Windows 10: 2021 Complete Guide to Use Microsoft OS. 10 Helpful Tips and Tricks to Master your PC

CONTENTS:

Introduction

What is Windows 10?

Cut to the chase

Windows 10 Anniversary Update

Any Windows 10?

Why is it called the Anniversary Update?

How much will it cost?

How do I download Windows 10 Anniversary Update?

Do I need to download the Anniversary Update from Microsoft?

How much RAM is required?

What are the features of Windows 10?

New Start Menu

Modern Aero

Windows Hello

Windows 10 S

Multiple user accounts

Windows Hello and virtual desktops

Accelerated mode

Smarter notifications

Worth mentioning

Chapter 1 Basic settings for Windows 10

How to use the taskbar for Windows 10?

How to move apps between Windows 7 and Windows 10 manually

How to move apps between Windows 7 and Windows 10 using the flight bundle

How to use a flight bundle to transfer Windows 7 apps to Windows 10

How to stop your PC switching operating systems

How to stop your PC using Windows Updates

How to turn off Windows Updates and uninstall programs

How to turn off the Windows Store

How to change your power options

How to switch your location

How to find out what apps are running in the background

How to change the screen saver

How to run different fonts on a computer

How to adjust screen brightness

How to turn on battery saving mode

How to run a super fast PC program

How to stop the Windows media utility from creating the CD creation option

How to send a file to an email address or cloud storage service

How to close unwanted programs

How to stop Windows 10 keeping track of everything you do

Icons for apps in Windows 10

To stop your computer tracking where you are

How to start hiding your programs

To stop being logged into Windows

To stop Microsoft tracking the websites you visit

Change the default search provider

To clear out unwanted files

To clear out unused apps

Open a command prompt

Be careful what you install

Check Windows Update

Use a quick Windows Password

Windows 10 freebies

Windows 10 is out

McAfee

Chapter 2 Installation and drivers

How to install Windows 10?

Downloading the update

Tailor-made for you

Be prepared to upgrade

Be safe

Getting storage space cheap

Windows 10 offers an inexpensive way of backing up your PC

How to install drivers for Windows 10?

What hardware are you looking to install drivers for?

Where to get the drivers

Windows 10 drivers

PC components

What else can you do to make installing new drivers easier?

Chapter 3 Windows Store

What is Windows Store in Windows 10?

What is the difference between Universal Windows Platform and Windows Store?

How to download applications from Windows Store

There are a few other tricks and commands to be able to upload the app to Windows Store:

Dropbox UWP App

How to use Windows Store in Windows 10?

How to uninstall apps from the Windows Store?

How to uninstall apps from the Windows Store that you have not paid for

How to use Microsoft Edge in the Windows Store?

How to uninstall extensions from the Microsoft Edge browser?

How to uninstall Chrome extensions from the Microsoft Edge browser?

How to uninstall Dropbox extensions from the Microsoft Edge browser?

How to uninstall iCloud Drive extensions from the Microsoft Edge browser?

How to uninstall Chrome extensions from the Microsoft Edge browser?

How to uninstall Dropbox extensions from the Microsoft Edge browser?

How to uninstall iCloud Drive extensions from the Microsoft Edge browser?

How to uninstall Chrome extensions from the Microsoft Edge browser?

How to uninstall third-party Google extensions from the Microsoft Edge browser?

Windows 10 privacy settings

How to clear your browsing history in Windows 10

Is it easier to manage your privacy settings in Windows 10?

What are the best free Windows 10 web browsers?

Chapter 4 Windows Hello

What is Windows Hello in Windows 10?

I want to use Windows Hello to log in. Can I use a camera instead?

How do I set up facial recognition on my PC?

How do I sign in to Windows Hello on a Windows 10 Mobile phone?

How do I sign in to Windows Hello on a Windows 10 PC?

How do I set up facial recognition on a Windows 10 Mobile device?

Windows 10 Mobile devices with face recognition

Chapter 5 Cortana

What is Cortana in Windows 10? How can I customize my chatbot?

Sign up for the Microsoft Store.

Set up Cortana’s skills.

Set up Cortana’s Notebook.

Set up Cortana’s Notebook.

Set up Cortana’s Notebook.

How to manage notes in the Windows 10

How to set up Cortana’s Notebook in Office 365

How to use Cortana in Outlook and OneNote

Chapter 6 Microsoft Office 365

What is Office 365 for Windows 10?

Office 365 for Windows 10

Another option for Windows users

What is Office 365 for Windows 10?

Paul Thurrott and WalkingCat

What is Microsoft 365?

How to use Office 365 for Windows 10?

Levels of OneDrive for Business

Leverage Office 365 for Business

Verdict

Chapter 7 Customization Settings

What are privacy settings for Windows 10?

What are my current privacy settings for Windows 10?

What information is Microsoft collecting?

How does Microsoft collect data?

What data is Microsoft collecting?

How can I check whether or not Microsoft has collected my data?

When can Microsoft collect data?

Which of Microsoft's services are included in the Windows 10 October 2018 Update?

How can I control how Microsoft uses my data?

Useful Microsoft privacy controls

What about Microsoft Health?

What about VPN support?

What about Microsoft's new online surveillance transparency report?

What does Microsoft do with your data?

What are privacy settings for Windows 10?

How do I make Windows 10 update automatically?

How do I uninstall Windows 10?

How do I delete or clear my browsing history in Windows 10?

How do I check what software is installed on my PC?

How do I access my location in Windows 10?

How can I configure multiple monitors with Windows 10?

How do I mute the microphone in Windows 10?

Do I have to create an account on my PC before using Microsoft Edge?

How do I open Microsoft Edge with a mouse?

How do I force stop an app in Windows 10?

How do I force quit an app in Windows 10?

How do I use Cortana in Windows 10?

How can I customize the appearance of the Start menu in Windows 10?

How do I use Cortana in Windows 10?

What can I do in Windows 10’s Game Bar?

How do I use the Game bar in Windows 10?

What can I do with Windows 10’s Story Remix?

Does Windows 10 let me automatically sign-in?

How do I turn on Windows 10’s SmartScreen filter?

How do I access Quick Access, and how can I remove it?

Is there a built-in Privacy Center in Windows 10?

Is there an app for improving privacy and security in Windows 10?

Is there a setting to restrict website tracking?

Customizing Privacy

Windows Defender

How to customize the taskbar for Windows 10?

Magnifier in Windows 10

The Pop-up blocker in Windows 10

Optimize power consumption in Windows 10

Change the default desktop theme in Windows 10

Blue light in Windows 10

System tray icon customization in Windows 10

Take the power management shortcut from Settings

Turn off your privacy setting in Windows 10

Enable your microphone in Windows 10

Enable/disable Cortana's suggested follow-up messages in Windows 10

Reset your Bluetooth device

Turn on Windows Defender in Windows 10

Set a custom folder background in Windows 10

Toggle off AutoPlay settings in Windows 10

Toggle off third-party system tray add-ons in Windows 10

Disable Winlogon in Windows 10

Disable Special Command Queuing in Windows 10

Disable Skype and Microsoft Band's sensors

Disable the wireless connection dialog in Windows 10

Remove Google Chrome and add Microsoft Edge

Access your setup files in Windows 10

Adjust the language settings in Windows 10

Disconnect your battery

Find and uninstall known issues in Windows 10

Disable Cortana

Configure an access pattern

Change your lock screen picture

Restart your Windows 10 PC

How to set regional settings for Windows 10?

Improve search results by region

Find a better file manager

How to uninstall Windows 10

Chapter 8 About notification center

What is the notification center for Windows 10?

How to tell which of your apps run in the background?

How to connect to the Internet on your PC

How to change your ringtone

How to use Cortana?

How to enable or disable notifications?

How to adjust your text size and clarity

How to enable or disable Cortana on your PC

How to change the keyboard's size

How to make multiple windows in Windows 10

How to clear the Startup Directory on Windows 10

How to adjust the color depth on the Windows 10 screen

How to restore your previous wallpaper on Windows 10

How to adjust the size of apps on the Start Menu

How to change the transparency of a document in Windows 10

How to activate the pen in Windows 10

How to copy and paste in Windows 10

How to use multiple monitors with Windows 10

How to turn on Taskbar notifications

How to stop/start using Cortana

How to enable the Windows Hello Security Camera

How to change your background in Windows 10

How to use a Virtual Keyboard on Windows 10

How to get the best out of Cortana

How to change your default browser

How to turn on the Show Me More Button

How to pin apps to the taskbar

How to quickly install apps from the Store

How to hide apps without uninstalling them

How to stop watching TV shows in the background

How to hide downloaded apps from your Start menu

How to make the Control Panel smarter

How to hide the 'Find My Phone' button

How to turn off notifications on the Lock Screen

How to turn off screen recording

How to hide PC updates

How to hide from the Start menu (the latest version of Windows 10)

How to set up a desktop shortcut

How to pin app shortcuts to Start menu

How to pin Apps to taskbar

How to use ShellNotification

Why we love it

How to change your default search engine

How to manage your Bluetooth devices

How to hide or hide a tablet from the Windows 10 Start menu

How to change the scrolling behaviour of the Start menu

How to show the app list and the search box at the same time

How to manage multiple Word documents with multiple clicks

How to make Cortana your default assistant

How to hide the Share charm

How to choose your accent

You can also change the font

How to edit Microsoft Word's colour palette

How to open PDFs in Microsoft Word

How to turn on the camera and microphone

How to disable the 'goodbye' app

How to select Windows Insider builds

How to show the next Windows 10 preview build

How to sign out of Windows Insider Preview builds

How to set up Cortana

How to create a custom address bar

How to disable the Groove Music Pass

How to turn off Groove Music Pass

How to force Windows 10 to ask for your sign-in password

How to disable Windows 10 getting notifications about your day

How to force Windows 10 to clear notifications

How to force Windows 10 to hide your most recently used apps

How to turn off Windows 10 reminding you to log in

How to turn off Windows 10 learning your location

How to stop Windows 10 tracking your behavior

How to stop Windows 10 recording every command you type

How to force Windows 10 to use your desktop background

How to enable Windows 10's security features

How to turn on Windows 10's facial recognition features

How to turn off Windows 10's speech recognition

How to use the Windows 10 Search charm

How to turn off the Windows 10 assistant

How to activate a picture-in-picture mode

How to activate a picture-in-picture mode on a Surface device

How to activate an always-on display

How to turn off 'Cortana suggestions'

How to turn off multiple Cortana suggestions

How to turn off the Windows 10 Calculator

How to change default apps

How to turn off the Smart Screen Recorder

How to turn off the Windows Aero Glass feature

How to turn off the Custom icons feature

How to turn off multiple notifications

How to clear all notifications

How to manage notifications from your favorite apps

How to turn off the 'Open Windows Store with Windows' command

How to manage apps installed from the Windows Store

How to manage apps installed from the 'Get Windows 10' app

How to manage apps on your external hard drive

How to enable app syncing

How to clear hidden files and folders

How to delete the Cortana icon from the taskbar

How to change the size of your windows

Using Windows 10

Setting up Windows 10

Read and write files

How to protect Windows 10?

Windows 10 Mobile

Windows 10

But what if the apps to be blocked don't have a download option?

Windows Phone

Windows 10 and the Microsoft Edge browser

Download Windows 10 Anniversary update with updates

Chapter 9 Cloud Storages

What is Dropbox for Windows 10?

What is Box for Windows 10?

What is Google Drive for Windows 10?

Useful Tools for Business Travelers

Evernote Business: Office 365 and Web App Alternatives

Offsite Collaboration Tools

Communication

Open-Plan Offices

Benefits of Virtual Offices

Chapter 10 Search in Windows 10

What is the search on Windows 10?

What is the search box search history?

How to edit the Windows 10 search history

How to delete the Windows 10 search history

How to control Cortana

How to send an Alexa command to Cortana

How to set up a display on Windows 10?

How to enable priority notifications?

How to turn off notifications on Windows 10?

How to choose which app notifications are important?

How to quickly fix notifications?

How to use Cortana for Windows 10 notifications

How to set up custom alerts

How to filter notifications

How to mute notifications

Chapter 11 Desktop settings

How to set up a desktop on Windows 10?

How to choose a default desktop on Windows 10

How to access the hidden Apps menu in Windows 10

How to adjust desktop’s window size in Windows 10

Adjust window and webcam controls in Windows 10

How to right-click in Windows 10

How to open Cortana with your voice in Windows 10

How to save specific apps in Windows 10

How to send email with the taskbar in Windows 10

How to use Cortana on the Windows taskbar

How to write notes with the Windows taskbar

How to use Quick Access for Cortana

How to use File Explorer on the Windows taskbar

How to find the clipboard and share the contents

How to edit text on the Windows taskbar

How to browse the Windows taskbar

How to set up a desktop on Windows 10?

How to install a Linux desktop on Windows 10?

How to set up a virtual desktop on Windows 10?

Conclusion

What are the advantages of Windows 10? Why should businesses make the switch?

Is it possible to upgrade from an older operating system to Windows 10?

Can I migrate data?

What are the benefits of the unified product offering?

How does Windows 10 provide new security tools to protect corporate data?

How can I use Windows 10 with my existing devices?

What are the versions of Windows 10?

Is Windows 10 available in other languages?

Can I access the Windows 10 Creators Update before I install Windows 10 Creators Update?

Can I upgrade my Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 device to Windows 10?

When will I get the Windows 10 Creators Update?

How long will it take to install the Creators Update on a PC?

When will the Windows 10 Creators Update be available for my device?

How do I check to see if my device is compatible?

Which versions of Windows 10 are supported?

When will my device be released to the Windows Insider Program?

Will I get access to a free Windows 10 Creators Update upgrade offer for my device?

I want to upgrade to Windows 10 Creators Update today! Where can I get it?

Can I upgrade from Windows 10 Anniversary Update?

Which versions of Windows 10 are supported?

Can I download and install Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Enterprise?

Will I get updates for the versions of Windows 10 I already have?

How do I get Windows 10 Creators Update on a tablet?

Can I upgrade from an old version of Windows 10?

Bring your own device to the workplace

How are other businesses using it?

Box

Handy

Dropbox Business

Samba

Introduction

What is Windows 10?

If you’re reading this, and you’re also reading another article on our sister site, it probably won’t come as too much of a surprise to you that we at Windows IT Pro are big fans of Windows 10. Not only does the operating system provide an alternative to Mac or Linux for those of us that love Windows, but it’s also incredibly powerful and is definitely worth the upgrade.

Windows 10 packs in a ton of power, from mobile to desktop and everything in-between. And with more than 500 million machines already on the list, it’s safe to say Microsoft has done pretty well for itself in terms of its popularity. And while it’s a much-needed step forward for Microsoft’s desktop operating system, it’s easy to see why a number of people will be tempted by the upgrade to Windows 10 for mobile.

There are various versions of Windows 10, with various numbers of changes available – the aforementioned Creators Update, Anniversary Update, Fall Creators Update – but the one that’s often talked about is the Creators Update, as it contains the Windows Mixed Reality Platform and support for Xbox One S and Xbox One X.

While Microsoft has confirmed it’ll be the final version of Windows 10, it’s safe to say that it’s a strong contender for the best Windows version ever.

Cut to the chase

What is it? Microsoft’s latest version of Windows 10, which was released on 18 April 2017

Microsoft’s latest version of Windows 10, which was released on 18 April 2017 When is it out? You can upgrade to Creators Update now, or be adventurous and wait until April 25

You can upgrade to Creators Update now, or be adventurous and wait until April 25 What can I do with it? Windows Mixed Reality, easy file transfers and more

The version of Windows 10 that’s available to you and has been called ‘Creators Update’ is the one that you can get on the Windows 10 PC you currently own. So if you’ve got a brand new machine, head over to the Windows Store and you’ll be able to download the software for free.

But that’s not the only way to get Windows 10 Creators Update – you can also upgrade from Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro, or Windows 10 S, which is the cheapest way to get Windows 10 right now, through the free upgrade.

But if you’re running an older version of Windows 10, including Windows 7, 8 or 8.1, then you’ll be stuck on the older ‘Summer Update’, which was released in 2015 and has been tweaked since then. That version of Windows 10 is still being offered free though, so if you’re running Windows 7, then it’s time to start thinking about moving off the old platform.

Windows 10 Anniversary Update

As mentioned earlier, Windows 10 is an ongoing project, and while it’s not expected to completely replace the operating system for the next few years, it’s expected to gain support for new features and functionality regularly.

Windows 10’s Creators Update is the version that first introduced the Windows Mixed Reality Platform, which is the first time Microsoft has supported a platform built using virtual reality technology. Creators Update was also the version that brought Windows Hello to the desktop, making it easier to log into your machine by using the Windows Hello biometric security system.

The Windows 10 Anniversary Update will give Microsoft’s operating system support for Xbox One S and Xbox One X consoles. On top of that, the Anniversary Update will bring support for web pages to display with a usable keyboard and mouse, according to Microsoft.

Sadly the Anniversary Update isn’t available in the final form, but it’s a reasonable assumption that Microsoft is still tweaking it before it’s released. The Anniversary Update will be the last one released before Microsoft plans to release the next version of Windows 10.

Any Windows 10?

Windows 10 is available on a variety of different devices, which range from phones to desktops, tablets, 2-in-1 laptops and even Microsoft’s own Surface computers.

Some of these are coming to an end as Windows 10 itself has reached the end of its support lifecycle. For that reason, it may be a good idea to upgrade to a newer version of Windows 10, such as Windows 10 Home or Pro.

The best way to find out which version of Windows 10 you have is by typing Windows 10 on the Microsoft website into the search box.

Why is it called the Anniversary Update?

Windows 10 is the first version of Windows to be released to the public in more than a decade. The original Windows, which came out of a project codenamed Bullrun, went on sale back in October, 95.

To mark the anniversary of Windows, Microsoft decided to name the first major update to the operating system the ‘Anniversary Update’, and this caused a bit of a brouhaha, with some people saying it smacked of a marketing ploy or of making a product just one year old.

Microsoft has also claimed that this is the first version of Windows 10 that’s designed for devices running ARM processors, and a range of Windows 10 machines running on ARM have been announced over the last year, including a new device from Asus, the Asus NovaGo, which uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 850 processor.

Hardware is going to be key in the future, so if you’re currently using a PC or laptop with an Intel or AMD CPU, it may be worth upgrading. You may also be able to find a better deal, or even return an old laptop and get a new one running Windows 10 Pro.

Microsoft is planning to kill off Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education, so if you use those, you’ll have to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro, or buy a new computer with Windows 10 Pro.

For the pro users, Microsoft also offers the Ultimate Performance Edition for those who need the best performance.

Also, if you plan to buy a new PC or laptop running Windows 10, Microsoft offers a free download of the official Windows 10 ‘scratch drive’ so you can install the operating system on a drive that is as small as 4GB.

Windows 10 Home is a student version of Windows 10 that is cheaper than its equivalent Pro version.

How much will it cost?

The Microsoft Windows 10 Anniversary Update will be available as a free upgrade to those running Windows 10 version 1607 or later, including Windows 7 and 8.1.

Windows 10 Pro, Home and Enterprise will also be available for a discounted price of £99 ($120/AU$160), which is around $10 (around £7/AU$14) cheaper than the normal version of Windows 10.

This version of Windows 10 is only available for desktop PCs, and is not suitable for laptops, 2-in-1 devices or tablets.

Those who are still running Windows XP and Windows 7 are unable to upgrade, as the dates for support for those versions of Windows have already passed.

With this in mind, you may want to consider buying a new laptop or PC, or at least upgrading an old one with Windows 7 or 8.1.

There’s also the chance that the Windows 10 Anniversary Update will be offered as a free download, so long as you can download Windows 10 Pro.

Windows 10 users who upgrade to this version of the operating system before April 17, 2018 will be able to get the Anniversary Update as a free upgrade.

How do I download Windows 10 Anniversary Update?

You can download the Windows 10 Anniversary Update from Microsoft’s website.

However, if you're running a Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 PC, it may be best to wait until the official launch of the Anniversary Update in the summer, when the website will probably be updated.

If you’re looking for a quick download, there’s a brand new tool available called the Windows 10 Anniversary Update Fast ring that's likely to download Windows 10 in the background and ask you to confirm its installation when it’s complete.

The reason for this method is to make sure the OS is installed properly, and you don’t encounter any problems during or after the installation.

Do I need to download the Anniversary Update from Microsoft?

Microsoft hasn’t shared specific details about how the Anniversary Update will work for you, but it does say that the OS is designed to automatically find any devices that need updating, rather than you having to go through the setup process to complete the installation.

It will also automatically download and install any drivers that may be required, such as from the manufacturers.

How much RAM is required?

Some of the other features Microsoft added with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update include Cortana and improvements to Windows Ink.

So whether you’re using a 2-in-1 laptop, a desktop PC, or a traditional computer, the Anniversary Update is likely to give you plenty of new features.

What are the features of Windows 10?

Now that you know what Windows 10 is and what it can do, let’s dive into some features you can expect to see in the operating system.

New Start Menu

The Start Menu has been around for more than 20 years, and it’s still the only way to launch Windows. But for years, Microsoft has been doing its best to convince users to just use Windows apps and the Start menu’s functionality has dwindled over the years. You could say that Microsoft is kind of copying Apple and its new High Sierra menu. With Windows 10 S, Microsoft is changing that.

Starting with the first Windows 10 S build, the Start menu has been cleaned up and simplified so you can see what you want and the icons are much bigger.

The new Start menu also lets you search Windows for all sorts of things, such as desktop programs, important files, programs that don’t work, etc.

Modern Aero

When Microsoft made Windows 7 available for free, a lot of people thought it would die. When Windows 8 was released, many said it was a massive failure. But Windows 10 has proven that Microsoft still knows how to make a good operating system.

Windows 10 will include Aero Peek, which gives you a glimpse at the desktop whenever you’re in a new app or if you’re pressing a button in a program. It also includes the modern Aero look, which looks great.

Windows Hello

Microsoft is bringing Windows Hello facial recognition technology to Windows 10. It’s similar to Apple’s Face ID, only instead of using your face to unlock your phone or your laptop, Windows 10 will be able to identify your face in photos and even in a photo taken by someone else.

Windows 10 S

Windows 10 S is a brand new version of Windows 10 that can only run software from the Windows Store. This is similar to Chrome OS’s security, so you won’t be able to install regular versions of Windows on your Windows 10 S device. If you want to switch from Windows 10 S to Windows 10 Pro, you can do that.

You’ll be able to buy a laptop or a tablet with Windows 10 S pre-installed starting in May. But, starting July 29, you can purchase a Microsoft Surface Laptop or Surface Pro 4 with Windows 10 S pre-installed.

Windows Hello should automatically recognize your face and iris as you unlock your Windows 10 S device. And while you can’t use regular Windows apps, you can use other UWP apps like the Cortana voice assistant, Windows Ink, Outlook Mail and Calendar, and Microsoft Edge.

Desktop Windows apps are still missing from the Windows Store, so we don’t know how this new version of Windows 10 S will work with traditional Windows desktop apps.

Multiple user accounts

With Windows 10 S, you can set up your account as a guest account and switch between accounts. If you have another Windows 10 S device that you’re upgrading to, you can set up guest accounts on that PC so you can use your standard user accounts.

Windows Hello and virtual desktops

Microsoft is making Windows Hello available on more devices. There will now be a physical button that lets you log into Windows 10 using a fingerprint reader or iris scanner.

The company is also adding virtual desktops to Windows 10 S. You’ll be able to switch between windows by clicking the multitasking icon in the corner of the desktop.

And when you get a notification, you’ll be able to move the app window you want, and the rest will move with it.

Accelerated mode

If you want to go faster, you can set Windows 10 S to run in a restricted mode that automatically moves less important programs down the stack. It will move everything else up the stack.

The apps will launch faster, so apps won’t have to wait for the system to wake up.

Smarter notifications

In Windows 10, you can see a history of notifications you’ve received in the Action Center. You can even clear the notifications and see a list of them.

Starting with Windows 10 S, notifications will show a brighter color background and more prominent information on each notification, including what app sent it. When you tap on a notification, you’ll be able to dismiss it and move on.

Worth mentioning

If you’re already using Windows 10 Pro, you’ll be able to upgrade your Windows 10 Pro device to Windows 10 S. But, you can’t upgrade to Windows 10 S from Windows 10 Pro.

You can also upgrade your Windows 10 Pro device to Windows 10 Pro without buying a new PC.

Microsoft is also releasing a free firmware update for Windows 10 Pro, that should fix the bug that caused the Redstone 3 update to fail on some devices. The firmware update is being released in stages, so not everyone will be able to download it immediately.

Chapter 1 Basic settings for Windows 10

How to use the taskbar for Windows 10?

It was only last week when TechRadar told you how to move your favourite Windows apps to Windows 8.1. What’s more, you can still easily move them to Windows 10 – though the process is a little more complicated.

There are two ways to move apps between Windows 7 and Windows 10. You could do it manually, or you could use something known as a ‘flight bundle’.

You may also find you're prompted to update Windows 10, even if you’ve got the Update & Recovery Toolbox installed

How to move apps between Windows 7 and Windows 10 manually

If you don't have the Toolbox, you'll have to download the manual process, which involves downloading a .Net file (Explorer.net.dll), moving it to a folder on your PC, then moving that folder to your desired system folder.

How to move apps between Windows 7 and Windows 10 using the flight bundle

If you want to use a "bundled" app, such as MSN Weather, which is included with Windows 10, you'll need to install a flight bundle. This lets you switch between Windows versions without having to manually move files. Here's how to do it.

First, open the Windows Store, then press the Windows key. Choose Store > New > Program and choose Microsoft Flight Bundle and Microsoft Office AIR.

Afterwards, choose Install, then click Next. Choose Allow the installation of apps not already installed on your system.

After that, click Next. You can now pick the program you want to install. Just remember, it will need to be installed alongside your other Windows software.

Click Install, then browse to your System Tray folder, then press Windows key and ‘R’ to make the flight bundle appear. Click Run, and then choose OK when it’s done installing.

Once your flight bundle is installed, you can switch back to your old operating system by pressing Windows key and ‘R’.

Alternatively, there's an online tool to help you do it (here's a guide to download it). It's a little outdated and doesn't always work as well as it should, but it gets the job done.

How to use a flight bundle to transfer Windows 7 apps to Windows 10

The updated flight bundle that Microsoft ships with Windows 10 doesn’t let you transfer all your apps to your new PC. You can't move apps that you haven't already downloaded to your PC, for example, and it won’t let you uninstall other apps.

However, there’s an easier method. You can download and install an app called AirSwitch to switch back and forth.

