How to download, install and remove themes from Windows Store

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The Windows 10 Creators Update ships with options to install desktop themes for the operating system from the built-in Windows Store.

Microsoft introduced basic theme customization options when it released the Windows 7 operating system. These options allowed you to set custom backgrounds, colors, sounds and less than a handful of other customization options.

This made it easy for anyone to change some display features of the operating system, but was far from the customization options that full themes brought to the table.

The very same system, albeit with some minor improvements, is still active in Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system.

Download themes from Windows Store

windows themes

Starting with the Creators Update, Windows 10 users may download themes from Windows Store.

Themes that Microsoft made were previously available on the Microsoft website for download. This changes with the release of the Creators Update, as themes are offered on the Store now.

Unfortunately though, Microsoft decided to hide the themes category on the store. If you open the Windows Store on a system that runs the Creators Update, you won't find themes listed there.

The only option for now to access the themes category is to visit it from the Settings application.

get more themes in the store

Right-click on the Windows desktop and select Personalize from the menu. This opens the Personalization category of the Settings application.
Switch to themes on the left side when it opens.
Locate the "apply a theme" section on the page that opens, and click on the "get more themes in the Store" link there. This opens the Windows Themes section on Windows Store.
The Windows Themes section on Windows Store lists themes with thumbnails, names and user ratings. There is no option to download and install a theme directly from the overview page.

install windows 10 theme

Click on a theme that you are interested in to open its Windows Store page. Additional information, a description, more screenshots, compatibility information, or the author,  are listed on the page.

Click on the "get" button near the top to start the installation process. Please note that Windows 10 won't switch to the new theme by default.

You need to click on launch, or open the themes section of the Settings application again, to apply the newly downloaded theme.

apply a theme

A click on the theme there makes it the system's theme. You can switch to other themes listed there, for instance to go back to the default theme if you don't like the newly downloaded theme that much.

Removing Windows 10 themes

So how do you uninstall Windows 10 themes that you have downloaded this way? You have two options for that actually.

delete theme

First, you may delete any theme that is not used right now with a right-click on that theme and the selection of delete from the context menu that opens. Delete uninstalls the theme from the computer.

The second option that you have is to remove the theme using the application uninstallation menu instead.

uninstall windows 10 themes

Open the Settings application using Windows-I, and switch to Apps > Apps & Features. You can browse the alphabetically sorted list of installed apps and programs, use the search, or sort by installation date to find the installed theme.

Simply select it afterwards, and then the uninstall button to delete it from the system. There is also a move option in case you run low on disk space and want to move all installed themes to another drive or partition of the computer.

Solution for blocked installations or uninstallations on Windows

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Please wait until the current program is finished uninstalling or being changed. Most Windows users have probably experienced this prompt or similar prompts on Windows machines when they ran installations or uninstallations of programs on a Windows computer.

Basically, what it means is that Windows blocks the simultaneous installation or uninstallation of software programs.

Probably the most common reason for the error message is when you run two installers or uninstallers in rapid succession without waiting for the first process to finish before you initiate the second.

That's also the easiest solution for the issue, as you just have to wait for the first process to complete, before you run the second.

Solution for blocked installations or uninstallations on Windows

If you have used Windows long enough, you may also have experienced situations where the first process completed seemingly, but Windows would still throw the error message that you have to wait for it to complete before you can run another task.

The following options are available to resolve the issue. It is recommended to start with option 1, then 2, and so on.

Option 1: Wait

While you may not see the installation or uninstallation window anymore, it is possible that background tasks are still running. Waiting a minute or two may resolve the issue automatically.

Option 2: Restart

A restart of the PC may resolve the issue as well. This may be helpful if the installation or uninstallation got corrupt along the way somehow, and is not in a state that cannot be completed. A restart helps with this.

Option 3: Kill the background process / Service

This option is dangerous, as you may kill an installation or uninstallation that is still being processed. You need to be certain, at least to a degree, that the installation or uninstallation process has ended before you do so though.

To kill the installation process, use the shortcut Ctrl-Shift-Esc to open the Task Manager. If you use Windows 10, switch to Details. Locate the msiexec.exe process there, right-click on it, and select the end task option. Note: if you notice disk or cpu activity, it is still active and should not be killed.
To stop the Windows Installer service, tap on the Windows-key, type services.msc, and hit the Enter-key.  Locate Windows Installer, and select stop using buttons on the toolbar, or by right-clicking on the service instead.
Note: Some programs use custom installers. You may need to locate those instead, usually by sorting the process listing by name to locate the custom installer.

