How to Fix Tcpip.sys Blue Screen Error in Windows 10

Living in today's world sadly is still living in the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been more than a year and sadly pandemic is still very strong and we are battling it on a daily basis. Governments all over the world are trying to battle pandemics in their own way with their own ideas and prevention measures. We as individuals can not very much influence how will the pandemic itself go but fortunately in this modern age of information we can at least follow and be in the loop at the current state of the situation regarding it. Today instead of having a troubleshooting article or tips and trick for your PC we are doing something else but in the domain of internet technology, you know, just to keep everything still IT related ???? Below you will find websites with small descriptions of what they do to keep yourself informed and hope to get over this dreadful pandemic.

1. The WHO’s COVID-19 Dashboard

   If you are interested in real-time COVID-19 information about active cases, death tool so far, new cases and the number of vaccines administrated so far I would recommend WHO's dashboard. How WHO is a non-government institution composed of doctors from all over the world with just a single goal in mind, to help and put an end to this pandemic is a great non-biased source of information on the current state of virus spread.

2. Vaccine Finder

   Please be aware that Vaccinefinder is working only on the territory of the United States of America. The reason why it was included in this list is that basically it is a great idea and I hope to see this site expand on other world regions or at least that inspires the emergence of another worldwide website with this type of content. If you live in the USA, this site will be a great help since you can track where and how many shots are distributed to states and even towns in America.

3. COVID tracking project

   This site is also for U.S. residents, this time it is about tracking cases in each state with details and statistics. If you are interested in more detailed statistics of hospitalized patients per state or overall you are just interested in statistics about the pandemic in the U.S. this site might provide all the information about your needs.

4. NPR

   On national public radio or NPR for short, there is a special section devoted to the coronavirus where new articles about pandemic are released daily with new information and new findings on how to battle it and the current state of things. A great informational site to keep up with the current state of things.

5. Google's COVID-19 page

   Google has not been inactive during this pandemic and on its page specially dedicated to the COVID-19 virus you can find a lot of free information updated daily. From safety and prevention tips to data about pandemics there is a lot of ground covered on-page and we recommend at least going through the prevention section to inform yourself how to keep yourself and others safe.

6. Coronavirus tracker

   This daily updated chart can show how many cases and deaths are from chosen time period all in form of a chart, you can see charts for each country in the world how COVID cases rose or dropped along with the death tool it brought.

There you go, 6 websites to track and inform yourself about this dreaded pandemic which has managed to change the world and people's lives forever, sadly on the bad side.

As you know, the CHKDSK utility is proven to be one of the useful tools to fix any issues that concerns file system, storage, and disk. However, as useful as it may be, it is still not immune to issues as you could encounter errors when running it. One of these errors is the “One such error is the CHKDSK cannot continue in read-only mode” error. If you receive such an error message while running CHKDSK, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will help you sort the problem out. It is possible that the drive is read-only or that the Write Protection is enabled. It could also be that the drive is already being used and scanned by a different program or utility. To get rid of this error, there are a couple of suggestions you need to check out. You can try to run the CHKDSK utility from Recovery or run it on Boot. You could also try to disable Write Protection. For more detailed steps, follow the given instructions below.

Option 1 – Try to run the CHKDSK utility from Recovery

The first thing you can do to resolve the error in CHKDSK is to run the CHKDSK utility from Recovery. How? Follow these steps:

• First, boot into the installation environment for Windows 10 from a Windows installation media.
• Next, click on the “Repair your computer” option.
• After that, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
• After opening Command Prompt, type this command and tap Enter: chkdsk <Partition Letter>: /r /f
• Wait until the disk error checking process is completed.
• Once it’s done, exit the Command Prompt window and restart your computer and then see if the error is fixed.

Option 2 – Try running the CHKDSK utility on Boot

On the other hand, you can also try to run the CHKDSK utility on Boot so you can fix the error and recover any damaged segments of the drive.

• Open an elevated Command Prompt and enter this command: chkdsk /r
• After that, you will a message that says, “Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)”
• Type Y and tap Enter to schedule a CHKDSK scan once your computer reboots next time.

Option 3 – Try to remove the Write Protection from the drive

As mentioned, removing the Write-Protection on the concerned drive could also help you fix the problem and there are two ways to get rid of the write protection – you can either use the Diskpart utility or the Registry Editor. How? Refer to the following steps.