Downloading the Windows app is as easy as downloading a zip file – follow the on-screen instructions to extract the downloaded file to an executable folder on your computer, then run it.

Once the Windows app is installed, your Windows 7 apps will appear alongside your Windows 10 ones.

Then, with the Windows app open, click the Air switch icon in the lower-left of the window. After a brief pause, you'll be asked to choose which operating system you'd like to move to.

Once you’ve done that, click on the app you want to run on your PC and select AirSwitch and make your choice.

The app will then start switching the apps back and forth automatically. Don't worry if it takes a while to switch between operating systems – you can leave it running to keep switching them as your other apps load.

How to stop your PC switching operating systems

When AirSwitch is installed, it automatically stops the process of switching operating systems when you’re done using your computer. But if you want it to continue switching between operating systems as you use Windows 7, you need to find another way to disable this feature.

You can do that by first uninstalling AirSwitch.

Next, make a copy of the uninstalled version of the app, and then launch it and copy the hidden file '_airswitch.cfg' – a .txt file that’s used by AirSwitch – to the same location. Then, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, then select Restart Now > Reset this PC > Restart Now.

It may not be immediately obvious where AirSwitch is installed, but if you've followed this step, it should be at the bottom of the list.

If it isn't, click the X on the first line of Windows Update and Windows 10 – it'll get moved down the list automatically. After a moment, your computer will reboot and AirSwitch will automatically be deleted.

This will also apply to all the apps you previously installed on your PC. Your installed apps will now show up in the Windows Store – they won’t reappear as a tab on the taskbar, however.

Microsoft publishes a support document that lists all the changes made in Windows 10 to prevent apps from running when you’re switching operating systems.

With AirSwitch switched off, your computer won’t be able to switch between Windows 7 and Windows 10, so you’ll need to find another way to switch back and forth.

How to stop your PC using Windows Updates

Windows Update is often a good idea. If you download updates to your PC regularly, they can keep you safe from malicious software that’s accidentally downloaded by people you don't know, as well as preventing you from accidentally loading programs you don’t want to install.

But Windows Update is also often an annoyance – you’ll often receive multiple updates all at once that will slow your PC, and you might be faced with many updates that are fine but you aren’t sure you want to install them.

There’s a reason you’re probably turning Windows Update off. You can turn off Windows Updates in the Windows 10 Settings app, under Settings > Update & security > Windows Update > Turn off automatic updates.

While you're there, you'll also be able to turn off 'Feature updates to your PC', the way Windows Update has become known. This is useful if you want to switch operating systems but don’t want to use a different version of Windows.

How to turn off Windows Updates and uninstall programs

This next trick doesn’t actually require you to turn Windows Update off – it just makes it a lot less annoying.

If you want, you can disable Windows Update entirely and uninstall programs you don't need via the Control Panel.

Visit the Control Panel, then look for the Windows Update option.

Click on 'Turn Windows features on or off', then uncheck all the boxes.

On the next page, look for the ‘Install system and driver updates’ box. Select this option and then click on 'Turn automatic updates on or off'.

You can now save time and get rid of the Windows Update notifications, and only be presented with the updates you want to install when you do.

How to turn off the Windows Store

If you’re using Windows 10 but prefer to use apps you don’t have downloaded, the Windows Store can often help out with this.

Select the ‘All apps’ option on the ‘Windows Store’ menu. From here, you can filter the list by app name, date installed, country or region, version, and price.

It’s possible to filter the list by app name, date installed, country or region, version, and price

You can also look for apps you’ve already downloaded, or see which apps are free to download.

How to change your power options

You may be tempted to turn on and off your PC to save a bit of power when you’re not using it, but this can cause problems. Windows 10 usually chooses the best power setting for your computer, but if you find it’s too low, you can choose something else by going into the Windows 10 power settings menu.

On the ‘System’ tab, select Advanced power settings. You can then change your power options, like whether your PC will turn off after 30 minutes of inactivity.

This is useful if you want to be able to go to sleep with your PC still on, but still wake up to a PC that’s turned on and ready to work.

How to switch your location

You can’t change your device’s location, but you can change what your device looks like, thanks to a setting in Windows 10’s People Hub.

This can be found under Settings > Accounts > Other. Check 'Show my accounts profile picture' and you’ll be able to select your favorite picture from a Windows Store, Windows Store app, or image from a website.

Switching your location and profile picture can make it easier for people to find you

Once selected, your picture will be shown as your profile picture in the People Hub. It’ll also appear in Skype, for example.

How to find out what apps are running in the background

If you want to know what apps are running in the background, go into Settings > Accounts > Other and then choose 'Connected apps'.

If you select ‘Internet’, you can see what's running in the background, but if you select 'Other' you’ll only see what’s running locally, like your PC or phone, as well as the apps you have installed from the Windows Store.

How to change the screen saver

If you want to set your screensaver in Windows 10, head into Settings > Personalisation > Screen saver, then select 'Choose a screen saver’. You can change the duration, set a new picture, and choose from a range of different backgrounds.

How to run different fonts on a computer

In Windows 7, 8, and 10, there are a number of different fonts you can choose for different applications, but you may not know how they work.

On your computer, go to Settings > General and open Fonts.

Windows 10's Font options let you choose and tweak fonts to make them easier to read

You can then select the fonts for which you want to use your computer, including company fonts like the Logos font used in Microsoft Office. You can also disable any fonts you don’t want to use.

How to adjust screen brightness

Whether you have your PC on battery power or not, the brightness can be too low, particularly if it’s been dark for a while.

In Windows 10, just click the 'Brightness' menu in the menu bar to adjust the brightness. It’s usually the quickest way to change the brightness setting.

How to turn on battery saving mode

Many people use Windows 10 as a daily driver, and aren’t always near a plug socket. If this is you, you may find that battery saving mode is useful for when you’re out and about.

It can cut back on your Windows 10’s power consumption when your PC isn’t in use, and the effect will last between 20 and 90 minutes. You can turn it on with a button within the power settings menu.

How to run a super fast PC program

We all love to browse the internet, but sometimes, even browsing can be too much for our computers.

This is especially true if we’re using a poor internet connection, and there are a range of tools that can help us speed up websites, download large files, or even compress them for us.

How to stop the Windows media utility from creating the CD creation option

It can be annoying when Windows creates an option called CD creation that you can’t choose to remove, especially if you’re playing a CD. To do this, click on the ‘System’ tab and then click 'Turn Windows features on or off'.

The 'CD Creation' option is available in Windows 10's media features

Now, right-click on the drive that has the CD creation option and select 'Uninstall features'.

How to send a file to an email address or cloud storage service

Sometimes you just need to send a file to someone quickly, and you don’t have to send it to them through the mail, or ask someone to download it for you.

With some Windows 10 apps, you can send files to a recipient through email, web links, or even send them using Microsoft Outlook.

How to close unwanted programs

You might want to leave some programs running, just to keep your computer running smoothly, but sometimes they can be a waste of your time.

It can be hard to know how to close the programs you don’t need, so if you want to save some time, it’s worth doing so.

How to close unwanted programs is useful if you're finding it difficult to keep your Windows 10 running smoothly

You can do this in Windows 10 by clicking 'Start', then right-clicking on the program you want to close, then selecting 'Close' from the context menu.

How to stop Windows 10 keeping track of everything you do

You'll soon see your computer start tracking all the apps you run, the websites you visit, and even your web searches, but you can change the way this data is tracked in Windows 10.

Icons for apps in Windows 10

Click on the Start menu and you'll see your own app icons, which you can change to more relevant icons, depending on your own preferences.

To stop your computer tracking where you are

Click on 'Start', then click 'Settings' on the left-hand side. Now, click 'General' and you'll find an option called 'Accounts'.

Click 'Accounts' to choose your Microsoft account, then click 'Change' under 'Account Settings' to change the privacy setting.

How to start hiding your programs

By default, Windows 10 keeps track of all the apps you run and how you navigate between them.

To stop this, click on the Start menu and click 'Start'. Then, click on the 'Apps and Features' tab, then click 'My apps & features' and 'App settings'.

Click on 'Mute app activity' to stop the operating system logging what apps you run.

To stop being logged into Windows

If you don't want Windows 10 tracking your movements around the internet, you can turn this off, too.

Click 'Settings' on the left-hand side of the Start menu. Now, click on 'Privacy and safety'.

Under 'Web browsing' click 'Limit the websites you view online' to stop your browsing history being logged by Microsoft.

To stop Microsoft tracking the websites you visit

You can set up an app to remind you of important things like your dentist appointment

To stop Windows 10 tracking what websites you visit, there are a couple of apps you can use.

First, if you're worried about online tracking, install Privacy Badger. This free anti-tracking app blocks tracking cookies, so Microsoft's data-collecting cookies won't work in your browser.

Alternatively, you can install Ghostery, which is a free browser extension that can also block cookies and trackers.

Change the default search provider

In Windows 10, you can change the default search provider, so you'll have to use Google when you use Windows.

To change this, click 'Settings' on the Start menu. Now, click 'Search'.

Click 'Switch default search provider' to use Google or Bing.

You can also set up a toolkit which will search for your terms automatically when you start typing, and then offers them in a selection of default search providers.

To create a toolkit, right-click on the search bar, click 'Properties', and select 'Toolkit settings'.

Now, click 'Change search provider' and select a search engine. Then, click 'OK' to apply the changes.

To save system resources, try turning 'Storage Sense' on

When you start using your computer, Windows uses up all your hard disk space.

To reduce your computer's usage, you can turn 'Storage Sense' on. This enables Windows to delete files it knows are duplicates, unused or unwanted.

To turn 'Storage Sense' on, click 'Settings', then click 'Storage'.

Now, click on 'Manage your storage', click 'Change', then click 'Use more storage' to set how much space you want Windows to reserve for your content and files.

To clear out unwanted files

Just as you clear out temporary files after you've finished editing a document, Windows can do this, too.

To clear out temporary files, click 'Start', then click 'Options', then click 'Turn off unnecessary temporary files'.

To clear out unused apps

Windows 10 knows how many apps you have installed, and how much space they take up. To see a list of everything you've got installed, click 'Settings', then click 'Apps and Features' and 'App settings'.

You can then search for apps, and click 'Turn off unused apps'.

For all the latest tech news from the UK, France and around the world, don't miss The Sun's tech page.

Why is the Microsoft Edge browser only available on Windows 10? The new Edge browser is a massive upgrade to the clunky and popular Internet Explorer that most Windows users are familiar with. Unlike IE, however, Edge is designed to run across your PC, phone and tablet, and has numerous unique features. You can choose to see tabs in a more familiar fashion by clicking the charm on the top-left of the browser. Click 'Cast to my screen' to get access to your Bluetooth and other nearby devices, while the 'Speed Dial' lets you organise favourites easily. You can also search across the web using the 'Google' or Cortana voice commands. 'Continue on PC' offers a link to your preferred web page, and 'Continue on phone' is for browsing on your phone. The new Microsoft Edge browser is a massive upgrade to the clunky and popular Internet Explorer that most Windows users are familiar with. Unlike IE, however, Edge is designed to run across your PC, phone and tablet, and has numerous unique features. You can choose to see tabs in a more familiar fashion by clicking the charm on the top-left of the browser. Click 'Cast to my screen' to get access to your Bluetooth and other nearby devices, while the 'Speed Dial' lets you organise favourites easily. You can also search across the web using the 'Google' or Cortana voice commands. 'Continue on PC' offers a link to your preferred web page, and 'Continue on phone' is for browsing on your phone. Just in case you want to stick with the default settings, you can always switch back to IE by clicking 'Apply adjustments' and choosing 'Choose default search engine' and 'Apply'.

Open a command prompt

Type 'cmd' into the Start menu search box, and then press Enter.

Type in 'download', then press Enter.

When you've completed the downloads, type in 'wmic' and press Enter.

This opens a tool that allows you to start, stop, stop and restart your system.

To uninstall an app, just delete it

To uninstall an app from your computer, just delete it.

Simply click 'My Computer', then click 'Reboot system now', and it will be gone from your hard drive.

It might appear again, however, if you reboot your computer.

Be careful what you install

There are hundreds of millions of users of Windows 10 - and that means there's lots of software out there to download.

Some of it is great, and some of it's not.

If you go out and download an app, you'll want to make sure you know exactly what it does, especially if it's supposed to make your PC run faster.

Also, be careful to choose the right version of the app for your PC - if you install one that is out of date, you'll lose any custom settings that you've got.

Remember you can click 'details' at the bottom to make sure you've got the latest version.

Check Windows Update

It's also a good idea to check with Windows Update to make sure you're not missing anything.

Keep your computer current with the latest updates to your Windows.

Follow our blog on Facebook and Twitter if you'd like to keep up to date with how Windows 10 is performing.

Use a quick Windows Password

By default, you can use Windows 7 and Windows 8, as well as Windows 10, to log in to your PC.

By default, you can use Windows 7 and Windows 8, as well as Windows 10, to log in to your PC. However, if you're a heavy user, it's better to use a password or PIN, rather than to remember a long, complicated username and password combination.

To set one up, just follow these steps:

●     Press Windows key + R to open the run dialog. Click 'Change username and password'. Enter a unique, secure password. Click 'Continue'.

●     Then you can set up a PIN to lock down your PC, as well as a four digit verification code to verify that the password is actually yours.

●     If you want to use an audio or facial recognition system, you can also go this route - click 'Advanced Security' in the same window.

Windows 10 freebies

Here's a selection of the freebies that can be downloaded using the Windows 10 setup tool:

Select one of the packages to save it to your PC. You can either manually launch the file, or press 'File...' and browse to the location of the file.

It's a good idea to save the Windows 10 setup executable before you start the process, and to let it automatically check for updates while you're not using it.

If you need help, head over to the Microsoft Store's Support site for PC and Mac for more assistance.

Windows 10 is out

Now that you've installed Windows 10, you can start using it.

Microsoft will email you when updates are available, and will keep you up-to-date with new security and functionality.

However, you'll need to check with Windows Update to make sure your computer is up to date.

The more you use Windows 10, the more features it can collect about you and your habits - although the free service limits what it will collect.

Basically, it can take your phone, tablet, PC, Xbox and more details about you to create your profile.

It can then show you recommended articles, games and apps to you.

You can opt-out of the setting by clicking 'Settings' and then clicking 'Privacy', where you can decide what is collected and how it is used.

You can also close off a few of the categories you aren't interested in, such as Timeline - this means it won't keep the basic Windows 10 activities for later.

You can also opt-out of some of the aspects, such as advertising - which means you can have the option of having your own ads, but not having ads for other companies, too.

But you can also stop all data being used, by changing the activity sharing settings to 'only share data I want with Microsoft'.

McAfee

It's not just Windows 10 that Microsoft collects your data, its email service is doing the same.

Microsoft Mail, Microsoft Exchange, and Microsoft Outlook store a unique cookie to log where you are when you connect to a Microsoft site - it means that Microsoft can help you find your email, your contacts, or your calendar.

However, Microsoft suggests that its Outlook.com email service will be a bit more secure, because of some of the tweaks that it has made to keep people's data safe.

It has also made the privacy dashboard more convenient, so that you can easily see your personal information, and be aware of what data Microsoft stores about you.

First, make sure you're running the latest Windows 10 Creators Update.

Microsoft recommends that you do this by opening Windows Update in the Windows 10 Settings menu, clicking 'Check for updates' under 'Change how we update Windows', and clicking 'Update now'.

You can also check for updates manually using Microsoft's Windows Update website.

Next, head to Microsoft's 'Windows Privacy Dashboard'.

Under the 'Settings' tab, click 'Account' in the left-hand column.

Under 'Advertising', click 'Settings' next to 'Advertising & advertising capabilities'.

Under 'Advertising Identifier', uncheck the box and click 'Apply'.

You can also change how Microsoft uses your web browsing history by clicking 'Privacy settings', next to the section on 'Privacy & diagnostic data'.

Scroll to the bottom of the page, and click 'Data collection.'

Scroll down to the section on 'Web browsing history', and uncheck the box.

Under 'Web browsing activity', you can also turn off the setting that reads 'We collect information when you visit websites'.

When you click 'Save changes', click 'OK'.

There is also a more detailed 'Privacy info' section, but we recommend that you read this first, and then go through the other sections.

Under the 'Settings' tab, click 'Account' in the left-hand column.

Scroll down to the 'Account' page.

Scroll down to 'Advertising' in the left-hand column.

Scroll down to the 'Web browsing activity' section.

Under 'Web browsing history', click 'Edit'.

Click the down arrow next to 'Included content' to uncheck 'Following me as I browse websites'.

Under 'Go back' click 'View web history'.

Then click 'Save changes' to apply changes.

If you want a bit more of a mobile protection solution, the McAfee mobile app is more streamlined than the McAfee LiveSafe product.

It uses email to update the mobile app, so you don't have to go looking for a link in the app.

You'll also find more security features in the mobile app, such as 'Secure Contacts', where you can use your secure network to transfer documents between you and contacts - so you can scan a document into the app, and the app can then scan it to check that it is accurate.

On the next screen, you can also connect with anyone on your Secure Contacts.

McAfee is able to download and send pictures and attachments over the Secure Contacts if you scan a picture in.

The app will then send an alert to the contacts that you've attached your file to, and when they tap on the image, it will open.

The app also allows you to share documents via email, or Wi-Fi Direct.

The app can also find a hidden service on your computer or phone, called the 'Dell Unknown Source', which can expose any connected computer, tablet or phone to hacking attacks.

The app will locate this, and warn you that your mobile data connection is being used, or perhaps even initiate a protection plan.

All of this can be turned off in the 'Security Options' section.

You can download the app on Android and iOS.

In the mobile app, you can download and send files over the Secure Contacts

Chapter 2 Installation and drivers

How to install Windows 10?

Windows 10 is a brand new version of Microsoft's operating system which promises to offer a host of new features and enhancements. It will also deliver huge performance improvements to PCs and consoles alike.

PC and laptop owners with Windows 7 will need to install a patch first if they want to be ready for the upgrade. Microsoft is offering a free security patch which will fix any issues you might have before you install the upgrade.

Microsoft has released details of how you can prepare your PC and transfer your files ahead of the free upgrade. You can also read more about the new features included in Windows 10.

Downloading the update

Windows 10 has been available for a couple of months now and you should be well aware that you can upgrade any Windows PC that is still in a beta or trial mode.

You will need to first download the Windows 10 release candidate – this is an early version of the operating system that has not yet been signed off by Microsoft. It's different from the version of Windows 10 that is intended to replace your current system and will contain bugs and unfinished features that you may not be pleased with.

Microsoft has a page set up so that you can find out if your Windows PC is ready for the Windows 10 release candidate.

Once you have downloaded and installed the release candidate of Windows 10, you will have a file called update.windows.com or wushowhide.msc which you can launch from the Taskbar to see if any options are displayed for your PC, but not actually install anything.

Tailor-made for you

To download Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro in the first place you will need to register with Microsoft in order to ensure that the system is properly backed up before it's installed.

Microsoft can then send updates as and when they are released which means that your system will continue to get the latest software updates, while you should have no worry about whether you are getting the latest version of Windows 10 as long as you regularly install the updates Microsoft issues.

We already know that there are some big changes coming to Windows 10 in the future. Microsoft has already said that it wants to remove the start button in favour of the start screen. It has also changed how the desktop is displayed, splitting it into two sections, the right-hand side is for apps and the left-hand side is for programs.

Thanks to a partnership with Dell, Windows 10 Pro PCs can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro x64, which gives you access to the 64-bit version of the operating system.

Be prepared to upgrade

If you are worried that you might encounter problems with Windows 10 after you have installed it, you should make a backup copy of your system and any important files that you use regularly. There is also the option to use virtualisation software to run your Windows 7 or 8 PC in a way that enables it to continue to run even if Windows 10 is installed on the hard drive.

Also, consider using virtualisation software to run your Windows 10 PC in a way that enables it to continue to run even if Windows 10 is installed on the hard drive.

However, if you want to ensure that you can carry on using your existing system and all of your current files when Windows 10 is installed you can download Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 virtualisation software.

To avoid running into problems, make sure you are backed up as well as possible.

We have compiled a list of the best free backup software that you can use to back up your PC before upgrading to Windows 10, along with some handy tips on how to back up your PC and ensure that you can get on with using it after Windows 10 is installed.

Be safe

It’s also a good idea to back up all of your important files on a regular basis. Using online tools is one option, but another is to use a memory stick to back up everything you have on your system. However, it is important to be careful with which memory sticks you use and how you store your data.

Some of the top brands of memory sticks are reliable, but they can be easily lost or damaged, especially if you do not handle them properly.

The WD DriveStation Plus is a brilliant portable device that can be used to store your photos, videos and music. It can also be used to back up your files on a USB stick.

Getting storage space cheap

Getting cheap storage space for your PC can be difficult if you have no hardware to back up. There are a couple of reasons why this can be the case. The first is that if you have no PC to back up, you don't need to buy much storage space.

Windows 10 offers an inexpensive way of backing up your PC

The second reason is that the cost of storage space has gone up, particularly if you are backing up files that you will no longer use after you have moved to Windows 10. However, it's still possible to get storage space for your Windows 7 or 8 PC for very little money if you are prepared to change a few of your habits.

You might be surprised that your old 2TB hard drive will actually be sufficient if you want to store photos, videos and games for a long time. You can get the drive for just £30. You can also easily get SSD drives for less than £100 that are fast enough to create a bootable Windows 7 or 8.1 virtual machine that you can run on a regular computer.

You can also use the free CopyPad software to save screenshots. You can save images to the local drive in a location that is easily accessible without software running on your PC.

How to install drivers for Windows 10?

This task can be a real headache, but there is a simple solution. We’re going to walk you through the steps to install drivers for Windows 10 drivers for a number of specific Windows hardware.

What hardware are you looking to install drivers for?

Before we dive into our guide, let’s understand what the hardware devices you’re going to need drivers for are.

●     X99 – Intel’s high-end enthusiast brand

●     Intel X299 – Intel’s high-end enthusiast brand

●     Airmont – Intel’s high-end enthusiast brand

●     Skylake/Kaby Lake – AMD’s high-end enthusiast brand

●     AMD Threadripper – AMD’s high-end enthusiast brand

●     Corsair DDR4 – Corsair’s high-end enthusiast brand

Where to get the drivers

In our opinion, it’s easiest to get drivers for your specific hardware devices on AMD’s Driver Hub. You can either download the OBSE application to your computer, or you can use AMD’s client application to download driver downloads. You will need to download the AMD Client Pro application (recommended) in order to be able to install the driver via the client.

To install the software, run the application and select ‘Download’ on the top right-hand corner, choose your download, and wait a few minutes for it to download the content.

Once the application is downloaded, select the application, right-click, and select ‘install’.

Once the installation is completed, you can click ‘Create’ to store the drivers.

Windows 10 drivers

Since Windows 10 is the most recent version of Windows, all you need to do is download the latest driver release. Alternatively, you can go to AMD Driver Hub, click ‘Get Driver’, select your motherboard brand, and download the latest driver. Once the driver is installed, you’re all set.

PC components

AMD CPUs

If you’re on the hunt for AMD processors, we recommend checking out the relevant AMD product page. Alternatively, you can go to the manufacturer’s dedicated product website.

AMD GPU lineup

Since the Ryzen range of processors is fairly new, we’ll refer to the AMD Radeon lineup.

If you have any experience with AMD APUs, you will know that you need to have the latest driver in order to get them to perform. The latest AMD driver is available on the AMD driver hub, just click ‘Download’. Alternatively, you can go to AMD Driver Hub, click ‘Get Driver’, select your AMD APU and driver release version, and wait a few minutes for the download to complete.

AMD Threadripper lineup

The Threadripper lineup is very different to AMD’s mainstream offerings. AMD’s high-end processor features 64-threads and support for X399 motherboards, and generally requires a water block and better cooling solutions. The driver is available on the AMD driver hub, just click ‘Download’. Alternatively, you can go to AMD Driver Hub, click ‘Get Driver’, select your Intel X299, Core X series, and Thread Ripper processor, and wait a few minutes for the download to complete.

What else can you do to make installing new drivers easier?

Windows 10 – This is the newest version of Windows, and you will notice that Windows Update is not being updated automatically with new drivers, which is a huge time saver. There are several ways to get Windows 10 to automatically check for new updates and download and install driver releases.

An easy way to check for updates is to head to the Settings menu in Windows 10, select ‘Update & Security’, and then ‘Check for Updates’.

If you don’t want to wait, you can go to the Settings menu in Windows 10, select ‘Update & Security’, click ‘Check for Updates’, click ‘Get it now’, and then check for updates in Windows Update. Once the new driver is downloaded, your computer will automatically install it.

If Windows Update is not automatically updating, you can manually go to the Windows Update portal, and search for Windows 10 to get the latest drivers.

If you’re using Ubuntu, you can check for updates using the following commands:

●     sudo apt-get update

●     sudo apt-get upgrade

There’s also the official ‘Ubuntu Software’ repository, which provides direct links to the drivers, so check this out to see if a new version of the driver is available.

That’s it – we hope you’ve found this guide useful. Now that you know how to install new drivers, you’ll have all the functionality and peace of mind you need when purchasing a new graphics card. Best of luck!

Chapter 3 Windows Store

What is Windows Store in Windows 10?

Windows Store is a new Windows operating system application store which allows third party applications to be offered to users to download directly on a personal computer or a Windows tablet or PC. For instance you can access Windows Store for your Xbox One console and access any Microsoft Store content. For general purpose computing the download link is placed in the App –> Software center section of the device. By default, all the apps will have a simple “Get” button which allows the user to download the program.

What is the difference between Universal Windows Platform and Windows Store?

The Windows Store can be accessed on any type of device, including any laptop, tablet, and even smartphones like the Lumia series, using this application. The app in question is universal. This means, the app can run on any type of device, regardless of whether it is a PC or a tablet.

Universal app means that the apps will work on the platform whether it is a PC, a phone or a Xbox One.

Universal Windows Platform also means that the apps will be developed to work on all types of devices, not only the tablets, but also any kind of laptop, laptop, laptop, laptop, etc. The application will work only on the Surface hardware, only on the Windows 10 desktop, but also on the Xbox One console, on the Windows Phone, and so on.

So if you are looking to create an app that will work on any device, Universal Windows Platform (UWP) is the best platform to go with.