Option 4: Microsoft Program Install Uninstall Troubleshooting Tool

If waiting, restarting, or killing the process or service does not help, things may be severely damaged on the Windows machine.

Microsoft published a tool for that scenario that repairs important Registry keys among other things to make sure Windows is setup correctly for installing and removing software.

The program fixes the following things according to Microsoft:

Corrupted Registry keys on 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows.
Problems that prevent new programs from being installed.
Problems that prevent existing programs from being complete uninstalled, or updated.
Problems that block you from uninstalling a program through Add or Remove Programs (or Programs and Features) in Control Panel.
The troubleshooting program is compatible with Windows 7 and newer versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system only. It is recommended to click on Advanced on the first page of the Troubleshooter, and uncheck the "apply repairs automatically" option.

10 Windows 7 tips to get the most out of your machine

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Windows 10 faced a controversial rollout, with privacy concerns, bugs, and other issues plaguing many users. And as of August 2016, just 1% of business machines had upgraded to Windows 10, according to a study from Softchoice. Instead, 91% of the machines were operating with Windows 7—an 18% increase over the same period of time in 2015.

"It seems businesses don't see an urgent need to move operating systems, so long as their cloud-based applications are still running fine on Windows 7," Softchoice's Microsoft director Craig McQueen wrote in a press release at the time. "In addition to the security benefits, I think once organizations grasp the user benefits—such as touch and Cortana—we will start to see a boost in adoption."

While experts predict Windows 10 deployments will pick up this year, it's important for those still using Windows 7 for business to get the most out of their machines. Here are 10 TechRepublic articles with Windows 7 tips that will help enterprise users operate the machines more effectively.

1. 10 ways to speed up Windows 7

While Windows 7 generally performs well, over time, the system can slow down and require some care to get it back up to speed. The OS also contains certain features that users can take advantage of to improve overall performance. Here, TechRepublic contributing writer Scott Lowe outlines 10 steps business users can take to enhance the performance of your Windows 7 system.

2. Use multiple monitors with Windows 7's Remote Desktop Connection

Windows 7 allows users to connect to a remote computer and utilize the local system's multiple monitors. TechRepublic contributing writer Greg Shultz offers step by step advice on how to configure and operate multiple monitors using Windows 7's Remote Desktop Connection, as well as how to connect to and from Windows versions that do not support this feature.

3. Quick Tips: Flush the ARP cache in Windows 7

The Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) cache is an important part of IP networking on any OS, as it links Ethernet addressing to hardware addressing. Newly mapped addresses are saved in an ARP cache, which is usually fine, but can sometimes cause issues with internet connections and web page loading times. Here, TechRepublic contributing writer Jack Wallen walks through the necessary steps to clear the ARP cache, and how to manage it going forward.

4. 10+ Windows 7 services you may not need

While every version of Windows includes a core set of system services, business users can disable some that are not necessary in order to improve performance and security. In this article, Lowe highlights 13 services that users can disable if they so choose on Windows 7 systems that will likely not have any impact on business operations, including IP Helper, offline files, and Network Access Protection.

5. 10 Windows 7 commands every administrator should know

IT staff who troubleshoot Windows 7 problems often have to dive into the command line, according to TechRepublic contributing writer Brien Posey. Here, Posey details 10 fundamental Windows 7 commands that are useful for IT administrators, including System File Checker, File Signature Verification, and Driverquery.

6. Modifying the Windows 7 boot loader with the Boot Configuration Data Editor tool

In Windows Vista and later versions of Windows, the bootloader was moved from boot.ini to a utility called BCDEdit. In this article, TechRepublic contributing writer Derek Schauland walks users through how to modify the boot config data using this tool.

7. Change and customize Windows 7's Logon screen wallpaper

Changing and customizing the Windows 7 Logon screen wallpaper is easy once you know the steps, as Microsoft built the ability to change the wallpaper right into the OS, as opposed to needing any third-party software. Here, Schultz offers a tutorial on doing so.

8. Change the Processor Affinity setting in Windows 7 to gain a performance edge

Most applications have been designed for multi-core processors, and work with an OS to distribute their operations evenly across cores to enhance performance. However, you can sometimes achieve better overall performance from certain applications by configuring them to run on different processor cores, which Windows 7 allows via the Processor Affinity setting. In this article, Shultz explains two ways to change the Processor Affinity setting in Windows 7.