Via Diskpart utility:

• Open Command Prompt with admin privileges and then type the “diskpart” command and tap Enter to execute it.
• Next, type “list disk” and tap Enter to get the list of all the Disk connects or all the partitions that are formed on those disks.
• After that, you need to choose one command depending on the list of commands you entered. Type “select disk #” and tap Enter to select the disk or partition you want to select.
• Then type “attribute disk clear readonly” and tap Enter to Disable the Write Protection on the selected disk or partition.

Via Registry Editor:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run utility and type “Regedit” in the field and then tap Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Next, navigate to the following registry key:

ComputerHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlStorageDevicePolicies

• After that, look for the DWORD named “WriteProtect” and double click on it, and then set its Value Data to “0”.
• Now restart your computer and see if the problem is now fixed or not.

Installing or updating Google Chrome does not always go smoothly as there are times when it also encounters some errors like the error code 0x80072EE7. This kind of error in Chrome is most likely caused by the Windows Firewall or third-party Firewall (if you’re using one) that blocks the installation or update process. Aside from this known culprit, there are also other factors to consider such as corrupted or incompatible installation files or it could also be caused by some issue with your internet connection. If you face this kind of problem when installing or updating Chrome, you will see the following error message on your screen:

“An error occurred while checking for updates: Unable to connect to the Internet. If you use a firewall, please whitelist GoogleUpdate.exe. (error code 7: 0x80072EE7 — system level).”

Whatever the cause of this error is, you need to use the options prepared below to fix it.

Option 1 – Whitelist the “googleupdate.exe” in Firewall

If the issue is really caused by the Firewall, you need to whitelist the googleupdate.exe program to fix the error. To do that, follow these steps:

• Tap the Win + E keys to open the File Explorer.
• Next, copy and paste the following location in the address bar and tap Enter to go there.

Control Panel/All Control Panel Items/Windows Defender Firewall/Allowed apps

• After that, click on the Change Settings button, and from the given list, look for Google Chrome.
• Now check both Private and Public connections for it and then click on OK and see if it fixes the error or not.

Option 2 – Disable the proxy server for LAN

If the problem has something to do with your internet connection, then you can try disabling the proxy server for LAN and see if that helps.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “inetcpl.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to pull up the Internet Properties.
• After that, go to the Connections tab and select the LAN settings.
• From there. Uncheck the “Use a Proxy Server” option for your LAN and then make sure that the “Automatically detect settings” option is checked.
• Now click the OK and the Apply buttons.
• Restart your PC.

Note: If you are using a third-party proxy service, you have to disable it.

Option 3 – Check your VPN

If you are using a VPN application, then this option should apply to you, if not, skip this option and proceed to the next one. There are times when VPN software causes some issues like this error. If that’s the case, you can try to disable your VPN temporarily and see if the error is resolved or not and if turns out that your VPN is the culprit, you have to uninstall it and install a new one or its latest version. To uninstall it, follow the steps below.

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box
• Then type “appwiz.cpl” in the field and hit Enter to open the Programs and Features in Control Panel.
• From there, look for the VPN service you are using, select it and then click on Uninstall to remove it.
• After that, restart your computer and try to install the latest version of the program again. It should work now. If not, proceed to the next available option below.

Option 4 – Try to run the Chrome Cleanup tool

You might want to run Google Chrome’s built-in Malware Scanner & Cleanup tool as it could also help in getting rid of any unwanted ads, pop-ups, and even malware, as well as unusual startup pages, toolbars, and anything else that might overtake the network and could affect the performance of the browser.

Option 5 – Reset Google Chrome

Before you proceed, make sure that the Chrome browser is not running anywhere in the background via Task Manager. Once you’ve made sure that it’s no longer running, refer to these steps:

• Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
• Then type “%USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalGoogleChromeUser Data” in the field and tap Enter to open this location.
• From there, look for the Default folder and then tap the Shift + Delete button and if a confirmation prompt appears, click on Yes.
• After deleting the Default folder, open Google Chrome and click on the three vertical dots icon located in the top-right corner to open the menu.
• Next, click on Settings and scroll down and then click on Advanced to open the Advanced Settings.
• Then scroll down until you see the “Reset and clean up” section and click the “Restore Settings to their original defaults” option.
• After that, you will see a confirmation box and from there, click on the Reset settings button to reset your Google Chrome browser.

