How to Encrypt a USB Drive with BitLocker

Encrypting a USB drive with BitLocker to Go on Windows 11 is pretty easy; follow these steps.

1. Click on the Windows 11 Start button and select Settings.

2. Switch to System.

3. Click on Storage.

4. Click on Advanced storage. Then, on the next menu, click on Disks & volumes.

5. Select the USB drive and click Properties.

6. Click the Turn on BitLocker link.

7. Click the Turn on BitLocker link behind the drive.

8. Select the Use a password to unlock a drive option and type in the password. Once you’ve done this, click Next.

9. You will be asked to save the recovery key. You can choose to Save to your Microsoft account, Save to a file, or Print the Recovery key.

10. Select Encrypt used disk space only, and click Next.

11. Select Compatible mode and click Next.

12. Click the Start encryption button to begin the encryption process.

How to Access an Encrypted USB Drive?

Once the drive is encrypted, you will find a yellow lock icon next to the encrypted drive.

When you try to access the data stored on the encrypted drive, you will be asked to enter the password. Enter the password to unlock the drive.

How to Disable BitLocker?

Disabling BitLocker on Windows 11 is pretty easy; follow the steps shared below.

1. Click on the Start button and select Control Panel.

2. Select BitLocker Drive Encryption.

3. Find your encrypted drive, and click Unlock drive.

4. Click Turn off BitLocker.

5. The BitLocker Drive Encryption process will start and decrypt the drive.

BitLocker To Go is a great security feature that everyone should use. If you have any doubts related to this, let us know in the comment box below.

The post How to Enable & Use BitLocker to Go on Windows 11 appeared first on TechViral.

Also read: Windows 11 Free Download Full Version

1. Check the DirectX version on Windows 11 via RUN

The easiest way to check the DirectX version is to utilize the RUN dialog box.

1. Click on the Windows 11 Search and type in RUN. Open the RUN dialog box from the list of options.

2. Type dxdiag and press Enter.

3. This will open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool on Windows 11. Switch to the System tab, and the DirectX version will be at the bottom of the window.

2. Check DirectX Version via Windows 11 Search

You can also utilize the Windows 11 search to check the DirectX version.

On the Windows search, type dxdiag. Now open Dxdiag (Run command) from the list. This will open the DirectX Diagnostic tool on your Windows 11 computer.

Switch to the System tab and check the DirectX version at the bottom.

3. Check the DirectX version via CMD/PowerShell

Pro users can use the CMD or PowerShell utility to check the DirectX version.

1. Click on the Windows 11 Search and type in Command Prompt or PowerShell. Next, open the matching utility from the search results.

2. On the CMD/Powershell, enter dxdiag and press Enter.

3. This will open the DirectX diagnostic tool. Switch to the System tab and check the DirectX version at the bottom.

How to Update DirectX on Windows 11?

Now that you know how to check the DirectX version on Windows 11, it’s time to know how to update it to the latest version.

1. Launch the Settings app.

2. Tap Windows Update.

3. Click Check for Updates.

This will download & install all pending Windows updates and update the DirectX version.

These are some of the easiest ways to check the DirectX version in Windows 11. Every method relies on the DirectX diagnostic tool. If you know any other way to check it, let us know in the comments.

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1. Restart your Windows 11

If you are experiencing problems such as Windows Security not opening or failing to run a scan, the first step is to restart your computer.

A system restart is often overlooked, but it can fix most problems.

To restart your Windows 11 PC, click on the Start button > Power Menu and select Restart.

2. Close Other Security Programs

If you have just installed a new security program on your Windows 11, you can’t use the security protection offered by Windows Security.

To run a full scan or activate Windows Security’s real-time protection, disable any other third-party security software.

3. Restart the Security Center Service

The Security Center service is responsible for the real-time protection provided by the Windows Security app. If this service is disabled, the app won’t work. You can restart the Security Center service to fix the problem.

1. Press the Windows Key + R button on your Keyboard. This will open the RUN dialog box.

2. Type in services.msc and press Enter.

3. Search for Security Center.

4. Right-click on the Security Center and select Restart.

4. Run the SFC and DISM Scan

System file corruption can prevent Windows Security from functioning properly. You should run both SFC and DISM commands to fix the problem.

1. Click the Windows 11 search and type in Command Prompt. Right-click on the Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.