9. Use Windows 7 Event Viewer to track down issues that cause slower boot times

Experiencing a slow Windows 7 boot time? You can use Windows 7's Event View to investigate the source of the problem. The Event Viewer includes a category of event logs called Applications and Services Logs, which track key elements of the OS. Here, Shultz explains how it is possible to find out how long it took to boot up your system every time, since the day Windows 7 was first installed, along with instances where boot time slowed down, all through these logs.

10. Tag your files for easier searches in Windows 7

In this article, Shultz walks users through how to tag files to make them searchable via the Search filters built into Windows Explorer's Search box in Windows 7. It's possible to do this easily from many applications while saving a file. The ability to more easily find files is a boon for business users who want to enhance their productivity.

Enable Windows 10 Admin to Remove User Account Control Popups

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Windows has always had an "Administrator" account that allowed you to install programs and manage system files with elevated privileges. The difference between this account and a regular user account with administrator access was that you never got bothered by annoying User Account Control popups when you were logged in as Administrator.

In the past, you could enable this account through the Windows Control Panel, but starting with Windows 10, these options are hidden. Thanks to a tip from gHacks, however, we can finally bring back the Administrator account and banish those obnoxious UAC popups for good.

Step 1: Open a Command Prompt Window

To begin, press the Windows button on your keyboard and type cmd. From here, right-click the top result, then choose "Run as administrator."

Step 2: Enable the Administrator Account

Next, enter the following text into the command prompt window, then press the enter button on your keyboard to activate the hidden Administrator account:

net user administrator /active:yes

Step 3: Set a Password for the Account

At this point, the Administrator account is already active, but it would be a good idea to add a password to this account before you exit the command prompt window. So type the following command, then hit enter:

net user administrator *

Next, type in a password for the newly-created Administrator account, then press enter and you'll be asked to verify the password. So type the password again, then press enter to wrap things up.

Step 4: Log into the Administrator Account

If, at any time, you'd like to install programs or manage system files without being bothered by UAC popups, simply switch over to the new Administrator account by clicking your own account in the Start menu, then selecting the "Administrator" option from the drop-down menu.

Disabling the Administrator Account

If you ever decide you'd like to get rid of the Administrator account, simply open a command prompt window as an administrator, then type the following command and hit enter:

net user administrator /active:no

Enable the Hidden Dark Mode in Windows 10

Ah, the fabled dark mode. In the past, many users were delighted to find the existence of something called Royale Noir, a dark theme option that was available for Windows XP. Yet for reasons unknown, Microsoft had kept knowledge of Royale Noir a secret until some bright minds discovered its existence, and the rest is history.

Fast forward to the present, and Microsoft has introduced a dark theme option for the new Edge browser in Windows 10, and it looks majestic.

Behold the new Edge browser with its Dark theme enabled.

As of right now, Microsoft has deemed only the Edge browser as worthy of possessing the knowledge of the dark arts. And that has made most users quite sad.

Luckily, there is a very simple and quick workaround for this. So if you want to be a cool kid and enable the hidden dark mode in other Windows 10 apps, the instructions are as follows.

Step 1: Launch the Registry Editor

Very simply, in the search bar, just type in "regedit" without the quotes and click on the disintegrating cube icon to launch the Registry Editor.

Depending on your security settings, User Account Control might prompt you for permission. If so, simply click on "Yes."

Step 2: Access the Proper Directory

On the left sidebar is the directory structure. For the following, simply click on the chevron next to the directory name to expand it and navigate down the hierarchy.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER -> SOFTWARE -> Microsoft -> Windows -> CurrentVersion -> Themes -> Personalize

Step 3: Perform the Actual Magic

On the right pane, in an empty area, right-click and choose "New," then "DWORD (32-bit) Value."

You should now see a new entry on the right pane called "New Value #1" highlighted in blue.

Rename the highlighted field to "AppsUseLightTheme," and you'll now see a new entry in the right pane called "AppsUseLightTheme" with a default value set to 0.

Now just log out, then log back in.

To Wrap It Up...

Now there are a couple of disclaimers. The dark mode is not universal, since some apps don't fully support it yet. But in the apps that do support it, like Settings, it looks pretty sweet!

You did it!

Microsoft did have to delay some features for Windows 10 for the RTM release on July 29th, but the inclusion of the option to enable a dark theme for Edge gives us hope that Microsoft will roll out a system-wide option to enable dark mode in the near future.

