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Skype is a popular messaging app widely utilized on Windows 11/10 PCs. However, Skype connection issues prevent some users from utilizing that app. For example, some users see a connection error that says, “Sorry, we couldn’t connect to Skype.” The app opens ok but can’t establish a Skype connection even when there isn’t a general internet connectivity issue.

Consequently, users can’t make calls or chat with the Skype software for Windows. Does a similar Skype connection error arise when you try to utilize the app? This is how you can fix Skype connection errors on a Windows 11/10 PC.

1. Check the Skype Server Status

First, don’t rule out the possibility of a general Skype server issue. The Skype server could be down for various reasons. Sometimes, this can be due to maintenance.

To check, open this Skype server status page. If that page shows there’s a Skype server issue, then that could be the cause of your connection error. In which case, all you can do is wait until that page shows the Skype server status is ok.

2. Utilize the Windows Store App Troubleshooter

If you utilize the Skype MS Store app, the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter could be useful for troubleshooting its Skype connection issues. Windows Store Apps is a troubleshooting tool that can fix UWP app issues. Follow the instructions in this guide to running Windows troubleshooters to open the Windows Store Apps troubleshooting tool.

3. Delete the Skype App Data Folder

Corrupted Skype data can cause connection errors to arise. Users have confirmed that erasing a Skype data folder in the Roaming directory fixed their Skype connection issues. You can delete that folder as follows:

1. Make sure Skype isn’t running in the background.
2. Start Run (simultaneously press Windows key + R) and input %appdata% into the Open box.
3. Click on Run’s OK button to open a Roaming folder in File Explorer.
4. Right-click the Skype data folder and select Delete to erase it.
5. Exit the Explorer window and restart Windows.

4. Deselect the Proxy Server Setting

Is a proxy server enabled on your PC? If so, Skype might not be able to connect correctly because of that. Try turning off the proxy settings via the Internet Properties window. You can do that as instructed in this article about turning off proxy settings on Windows 11.

5. Select All "Use TLS" Settings

Users confirm selecting all the "Use TLS" settings in Internet Options can fix Skype connection errors. TLS stands for Transport Layer Security, which is a communications security protocol Skype uses for message encryption.

This is how you select all the "Use TLS" settings:

1. Press the Windows logo and S keyboard keys to access the file search tool.
2. Enter Internet Options inside the file search box.
3. Click Internet Options to bring up a properties window.
4. Select Advanced on the tab bar.
5. Scroll down to the Use TLS security settings.
6. Select all the Use TLS checkboxes.
7. Also, select the Use SSL checkboxes.
8. Click Apply to set the new internet settings.

6. Disable All Active Firewalls

A firewall is a network security tool for filtering incoming and outgoing web traffic. Windows has a firewall that could be blocking your Skype app connection. If you’ve installed a third-party firewall, then that can cause the issue much the same.

So, try temporarily turning off firewalls on your Windows PC. You can do so as instructed within this how to turn off the Microsoft Defender Firewall guide. If you also have a third-party security app installed, disable its firewall via the software’s settings. Then utilize Skype to see if the connection error remains.

If that works, Skype probably isn’t allowed through your firewall. Check the allowed app list for your firewall and permit Skype to communicate through it. This article about allowing apps through the Windows firewall provides details for how you can set allowed apps for Microsoft Defender Firewall. Turn the firewall back on when Skype is allowed through it.

7. Update the Driver for Your PC’s Network Adapter

If your network adapter’s driver is an old one, you might need to update it to resolve your Skype connection error. The easiest way to do that is to scan your PC with a driver updater tool and install a new driver for your PC’s network adapter with the software.

Try updating your network adapter’s driver with one of the best free driver updaters for Windows, such as Driver Booster or Driver Easy.

8. Turn Off Any Active VPN Connections

If you have a VPN connection, disconnect from it. Then try utilizing Skype with your standard internet connection. You can turn off the VPN via Settings as follows:

1. Press the Windows key + I and click Network and Internet inside the Settings app that opens.
2. Click VPN to bring up virtual private network settings.
3. Press the Disconnect button for your listed VPN.

