YouTube is one of the best sites for video content. However, videos can sometimes end up freezing or pausing, and sometimes it’s hard to know why. There can also be the issue of videos playing for a short time without sound, no matter what you do to your volume settings. But how do you fix it? We’ve rounded up everything you need to know. You can also check out our guide on how to download YouTube videos....

On 30 January 2019 Xbox One owners are reporting seeing a black screen after their console boots up, and issues saving games. It follows an Xbox Live issue, and Microsoft says it is currently attempting to fix “Xbox One console startup, title update, and sign-in errors.” If this is what you’re seeing right now, there’s no need to panic: the problem is with the software and not your console. If you’re unable to start up the console try unplugging it from the internet (if you’re using an ethernet cable) to avoid connecting to Xbox Live....

Messenger, Facebook’s private-messaging app, makes it easy to stay in touch via texts, video chats, or group conversations. But if you want to log out when you’ve finished catching up, or have left your ID active on a device that you don’t have with you, then it can be a bit tricky to find where the relevant settings live. Facebook Messenger can also be a bit of a troublemaker, falsely claiming you are online when you are not....

Instagram can be great place, offering copious amounts of content and the chance for everyone to find their niche. However, the problem with it, as with similar sites, is that you probably don’t follow only the people you really want to. There are also family members and friends you feel obligated to have in your feed – and maybe an account or two that you know you shouldn’t look at but that you can’t bring yourself to unfollow....

How to play Oculus Rift games on HTC Vive: Why can’t I play Oculus Rift games on the HTC Vive? In the race to become the ultimate virtual reality headset, Oculus and HTC have kicked off a hardware (and software) showdown rivalled only by the PS4 and Xbox One, with each platform producing unique content and essentially fragmenting the market. While this is a fairly standard process for competing companies, there’s something we don’t quite understand: Oculus Rift users can easily access the HTC Vive software hub, SteamVR, and all its content but HTC Vive owners can’t access the Rift platform, Oculus Home....

Losing important text messages can be frustrating and stressful, especially if they contain crucial information or cherished memories. However, all is not lost. There are several methods for recovering deleted text messages. Whether you have one of the best Android phones or continue to nurture an old faithful, this guide will walk you through the steps and tools needed to potentially recover lost messages. Check your backup It’s always worth checking if your text messages were automatically backed up by your device....

Passwords protect every part of our digital lives, keeping our identity, card details and accounts safe. But it’s tough to choose and remember a different password for dozens of different websites and services. This is why most people use the same password – or several passwords – for everything. The problem with this approach is that if one of those websites, apps or services is hacked, your password could be leaked and give someone access to all the accounts that you use that password for....

Has there ever been a time where you wanted your PC to turn off after a set amount of time? Perhaps you want to leave it to download a large file overnight, or maybe you’d like to keep your device running while you’re out of the house for a few hours. That’s where scheduling your device to shutdown comes in. It’s not an official feature of Windows 10, but can easily be configured without downloading any additional software....

Google Home is so easy to use that it stands to be mis-used, especially by the younger and more vulnerable members of your family. Fortunately, Google’s Digital Wellbeing feature combines Downtime and Content Filters for Google Assistant. Integrated to the Google Home app, it can help you remember there’s a real world out there. Here’s how to set it up, and in doing so create basic parental control filters for family use....

The Recycle Bin has been around almost as long as Windows itself, offering an easy way to separate the files you want to keep from those you don’t. However, it’s not universally admired, primarily because it means you effectively have to delete files twice before they’re removed from your device. Many people will appreciate the safety net this offers, but if you’d rather files were deleted instantly, here’s how it’s done....

Although CyberGhost’s VPN servers use very fast fibre connections which are a lot faster than most home broadband or 4G services, the fact is that you inevitably lose a bit of speed compared to not using a VPN. But in most cases, that deficit isn’t noticeable and you should be able to browse websites, use social media, play online games and more with no issues. However, if your connection slows to a crawl when you hit that ‘Connect’ button, here are some of the things to check, test and change....