Everything You Need to Disable in Windows 10

Windows 10 is the most cloud-oriented version of Windows to date—yet, while this means you get some nifty new features, it also means some of your personal data is being shared with Microsoft's servers.

Don't Miss: 45+ Tips & Tricks You Need to Know for Windows 10

In general, Microsoft has proven to be a fairly trustworthy company when it comes to utilizing your data in order to streamline services like Cortana, but an excerpt from their privacy statement puts the scope of this data mining into perspective:

In all fairness to Microsoft, this type of behavior has become commonplace amongst tech companies across the world—but that doesn't mean we should sit idly by. Additionally, some of these features can cost you battery life and performance, so I'll show you how to disable them all below.

Disable Wi-Fi Sense

The first questionable Windows 10 feature I'd like to talk about is called "Wi-Fi Sense." Microsoft enabled this feature by default, and to summarize, your network passwords can now be shared with your social media friends automatically. It's a 2-way street, so the convenience factor is definitely appealing—no more asking for your friend's Wi-Fi password, and no more issues conveying your own complicated password to your friends.

The description sounds scary, but Wi-Fi Sense does not share passwords automatically—while it's enabled by default (so you can access shared passwords), you have to explicitly choose what passwords to share. None are shared without you explicitly choosing to share them. When shared, the passwords are securely stored on Microsoft's servers and never revealed to others, even when shared, but that's just it—it's my password, and I never wanted Microsoft to have it in the first place. Encrypted or not.

So if you'd like to disable Wi-Fi Sense, open your Start menu and launch the Settings app. From here, choose the "Network & Internet" option to begin.

Next, click the "Manage Wi-Fi settings" option on the following page.

From here, the Wi-Fi Sense options will be displayed at the top of the screen. Basically, you want to disable every last option in this menu.

At this point, you'll no longer be participating in Microsoft's Wi-Fi sharing program, but your passwords may still be stored remotely. To disable Wi-Fi Sense altogether, you'll have to add a suffix of "_optout" to the end of your Wi-Fi network's name (SSID) through your router's settings menu.

Disable Bandwidth Sharing for Updates

In another strange act of opt-out data sharing between users, Windows now uses a sort-of peer-to-peer network for downloading updates. Similar to a torrent program, this means that when you download a Windows update file, you're also uploading parts of it to other users.

Since unnecessary bandwidth usage can be costly, you'll probably want to disable this one. Again, start by heading to the Settings menu, but this time open the "Update & Security" section.

From the "Windows Update" tab on the next screen, click the "Advanced options" button to find the setting we're looking for.

Next, scroll down to the bottom of this page, then select the option labeled "Choose how updates are delivered."

Finally, turn off the toggle switch directly beneath the excerpt about "Updates from more than one place." They really buried this one deep, didn't they?

Disable Automatically-Applied Updates

On the subject of updates, Windows 10 now automatically applies updates by default, which is a nice feature on the surface. The downside here, though, is that while they say it'll only restart your device while you're not using it, I can personally attest that this is not always true.

So if you don't want to run the risk of losing unsaved data when Windows decides it needs to update itself, head to Settings, then Update & Security, and select the "Advanced options" entry again. From here, click the drop-down menu directly beneath the "Choose how updates are installed" header.

Finally, set this option to "Notify to schedule restart." This will ensure that Windows at least gives you a warning before restarting itself to apply updates.

If you experience any issues with Windows restarting multiple times in an attempt to apply the same broken update, be sure to check out our article on disabling automatic updates on Windows 10.

Disable 'Getting to Know You' Features

Another disturbing feature that is meant to streamline your Windows 10 experience is called "Getting to know you." This one logs your typing history, saves recordings of your voice, collects information from your contacts, calendar, and even your handwriting—all in the name of giving you a more personalized experience with Cortana.

In addition to options for the "Getting to know you" feature, each of these last 4 sections will be dealing with options in Windows 10's Privacy menu—so open your Start menu and launch the Settings app, then select "Privacy" to begin.

From here, select the "Speech, inking & typing" category in the left-hand menu, then click "Stop getting to know me" to take back a bit of privacy.

Disable Targeted Ads

With Windows 10, you've now been issued a unique advertising ID to help "serve" you with more targeted ads. This ID cannot be removed permanently, but at the very least, you can prevent 3rd-party apps from accessing this data.

To begin, head to the "General" tab in Windows 10's Privacy menu. From here, make sure to disable the topmost toggle switch, labeled "Let apps use my advertising ID for experiences across apps."

