CSV, or HTML formats.

The software is both fast and lightweight, ensuring that it won’t slow down your computer. It is available in two convenient formats: a portable version that is just 2MB in size and a version that operates within the Windows Command Prompt.

Notable Features:
  • Permits simultaneous searches for multiple file types
  • Supports multiple search terms and wildcards
  • Fast, lightweight, and portable
  • Offers Windows dark mode and customization options
  • Completely free to use

Download WinFindr

2. Everything

everything

One of my personal favorite, Everything, is an astonishingly light, fast, and easy-to-use search tool for Windows. While it may not be packed with a myriad of features, it excels at quickly finding files and folders.

This tool allows you to search for files and folders solely by their names. This limitation enables it to be incredibly fast, as it can index your PC’s data in just a few seconds – about 8-10 seconds in my experience.

The results are updated in real-time as you begin typing, with no delay in their display. It also offers other convenient features, such as the ability to sort data by various criteria, search for specific file types, open files directly from its interface, and bookmark files or folders for quick access later.

Notable Features:
  • Easy to use
  • Fast results
  • Displays a complete index in one location

Download Everything

3. Listary

listary

Listary is essentially a file explorer assistant focused on enhancing your productivity. When you are inside Windows File Explorer, simply start typing what you’re looking for, and results will appear in real-time. You can also press the Ctrl key twice to bring up the search bar from anywhere and begin your search.

You can create keywords to search directly within online websites, such as using "fb" to search directly on Facebook. Other features include keyboard shortcuts, the ability to add filters, create executable commands, and assign shortcuts to them, access recent files, and view complete file history.

Additionally, it offers various themes to customize its interface. The free version of Listary is available only for personal use. To use it in a business environment or gain more control, you should upgrade to the pro version.

Moreover, Listary is capable of listing Windows settings and programs in the search results, a feature I haven’t found in any other tools on this list.

Notable Features:
  • Direct typing in File Explorer.
  • Fast indexing and results.
  • Ability to search the internet.
  • Indexes Windows settings and native programs.

Download Listary

4. UltraSearch

ultrasearch

UltraSearch scans MFT (Master File Table) of your drive partition to look for data instead of indexing everything in your PC. This allows it to let you immediately start a search without having the need to index data first. It may not be able to track file changes in real-time, but you can always rescan MFT to manually update data.

Apart from MFT based search, you can use filters, create search patterns, use data type to look for files and sort the results using different factors. UltraSearch also has an interesting "Content search" feature that lets you search for content inside the files. This feature is a little slow in working but invaluable.

Notable features:
  • Scans MFT and doesn’t require indexing.
  • Search content of files.

Download UltraSearch

5. SearchMyFiles by Nirsoft

search my file

Nirsoft is known for highly customizable tools, and SearchMyFiles is one of its most customizable search tools, offering full control over your search. I wouldn’t say it’s the best alternative to the built-in Windows search, mainly because it takes a few seconds to set up your search, and the results also take some time to appear.

However, its customization tools make it perfect for finding hard-to-pinpoint files. You can use features such as wildcards, excludable folders, file extension exclusion, adjustable file size, subfolder depth, file attributes, and timestamps for when the file was created, modified, or accessed to find the exact file you’re looking for.

It also has a reliable content search feature that allows you to search the contents of files. You can specify the type of content the file may contain using text, binary, or wildcard options.

Notable Features:
  • Highly customizable search filters.
  • Search for text and binary content inside files.

Download SearchMyFiles

6. MasterSeeker

masterseeker

MasterSeeker is another easy-to-use Windows search tool that is also incredibly fast. In my experience, it was quick to index all of my data, taking only about 3 seconds to index all the drives.

At the top of the interface, you have three search fields: Filename, Directory, and File Size. The Filename field allows you to search for files or folders by their names. The Directory field enables you to select the directory in which you want to search, and the File Size field allows you to search for files based on their size.

I particularly appreciated the “search by file size” feature, which enables you to quickly input a file size to look for matching files. You can also filter results using symbols like >, <, =, or ~.

