10 Windows 10 Hacks To Maximize Your Experience
After a few months of using Windows 10, you may still be discovering its subtle features. Here we spotlight some handy shortcuts that can make the OS easier to navigate.
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Ever since Microsoft first debuted Windows 10, the team has consistently updated the OS with new features and fixes. Windows Insiders have been the first to use these, but several upgrades have made their way to users since July 2015.
Last month, Microsoft launched a new website to document the changes made in each OS update. The site serves as a hub for historical information on all Windows 10 build releases and is edited to include new information with each upgrade.
The launch of the Windows 10 update history website was a sign of Microsoft's efforts to be more transparent about the problems addressed, security measures added, and new features built for Windows over time.
[Microsoft, HP help invest $73M in Mesosphere container management.]
Often, major Windows 10 updates are publicized ahead of time. For example, the company recently announced it is in the process of beta testing a new app designed to enable users to unlock their Windows 10 PCs remotely via Bluetooth.
Another news report, this one related to the HoloLens unveiled alongside Windows 10, indicates the company is experimenting with a new technology called holoportation. The 3D-capture technology will let you send high-quality models of people by reconstructing, compressing, and transmitting them anywhere in real time.
However, even with regular additions to Microsoft's update history website, it's possible for some of the smaller features in Windows 10 to slip through the cracks. Windows 10 is packed with subtle shortcuts and features you can use to customize your experience and make the OS easier to navigate.
Here, we spotlight some of the tricks in Windows 10 you may have missed in your everyday use. Would you adopt any of these shortcuts? Do you have any to add to the list? All additions are welcome.
When Microsoft designed Windows 10, it chose to bring back the Live Tiles used to access apps and functions in Windows 8. The difference was, in Windows 10 the tiles are located inside the Start menu and not spread across the entire screen. While some users may appreciate the option to adjust the tiles and move them around to prioritize different capabilities, others might find them annoying and reminiscent of an operating system they would prefer to forget.
Removing the Live Tiles from the Start menu is a simple process, but you can't do it from Settings. Instead, you'll have to right-click each tile and select "Unpin." Afterwards, you'll be left with a blank space, so click and drag the right-hand corner of the menu to slim down the Start menu.
For those who prefer older versions of Windows, this will also give your Start menu the narrower and more streamlined look similar to the one it had in Windows 7 and earlier.
Microsoft decided to swap out Internet Explorer for an entirely new browser, Microsoft Edge, in Windows 10. It has tried to boost the appeal of Edge with features like an improved reading list and the option to mark up, save, and send pages. It also recently introduced Edge extensions.
Even with the new features, some people prefer other browsers like Firefox and Chrome. If you're one of them, you can change the default browser by going to Start > Settings > Default Apps and find Microsoft Edge. Click that and you'll see an option to choose a different default browser.
If you're using your laptop in an area without outlets, you can maximize your battery life with the energy saver options built into Windows 10. Go to the Windows taskbar to access the Battery/Power icon (located in the lower right-hand side next to Date/Time). Click the icon and choose Battery Saver.
You can also access this energy-saving option by going to Settings > System > Battery Saver.
Note: The Battery Saver mode will only appear if you're not plugged into an outlet and only running on battery power.
Microsoft brought Cortana to the desktop in Windows 10. Here are a few tips and tricks for using the personal digital assistant.
Speak your commands: Windows key + C launches Cortana in listening mode. You'll have to enable "Hey Cortana" first by going to Start > Settings > Cortana and Search > Switching the "Hey Cortana" toggle to "On." You can opt to tailor Cortana to respond to your voice and commands by going to "Respond best" and choosing "Me."
Identify song titles: Stumped on the name of a tune? Play the recording near Cortana and the assistant will use your microphone to track down the name.
Use a different browser: If you have enabled Chrome as your default browser, you can force Cortana to use Chrome for searches it would normally perform on Bing. Download the Chrometana extension for Google Chrome; the add-on will cause Cortana to redirect Bing searches to Google.
Learn travel time: Enable location services to ask Cortana how long it will take to access a specific destination. You can also say "show me directions" for step-by-step instructions.
Create and move events: Say "create an appointment" to set an event in the calendar. You can also say "Move my appointment" to modify the event using Cortana.
Microsoft is prioritizing user feedback to inform the fixes and features it adds to future builds of the OS. Because of this, users running the Windows 10 technical previews will frequently see prompts requesting they submit feedback on different features.
If you find these alerts annoying, you're not the only one. Disable the prompts, or cause them to appear less frequently, by going to Start > Settings > Privacy > Feedback. Under "Microsoft should ask for my feedback," you can opt to change the frequency of these alerts or shut them off.
If you prefer to use Microsoft Edge as your go-to browser, there are a few navigation tricks you should know. Reading View (the book icon on the navigation bar), for example, can be used to read certain articles and blog posts free of advertisements. You can add a website to the Start menu for quick access by clicking the three dots icon and selecting "Pin to Start."
If you're not a fan of the gray-and-white color theme, you can switch Edge to black by accessing the three-dot menu > Settings > Choose a Theme > Dark. Everything that was white will now appear black.
Tab Management: Right-click a tab to view options for opening recently closed tabs, refresh all tabs, close all tabs to the right, close all other tabs, duplicate the tab, or move your current tab to a new window.
There are a few nifty tips for manipulating windows onscreen in Windows 10. For example, hold down Alt and hit Tab to view all apps currently running. Scroll through the apps by hitting Tab repeatedly, and release when you reach the app you want to make full-screen.
Snap Assist, another feature, lets you view two apps on one screen. Enable this by holding down the Windows key and selecting the left or right arrow key to pin your current window to one side of the screen.
Here are a couple of handy keyboard shortcuts: Windows key + I to access Settings and Windows key + D to view the desktop.
Most of the control users have in Windows 10 is split between the Control Panel and Settings. It can be a hassle to pinpoint which controls are located where, a problem you can bypass by enabling "GodMode." This feature, as described on PCWorld brings all Windows 10 features into a singular window for easy manipulation.
To use GodMode, first create a new desktop folder, give it the following name: GodMode. and hit Enter. The icon should then resemble the Control Panel icon, and you can move it around if you would prefer it doesn't take up desktop space.
Windows 10 has settings through which you can measure how your PC storage is being used. Access Settings > System > Storage to view all your PC drives and determine which data is taking up your device's storage allotment.
The Storage section lets you see detailed information on which apps are maximizing your storage space. If you notice there are apps or data taking up too much storage, you can access this section to uninstall apps or delete temporary files to free up space.
If you're looking for new ways to save both battery and data, Windows 10 gives you the option to select which apps you want running in the background. Access Settings > Privacy > Background Apps to reach the Background App Manager. From there you can choose which apps send notifications, receive data, and stay up-to-date when you're not actively using them.
If you're looking for new ways to save both battery and data, Windows 10 gives you the option to select which apps you want running in the background. Access Settings > Privacy > Background Apps to reach the Background App Manager. From there you can choose which apps send notifications, receive data, and stay up-to-date when you're not actively using them.
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