Disabling this setting won't affect Windows apps like Microsoft Edge, so you may want to take this a step further. To disable targeted ads in Edge, use the browser to navigate to this link, then turn any available options off.

Prevent App-Access to Your Location, Microphone, & Webcam

In Windows 10, third-party apps can access your microphone, webcam, and location. While this makes sense for some apps—for instance, a video-chatting app needing access to your microphone and webcam—not all apps absolutely need these permissions. Additionally, apps accessing your location too frequently can lead to a reduction in performance and battery life, so you should at least familiarize yourself with these menus.

First up, head to the "Location" tab in the Privacy menu, then scroll down to the bottom of the page to review the apps that have permission to access your location. To block any of these apps from accessing your location, simply toggle the adjacent switch to "Off."

In the same vein, head to the "Camera" tab to check on apps that can access your webcam. Again, scroll down to the bottom of the list, then turn off the toggle switches next to any unnecessary apps in this list.

Finally, head to the "Microphone" tab in the Privacy menu to view apps that can access your microphone. Again, simply turn off any switches here if you don't want an app to access your microphone.

Disable Unwanted Background Apps

This last option is a bit less privacy-oriented, but it can make a big impact in terms of battery life and performance. Many "Universal" Windows apps are set to start up alongside your computer, and this is a drain on your computer's resources.

From the Privacy menu again, scroll down to the bottom of the menu on the left side of the page, then select the "Background apps" option. From here, simply use the toggle switches to prevent these apps from running on startup and staying open in the background.

Disable the Lock Screen on Windows 10

If your PC setup includes a mouse and keyboard, you'll be happy to know that most of the touchscreen-first features of Windows 8 have gone by the wayside in Windows 10. Where it once required awkward gestures to access key features, Windows now recognizes when you're using a traditional desktop or laptop, then responds by making sure that all features can be easily discovered with clickable buttons and menu entries.

Unfortunately, there are still a few minor remnants of Windows 8's touchscreen-first approach. Most notably, a lock screen greets you as soon as you boot your PC, which has to be clicked or swiped away before you can log into Windows. While this might be great for preventing accidental pocket unlocking on smartphones and tablets, it really serves no purpose on a traditional PC, so I'll show you how to disable it below.

Method 1: Use Group Policy Editor to Disable the Lock Screen

This first method is the easiest, but it may not work for some folks, as the Group Policy Editor program that it uses is not included in all editions of Windows.

To get started, hold down the Windows button on your keyboard, then press the R key to launch the Run dialog. From here, type "gpedit.msc" and press Enter. If you get an error message at this point, you'll have to use Method 2 (outlined below), but otherwise, you should see the Group Policy Editor window pop up.

In the Group Policy Editor now, expand the Computer Configuration folder tree in the left pane of the window. From here, expand the Administrative Templates and Control Panel subfolders, then click the Personalization folder to select it. Next, double-click the entry in the right pane of this window that says "Do not display the lock screen."

From the window that pops up next, select the "Enabled" option on the left-hand side, then click "OK" at the bottom of the screen. When you're done here, simply reboot your computer and the Windows 10 lock screen will be gone for good.

Method 2: Use Registry Editor to Disable the Lock Screen

Some versions of Windows 10 do not include the Group Policy Editor program, so if typing "gpedit.msc" into the Run dialog on your computer caused an error, this is likely the reason. That's no biggie, though, because this second method will remove the lock screen on all versions of Windows 10.

To begin, press and hold the Windows button on your keyboard, then hit the R key to open the Run dialog. Next, simply type "regedit" and hit Enter.

In the left pane of the window that comes up next, expand each of the following folders.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows

Next, right-click the Windows folder, then choose "New" and select "Key."

From here, right-click this newly-created key and choose "Rename," then change the name to read Personalization.

Next, select the Personalization key that you just created by clicking it once, then in the right pane of the window, right-click any empty space and choose "New," then "DWORD (32-bit) Value."

When you're done with that, right-click this newly-created DWORD and choose "Rename," then change the name to read NoLockScreen.

From here, double-click the NoLockScreen DWORD that you just renamed, then a small window will pop up. In the "Value data" field of this pop-up, enter the number 1, then click "OK."

At this point, just reboot your PC, and when you get back up, you shouldn't see the superfluous lock screen anymore.

