deactivation Archives

Winsage

January 9, 2026

Is turning off Windows Security a bad idea in 2026? A PC expert’s bottom line

Windows Security is a comprehensive security suite for Windows users that monitors downloads, blocks threats, and quarantines malware. Users may need to disable it temporarily to install third-party software or games that are mistakenly flagged as threats. Permanent deactivation is typically for advanced users who may replace it with another security suite, but it increases vulnerability to online threats. To temporarily disable Windows Security, users can toggle off Real-time protection in the Windows Security app. For permanent deactivation, Windows 11 Pro users can use the Local Group Policy Editor, while Home users must edit the Registry. Creating a restore point before making changes is recommended for safety. Disabling Windows Security, even temporarily, should be done with caution to avoid increased risk of infections.

AppWizard

December 16, 2025

Facebook’s Messenger desktop apps for Windows, Mac no longer available

The desktop version of the Messenger app developed by Meta has been discontinued for both Windows and Mac users. Meta notified users 60 days prior to the app's shutdown, encouraging them to uninstall it as it would no longer be usable. The app became unavailable as of a recent Monday, redirecting users attempting to download it to the Messenger or Facebook websites. Users can still access Messenger through web browsers and mobile devices. Conversations will remain intact if users enabled secure storage and set up a PIN before the app's deactivation, allowing them to log into the web version. Users without Facebook accounts can still access Messenger.com.

Winsage

September 14, 2025

Millennium edition of Windows is 25 years old

On September 14, 2000, Microsoft released Windows ME, the last version of Windows to rely on MS-DOS. It was intended as a successor to Windows 95, 98, and 98 SE, offering discounted updates and compatibility with existing software. Windows ME obscured DOS, making it less accessible for users, and eliminated the ability to create bootable DOS copies from formatted floppy disks. It inherited system file protection from Windows 2000 to prevent "DLL hell," where application software replaced system libraries, causing other programs to fail. Windows ME aimed to bridge the gap between Windows 98 and Windows XP, but users faced compatibility issues with programs not designed for the new version. The control panel adopted a web-like appearance, and documentation transitioned to HTML format. Windows ME had minimal system requirements of a 150 MHz Pentium and 32 MB of RAM, and performance tests showed negligible differences compared to Windows 2000. Windows XP was released a year later, marking the end of DOS's relevance in Microsoft's operating systems.

Winsage

September 3, 2025

How to Disable Copilot in Windows 11 (Step-by-Step Guide)

Microsoft's Copilot feature in Windows 11 is an AI-driven assistant designed to enhance productivity by allowing users to ask questions, request document summaries, generate text, and conduct web searches through Bing AI. Users can disable Copilot for various reasons, including privacy concerns, performance optimization, user preference for a traditional desktop experience, and compliance requirements in corporate settings. To disable Copilot, users can follow different methods based on their Windows version: 1. Remove Copilot from Taskbar: - Open Settings from the Start menu. - Navigate to Personalization > Taskbar. - Toggle off Copilot (preview). 2. Disable Copilot via Group Policy (Windows 11 Pro & Enterprise): - Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter. - Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Copilot. - Double-click on "Turn off Windows Copilot," select Enabled, and click Apply and OK. 3. Disable Copilot via Registry Editor (Windows 11 Home): - Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter. - Navigate to HKEYCURRENTUSERSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindowsWindowsCopilot. - Create the WindowsCopilot folder if absent, then create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named "TurnOffWindowsCopilot" and set its value data to 1. - Restart the computer. Users may face challenges such as Copilot reappearing after updates or the shortcut still functioning. IT administrators can enforce Group Policy changes across all systems to ensure Copilot remains disabled. Disabling Copilot does not affect access to AI capabilities in other applications like Bing AI in Microsoft Edge.

AppWizard

July 14, 2025

How to disable Gemini AI on Android and keep control of your apps

Google is integrating its AI, Gemini, with Android systems, allowing access to applications like WhatsApp, Messages, and Phone, starting July 7, 2025. This integration may override existing privacy settings unless users disable Gemini. Users can restrict Gemini's access to apps through the Google Gemini app settings or uninstall it. If Gemini is not pre-installed, it will not be automatically installed on devices. Disabling Gemini maintains previous privacy settings, but conversations may still be reviewed by human reviewers for AI training, with data retention lasting up to three years. Users are advised to avoid sharing sensitive information in Gemini chats.