Ableton Live is one of the first apps to offer UWP. Here are few of the first apps which have been developed for UWP:

●     Sound Recorder 2 (Embrace Windows 10 and WP8.1)

●     AVG Cleaner (MobiLgas)

●     Bing (Light Blue Screen of Death)

●     Impala (Maxthon)

●     UC Browser (Opera Max)

●     Facebook (Core i3 version)

●     Skype (VLC)

●     WPS Office (PDF)

●     Netflix (Beta)

●     Xbox Music Beta (UWP)

●     YouTube Beta (UWP)

●     Skype News (Microsoft Edge)

●     Netflix (Beta) (UWP)

How to download applications from Windows Store

The fastest and the easiest way to download the apps from Windows Store is to use an app store account.

To create an app account, click the “Windows Store” section from the Start menu, select “Get an App Developer” and sign in to a Microsoft account if you have one.

The above process will take you to the “Registering a New Application” section and you can choose to create a UWP app or not to do that.

It may also be useful to sign in to Xbox Live if you are interested in releasing your Xbox One applications for the Windows Store.

Please note: Creating the app store account will create an app in the “Developers Hub” section on the “Windows Store” so make sure that this is not a primary profile. This will create the app under the default user account, and you will have to manually assign the app to your own.

There are a few other tricks and commands to be able to upload the app to Windows Store:

Right click on the “Developers Hub” on the Start menu and select “Settings” then “Microsoft account”

and select “Settings” then “Microsoft account” Under the “My Microsoft account” section click “Manage sign in settings” and select the Microsoft account to which you want to upload the app.

Select the Microsoft account to which you want to upload the app. From the “Manage application access settings” menu, select the “Sign in to…” option and you will see a drop down box with “My apps” and you need to select it.

You will see a drop down box with “My apps” and you need to select it. Now click the “Upload this app” and the app will be sent to the device.

The app will be sent to the device. Click the “Create a product” option and select “Windows 10 Apps”

Now select “Windows 10 Apps” When the account is created click the “Create My product” option, you will be directed to the product control panel where you will be able to name the app and customize its icon.

Select “My product” option, you will be directed to the product control panel where you will be able to name the app and customize its icon. You can download and build the app using Visual Studio Express 2015, and run the application with the associated installer.

Dropbox UWP App

Dropbox is probably the most popular cloud storage service right now and the Windows Store is no different. Here are a few of the first apps for UWP:

Skype for Desktop (Exclusive)

Chrome

Microsoft Edge

YouTube

Google Play

Skype

Hulu Plus

Amazon Prime Video

Line2UWP (Exclusive)

                  Netflix (Beta) (UWP)

                  Xbox Music Beta (UWP)

                  Xbox Video (UWP)

                  YouTube (Beta) (UWP) (UWP Beta)

                  Skype News (Microsoft Edge)

How to use Windows Store in Windows 10?

To install and use the Windows Store in Windows 10 you have to follow this:

●     Step 1: You will need to enable all of the necessary third-party software in Windows 10 for it to run in the background. Open the Settings app. In the Search bar, type ‘Apps and features’ and click on it. Click the switch ‘Allow apps from the Store to run in the background’.

●     Step 2: Open the Start menu. Right-click the Search button. Click Settings. Click the ‘App Store’. Click ‘Manage applications in the background’. Tick the box ‘Allow apps from the Store to run in the background’. Click ‘OK’.

●     Step 3: As soon as you click on a Windows Store app, the Store notification bar will appear on the bottom-right of the desktop. Click the ‘X’ button in this notification to dismiss it. You will see the app install itself and its icon on the Start screen, and will be able to launch it.

●     Step 4: If the Windows Store offers you a free trial version of an application, you can click on the ‘X’ button to dismiss the notification, and still get to the trial. You can click the ‘X’ on the notification when you are ready to download the full version of the software, if it is free of charge.

How to uninstall apps from the Windows Store?

To uninstall an app from the Windows Store, you will need to make sure that you have already paid for the software. For example, the free iTunes app is only available in the Windows Store.

Once you have decided to uninstall the app, simply select ‘X’ to dismiss the notification, then click on the ‘X’ again to dismiss the uninstall process. If you have already purchased the software, you will be redirected to the Microsoft Store where you can make a purchase of the software.

How to uninstall apps from the Windows Store that you have not paid for

Sometimes you will be sent to a page saying that the app you want to uninstall has already been paid for. This is a red herring, as it only means that you are in the trial period. You can still uninstall the app without paying anything.

Tap on the notification. Once you have downloaded the full version of the app, click on the ‘X’ button to dismiss the uninstall process.

How to use Microsoft Edge in the Windows Store?

The Microsoft Edge browser has its own category on the Windows Store. To access it, type ‘Cortana’ in the search bar, and select ‘Cortana and Windows Store’ from the results. This will open the ‘Shop’ in the Microsoft Edge browser, from where you can search for and install extensions.

The Store can be accessed by going to ‘Cortana’ in the search bar, and tapping on the ‘Shop’ link.

How to uninstall extensions from the Microsoft Edge browser?

To uninstall a Microsoft Edge extension, go to the ‘Cortana’ section in the Microsoft Edge browser, and click on the ‘Elements’ tab. If an extension is not already listed here, tap on the ‘X’ button to dismiss the notification.

How to uninstall Chrome extensions from the Microsoft Edge browser?

The Chrome browser offers a similar sort of functionality to Microsoft Edge, as it has its own Store section. To access it, click on the ‘Shop’ tab, and select ‘Extensions’. The Chrome Store will open, where you can search and install Chrome Extensions.

You can also uninstall Chrome extensions through the Chrome browser, just as you can with Microsoft Edge.

How to uninstall Dropbox extensions from the Microsoft Edge browser?

The Microsoft Edge browser offers a similar sort of functionality to the Google Chrome browser. To access it, tap on the ‘Shop’ tab, and select ‘Dropbox’. The Microsoft Edge Store will open, where you can search and install Dropbox Extensions.

You can also uninstall Dropbox extensions through the Windows Store, just as you can with Microsoft Edge.

How to uninstall iCloud Drive extensions from the Microsoft Edge browser?

The Microsoft Edge browser offers a similar sort of functionality to the Google Chrome browser. To access it, tap on the ‘Shop’ tab, and select ‘iCloud’. The Microsoft Edge Store will open, where you can search and install iCloud Extensions.

You can also uninstall iCloud Drive Extensions through the Windows Store, just as you can with Microsoft Edge.

How to uninstall Chrome extensions from the Microsoft Edge browser?

The Chrome browser offers a similar sort of functionality to the Microsoft Edge browser. To access it, click on the ‘Shop’ tab, and select ‘Chrome’. The Microsoft Edge Store will open, where you can search and install Chrome Extensions.

You can also uninstall Chrome extensions through the Chrome browser, just as you can with Microsoft Edge.

How to uninstall Dropbox extensions from the Microsoft Edge browser?

The Microsoft Edge browser offers a similar sort of functionality to the Google Chrome browser. To access it, tap on the ‘Shop’ tab, and select ‘Dropbox’. The Microsoft Edge Store will open, where you can search and install Dropbox Extensions.

You can also uninstall Dropbox extensions through the Windows Store, just as you can with Microsoft Edge.

How to uninstall iCloud Drive extensions from the Microsoft Edge browser?

The Microsoft Edge browser offers a similar sort of functionality to the Google Chrome browser. To access it, click on the ‘Shop’ tab, and select ‘iCloud’. The Microsoft Edge Store will open, where you can search and install iCloud Extensions.

You can also uninstall iCloud Drive Extensions through the Windows Store, just as you can with Microsoft Edge.

How to uninstall Chrome extensions from the Microsoft Edge browser?

The Chrome browser offers a similar sort of functionality to the Microsoft Edge browser. To access it, tap on the ‘Shop’ tab, and select ‘Chrome’. The Microsoft Edge Store will open, where you can search and install Chrome Extensions.

You can also uninstall Chrome extensions through the Chrome browser, just as you can with Microsoft Edge.

Which third-party Google extensions are compatible with Microsoft Edge?

Chrome extensions are compatible with Microsoft Edge in different ways. For example, Google Keep, the company’s whiteboard-like note-taking app, is fully compatible with Microsoft Edge, while Google Docs, the company’s word processing service, isn’t.

To see all extensions compatible with Microsoft Edge, go to the Microsoft Edge Store, and check off the box next to the extension you’d like to install.

You can also download the extensions directly from Microsoft’s site, as well as link them to your Microsoft account. Just go to the extensions’ product page, and click on ‘Get a Link’ to get started.

However, a number of Microsoft’s extensions are not compatible with Microsoft Edge.

One example is the Microsoft Keyboard (Windows, macOS, and Linux). That extension works perfectly on Mac and Linux, but not on Windows. In fact, Microsoft has removed the Microsoft Keyboard extension from its store.

How to uninstall third-party Google extensions from the Microsoft Edge browser?

The Google Chrome extension launcher (known as the Chrome Web Store) is a more straightforward and efficient way to download and install extensions on your Microsoft Edge browser.

To access it, click on the ‘All Categories’ tab, and click ‘Search Chrome Web Store’. The All Categories section will open, where you can search and install extensions.

Click ‘Search Google’ under the ‘Extensions’ section, and search the rest of the Chrome Web Store for any extension you’d like to install. Click ‘Get Extension’ to download it.

You can uninstall Chrome extensions from the Chrome Web Store, just as you can with Microsoft Edge.

Windows 10 privacy settings

Microsoft Edge offers a number of privacy features. However, it’s worth making sure you’ve enabled the settings you’re looking for.

On the Microsoft Edge Settings page, head over to ‘Privacy’, and check ‘Block address bar from collecting information’, and ‘Block background applications from collecting information’. These are both settings which only affect Edge, not other applications.

The Block background applications section will block programs from running in the background, thus preventing them from seeing anything that you don’t want them to see.

Head back to the ‘Privacy’ page, and check ‘Turn on advanced privacy settings’. This will enable you to clear your browsing history, history of searches, and location history – all three of these are things you can’t see in the Microsoft Edge Settings page.

The ‘Clear browsing history’ option will clear everything by clearing your browsing history.

Finally, head back to the ‘Advanced Privacy Settings’ page, and click ‘Restrict website data’. Here you can tell Edge to only show your address bar in non-flash video windows, disable advertising, and prevent Edge from keeping track of how many times you’ve visited sites.

How to clear your browsing history in Windows 10

There are two ways to clear your browsing history in Windows 10. The first is to open your Settings app, and click on ‘Accounts & Privacy’.

In the left-hand panel, click on ‘Microsoft Edge’. From there, click on ‘View browsing history’. This will show you a list of your most visited websites, plus a clickable link to clear your browsing history.

The other method is to open the ‘Operating System’ app, and go to ‘Accounts & Privacy’. From there, click on ‘Device Settings’.

Click on ‘Privacy’ and ‘Clear browsing history’.

Is it easier to manage your privacy settings in Windows 10?

Yes. However, you can download Firefox by visiting this page. It’s free, and the open source software means it is harder to break or go viral.

Plus, Firefox doesn’t use third-party extensions, and is easier to use than Edge.

Also, it has its own web browser, so if you prefer to browse the internet on another computer, you can switch from Edge.

What are the best free Windows 10 web browsers?

There are three very popular free web browsers in use on Windows 10:

Anti – The oldest browser on the list, Anti is a bit limited, but offers the most features out of all the free Windows 10 browsers.

Mozilla Firefox – You can use Firefox without paying for it, but the default installation will remove its Add-ons, such as Newsvine, Adobe Reader and Flash, which you might want to download again.

Firefox has also integrated Pocket, a service that enables you to save and access content you want to read later, but don’t necessarily want to open.

The rest are:

Bing (Microsoft) – This browser is supported by Microsoft, which gives it the advantage of being the most well known. But it doesn’t offer any social media integration.

Chrome (Google) – Google’s browser is better than others in this list. It’s fast and lightweight, which is handy when you have more than a few tabs open. But it doesn’t have the same selection of add-ons as Firefox.

Safari (Apple) – Safari is perhaps the most dependable browser on Windows 10, but some users prefer Chrome’s speed.

Chapter 4 Windows Hello

What is Windows Hello in Windows 10?

Windows Hello is a security feature that uses biometrics, specifically face recognition, to sign-in to your PC or tablet. Using sensors, Windows Hello processes your face to help you log in to your PC or tablet with greater security and confidence.

If you don’t have a biometric security product such as an iris scanner, face scanner, fingerprint scanner, or USB security key (the companies offer a range of USB security keys), you can also use Windows Hello face recognition to unlock a PC, tablet, or phone, or access secure content.

There are four available face recognition security options in Windows 10, allowing you to configure how Windows Hello facial recognition works.

Facial recognition for Windows Hello is built into Windows 10 Anniversary Update. To enable facial recognition in your Windows 10 PC or tablet, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Face recognition and make your selection.

You have three options for how Windows Hello facial recognition works:

Simple – To use facial recognition in most cases you don’t need to use a PIN or password. Just hold the front facing camera up to your face and Windows Hello will verify your identity. The device won’t wake unless you agree. It’s simple, convenient, and safer than typing in a PIN or password.

To use facial recognition in most cases you don’t need to use a PIN or password. Just hold the front facing camera up to your face and Windows Hello will verify your identity. The device won’t wake unless you agree. It’s simple, convenient, and safer than typing in a PIN or password. Perfect camera To use facial recognition in most cases you will need to use the camera on your device. If you want to enable Windows Hello facial recognition on a device that has a screen, a keyboard, or does not have a camera, you will need to use a PIN or password. You will need to unlock Windows Hello with a PIN or password to authenticate your face. For example, on a tablet or laptop with a screen, you can unlock it using a PIN or password. Once Windows Hello is active on the device and your face has been saved in the camera, you will need to unlock your device with a PIN or password.

To use facial recognition in most cases you will need to use the camera on your device. If you want to enable Windows Hello facial recognition on a device that has a screen, a keyboard, or does not have a camera, you will need to use a PIN or password. You will need to unlock Windows Hello with a PIN or password to authenticate your face. For example, on a tablet or laptop with a screen, you can unlock it using a PIN or password. Once Windows Hello is active on the device and your face has been saved in the camera, you will need to unlock your device with a PIN or password. Perfect lens – When you want to use facial recognition with a Windows Hello-enabled device that does not have a camera, you can use a lens or a camera from another Windows 10 PC or tablet. Windows Hello will activate facial recognition on that device and log you in. You can choose to enable Windows Hello facial recognition on a Windows 10 PC or tablet using a lens or a camera.

Note: While the available options are simple and convenient, there are some cases when you may not be able to use facial recognition and a PIN or password. For example, you might have a screen on your PC or tablet that’s too thick to allow you to use a camera and still use a keyboard or a screen to type. There may also be cases when you don’t own a computer, tablet, or laptop with a camera.

I want to use Windows Hello to log in. Can I use a camera instead?

When you use facial recognition to log in, you can choose from one of the three facial recognition options when you’re setting up Windows Hello on a new device or when you already have a device set up.

If you want to use facial recognition to log in, you’ll need to have a device that’s able to use facial recognition to authenticate you. This may include a touchscreen PC, a mouse and keyboard-equipped tablet, or a phone that’s not capable of using facial recognition. If you don’t own any of these devices, you will be prompted to use a PIN or password.

If you set up facial recognition on a Windows 10 PC, you will be prompted to use a PIN or password when you try to sign in. If you are on a desktop PC or a tablet and you are not on a keyboard, you’ll be asked to use a PIN or password to sign in to Windows Hello.

How do I set up facial recognition on my PC?

You can add facial recognition to a Windows 10 PC by adding a face. You will need to create a user account for your new user. You can do this in a few different ways.

●     Step 1: Find and open the Start Menu. Click the Run command and then click “Windows features.”

●     Step 2: Type “add a device” in the search box and then click the result.

●     Step 3: Click “new device.”

●     Step 4: Use the “add a user” link to create a new Windows 10 PC user.

●     Step 5: For Windows Hello, you will be asked to enter your Windows 10 PC’s login credentials. For example, on a Windows 10 laptop with a keyboard and screen, you can enter your Microsoft account credentials.

●     Step 6: After you have been authenticated, you will be able to add your face to Windows Hello.

●     Step 7: Click “OK.”

●     Step 8: Follow the instructions to enable the feature.

●     Step 9: At this point, you will be asked to log in. You’ll also be asked to give your PC a name. Click “Log In” to sign in.

●     Step 10: Then click “OK.” You’ll then be able to use Windows Hello on the new PC.

Once you add a face to your Windows 10 PC, you can also use Windows Hello to sign in with a mouse or keyboard.

If you want to use a camera, you can set up facial recognition by choosing one of the three face recognition options when you’re setting up Windows Hello on a new device or when you already have a device set up.

If you set up facial recognition on a Windows 10 PC, you will be prompted to use a PIN or password when you try to sign in to Windows Hello.

How do I sign in to Windows Hello on a Windows 10 Mobile phone?

Windows 10 Mobile users can use face recognition to log in to Windows Hello on a PC with a fingerprint reader. To sign in, you’ll be prompted to use a PIN or password. To set up facial recognition, you’ll need to create a new device, either by adding a device or logging in to a Windows 10 Mobile device with your Microsoft account.

If you set up facial recognition on a Windows 10 Mobile phone, you will be prompted to use a PIN or password when you try to sign in to Windows Hello on Windows Hello.

If you add a lens or camera to your Windows 10 Mobile device, you will be prompted to set up facial recognition when you log in to Windows Hello.

To sign in to Windows Hello, you’ll also be asked to provide your Windows 10 PC’s credentials. This means that if you use a USB-C or Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, you’ll also be asked to enter your PC’s password when you want to sign in.

How do I sign in to Windows Hello on a Windows 10 PC?

Step 1: On a PC, log in to Windows Hello.

Step 2: Choose the face recognition option under “options” and “lock screen options.”

Step 3: For mobile devices that have Windows Hello, you’ll be prompted to enter your Windows 10 PC’s credentials.

Step 4: For mobile devices that don’t have Windows Hello, you’ll be prompted to add a lens or camera to your device.

Step 5: After you have been authenticated, you will be able to use your face to sign in to Windows Hello.

If you want to use facial recognition to log in, you’ll need to use a PIN or password on a Windows 10 PC.

If you add a lens or camera to your Windows 10 Mobile device, you will be prompted to set up facial recognition when you log in to Windows Hello.

How do I set up facial recognition on a Windows 10 Mobile device?

On your device, tap the “Face” icon.

Choose “Facial Recognition” from the “Face” menu.

Step 1: Add a lens or camera.

Step 2: Make sure to select a device that has a face recognition option.

Step 3: After you have been authenticated, you will be able to use your face to sign in to Windows Hello.

Step 4: Once you have been authenticated, you will be able to use your face to sign in to Windows Hello.

If you add a lens or camera to your Windows 10 Mobile device, you will be prompted to set up facial recognition when you first sign in to Windows Hello.

If you add a lens or camera to your Windows 10 PC, you will be prompted to set up facial recognition when you first log in to Windows Hello.

To log in to Windows Hello, you’ll also be asked to provide your Windows 10 PC’s credentials. This means that if you use a USB-C or Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, you’ll also be asked to enter your PC’s password when you want to sign in.

Windows 10 Mobile devices with face recognition

As of this writing, there are only four Windows 10 Mobile devices that have the facial recognition option — the Lumia 950 and 950 XL, the Lumia 650 and 650 XL, and the HP Elite X3. All of these devices use facial recognition via the front-facing camera to log into Windows Hello — you simply unlock the device, then type your PIN or password and facial recognition is enabled.

But the Lumia 950 and 950 XL, the Lumia 650 and 650 XL, and the HP Elite X3 feature optional support for face recognition via the rear-facing camera, as well — that is, you can use your face to unlock the phone, but you can also use the rear camera to enable Windows Hello authentication, just as you would on a PC.

The Lumia 950 and 950 XL, for example, support face recognition via the rear camera on supported devices:

Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book, if you purchase Microsoft’s updated version of the tablet with Microsoft’s updated version of the tablet with an integrated fingerprint sensor, the Surface Pro 4 with the Microsoft B118 Surface Pen, the Surface Pro 4 with Surface Dial, and the Surface Book with Detachable Keyboard

Lumia 950 and 950 XL devices with face recognition support, if you purchase the Lumia 950 with Microsoft’s updated version of the tablet with Microsoft’s updated version of the tablet with an integrated fingerprint sensor, the Lumia 950 with Microsoft’s updated version of the tablet with an integrated fingerprint sensor, the Lumia 950 with Microsoft’s updated version of the tablet with an integrated fingerprint sensor, the Lumia 950 XL with Microsoft’s updated version of the tablet with an integrated fingerprint sensor, and the Microsoft Lumia 640 (XL) or Lumia 640 (Standard)

The Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book, if you purchase the Surface Pro 4 with Microsoft’s updated version of the tablet with an integrated fingerprint sensor, the Surface Pro 4 with Surface Dial, and the Surface Book with Detachable Keyboard

The Lumia 640 (Standard) devices with face recognition support, if you purchase the Lumia 640 (Standard) with Microsoft’s updated version of the tablet with Microsoft’s updated version of the tablet with an integrated fingerprint sensor, the Lumia 640 with Microsoft’s updated version of the tablet with an integrated fingerprint sensor, and the Microsoft Lumia 640 (XL) or Lumia 640 (Standard)

Microsoft already took this extra step to support face recognition via the rear camera on Lumia phones by adding an option to allow the feature via the settings menu, but you had to turn on the option yourself, so Microsoft is making it the default by enabling facial recognition via the camera on all Windows 10 Mobile devices with the front-facing camera.

But why not include it right off the bat? Well, this allows you to be alerted if someone else tries to use your phone or tablet with a trusted face. A trusted face can be determined using your device’s IR system, and if it’s in range of a new person, you’ll get a notification that lets you know. When this happens, the option to disable face recognition can be found in the settings menu, too.

Now, whenever a new phone or tablet with the Windows Hello facial recognition camera or fingerprint sensor comes along, it’ll automatically be supported. It’s up to users, though, to enable facial recognition on Windows Hello-enabled devices, if they want to, and it’s an interesting change.

Chapter 5 Cortana

What is Cortana in Windows 10? How can I customize my chatbot?

Microsoft Cortana is now available to everyone who already has Windows 10 installed, as well as to new Windows 10 Mobile users. If you don’t have a Microsoft account, you can set one up and set it up once you create your Windows 10 account. After setting it up, click the Cortana button on the taskbar, and you’ll be able to use Cortana to get your favorite music, watch a favorite TV show, or shop for new clothes using Bing.

Sign up for the Microsoft Store.

To set up Cortana, you will need to create an account but to use it for software updates and apps, you also need to connect your Microsoft Account to a Microsoft Store account. To sign up, log in to your Microsoft Account, click on the down-arrow button on the top right side of the page, then click Sign in to Microsoft Store and follow the instructions. Signing in will generate a new link in your address book, and when you click on that, Cortana will be able to access your data.

After setting up an account, the next step is to add Microsoft Store so that Cortana can make purchases in the store. Go to your Microsoft account settings and click on the blue Create a Microsoft Account button. On the next screen, click on the Select a User button and add a Microsoft account. This will add Cortana as an app to the Microsoft Store.

Set up Cortana’s skills.

Once you have signed into your Microsoft account and have Cortana installed, go to the Cortana app on your Windows 10 laptop or PC. You will see a new screen with an orange Reminder card. The orange Reminder card will be Cortana’s “Actions” card, which is where she will do things for you. On this card, look for the “Enable Skills” link. If you click on this link, you can enable a set of Microsoft-provided “skills.”

After clicking on “Enable Skills,” click on the “Next” button. When the next screen appears, click on “Continue to Next.”

On the next screen, click “Next” again, and then “Enable Devices.” Click on “Continue to Next,” and then “Allow Cortana to sync with my accounts.”

Next, click “Continue to Next,” and then on the “Finish” button. You will be prompted to confirm the change on the first screen that pops up. After clicking on “Confirm,” your apps will be activated.

Next, click on the orange Reminder card again, and then click “Finish.” You will be taken back to the Cortana app’s home screen. Click on the card that says “Reminders,” which will show you the reminders in your To-Do list, and you will be able to add a reminder.

Set up Cortana’s Notebook.

In the Cortana Notebook’s first page, click the menu button in the upper right-hand corner of the notebook. You will be taken to a page where you can select “Add a reminder” or “Save a note.” Click the “Create” button to start a new note, and then a note card will be displayed. Click the “More actions” button at the bottom of the page to modify the note. To add a specific time in the note, you can either type it in the search box on the card or click the “Add calendar entry” link, which will automatically show you a calendar entry. You can add a title to the note by clicking the “Save” button. Click the “Save” button again when you are finished, and your note will be saved in the Notebook.

You can click on the menu button again to get back to the Cortana Notebook home page. Click on the “Clipboard” button, and a list of all your recently copied items will be displayed. You can click on the search button to open the search box and look for a specific note, and then select it to open it in the Notebook. You can also click on the cog icon at the top right-hand corner of the screen to open the Cortana Notebook’s settings page. Click on the gear icon at the top right-hand corner of the page to access the Notebook’s settings.

Set up Cortana’s Notebook.

On the Notebook page, click on the “More actions” link. A list of things Cortana can do will appear. Select the “Create a new reminder” option, and then a new Cortana Note will open where you can input the reminder. Click on the “Add calendar entry” link. This will open a search box, where you can enter the name of a calendar entry. You can add a title to the note by clicking the “Save” button. Click the “Save” button again when you are finished. Your note will be saved in the Notebook.

Set up Cortana’s Notebook.

On the Notebook page, click on the “More actions” link. A list of things Cortana can do will appear. Select the “Create a new reminder” option. This will open a new Cortana Note where you can input the reminder. Click the “Add calendar entry” link. This will open a search box, where you can enter the name of a calendar entry. You can add a title to the note by clicking the “Save” button. Click the “Save” button again when you are finished. Your note will be saved in the Notebook.

How to manage notes in the Windows 10

1. Choose the notes you want to manage in the “Create a new Note” section in the Cortana Notebook.

2. Click on the three dots in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Click “Settings.” You will then see three tabs that are labeled, “Notes,” “Notes for me,” and “Manage notes.” Click on the “More actions” link, and then click on the “Manage notes” link. You will then see a page that is divided into two sections.

3. Click on the “Create new note” section in the “Create a new note” section. A new Notebook page will appear, where you can enter the information needed to create a new note. To add a specific time in the note, you can either type it in the search box on the card or click the “Add calendar entry” link, which will automatically show you a calendar entry.

You can click on the menu button again to get back to the Cortana Notebook home page. Click on the “Clipboard” button to get back to the Clipboard’s menu. Click on the “Search” button to open the Search box and look for a specific note, and then select it to open it in the Notebook. Click on the cog icon at the top right-hand corner of the page to open the Notebook’s settings page. Click on the gear icon at the top right-hand corner of the page to access the Notebook’s settings.