There are some new generation motherboards for laptops and PCs that bring in support for both the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface or UEFI as well as the Basic Input Output System or BIOS. The main advantage of UEFI over the traditional BIOS is the fact that UEFI supports a hard drive that has a capacity of more than 2 terabytes. However, the disadvantage of UEFI is that it only supports the x64 Windows operating system versions and that the hard drive is supposed to use the GPT structure. So if your PC is compatible with and supports UEFI and you want to change from Legacy to UEFI, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you on how you can exactly do that without having to reinstall it. There are two ways to change Legacy to UEFI. You can convert MBR to GPT using either the built-in utilities in Windows or using the Recovery Environment. Before you proceed, make sure that your computer fulfills the following prerequisites:

• Your PC’s motherboard should support both Legacy and UEFI.
• Your PC should be running at least the 1703 Windows 10 version or newer on an MBR partition.

Once you’ve made sure that your computer covers the aforementioned prerequisites, refer to the given options below.

Option 1 – Convert MBR to GPT via Windows built-in utilities

• In the Windows Search box, type “command prompt” and from the search results that appear, right-click on Command Prompt and select the “Run as administrator” option.
• After that, execute this command: exe /convert /allowfullOS
• Now, wait until the process is completed since you can track its process on your screen.
• Once it’s done, go to Settings > Update & Security > Advanced Startup options and from there, click on Restart Now. This will restart your computer and give you advanced options.
• Next, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options where you will see further options including System Restore, Startup Repair, Go back to the previous version, Command Prompt, System Image Recovery, and UEFI Firmware Settings.
• Now select the UEFI Firmware Settings. This will take you to the BIOS. Boot Mode is typically available under Boot > Boot Configuration. Once you’re there, set it to UEFI and then save the changes you’ve made. After that, your computer will restart.

Option 2 – Convert MBR to GPT via the Recovery Environment

• When the message appears on your screen while running Windows Setup, you need to tap the Shift + F10 keys to open Command Prompt.
• Make sure to run Command Prompt as admin and then execute this command: exe /convert
• After that, wait until the process is completed. When it’s done, you have to go to the BIOS just like in the first given option above.
• As mentioned, you can usually find the Boot Mode under Boot > Boot Configuration. Once you’re there, set it to UEFI.
• Now save the changes made and exit as your computer will restart.

Error 101 - What is it?

Error 101 is a Google Chrome error. You may experience this error if you browse the internet using Google Chrome. This error results when the existing HTTP connection between Chrome and the website is broken. The error is displayed in the following format: “Error 101 (net::ERR_CONNECTION_RESET): The connection was reset.”

Solution

Error Causes

The cause of Google Chrome error 101 cannot be narrowed down. This error can be triggered on your PC due to multiple reasons. These include:

• The inability of the Google Chrome installer to create a temporary directory on your PC during the installation process
• Enabled DNS Prefetching
• Firewall
• Viral Infection
• Bad Registry Entries
• Poor Internet Connection

Though this error code is not fatal, nonetheless it is advisable to fix it to ensure you are able to browse the internet using Google Chrome.

Further Information and Manual Repair

The good news is that this error is quite easy to resolve. Even if you are not a technical whiz you can still manage to fix it by trying these easy and effective DIY methods we have listed below:

Method 1: Reload the Website link on Chrome or Check Your Internet Connection

Sometimes refreshing the webpage can resolve the issue easily. Try doing it. Reload the link by pressing Ctrl +R. This will refresh the webpage. If it starts working then that’s great but if it doesn’t then it is advisable to check your internet connection. Disable and Enable the connection and then try browsing on Chrome again. If websites are accessible then the problem is resolved. If the error persists then try other methods.

Method 2: Disable DNS Pre-fetching

Sometimes this error may occur due to enabled DNS pre-fetching. To resolve the issue, open Chrome, then click on the wrench key. Go to setting and under the bonnet and Privacy section, look for the DNS perfecting option. If it is enabled, then uncheck it to disable DNS Pre-fetching. Save the changes and then close the browser. Now open it again and try browsing on Chrome. If error 101 does not appear and you are able to access websites then the issue is fixed.

Method 3: Scan for Viruses

Another way to fix this is to download and run a powerful antivirus. Scan and remove viruses to fix the problem.