9. Perform a Network Reset

Even if your internet connection is fine, Skype connection errors are still network-related issues. So, refreshing network settings might work if other potential solutions fail. Resetting your network will restore network components back to their original settings. So, try performing a network reset as covered in this article about how to reset network settings.

You’ll need to reconnect your PC to the internet after applying this potential resolution. So, make sure you have your network password and username details at hand for reconnecting.

10. Reinstall the Skype Software

Reinstall your Skype software if you can’t fix its connection error with other potential troubleshooting methods. Doing so will at least ensure you’re utilizing the latest Skype version. You can uninstall both the desktop and UWP Skype app via Settings as outlined in this article about removing Windows software.

You can download and install either the Skype desktop or the UWP app. Open this Download Skype page, click the down arrow on the Get Skype button, and select Get Skype for Windows to obtain the setup file for the desktop software. Then you can reinstall the software by double-clicking the Skype installer file in whatever folder includes it.

If you prefer the UWP app, bring up the Skype page on the Microsoft Store. Click Skype’s Get in Store option and select to open Microsoft Store. Select Install to download and add Skype to your PC.

Get Talking With Skype Again on Windows

Those potential solutions will resolve most Skype connection issues. Many users confirm they’ve fixed Skype connection errors by applying them. So, give them a try whenever your Skype app can’t establish a connection for chatting or calling.

Original Article

Windows 10’s Clipboard experience lets you access a history of items you’ve copied, pin frequently used items, and sync items across all devices. However, if you don’t want Microsoft to sync any sensitive data to the cloud, you can disable it completely.

By default, Clipboard sync is turned off. If it’s already on, you can toggle clipboard features in Settings > System > Clipboard. But when you enable the sync feature, it automatically syncs all text that you copy.

To prevent any user on the computer from enabling this and accidentally syncing potentially sensitive data such as passwords to Microsoft’s servers, you can disable this feature altogether.

Home Users: Disable Clipboard Sync via the Registry Editor

If you have Windows 10 Home, you’ll have to edit the Windows Registry to make these changes. You can also do it this way if you have Windows 10 Professional or Enterprise if you feel more comfortable working in the Registry as opposed to Group Policy Editor. (If you have Pro or Enterprise, though, we recommend using the easier Group Policy Editor, as described in the next section.)

Standard warning: Registry Editor is a powerful tool and misusing it can render your system unstable or even inoperable. This is a pretty simple hack, and as long as you stick to the instructions, you shouldn’t have any problems. That said, if you’ve never worked with it before, consider reading about how to use the Registry Editor before you get started. And definitely back up the Registry (and your computer!) before making changes.

You should also make a System Restore point before continuing. Windows will probably do this automatically when you install the Anniversary Update, but it couldn’t hurt to make one manually—that way, if something goes wrong, you can always roll back.

Then, open the Registry Editor by pressing Windows+R on your keyboard, typing “regedit” into the box, and then hitting the Enter key.

Navigate to the following key in the left sidebar:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsSystem

Once here, right-click on the “System” key (folder) in the left pane and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.

Name the value “AllowCrossDeviceClipboard.” Double-click it and set the value to “0.”

You can now close the registry editor. You don’t have to sign out or restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

To re-enable cross-device synchronization for Clipboard, you can return here, locate the “AllowCrossDeviceClipboard” value, and set it back to “1” or delete it completely.

Download Our One-Click Registry Hack

Rather than editing the registry yourself, you can download our Disable Clipboard Sync across Devices Registry Hack. Just open the downloaded .zip file, double-click the “DisableClipboardSyncAcrossDevices.reg” file, and agree to add the information to your registry. We’ve also included an “EnableClipboardSyncAcrossDevices.reg” if you’d like to re-enable it again.

These .reg files change the same registry settings we outlined above. If you’d like to see what this or any other .reg file will do before you run it, you can right-click the .reg file and select “Edit” to open it in Notepad. You can easily make your own Registry hacks.

Pro and Enterprise Users: Disable Clipboard Sync via Group Policy

If you’re using Windows 10 Professional or Enterprise, the easiest way to disable Clipboard sync across devices is by using the Local Group Policy Editor. It’s a pretty powerful tool, so if you’ve never used it before, it’s worth taking some time to learn what it can do.