NASA’s International Space Station (ISS) has been orbiting the Earth for more than 21 years, and currently has three astronaughts on board. You can see it soar through the sky on a clear night from your own home using these handy tools. The ISS is actually really easy to spot when you know how, so many adults are surprised that they’ve never seen it before. It can be seen wherever you are in the world....

If you’re thinking of streaming a watch party yourself, then here’s everything you need to know. We also have guides to setting up your first stream , and information on how to download Twitch videos . How to start a Twitch Watch Party Once you’ve got that sorted – and all your software and hardware in place – here’s what you need to do: Sign into Twitch and head to your Stream Manager by clicking in the top right-hand corner on the web version of Twitch and clicking on ‘Creator Dashboard’ Add the Watch Party to your Quick Actions Click on ‘Watch Party’ Sign into your Amazon Prime account on the pop-up Authorise Twitch access to your Amazon Prime account Select the series or movie you want to watch Go live as you usually would, but disable all audio and video sources except your webcam and mic...

If you’re one of the many people working from home at the moment, the days can start to blend together. We know we’re lucky to be safe inside but it’s easy to get a bit of cabin fever and forget whether it’s Tuesday or Friday or really what days are and why they used to matter so much. It’s a good idea to have a longer-term project, with to-do lists you can check off....

The word “botnet,” a combination of “robot” and “network,” describes a network of internet-connected devices that are controlled by a single attacker and usually used to perform Denial of Service attacks, exfiltrate data or send spam. Botnets are the internet’s worst nightmare. They can be used to take down or disrupt some of the internet’s most sensitive infrastructures, such as DNS services. In 2016, one of the largest botnets, comprised of vulnerable IP cameras and home routers, was used to launch large denial of service attacks on DYN, a company responsible for providing DNS services to Fortune 500 companies....

Changing physical SIM cards on your phone is always a fiddly business. First, you have to root for the little SIM tray tool that Apple includes in the box with its new iPhones – except those in the US, where physical SIM cards are not an option anymore. Failing to find the elegant Apple pointy thing, you must locate a paper clip, straighten one end without breaking it, and use that to poke into the tiny hole in the SIM card tray so that it pops out of the phone....

Tracking people on WhatsApp… sounds a bit creepy, right? But it’s really not: the Live Location feature works only if the person you want to track gives their permission for you to see where they are. If you’re trying to keep tabs on a group of friends all en route for a meet-up, or you’re meeting someone in an unfamiliar place, it could come in rather handy. However, WhatsApp Live Location may not be the best tool for tracking your teenager who has been expressly told not to hang around the town centre....

The Quest 2 is one of the best-value VR headsets out there. It’s great used standalone, but you can also use it to play PC VR titles when you hook it up with a USB cable via Oculus Link. But, with the release of the latest Quest 2 software update, Oculus Link has gone wireless – in experimental mode, anyway. The new feature will allow you to play PC games on your Quest 2 with no wires at all, instead relying on your home Wi-Fi network to transfer data....

Sony’s PlayStation 5 is an incredible bit of kit, offering a high-end console experience complete with 4K gameplay, high-res textures and smooth framerates, but it’s the DualSense controller that steals the show, offering force feedback triggers and advanced haptic motors to provide more immersive gameplay. The humble iPhone and iPad have also seen an upgrade in the gaming department over the past few years, especially with the release of Apple Arcade and a plethora of mobile-friendly AAA games including PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile....

WhatsApp has introduced a new Disappearing Messages feature which deletes any messages you’ve shared with specific people or groups after a seven-day period. Your older conversations remain untouched, but once you enable the feature it will apply to any sent from that point. Here’s how to set up and use Disappearing Messages on WhatsApp. How does WhatsApp’s Disappearing Messages work? Once you’ve set up the feature and chosen the people to whom it will apply, any messages you exchange with that person or group will be automatically deleted by WhatsApp after seven days....