Windows 10 is the most powerful operating system that Microsoft has ever made, but it’s also the most complex. While the user interface is extremely intuitive, you’ll have to dig a little deeper to customize your experience, get maximum performance and make the most of features such as the Cortana voice assistant, Edge browser and multiple desktops.
Below, you’ll find over 100 Windows 10 tips and tutorials, split into eight categories and designed to help you learn the basics, disable common annoyances, save storage or be more productive.
Windows 10 Basics
Customize Windows 10
Fix Annoyances and Problems
Cortana Tips
Edge Browser Tips
Performance and Productivity
Security and Networking
Storage and Backup
Windows 10 Basics
Learn how to install Windows 10, tweak the most important settings, add users and perform key, everyday tasks.
Upgrade to Windows 10 From Windows 7 or 8
7 Settings to Change Right Away
Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts to Save You Clicks
5 Ways to Take Screenshots
Change Your Password in Windows 10
Uninstall Programs in Windows 10
Enable or Disable Tablet Mode
Add a User (Child or Adult)
Change the Screen Resolution
Sync Your Settings Across Devices
Sync Your iPhone with Windows 10
Customize Windows 10
Tweak the Windows UI so it looks and feels just the way you like it. Change the theme, adjust the icon size, or turn the new OS into a dead ringer for Windows 7.
Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts
Make Windows 10 Look and Feel Like Windows 7
Change the Default Windows Font
Change Your Desktop Background in Windows 10
Change the Icon Size
Give Windows 10 a Dark Theme
Make Your Own Windows 10 Theme
Hide Your Name on the Login Screen
Add Another Column to the Start Menu
Change Windows Explorer’s Default Folder
Restore My Computer to Windows Desktop
Edit Photos to Fit as Backgrounds
Save the Spotlight Lock Screen Pictures
Add Accent Colors
Customize Autoplay Menu
Install and Delete Fonts
Customize the Action Center
Fix Annoyances and Problems
We love Windows 10, but like a close relative, sometimes it can overstep boundaries and get on your nerves. Learn how to prevent the operating system from restarting to update without your permission, speed up a slow-opening Downloads folder or disable personalized ads. Also, find out how to fix serious problems by booting into your BIOS or running older programs in compatibility mode.
Remove the Lock Screen
Set Compatibility Mode for Apps
Access the BIOS on a Windows 10 PC
Stop Windows Update from Automatically Restarting Your PC
Turn Off App Notifications
Fix a Slow-Opening Windows Downloads Folder
Disable Personalized Ads on Microsoft Sites and Apps
Stop Skype’s Annoying Auto Updates
Disable Cortana Voice Assistant
Uninstall and Restore the Built-in Apps
Restore a Missing Battery Icon
Fix a Boot Configuration File Error
Cortana Tips
Windows 10’s built-in digital assistant can help you gather important information, manage your schedule, send messages and more. Find out how to wake Cortana with a voice command, use her to send email, have her ring your phone, change her accent and more.
Turn On ‘Hey Cortana’
Add / Remove Cortana from Your Lock Screen
Send an Email With Cortana
Set a Reminder with Cortana
Search for Files With Cortana
Turn On and Use Cortana in Microsoft Edge
Change Cortana’s Voice and Language
Turn Cortana Off in Windows 10
Change the Name Cortana Calls You
Find Your Phone with Cortana
List Apps That Work With Cortana
Show Weather for Multiple Cities
Clear Personal Info From Cortana
Tweak Cortana Privacy Settings
Send SMS Messages with Cortana
Create Reminders with Sticky Notes
Get News Notifications
Edge Browser Tips
The default Microsoft browser is blazing fast and dead simple. Here’s how to perform a variety of tasks in Edge, from common actions like blocking pop-ups, managing favorites and clearing cookies to tweaking key settings like the default search engine or crash-recovery options.
Share a Web Page
Disable Flash
Change Download Folder
Send a Web Note
Disable or Enable Cookies
Stop Restoring Tabs After a Crash
Change Search Engine to Google
Pin a Website to Windows 10’s Start Menu
Enable Do Not Track
Set Homepage (or Homepages)
Enable Dark Theme
Enable Do Not Track in Microsoft Edge Browser
Import Favorites into Edge From Another Browser
Manage and View Passwords
Import Favorites into Edge From Another Browser
Clear Your History and Cookies in Microsoft Edge
Print in Microsoft Edge
Add a Page to the Reading List in Microsoft Edge Browser
Rename a Favorite in Microsoft Edge Browser
Add a Favorite Site/Bookmark in Microsoft Edge
Open an InPrivate Window in Microsoft Edge
Enable Reading Mode in Microsoft Edge
Turn On and Use Cortana in Microsoft Edge
Block Pop-ups in Microsoft Edge Browser
Performance and Productivity
Make both Windows 10 and yourself faster and more powerful. Configure the operating system to boot faster, mirror your screen to an external monitor, record your Xbox games, or activate the platform’s built-in “God Mode.”
Best Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts
Mirror Your Screen to a TV or Monitor
Speed Windows 10 Boot Time
Get Superfast Mouse, Touchpad Speeds
Calibrate Your Monitor
Activate ‘God Mode’
Defragment Your Hard Drive
Copy and Paste at the Command Prompt
Record Video of an App
Use Offline Maps
Get the Full Layout in Windows 10’s Touch Keyboard
Create a .Reg File for Easy Registry Hacks
Record PC Gameplay on the Xbox App
Enable Swipe to Delete in Email
Perform a Clean Install of Windows 10
Uninstall Windows 10 and Roll Back to 7 or 8
Enable Linux Bash Shell
Create a Detailed Battery Report
Turn a PC into a Wireless Display (for other devices)
Open Folders in the Taskbar
Open Websites in the Taskbar
Import Gmail Contacts
Security and Networking
Connect your PC to a network or use it as a hotspot while keeping your system secure. Learn how to create limited-privilege guest accounts, password-protected folders and more.
Use the Windows 10 Parental Controls
Find Your MAC Address
Turn Your Windows PC into a Wi-Fi Hotspot
Password Protect a Folder
Create a Guest Account in Windows 10
Enable Windows Hello Fingerprint Login
Set Up Windows Hello Facial Recognition
Storage and Backup
Find extra space on your hard drive or SSD by making Windows as small as possible, installing apps on an SD card and deleting the unnecessary Windows.old folder. Make the most of Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud backup service by controlling which folders you sync, mapping your account as a network drive and more.
Reclaim Hard Drive Space by Shrinking Windows 10
Delete the Windows.old Folder in Windows 10
How to Save Space By Cleaning Out the WinSXS Folder
Install Windows 10 Apps to an SD Card or USB Drive
Back Up Files with the File History Feature
Mount and Burn ISO Files
Format a Hard Drive For Both Windows and Mac
Zip a File or Folder in Windows 10
Control Which OneDrive Files Are Available Offline
Map OneDrive as a Network Drive
Fetch Any File on a Remote Computer with OneDrive
3 Ways to Save Space in Windows 10