2. Enter sfc/ scannow and press Enter.

3. The System File Checker utility will run and attempt to replace the corrupted system files. If it returns with an error, you need to execute another command:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

These two commands will most probably fix the Windows Security app not working problem on your Windows 11 PC.

5. Reset the Windows Security App

Even though Windows Security is a system app, you can still reset it if it’s not working properly.

1. Launch the Settings app and click Apps.

2. Click Installed Apps.

3. Find the Windows Security app and click on the three dots next to it.

4. Select Advanced options.

5. Click Reset.

6. Reset Your Windows 11 PC

Resetting Windows 11 will restore your PC to its factory default state, but it will also remove all apps installed on your device. So, make sure to prevent data loss before proceeding.

1. Click on the Windows 11 Start menu and select Settings.

2. Navigate to System > Recovery.

3. Click Reset PC.

4. Select whether you want to keep your files or remove everything on the next prompt. It’s recommended to pick Keep my files.

After the reset, try running the Windows Security app again. This time, the app will run fine. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset process.

These are some of the best ways to fix the Windows Security app not working on Windows 11. These methods will surely fix Windows Security app-related problems on your PC. Let us know if you have any doubts about the Windows Security app.

The post How to Fix Windows Security Not Working in Windows 11 appeared first on TechViral.

Also Read: How to Turn the Windows 11 Taskbar into a macOS-like Dock

1. Change the Network Profile type using Settings

Now that you know both public and private profiles, here’s how you can change your network profile on Windows 11.

1. Click on the Windows 11 start menu and select Settings.

2. Click Network & Internet.

3. Click Network. For example, I am connected to a cable network; therefore, I have to click on Ethernet.

4. Select between ‘Public’ or ‘Private’.

5. If you wish to change the network profile for a wireless connection, head to Settings > Network & Internet > Wifi.

6. Under WiFi, click on Manage known networks and select the active wireless connection.

7. Select a Public or Private Network.

2. Change Network Type using Registry Editor

The Windows Registry app can also be used to change the network profile type.

1. Press the Windows Key + R button to open the RUN dialog box. When the RUN dialog box opens, type regedit and press Enter.

2. Navigate to this path:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\NetworkList\Profiles

3. Under the Profiles folder, you will find various Network Profiles folders. You need to click on each and find the network profile you want to modify.

4. You can select each profile and look at the ProfileName value on the right side. This will show you the network name of the selected profile.

5. Once you find the Network profile, double-click on the Category DWORD value. In the value data field, enter one of the following choices:

• Public Networks: 0
• Private Networks: 1
• Domain Networks: 2

Let’s say you want to change the network profile to private; enter 1 in the value data field and click the Ok button. After making the changes, restart your Windows computer.

3. Change the Network Profile type using the Local Security Policy

You can also use the Local Security Policy editor to change the Network Profile type.

1. Press the Windows Key + R button to open the RUN dialog box. Type in secpol.msc and press Enter.

2. Select the Network List Manager Policies. On the left side, you will see all available networks.

3. Double-click on the Network you want to change the type of.

4. Switch to the Network Location tab and change the location type to Private or Public.

After making the changes, click the Apply button and close the Local Security Policy Editor. Then, restart your computer to reflect the change.

This article explains how to change the network profile on Windows 11. If you have any doubts, let us know in the comment box below.

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How to Create a Recovery Drive USB?

There’s a built-in app for creating a Recovery drive on Windows 11. Here’s how to use it.

1. Plug an empty USB drive into your computer.

2. Open the Recovery Drive from the Windows 11 Search.

3. You will see a UAC prompt. Click Yes.

4. On the Create a Recovery Drive prompt, check the Backup system files to the recovery drive and click Next.

5. Select the USB Flash Drive prompt, and select the correct USB flash drive you want to use as a Recovery drive.

6. You will see a warning screen letting you know that the process will delete all files stored on the USB flash drive. Back up your personal files in any other location. Once done, click Create.

7. Wait until Windows 11 creates a Windows 11 Bootable Recovery Drive. Once it has done so, you will see the success message; click Finish.

How to Use the Recovery Drive for Windows Recovery

Now that you have created a USB Recovery drive on Windows 11, you can use it whenever your device fails to boot.

1. Connect the Recovery drive to your computer. Power on your computer and press the Boot Menu key. If you don’t know the key to access the boot device menu, check out the table below.

2. Once you access the Boot Device Menu, use the arrow key to select your USB Recovery Drive, then press Enter.

3. Wait for a few minutes for your device to boot from your USB drive. Once booted, pick the language and select Recover from a drive.