Notable Features:
  • Quick indexing.
  • Reliable file size-based search.

Download MasterSeeker

7. Quick Search

quick search

Quick Search features a sleek interface that is very intuitive to use. It swiftly indexes all data and displays it in columns such as documents, photos, videos, shortcuts, and music, among others. Additionally, it offers a convenient preview section that displays a preview of each file you select.

When you search for content, the application highlights your search keywords in the results and also displays recommended related searches on the Internet (powered by Bing). I must say, Quick Search boasts the best interface among all the apps on this list; it’s sleek, interactive, and simply works.

Notable Features:
  • Organizes data into categories by default.
  • Allows data preview.
  • Highlights keywords in search results.
  • Displays related searches from Bing.

Download Quick Search

8. DocFetcher

docfetcher

An open-source Windows search alternative that focuses solely on indexing and finding content within files. For the sake of privacy, it allows you to specify which parts of the hard drive should be indexed, unlike other tools that index the entire hard drive.

Once the files have been indexed, you can swiftly search for any type of content within them. Unfortunately, DocFetcher does not provide real-time results for its searches, so you will need to click the “Search” button each time.

Notable Features:
  • A comprehensive search tool for finding content within files.
  • Indexes only the specified directories.

Download DocFetcher

9. Searchmonkey

search monkey

Another open-source search tool, similar to DocFetcher, Searchmonkey allows you to select a specific directory to index rather than indexing everything. Its interface is both fast and user-friendly, arguably surpassing that of DocFetcher.

You can search both the indexed file names and the content within those files. However, I find its content search capabilities to be more reliable than its file-finding features.

Simply specify the directory you wish to search and the content you’re looking for. Searchmonkey will quickly locate all relevant files and display a preview of their content directly in its interface. The keywords you searched for will be highlighted in red.

Notable Features:
  • Indexes only the specified directory.
  • Easy to use and fast.
  • Searches for content within files.
  • Previews content with keywords highlighted.

Download Searchmonkey

10. FileSleek

filesleek

Although FileSleek is a paid tool, it offers a powerful free version suitable for personal use. FileSleek can find both files and folders as well as content within those files.

You can search multiple directories simultaneously, filter data by pattern, name, or type, preview results, search for specific keywords, filter by time, filter by size, and much more.

To find content within files, you can use either regular expressions or advanced expressions with operators like +, -, and, OR, and so on. The paid version offers additional features such as the ability to open results in multiple tabs, export data, and sync your data across devices, among others.

Notable Features:
  • Search multiple directories simultaneously.
  • Powerful filters for precise searching.
  • Advanced expressions for content search.

Download FileSleek

Bonus: FileSearchy

filesearchy

FileSearchy allows you to quickly search for data on your PC, as well as within files. Although its capabilities are limited to document formats when searching for content, it excels in speed. In addition to searching by name, you can also filter files by date and size.

The software offers other useful search customization features, such as the ability to use wildcards, conduct multi-keyword searches, perform exact word searches, and execute case-sensitive searches. It also highlights the keywords in the search results and maintains a complete history of your searches for easy reference.

Notable Features:
  • Search within file content.
  • Conduct multi-keyword searches.
  • Highlight keywords in search results.
  • Maintain a complete history of searches.

Download FileSearchy

Time to Search Like a Pro

If your sole need is to search for files and folders quickly, then Everything is definitely a reliable option. However, if you aim to be more productive, Listray is unbeatable due to its in-depth search capabilities and reliable features. I also found Quick Search by GlarySoft to be pleasing; give it a try if you’re undecided.

What are Windows Services & How to Use Them

What are Windows Services & How to Use Them

Have you ever wondered how many of Windows features work simultaneously even though they don't have an intractable... Read more

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5 PayPal Alternatives for Online Transactions https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/paypal-alternatives-bestof/ https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/paypal-alternatives-bestof/#comments Wed, 01 Mar 2023 13:01:21 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=37753 PayPal may be the most widely used online transaction service, but that doesn’t mean it has no flaws. It is not available in some countries, and its fee is quite hefty as well, especially for international transactions. Not to mention the PayPal’s habit of blocking accounts for the least of the reasons. Whether you can’t…

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PayPal may be the most widely used online transaction service, but that doesn’t mean it has no flaws. It is not available in some countries, and its fee is quite hefty as well, especially for international transactions. Not to mention the PayPal’s habit of blocking accounts for the least of the reasons.