Method 4: Check the permission for your temporary folder

As mentioned above, another underlying reason for error 101 can be Google Chrome installer was unable to create a temporary directory on your system during the installation process. To resolve it, check the permission for your temporary folder. Here’s how to do it: First go to the start menu and type Run. Now enter one of the following directories in the text fields 1. Windows XP: %USERPROFILE%Local Settings 2. Windows Vista: %USERPROFILE%AppDataLocal After that press OK. This will open a new window. In the Window that opens, right-click the temp folder. Now select properties and press the security tab to continue. In the group and user names section, select your user profile name. In the permissions, section verify that the checkboxes for READ, WRITE, and READ  & EXECUTE permissions in the DENY column are not selected. After you have verified, click apply and then ok. Now try reinstalling the Google Chrome browser again on your system.

Method 5: Remove Bad Entries by Cleaning the Registry

Bad entries and cookies saved in the registry can also lead to error 101. You can remove them manually but that will take a great deal of time and can be slightly difficult if you are not technically sound. Therefore, it is advisable to download Restoro. This is a user-friendly PC Fixer integrated with a registry cleaner that scans and removes all registry issues in a few clicks. It removes all the bad entries and junk files cluttering the registry and repairs it instantly. Click here to download Restoro.

If you encountered an error message saying, “We couldn’t find any drives, To get a storage driver, click Load driver” when you try to install Windows in a VirtualBox machine, then you’ve come to the right place as this post will guide you in fixing this error. This error message is displayed on the screen where you have to choose a partition to install the guest operating system. This error is most likely due to the lack of correct settings as well as a corrupted virtual disk. To fix this error, you have to remove existing storage devices, create a new storage device and select the correct ISO file.

For complete instructions, follow the given steps below.

Step_1: The first thing you have to do is remove all the existing Storage devices and since this option is already available in VirtualBox by default, there is no need for you to install any third-party software. Step_2: After that, open VirtualBox and select the virtual machine and then click the Settings button. Step_3: Next, switch to the Storage section and on your right-hand side, you will see “Controller: SATA” and two other sub-labels. From there, select Controller: SATA and then click on the red cross button that says, “Remove selected storage controller”. Step_4: Now click on the Add new storage controller icon and select the “Add SATA Controller” option from the given list. Step_5: Afterwards, click the “Add hard disk” button and select the “Create new disk” option, and then you have to create a new virtual disk for your virtual machine. Step_6: Verify if you have selected Dynamically allocated while you create the virtual hard disk. Once the process is completed, you will get a “.vdi” file in the list. Step_7: Next, click on the “Add optical drive” button and select the “Choose disk” option. Here, you have to select the ISO file and if you can find an ISO file in the given list, select it from there, else, you have to click the Add button and navigate to the folder where the ISO file is located. Step_8: Once you’re done, click the OK button and boot your virtual machine. You should see options instead of the “We couldn’t find any drives, To get a storage driver, click Load driver” error message. If you see the options, you can now create a new partition and start the installation process of the Windows operating system in the VirtualBox machine without any problem.

One of the useful features that came with Windows 10 is the Mobile Hotspot although there’s a downside to it – it drains your battery faster especially if your Windows 10 device is running on battery. Another one of its flaws in the implementation of this feature is that it stays activated even when the connection is idle. In other words, it is still activated even if no devices are connected to it. As a result, it consumes battery life and affects it. There are also instances when it affects the performance of the network connection. At the time of writing, Microsoft hasn’t done anything about this dilemma yet so in the meantime, you can continue reading this post to resolve this issue on your Windows 10 device. You can remedy this Mobile Hotspot issue by running a command in Windows PowerShell. To get started, follow the given instructions below.

Turn off Mobile Hotspot Automatically:

Step 1: The first thing you have to do is to copy the following command:

powershell -windowstyle hidden -command "Start-Process cmd -ArgumentList '/s,/c,net stop "icssvc" & REG ADD "HKLMSYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesicssvcSettings" /V PeerlessTimeoutEnabled /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F & net start "icssvc"' -Verb runAs"

Step 2: After copying the command given above, open the Notepad app and paste the command you copied there and save it. And when saving it, select the “Save as” option and its File type as “All files”. Step 3: After that, put “TurnOnTimer.bat” as the file’s name and save it on your Desktop. Step 4: Once done, run the file you just created, and when a User Account Control or UAC prompt appears, just click on Yes. Step 5: After you run the file, it will run a series of scripts in a command line which will turn off the Mobile Hotspot automatically when idle. And that’s how you automatically turn off the Mobile Hotspot when your Windows 10 device is idle. On the other hand, if you want to undo the changes made, you can always do so using the steps provided below.

