> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://dexcore.gitbook.io/guide/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://dexcore.gitbook.io/guide/support/faq.md).

# FAQ / Troubleshooting

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**Can't find your answer?** Use `Ctrl+F` to search this page, or open a ticket on Discord.
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***

## 🔧 Setup & Configuration

**Q: What are the system requirements?** A: Windows 10/11 or Windows Server 2016+, 4 GB RAM minimum (8 GB for 30+ threads), stable internet connection.

**Q: Can I run the bot on Mac or Linux?** A: **No. Windows only.** DexCore does not work on Mac, Linux, or any other operating system. You need Windows 10, Windows 11, or Windows Server 2016+. If you don't have Windows, you can rent a Windows VPS (Virtual Private Server) — a remote Windows computer you connect to.

**Q: How do I update DexCore?** A: Updates download automatically when you launch the bot. If a new version is available, the bot will offer to update on startup. You don't need to do anything manually.

**Q: Which file editor should I use for CSV files?** A: Use [Ron's CSV Editor](https://www.ronsplace.ca/products/ronscsveditor). Excel can silently change CSV formatting.

**Q: How do I set up Gmail for IMAP?** A: Enable IMAP in Gmail settings, create an App Password (NOT your regular password), and add the credentials to your Config file. 👉 [Gmail Setup](/guide/setup/installation/config-file/gmail-setup.md)

**Q: What is a "key" and where do I get one?** A: A key is your license key for DexCore. You receive it when you purchase a DexCore license. Check your Discord DMs or the purchase confirmation.

***

## 🔌 Proxies & Performance

**Q: What type of proxies should I use?** A: **ISP proxies only.** Residential proxies cause account locks from Outlook. 👉 [Proxies Best Practices](/guide/setup/best-practices/proxies.md)

**Q: How many threads should I use?** A: Depends on your computer and proxy count. For an average Windows server with 100 proxies, use 30–40 threads. Rule of thumb: 1 proxy can handle up to 60 accounts.

**Q: Why do I see "Too many requests"?** A: You're using too many threads for the number of proxies you have. Reduce threads. 👉 [Errors & Info](/guide/modules/outlook-hotmail/errors-and-info.md)

**Q: Can I use the same proxy for all accounts?** A: Yes, but respect the 1:60 ratio — one proxy can handle up to 60 accounts. Use fewer threads if you have limited proxies.

***

## 👤 Accounts

**Q: Where do I buy accounts?** A: Accounts are purchased from **third-party sellers**. DexCore does not sell accounts. Look for sellers on forums, Telegram groups, or Discord servers that sell Outlook/Hotmail accounts. Choose sellers with good reputation and reviews. Accounts **with a token (session)** are statistically the most reliable.

**Q: Can I use accounts without tokens?** A: Yes, but accounts with tokens (sessions) tend to be more reliable. Results depend on the seller.

**Q: What should I do if accounts get locked after a few days?** A: You can try unlocking them manually with a phone number. *(Phone-based unlock via DexCore is coming soon.)* If this keeps happening, consider switching to a more reliable account seller.

**Q: In what order should I set up accounts?** A: Always follow this exact order — **no shortcuts:**

1. 🔍 Check Emails
2. 📧 Set Recovery Email
3. 🔐 Set 2FA
4. 🔄 Change Password *(recommended but optional — only required if you want to update the password)*
5. 📨 Set Rule (forwarding)

Skipping steps will cause failures. 👉 [Quick Start](/guide/modules/outlook-hotmail/quick-start.md)

**Q: Can I use accounts that already have protection?** A: Only if you have access to the existing protection (2FA, recovery email, or phone). Without access, you cannot override someone else's security.

***

## 📧 Email & Forwarding

**Q: How many accounts can I forward to one master email?** A: Maximum **100 accounts per master email** to avoid delivery delays. 👉 [Master Emails](/guide/setup/best-practices/master-emails.md)

**Q: What's the difference between forwarding and redirect?** A: **Forwarding** adds `FW:` to the subject and shows it's forwarded. **Redirect** makes the email look like it was sent directly to your inbox — no `FW:` prefix. 👉 [Set Rule](/guide/modules/outlook-hotmail/features/set-rule.md)

**Q: Why did my forwarding rules get disabled?** A: You (or someone) logged into the Outlook account manually. This is a Microsoft bug — manual login disables forwarding rules. Re-enable the rule inside the account, or re-run Set Rule via DexCore. **Never log into accounts manually after setting rules.**

***

## ⚠️ Common Errors

**Q: What does "IMAP failed" mean?** A: The bot can't connect to your email server. Check your Config file credentials. For Gmail: make sure IMAP is enabled and your App Password is correct (not your regular Gmail password). 👉 [Gmail Setup](/guide/setup/installation/config-file/gmail-setup.md)

**Q: What does "Limit send OTP" mean?** A: Too many failed OTP attempts — there's a 24-hour cooldown. Wait and do NOT retry before 24 hours pass. This usually happens when recovery emails aren't properly connected to IMAP.

**Q: What does "Invalid proxy" mean?** A: Your proxy format is wrong. The required format is `ip:port:username:password`. Open `proxy.txt` and fix the format on every line. 👉 [Proxy File](/guide/setup/installation/proxy-file.md)

**Q: What does "OTP didn't come" mean?** A: The bot tried to receive a one-time code at your recovery email, but the code never arrived. Check that your IMAP credentials in the Config file are correct, the recovery email inbox is accessible, and no filter or rule is blocking the incoming code. 👉 [Config File](/guide/setup/installation/config-file.md)

**Q: What does "Missing RecoveryEmail" mean?** A: The recovery email field in your task file is either empty or doesn't match the recovery email actually linked to the account. Add the correct recovery email to your task file.

**Q: What does "Missing TFA secret" mean?** A: The 2FA secret key field in your task file is either empty or doesn't match the 2FA setup on the account. Add the correct 2FA secret key to your task file.

**Q: OTP codes are arriving in my inbox but the bot isn't reading them. What's wrong?** A: This is usually caused by too many threads on a single domain — the catch-all gets throttled and delays delivery to the bot. Try: 1) Reduce thread count (recommended: max 5 threads per domain). 2) Add more domains to your config. 3) If the issue persists, check your IMAP connection 👉 [Config File](/guide/setup/installation/config-file.md)

**Q: What does "Unknown error" mean?** A: Usually means you're trying to use a function before completing the required setup steps. Follow the correct order. 👉 [Quick Start](/guide/modules/outlook-hotmail/quick-start.md)

For more details on all errors, see 👉 [Errors & Info](/guide/modules/outlook-hotmail/errors-and-info.md).

***

## 🆘 I Did Everything But Nothing Works

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**Troubleshooting checklist — go through every item:**

1. ✅ Are you on **Windows**? (Mac/Linux won't work)
2. ✅ Did you **extract** the ZIP file? (Don't run from inside the ZIP)
3. ✅ Is your Config file formatted correctly? (Open in Notepad, check for missing commas/quotes)
4. ✅ Is IMAP **enabled** in your Gmail settings?
5. ✅ Are you using an **App Password**, not your regular Gmail password?
6. ✅ Is your domain catch-all set up and pointing to your Gmail?
7. ✅ Does your `proxy.txt` file have working proxies? (Not empty, no blank lines)
8. ✅ Is your task file in the **Data** folder and in `.csv` format?
9. ✅ Did you follow the setup order? (Check → Recovery → 2FA → Password → Rule)
10. ✅ Did you **clear States** before re-running?

**If you checked everything and it still doesn't work:** Open a ticket on Discord. Attach your config file and task file. The support team will look at them.
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