The majority of us will continue to use Microsoft's existing operating system for the foreseeable future even if Windows 11 is rapidly gaining ground on Windows 10 as the most popular desktop operating system in the world. There is always more to learn, even if you use it every day.
You might not think of yourself as a power user or you might have switched from macOS to Windows. Whatever your degree of comfort with Windows 10, these suggestions will enable you to maximise your enjoyment. Some of these tips come from a previous version of Windows, whilst others are brand-new to current version.
Unknown Start Menu.
You may still (kind of) enjoy the old-school (i.e., non-tiled) Start menu experience if you like it. When you right-click on the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner, a text jump menu with several well-known options, such as Apps and Features, Search, and Run, will appear. Although you can access all of these items using the usual menu system, doing so here is quicker.
Toggle Desktop Show.
You don't have to minimise every window you have open in order to view the desktop. The taskbar's bottom-right corner contains a hidden button. Not seeing it? Beyond the date and time, look all the way down and to the right. There is a tiny, invisible button that is barely visible. You can click it once to minimise every open window at once and once more to restore them all.
Additionally, you can choose to hover over this button rather than click to reduce windows. Turn the switch under Use peek to preview the desktop to your preferred setting in Settings > Personalization > Taskbar.
Superior Windows Search.
Windows' Settings > Search > Searching Windows section allows you to focus your search if it's taking too long. Set search to Classic so that it only searches your desktop and libraries. Your entire machine is indexed by the Enhanced option, which can take more time and energy. By excluding specific directories from your search, you can make it even more specific.
Shake Off The Muck.
Users of Windows 7 ought to be aware of this little tip. Grab the top of the window you choose and "shake" it on the screen to minimise all the other windows if your display is cluttered with them. feeling shaker's regret all of a sudden? Re-shake, and the windows will open once more.
Activate Slide To Close.
Windows 10 tablets and touch-screen laptops have a neat slide-to-shutdown function, but any PC running the operating system may also use it. There are a few ways to launch the functionality as an executable file, but the most logical option here is probably to create a desktop shortcut.
Simply perform a right-click on the desktop and choose New > Shortcut. Enter SlideToShutDown as the file's location in the ensuing pop-up window. In order to create a clickable icon on your desktop, rename the file and select Finish. Right-click the file once more, then choose Properties. In the Shortcut key box, type a key, then click Apply.
A pull-down shade will then show after you double-click the shortcut or type your keyboard shortcut. To switch off your computer, move the shade to the bottom of the screen using your mouse. Remember that this is a shutdown rather than sleep.
For the majority of users, this might be a little too specialised, but if you're a power user or IT expert who needs access to all of Windows' control panels from a single folder, God Mode is for you. Select New > Folder with a right-click on the desktop. Use the following code to rename the new folder:
Click And Drag Windows.
Windows 10 makes multitasking simple by allowing you to pin windows to various locations on the screen. Any window can be "fitted" to a portion of the screen by being grabbed and moved to the left or right edge of the display. A window can also be moved to any of the four corners of the screen and locked there. Combining the Windows key with any of the directional arrows will cause identical behaviour to be initiated for the specified window. Use the Win key and the left arrow to, for instance, shift a window to the left side of the screen. The window will then automatically corner when you press Win + up or down arrow.
Jump Between Virtual Desktops Quickly.
Quickly switch between virtual desktops to create separate desktops for, say, your personal apps, work apps, and social networking. To see every open window and desktop, simply click the Task View icon in the taskbar (the one that resembles little boxes).
Then you may drag any of them to the area that reads "New desktop," and a new virtual desktop will be created. You can switch between virtual desktops by pressing the Windows key + Ctrl + right/left arrows after exiting Task View.
Make The Command Prompt Your Own.
You'll be pleased to discover that the Command Prompt itself may be customised if you enjoy exploring Windows' internal workings with it. To customise your experience, open the Command Prompt, right-click on the window's top bar, and choose Properties.
You can modify the Command Prompt's controls, font, layout, colours, and cursor using the Properties panel. By selecting the Colors tab and adjusting the Opacity slider, you may also make the window transparent. This enables you to code while also watching the desktop.
Notifications Of Silence Utilizing Focus Assist.
You have more control over the notifications that appear on your PC when you use Focus Assist. For peace of mind while working, go to Settings > System > Focus Assist and disable the most bothersome messages. Additionally, Focus Assist can be configured to only receive certain notifications at particular times or only enable when certain circumstances are met. More information about adjusting notifications can be found in our Focus Assist guide.