How to set up Cortana’s Notebook in Office 365

1. Go to the Office 365 website.

2. Click the green “Activate” button that is at the bottom-right of the page. Click on “Search for and sign in to Office 365” in the dialog box that appears. You will see a list of Office 365 services to choose from, including Outlook, Exchange, Skype for Business, SharePoint Online, and OneDrive for Business.

3. Choose Outlook, and then click “Next.” You will then see a section labeled, “Sign in with an email address.” You can enter an existing Microsoft account or sign in to a new one. Click “Next” on this screen.

4. Click on “Show me what I am getting.” This will open the Account page, where you can enter a name for your Office 365 domain, the owner’s email address, and the password. You can also enter an Office 365 Home, Personal, or University Domain if you have one. Click “Next.”

5. You will see a “Your Account Settings” section that says “Enable Notebook,” with a link to click on. You can enter an email address and then click “Continue.” This will take you to a page that says, “Next: Enable Sync so other people can see what you are doing.” Click “Next.”

6. Click “Next: Set up Cortana.” Click “Next.” You will see a screen that says, “How do you use Cortana?” Click “Next” on this screen.

7. Click “Next: Sync notes to OneDrive.” This will open a page that says, “Sign in with an email address.” You can enter an existing Microsoft account or sign in to a new one. Click “Continue” on this screen.

8. Click on the cog icon at the top right-hand corner of the page to open the Notebook’s settings page. Click on the gear icon at the top right-hand corner of the page to open the Notebook’s settings.

How to use Cortana in Outlook and OneNote

Go to Outlook.

Click on the green “Sign in” button that is located at the bottom-right of the screen.

Choose “Sign In with your Microsoft account.” Click “Continue.” You will then see a page with a link to click on to sign in to Outlook.com. Click on the link.

You will then see a page that says, “Sign in to Outlook.com with your Microsoft account.” Click on the link. You will be taken to a page that says, “Your sign in has been saved. If you change your account settings in the future, your sign in will also change. To change your login and password, go to the Account tab at the top right of Outlook.com.”

Click on the gear icon at the top right-hand corner of the page to open the Notebook’s settings page. Click on the gear icon at the top right-hand corner of the page to open the Notebook’s settings.

Click on the cog icon at the top right-hand corner of the page to open the Notebook’s settings page. Click on the cog icon at the top right-hand corner of the page to open the Notebook’s settings.

Click “Cortana Notebook.” Click “Next.” You will see a page that says, “How do you use Cortana?” Click “Next” on this screen.

Click “Next: Sync Notes to OneDrive.” This will open a page that says, “Sign in with an email address.” You can enter an existing Microsoft account or sign in to a new one. Click “Continue.” You will then see a page that says, “Next: Sync Notes to OneDrive.” This will open a page that says, “Sign in to Outlook.com with your Microsoft account.” Click on the link. You will then see a page that says, “Sign in to Outlook.com with your Microsoft account.” Click on the link. You will then see a page that says, “Sign in to Outlook.com with your Microsoft account.” Click on the link. You will then see a page that says, “Sign in to Outlook.com with your Microsoft account.” Click on the link.

Click on the cog icon at the top right-hand corner of the page to open the Notebook’s settings page. Click on the cog icon at the top right-hand corner of the page to open the Notebook’s settings.

                  Click “Cortana Notebook.” Click “Next.” This will open a page that says, “How do you use Cortana?” Click “Next” on this screen.

                  Click “Next: Sync Notes to OneDrive.” This will open a page that says, “Sign in with an email address.” You can enter an existing Microsoft account or sign in to a new one. Click “Continue.” You will then see a page that says, “Next: Sync Notes to OneDrive.” This will open a page that says, “Sign in to Outlook.com with your Microsoft account.” Click on the link. You will then see a page that says, “Sign in to Outlook.com with your Microsoft account.” Click on the link.

                  Click “Next: Sync Notes to OneDrive.” This will open a page that says, “Sign in to Outlook.com with your Microsoft account.” Click “Continue.” You will then see a page that says, “Next: Sync Notes to OneDrive.” This will open a page that says, “Sign in to Outlook.com with your Microsoft account.” Click on the link. You will then see a page that says, “Sign in to Outlook.com with your Microsoft account.” Click on the link.

                  Click on the cog icon at the top right-hand corner of the page to open the Notebook’s settings page. Click on the cog icon at the top right-hand corner of the page to open the Notebook’s settings.

                  Click “Cortana Notebook.” Click “Next.” You will see a page that says, “How do you use Cortana?” Click “Next” on this screen.

                  Click on the cog icon at the top right-hand corner of the page to open the Notebook’s settings page. Click on the cog icon at the top right-hand corner of the page to open the Notebook’s settings page.

                  Click “Masks,” then click on “Recents.” Click “Show advanced options.” Click “Change account settings” to open the OneDrive page. Click the link “You must sign in to add custom backgrounds for Cortana.” Click the link “Sign in to OneDrive” to sign in to Outlook.com with your Microsoft account.

                  Click “Next” on this screen.

                  Click “Incoming device updates” to open the “Send mail or read mail on this computer” page. Click “Click here to continue.”

                  Click “Continue” on this screen.

                  Click “Next” on this screen.

                  Click “Verify your credentials.” Click “Verify your account.” Click “Next.”

                  Click “Finish.” This will open a page that says, “Get started.” Click on the link. This will open a page that says, “Sign in to OneDrive with your Microsoft account.” Click on the link. You will then see a page that says, “Your free storage is over.” Click “Remove” to remove all of your free storage space. You will then see a page that says, “Cortana Notebook is available for download.” Click “Download” to start the download. You will then see a page that says, “Cortana Notebook is available for download.” Click “Download” to start the download.

                  Once the download has completed, you will see the download box appear at the bottom of the screen. Click on the box to download the files. Once the download has completed, you will see the download box appear at the bottom of the screen. Click on the box to download the files.

                  The “get started” page will appear. Click on the “Cortana Notebook” link to open the file manager. Click on “Cortana Notebook.” Click on “Start install” and then “Finish.” This will open a page that says, “Cortana Notebook installation finished.” Click the link at the bottom left of the page. This will open a page that says, “You can continue using Cortana.” Click “Continue.” This will open a page that says, “Cortana Notebook requirements updated.” Click “Update” to install the new “Cortana Notebook” on the computer. Click “Update” to install the new “Cortana Notebook” on the computer.

                  Click on the link to “Set up Cortana Notebook.” Click “Next.”

                  Click “Next” on this screen.

                  Click “Next” on this screen.

                  Click “Next” on this screen.

                  Click “Finish.”

                  This will open a page that says, “Your Cortana Notebook is now ready for use.” Click “Continue” to continue using Cortana.

                  Click “Set up Cortana Notebook.”

                  This will open a page that says, “Set up Cortana Notebook.” Click “Next” on this screen.

                  Click “Next” on this screen.

                  Click “Next” on this screen.

                  Click “Next” on this screen.

                  Click “Finish.”

                  This will open a page that says, “Your Cortana Notebook is now ready for use.” Click “Continue” to continue using Cortana.

Chapter 6 Microsoft Office 365

What is Office 365 for Windows 10?

Microsoft’s new Office 365 for Windows 10 actually isn’t really new – it’s actually an add-on to Office 365. It’s a service that lets users access the same Office 365 applications, programs, online storage and online sync features with their Windows 10 devices without requiring a separate Windows 10 desktop OS or even a full Windows 10 license. It’s free to use, and as long as you have a valid Office 365 subscription it also includes free Microsoft account email, calendar, chat and instant messaging (and is otherwise identical to what Office 365 provides for Windows 10 users).

Office 365 for Windows 10

Multiple users can access a copy of Microsoft Office on each other’s devices for the same subscription – whether that’s a single device, or an entire household. If you’re an Office 365 subscriber, it’s also available for use on your smartphone or tablet with Office 365 for Windows 10 Mobile, without installing an Office 365 desktop app (for mobile devices that still have older versions of Office, Office 365 for Windows 10 Mobile also supports Windows Phone 8.1 and above).

Office 365 ProPlus Office apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, are installed from the Windows Store. For Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, users can choose to install the full suite, or just the respective apps.

Office 365 storage allows users to store documents, presentations and photos offline, synchronize content between devices, and create and view documents in a mobile-friendly, ‘SLIM’ version.

The best of Microsoft’s productivity apps – including OneDrive, Outlook.com and Lync, Skype and Yammer – are included with Office 365.

This is more or less what you get with a free trial of Office 365 for Windows 10, as well. There’s not a lot new here. It’s basically a way to replace an Office license with a free subscription that includes a copy of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote on up to 10 different devices. It’s not an attractive offer to most users, as it doesn’t offer an extended license for offline use or SLIM formatting. It does, however, avoid the locked-down user experience of Windows 10 Mobile, and provides one less barrier for the majority of Windows users to using Microsoft’s Office suite.

Office 365 for Windows 10 will also work well with some programs that aren’t available from the Windows Store, including older versions of Microsoft Word and Excel. Users of those older apps can install the Office 2013 desktop suite, which will also be included with Office 365 for Windows 10, and use the full Office experience including Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and the free applications that shipped with Office 2013.

Note that Office 365 for Windows 10 does not include OneDrive. If you’re an Office 365 subscriber, you will get access to OneDrive storage in Windows 10 with Office 365, so you don’t need to switch to another cloud storage service to use OneDrive in Windows 10.

Another option for Windows users

Microsoft has also made Office 2016 available for Windows 8.1 users, which was released in July 2015, and does offer the same Office 365 add-on features. It’s not quite as attractive an offer, though, as it lacks OneDrive storage, or even offline editing of Office documents.

Office 2016 users can also purchase a perpetual license for Office 2016 for $119.99 (around £86 / AU$140), which is cheaper than Microsoft’s standalone price for the software, but does include a one-year Office 365 subscription.

For those interested in acquiring Office 2016 without committing to an Office 365 subscription, you can download it from the Microsoft Store here, and find all the information you’ll need here. You can also purchase a copy directly from the Office.com website, or from a number of different resellers. Office 2016 for Windows 7 and 8.1 will be available on July 30th.

Rollout of Office 2016 for Windows will vary from country to country, so you might have to wait a while for Microsoft’s apps to reach you. You can learn more in Microsoft’s Office 2016 rollout FAQ.

What is Office 365 for Windows 10?

Microsoft is slowly building up its Office 365 ecosystem for Windows 10. Last October, the company announced that it would include support for Hangouts chat in Skype for Business, the premium calling and conferencing service that debuted with the latest version of Windows 10.

In March, Microsoft announced that Office 365 Groups, its popular enterprise social networking platform, would be available for Windows 10. In addition to Groups, Microsoft will release "Office 365 for Teams" as part of the rollout, and that offering will integrate with Microsoft's Teams chat app, currently available only on Android and iOS.

And in December, Microsoft revealed that the latest version of Outlook for Windows 10 would support the company's messaging platforms, including Skype, Yammer and Microsoft Teams.

Paul Thurrott and WalkingCat

The new Office 365-only features in Windows 10 Enterprise will be included in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, though not all features will be available in all Office 365 subscribers, the company said. Microsoft is also opening up free versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint to some Office 365 subscribers, though the new features will be automatically disabled.

Office 365 users who don't have a subscription to the Home, Personal or University plans will be able to get the free features when they upgrade to Windows 10 Enterprise, Microsoft said. For Office 365 ProPlus customers, the free features will be made available after Windows 10 is rolled out.

Hints about Office 365 for Windows 10 have leaked ahead of the operating system's release. In January, Microsoft told Business Insider that a new version of Word and Excel for Windows 10 would be released in the coming months.

In May, former Microsoft senior software engineer Paul Thurrott published details about how Microsoft's Office 365 for Windows 10 would work.

This isn't the first time Microsoft has cut support for one operating system and built a version of its software to work better on another. In December 2014, Microsoft released a preview of Windows 10 with special support for Windows Phone, the company's mobile operating system.

What is Microsoft 365?

Microsoft's new push into the world of cloud services began in September, when it launched a new service called Microsoft 365, aimed at centralizing a customer's cloud services and solutions.

"Microsoft 365 delivers the world's most trusted and comprehensive integration of productivity, communication, security and data," Microsoft's corporate vice president for Office 365 Scott Guthrie wrote in a blog post.

Microsoft's concept for the service, similar to that of other leading cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google, is that customers can avoid having to manage multiple servers and keep their data within a single infrastructure.

The first version of Microsoft 365 — which is aimed at businesses — included support for Microsoft Teams, its messaging app; Dynamics 365, a cloud-based service for customer relationship management; and Windows 10 Enterprise.

Guthrie promised that Microsoft 365 will grow over time, and a second version of the software will be released in March. The version released in March will include support for the Teams app, Office 365 for Education and Enterprise Mobility + Security, Microsoft's package of device management tools, analytics tools and identity and access management features.

Earlier this week, Microsoft announced it would bring Microsoft 365's unified customer experience across Windows 10 devices, Office 365 and Dynamics 365 to devices running iOS and Android, and preview versions of the software will be released later this year.

How to use Office 365 for Windows 10?

When you sign up for Office 365, you will automatically be granted access to both Office 2016 and Office 365 for Windows 10 (formerly known as Office Home & Student). However, it is important to note that at the time of writing, Office 2016 is only available in one edition, while Office 365 for Windows 10 is available in the two editions: Home & Business and Enterprise.

Any other editions of Office are available only to those organisations which choose to sign up for these additional services separately. For Office 365 Home and Business, you get a choice of Mac or PC desktop versions, while you get to choose between several different Mac or PC operating systems. Microsoft offers three different editions for Windows 10: the Home edition, the Personal edition and the Business edition.

Both the Home & Business and Enterprise editions include apps for word processing, spreadsheet and presentation editing and they allow you to collaborate with others to edit documents and spreadsheets from your devices and desktops. All you need to do to get up and running is set a password. These password settings can be managed from the Office 365 admin center, and most users will have to set up a Microsoft account before you can use the service.

Office 365 provides a range of extras as well. Microsoft Maps, Power BI and Bing Maps are included as standard, and OneDrive offers 2TB of storage on a standalone basis for free. For those who need additional storage, OneDrive also includes 100GB of free storage for OneDrive for Business, and it is also available for Windows 10 in its mobile editions. If you own Office 365 or have access to it through an Office 365 subscription, you will get access to a number of additional extras, such as ebooks, cloud storage, Skype for Business, data backups and client to cloud data migration.

One thing to bear in mind is that you can't create and share documents in the cloud without an Office 365 subscription. However, there are exceptions. If you are a teacher and your school or college has subscribed to Office 365, you are still allowed to share documents and edit them in the cloud. If you are using an iPhone, iPad or Android smartphone, then you can use OneDrive for Android, a cloud storage service based on the cloud storage service used by OneDrive. You can read all about OneDrive for Android on the Microsoft website.

Levels of OneDrive for Business

If you use Office 365 for Business, you can benefit from the extra support for SaaS-based applications, which is where Microsoft's mobile and PC Office apps are built. You get five devices per user, and it is possible to have the devices managed and controlled from a central console on a PC. The console allows you to manage what applications can be used on which devices, and you can even block certain applications or cloud services from being used on certain devices.

Leverage Office 365 for Business

If you have an existing business, you can use the tools that come with the Office 365 Business Premium subscription, which is available for an introductory price of US$8.25 (£6.30) per user per month (billed annually). If you have a big organisation, you will likely need the Enterprise Plus option, which is available for US$19.99 per user per month (billed annually).

The Business Premium plan offers email integration, Microsoft SharePoint, support for marketing automation, online tools, advanced security and a number of other features. To get the full benefits of Business Premium, you will also need to purchase an Office 365 Small Business Premium plan, which is available at an introductory price of US$4.99 (£3.75) per user per month (billed annually).

However, if you do not use the tools included in the Business Premium plan, you will be able to upgrade to the Business Essentials plan, which is available at an introductory price of US$3.99 (£2.80) per user per month (billed annually). This gives you basic management tools, with the option of upgrading to the Enterprise option if you need it.

Verdict

Microsoft is one of the most innovative companies around, and while the company may have begun its journey with the classic Office products, its latest offerings prove that it is as innovative as it is productive. OneDrive is, in our view, the most innovative part of Office 365, and as a result it is the only cloud service that has so many features that we could include in our best cloud storage services ranking. It's easy to use and the service can back up your files on a one-way basis, which means you never have to worry about things being lost in transit.

OneDrive uses a file sharing mechanism that makes it easy to share documents, but it also has an intriguing file sync service, which is a great alternative to Dropbox and Google Drive. If you're not a fan of Dropbox or Google Drive, Microsoft is arguably the best alternative. If you're keen to see a full list of the best cloud storage services, you can check out our latest round-up of the best cloud storage services.

Chapter 7 Customization Settings

What are privacy settings for Windows 10?

Windows 10 users can manage their privacy settings on a device-by-device basis to decide whether to share their location data. On a device, you can set the privacy preferences to share certain information only with certain apps or only with certain contacts.

This is helpful when you're in transit to remember that Cortana needs permission to access your location. On a device with the "Charm" command, you can turn the settings on or off.

You can change your privacy settings on a machine by clicking the My Settings icon and clicking the Privacy tab.

On a Windows 10 device with a modern ARM processor, you can turn off the reporting of processor usage. To do so, press Windows key + X.

What are my current privacy settings for Windows 10?

Generally speaking, the settings for privacy and security are one and the same. Your privacy settings for each of these tabs are the same on all devices you use with Windows 10.

What information is Microsoft collecting?

Microsoft collects data that's related to what you do with your device. That data helps the company to "deliver experiences, tools, and updates that keep you connected, entertained, productive, and safe," Microsoft says in its privacy policy.

For example, when you open the Maps app, Microsoft collects data related to your start location and navigation needs. You can change those options under Settings > Privacy > Location Services in Windows 10. You can also uncheck the "When using a location-based service, require your location."

With Microsoft On Demand, the company can collect data related to apps and the services that are installed on your device. You can change the settings in Settings > Privacy > Update & security > Developer options to allow Microsoft to collect data in the following ways:

When you open an app that has Microsoft On Demand installed, Microsoft collects certain information. To change the settings, you can click the Update All button at the bottom of this screen.

To add another option, you can click the pencil icon in the bottom left corner of this screen. Select Options. Scroll down to the "Content that Microsoft collects and your choice" section, and click "Change settings for On-Demand services."

How does Microsoft collect data?

Microsoft collects data in a few different ways. On a device, you can click the Windows key + I icon to turn off Cortana, the Cortana digital assistant.

Cortana collects data such as what you're doing with your PC, your search queries, your calendars, and the apps you've used on your PC. To turn off Cortana, click the Windows key + I icon and click "Turn off Cortana."

Microsoft doesn't collect data if you don't interact with the Windows 10 Home, Education, or Professional editions. For the other editions, click the Action Center icon in the upper right corner of the taskbar and select Settings > System > Language & input. Click "Users & profiles." Select "Current user." Click the "Turn on"button.

To block Microsoft's use of Cortana on your Windows 10 Home, Education, or Professional edition, click the Cortana icon on the taskbar and select "Set up Cortana." Click "Apps with your Microsoft account" to disable those apps. When you're done, select "Done."

You can also change your privacy settings on a Windows 10 device by clicking the My Settings icon and clicking the Privacy tab. On a machine with a modern ARM processor, you can turn the settings on or off.

What data is Microsoft collecting?

A Microsoft spokesperson said that "our products do not collect the content of what you are doing on your device, nor do they listen to what you are saying. Our products listen to what you are telling them to do, such as saying "OK, Cortana" or "Hey, Cortana." On devices that do not have this capability, you will not see 'Hey Cortana' as a command. If you do say 'Hey Cortana,' the application you are using will hear the command and display a notification asking if you'd like to use 'Hey Cortana' to continue."

How can I check whether or not Microsoft has collected my data?

To find out, open Cortana and click "Talk to me." Click the gear icon in the lower right corner of the screen. Click the Privacy tab. Click the Change settings for "Microsoft services." In the "General" section, find the setting for "Microsoft data collection." Click Edit.

Scroll down to the "Web usage data" section and click "Change settings." Click the "Don't collect" button. Click "OK" to save the changes.

To find out what data Microsoft has collected about me, open Cortana and click the gear icon in the lower right corner of the screen. Click the Privacy tab. Click the Change settings for "Microsoft services." In the "General" section, find the setting for "Web browsing activity" and click "Change settings." Click the "Don't collect" button. Click "OK" to save the changes.

When can Microsoft collect data?

Microsoft has different privacy settings for different users. If you're an enterprise user or signed up for Microsoft's corporate email services, you can't opt out of Microsoft's email service or Skype Lite.

Which of Microsoft's services are included in the Windows 10 October 2018 Update?

Microsoft Edge, the company's browser, is included in the Windows 10 October 2018 Update. For enterprise users, Microsoft Office 365 is included, and both offer a unified experience across Office apps (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and OneNote. The update also supports Windows Mixed Reality headsets for the first time.

Windows Ink, Microsoft's pen and touch interface, is included in the update, but some Microsoft applications don't support Microsoft Ink. Games like Minecraft, Minecraft: Pocket Edition, and Forza Horizon 4 have Microsoft-integrated inking functions. You can use Microsoft's note-taking app OneNote for Android and iOS.

Microsoft Skype Translator uses speech and photo recognition to understand spoken words and image sequences for spoken language translation.

How can I control how Microsoft uses my data?

Microsoft collects your data for its purposes and has safeguards to protect your privacy. You can control your own information by changing your settings. To turn off the capability for Cortana, you can go to "Settings" > "Speech, inking, & typing." In the General tab, under "Advanced settings," check the box marked "Turn off my microphone." For the setting for "Web browsing activity," you can find it in the Privacy tab. Under "Web browsing history," the setting is "Off." Check the box marked "Don't collect" for the "Web browsing activity" setting. For the setting for "Location services," you can find it in the Privacy tab. Under "Location services and accuracy," you can find the setting under "How can you turn off your location." Click the checkbox marked "Use location services."

Useful Microsoft privacy controls

Web browser: Edge: There is a useful privacy control for the web browser, Edge. When you click the gear icon in the lower right corner of Edge, you'll see a list of privacy options. Select "No cookies by default." This prevents Microsoft's servers from recording your data.

Email: If you're signing up for an email account, look for the section titled "Account preferences." The Privacy tab will let you control which Microsoft services are allowed to read your email messages. Some Microsoft applications have a more useful setting: Cortana can read your messages and create reminders, but Skype Lite can't do that. To control Cortana's reading of your email, go to "Settings" > "Cortana." In the Account tab, select "Autocomplete to include only me." Click the checkbox labeled "Do not autocomplete me when I appear in your daily briefing." Click "Save changes." To control Skype, go to "Settings" > "Notifications & habits." Under "How can you turn off Skype Lite's location tracking?" make sure you click "Don't collect data."

What about Microsoft Health?

This Microsoft Health service was introduced as an iPhone app in March 2014. It is not included with the October 2018 Update.

What about VPN support?

Microsoft offers a Windows VPN service for corporate use. You can use it with multiple users on one computer for remote access.

What about Microsoft's new online surveillance transparency report?

Microsoft released an online surveillance transparency report in March 2018 to put an end to government mass surveillance of the internet and citizens' online activities.

What does Microsoft do with your data?

Security and privacy are built into every part of Microsoft products. Follow these tips to protect your privacy:

Stay informed, click here to subscribe to TechRepublic's Microsoft Weekly newsletter. Subscribe

All laptops are not created equal, and if you need a portable device to get work done, a Windows 10 notebook should be near the top of your list. Here are the best Windows 10 notebooks for 2018.

Microsoft's latest Surface Book 2 features a flexible design and Intel's eighth-generation Core processors. This makes it a good device for mobile workers.

What are privacy settings for Windows 10?

You can control who sees your PC from the Privacy section of the Windows 10 Settings app. When you turn on privacy settings, you can select a category of people who are allowed to install updates, apps, and share your files with you. You can also use a list of people you’ve added through Windows Hello for extra security.

Finally, you can set your PC to have a feature called “Personalization,” which provides you with a more personalized experience with Cortana, changing things like lock screen background images. You can turn it on or off through the same Privacy section of Windows 10.

How do I make Windows 10 update automatically?

Windows 10 lets you control when updates are installed. You can choose to have updates automatically installed, but you can also manually check for updates. This gives you more control over when updates are installed, and it gives you more time to test whether a specific update is compatible with your PC before you let it run.

If you want to update automatically, you can use the update settings to make sure Windows is automatically installed on a regular schedule.

To update automatically, just open the Windows 10 Settings app, then tap “Update & security” to get to the settings screen.

You can also select “Get updates automatically” and choose which updates you want to install on your computer. To check for updates, check for updates manually in the Control Panel or the Settings app. To find the Control Panel, search for “Control Panel” and click the search button. The first result should be the “Control Panel” app that can check for updates. Click on “Check for updates” and follow the prompts to install new software.

How do I uninstall Windows 10?

You can uninstall all of the programs you install from the Windows Store. Just select the program you want to uninstall and press the “X” key on your keyboard to uninstall it.

You can also uninstall individual pieces of software by using the “Uninstall” button in the Control Panel or using the Taskbar tool.

When you uninstall software, you can tell the system it is uninstalled by the notification that pops up.

How do I delete or clear my browsing history in Windows 10?

Microsoft recommends that you create a “Backup to disk before deleting browsing history.” To do this, you can open Settings > Privacy > Ad Settings > Internet Explorer, then select the “Clear Browsing History” option in the “History” section. You can also delete browsing history from your PC using the “Delete history” option in the “Privacy” section of the Settings app.

If you plan on using the Internet Explorer browser, you can use the “Clear browsing history” feature. Simply open Settings > Internet Explorer > Privacy > Clear history and interests.

How do I check what software is installed on my PC?

If you don’t like all the default applications you’ve installed on your PC, you can easily check the list of apps that Windows 10 installed. You can open the Settings app, then go to “Update & security” to check for new versions of the programs. You can also change the default apps in the Settings app.

You can also go to the “Get apps” page in the Control Panel and look for programs that come pre-installed on your computer, or find apps from the Windows Store.

How do I access my location in Windows 10?

Windows 10 lets you enable a “location history” feature that shows where you’ve been. You can check this information in the Privacy settings, and you can turn it off completely. This is particularly useful if you want to know when you’ve traveled to different places.

If you want to see your location history, open the Privacy section of the Settings app, then select the “Location” option.

How can I configure multiple monitors with Windows 10?

Windows 10 comes with a few features that let you use multiple monitors in Windows. With the displays activated, you can go to System > Displays to get to the following settings:

●     Set up secondary displays.