Whether you can’t use PayPal service or don’t want to use it, there are many reliable alternatives to PayPal for making online transactions. Below I have evaluated 5 of the best PayPal alternatives that make online money transfers easier.

1. Wise

Wise, formally known as TransferWise, is my choice for international transactions owing to its amazingly low fee and mid-market exchange rates.

For any transaction, TransferWise simply charges 1% of the total amount transferred with the minimum being $3, it’s almost 1/3 of the fee that PayPal charges.

Best of all, it uses a mid-market exchange rate for conversion, therefore you are sure to get the best rates without Wise’s fee.

Wise

Another great feature is that the transferred amount is directly deposited into the receiver’s bank account. The sender can pay through both bank accounts or a debit/credit card (debit/credit card fee may incur depending on the bank).

Apart from personal transactions, TransferWise also offers a neat solution for businesses with its Borderless accounts feature.

The fee is the same as personal transactions but without the minimum transaction fee. You’ll get a comprehensive dashboard to manage all your transactions in multiple currencies and even make automatic payments.

Wise

The payment processing time is really fast as well. Although it says it could take 2-4 days, I have never seen a delay over one day.’

Wise’s transaction fees and charges

1% fee on all transactions with a minimum $3 fee on all personal transactions.

What we like:
  • Low international money-transfer fee.
  • Mid-market conversion rate.
  • Reliable business account.
  • Easy to use, and the receiver doesn’t need an account.
  • Supports many countries where PayPal is unavailable or limited, like Bangladesh, India, or Pakistan.
What we don’t like
  • Only supports international money transfers.
More Wise-related links:

2. Skrill

Skrill is very similar to PayPal in working. You attach a bank account or debit/card to your Skrill account and send/receive money. The service only charges 1.9% fee for a transfer between Skrill wallets.

It’s still quite less than PayPal and there are no dedicated rates for different countries/currencies.

skrill

However, the problem comes with international money transfers where the accounts use different currencies. Skrill charges a 3.99% fee on the currency conversion, so the international transfer can cost nearly 6% of the total amount.

Things get even worse if your bank currency isn’t supported by Skrill (40 currencies are supported). Money conversion will be involved receiving money and withdrawing it to your bank account. And your bank may even add some fee . All this could lead to up to 12-15% fee on just receiving/sending money.

skrill

If you are living in Europe, then you can also get a free Skrill Prepaid Mastercard to directly use the money in Skrill wallet wherever Mastercard is accepted. Although not as widely accepted as PayPal, but many online stores accept payment via Skrill. This includes GoDaddy, Shutterstock, Skype, Playing Asia, and others.

Skrill’s transaction fees and charges

1.9% fixed fee on transactions with each currency conversion in the process costing a 3.99% fee.

What we like:
  • Low fee on same currency transfers.
  • Has a dedicated Prepaid Mastercard.
  • Many stores support Skrill payment.
What we don’t like
  • Currency conversion can be a real problem.
  • May require extra verification to increase maximum wallet limit.
More Skrill-related links:

3. Transfast

Transfast is very similar to TransferWise as it lets you direct deposit to the bank account of the receiver. However, only US residents can use the service to send money worldwide.

It supports online transactions in the USA and 50 other countries. Some of the unsupported PayPal countries are also supported.

Transfast

Transfast charges a fixed $4.99 on every transaction and charges no fee over $1000 transfers. Transfers to some countries are also free, such as India or Nigeria.

Unfortunately, it uses its own exchange rates for currency conversion that depends on the currency itself. However, the exchange rate is quite competitive. You can check it on the Transfast calculator.