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

Cities: Skylines 2’s latest patch has introduced quays and piers after seeing players using makeshift substitutes: ‘We know how challenging they can be to build’

The latest patch for Cities: Skylines 2 introduces actual quays and piers, allowing for easier shoreline construction. The new quays can detect changes in elevation and come in three sizes: narrow (for pedestrians only), medium, and wide (for both pedestrians and vehicles). The Bridges and Ports expansion has been delayed to address cargo transportation issues in the base game. The patch includes various fixes: trucks will no longer visit the Cargo Harbour after deactivation, the number of taxis and visitors at small parks has been reduced, cargo ships will no longer overlap at deactivated Cargo Harbours, cargo amounts in the Cargo Train Route Selected Info Panel have been corrected, and an issue with trucks not deducting the correct resources has been resolved.

AppWizard

June 11, 2025

Putin wants to replace WhatsApp in Russia with a ‘national messenger’ app

President Vladimir Putin has called for the deactivation of WhatsApp accounts among government officials in Russia and advocates for the development of a national messaging service, as WhatsApp is the last foreign messaging platform in the country. The Russian State Duma has adopted a federal law to establish this new service, which will include features for correspondence, telephone calls, and public and commercial services. The new messenger will be built on Russian-developed software and integrate with the government portal Gosuslugi for identity verification and document authentication. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized the need for the new platform to be of high quality and competitive with foreign counterparts, highlighting that multiple national messengers should emerge to foster innovation. Russia joins countries like China, Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea, which have their own messaging applications.

AppWizard

June 9, 2025

How to Turn Off Meta AI Features on Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp

Meta AI, integrated across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, does not provide a straightforward way to disable it entirely. Users can minimize its influence by following specific steps: - On Facebook, users can disable AI-generated comment summaries in the “audience and visibility” section of the “settings” tab. - In Messenger, users can mute Meta AI through the “information” tab by clicking the “i” button and selecting the mute option. - On Instagram, users can mute Meta AI by clicking the Meta AI logo, accessing its information page, and toggling the mute option. - In WhatsApp, users can mute notifications from Meta AI by selecting the AI icon and adjusting notification settings. European users have a form available on Facebook’s help page to object to their data being used for training purposes. In 2024, the European privacy group NOYB filed complaints against Meta AI in 11 countries regarding data usage. Although Meta paused its training plans for nearly a year, it resumed in April 2025, notifying EU users and providing an opt-out form. Meta AI utilizes user-generated content from its platforms for training, raising privacy concerns, especially for users outside the EU who cannot opt out of data collection.

Tech Optimizer

May 29, 2025

How to turn off antivirus

Antivirus software is crucial for digital security, providing protection against malware threats. Users may need to disable antivirus temporarily for reasons such as system resource consumption, particularly during resource-intensive tasks like gaming, or to bypass false positives when installing applications. Disabling antivirus software poses risks, especially when browsing the internet, as even legitimate sites can be compromised. Precautions to take when disabling antivirus include disconnecting from the internet, avoiding USB drives, using trusted networks, closing non-essential applications, verifying the legitimacy of downloaded files, and limiting browsing to secure websites. Users should promptly re-enable their antivirus after completing necessary tasks.

Winsage

May 23, 2025

Signal Will Black Out Windows Recall Screenshots to Preserve Privacy

Signal has introduced a "screen security" feature for its Windows 11 application to counter Microsoft's Windows Recall, an AI feature that captures screenshots of user activities. This new feature ensures that any attempts by Recall to take screenshots will result in a black screen. Signal's blog post notes that while the feature enhances privacy, it may cause compatibility issues with some accessibility tools, and users can disable it if necessary. The feature only protects the local machine and does not prevent other conversation participants from taking screenshots. Signal criticized Recall for lacking built-in privacy controls for app developers and emphasized the need for operating system developers to prioritize user privacy. The screen security feature is being rolled out and is enabled by default for Windows 11 users.