●     Set up and disable curved screens.

●     Make changes to your display.

●     Make changes to your secondary display settings.

How do I mute the microphone in Windows 10?

On some devices, Windows 10 will automatically mute the microphone when you’re speaking into it or clicking on a textbox. In this case, you will need to enable “Mute mic with button” under Settings > Devices > System.

Do I have to create an account on my PC before using Microsoft Edge?

No. You can use Microsoft Edge browser with your default account without a second sign-in.

How do I open Microsoft Edge with a mouse?

To use Microsoft Edge with a mouse, click the “Type” button in the address bar, then select “Open with mouse” from the pop-up menu.

How do I force stop an app in Windows 10?

If you want to force stop an app on your PC, you can hold down the Windows key on your keyboard, then click the Start button, then select “Settings.” From there, select “Apps and features” and then select “Applications.”

You can also click the All Apps button on the list and select “Don’t run this app.”

How do I force quit an app in Windows 10?

To force quit an app, click on the Windows key in the Start Menu, then click “Power & settings” (with the arrow pointing down) and then select “Windows 10 settings.” Click on the “Power options” button and choose “Force quit apps.”

How do I use Cortana in Windows 10?

Cortana can help you find information using machine learning, but it can also show you personalized recommendations based on your personal interests. You can use Cortana to find information such as weather, news, and sports, or you can use it to take notes or find information on the Web. You can also use it to send email or make phone calls, set reminders, check and manage your calendar, find files on your PC, read aloud text messages and web pages, and more.

How can I customize the appearance of the Start menu in Windows 10?

Windows 10 comes with a basic Start menu with a few elements you can customize. You can change the size of the menu, add a background image, choose your wallpaper, or change the default apps you use on the Start menu.

How do I use Cortana in Windows 10?

Cortana can help you find information using machine learning, but she can also show you personalized recommendations based on your personal interests. You can use Cortana to find information such as weather, news, and sports, or you can use her to send email or make phone calls, set reminders, check and manage your calendar, find files on your PC, read aloud text messages and web pages, and more.

What can I do in Windows 10’s Game Bar?

Windows 10 has a built-in Game Bar with a ton of features. You can use it to record videos, record your gameplay or take screenshots, use speech to text, and more.

How do I use the Game bar in Windows 10?

On most PCs, you can use the Xbox button on the front of your Xbox controller to fire up the Game Bar. In this feature, you can record gameplay, take screenshots, and record your audio.

What can I do with Windows 10’s Story Remix?

Windows 10 comes with Story Remix, a feature that creates slideshows and “stories” based on your photos and videos. These stories are also organized into an album, and you can rearrange the photos, rearrange the order of the slides, or customize the text. You can even add music and special effects to the videos.

Does Windows 10 let me automatically sign-in?

Yes. Windows 10 automatically logs you in every time you sign into a computer. If you want to turn this feature off, follow these steps:

Click the Start button. Click “Programs” in the menu and then click “Sign in & Security.” Select “Advanced,” click the “Change my sign-in information” link, and then choose “Don’t sign in automatically.” Click “Save changes.”

How do I turn on Windows 10’s SmartScreen filter?

In Windows 10, you can use the SmartScreen filter to help keep you safe online. SmartScreen helps block the distribution of potentially harmful files, apps, and websites. To turn this feature on, follow these steps:

Click Start > Settings > Network & Internet. Click “Advanced options” in the left-hand menu. Under “Network and Internet” click the “SmartScreen Filter” link. Turn on the SmartScreen filter by clicking “Turn on” under the “What is this filter?” option and then clicking “Apply.”

How do I access Quick Access, and how can I remove it?

Windows 10 has a new Quick Access feature that allows you to quickly access apps and documents. If you don’t like Quick Access, you can disable it by following these steps:

On the Start menu, click “Settings.” Select “Start” and then click “Change PC settings.” Click the “General” link. Click the “Accounts & Family” link. Click “Accounts & Family settings” under the “Privacy and family settings” section. Click “Accounts and Family” under the “Family and household” section. Select “Advanced account settings.” Click the “Change account settings” link. Select “Edit” under the “Change account settings” section. Click the “Remove” link.

Is there a built-in Privacy Center in Windows 10?

Yes. If you’d like to view and manage all your privacy settings, you can open Windows 10’s Privacy Center to learn more and manage each privacy setting. The Privacy Center also offers quick access to other privacy-related features.

Is there an app for improving privacy and security in Windows 10?

Yes. The new Privacy Center app allows you to manage your account, manage your profile and share settings, set up a strong password for your account, and more. The Privacy Center app is available as a free download in the Windows Store.

Is there a setting to restrict website tracking?

Yes, you can use a privacy-protecting browser like Firefox or Opera to reduce tracking when you surf the web.

Customizing Privacy

Windows 10 offers a number of privacy features that you can use to make your information private and secure.

Windows Defender

Windows 10 includes a built-in antivirus program called Windows Defender that scans files, printers, applications, and installed software for suspicious activity. With Windows Defender, you can scan documents for viruses, and view files you’ve saved online for possible threats. You can also turn on Windows Defender to run scans when you reboot your computer or plug your computer into a wireless router, for example.

You can manage Windows Defender settings by going to the “Windows Defender Security Center” in the “Start menu.” Here, you can set the default behavior of Windows Defender and change your security settings for Windows Defender.

The Privacy section of Windows Defender also offers additional privacy options, such as the option to require a password to open suspicious files or to view sensitive personal data such as contacts and calendar entries.

The Virus & Threat Protection section can provide real-time protection against viruses and malware by scanning files and using strong authentication to prevent unauthorized programs from infecting your computer. Windows Defender also has optional extra security options, such as the option to scan files for viruses and malware only when they are opened, or require that you change your password after it’s been created to avoid potentially exposing sensitive data.

applications, printers, applications, and installed software for suspicious activity. With Windows Defender, you can scan documents for viruses, and view files you’ve saved online for possible threats. You can also turn on Windows Defender to run scans when you reboot your computer or plug your computer into a wireless router, for example. The section also offers additional privacy options, such as the option to require a password to open suspicious files or to view sensitive personal data such as contacts and calendar entries. You can manage Windows Defender settings by going to the “Windows Defender Security Center” in the “Start menu.” Here, you can set the default behavior of Windows Defender and change your security settings for Windows Defender. The section also offers optional extra security options, such as the option to scan files for viruses and malware only when they are opened, or require that you change your password after it’s been created to avoid potentially exposing sensitive data. The AntiVirus & Threat Protection section of Windows Defender allows you to set the default behavior of Windows Defender, so it runs only when you open a file or program, and lets you choose which programs Windows Defender will scan. You can also add your own security programs to the scan list, which is accessed from the “Start menu” page in Windows Defender. These programs may be used to ensure that other programs don’t automatically run when Windows Defender is enabled. For example, you might want to add anti-malware software to automatically check new programs for potential threats before they launch.

Printers, applications, and installed software for suspicious activity. With Windows Defender, you can scan files for viruses, and view files you’ve saved online for possible threats. You can also add your own security programs to the scan list, which is accessed from the “Start menu” page in Windows Defender. These programs may be used to ensure that other programs don’t automatically run when Windows Defender is enabled. For example, you might want to add anti-malware software to automatically check new programs for potential threats before they launch. To prevent updates from automatically installing, go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Defender and click “Turn Off Windows Defender Automatic Update.” (Note: To turn off automatic updates to Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update > Turn off updates for this PC.)

Customers who purchased Windows 10 from Microsoft and still have Windows Defender Antivirus or Windows Defender Essentials on their PC can get a free download of Windows Defender Antivirus. However, this antivirus is only available for PCs that came with Windows 10. To get it, go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Defender and click “Download Windows Defender Antivirus.”

PCs running Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, Windows 10 Enterprise, Windows 10 Education, Windows 10 S, Windows 10 IoT Core, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2, or Windows Server 2016 Datacenter, are automatically protected with Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection.

However, we recommend that you keep Windows Defender Antivirus or Windows Defender Essentials on your PC unless you are fully confident in its ability to protect you. Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection delivers advanced protection that you will receive from Microsoft, including the ability to:

Follow device config changes from PCs to embedded devices to mitigate risks to your devices.

Install software automatically to block malware and protect devices from being remotely compromised.

Block malicious or suspicious content on your device.

Get proactive alerts and information about issues that could impact your security, such as device drivers that might have vulnerabilities.

Setup in just a few minutes, Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection prevents and detects threats in real time that could threaten your device, business, or even your PC or organization.

One of the most important aspects of protection is detecting new threats, which requires Windows Defender to be constantly updated to detect new and evolving threats. For that reason, we provide free security updates on an ongoing basis. If a security issue is identified, we work with our security partners to roll out a fix for Windows Defender and assist those partners in issuing the update for their products. To learn more, see How to upgrade to the latest Windows 10 security updates.

This is why we recommend that you keep Windows Defender Antivirus or Windows Defender Essentials on your PC unless you are fully confident in its ability to protect you.

You can turn off automatic updates to Windows Defender. To turn off automatic updates to Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Defender and click “Turn Off Windows Defender Automatic Update.” (Note: To turn off automatic updates to Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update > Turn off updates for this PC.)

How to customize the taskbar for Windows 10?

In the Settings app, navigate to System > Personalization > Taskbar and click the Start button to choose a Taskbar Icon color. Also, you can customize the "Action Center," which includes the clock, Wi-Fi status, network icon, Wi-Fi On, and Wi-Fi Off icons, by toggling the items using the same icons color as the taskbar.

For the best looking Taskbar, just start by making sure that the taskbar always looks neat and clean. You can hide the arrow and the "Live Tiles" from the Taskbar if you don't use those features.

Magnifier in Windows 10

The Magnifier feature can be found on Windows 10 under Settings > Ease of Access > Magnifier. It is an on-screen magnifying glass that magnifies text, images, and images that are to the right and below the screen. The tool can be configured to magnify up to 800 percent of normal magnification.

Now, let us take a look at how to customize it to your preference.

Open the Magnifier window from Settings, click the magnifying glass icon to enable or disable the function. To zoom in, simply press the Home button, and to zoom out, press the Page Down and Page Up buttons. You can set the Magnifier to be activated automatically when you want to use it. To turn it off, just press the Page Down and Page Up buttons.

The Pop-up blocker in Windows 10

To use the Pop-up blocker in Windows 10, follow these steps.

1. Select Device > Devices.

2. Under the "General" tab, scroll down to "Disabling notifications for apps," then click on the toggle switch for "Notifications for apps."

That's it. You have successfully installed the Pop-up blocker in Windows 10.

To enable the Pop-up blocker, click on the Pop-up blocker icon on the taskbar or start-menu.

Optimize power consumption in Windows 10

The Optimize Power Consumption in Windows 10 feature helps users to lower the power consumption of their device. This is done by enabling "Trim any Windows threads for security or efficiency" and also gives the option to disable these power-hungry apps.

To get started, head to Settings > System > Power & Temp > Power settings > Advanced. Then, under the "Advanced" tab, look for "Trim any Windows threads for security and efficiency" option under the "Performance" section.

Change the default desktop theme in Windows 10

Windows 10 comes with a set of default themes that can be changed by Windows 10 users. The default themes include: "Classic," "Metro," and "Light." The themes can be changed by navigating to Settings > Personalization > Themes.

To access the customization options, go to Themes, click the menu option, "Change the look of your PC," and select the "Choose default desktop theme" tab. Now, you can select the theme of your choice from the available options.

Blue light in Windows 10

Windows 10 users can choose the colors for each of the apps to minimize blue light.

To enable the blue light filter, head to Settings > System > Display and to turn on the switch under "Blocking blue light during sleep."

System tray icon customization in Windows 10

The System Tray icon can be customized to highlight additional items, or you can just hide the tray icon completely if you want to. To customize it, go to Settings > System > Icon customization and tick the checkbox next to the tray icon. You can also set up the tray icon to always be displayed and hidden from the background by going to Settings > System > Advanced > Application Icon setting.

Take the power management shortcut from Settings

If you are a power user, you will know how much you need to boost the performance of your device. The Power Management shortcut in Settings helps you to take the performance settings to the next level.

To get started, head to Settings > System > Battery & power saving > Power options. Then, click on "Manage power options" and select the shortcut.

This will take you to the menu to tweak the features like overclocking the processor, low power mode, and so on. The Power Management shortcut will turn on only when it is triggered, so you need to hold the Shift key to disable it.

Turn off your privacy setting in Windows 10

Use the privacy settings in Windows 10 if you want to use Cortana or SkyDrive. But if you do not want anyone to see you use the features, then you need to disable them. Head to Settings > Privacy & safety > Change how you are shown and shared.

To switch off "Show me how I'm identified" click the Settings button on the right-hand side and select "Privacy and safety." Then, choose "Adjust privacy and safety." Click the toggle next to "Show how I'm identified."

Enable your microphone in Windows 10

Windows 10 has improved voice recognition in Cortana. To enable the microphone, go to Settings > Accounts & privacy > click the My accounts button.

You will then see "Cortana and related features" and if enabled, you will see a microphone icon in the top-right corner. Click the icon to enable or disable the microphone.

Enable/disable Cortana's suggested follow-up messages in Windows 10

Cortana in Windows 10 is great and if you use Cortana to suggest follow-up messages to websites and web searches that you complete in the background, then you need to disable the suggested follow-up messages in order to get rid of them.

To enable them, head to Settings > Personalization > Cortana and then uncheck the box next to "Send follow-up notifications to websites that you complete in the background."

Reset your Bluetooth device

To reset your Bluetooth device in Windows 10, head to Settings > System > Bluetooth and then uncheck the box next to "Dangerously low battery."

Turn on Windows Defender in Windows 10

Windows 10 now has a built-in defense system called Windows Defender. It scans your PC for malicious software, and it gets extra power by default. To turn it on, head to Settings > Update & security > Windows Defender. Then, toggle the switch next to Turn Windows Defender On.

Set a custom folder background in Windows 10

Windows 10 now lets you choose the background for the Overview screen in Settings > System > Desktop and then select the Type of display you want to set it to. You can also change it in the Taskbar.

Windows 10 also allows you to customize your Start menu, which you can access by clicking the Windows logo in the top-right corner and selecting Settings > Personalization > Start. Click on the Start button at the bottom of the Start menu and select Change the look and feel of your Start menu.

Toggle off AutoPlay settings in Windows 10

Windows 10 now lets you completely disable AutoPlay. Click Start, type accessibility, and click Accessibility. Then, check the box to enable the AutoPlay setting and click the OK button.

Toggle off third-party system tray add-ons in Windows 10

The Windows 10 Settings app gives you access to a variety of system settings that you can customize to your liking. You can, for instance, turn off the third-party system tray add-ons from here. You can also disable them. Just scroll to the bottom of the list and choose the option you want to adjust.

Disable Winlogon in Windows 10

Windows 10 lets you completely turn off Winlogon. If you don't want to make the change, you can configure it in Settings > Personalization > Keyboard, and then select "Advanced Configuration." Scroll down to "Winlogon" and click the switch next to it.

Disable Special Command Queuing in Windows 10

The Winlogon add-on lets you disable Spatial Command Queuing. To disable this, go to Windows Settings > System > Hyper-V and toggle the switch next to "Spatial Command Queuing."

Disable Skype and Microsoft Band's sensors

Skype and the Microsoft Band's sensors now automatically turn off when you go into your Device manager. To turn this feature off, head to Settings > Apps & features and then select "Manage incompatible apps." In the list, you should see Skype and Microsoft Band. Click on them and then click the Uninstall option.

Disable the wireless connection dialog in Windows 10

To disable a wireless connection dialog that pops up when you are on a connection that you don't want to let go of, go to Settings > Network & internet > Wi-Fi and toggle the switch next to Network settings.

Remove Google Chrome and add Microsoft Edge

Microsoft now offers a full-fledged browser built into Windows 10. To access it, just head to Settings > Update & security > Windows Insider Program, then select the toggle next to Get the latest updates from Microsoft and then click Get started.

Select Update now and then click "Enable build."

Access your setup files in Windows 10

Updating Windows 10 to the latest build is quite the process, but thankfully there's a way to download a copy of your files.

Open a command prompt or a PowerShell window by clicking on Start and then right-clicking on the Start button and selecting "PowerShell" or "Control Panel," then right-clicking on the dropdown and selecting "Command Prompt" or "Control Panel," and then selecting "Execute.

Once in the command prompt, execute the following commands:

cd ~\Users\Cisco%20\Documents\Windows

md generate-setup-v03.msc

These commands will download the Windows 10 user directory, the setup files and your user profiles.

Note: If you have already installed Windows 10 you will need to download an alternative installer from the Windows 10 Anniversary Update site.

Adjust the language settings in Windows 10

Windows 10 allows you to adjust your default language and pick a different one for functions like Cortana and Phone, however there's a key step you need to do before you can do that.

First, head to Settings > Languages & input > input methods. Select the Windows key, then switch the input method to the language you want.

Next, type a new keyword, for example "watch" and then press Enter to save that selection.

Disconnect your battery

To completely deplete the battery life on your Windows 10 device, click the device icon on the taskbar and select the battery icon (in the case of a Surface Pro, you can just swipe up).

Next, click the "power" icon in the upper-right-hand corner. You should see a screen that asks if you want to "Start (power down)" or "Restore from a backup." Select the latter.

Then click the cog icon and select "power off."

Find and uninstall known issues in Windows 10

If there is an issue with your Windows 10 PC, you can find it listed by following these steps:

From the Settings app, click Update & security > Windows Update.

Disable Cortana

Windows 10 allows you to use Cortana to help you navigate the operating system, but you can disable the feature by following these steps:

Open the Cortana search box. Type "Cortana isn't working" and then press Enter.

Here is where you can enable Cortana again if you want it back, by entering "Cortana" in the Cortana search box. Then, click the gear icon and select "Allow Cortana to connect to my day."

Here is where you can uninstall Cortana again if you want it back, by clicking the gear icon and selecting "Disable Cortana."

Configure an access pattern

Windows 10 allows you to create an access pattern, which is basically a secret phrase or a string of digits. You can change the pattern from the app or you can go into Settings > Accounts > Other Accounts and set it as your new access pattern.

Also, make sure that when you log out of Windows 10 you're not logging out of your browser or another application, or you will lose any preferences you have changed and the previous login password will not work.

Change your lock screen picture

You have access to the Lock screen so you can set up an image of your choice, which you can change by heading to the Settings app. In the window that pops up, scroll down until you see "Lock screen and security" and then select the image you want to use.

Then click "Change lock screen."

Restart your Windows 10 PC

Windows 10 offers the ability to restart your system at any time. To access this feature, select the Start button > Settings > Update & security > Recovery.

When the window opens, scroll down to "Restart now" and click the button to restart your computer.

How to set regional settings for Windows 10?

Not everyone will want their PC set up in their region of choice, so there are a couple of ways to change the settings to suit.

Head into the Settings menu, where you'll find the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) section. Click Change desktop environment:

Give yourself a flavour of what's possible, by changing from the United Kingdom to Ireland by clicking Change desktop environment.

Windows 10 will default to the region of your choice for your Microsoft account when you click the "Change region" button.

Alternatively, you can change your region in-game.

If you're playing video games in Windows 10, select the Library tab, choose Video and Movies and then click Settings. There you'll find a section labelled Other services, which allows you to change your region.

Just remember to change your region back if you're done.

Improve search results by region

Windows 10's search features will help you find specific apps or files, but how about those old files that Microsoft deleted from your PC? You can search for those files using Windows 10, but be warned there's a catch:

Windows 10 search will return you files you've deleted, but it will only remember the search term you originally used to find the files. If you want to find those deleted files again, you'll need to delete those exact files, or use a search tool that's able to find files by their name.

For example, if you tried to delete a folder called Pictures, and searched for Pictures on your PC, Windows 10 would see the folder was deleted, and the search engine would return files it knew to be Pictures.

To remove the same folder and search engine, you'll need to find that folder and simply delete it. You may not even need to do that, however: Some third-party software such as Recuva can find files you deleted through Windows' search feature, and restore them.

When you do delete a file, Windows 10 will sometimes warn you by displaying a warning message. If the warning is given in a different language from your own, click "Change the language to English". Then click "OK".

Windows 10 only saves search history in the US and UK at the moment. Windows 10 will show you an error message if you try to delete your search history. To delete your search history, click "Change the language to English" and then click "OK"

The same Windows 10 error message will also appear if you try to remove the search engine. Just click "Change the language to English" and then click "OK".

Find a better file manager

You'll find a slew of file managers in the Windows Store. Some, such as HyperImage, will require a code before you can download and install it. This is often used to prevent anyone from downloading the file manager and then selling the app on eBay.

Other file managers will allow you to access Windows 10's hidden features such as lock screen apps. A popular one is Solid Explorer. Windows 10's keyboard shortcuts are baked in, but to access any of those hidden shortcuts you'll need to have a file manager installed.

Even if you're looking for a free file manager that allows you to backup data or switch to another user account, you should check out Data Rescue. It is a free Windows 10 application, but you can upgrade to a premium version which allows for more options and offline support for a small fee.

How to uninstall Windows 10

Windows 10 is a service, meaning it was built in a very different way from its predecessors so it can be regularly updated with not just fixes but new features too.

To uninstall a feature in Windows 10, follow these steps:

Open the Start Menu and type 'uninstall a product'. Click 'Uninstall a product'. Click 'Uninstall the product'. Click 'OK' when the uninstall is complete. Close out of the windows.

The Windows 10 Creators Update is now available, and you'll be able to download the upgrade to Windows 10 from Microsoft. It will roll out automatically over the coming days, so if you want to check whether it's available for you, click 'Update and recovery' from the Start menu and then click 'Check for updates'. Click 'Get started' to begin the upgrade process.

Chapter 8 About notification center

What is the notification center for Windows 10?

If you have Windows 10 on your PC, the default setting is that your settings and personalization and privacy settings can be saved to the cloud, meaning you'll be able to bring your PC back to a previous state to either reinstall Windows, update your system or just to make your settings as you like them. This option is good if you're used to using the services Microsoft offers like OneDrive and OneNote, for example, and want to simply have access to your files and settings when you're not connected to the internet.

You can also set up automatic saving and then just use your machine from the cloud to restore your files, set up new saves when you're using a different device, and so on. If you don't want to use this feature, you can disable it by going to Settings > Privacy > Data Usage, and turning off the button that says "Save Settings to My Data."

How to tell which of your apps run in the background?

The idea is to limit apps running in the background to prevent resource depletion or interference with other apps on your system. To do this, head over to Settings > Privacy > Background Apps, and you'll see a list of all the background apps running on your machine. If you tap on any of the apps, you can stop them from running in the background, and to minimize your interference, you can also move them to the All Background apps list, which you can find in Settings > Privacy > Advanced.

How to connect to the Internet on your PC

To connect to the internet from your PC, you'll need to go to Settings > Network & Internet > Connected Devices. There you'll see a list of all the devices on your network, and if you tap one, you can either connect to it, block it, or change its settings.

How to change your ringtone

Tired of the same obnoxious theme song your system is set to? Not to worry: It's actually quite easy to change it. Head over to Settings > Sounds > Ringtone and you'll be able to pick the sound you'd like to use.

How to use Cortana?

Cortana, Microsoft's virtual assistant, is now built into the Windows 10 operating system. And once you start using Cortana, you'll probably find yourself using it almost constantly, especially if you do a lot of searches on your PC.

How to enable or disable notifications?

Notifications are critical to Windows 10. They let you know about all kinds of events, like new emails and messages, pending downloads, and other little notifications that appear on your PC's Start menu. They're supposed to keep you in the loop and help you be on top of things, but if you have some trouble with notifications you can set them up to be turned on or off through Settings > System > Notifications.

You can turn on or off any notification that appears on the Windows 10 Start menu, in the Action Center, or in other places on your computer. You can also set Cortana to remind you about certain things if you want, or set up actions that you can do for certain notifications. If you want to know more about notifications in Windows 10, this guide is good.

How to adjust your text size and clarity

If you don't like the look of your text on your PC, it might be time to adjust the text size and the clarity. Go to Settings > System > Notifications, and you can adjust your text size and clarity. The same applies to emails: if you find that the email is too small, you can adjust the font size and clarity to make it larger.

How to enable or disable Cortana on your PC

If you have Cortana enabled on your Windows 10 PC, it means you can use your voice to do almost anything. So you might want to disable it, but if you haven't tried Cortana, you might not want to.

To turn it off, just head over to Settings > Cortana, and you'll see a section called "Turn off Cortana." You can also change the settings of the Bing voice assistant, which is also enabled by default on your machine.

How to change the keyboard's size

This one is fairly self-explanatory. Windows 10 uses the keyboard to send texts, emails, and even file transfers, so if you find that the keyboard takes up too much space on your desktop, it's probably because you're using the full-sized version, which is the default. To change the keyboard's size, go to Settings > Input, and you can change the size of the keyboard.

How to make multiple windows in Windows 10

Windows 10 lets you have as many windows as you'd like, and it'll automatically shrink the one you're using so you can fit more. To do this, you can click the Windows key and type in the number of windows you want, and the one you select will appear on the screen. Then, click the small square that appears at the bottom of the screen. To exit from the mode, just click the X button.

How to clear the Startup Directory on Windows 10

Most Windows users have this on, but if you really don't need it, you can clear the Startup Directory. You can find the directory by going to Control Panel > System and Security > Startup. Then, just click on "Turn Off Startup programs." Once it's gone, your PC will start up without any programs installed.

How to adjust the color depth on the Windows 10 screen

Windows 10 supports a lot of different screen-sizes, and if you have a monitor with a different-sized screen, you might not be able to see everything that you want. That's why Windows 10 supports a whole range of different screen-sizes and color depths. You can adjust the resolution, refresh rate, aspect ratio, and color depth, which means you can adjust the colors on your screen to best fit what you're looking at.

How to restore your previous wallpaper on Windows 10

If you've been using Windows for a while, you might have noticed that you've had a few different wallpapers that have looked nice on your PC, but then you had to remove them to install updates. If that's been the case, you can just bring those back, but you'll have to turn off a few other things first.

First, open Windows 10, and click on the icon on the taskbar that has an ellipse with a line down the middle. Click on Settings > Wallpapers & Brightness, and you'll see a window with options for changing your wallpaper. Now, click on Start Wallpaper, and you'll be able to restore your old wallpaper.

How to adjust the size of apps on the Start Menu

Apps that you install on your PC will shrink down to a square icon when you have small screens, but they can also be shrunk down and look like little icons if you have a large screen. To make apps look like little icons, go to Settings > Personalization > Start, and you'll be able to drag the app icons up or down.