Turn on Mobile Hotspot:

Step 1: Copy and paste the following command in the Notepad app:

powershell -windowstyle hidden -command "Start-Process cmd -ArgumentList '/s,/c,net stop "icssvc" & REG ADD "HKLMSYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesicssvcSettings" /V PeerlessTimeoutEnabled /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F & net start "icssvc"' -Verb runAs"

Step 2: After copying and pasting the command, save it as “TurnOffTimer.bat” on the Desktop. Step 3: Once done, run the file like what you did earlier and select Yes when a UAC prompt pops up. This will run a series of scripts on a command line which will revert the changes back to their default state.

Code 18 - What is it?

Code 18 is a typical Device Manager error code that occurs when the device driver is damaged. Device Manager is an important tool that allows Windows PC users to have an overall look at the connected hardware.

Furthermore, it also allows diagnostic testing. It is vital too and errors associated with the Device Manager such as error code 18 should and must be resolved quickly.

Error code 18 is usually presented in the following formats:

“The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 18)” Or “Reinstall the drivers for this device.”

Solution

Error Causes

Error code 18 may be triggered due to several reasons such as:

• Outdated drivers
• Corrupted drivers
• Improperly configured drivers

Error code 18 may cause a great deal of inconvenience. It may hamper your ability to use certain devices on your PC.

For example, if code 18 pops up due to a corrupted or improperly configured keyboard driver, then it may hamper your ability to use your keyboard and work on your PC.

Further Information and Manual Repair

The good news is that Device Manager error codes like error code 18 are easy to resolve. Below are some of the easiest and effective methods to repair error code 18 on your PC. Try one of these methods to repair error code 18 in no time:

Method 1 - Uninstall and Reinstall Device Drivers

One of the easiest ways to repair error code 18 and to ensure that this error doesn’t pop up on your PC again is to uninstall the problematic driver. For this, simply:

• Go to the start menu
• Type Device Manager and press enter
• Now click on the device whose driver you want to uninstall.
• Press right-click and then click on uninstall. Windows will prompt you to confirm the removal of the driver.
• Click OK to confirm and then reboot your PC to activate changes.
• Now scan for new hardware and follow the same process to reinstall the uninstalled device driver.

Method 2 - Update Drivers Automatically

Finding problematic drivers and then updating them individually can be frustrating and a time-consuming process. It can take a lot of time to perform updates and resolve the error code on your PC.

If you have projects to work on with pressing deadlines, then updating drivers on your PC separately can cause you a great deal of inconvenience and waste your precious time.

However, to avoid this situation, we advise you to set your drivers to update automatically. Automatic update installation requires only a few seconds.

And to update drivers automatically, it is recommended you download DriverFIX.

As the name suggests, this software is designed to assist programmers to upgrade device drivers automatically. In just a few clicks, you can update all your outdated drivers and repair error code 18.

DriverFIX is easy to use and an advanced program that is smoothly integrated with an intelligent programming system. This system identifies and detects all the problematic drivers on your PC and then updates each driver automatically to their latest versions.

It continues to update drivers regularly ensuring that you never come across device driver problems on your system.

Click here to download DriverFIX and repair error code 18 today!

If you have received a BSOD error message that says, “Tcpip.sys”, read on as this post will show you how you can fix the problem. The “Tcpip.sys” means Transmission Control Protocol over Internet Protocol. It is a library of a set of rules that are used to interconnect different devices all over the internet. The Tcpip.sys file is a driver and if a BSOD error message includes this one, it could only mean that the driver file is corrupted or incompatible with your system or there are some conflicting programs installed in your computer. To fix this error, you can try the following workarounds. Make sure to carefully follow each one of them.

Option 1 – Check for conflicting or incompatible programs by putting your PC in a Clean Boot state

As mentioned, the “tcpip.sys” BSOD error might be caused by some problematic programs that clash with your existing operating system. Several users reported that numerous programs that are supposedly designed to enhance computer performance are causing conflict in the system instead. To identify which program is causing the problem, you need to put your computer in a Clean Boot State. To do so, follow the steps below.