Transfast
Transfast’s transaction fees and charges

$4.99 fixed fee on transactions and no fees for transactions above $1000. It has competitive exchange rates that you can calculate on its pricing page.

What we like:
  • Good for large transactions.
  • Supports countries that are not supported by PayPal.
  • Can locally send money in the USA.
What we don’t like
  • Only US residents can send money.
More Transfast-related links:

4. Payoneer

Payoneer is quite different from PayPal, but it is still a great online transaction method. Payoneer works through a Payoneer Mastercard that is sent to your home for free with a yearly maintenance fee of $25 (charged at the end of the year). You can use the card anywhere where Mastercard is accepted.

Payoneer

Payoneer is mainly created to help you receive payments from US companies like Wish, Fiverr, PayPal and over 3500 more. You can then withdraw the payment using an ATM or spend it right from the Mastercard.

There is no fee for sending and receiving payments from other Payoneer card users. And there is a 2% withdrawal fee when you withdraw the money in your local currency.

However, if you are receiving money from a company, they may charge a fee of their own (check the company page for this).

Related post: How to Request Payment via Payoneer

Payoneer
Payoneer’s transaction fees and charges

Free transactions between two Payoneer accounts. 2% fee on withdrawing money via ATM.

What we like:
  • Free Mastercard.
  • Easily receive money from popular companies.
  • No fee for transactions between Payoneer accounts.
  • Cheap withdrawal fee.
What we don’t like
  • It isn’t easy to fund a Payoneer card.
More Payoneer-related links:

5. Xpress Money

Xpress Money is a good option for cheap money transfer between 165+ countries. Understanding the fee structure can be a little difficult, but their Currency Converter can do all the calculations for you.

The fee depends on where you are sending the amount, but usually, it’s anywhere between 1-2% of the total amount. On top of that, if the amount is big enough, there will be no fee (depending on the sent currency). For example, the transactions are free for AUD currency if it’s above AUD 300.

Xpress Money

Of course, they do have their exchange rate, but the rates are very competitive and even better than Transfast. You can send money from both nearby agents and online accounts. However, the online account is only limited to a few countries, such as the USA, Australia, and the United Kingdom, etc.

Xpress Money also offers multiple ways to receive the amount. You can get a cash pick from the agent (over 200,000 agents worldwide), receive it in a bank account, or even get it delivered to your doorstep for free (supported countries only).

Depending on receiving method it could take anywhere between 2-5 days to receive money. Although for cash pick-ups, I always received the amount the next day.

Xpress Money
Xpress Money’s transaction fees

The fee depends on the currency you are sending, but usually it’s between 1-2%. The transactions also become free after a specific threshold. You can check its currency converter (link above) for the exact fee estimate and currency exchange rate.

What we like:
  • Cheap rates.
  • Many ways to receive money.
  • Over 80 currencies supported.
What we don’t like:
  • Online account is limited to few countries.
  • Fee structure is hard to understand.

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30 Chrome Extensions for Better Productivity https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/productivity-chrome-extensions/ https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/productivity-chrome-extensions/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2023 10:01:02 +0000 https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/?p=29080 There are a number of productivity apps for mobiles and a lot of productivity tools for PCs. But did you know that there are some really amazing Chrome extensions that can take your productivity to the next level, and help you get things done faster while keeping your sanity. Here are some of the best…

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There are a number of productivity apps for mobiles and a lot of productivity tools for PCs. But did you know that there are some really amazing Chrome extensions that can take your productivity to the next level, and help you get things done faster while keeping your sanity.

Here are some of the best productivity Chrome extensions I want to share with you today. Let’s check each of these extensions in detail and see how they can make you more productive at work.

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Grammarly for Chrome

Grammarly Chrome extension provides spelling and grammar checks on everything you do in the browser in real-time. From emails and cloud documents to social media posts, it analyzes everything you write in the browser and gives color-coded feedback.

Apart from spelling and grammar, the Grammarly Chrome extension highlights problems with punctuation, clarity, and writing style and suggests improvements.