You can also click on the plus sign in the bottom-right corner of any app to resize it. Just click on the plus sign, and it'll shrink the app to the size you want.

How to change the transparency of a document in Windows 10

There are a lot of settings that you can change to make text and images look a certain way in Windows 10, and you can check out the one that has the best effect for you by going to Settings > Personalization > Calibration, and you'll be able to change the transparency of text and images to see a more realistic image.

How to activate the pen in Windows 10

Most people have a pen on their Windows PC, but that only works when they've got a stylus that's compatible with Windows 10. If you don't have a compatible stylus, you can't use the pen in Windows 10, which can be annoying. If you want to start using the pen, you need to pair it to your PC, but that can be a long process, but you can also use the pen to navigate in the File Explorer or to write emails in Word.

How to copy and paste in Windows 10

A lot of people think that they can copy and paste anything they want into the Recents view, but that's not true, and you need to go to the Start menu first. To make this easier, you can add a shortcut to the Windows key. This will make it easier to access the Recents view, and you can also access the favorites, switch apps, open apps that are stored in the Start menu, access your notes, and more.

How to use multiple monitors with Windows 10

A lot of PC users don't have the most HD screen they can find, but you don't have to stick with the same resolution as your display. You can switch resolutions and you can also adjust the display color or you can put a stand on your monitor to make it easier to work on your PC in front of the TV.

How to turn on Taskbar notifications

If you have a few PCs, you can all open them together and see what the other person is doing, which can be pretty useful. To do this, you'll need to open each PC, and then open Taskbar notifications. This will open a pop-up that will show the number of notifications you've got from the PC you're currently using.

This will probably pop up for every PC you have, so make sure you've got them all in order, and once you've sorted this out, you'll be able to switch between PCs at a click of a button.

How to stop/start using Cortana

Cortana can take a while to wake up, so many PC users will find it easier to turn it off. To do this, you'll need to go to Cortana on the search bar and then click on 'Turn off.'"

How to enable the Windows Hello Security Camera

Windows Hello allows you to use biometrics to unlock your PC and login to apps, but the security camera that you'll use to use it isn't natively supported by Windows 10. Instead, you can add a security camera to your PC, and when you use Windows Hello, the camera will be unlocked automatically. To do this, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Enrolled devices, and then you'll be able to see all your different devices, from different brands.

How to change your background in Windows 10

Not everyone uses the same wallpaper, and while you can customize the different parts of Windows 10 to your liking, if you don't want your desktop and Start menu to be too plain, you can change the wallpaper.

To change your desktop wallpaper in Windows 10, go to the Start menu and then click the gear icon at the bottom right hand corner of the screen. Select Settings and you'll be able to select one of the 16 different wallpapers, or you can click the 'Add a wallpaper' option and enter your preferred wallpaper.

A lot of PC users don't use a desktop wallpaper, and while you can customize the different parts of Windows 10 to your liking, if you don't want your desktop and Start menu to be too plain, you can change the wallpaper.

How to use a Virtual Keyboard on Windows 10

One of the benefits of the Microsoft keyboard that comes with Windows 10 is that it works offline. This means you don't have to worry about the battery running out on your Bluetooth mouse or keyboard, which could be a huge help. If you have a Bluetooth keyboard, you can use this whenever your laptop is running out of juice.

To access a virtual keyboard, you need to open the Settings app and go to System > Advanced > Mouse & Keyboards > Bluetooth > Microsoft Keys.

You can then select 'A window that displays as a virtual keyboard' and then it'll be used in all of your games and apps that use a virtual keyboard.

How to get the best out of Cortana

Cortana, as with Google Now, the Windows 10 assistant, has a lot of different functions that you can use, and you can find out everything you need to know on the Cortana section of the Settings app.

When you first use Cortana, she'll ask you if you want to use it for providing weather updates, keeping track of events on your calendar, getting traffic updates, setting reminders and more. There are dozens of these useful functions, and you'll be able to use Cortana to access them all in the same way.

How to change your default browser

If you've got Microsoft Edge installed, you can save yourself some time if you know you don't like to browse the internet using Internet Explorer. You can change your default browser in Windows 10 by going to Settings > System > Default Apps and then clicking the lock to make sure you are able to add or remove them.

To change your default browser, open the Settings app and then click System > Default Apps.

How to turn on the Show Me More Button

If you've got a Samsung Galaxy phone, you're used to having access to a lot of handy shortcuts, but on the PC you don't have a dedicated button for any of them. However, if you're using a Samsung PC, you can turn on the Show Me More Button, and you'll be able to access all the useful shortcuts you've found on the Galaxy phone without even needing to launch an app.

All you need to do is open Cortana, right-click the app you're using and select 'Show More Actions'.

How to pin apps to the taskbar

If you've got a lot of apps installed, sometimes you don't want them to take up so much space. If you want to pin a few of your favourite apps to the taskbar, it's easy to do.

To do this, head to Settings > System > Notifications & actions and then select the 'Apps you can pin to the taskbar' option. From there, you'll be able to pick the apps you want to pin to the taskbar.

You can also pin apps to the taskbar, just make sure you pin the ones you want, because if you don't it won't be there when you get to your taskbar.

How to quickly install apps from the Store

It can be annoying to have to click the Store icon every time you want to install an app or game, but if you have Windows 10 you can make it a lot quicker. You can install any apps you want from the Store without having to click the Store icon, or launch the Store app.

If you go to the Settings app > Update & security > Windows Update and click the 'Check for updates' button, you'll be able to tell that an update is available. Click 'Update Now' and you'll be ready to install apps from the Store.

To install an app from the Store, right-click the Store app in the Start menu and click 'Get' or press 'Hot button' in the app to the Store to launch it.

How to hide apps without uninstalling them

Sometimes you might only want to install apps from the Store, and sometimes you'll want to uninstall everything from your computer. You can turn this option on or off, but it can sometimes make things a bit confusing because there's a way to make an app/game disappear without uninstalling it, and the two aren't the same.

To turn an app's status to 'Hiding' from the Windows 10 taskbar, right-click it and then select 'Disable'.

To hide an app from the taskbar, right-click it and then click 'Hide' to the right of its name.

How to stop watching TV shows in the background

Sometimes you don't want apps to be able to record when you're watching a show, or you don't want a game to be able to listen to what you're saying to your friends. You can do this by heading to Settings > Privacy > Apps & notifications.

If you want to stop a game from sending notifications while you're using it, or a video app from watching anything you do, select 'Other' to the top left-hand corner of the Apps & notifications page. Then select 'Game Profiles'. If you only want to stop audio apps from watching, select 'Audio Profiles'.

You can also use the same method to hide an app from being able to make changes to your activity feed (or 'Surface info').

If you want to hide an app from accessing your account in the background, or make an app unable to use your location for location services, you can also click the 'Use experimental capabilities' option at the bottom of the Apps & notifications page.

How to hide downloaded apps from your Start menu

You've downloaded a bunch of apps to the Store, and now you want to move them over to your PC, but how do you do it without moving them out of the Windows Store? That's where the 'Hide downloaded apps' trick comes in.

To do this, head to Settings > System > Show all downloaded apps in the Start menu and select 'Hide all downloaded apps'.

How to make the Control Panel smarter

The Windows 10 Control Panel is an old-school thing that's not very useful now that you can find most things you need just by opening the Start menu. But if you want to make it a little more helpful, you can right-click on a button and then select 'Ask me about this action in the Control Panel'.

This will open the Control Panel, allowing you to perform any kind of task you want, without having to open up a different application.

How to hide the 'Find My Phone' button

The Find My Phone feature works pretty well, but it doesn't look like there's much you can do about the 'Find My Phone' button from Windows 8.1 - it just sits on your taskbar and you can't really get rid of it.

To hide the Find My Phone button from the Windows 10 taskbar, go to Settings > System > Taskbar. Then uncheck 'Show taskbar buttons on app and game launch'.

How to turn off notifications on the Lock Screen

There's a lot to be said for keeping your phone locked when it's not in your pocket, but it's not always the best idea to keep your screen on all the time. If you'd like to cut down on the amount of notifications you get on your Lock Screen, just head to Settings > System > Notifications and set 'Lock screen notifications' to 'Did not receive any notifications'.

To turn off notifications entirely, head to Settings > System > Notifications and toggle the box next to 'Show notifications' to 'Off'.

How to turn off screen recording

Screen recording can be really useful, but it's not always the best idea to leave your device on all the time and record things without fully charging it first.

To turn off screen recording, go to Settings > System > Devices > Turn off Screen recording.

How to hide PC updates

Windows 10 comes with a really neat feature that can keep your PC up to date, without needing you to do anything at all. Called Windows Update, this feature will ping you if it's time for an update, and then tell you when the update has started.

If you don't like that feature (or you find it a bit annoying), you can disable it in Settings > Update & security > Windows Update > Advanced options. Uncheck the box that says 'Let Windows update my computer automatically'.

How to hide from the Start menu (the latest version of Windows 10)

The latest version of Windows 10 has improved the way you can hide unwanted apps and settings in the Start menu, and you can find out how to do it by opening the Start menu, heading to the My activities section, and finding 'Choose what to show in Start'. Then simply check the box next to 'Hide desktop apps' and you're all set.

Head back to your Start menu and you'll now see no apps in the list.

How to set up a desktop shortcut

If you don't like the idea of the Windows 10 Start menu and you're looking for a solution, you can set a desktop shortcut for all the things you want to access from the Start menu.

To do this, right-click the tile of an app you don't want to see, right-click again and select 'Set up desktop shortcut'. You can then pin that app to your taskbar and, of course, that app will still show up on the Start menu.

How to pin app shortcuts to Start menu

To pin an app shortcut to the Windows 10 Start menu, open the Start menu and right-click an app. Then click 'Pin this app to start menu' and you can pin that app to the Start menu.

You can also drag an app tile onto the Start menu to pin it - just make sure you save it.

How to pin Apps to taskbar

If you find that you want to have multiple programs open at the same time, or you just want to make sure you see the program you're using more easily, you can pin applications to the taskbar (more on this below). To pin an app, go to Settings > System > Panel > Taskbar. Then set the Taskbar app properties to 'Pin apps on taskbar' and choose your app of choice.

How to use ShellNotification

Windows 10 now has a really handy feature called ShellNotification that makes your taskbar more useful.

You can enable ShellNotification by heading to Settings > System > Notifications & actions. From there you can toggle on 'Enable ShellNotification' to receive notifications for Shell commands in the top right corner of the screen.

Why we love it

One of our favourite new features in Windows 10 is ShellNotification, and if you're not using it, you should be. There's a number of benefits to this feature, which you can read about here.

How to change your default search engine

If you're not a fan of Microsoft's Bing search engine (a huge chunk of Windows 10 users aren't, in fact), you can change it to another search engine.

Open Settings > Search and click 'Advanced Search settings' and then scroll down to the search engine tab. Once you've found the search engine you want to change to, click 'Change search engine' and then click 'Change'.

How to manage your Bluetooth devices

Microsoft makes it really easy to manage your connected devices, including wireless mice, keyboards and speakers, and you can do it from the Settings app.

To find out more about the various options available, click the Devices heading on the left side of the Settings app. Here you can quickly manage a number of connected devices. You'll also find options for shutting down devices or automatically deleting them from your PC.

How to hide or hide a tablet from the Windows 10 Start menu

If you don't want people to see the 'newest' apps in the Start menu, you can hide your tablet. This is very similar to hiding your laptop from the Start menu, but you'll need to boot your tablet in a special way first.

Simply drag a tray icon from the settings page of Windows 10, into your Start menu. From here, just drag this icon to the left of the tile of the 'recently used apps'.

To close the tray, just hit 'X' and the tray icon will be gone forever. This works for the latest version of Windows 10 as well as its predecessor, but it's a bit of a pain and we much prefer Microsoft's way of hiding the Surface from its latest Start menu.

How to change the scrolling behaviour of the Start menu

Some of us prefer to have all the tiles scroll up and down as they would if they were displayed in a real desktop operating system, while others prefer them to stop on the next tile and stay there. You can change this with a simple setting in Windows 10.

To change this behaviour, click the Start button and right-click it. Then click 'Change Desktop Scrolling behaviour' and then choose your preferred behaviour.

Right-click Start and choose 'Change desktop scroll behaviour'

How to show the app list and the search box at the same time

Windows 10 allows you to show the app list and the search box at the same time. This is much better than the single list of apps which is available on Windows 7. You can adjust this setting by clicking the Start button and heading to Settings > System > Appearance > Scrolling.

Simply adjust the second option in the list to 'Thumb.' Then click 'OK' and you'll see the app list and search box at the same time.

How to manage multiple Word documents with multiple clicks

Right-click a Word document in the apps menu and click 'More options' to access the many options available. You can see a number of options to save the document, such as checking any changes you've made and deleting the document entirely.

You can also remove a file from the document. To do this, click 'Remove All Items' from the list of options available and then click 'Clear all selections.'

How to make Cortana your default assistant

Microsoft's personal assistant Cortana now comes with a plethora of personalisation options. Some of these options, such as Cortana's voice and accent, can be changed by clicking the Cortana icon on the taskbar. But some changes are rather more permanent. You can change Cortana's default language to 'English (United States)' and also change the default settings of things like alert sound, text input method, and the option to use your Microsoft account instead of your user account.

To make Cortana your default assistant, simply click the Cortana icon on the taskbar, then click the arrow in the top right corner, and choose the option labelled 'Change the default settings.' You can then set Cortana to your preference and click 'OK' when you've made your selection.

This only applies to Windows 10 for now, but we expect this to become available for other operating systems in the near future.

How to hide the Share charm

Cortana and the settings menu now come with a lot of options, so there are a lot of options to be found here. One that's rather less well-known is the option to hide the Share charm. Just open up the search box and click 'Hide the charms' to do this.

To use the share feature, you simply click the icon with a star.

How to choose your accent

If you've been using Microsoft Word for a while, you may have noticed that it now has an accent. In Windows 10, you can change the accent on the emoji in the toolbar to your choice. Simply click the Emoji tab on the ribbon and then click the arrow in the top right corner, and click 'Set the accent.'

To access the emoji keyboard, simply open up the Windows 10 search box and type 'emoji' and press enter. The search box should show the emoji options.

You can also change the font

If you use a different keyboard, the options are slightly different. In Windows 10, the font used for your text in Word will often be set in default 'Arial,' but you can change this. Open the Word application and head to Tools > General > Set the fonts in the document to your preferred font. You'll find several options to choose from.

How to edit Microsoft Word's colour palette

If you'd prefer to see colours that better match your design style, you can change the colour palette used in Microsoft Word. To do this, click the Windows 10 search box and type 'colors.' You'll be presented with a collection of colours that you can download to the document you're working on.

How to open PDFs in Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word has always had a PDF import tool, but it's somewhat buried under other tools. In Windows 10, you can open a PDF by right-clicking on it, clicking 'Open,' and then selecting 'PDF.' You can also open a PDF from other file types.

How to turn on the camera and microphone

There's a setting available in the settings menu which can allow you to turn on and off the camera and microphone in Windows 10. To do this, open up the Settings app and click the cog icon in the top-right corner. Scroll down to where it says 'Windows Settings,' and click that. Next, select 'Turn on/off face detection' and then click 'OK.'

How to disable the 'goodbye' app

By default, Windows 10 does not automatically shut down when you close your laptop. In Windows 10, if you don't like this, you can disable it.

Open up the Windows 10 Start menu, select 'Computer' and then click 'Control Panel' at the bottom-left. Click 'System and Security' at the top, and click 'Turn Windows features on or off' on the left-hand side of the page. Next, click 'Turn Windows features off.' You can also right-click on the desktop and select 'System' from the menu, but we found that using the System Settings shortcut worked better.

By turning it off, you're preventing Windows 10 from closing on its own automatically.

How to select Windows Insider builds

If you're running Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 15002 or later, you can head to the Settings app and select 'Update & security' in the left-hand column.

Click 'Check for updates' at the top of the page, and you'll be presented with the option to 'allow installing updates from an unrecognized source.' Here you can tick 'Don't give me updates from unverified sources.'

How to show the next Windows 10 preview build

Head to Settings > Update & security > Windows Insider Program. Here you can check to see if you're running the most recent build available in the Insider Preview ring. Click 'Check for updates.'

Click 'Check for updates,' and you'll be presented with the option to 'Skip this build.' Click 'Skip,' and you'll be taken to the same page where you were earlier. Click 'Don't delay' to ensure that you receive the latest preview build when the next one is available.

How to sign out of Windows Insider Preview builds

Although you can't be forced to update your device, if you'd prefer not to be automatically rolled out with new Windows 10 builds, you can choose to opt out.

Head to Settings > Update & security > Windows Insider Program. Select 'Notify me' and click 'Allow.'

Now, click 'Skip,' and the build will be skipped.

How to set up Cortana

The Windows 10 Anniversary Update makes Cortana smarter than ever, and it's great to have her at your beck and call, just like Apple's Siri.

You can change what you're working on by telling Cortana 'open Microsoft Word,' 'open Microsoft Excel,' 'open Microsoft PowerPoint,' 'open Microsoft Paint,' or 'open LibreOffice.' If you tell her to 'set a reminder,' she'll use the service you're signed into to get the task done.

You can also tell her 'who to call' or 'what to do.' For example, you can say 'add a new contact' or 'search Google for XYZ.'

How to create a custom address bar

If you prefer a different address bar, you can customise it as you wish. Just head to Settings > Personalisation > and click 'Change the address and search bar.'

Select 'Customize the address bar.' You can also scroll down to 'Add a new search engine,' where you can choose a different search engine to use when you use Windows 10.

How to disable the Groove Music Pass

If you've signed up to the Groove Music Pass in Windows 10, you can't use it without also signing up to Xbox Music Pass. If you don't want to keep Xbox Music Pass, you can disable the Groove Music Pass so you can sign up to Xbox Music Pass instead.

To do this, head to Settings > Accounts > Add a new account and select 'Groove Music Pass.' Here, you'll see a toggle next to 'Allow Groove Music Pass to be used on Xbox One.' Just toggle this off and you're good to go.

To stop Windows 10 getting notifications about your Groove Music Pass, go to Settings > Apps > Notifications & actions and choose 'No Groove Music Pass notifications on Xbox.'

How to turn off Groove Music Pass

If you don't want to keep the Groove Music Pass, you can simply turn off the option so you never get notifications about it again. Head to Settings > Apps > Notifications & actions and choose 'No Groove Music Pass notifications on Xbox.'

How to force Windows 10 to ask for your sign-in password

If you've used Windows 7 or 8.1 and don't want to have to enter a password for Windows 10 when you first set it up, you can force Windows 10 to ask you for your sign-in password before you can do anything on your PC.

If you're on Windows 10, open the Start menu and type 'activities.'

When the app opens, click 'Activity Overview.'

Scroll down and click 'Sign in with a Microsoft account.'

In the next pop-up, click 'Use default account.' This will bring up a screen that lets you switch between the default Microsoft account and the account you set up for Windows 10.

You can now sign in to Windows 10 and continue with your business.

How to disable Windows 10 getting notifications about your day

If you don't want Windows 10 to send you notifications about your daily schedule, such as reminders about meetings, events, and so on, head to Settings > Personalization > and click 'Activities.'

Scroll down to 'Related updates' and uncheck the option called 'Want to send notifications about your day.'

How to force Windows 10 to clear notifications

Sometimes, you need to get rid of notifications so you can work without them. This is possible if you force Windows 10 to do so by going to Settings > System > Notifications & actions.

To change what notifications Windows 10 shows you, head to Settings > System > Notifications & actions and uncheck the 'Show advanced notifications' option.

Scroll down and uncheck the 'Show notification events' option, and you should be good to go.

How to force Windows 10 to hide your most recently used apps

It's important to remember that the Windows 10 lock screen is just a mode that you can customise as you like. You can therefore use it to hide apps you don't want to see. Here's how.

Head to Settings > Apps & features and click 'Lock screen background.'

Select a photo or image to use for the background and then click 'Apply' when prompted.

You'll then be asked to select a wallpaper to use for the lock screen. Make sure that you select 'Full screen' as the wallpaper option.

Click 'Save.'

To disable the lockscreen wallpaper, head to Settings > Personalization > Lock screen and choose a wallpaper.

How to turn off Windows 10 reminding you to log in

Windows 10 has another trick up its sleeve that makes you remember to log in and use your account every time you turn your PC on.

Just head to Settings > Accounts & password > Sign-in options and uncheck the option that says 'Let Windows send me an email and text message when you turn on your PC so I can confirm that you're signed in.'

How to turn off Windows 10 learning your location

Windows 10 will learn your location when you sign in to your account and notify you when you're out of range. You can turn this off if you'd like.

To turn this off, head to Settings > Privacy > Location and uncheck 'Learn my location.'

How to disable Windows 10 showing your friends

Want to give yourself some privacy while using Windows 10? Head to Settings > Privacy > Connections and uncheck the option called 'Share my connections.'

You won't be able to use Windows 10's various social features if this option is turned on.

How to stop Windows 10 tracking your behavior

If you're not a fan of Windows 10 spying on you by collecting data about your web searches, browsing history, location, etc., you can always take a few precautions.

To turn off Microsoft collecting such data, head to Settings > Privacy > Search.

Scroll down to the General section and click 'turn off how Microsoft collects and uses your data.'

How to stop Windows 10 recording every command you type

It's not so bad for Windows 10 if you want it to record every command you type. However, if you want to stop the OS from always recording all your commands, head to Settings > Privacy > Search and click 'ask Cortana to stop recording this search.'"

It's a matter of preference as to whether you want Windows 10 to record your searches and commands or not.

How to force Windows 10 to use your desktop background

If you prefer using a different desktop background from the default one, you can make sure that's the case.

Open Settings > Personalization > Colors and change 'My desktop background' to something else.

How to enable Windows 10's security features

Windows 10 has some pretty nifty security features, and they're often buried away in the Settings app. However, if you want to access them, head to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update, click 'See updates' in the 'Choose when updates are installed' section, and then select 'Check for updates now.'

Before downloading and installing any new Windows 10 update, make sure your computer has the latest security updates. You can check your Windows update history at Settings > Update & security > Windows Update. If it says it's at least three months old, then you're good to go.

How to turn on Windows 10's facial recognition features

Windows 10 has a facial recognition feature which lets it identify users based on their facial recognition patterns. To turn it on, head to Settings > Privacy > Face recognition and toggle it on.

How to turn off Windows 10's speech recognition

Windows 10's built-in speech recognition features can identify speech and send it to apps like Microsoft Word, but you can disable that if you'd like. Head to Settings > Cortana, click 'Turn on speech recognition,' and then toggle it off.

How to use the Windows 10 Search charm

Windows 10 users have long complained about the Windows 10 search charm not actually having any search functionality, but a recent update to the app has remedied that problem.

To use it, open the app and swipe down from the top of the screen to get to the search charm.

From here, you can search for documents, email, contacts, and web content, just as you can on the Microsoft Edge browser on Windows 10.

You can also search without touching the screen, thanks to the built-in Cortana virtual assistant. Just say 'Hey Cortana' and it will launch the search feature.

If you use the voice command feature, don't use Cortana.

How to turn off the Windows 10 assistant

The Windows 10 assistant is like a virtual assistant Siri or Google Now, and it works in a very similar way. It can help you with various things, from searching the internet to making your phone calls and launching apps.

To turn it off, head to Settings > Personalization > Search and click 'turn off the Microsoft assistant.'

How to activate a picture-in-picture mode

The picture-in-picture mode is a nifty way of displaying a small window that floats over whatever you're currently using on your Windows 10 display. It's especially useful for watching movies, YouTube videos, or other longer video content.

You can turn on the feature in Settings > System > Features > Picture-in-picture.

How to activate a picture-in-picture mode on a Surface device

The picture-in-picture mode is also available on Microsoft's Surface devices, although, unfortunately, the functionality isn't as polished.

To activate it, open the app or service and then tap the arrow to the right of the app's name.

Then select Picture-in-Picture, which will show a small window over whatever you're using.

How to activate an always-on display

If you have a Windows 10 laptop, you can toggle on a 'Always on' display. It essentially lets you see certain information on the lock screen, for example, the time, notifications, and even the power settings if you turn on a particular 'Power saver' option.

To enable it, head to Settings > Display & Brightness > Always on Display.

How to turn off 'Cortana suggestions'

The 'Cortana suggestions' feature of Cortana is Microsoft's attempt to keep Cortana listening for your commands, so that she can anticipate what you might want before you even ask for it. For example, if you tell her to 'Set a reminder to call Mom tomorrow at 7pm,' it's a long shot that she'll be able to figure out that 'Mom' is a person and 'Tomorrow' is a date.

So, Microsoft recommends that you turn this feature off. To do that, head to Settings > Cortana > And here, you'll find the 'Cortana suggestions' toggle.

How to turn off multiple Cortana suggestions

If you'd like to turn off Cortana's 'Cortana suggestions,' and toggling the feature off will turn it off across your device, head to Settings > Cortana > Speech and Search.

How to turn off the Windows 10 Calculator

The calculator on Windows 10 can be a handy tool, especially when making calculations and calculations are essential. However, the calculator can also serve as a master key to your privacy.

The calculator shows everything you type into it and then sends it back to Microsoft's servers, as if you'd asked a digital assistant to do it.

To disable the calculator, head to Settings > Personalization > Calculator, and then switch off the 'Show calculations and buttons when typing' option.

How to change default apps

To make sure you only run apps from the Microsoft Store, head to Settings > Apps > Default apps and then click 'Show more apps.' You can then select which of the default apps should be enabled.

To limit the default apps, you'll need to turn on the 'Apps from the Microsoft Store only' feature. To do that, go to Settings > Apps & features > Apps that start with 'S' > Windows Store apps, click the 'Apps from the Store only' tab, and then tick 'Use the apps from the Microsoft Store only' box.

How to turn off the Smart Screen Recorder

The Smart Screen Recorder in Windows 10 is handy if you're watching a video, but it can record everything you're doing, including the keyboard.

To disable the feature, head to Settings > Personalization > Settings > Devices > Screen recording, and then switch off the Smart Screen Recorder.

How to turn off the Windows Aero Glass feature

If you're familiar with Windows Vista or Windows 7, you'll know that Aero Glass is a nice way to give your desktop a unique look, with a window that can pop up, allowing you to interact with it without losing focus on the contents of your main window.

In Windows 10, the Aero Glass feature can still be useful, but you can disable it if you want to. To do that, head to Settings > Personalization > Appearance, and then tap the gear icon next to 'Aero Glass'.