4. Select Recover from a drive.

5. You will be asked whether to remove your files or fully clean the drive. Pick Just Remove My Files.

6. Click Recover.

7. This will start the Windows 11 reinstallation process. Once done, you must set up your preferences to use your Windows 11 computer.

Fix ‘We Can’t Create a Recovery Drive’ Error

If you encounter an error that reads, ‘We Can’t create a recovery drive’. If you see this error, don’t panic. The error usually appears due to an incorrect USB drive format. Generally, a restart fixes the error, but if it doesn’t, you can try these things.

• Restart the Recovery Drive App from the Task Manager.
• Format the USB drive in the FAT32 file system.
• Disable the third-party antimalware tools.
• Disable the virtualization programs.
• Delete the Windows.old folder from your device.
• Run the SFC and DISM Scan using the Command Prompt.
• Update Your Windows Operating System.

You can try these things to resolve the ‘We Can’t Create a Recovery Drive’ error on Windows 11.

Other Ways to Create Windows 11 Backup

System Image backup is just another recovery option available on Windows. The only difference is that it creates an image of your entire Windows OS, including your personal files and applications.

In the event of a critical crash, a system image backup will restore the system to the state of its creation date. You won’t lose your personal files, programs, settings, etc.

How to Create a System Image Backup on Windows?

To create a system image backup on Windows, follow these steps.

1. Open Control Panel from the Windows Search.

2. Select the Backup and Restore (Windows 7) option.

3. Click Create a system image on the left pane.

4. On the Create a System Image prompt, select where you want to save the backup. You can save the backup to an external drive, a DVD, or a network location. Make your selection and click Next.

5. You will be asked to confirm which partitions of your hard drive will be included in the image backup file. Select the partitions and click Start Backup.

You must follow the on-screen instructions to complete the system image backup process. This is how you can create a system image backup file on a Windows 11 computer.

Restore Windows 11 with System Image Backup?

Now that you already have the System Image Backup, you can use it whenever needed.

• Click on the Windows Start button and select Settings.
• In Settings, navigate to Update & Security > Recovery.
• On the Recovery options, click the Restart Now button beside Advanced Startup.
• In the Choose an option window, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Image Recovery.
• Now select See More Recovery options and then select System Image Recovery.
• At this point, Windows should detect the system image backup file. If it doesn’t, click Select a system image and select the image.
• Click the Next button and follow the on-screen instructions.

These are the steps to restore Windows 11 to its previous state. The system Image backup option works best when your PC doesn’t boot.

Using Windows File History to Back Up Windows 11 Data

Windows File History is another backup & restore option on Windows 11. It’s not a backup & restore tool and can’t back up entire drives. It takes a snapshot of only essential folders such as Documents, Videos, Pictures, or offline OneDrive files.

So, if you want a basic backup and restore option that works only with certain files and folders, File History might be your best pick. We have shared a detailed guide on how to use Windows File History to back up your Windows 11 Data.

Make sure to go through that guide and configure the File History. During the configuration, you can select the folders or files you want the File History to back up.

This is a detailed guide on how to create a recovery drive USB. We have also discussed other recovery options available on Windows 11. Use these tools, create a backup plan, and use it when needed.

The post How to Create Recovery Drive on Windows 11 appeared first on TechViral.

1. Open the Control Panel app.

2. Switch to the Category View. Click System and Security.

3. Scroll down and click on BitLocker Drive Encryption.

4. Scroll down and find the drive where BitLocker encryption is turned on.

5. Click the Turn Off BitLocker link next to the encrypted drive. The encrypted drive could be your operating system, fixed data, or removable drive.

6. Click the Turn Off BitLocker button again.

Disable BitLocker Encryption using PowerShell

The Windows PowerShell utility can also turn off BitLocker Drive encryption on Windows 11.

1. Type PowerShell in the Windows Search. Right-click on the PowerShell app and select Run as administrator.

2. Execute the given command:

Disable-Bitlocker –MountPoint "drive letter:"

Important: Replace the drive letter with the actual letter of your BitLocker-encrypted drive.

3. Wait until the BitLocker utility decrypts the drive. The process will take time.

4. You can type exit in PowerShell to close it. The drive will continue to decrypt in the background.

Other than BitLocker, you can also use other encryption software for Windows to encrypt your drive and keep your data secure. If you aren’t using BitLocker, follow our guide on using BitLocker on Windows 11.