Grammarly Chrome Extension
1Password

Just as the name says, , if you have the 1Password desktop app installed, the 1Password Chrome extension helps you manage all your passwords right in your browser. It also helps generate strong passwords, save newly created login password information, and filling passwords wherever needed, all done right on your browser.

1Password Chrome Extension
StayFocusd

The online world is filled with distractive websites that are huge productivity killers. StayFocusd helps you stay productive by allotting a specific time to distracting websites, after which they will become inaccessible.

It also makes it very hard to cheat the system by forcing you to complete annoying tasks if you want to disable the extension.

stay focusd
OneTab

If you love multitasking, then most probably you will have dozens of tabs opened at a time, which can make things quite confusing. OneTab sorts all the opened tabs in a list so you could easily view them. All the websites are also taken down to save memory.

one tab
Auto Text Expander

Text expanding apps are one of the best tools to boost productivity. Likewise, this text expansion Chrome extension allows you to get this feature in Chrome. Simply create shortcuts and abbreviations for commonly used phrases/sentences and quickly use them when needed.

auto expander
Save to Pocket

If you don’t have time to read an online article, you can use Save to Pocket extension to save it to read it later. You can create a full articles feed to view later in your leisure time. The saved articles are also viewable offline and without distractive content.

xxx
Momentum

Momentum is your all-in-one new tab replacement that will show you your to-dos in an inspiration interface. You can create to-dos and daily goals that will be shown to you whenever you will open a new tab. Along with that, it shows weather and inspiration quotes and pictures to keep you motivated.

momentum
Sortd for Gmail

If you are a Gmail user, then Sortd might be the best thing that ever happens to you. It is basically a smart skin for Gmail that completely changes your Gmail interface to a more productive one.

It shows all the emails in the left column and in the middle there are columns to add to-dos and important emails. Sortd for Gmail works similar to Trello interface.

sortd for gmail
Mercury Reader

Usually, web pages are filled with distractive content such as ads, recommendations, widgets, social media share buttons and more. This extra content can distract you away from the original content.

Mercury Reader gets rid of all this content with a single click and only shows what’s important.

mercury reader
Note Board

Note Board is a comprehensive note-taking extension that gives you customizable cork boards to pin your notes over. I am using Note Board for over a year now and it does a great job of keeping my ideas and to-dos organized. Its advanced features include the ability to drag and drop content, add reminders and create permanent popup notes that are always on top to keep in view.

note board
Strict Workflow

Strict Workflow uses Pomodoro technique to keep you focused. It will block all types of distracting content (customizable) for 25min so you could focus on work and then give you 5min break where you can access such content. It’s a good extension to keep a balance between work and fun time.

strict workflow
Google Dictionary

Google Dictionary allows you to quickly search for the definition of words without opening a new tab to search it. Just double-click on the word and its definition along with synonyms will be shown in a bubble above. You can also save this data to view later for practicing purposes.

google dictionary
SearchPreview

Another handy extension to help with your internet search. SearchPreview will show thumbnails of website content in the search results so you would know what you will see when you’ll click, and it also shows related links to searches (all were helpful in my experience). It works with all popular search engines, including Google Search, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo.

search preview
Buffer

A great extension for social media fanatics. Buffer lets you share your post over multiple social media channels like Facebook, Twitter and Google+ with a single click.

It also shows responses received on each share and you can schedule posts as well.

buffer
Adblock Plus

Ads can be really distractive and could hinder your productivity. Adblock Plus is one of the best extensions to get rid of all types of ads and easily customize where ads should be allowed to show. Although do keep in mind that ads power the free internet we use, so you should enable ads on websites you care about.

adblock plus
Noisli

Noisli lets you concentrate on work by continuously playing favorite white noise of your choice, like rain, air, thunder or similar sounds. If you are in a loud environment with irregular sounds or in a very quiet environment, then Noisli will surely help you focus better.

noisli
Open Screenshot

Open Screenshot allows you to quickly take customizable screenshots to save them or share them quickly. You can annotate the screenshots with arrows. text, lines, and blur sensitive areas. It also offers unlimited cloud storage for screenshots.

open screenshot
Magic Actions for YouTube

If your work depends on YouTube, then this is a must have an extension for you. Magic Actions adds dozens of features to YouTube to enhance your experience.