Scroll down to the bottom of the Aero Glass settings and click 'Disabling' and then toggle it off.

How to turn off the Custom icons feature

The Windows 8.1 feature that lets you assign a specific set of apps to the Windows Action Center - giving you quick access to tasks such as your Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and battery life - is also in Windows 10.

However, the Custom icons feature can be a privacy nuisance if you use third-party apps, and have enabled them to show up in the Action Center. To turn off the feature, you'll need to head to Settings > Personalization > Actions and then tap the cog icon next to Custom icons.

Scroll down to the bottom and click 'Turn off,' and then the toggle switch.

How to turn off multiple notifications

Windows 10 offers a useful way to manage your notification volume. Head to Settings > System > Notifications and then click on the 'Turn off notifications for any app' option.

You can also turn off notifications for all apps if you want, and the feature will switch back on when you restart your PC.

How to clear all notifications

Microsoft lets you clear all of your notifications from the taskbar at once, as long as you have Cortana enabled. To do that, head to Settings > System > Notifications and then tap on Cortana. You can then click on the cog icon next to Clear all notifications and select 'Clear all' or 'Clear on demand.'

Tip: If you don't have Cortana, you can always disable the taskbar notification by right-clicking it and going to 'Open menu, taskbar.' Then select 'Taskbar, unhide all notifications.'

How to manage notifications from your favorite apps

You can access the app notifications directly from the Windows 10 Start menu. Simply click on the app you want and click on the 'more' tab.

Then, scroll down and tap 'Remove notifications from this app,' and all of the notifications for the app will be removed. If you open the app you're trying to clear, it'll be blank on the app's app list.

How to turn off the 'Open Windows Store with Windows' command

The 'Open Windows Store with Windows' command is a nice way to get to your favorite apps that aren't already installed on your PC. However, if you don't need to access the store, you can switch it off.

Head to Settings > System > Apps & features > App suggestions, and then choose the 'Ask before installing apps from Windows Store' option. From there, you'll be asked to confirm the 'Open Windows Store with Windows' command is enabled, and you can switch it off from there.

How to manage apps installed from the Windows Store

If you find yourself with too many apps in the Windows Store, you can now easily manage the apps that are already installed on your PC. To do so, simply head to Settings > System > Apps & features and choose 'Manage apps that install without a reboot.'

Scroll down and you'll find the 'install apps automatically' option and click on it. Now, you can allow some apps to automatically install.

You can also remove apps you don't want to install automatically by choosing 'Remove this app,' and then clicking 'Remove' on the app.

How to manage apps installed from the 'Get Windows 10' app

If you don't want to have the Windows Store installed, you can always opt to install a clean version of Windows 10 that doesn't come with the Windows Store, allowing you to install apps and games from the Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 app store. However, you'll need to enable the 'Get Windows 10' app before the app will run.

Head to Settings > Update & security > Activation settings, and then you can toggle on 'Get Windows 10' app, and then click on the 'Activation' button to activate it.

How to manage apps on your external hard drive

If you're using an external hard drive, you can also manage your apps. This can be a very handy feature if you only have a small amount of space on your PC and want to try and free it up. To access it, you'll need to open the Start menu and then click on ' apps 'from the left-hand side.

Then, click on 'Add an app to Windows' and a list of apps will show up on the right-hand side of the window. When you click on one, a menu should appear on the right-hand side with the option to uninstall the app and manage it from the Windows Store. From there, you can also choose whether or not you want the app to install automatically.

How to enable app syncing

If you're looking to sync your apps across multiple PCs, you can enable app syncing right from the 'Start' menu. Head to Settings > Apps & features and then click on 'Sync apps.'

If you don't see it in the list of apps available, select 'Other,' and then click on the 'Find' icon in the upper right-hand corner. This will open the 'Apps and games' screen. From there, select 'Sync apps' and a list of apps should show up. If the list is empty, check the box labeled 'Allow syncing apps from another PC.'

How to clear hidden files and folders

If you find that you have a lot of extra files or folders on your PC, you can clear some of them off with a few simple commands.

First, open the Start menu and then click on 'Go' on the search box. Next, type 'hidden' in the search box and then click 'Search for hidden files.' When a file with the name of your choosing appears, you can then drag and drop it to the trash.

To clear a folder, you'll need to head to 'My Documents' > 'My Pictures' > 'Deleted' and then click on the folder you want to delete.

You'll also be able to clear files from the Windows Explorer window. Start by clicking 'Go' on the search box, and then type 'cache' in the search box. If the file appears in the 'Recent files' section, you can drag and drop it to the trash.

You can also clear a file from Explorer by holding down the Alt or Ctrl key on your keyboard. When the icon appears in the upper right-hand corner of the Explorer window, click on it. A drop-down menu should appear. Click on 'Clean Ransomware' and then click 'OK' when prompted.

How to delete the Cortana icon from the taskbar

If you have Cortana enabled, you might have noticed that she's hanging out on your desktop in the top-right corner. If so, there's a simple way to remove her from the taskbar.

Click on 'Settings' and then click on 'Personalization,' followed by 'Taskbar Settings.' Scroll down until you see the line labeled 'Shelf' and click on 'Disable.'

If you want to change your desktop background, head over to Settings > Personalization > Colors and then select 'Change Desktop Background.' If you want a different wallpaper, head over to Settings > Personalization > Colors, and then select 'Pick a background from the panel.'

How to change the size of your windows

Sometimes, you might find that your mouse cursor isn't large enough. To change the size of your windows, just open the Start menu and click on 'apps' from the left-hand side.

Now, click on 'charms' and then click on the 'window' tab. This will open a small control panel that allows you to select from two control panels. Select the one you want, and then click on 'Choose Size' to save your changes.

There are a few other hidden shortcuts that you might find useful, too.

For example, the volume controls on your PC can also be adjusted with a simple keyboard shortcut. Instead of clicking the volume controls and selecting the option to adjust the volume, you can instead press the Fn + ` key on your keyboard.

If you want to hide certain folders on your computer, you can instead open up your Start menu, search for 'C: and then click on the folder you want to hide. A new option will then appear in the left-hand column of the left-hand side of the Start menu. Select the folder you want to hide, click on 'Choose' to make your changes and then click 'OK.'

Likewise, you can even remove certain buttons and keyboard shortcuts. To do so, just right-click on your keyboard and select 'Set as default' followed by 'Disable.'What are apps for Windows 10?

The Windows Store is one of the most appealing ways to take advantage of apps available on your phone or tablet. It's also the main way to access Windows 10. Microsoft has done a great job building it out with a wide variety of apps, though there is always room for improvement.

The Store has some limitations in terms of what you can download. It's not meant to be a repository for all the apps you may want to use. For instance, the biggest app store in the world does not offer all the apps you could want. Android's App store is roughly the same, in that developers still need to provide a selection of high quality apps. A great deal of the rest of the Windows Store's offerings are low quality apps that are pretty easy to dismiss.

There are a few things you can download from the Windows Store for free and can use. The settings app, Windows Defender and Windows Analytics are all available. Windows Mixed Reality seems to be a big part of the Windows Store and you can check out what it's like to use it in our Windows Mixed Reality review.

Using Windows 10

Using the Microsoft Edge browser with Windows 10 is one of the most convenient ways to use a desktop PC. Windows 10 comes with Microsoft Edge pre-installed. It's the browser of choice for Windows users. It's one of the more powerful browsers on the market and you can find a few other specialized tools built into it. You can view the text of an image, for instance, just by hovering your mouse cursor over the image. This capability makes the Edge browser a bit more powerful than your average browser.

Of course, Edge is built into the OS so you don't have to do a thing. However, it will always be available in case you want to perform more advanced tasks such as reading web articles and viewing images.

The settings for Edge are fairly self-explanatory. You can turn off features that you don't really need or that aren't useful. For instance, you can turn off the ability to open PDFs, since Microsoft Edge won't open these files. The Edge settings also allow you to change font, background color, and more.

Another popular browser for Windows 10 is Mozilla Firefox. Firefox includes a number of extensions such as the Awesomebar extension. You can find plenty of extensions for Firefox on the Windows Store.

You can use the Microsoft Edge settings for other things, such as making the browser your default. This will get you the most recent pages and can save you a few steps if you are in the middle of a task.

A popular option for other browsers is the Fastest Mobile Networks. This extension will tell you which mobile network is the fastest for you in your area. It will work even if your phone is on a different network, if it has built in location services. It also shows you the data speeds for each network. This is a useful extension if you are not happy with the provider you use.

Another extension that you can use to get quick information about any web page is the BetterVPN extension. This is designed to give you a quick overview of what data your particular web browser has accessed.

Of course, you can also use your phone as a tablet or as a full-featured laptop, as long as it can handle the workload. The Google Play Store is pre-installed on Android and you can also use a keyboard for typing.

Setting up Windows 10

You can download the latest version of Windows 10 from the Windows 10 Download Center.

When you first boot up your computer, it will prompt you to set up a basic user account. This isn't just a username and password; it's the user account that you will use to access many of the options that are hidden behind the Start menu. When you select the "new user" option, you will have to input your username and password. If you haven't done this already, then this will be the first time that you have entered these credentials. They are all optional and they don't have to be correct. You can change this later.

Next, you will see a small window with a bunch of different options for setting up your first user account. You can get the Windows desktop. You can sign in to your Windows account. You can change your language. You can change your timezone. You can set up new devices.

You can also set up new devices, including printers and other accessories. This part of the setup is actually a bit different than how it is done in Windows 8. In Windows 8, you would connect the printer directly to the computer. You can't do that in Windows 10. Instead, you have to go into the printer drivers settings.

If you need help setting up your account, then you can follow the instructions on Microsoft's support page.

Windows 10 adds a number of new features, including BitLocker Drive Encryption. BitLocker allows you to lock your disk so that you will need a password to access your files. You can set up BitLocker Drive Encryption from the options screen. You need to enable BitLocker with a password or a verification code.

I use a digital notebook for all of my notes, so I can make them as compact as possible. I am not really bothered by the small number of storage drives that I have to work with, so I have never installed a full operating system on them. I would rather them be synced to a cloud service. The Windows 10 Creators Update adds the ability to sync documents from a local drive to the cloud.

I can see that you will have a lot of options for doing everything that you need to do in Windows 10.

The next time that you startup your computer, you will be asked to create your user account. Just make sure that you have entered all of your user account credentials.

Read and write files

Windows 10 is compatible with a lot of the same file types that you use in Windows 7 and 8.

The best way to test this is to browse the Microsoft website and click on the link to your photo library.

To share a folder, you would probably want to drag it to the cloud. You will then have a web interface to make the shareable file available to everyone who is connected to your wireless network.

You can also share your entire hard drive.

This means that you can have as many as 15 drives in a single system, sharing them among other users. There are other sharing options as well, including USB drives, network shares and file exchange programs.

How to protect Windows 10?

Microsoft also updated its official page for helping Windows 10 users, which is accessed by clicking the gear-shaped arrow icon on the Start Menu and clicking "Update & security." It is easy to find a solution to a particular problem by first checking it from that page.

The options for the solution, if any, can be found on the following, especially the ones mentioned in the highlighted areas.

Windows 10 Mobile

For users of Windows 10 Mobile, the solution includes disabling File Sharing (either the newer Messaging or the older, less useful Windows Live Messaging), as it is also used to keep Skype running even when the phone is offline. Other measures include setting the messaging app to be read-only to prevent it from sending messages with screenshots, and removing shared contacts from the phone's Contacts app.

But those steps are time-consuming and the phone will continue working with all the phone contacts and calls.

Windows 10

Users of Windows 10, which can be installed by just clicking Start > Settings > Update & Security, will find the "Update & security" option which is titled "Stop unwanted telephony and messaging apps."

The purpose of this option is to prevent calls and texts from pop-ups or annoying notifications. Microsoft advises the users to block calls, messages, and notifications when they are in Focus mode, which prevents notifications when the phone is in Do Not Disturb mode.

The solution is simple. It can be done by pressing the Xbox button and scrolling to Settings > Phone > Calling & messaging, which then lists all the unwanted apps. To block unwanted apps, you will need to click the three vertical dots at the top left corner of the apps that you want to block, as shown in the screenshot below. The results will be shown in the tray at the bottom of the phone's screen.

But what if the apps to be blocked don't have a download option?

According to The Verge, the apps to be blocked cannot be downloaded because of the App Developers Distribution Agreement Microsoft signed, as well as the universal app licensing policies. You may have to change your phone's settings in order to block unwanted apps, which can be done by clicking on the Apps and features > Add or remove apps, as shown in the screenshot below.

Turning on and off unwanted phone notifications is also possible in the same menu, and it is done by selecting the "Apps and features" button and selecting "Notifications" to go into the settings menu.

Windows Phone

Windows Phone users can install new apps from third-party app stores without any permissions. Windows 10 users can install new apps from third-party app stores without any permissions.

To deal with Windows 10's security breach problem, Windows Phone users can install new apps from third-party app stores without any permissions. If you can't do it because of privacy concerns, just make sure you don't download apps from the Windows Store app, as Microsoft says the apps have no source code and therefore do not have a history of bugs and security breaches.

That means, to make sure you don't download apps from Windows Store app, you can follow these steps:

The first thing to do is to visit the Windows Store app on your phone and look for the most recently updated apps. The ones you want to download will be listed. Choose the app you want to download and click on "Install Now" to install it. Now, remember that it is a universal app so you will be able to install it on any Windows 10 PC.

For the ones that require specific permissions from the phone, you can delete the permissions by:

Windows Phone users can also download a free app from another app store and install it on their phone, without a phone account. However, this is not recommended and you should only do it for a specific purpose.

The Verge report suggests that there is a way to stop some unwanted Windows 10 apps, which is to use the task manager to access the settings of the app. Once the task manager is open, you will see apps that can be uninstalled by right clicking on the icon and selecting the option to uninstall.

Download and install the app only when you need it. And then turn off the setting again, as you don't want to lose out on the app for no reason.

Windows 10 and the Microsoft Edge browser

Microsoft Edge browser is not only simple to use but also keeps pages updated automatically. Microsoft Edge browser is not only simple to use but also keeps pages updated automatically.

While downloading an app from an app store, you might have seen an option to be shown recommended web pages. Well, this can be done in Windows 10 Edge browser and you can opt for 'Show me recommended webpages'. This will bring a list of websites from the Windows Store, and most of these websites will be from the websites you have visited before. But it is recommended you don't click on those.

This is because it will force the Windows 10 Edge browser to show you those websites, making sure you don't go to another website on your browser that is already linked to your account. As Microsoft Edge browser is quite good, you can also manage the sync data, the way you see in the abovementioned website link, to use those websites, which might be toggled off.

Download Windows 10 Anniversary update with updates

Microsoft released Windows 10 Anniversary update with new features, upgrades and updates, and if you are stuck in any issue, then follow these steps to download the update:

The update is available to download for those who have an enterprise account or Windows Insider Program, which are free of cost, provided that your company has more than 150 devices and 5,000 employees.

To download the update, open your Start menu, press the search icon at the right-corner of the Start menu and type 'Update & Security'.

Now, click on 'Windows Update' to start the update process.

Do note that if you are using Windows 10 Home, Enterprise or Education, then there is no need to download any update.

Chapter 9 Cloud Storages

What is Dropbox for Windows 10?

Dropbox for Windows 10 will allow you to store and access any file you want without having to sign up for Dropbox first. Simply drag and drop any files to a Dropbox folder and you’ll see them appear in the appropriate place, on any Windows device.

You’ll be able to stream files to multiple devices at the same time by using the Share Hub, which can also be used as a OneDrive folder on your machine, and you can add friends to a list to view all the files they’re sharing with you. You can add people to the list via a private link.

When you have a lot of files, Dropbox may be the best free tool for storing them for easy access when you’re on the go.

What is Box for Windows 10?

Box for Windows 10 is designed for people who create large amounts of files for public consumption. It will allow you to create and share files up to 5 GB in size, making it the ideal solution for both business and individual consumers.

Box is an easy way to share files on multiple devices without having to worry about security, or having to worry about them getting corrupted on a single machine. It also allows you to send documents to other Box users via email, making it ideal for companies with several employees who need to collaborate on documents.

Box supports file uploads as well as “smart scans”, which will pull images from a camera or image scanner for you to view and use as part of your file. In a similar vein to Dropbox, you can upload files to your Box account and keep them at your desk, so when you need to get them to another person, all you need to do is click on them and let Box do the rest.

As with Dropbox, Box can also be accessed via a web app, making it a good solution for people who travel frequently and don’t want to worry about multiple devices.

What is Google Drive for Windows 10?

Google Drive is the cloud storage solution that everyone who uses Chrome should have. You’ll be able to share documents, photos, videos and much more with other users on the web, no matter their operating system.

Google Drive will also sync across your devices, so when you hit the road, you’ll be able to access and share files with your team, even if they’re using their own computers and different operating systems.

Google Drive is an excellent solution for freelancers and small businesses, especially if you work remotely, because you can easily find files from people from around the world in one place, even if they’re not using the same email address or the same Gmail account.

Useful Tools for Business Travelers

Box is a great solution for freelancers and entrepreneurs who travel for work, because it allows them to maintain a secure, clean, cloud-based office on the road.

It works on all your devices, and with one click you can open files and then save them to your Box account. It also makes it easy to share files with your team, so they can edit them on any device, and you’ll always know that the files you created will remain secure.

Dropbox is also a good option for business travelers, especially if you use Google Drive to share files.

One of Dropbox’s key advantages is the fact that you don’t have to pay for any of its premium features. While Dropbox is probably the best free tool for business travelers, you will have to make some sacrifices.

Most importantly, Dropbox doesn’t support file sharing over the web, meaning you can’t easily transfer files to other people’s computers without the help of a web browser, which can be a bit inconvenient.

Another problem with Dropbox is that it will only work with a single computer, which means that if you use the same computer for business as you do for personal use, you’ll have to pay Dropbox’s premium features if you want to share your files with your friends and family.

While Box is also not an app that you can use on different machines, it does support file sharing over the web, which makes it a good option for a digital office that consists of multiple people.

Google Drive is the most secure and convenient cloud storage solution for business travelers, because it makes sharing your files easy and is especially well-suited for remote workers.

Evernote Business: Office 365 and Web App Alternatives

Evernote is a popular web-based productivity tool that allows you to write notes, annotate files, and do a number of other things without leaving the comfort of your computer.

Evernote is particularly useful when you are traveling, because you can access your notes from anywhere you can access the internet. You can set it up to synchronize with Dropbox, which means that your files will be accessible from any computer that you use.

Evernote is also an excellent tool for business travelers, because it makes it easy to create and share notes, as well as track your spending and track your expenses. You can create a separate notebook to track the expenses you made on a specific trip.

By putting all of your expenses in one place, it’s easier for you to determine if you’re doing a good job or if you need to cut costs next time.

Of course, it’s important to keep a healthy amount of money in your business bank account so that you can pay bills and other necessary expenses. Fortunately, Evernote Business lets you access your notes and check your accounts on the web, meaning that you can save a lot of time on printing and organizing receipts.

PDF Expert is another free tool for business travelers that is really handy for those who use a laptop for their work. You can easily create PDFs from documents and save them into the cloud, making them available to everyone else.

Unlike Evernote, PDF Expert is a simple tool that you can use on multiple computers without much effort, so you won’t have to make much of a sacrifice to use it while on the road.

SignEasy is an alternative to Google Docs that’s focused exclusively on business. SignEasy makes writing an email, creating an HTML page, and more, a lot easier.

Although SignEasy is designed specifically for professionals, it has an intuitive interface that makes it easy for a person to create an email and send it to a colleague.

Riseup Notepad and Riseup Notepad Lite are tools that you can use to produce a simple, easy-to-read document without spending a lot of time in order to create it. Riseup Notepad is available for free, but you can pay $3.99 for a special version of the software that you can use on several computers.

Offsite Collaboration Tools

You can also try to find online tools that can help you stay in touch with your colleagues and be more productive while on the road. In order to do this, you have to consider the fact that your colleagues may be using different tools for communicating, which makes it easier to find tools that everyone will use.

Websites like Teamwork.com and Zoho Projects allow people to connect with each other online to work on a project together. Teamwork has a free account option that’s perfect for people who want to collaborate with a small team. Zoho Projects is available on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices and has a free account option that’s perfect for people who just want to create one simple document.

Fashionable is another tool for business travelers that allows you to collaborate on tasks while you’re on the road. Fashionable allows you to create PDFs, documents, and more, and share them across your team.

Business Review is another tool that you can use to communicate with your team while you’re on the road. Business Review allows you to create private rooms for collaborative work, and it comes with advanced features like search capabilities.

VoiceKitr is an app that allows you to stay in touch with your team and share files while you’re on the road. VoiceKitr has a free plan that lets you create and edit documents, and it’s available for both Mac and iOS devices. You can pay $2.99 for a premium version of the app that lets you perform searches and find documents.

Communication

It’s important to find a tool that’s suitable for both desktop and mobile so that you can easily connect with your team while you’re on the road. Using Skype can be the best option for a lot of people because it’s great for video communication. However, if you need to make high-quality phone calls or video calls, you should go for Skype rather than Skype on the iPhone.

Skype on the iPhone has a lot of problems when it comes to high-quality video calls. In addition to the fact that you can’t make high-quality calls, Skype on the iPhone will also be a lot faster if you’re making calls to other Skype users.

Skype on the desktop has many more issues than Skype on the iPhone, but you can still use it to make calls to anyone on Skype. Skype on the desktop also comes with features that you won’t get on Skype on the iPhone.

Skype can also be used to create a conference call with multiple people. Once the conference call is set up, you can add participants and then start the call.

Asana is a project management tool that can help you stay on top of your team’s work. Asana makes it easy for people to communicate with each other, and it’s perfect for people who need to track tasks, share documents, and keep track of time.

Open-Plan Offices

If you need a workspace where everyone can interact and share ideas, you should consider using a virtual office. Virtual offices can be set up in the cloud, so you can choose to rent them from the provider that you prefer.

Virtual offices allow you to create your own work area. Virtual offices let you set up a specific space where you can work on your project without annoying people who have no interest in it. Virtual offices can also be used in collaborative work environments. For example, you can have a virtual office in a co-working space where you can meet with people from different companies.

Benefits of Virtual Offices

Virtual offices can be used to meet all of the needs of teams who want to collaborate with each other. Virtual offices are great for projects where there are a lot of different members on a team, like creative teams.

Virtual offices can also be a great way to form a collaborative work environment where team members who are involved with different projects can meet and work together.

Virtual offices can be used for work that involves individuals who work on their own projects. For example, you can use a virtual office to work on your own creative projects.

Virtual offices also can be a great tool for collaboration. When a team works together in a virtual office, they can easily share files, especially when it comes to storing documents in the cloud.

Chapter 10 Search in Windows 10

What is the search on Windows 10?

Last week I wrote about what Search should do on Windows 10. In my last post I used the word "pure" several times to indicate that Microsoft was committed to not using this search box to do other things. This is still true, although I have no idea what those other things are.

The search box sits at the top of the list of items. It searches the whole operating system, not just documents, and it searches locally and not in the cloud. You can type in a search term and have a search engine automatically display the results. This is the same as a Google search.

The search box has four lines of text, at least on Windows 10. If you are doing research, I recommend writing something in the search box for later review.

I just set up Cortana as a non-secure search, meaning that my searches are not available to Windows 10 users.

If you are using Cortana you have to write what you search for in the search box. I use Windows Ink to write everything I search for, which provides a visual cue to Microsoft about what I search for. If you are using the search box in the Start menu you have to enter your search terms right in the search box.

In addition, Cortana remembers my searches. All you have to do is say something like, "Start with search Cortana" or "Start with Cortana" and you can start Cortana without typing in a search query.

What is the search box search history?

The Windows 10 search history is of little use to me, so I don't have a problem with not using it. If you do, then you have to decide whether to turn it on.

To access the search history use "Computer History > Search History" on the context menu, or search history by typing "Computer History" into the search box. You can see the search history on the search history page.

Windows 10 search history shows a history of every search that is performed for each computer that has access to Cortana. I think this is a step in the right direction, but it doesn't go far enough. For example, in Windows 8 and 8.1 if you use the search box to start Cortana, there is no search history shown. I don't know why this is.

If you are using the search box to launch the built-in search service on Windows 10, Cortana shows a search history of the search that is used. However, if you want to use Google, you have to write the search term in the search box instead of entering it in the context menu.

How to edit the Windows 10 search history

Sometimes I will search for information on a website and type something like "LinkedIn Job" into the search box. However, I will forget that I used the search box to do this search, and I will forget to add this search term to my Windows 10 search history. This is easy to fix by going to the Windows search history page and saving the search term in a special place, such as "savannahvoice".

There is a third-party application, Alexa Edit, that can not only remember and edit the search term, but also remembers the spelling mistakes so that you can correct them later. You need to pay the $10 monthly fee to use it, however.

How to delete the Windows 10 search history

One downside of Cortana is that it deletes the search history after 15 days. To delete the search history you have to use the Computer History or the search history page. You can easily delete all of your search history by going to the search history page and typing "Remove" on the context menu.

Going to the "Get Help" page will give you links to additional help on using Cortana. You can also go to the Cortana FAQ page.

In addition, you can also turn on/off the Bing Custom Search Feature. In the search box enter search terms and then click the Custom Search button.

This functionality allows you to search the web with Cortana, or any other program that supports search. It's a good idea to turn it off when you want to browse the web without Cortana.

How to control Cortana

There are two ways to control Cortana. One is to use the search box on the desktop to type a keyword into the search box, and then select Cortana from the drop-down menu. You can also press the Windows-key and type into the search box.

If you can't find what you want to do in Cortana, you can run it as a standalone program. This is called Powershell and is available in the Windows 10 directory. You will also need to download and install the Octopus web remote.

To launch Cortana as a standalone program, you use the Run as... command with no parameters.

Cortana takes advantage of a built-in server. You can type a command on your computer to send a signal to Cortana. Cortana will retrieve the message from the server, and then send back an answer. You can send Cortana commands to perform many actions.

How to send an Alexa command to Cortana

An Alexa command is exactly the same as an Alexa command. However, when you say an Alexa command to Cortana on your PC, you are sending an Alexa command to the PC. Cortana doesn't use any of the Alexa services, and will not receive a response from Alexa.

You can also ask Alexa for advice. For example, you can say "Alexa, what can I do today?" Alexa will respond with answers such as calling a rideshare company or ordering a pizza. However, Alexa is also a smart speaker, which means that it is integrated with Amazon's other services. For example, you can use an Alexa command to order a pizza, as you can on an Echo.