Also, if you’re on a company network, do everyone a favor and check with your admin first. If your work computer is part of a domain, it’s also likely it’s part of a domain group policy that will supersede the local group policy, anyway.

You should also make a System Restore point before continuing. Windows will probably do this automatically when you install the Anniversary Update. Still, it couldn’t hurt to make one manually—that way, if something goes wrong, you can always roll back.

First, launch the group policy editor by pressing Windows+R, typing “gpedit.msc” into the box, and then pressing the Enter key.

Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > OS Policies.

Locate the “Allow Clipboard Synchronization across Devices” setting and double-click on it.

Set the “Allow Synchronization across Devices” option to “Disabled” and then click the “OK” button to save your changes.

The policy change takes effect immediately. You can now close the Group Policy Editor without needing to restart your device before the setting is disabled.

To re-enable Clipboard synchronization across devices, return here, double-click the “Allow Clipboard Synchronization across Devices” setting, and then change it to “Not Configured” or “Enabled.”

Original Article

In Google Docs, you can create and customize multilevel lists in your document with ease. You can format your lists with bullets, numbers, or even alphabetized them. Let’s take a look at the process.

How to Create a Multilevel List

Fire up a browser, head to your Google Docs homepage, and open a new document.

It’s effortless to create a multilevel list in Google Docs. All you have to do is type on a line to begin your list, press Enter after the first item to start a new line, type the next item on your list, and so on. When you’ve typed all the items on your list, highlight all the lines.

Next, click Format > Bullets & Numbering > Numbered List, and then choose a formatting style from the list.

For this guide, we’ll use a numbered list. If you prefer a “Bulleted List,” choose that instead.

Your list is formatted in the style you chose.

While this is a single-level list, the process to create a multilevel list in Docs isn’t much different. When you start to demote and promote items, that’s when it becomes a true multilevel list.

Demote and Promote Lines in Your Multilevel List

Demoting a line indents an item to a lower list level under the previous item, and promoting an item does the opposite.

To demote an item, place your cursor at the beginning of the line.

Next, press Tab to send the item to the lower list level.

If you want to demote an item more than once down a line, continue to press Tab. You can demote an item up to eight times. In our example, we demoted the third line in our list twice.

Repeat the steps until you’re satisfied with your multilevel list.

If you want to promote a line (move it up one level), you can use a keyboard shortcut. Place the cursor at the beginning of the line, and then press Shift+Tab.

You can use this method on multiple lines simultaneously. First, highlight the lines in the list you want to promote.

Next, hit Tab or Shift+Tab to demote or promote the list items.

How to Change the Format of a Multilevel List

If you want to change the basic format of your multilevel list, it’s simple! If you initially chose a numbered list, but decide you want a bulleted list, it’s no problem! It only takes a few seconds to change from one format to another.

Place the cursor anywhere in the list, click the Bulleted list (or Numbered list) icon, and then choose a style from the drop-down menu.

Just like that, the whole list changes to the new style you selected.

How to Customize a Multilevel List

While the level of customization in Google Docs pales in comparison to Microsoft Word, you can use colors and unique bullets to personalize your multilevel lists.

If you want to add some color, highlight a line in your multilevel list.

Next, click the Text Color icon in the toolbar and choose a color from the palette.

Repeat this step for each line you want to make more vibrant.

You can also customize every bullet in your list with a symbol, special character, emoji, or anything else available in the Google Docs special character list.

RELATED: How to Insert Symbols into Google Docs and Slides

To do so, double-click the bullet or number you want to change, and then right-click it to open the context menu. You can choose from a few options in the context menu or click “More Bullets” to see the full list of special characters.

Click the second drop-down menu to choose a category. There are a lot, so be prepared to spend some time browsing.

Click the third drop-down menu to refine the characters even further.

Once you’ve chosen the categories, click the character you want to designate it as the new bullet.

An alarm clock is a ridiculous choice for a bullet, but you can choose anything you want.

Repeat this process for each bullet you want to replace until you’re satisfied with your multilevel list.

These custom bullets act as the new style for your list. Anytime you promote or demote an item, it will do so with the current level’s bullet (provided you’ve chosen one for that level).

That’s all there is to it!

Original Article