The post How to Turn Off BitLocker Drive Encryption on Windows 11 appeared first on TechViral.

1. Restart your PC

There’s a chance you’re getting the error because of an operating system bug or glitch. You can eliminate any such bugs or glitches by restarting your PC.

Click on the Windows Start button and select the Power Menu. On the Power Menu, select Restart to restart your PC.

2. Reset the Recycle Bin

You can utilize the Command Prompt utility to reset the Recycle Bin on Windows.

1. Type Command Prompt in the Windows 11 search. Right-click on the CMD and select Run as administrator.

2. Execute the given command:

rd /s /q C:\$Recycle.bin

Important: You can replace the letter ‘C’ in the above command with the letter of the drive causing the error.

Please note that the above command will delete all files & folders present in the Recycle Bin; it won’t even ask you for confirmation.

3. Run the CHKDSK Command

If you still get the Recycle Bin Corrupted error on Windows, you should run the CHKDSK Command.

1. Type Command Prompt in the Windows 11 search. Right-click on the CMD and select Run as administrator.

2. Execute the given command:

chkdsk /r e:

The command will take time to complete. So, be patient and don’t close the Command Prompt until the scan is complete.

Once the scan is completed, restart your computer. This will fix the Recycle Bin corrupted error in Windows.

4. Run the SFC and DISM Commands

If you still get the Recycle Bin corrupted error message, it’s best to run the SFC and DISM Commands as well.

1. Type CMD in the Windows 11 Search. Right-click on the CMD and select Run as administrator.

2. Run the System File Checker tool with this command:

sfc /scannow

3. Once the scan is complete, or if it returns with an error, execute the DISM command:

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

After executing both commands, restart your Windows 11 PC. This should fix the Recycle Bin problems you’re facing.

5. Perform a System Restore

System Restore rolls back your PC to the date the restore point was created.

1. Open the Recovery app from the Windows Search.

2. Click Open System Restore.

3. Select Choose a different restore point.

4. Select the Restore point of a previous date and click Next.

5. Click Finish.

This will roll back your Windows PC to the date when the Recycle Bin was fully functional & without any errors.

6. Run a Full Antivirus Scan

If a virus & malware is the issue, you must perform a full antivirus scan.

1. Open the Windows Security app from the Windows Search.

2. Select Virus & Threat Protection.

3. Click Scan Options.

4. Select Full Scan and click Scan Now.

After the scan is complete, try accessing the Recycle Bin again.

These are a few simple & effective methods to fix the Recycle Bin Corrupted error on Windows 11 computers. Let us know if you need more help resolving Recycle Bin problems.

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1. Check whether Chrome is Automatically Refreshing a specific tab

The first thing is to confirm whether Chrome is refreshing only a specific tab or if all your open tabs are affected.

If any specific tab is refreshing automatically, the issue is likely not on your end. Webmasters often use plugins to refresh the pages at frequent intervals to serve new content.

You should check whether Chrome automatically refreshes only one specific app or all are affected. If all tabs are affected, follow the next methods.

2. Check whether the Refresh key is pressed

If the Refresh key (F5) is stuck, the webpages will refresh automatically. Try pressing the F5 key on your keyboard to ensure it’s not stuck. If the key is stuck, you can try cleaning it.

3. Check & Remove the Problematic Extensions

Auto-refresh, Ad-blocker, and security extensions can sometimes kill the unused tabs, forcing auto-refresh when you switch back to them.

Click on the three dots at the top-right corner and navigate to Extensions > Manage Extensions. On the Extensions page, turn off each extension one by one.

If the auto-refresh problem is resolved after turning off a specific extension, that extension is causing the problem. You need to remove it.

4. Turn Off Chrome’s Memory Saver

Google Chrome has a Memory Saver feature that freezes inactive tabs to free up system resources. You should turn off that feature as well.

1. Click the three dots at the top right corner.

2. Select Settings.

3. Switch to Performance.

4. Turn off the toggle beside Memory Saver.

5. Turn off Auto-Discard for Inactive tabs

If you don’t want to turn off the Memory Saver feature of Google Chrome, you should turn off auto-discarding from Chrome’s discard page.

