Many users are already taking advantage of Windows 10, the new version of Microsoft’s operating system.
However, even a few years after its release, some are still a little lost, not knowing how to use all the new features.
Check out the list with some very useful tips to enjoy the new features on your PC.
1. Personalize The Start Menu
The Start Menu, after being left out of Windows 8, came back in Windows 10 with some improvements. Now there are live tiles to fix apps, which can be customized to your liking.
By right-clicking on a live tile you can resize or delete it. You can also group them together with similar programs and create several distinct groups within the Start menu.
In addition, you can resize the Start menu itself by making it larger, smaller, wider or narrower. The Start Menu is now customizable.
2. Enable Quick Gestures in Mail
The new Windows 10 Mail app allows you to activate commands by gestures. This is useful for anyone who is using the operating system on a hybrid device or tablet.
To enable the feature, open the Mail application and click the gear icon to access the settings. Once there, click Options and enable the “View actions” option. Also, define what each gesture will do when you execute them.
3. Turn Off The ‘Quick Access’ Feature Of Windows Explorer
In Windows 10, when you access Windows Explorer you will see a list of frequently accessed folders and another list of the most recent files. If you do not want this information displayed, open Windows Explorer; click “View” and then “Options”.
In the pop-up window, click the drop-down menu next to “Open File Explorer” and select “My Computer” instead of “Quick Access.” Windows Explorer will go back to the way it was before.
4. Create Multiple Desktops
Windows 10 adopted the concept of virtual desktops, already present in other systems such as Ubuntu and Mac OS X.
To create a new desktop in Windows 10, click the “Tasks View” button next to the search field in the taskbar. From there, just click on the “New Desktop” option in the lower right corner and create new desktops to your liking.
5. Switch Between The Various Desktops
To navigate between the various desktops you have created, simply use the WinKey + Tab key combination and then, at the bottom of the screen, choose the desktop you want to access.
6. Move Applications Between Different Desktops
Suppose you have two or more active desktops and you want to take a desktop application from desktop 1 to desktop 2. To do this, simply activate the task viewer using the WinKey + Tab keys and then drag the application into desktop 2.
In this way, you can have a larger organization on your desktop. You can still move the application window to the “New Desktop” button to create a new desktop just for that application.
7. Schedule Your Restarts
Sometimes, to complete the installation of an update, Windows needs to be restarted. Until Windows 8.1, we could only delay this procedure for predetermined times, such as 1 hour, 2 hours, etc.
In Windows 10 you can set an exact time when the computer will restart. To do this, go to Windows Update and see if there are any pending updates. If so, select the “Prompt before scheduled reboot” option in “Choose how updates are installed”.
So the next time the system needs to restart to install an update, it will warn you and you can set an exact time for this.
8. Download Updates From Other Sources
Windows 10 has a new way to download updates: using P2P technology. This allows you to download a fix patch directly from Microsoft servers as well as other computers that are already installed with it.
To enable this option, go to Settings> Update and Security> Windows Update> Advanced Options> Choose how updates will be obtained. Check the option “Computers from my local network and the internet”.
9. Command Prompt Updated
The command prompt in Windows 10 has gained some new functions, such as the ability to copy and paste (Ctrl C + Ctrl V).
To activate these new functions, open the prompt, right-click on the title bar, click on “Properties” and check all the options in the “Edit Options” section.
10. Record The Screen Of Your Computer
The Game DVR feature, present in Windows 10, allows you to record the screen of your computer, except for areas of the system, such as the desktop or Windows Explorer.
To use the feature, press the WinKey + G keys and check the “Yes, this is a game” option in the window that will appear. You will have several options like taking a print from the screen, recording the window that is in the foreground, recording gameplay and other features.
11. Use God Mode
God Mode unlocks some useful options for advanced users. By default, this mode is disabled to prevent lay users from moving where they should not.
If you want to navigate through the GodMode options, create a folder on the desktop and rename it to “GodMode {ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}” (without quotation marks). This will create an icon with the name of GodMode. By clicking on it, you will see numerous options pertaining to the system settings.
12. Solitaire Is Back
After being banned from the Windows Store in Windows 8, the classic game Solitaire is back in Windows 10. However, it is not in Start> Programs> Accessories> Games. To find it you must search for “Microsoft Solitaire Collection Preview”.
13. More Practical And Faster
In Windows 10 users can get help from Microsoft support more quickly and directly. By opening the Start Menu and clicking “All Apps,” you can find the “Contact Support” app. This solution is very intuitive and easy to use.
With it, you can get questions and resolve issues with Windows services and applications, as well as accounts and signatures such as Office 365. You can even check for the error ‘the connection was reset chrome’ and get solutions for it.
You can ask questions in the official Microsoft forums, chat online with a company technician, and even ask for someone to call your number.
Related Read: How to Smoothly Run GUI on remote Ubuntu Server?
