Latest Windows How-To Stories
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Eye tracking within Windows 10’s Fall Creators Update is an assistive technology with potential
Microsoft's Fall Creators Update of Windows 10 includes a beta of an eye-tracking technology, called Eye Control. What could be a solid eye tracker falls short due to an apparent bug.
Updated
How Windows 10 dictation works
Within the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, Microsoft makes dictation as easy as tapping a key. Why use your keyboard when you can write with your voice?
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Windows 10 digital ink: All the improvements within the Fall Creators Update
You can use your Windows tablet's digital pen to ink notes into Windows 10, saving them as editable digital text. And with the Fall Creators Update, it's even easier to do so.
Updated
How to type emoji on your PC using Windows 10 Fall Creators Update
Soon in Windows 10, adding an emoji smiley-face will be almost as easy as a keyboard shortcut. Here's how to it will work in the Fall Creators Update.
Tip
How to download the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update right now
The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update is rolling out in waves. Here's how to download it immediately.
How-To
How to uninstall Windows 10 and go back to Windows 7 or 8
Did you upgrade to Windows 10 and regret it? You can go back to your older operating system in a few clicks.Answer Line
How to get out of Windows Safe Mode
Safe Mode is a useful tool, but it's meant to be temporary. If your Windows computer is stuck in Safe Mode, these instructions will help get it out.
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How to boot into Windows 10’s Safe Mode
Sometimes you have to boot your computer into Windows' stripped-down Safe Mode. But with Windows 10, that gets complicated.
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How to reclaim your privacy in Windows 10, piece by piece
Windows 10 has deep cloud hooks and shares a lot of data with Microsoft in order to create a smart, seamless experience across devices. If you prefer to keep some privacy, here's how to disable all of it.Answer Line
When Windows 10 takes up too much disk space, try this
When your Windows 10 installation is too big to run comfortably on your drive, shrink it down with Compact.exe, a built-in tool designed expressly for this purpose. Read on for this and other workarounds.
How-To
Killing Cortana: How to disable Windows 10’s info-hungry digital assistant
Cortana, Microsoft's supremely useful digital assistant, is a highlight Windows 10 feature—but not everyone will appreciate the amount of personal information she demands to be helpful. Here's how to disable Cortana in Windows 10.Answer Line
How to create a Windows 10 recovery USB drive
The ability to make a recovery disk or USB drive is one of the most useful troubleshooting tools included with Windows 10.
Max Productivity
Windows 10: How to customize multi-finger touchpad gestures
Take advantage of the Creators Update precision touchpad enhancements and get more done in less time.
How-To
How to set up a wireless router
These tips will make your wireless router installation and configuration even easier.
How-To
How to download a Windows 10 ISO file
Windows 10 makes it easy to download and use an ISO file to reinstall the operating system. We’ll show you how to do it.Hassle-Free PC
How to install Windows 10 on a USB drive with Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool
Microsoft's Media Creation Tool offers an easy way to create a USB drive to install Windows 10.Hassle-Free PC
How to save Windows Spotlight images to your PC in a few clicks
The Windows 10 app SpotBright lets you save Windows Spotlight images to your PC.
Hassle-Free PC
How to get past Windows Defender SmartScreen in Windows 10
The SmartScreen filter in Windows 10 can sometimes stop you from downloading the app you want. Here's how to get past it, and why sometimes you should think twice before doing so.
Hassle-Free PC
What to do if Windows 10 Control Panel disappears from the WinX power user menu
If Microsoft removed the Control Panel option from your WinX menu, here's how to get it back.
Hassle-Free PC
How to use your Windows 10 PC as a mobile hotspot
Even your PC can share its Internet connection with other devices when necessary.Hassle-Free PC
How to activate Game Mode in the Windows 10 Creators Update
Game Mode is a great choice for budget gamers or anyone else who needs to dedicate as many system resources as possible to their game.
Hassle-Free PC
How to snooze your Wi-Fi in the Windows 10 Creators Update
The Windows 10 Creators Update has a new feature that lets you turn off your Wi-Fi, and then turn it back on automatically after a set time period.
Answer Line
When to defrag a hard drive, TRIM an SSD and perform other storage tasks, or not
Hard drives need defragging. All SSDs can use a good TRIM. But how and when? We'll tell you what to do and not do, and what's being done automatically.