Features include, an auto apply HD resolution, adjust volume with mouse scroll, use theater mode, take screenshots, enlarge thumbnails, see user info, stop autoplay, hide extra content and much more.

magic actions
MightyText

We all know how dealing with two devices can be a productivity killer, and MightyText solves that problem. You will need MightyText Android app for this to work, but it’s an amazing extension. MightyText allows you to see all your phone notifications on your PC and you can even reply to them right from your PC.

mighty text
Free Download Manager

This is a replacement for the built-in Chrome download manager that is much more advanced and easier to use. Free Download Manager will let you organize your downloads using categorize to easily view them. It adds resume, pause, restart and recycles ability to downloads. Best of all, it is able to detect all images, audio files and videos on a web page and let you download them in bulk.

chrono download manager
SpeakIt!

Reading content can be a little tiring for the eyes and your brain, and this is where SpeakIt! comes in handy. It will read the content for you so you could relax or do something else while the content is being read to you. You just need to select the content that you want to listen and SpeakIt! will read it for you.

speak it
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Openvid Screen Recorder

An astonishingly easy tool to quickly shoot a video and share it with anyone using a shareable link. Openvid Screen Recorder allows you to record your desktop activity, window activity or record a video from your webcam and gives a shareable link to share with anyone.

openvid screen recorder
Session Buddy

Session Buddy offers all the tools to manage your current session in different ways. It allows you to save opened tabs to restore later in time, automatically recover crashed tabs (if the browser fails), organize tabs by categories, use search to find tabs, share opened tabs and quickly open multiple tabs.

session buddy
Remember Form

It can be a quite time consuming to refill an online form if it crashes in the middle due to network error or PC breakdown. Remember Form records all the form entries you make in a form and lets you recover them in case the form crashes for any reason.

lazarus
Black Menu for Google

If you love Google services, then Black Menu for Google is a must have extension for you. The extension allows you to access most of the popular Google services right from the extension interface without leaving your current page. You can also interact with the services and complete basic tasks, such as view and reply to emails in Gmail. Some of the services include Gmail, YouTube, Google Search, Google+, Google Maps, Google Translate and more.

black menu for google
Reading Time

A very helpful extension to help you manage your time and think ahead. Reading Time shows an estimated reading time of an online article so you would know how much time you will consume reading it. The time is calculated based on many different factors and usually, it’s very close to the actual reading time.

readism
Spreed

Spreed gives you a special interface for reading content faster and trains you to read faster. When you will add a web page to Spreed, it will show the content one word at a time at a faster speed. You can adjust how many words should be shown at a time and the next word switch speed. This will help you quickly read the content and improve your reading speed with time.

spreed
Calculator

As the name suggests, Calculator lets you access a scientific calculator (not too advanced though) just by clicking on the extension button. With this you don’t need to depend on Google Search calculator or your operating system’s calculator. Simply click on the extension and an easy to use calculator will show up. It’s perfect for people who depend much on calculations while working.

calculator for chrome
smartUp Gestures

smartUp Gestures allows you to create mouse gestures and shortcuts to quickly complete most of the browser functions. There are many types of gestures, including mouse gestures, mouse wheel gestures, context menu shortcuts, drag gestures, rocker gesture and more. The extension is highly customizable, from design to function.

smart up gestures
Autofill

Chrome has a reliable Autofill feature, but it doesn’t offer enough power. Autofill extension is a replacement for Chrome’s Autofill feature that will automatically fill all entries of forms as soon as the form loads. Additionally, it works on almost all types of forms where Chrome’s Autofill fails and it can even autofill checkboxes and buttons.

autofill
Summary

So these were some of the best Chrome extensions to help you be more productive while working. Almost all of these extensions are completely free to use, but few may have advanced features locked behind a paywall. Which one of these productive Chrome extensions will you use? Let us know in the comments.

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