• Log onto your PC as an administrator.
• Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
• From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
• Clear the “Load Startup items” checkbox and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
• Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” checkbox.
• Click Disable all.
• Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)

After putting your PC in a Clean Boot State, try creating a system restore point and see if the problem still occurs. Clean Boot troubleshooting is designed to help you isolate the problem. For you to execute a clean boot troubleshooting, you must do a couple of actions (the steps are given above) and then restart your PC after every action. You might have to disable one third-party app after the other to really isolate the issue. And once you’ve narrowed down the problem, you can either disable the third-party app that’s causing the problem or remove it. Note that you must switch your PC back into the Normal Startup mode after you’re done troubleshooting the problem. Here’s how you can do it:

• From the “Start” menu, go to System Configuration.
• After that, switch to the General tab and click the option for “Normal Startup”.
• Next, go to the Services tab and clear the checkbox for “Hide all Microsoft services”.
• Then find and click “Enable all” and if prompted, you have to confirm.
• Afterward, go to the Task Manager and enable all the Startup programs and confirm the action.
• Restart your PC when prompted.

Option 2 – Disabling Antivirus Software

There are cases when the “tcpip.sys” BSOD error is caused by the antivirus program installed in your computer that’s blocking some essential operations. Because of this, the operating system fails which throws up the BSOD error. As you know, the antivirus program is designed to protect the computer and monitor every action in the system. However, there are instances when the antivirus program gives false positives and shuts down some modules even if it’s harmless. So this could be the case for the “tcpip.sys” error. To verify if the problem is indeed caused by the antivirus program in your computer, you need to temporarily disable it. After you’ve disabled it, restart your PC and then check if the problem’s fixed or not.

Option 3 – Try to update all your Drivers

From time to time, drivers get corrupted or outdated so it’s no surprise that they conflict with the operating system and cause errors like the “tcpip.sys” BSOD error. To fix the problem, you need to update all your drivers especially the network driver since the “tcpip.sys” error is closely related to this driver. Follow the steps below to update your drivers.

• Tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
• Type in devmgmt.msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
• After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. If you see a red or yellow sign that shows up against the driver, right-click on the driver’s name and select “Update Driver Software” or “Uninstall”. And if you find any “Unknown device”, you need to update it as well.
• Select the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option and then follow the instructions to complete the process.
• Restart your PC.

Note: You also have the option to go directly to the website of your graphics card manufacturer and check if there’s a new update – if there is, download it. After that, you could also check if there’s a new update of the game you’re getting the issue of the black bar.

One of the selling points of Windows 11 was the ability to run Android apps natively in it without the need for any third-party software. It is not a big surprise that even after its release Microsoft is evolving and expanding Windows 11 and its features.

Microsoft is now rolling out an update for the Windows Subsystem for Android on the Dev Channel of the Windows Insiders program. The new version upgrades the core operating system from Android 11 to Android 12.1 (also known as Android 12L), which means the new system and app features in Android 12 and 12.1 are now available on Windows for the first time. However, not the new features in those updates apply to the modified version that runs on top of Windows. For example, one of the main improvements in 12.1 was a dual-pane notification panel for larger screens, but Android app notifications on Windows just show up in the Windows notification panel.

The upgrade also improves how Android apps integrate into Windows. The Windows taskbar will now show which Android apps are currently using the microphone, location, and other system services — similar to many native Windows applications. Toasts messages (the small popups that some apps use for temporary messages) are now displayed as Windows notifications, and the titlebar on Android apps will use the current activity name for the title.

Full changelog

• Windows Subsystem for Android updated to Android 12.1
• Advanced networking on by default for newer x64 Windows builds
• Updated Windows Subsystem for Android Settings app: redesigned UX and diagnostics data viewer added
• Simpleperf CPU profiler recording now works with Windows Subsystem for Android
• Windows taskbar now shows which Android apps are using microphone and location
• Improvements to Android app notifications appearing as Windows notifications
• Reduced flicker when apps are restored from minimized state
• Apps are not restarted when devices come out of connected standby on recent Windows builds
• New video hardware decoding (VP8 and VP9)
• Fixes for on-screen keyboard in apps
• Fixes for full-screen Android apps and auto-hidden Windows taskbar
• Windows Subsystem for Android updated with Chromium WebView 100
• Added support for Android NetworkLocationProvider in addition to GpsLocationProvider
• Improved general stability, performance, and reliability

The new update is limited to Windows Insiders for now, but once Microsoft fixes all the bugs, it should start rolling out to everyone on Windows 11 that has the Android Subsystem enabled.