1. Open the Google Chrome browser and visit this page: chrome://discards/

2. You will be able to see all tabs. Find the Auto Discardable tab; this is the one that auto-refreshes.

3. If there’s a check mark next to the page you don’t want Chrome to refresh, click Toggle.

6. Use Chrome’s Task Manager to Free up System Resources

A lack of system resources, such as RAM, can cause Chrome to behave abnormally. Chrome may be auto-refreshing the pages due to insufficient RAM. Using Chrome’s Task Manager can free up system resources. To access it, click on the three dots at the top-right corner and then navigate to More Tools > Task Manager.

When the Chrome Task Manager opens, check the Memory Footprint column. You will see which tabs use the most RAM; identify them and close them.

7. Update the Chrome Browser

An outdated version of the Chrome browser can have bugs & glitches that can trigger auto-refresh on web pages. The best way to rule out this possibility is to update Chrome to the latest version.

To update your Chrome browser, click on the three dots at the top right corner and then navigate to Help > About Google Chrome.

Chrome browser will automatically check for available updates and download & install the required files.

8. Reset Chrome Settings

If nothing worked until now, you can reset the Chrome settings to factory defaults. Resetting will remove all user-made settings and customizations, but also resolve persistent issues.

1. Click on the three dots at the top right corner.

2. Select Settings.

3. Switch to Reset Settings.

4. Click Restore Settings to their original defaults.

5. On the Reset Settings confirmation prompt, click Reset Settings.

These are a few simple ways to fix the Chrome automatically refreshing tabs problem. If you need more help on this topic, let us know in the comments.

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1. Change the Battery Settings

You need to turn off all battery optimization settings you’ve made. If your laptop is in power saver mode, you need to turn it off as well.

The power option mode of Windows 11 should also be set to Balanced for a better video playback experience.

2. Adjust the Video Playback Settings

The second thing you should do to enhance the video playback experience is to adjust the video playback settings.

1. Launch the Settings app on Windows 11 and switch to Apps.

2. Click Video Playback.

3. Disable the toggle next to ‘Save network bandwidth by playing video at a lower resolution’. But remember, turning off this option will lead to high bandwidth consumption.

3. Turn on Software Rendering

If you experience video lagging or stuttering on a web browser, you should turn on the Software Rendering feature.

1. Open the Control Panel and click Network and Sharing Center.

2. Click Internet Options.

3. Switch to the Advanced tab and turn on ‘Use software rendering instead of GPU rendering’.

4. Click Ok to save the changes.

4. Change the Graphics Settings for Apps

On Windows 11, you can manually change the Graphics settings for apps. For example, if you use the Movies & TV app to watch videos, here’s how to change its graphics settings.

1. Launch the Settings app and switch to System.

2. Click Display.

3. Scroll to the Related Settings section and click Graphics.

4. Pick the media player app you use. Click the GPU Preference drop-down and select High Performance.

Besides these settings, you should always update the graphics drivers to improve video playback. If you need more help on this topic, let us know in the comments.

The post How to Optimize Windows 11 for Smooth Video Playback appeared first on TechViral.

1. Switch Accounts from the Start Menu

1. Click the Windows 11 Start button to open the Start menu.

2. Click on the user profile at the bottom left of the Start menu.

3. You will now see the other user accounts. Click on the user account name to switch accounts.

2. Switch User Account from the Lock Screen

1. Press the Windows Key + L button on your keyboard. This will open your PC’s lock screen.

2. In the bottom-left corner of the lock screen, click on your user account.

3. You will see all available user accounts. Click on the user profile name to switch to it.

3. Switch User Account in Windows 11 via Keyboard Shortcut

1. Press the ALT Key + F4 key on your keyboard. This will open the Shutdown Windows prompt.

2. Click on the Drop-down menu and select Switch user.

3. Click on Ok.

4. You will see the lock screen. Here, you need to select your user profile.

4. Switch User Account in Windows 11 via CTRL+ALT+Delete key

1. Press the CTRL+ALT+Delete key on your keyboard.

2. Click on Switch user.

3. You will see the lock screen. Here, you need to select the user profile you want to use.

5. Switch User Accounts via Task Manager

1. Open Task Manager from the Windows Search.

2. Click on the hamburger menu and switch to Users.

3. You will find all active user accounts that have been signed in.

4. Right-click on the user account you want to switch to and select Switch user account.

6. Switch user accounts in Windows 11 via CMD

1. Open Command Prompt from the Windows Search.

2. Execute the command:

tsdiscon

3. Executing this command will take you to the Lock Screen. Then, select the user you want to switch to.

You can rely on these methods to switch users in your Windows 11 operating system. If you have any doubts, let us know in the comment box below.

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