Sharing Nearby.
Similar to how Apple's AirDrop works, you can easily share a file in an open document or photo with adjacent devices. In order to share files to another computer using Nearby Share, click the Share button on top of your document or image toolbar to access the panel. You can toggle Nearby Sharing on and off by heading to Settings > System > Shared Experiences. Additionally, you can choose whether to share with all devices or just yours.
Dictate Instead Of Typing.
When it comes to Windows and Office, Microsoft adores speech recognition. You can at any moment open a box that records your voice through your computer's microphone and dictates the speech in your current text field by pressing the Win + H hotkey combination. Although you must still manually enter punctuation, you can save your typing time by dictating emails, messages, and other documents.
Light And Dark Modes.
You have a lot of control over colour themes in Windows 10. You can switch the operating system to either dark mode or light mode by opening Settings > Personalization > Colors. The colour of the Start menu, taskbar, action centre, File Explorer, settings menus, and any other compatible programmes can all be altered using these themes.
Additionally, you can set a different theme for Windows menus and programmes using the custom option. You desire a little more colour. You can choose from a variety of colour themes to make your menus and taskbars stand out.
Internet Clipboard.
We all copy and paste using the Windows clipboard, but did you know you could store numerous objects at once and paste them on various devices? To view recently saved clippings to the clipboard, press Win + V. To manage this function and log into your Microsoft Account for cross-device use, go to Settings > System > Clipboard.
Screen Capture Tool Update.
The Snip & Sketch programme has completely revolutionised screenshots in Windows 10 after replacing the Snipping Tool, which was the only screen capture tool included with Windows for years. To switch between a rectangle, freeform, window, or full-screen snip, press Shift + Win + S. After that, you'll discover that the tool has an independent image editor built in from Microsoft Paint.
Sandbox For Testing Files And Applications.
Users of Windows 10 Pro have an additional safeguard to keep them safe from malicious programmes and data. A virtual instance of Windows will be created if Windows Sandbox is enabled in the Control Panel. Then, before adding anything to your actual Windows system, you can safely open anything you're unsure about. Everything inside Sandbox vanishes after you close it without harming your PC.
Console Game Bar.
You can open the Xbox Game Bar by pressing Win + G. This allows you to do a lot of things, such link third-party accounts, browse your Xbox friends list, manage audio, monitor CPU usage, record and broadcast your gaming sessions, and much more.
Additionally, you may configure unique keyboard shortcuts for your microphone, screen capture, recording timer, and other features while gaming by going to Settings > Gaming. Additionally, there are settings for network monitoring, enabling Game Mode for improved performance, and recording gaming.
Updates Should Be Paused.
Updates are vital, as we all know. They provide your OS with new features, security updates, and other things. However, there are times when all you want is for Windows to leave you alone without the constant pop-ups. You can delay incoming feature upgrades by going to Settings > Updates and Security > Windows Update. Users who are Home or Pro will have different options, but here is a list.
In The Cloud.
Are you in need of a Windows 10 PC reset? Users should benefit from Microsoft's cloud-based reset feature when Windows freezes and there is no USB disc or recovery drive available to reset the operating system. The same version of Windows will be installed again when using this remote option, but you will still need to delete all of your apps and personal files. Under Settings > Update & Security > Recovery, you can access this option.
Unlock Symbols And Kaimoji.
To access an enlarged bottom-right menu containing emoji, "Kaimoji" characters created from Unicode characters, and a variety of other symbols, press the Windows Key-Period (.).
Measure Things.
Windows comes with a number of built-in applications that could seem pointless yet have useful hidden features. For instance, the Calculator app can convert practically every unit of measurement, including time, energy, temperature, mass, and even currency, as well as determine the difference between two dates.
The Alarms & Clock app can predict the future to determine the time difference between two locations. To add locations, open the app, choose the Clock tab, and then select the addition (+) symbol at the bottom. To view the timeline, click the Compare symbol. The time changes on the map points as you navigate across the timeline, making it simpler for you to keep track of time zones.
File Extensions Viewer.
Windows hides file extensions by default in File Explorer, so you have to check the file's properties to find out whether it is a.jpg or.png file. However, you can configure Windows to automatically display the file extension. Click View > Options in File Explorer, then select the View tab. Uncheck the box next to the Hide extension for known file types option by scrolling down. The file types will now be listed at the end of all file names in File Explorer when you click Apply.
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