How to set up a display on Windows 10?

According to Microsoft, a key feature of the new Windows 10 is the ability to show the number of notifications and be able to read them, but by the time you know what it is, they have already gone.

There are plenty of ways to display more information or to turn off that information but don't you miss the chance to just glance at your Windows 10 phone and see how many notifications there are and what you have missed.

However, if you're looking to use this feature on the new Microsoft phone, there is a very easy way to access this option: simply launch the Action Center or App Notifications app. Then go to the Notifications tab and you will see the option to change how many notifications are shown.

How to enable priority notifications?

The best way to manage all your notifications is to prioritize them. This means you can turn on a notification on your phone and while the phone is in a sleep state, will ignore other notifications, like ones from your email app or social apps. However, it will show up if you read your email. You can change this setting at any time, but it can be a little complicated to do so.

Start by launching the Action Center or App Notifications app on your phone. When you open up the app, you will see a new option to change what notifications appear. Click the "Change" button, then go to the "Notifications" tab and click the "Priority" option. Now choose the priority level of the notifications you want to turn on, which can be defined by a third-party service.

However, if you do not want to manage the option yourself, you can also choose to manage the Notification priority settings through the Settings app. Go to Settings, then "Notifications & Actions" and you will see a new option in this section. This will let you change the app that you want to access Notification priority through, whether it be through the app that you use or the Notification Center.

How to turn off notifications on Windows 10?

This is one of the most popular features, not just for mobile devices but also the desktop version of Windows 10. When you have lots of notifications on your phone, you can set them to turn off as soon as you are on your PC, but you also have to choose which notifications you do want to have.

There are three different sections on the Notification settings in Windows 10 that you need to deal with. The first section will let you know whether you want notifications sent to you by applications. The second section lets you make apps in the Favorites section of the Notification Center. The last section lets you turn off certain app notifications.

Firstly, if you want to stop all apps sending you notifications, click the "Get notifications by apps" button on this section. If you want to make specific apps send notifications to you and only you, click the "Give me notifications by apps you choose" button. If you want to turn off all app notifications, just turn off the "Get notifications by apps" button.

How to choose which app notifications are important?

While it can be very frustrating not having any notifications for certain apps, this does not mean that you can't change which apps send you notifications. The Settings app lets you set apps to send you notifications when you have chosen them. This is done by clicking on the "Apps" icon at the bottom-right of the taskbar.

To change which app notifications are important, go to the "Mail, Calendar, and People" section of Settings. From the "Manage my notifications" section, select an app and click "Choose how notifications are delivered."

Here you will be presented with the option to "Set notifications from this app." That means you can set that app to send you notifications or you can select "Show me only notifications from the apps I regularly use."

How to quickly fix notifications?

Another common problem is receiving notifications and immediately forgetting about them, such as when you're in a gaming session. Thankfully, this is easy to fix.

From the app notifications section of the Settings app, open up the "Notification settings" section. Here you can turn off notifications for specific apps and apps that you no longer want to receive notifications for. You can also turn off a specific app's notifications entirely by clicking on the "Notifications for apps you don't use" button.

If you find that you get too many notifications, you can manage it by going into the "Unread messages" section in Settings. Here you can stop individual apps from sending you notifications. The "Notification history" section shows you all of the app's notifications that you have received.

After you turn off specific notifications in this section, you will be able to manage the app notifications you receive and how you receive them.

Windows 10 does a great job of managing notifications. You do not have to worry about not receiving a notification or forgetting what you were doing because Windows will remind you of what you were doing by showing you an icon next to the notification in the taskbar.

How to use Cortana for Windows 10 notifications

Another helpful option is Cortana. Cortana is Microsoft's virtual assistant, which is powered by the intelligence of Bing. Cortana can perform multiple tasks, such as reminding you of appointments, making plans, responding to messages, etc. Cortana's usefulness depends entirely on you, and the way you use it.

If you want to know more about how to use Cortana, you can read our article on how to use Cortana in Windows 10.

Cortana has quite a few useful features, and notifications are a good place to start. Cortana lets you know when you have new emails or calendar entries in a variety of ways. You can receive a regular notification in the Cortana taskbar, a notification popup, or a reminder in the Action Center.

How to set up custom alerts

Notifications are great, but not everyone will be excited about receiving a notification every time you do anything. The solution to this is a second method of notifications. You can set up notifications specifically for the apps or websites that you care about.

To set up notifications for an app or website, you will need to add it to the "Notification center." From the Notifications section of the Settings app, go to the "Notification center" section and click on an app or website.

From the Notifications page you will see a list of all the notifications that the app or website will send you. Select the one you want to customize, and then click "Edit" next to the notification.

This next step is very important: right-click on the notification that you want to customize, and choose "Hide notification" from the context menu that appears. This will prevent that notification from being displayed on the Notification center.

You can also choose to not have notifications sent to you at all.

How to filter notifications

Windows 10 does not offer a full-featured, true-screen pop-up notification center like iOS does. You can still get notifications from the Notification center, but not as many. Instead, the Notification center is integrated into the taskbar.

To find the Notification center, you will need to right-click on the taskbar and select "Show more notifications" from the context menu that appears. You will see a list of all the notifications that are displayed on the taskbar. Select an app, and then click "Show more notifications" to display even more notifications.

How to mute notifications

Another feature that Windows 10 does not have is the ability to completely mute all notifications on a particular app. This is a useful feature if you do not wish to see certain notifications for that app.

First, search for the app or website that you want to block notifications from. This should give you a list of all the notifications the app or website will send you. Select the notification, and then click the "Hide notification" option to remove it from the list.

You can also customize what happens when a notification is removed. To customize this, right-click on the notification that you want to remove, and select "Options" from the context menu that appears.

In the "Notification Settings" section, you will see options to allow notifications to reappear, and also to allow you to "Snooze notifications." In other words, you can manually snooze a notification for a set amount of time before it reappears.

Chapter 11 Desktop settings

How to set up a desktop on Windows 10?

Getting started with a desktop is pretty easy. Start from the Get Started with a Desktop page, and click Add a PC. It may take a few minutes to load everything up, but once it’s done, just restart your computer or choose Get Started from the start menu to continue.

After you get your first desktop set up, you can work on apps, share files, and more.

How to choose a default desktop on Windows 10

When you start the first time, you’ll see an empty space on your desktop labeled Default Desktop. Click the default desktop and choose whatever you’d like to be your default desktop.

Note that Windows 10 defaults to the Start menu for you automatically so you don’t need to make a decision on this. However, you can change this setting if you prefer to always use the Start menu or your Desktop.

How to access the hidden Apps menu in Windows 10

You can access the Apps menu by clicking Start > All apps > Apps. You can also access it by pressing Windows Key + A.

How to adjust desktop’s window size in Windows 10

The default window size in Windows 10 is largest, but you can adjust it in the following ways:

●     Change the Size of the computer’s default Window

●     Press Windows Key + A, and then click Properties.

●     Click Change system settings and then make the adjustments to your liking.

Adjust window and webcam controls in Windows 10

You can adjust your screen’s desktop size by opening the Notification Area, and then click the System button and then click Show more buttons, and then select Manage windows from the list of available actions.

You can also adjust your desktop’s window and webcam controls by opening the Notification Area and clicking System (the button that’s next to Show more buttons), and then click Display settings, and then click Change desktop and settings.

To adjust your display, click Settings > Display, and then set the picture size to a lower size. To adjust the size of the window, click the Screen resolution button and make the changes you like.

How to right-click in Windows 10

Right-clicking on an app or window is simple, and it works just the same in Windows 10 as it does in Windows 7 and 8. Right-click on an app or window and then click the plus (+) button.

You can then choose from a range of different actions:

Open a window, hide or lock that window, resize that window, or switch to the Home-screen (by right-clicking on an icon or window and selecting More options).

You can right-click on an icon or window and select Open as administrator to make your computer more secure.

If you right-click on an icon or window and select Show options (or Show full-screen icons), you can resize the window or change the window’s aspect ratio.

How to open Cortana with your voice in Windows 10

Microsoft’s digital assistant Cortana is one of the coolest features in Windows 10. You can find Cortana in the search box of your taskbar, and you can open it by pressing Windows Key + Cortana.

You can ask Cortana to do a lot of things in Windows 10, such as set reminders, make phone calls, check weather forecasts, set timers, and more. You can also set Cortana to open with a specific phrase. For example, if you say, “Hey Cortana, let’s go to Target,” you’ll automatically open Cortana and search Target for deals and other details. You can also learn more about Cortana by reading about its features.

How to save specific apps in Windows 10

Windows 10 is great because it can open a bunch of different types of applications for you. The list of available apps can be changed by going to the Start menu and then going to Settings > Apps & features, and then clicking the App & features menu.

One way to find out what apps are installed is by using the search box in your Start menu, or by clicking the All apps tab of your Windows 10 taskbar.

How to send email with the taskbar in Windows 10

Windows 10 lets you access email with the Windows taskbar.

To see the Windows taskbar on the Start menu, just click Start > All apps. Click the Windows taskbar and you’ll see an option called Mail. Click the Mail option to start a new mail message. You can also use Mail to access your Exchange email, and you can read your recent messages by clicking on the message’s thread view (highlighted in red below).

How to use Cortana on the Windows taskbar

You can use Cortana to do lots of different things with the Windows taskbar, such as find out the weather, access search terms, set alarms, and more.

To get Cortana to work, just use the voice command Cortana in Windows 10. To launch Cortana, you can say something like “Hey Cortana”.

To access search terms, just say, “Hey Cortana, search the web for iPhone.” You can also access “Things to do” by saying “Hey Cortana, what’s the closest Starbucks?”

How to write notes with the Windows taskbar

If you write notes in Windows 10, you’ll find it easier to do so using the Windows taskbar.

All you need to do is start writing a note by clicking the Windows taskbar. You’ll then get a free-form keyboard, a right-click, and a blank space.

Once you’re finished writing the note, click the Windows taskbar, then select Edit. You’ll then have the option to save it as a Word or PowerPoint document.

How to use Quick Access for Cortana

If you don’t want to start typing to access Cortana, you can just use the Quick Access function for her to start working immediately.

Click the Windows taskbar and go to Settings > Show quick access for Cortana.

Click the Start button, then click Settings > Show quick access for Cortana.

Select the General option in the drop-down menu, then click Start.

You’ll then be able to use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + C to start typing the first few letters of a word, and the Cortana logo will show up on your taskbar when you’re done.

How to use File Explorer on the Windows taskbar

If you’re working in a Windows 10 window, you can use the Windows taskbar to access the file explorer, and if you want to find a particular file, you can even right-click on it and select the File Explorer option.

To start a new folder, just start a new Word document or Excel spreadsheet, and then right-click on the file to go to the folder list. To find the particular file you’re looking for, right-click on the name of the file and select File Explorer.

How to find the clipboard and share the contents

Windows 10 includes a clipboard manager that lets you copy and paste content to and from a number of other applications, but you can also use the Windows taskbar to access the clipboard.

To access the clipboard, just right-click on the Windows taskbar. You’ll then see a menu that has options for Copy and Paste.

To copy an item to the clipboard, right-click on it. When the keyboard appears, click Paste.

To paste an item to the clipboard, then click Copy.

How to edit text on the Windows taskbar

Sometimes you want to edit text in Windows 10 and you don’t want to open up the correct application. However, you don’t always have the text you want saved on your hard drive.

You can edit text directly on the Windows taskbar by opening the system tray (highlighted in red below). Just click on the icon that appears.

Then you can click Edit and click the big arrow icon, which has a tiny text editor button on it.

You can then type and edit the text you’re looking for.

How to browse the Windows taskbar

There is some Windows 10 functionality that can’t be accessed from the taskbar. However, it’s still worth knowing how to browse the taskbar so you can check it for apps that can be launched from it.

You can right-click on the Start button and select New Windows app, then enter the name of the app you want to launch and click Launch.

If you want to browse the Windows taskbar and see all the apps and accessories that you can launch from it, there are also a number of shortcuts you can press.

If you want to view the running apps on your taskbar, click on the Start button and then select Settings > Apps & features > Select All apps on the left.

If you want to see all of the apps installed on your computer, then click on the Start button and then select Settings > Apps & features > Select All apps on the left.

If you want to launch any app installed on your computer, then right-click on the Start button and select Run. This will launch the Run dialogue box, where you can launch any app on your computer that is installed on your system.

If you want to search the Windows 10 taskbar for apps and accessories that can be launched from it, just click the Start button and select Search. This will launch the search box.

How to set up a desktop on Windows 10?

By default, the Start Menu is hidden by default and cannot be seen when you start the OS. To make it visible again, you need to press the Windows + R keys. Doing so will bring up a small window with options such as Add a taskbar widget, Use Fullscreen app, and Set desktop background.

It is then up to you to select the Start menu option that will open the Start Menu. Once you click the Start menu, the basic task of setting up a desktop on Windows 10 is over. But there are a couple of advanced things you should know about.

Step 1: Go to Settings > Update & security > Activation on your desktop, and select it.

Step 2: Go to the next menu on the left-hand side. Then select “Microsoft account.”

Step 3: Click “Activate a Microsoft account” to use your Windows account to start and run the desktop.

Step 4: If you don’t have one yet, you will have to sign up for one.

Step 5: Once you have registered your account, select “Check now.”

Step 6: The activation process should start, and it should finish after a few minutes.

If you see an error while setting up a desktop on Windows 10, it means that the activation was unsuccessful. Make sure that you check that this message as soon as possible. After that, you can proceed with the next steps.

Step 7: Check the “Activation may fail” message if you see it while installing your new desktop.

Step 8: Make sure that the files are in the default locations of Windows 10.

Step 9: Make sure that the language is set to English.

Step 10: You can now go ahead and set up the desktop. In case you have used a 3D printer in the past, you will have to place the files in the designated places. For example, if you have created a 3D model, you will have to place it in a 3D folder in your Desktop folder.

How to install a Linux desktop on Windows 10?

If you have used Linux, you will know that Linux is a very versatile operating system and you can install it on any machine that runs Microsoft Windows. By using a virtual machine to install a Linux desktop, you will get a very good experience.

This article will walk you through the steps of setting up a Linux desktop using a virtual machine. This procedure is for testing purposes only. Linux can be difficult to set up for most users, so proceed at your own risk.

Step 1: Go to the option that says “Desktop Environments”.

Step 2: Select “Ubuntu” as your Linux desktop of choice.

Step 3: Click “Install Ubuntu”.

Step 4: A window will pop up with all the required information regarding the installation of Ubuntu. You will need to follow the on-screen instructions to set up your new Ubuntu desktop.

Step 5: The installer should detect the installed media of Ubuntu. Just hit “Finish” and you should be ready to go.

Step 6: Once you see a “Welcome to Ubuntu” message, it means that the virtual machine has been successfully installed and you can now log into your Ubuntu desktop.

Step 7: For now, you can just install Ubuntu and enjoy your new Linux desktop for now. Just make sure that you know your way around the Unity desktop environment before setting it up for yourself.

If you have trouble installing the desktop, you can visit the official Ubuntu website to download a 30 day trial version. Once you’ve set up your Ubuntu desktop, you can make the final choice on whether to permanently install it on your system.

How to set up a virtual desktop on Windows 10?

Like we mentioned above, you can set up a virtual desktop in Windows 10 using a virtual machine. This works exactly the same as the virtual machine procedure described above. It is a good option if you do not want to install the Windows desktop on your computer.

Step 1: Log into Windows 10.

Step 2: Right click the Start button and select “Manage”.

Step 3: Click “Desktop”.

Step 4: Navigate to the Windows “Software Library”.

Step 5: Click on the “Virtual Machines” tab.

Step 6: Navigate to the virtual machine in question and click on the “Install” button.

Step 7: You will be prompted to enter your Virtual Machine license key. Just click “I Agree” to proceed with the installation.

Step 8: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.

Step 9: You should now be running a virtual Windows 10 desktop. You can now test out the features of the virtual machine. Just make sure that you have downloaded the 30 day trial version of Ubuntu.

It would be a good idea to create a folder where you can store your favorite virtual machines. So that you can access it from anywhere in your system. You can call this folder the “Virtual Machine Folder”.

Note: You can access the folder from your PC by right clicking on the “Virtual Machine Folder” and selecting “Properties”.

Conclusion

What are the advantages of Windows 10? Why should businesses make the switch?

Windows 10 offers the most benefits for IT professionals by giving them greater control over security and reducing the operating system footprint to 30% from around 60%. Also, it has the unique ability to make specific upgrades available for employees when and where they need them. For example, on all devices, upgrading the Windows 8.1 operating system to Windows 10 provides an experience designed to work on a device with a single processor core.

This also provides businesses with greater control over which devices their employees use, helping them reduce the risk of data breaches and ensure the latest device security measures are in place. With Windows 10, enterprises also gain greater control over the devices they use to run Office, so you can download those documents for your device without any data being downloaded back to the company.

Is it possible to upgrade from an older operating system to Windows 10?

Yes, as long as the device has an Intel processor and is connected to a network. If it doesn't have an Intel processor or is not connected to the Internet, then an upgrade is not possible.

Can I migrate data?

Yes. Once you've moved to Windows 10, data and apps will be downloaded automatically, so there is no need to use any of the migration tools in Windows 10. However, when using the migration tool to move large amounts of data, it is essential that you backup all of your important data and apps, and that you perform a complete backup of the system to your local hard drive.

What are the benefits of the unified product offering?

Windows 10 combines all the platforms and services offered under the Windows and Devices Group to create a user experience designed to enhance productivity, simplify workflows, and ensure compatibility across all devices. With the new Windows 10 operating system, you can also take advantage of new capabilities, including Windows Hello, where you can easily set up secure biometric authentication with your face, fingerprint, iris, or voice. Additionally, Windows 10 provides cloud-based security solutions designed to protect both endpoints and the enterprise. For example, Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) protects against advanced threats, such as zero-day threats and malware.

Windows 10 includes over 200 new apps to help you work more efficiently. These include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Skype. Moreover, Windows 10 includes a number of built-in productivity tools that can help reduce your technical complexity and give you the control you need to deliver a more innovative and intuitive experience for your users.

How does Windows 10 provide new security tools to protect corporate data?

The new Windows 10 provides new security tools to help protect corporate data. Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) provides actionable threat protection to keep the corporate network secure. Windows Defender Antivirus automatically keeps Windows and apps up to date, while Windows Defender Security Center provides a centralized control panel to help you make quick and simple device changes and configure settings, such as parental controls, file encryption, and the notification system.

Other Windows 10 security tools include Windows Defender Application Guard, which helps protect data stored on the device while it is in flight from malware, and Windows Hello, which allows you to set up secure biometric authentication with your face, fingerprint, iris, or voice.

Other features include Windows Hello for Business, which extends Windows Hello to allow enterprise users to securely log into their devices via Active Directory and a trusted device. Windows Hello for Business also provides the option to share login information with people in other organizations.

How can I use Windows 10 with my existing devices?

As you use Windows 10, you can continue to use your devices and get the benefit of free updates to the Windows 10 system as well as the capabilities that they provide, without any interruption to the device. So, for example, if you are using Windows 7 or Windows 8, you can use Windows 10 alongside these operating systems and get the benefit of the upgrade to Windows 10.

What are the versions of Windows 10?

Windows 10 will be offered in three editions:

●     Windows 10 Home (free upgrade offer)

●     Windows 10 Pro (starting at $49.99)

●     Windows 10 Enterprise (starting at $69.99)

●     Windows 10 Education (for educational institutions, schools, and businesses) is not included in the free upgrade offer. However, it will be included in the Education license of Windows 10 Enterprise, which costs $39.99 for up to 5 PCs and $79.99 for up to 10 PCs. To purchase the education license, visit www.windows.com/education or call 1-877-WIN-EDU (1-877-378-4336).

Is Windows 10 available in other languages?

Yes, Windows 10 is available in over 100 languages. To access this language pack, you can visit the Language Store. Additionally, to learn more about the languages available, visit www.microsoft.com/en-us/ebook/com.w7eu.

Can I access the Windows 10 Creators Update before I install Windows 10 Creators Update?

In the U.S., Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, and Singapore, the Windows 10 Creators Update will be made available on April 11, 2017, and the Windows 10 Creators Update will be available in the second half of 2017.

In other countries, the Windows 10 Creators Update will be made available before Windows 10 Creators Update, or on a date to be determined.

Can I upgrade my Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 device to Windows 10?

Yes. You can upgrade to Windows 10 on a per-device basis, or you can upgrade to Windows 10 as a service. To use the "as a service" option, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, click the Check for Updates button, and follow the steps for each supported edition of Windows 10.

When will I get the Windows 10 Creators Update?

Windows 10 Creators Update will be released as a feature update. This means that the product will continue to be updated, with some features added, others removed, and the platform and kernel architecture upgraded. Windows 10 Pro edition and Enterprise edition customers will receive the Creators Update on April 11, 2017.

How long will it take to install the Creators Update on a PC?

This update will require a little more time to install compared to other updates because the Creators Update includes some new features, such as Mixed Reality, as well as some new security technologies. Some features require the system to be rebooted to download the updates, and some require an automatic restart, such as security and kernel updates. We anticipate it will take no more than 20 minutes for the system to completely download, install, and reboot. However, you can begin to install the update now if you wish. When your device is ready to install the Creators Update, run the update setup program by going to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for Updates.

After you install the update, you will receive a notification to reboot. You can delay the reboot to any time up until the Creators Update has fully installed.

When will the Windows 10 Creators Update be available for my device?

Windows 10 Creators Update will be released as a feature update. This means that the product will continue to be updated, with some features added, others removed, and the platform and kernel architecture upgraded. The final release of the Windows 10 Creators Update will be available for download and installation to qualifying devices as a free update later this year.

Additionally, the Windows 10 Creators Update will be made available to users as a feature upgrade from Microsoft if your device is compatible with the update.

How do I check to see if my device is compatible?

Visit this page for more details on which devices are compatible with the Windows 10 Creators Update. Devices listed here are supported by the software in the Creators Update. Microsoft announced the Windows 10 Creators Update in March 2017, and finalized the feature set in April 2017. Devices listed here are supported by Windows 10 Creators Update.

Which versions of Windows 10 are supported?

Windows 10 Professional and Windows 10 Enterprise editions are supported on all supported Windows 10 editions and are not listed on this page. However, Windows 10 Education edition is only supported on Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Education, and Windows 10 Education Insiders.

When will my device be released to the Windows Insider Program?

We announced that Windows 10 Creators Update will be available in the Windows Insider Program from April 11, 2017, but we are still in the final stages of production. Please continue to stay tuned to Windows Blogs for the latest on the Windows Insider Program.

Will I get access to a free Windows 10 Creators Update upgrade offer for my device?

No. If you upgrade to Windows 10 Creators Update before the end of the year, your device will automatically be upgraded to the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. However, if you upgraded from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 in the previous year, then you will be upgraded to the Windows 10 Creators Update.

I want to upgrade to Windows 10 Creators Update today! Where can I get it?

You can download and install the Windows 10 Creators Update from the Windows 10 Start Menu.

Can I upgrade from Windows 10 Anniversary Update?

No. You cannot install or upgrade an existing version of Windows 10. Only devices with the Anniversary Update or later will be eligible for the Windows 10 Creators Update.

Which versions of Windows 10 are supported?

Windows 10 Mobile is not supported on Windows 10 Home. You will only be able to run the Windows 10 Mobile Creators Update on Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL devices, and you will not be able to upgrade these devices to the Windows 10 Creators Update.

Can I download and install Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Enterprise?

No. You cannot download and install Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Enterprise editions on any of these devices:

●     Home Edition devices that use a non- enterprise version of Windows 10;

●     Laptops that are not a Microsoft Signature Edition device;

●     Purchased versions of Windows 10 Professional, Windows 10 Education, or Windows 10 Enterprise or are sold without any of these options;

●     Low-cost devices running Windows 10 Home;

●     Toshiba systems;

●     Any Windows 10 devices that are powered by Intel Celeron processor or lower.

Will I get updates for the versions of Windows 10 I already have?

Yes. Your device will receive regular updates for the Windows 10 versions of your device that are available for you to upgrade.

How do I get Windows 10 Creators Update on a tablet?

Visit this page for details on which tablets are compatible with the Windows 10 Creators Update.

Can I upgrade from an old version of Windows 10?

No. You will be unable to upgrade to Windows 10 Creators Update from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. You will not be able to upgrade an installed version of Windows 10 to Windows 10 Creators Update.

Bring your own device to the workplace

"Bring your own device" or "BYOD" is a phenomenon that has brought mobile business into focus. Apple was the early poster child of BYOD, but its own actions have undermined its position in the workplace. Apple is now suing some of the biggest enterprise storage companies.

The idea behind BYOD is that a business's employees can choose their own devices from the market, that they can work wherever they want, that they can tinker with their computers to make them their own. The thinking behind this is that your employees don't necessarily care about your company's design aesthetic or its software preferences. They care about the devices they use to do their job and Microsoft was the first to embrace this model.

Over time, Windows 10 also has some clever solutions for this use case. The Windows 10 Creators Update has already dropped a number of new tools to enable business app-makers and the general public to easily design, build, and run their own business apps on the phone.

How are other businesses using it?

Some businesses will only use Microsoft's software, and that's fine. What's also true is that you can take advantage of the plethora of business features in Windows 10 for all kinds of projects, such as mobile business apps, IoT devices, and document management. Here are some examples of what I call "Windows 10 in a Box," meaning simple business solutions.

Box

Box, the cloud storage giant, offers software to help your employees backup all of their devices—smartphones and tablets as well as storage and security services. There are cloud-based and on-premises versions of the solution, so you can choose whichever is best for you.

Handy

Handy is a small and inexpensive ($100 a year) add-on to Android, iOS, and Windows mobile devices. This tool lets you manage every aspect of your mobile device. You can see usage stats, see if it's been reported stolen, and even wipe the device if you suspect it was stolen.

Dropbox Business

If you use Dropbox, then you know that it also has a business solution for you. Dropbox Business gives you tight security measures for your files and contacts so that only you can access them. It also has mobile apps for Windows and iOS.

Samba

If you use Microsoft SharePoint to manage business documents, then you know that you need to be able to edit and add to them. Microsoft's Samba is a cross-platform solution that allows you to edit and share documents on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Chrome OS devices. Samba is also able to share files from one device to another, so you can share files between Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Chrome OS devices.

Again, Microsoft offers an array of tools to help you manage your mobile devices, whether you are using a business app, a plug-in, or the "Windows 10 in a Box" approach. The bottom line is that mobile business apps are the best business apps and they're getting better all the time.