How-To
How to find the Windows 10 Creators Update’s hidden desktop themes
The Windows Store has nearly 175 desktop themes for Windows 10 Creators Update users, but don't start by opening the Store to find them.How-To
How to stop websites from asking for your location in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari
Browsers can supply your location when you permit it. If you have no plans of ever permitting it here's how to turn that feature off.Hassle-Free PC
Set your power button to turn off all your PC’s displays in the Creators Update
Windows 10 has new Power Options setting in the Control Panel.
Hassle-Free PC
How to create a single-column Start menu in the Windows 10 Creators Update
There's a new setting in the Creators Update that lets you simplify the Start menu.How-To
How to defer future updates in the Windows 10 Creators Update
The Creators Update makes it much easier to delay feature and security updates than previous versions of Windows 10.How-To
How to enable Windows Sonic virtual surround sound in the Windows 10 Creators Update
The Creators Update's built-in Windows Sonic spatial sound feature is supposed to improve your headphone audio experience
Hassle-Free PC
How to use Night Light in the Windows 10 Creators Update
The Creators Update brings a built-in way to adjust your screen's color temperature and make it easier to sleep after a late-night computer session.
How-To
How to use Start menu folders in the Creators Update
Start menu folders have arrived on Windows 10 to pack more apps into a smaller space.
How-To
How to free up storage space automatically with Storage Sense in the Creators Update
The Storage Sense feature in the Creators Update automatically dumps the contents of your Recycle bin and temporary folders.
Hassle-Free PC
How to prevent installation of apps from outside the Windows Store
A new feature in the Windows 10 Creators Update helps you keep third-party apps off a PC.
Answer Line
How to reclaim file permissions and ownership in Windows
Malware or network issues can sometimes change file permissions or disown you. If you're getting a "you don't have permissions" error, here's how to fix it.Hassle-Free PC
How to remove or change the signature in Windows 10 Mail
WIndows 10's Mail app includes a "sent from Windows 10 Mail" signature by default. Here's how to change that or remove it.
How-To
Switching from Mac to PC, Part 4: How to keep your iPad and iPhone in the mix
Incorporating your iPhone and iPad into your new life with Windows is easy.
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How to have Windows re-open active windows and programs on reboot
Jackie P. wanted to be able to reboot her PC and have it automatically open whatever was open when she closed it. Though the solution isn't perfect, it's close!Answer Line
How to re-enable delete confirmation for Sticky Notes
In Sticky Notes once you click "don't ask me again" it won't, so here's how to fix it.
Updated
Windows 10’s native Mixer support makes PC game streaming dead simple
The Windows 10 Creators update offers native support for PC game broadcasting, using Microsoft's Mixer service. What it lacks in users and features, it makes up for in sheer ease of use.
How-To
How to install Windows on an external drive
If you install Windows to an external drive, USB 3.1 can make it almost as fast as an internal drive.
Tip
How Delivery Optimization in Windows 10 Creators Update helps avoid data overage fees
Part of the Windows 10 Creators Update includes a feature called Delivery Optimization, which will help you avoid re-downloading the same patches and app updates over and over across the multiple PCs in your home.How-To
How to use Process Explorer, Microsoft’s free, supercharged Task Manager alternative
Microsoft's Process Explorer is a powerful utility that makes the built-in Windows Task Manager obsolete. Here's how to use it.
Max Productivity
4 of the best Windows 10 app launchers for increasing your productivity
Add one of these to your desktop to more quickly open programs, find important files, search the web, and more.Answer Line
How Babelsoft Media Preview reveals less-common file types in Explorer
Babelsoft Media Preview is the answer for revealing less-common multimedia files that Windows Explorer's own Preview tool doesn't support.Hassle-Free PC
How to use Mentions in Windows 10’s Mail app
Microsoft recently rolled out its Mentions feature to the Windows 10 Mail app. Here's how it works.Hassle-Free PC
How to force Cortana to use your default browser
A little program called EdgeDeflector lets you pair Cortana with the browser and search engine of your choosing.Hassle-Free PC
Three ways to restrict OneDrive uploads in Windows 10
Sometimes you need a break from the cloud when your internet connection isn't the greatest.Hassle-Free PC
How to show the taskbar on only one display in Windows 10
Taskbars across all displays are great, but if you want to keep things simple, try putting the taskbar on only one monitor.Answer Line
How Windows Explorer can help you find duplicate files
Sure, you could buy a utility to ease the task of finding duplicate files or organizing your multimedia, but Windows Explorer is quite good at it in its own right.
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