Note on Disabling the Windows 10 Login Screen & Password Prompt

On a related note, it is possible to disable the Windows 10 login screen so that you don't have to enter a password after booting your PC, but that subject would warrant a separate tutorial, and it comes with one big downside: If you disable the password prompt and login screen on Windows 10, you'll lose the ability to sync settings and data across all of your Windows devices. Hopefully this process becomes a bit more stable in future builds, and we'll cover it at that time.

Disable Adaptive Brightness on Windows 10 for Maximum Screen Brightness

You're smashing your keyboard to increase your screen brightness, yet it won't go any higher, but you know you've been able to set it higher before. Angered by this, you get up and move your laptop, only to suddenly notice that the display does in fact get a lot brighter.

Now you're confused and worried that your laptop is potentially haunted. If this scenario sounds familiar, then I have some good news for you. First of all, no, your laptop is not haunted, but more importantly, we're going to go into why this is happening and how to fix it.

Adaptive Brightness in Windows 10

In modern versions of Windows, Microsoft introduced a feature called adaptive brightness. Most displays, especially on laptops, utilize ambient light sensors to detect surrounding levels of light.

The adaptive brightness feature taps into the ambient light sensors to automatically adjust your display to match surrounding lighting conditions. Thus, adaptive brightness is useful in conserving battery life since the display is a pretty power-hungry component.

However, what if you're not concerned about battery life and want the brightness as high as possible? Furthermore, the ambient light sensor is not perfect, and at times your display brightness can be in flux as described above. Luckily, there's an easy fix.

Step 1: Open Power Options

Click on the Start button, then search for "Power Options" and launch the corresponding Control panel section.

Step 2: Edit Plan Settings

Simply click on "Change plan settings" on whichever power plan you're on or want to change.

Step 3: Adjust Adaptive Brightness

Scroll down until you get to the "Display" section and click on the plus sign to show the submenus. Now click on the plus sign next to "Enable adaptive brightness" to expose its settings.

Change the settings as you desire, then hit OK to save and exit.

My recommendation is to set it on when running on battery and turn it off when plugged in. This way, you get the best of both worlds, with adaptive brightness helping extend battery life when you need it, and having maximum display brightness when you want.

Tips and Tricks for Windows 10

1. Make Windows 10 behave the way you want it to

Besides Control Panel, Windows 10 has an easy to use PC Settings window where you can easily change and control the settings related to Windows Updates, Networks, Apps, etc. Manage your System, change Network and Internet Settings, change Windows 10 Privacy settings, manage your Devices, Personalize your PC, manage your User Accounts, set your Time & language, use tools for the differently abled and manage Windows Update and Security here. To know what all changes you can make from PC Settings window, read How to open and use Windows 10 Settings app.

2. Open individual settings using Desktop shortcuts

You can create Desktop shortcuts or Context Menu items to open various Settings in Windows 10. See the URI for Settings apps that open the particular Settings page directly.

3. Edge browser tips and tricks

There is much to Microsoft Edge than what appears. At the core of Edge is the EDGEHTML rendering engine that was developed from scratch to provide a better browser. These Edge browser tips and tricks will make you an Edge ninja!

4. Using Internet Explorer in Windows 10

The default browser in Windows 10 is the all-new Edge. Windows 10 also contains Internet Explorer for legacy purposes which I think will be continued to be used for a considerable time to come. This tip will show you how to open Internet Explorer in Windows 10.

5. Using Cortana in Windows 10

Windows 10 features Cortana, a personal assistant that goes as far to provide you with local information and replace typing in Windows 10 taskbar search box with voice. To give you an idea of how it works, it is like Apple’s Siri. Check out how to set up Cortana in Windows 10 to start using it. If you do not use it, you can disable Cortana. Know how to use Cortana in Edge? There are many Cortana Tips and Tricks here.

6. Make File Explorer open to This PC instead of Quick Access

Windows 10 users may have noticed that by default, File Explorer opens to Quick Access. Make Explorer open his PC folder. If you don’t use it, you may disable Quick Access.

7. Booting in Safe Mode

This post will show you how to enable and start or boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode. There may be other ways, but we will cover only 2 of the most convenient ways.

8. Change the look of Windows 10 Start Menu

The Start menu in Windows 10 is divided into two parts: one contains apps and settings, the other part towards the right allows displays live tiles and allows you to pin apps in groups. Check out how to customize Start Menu in Windows 10 to be able to customize Start menu according to your interest and ease of usage.

9. Make Start more private

The major components of Start Menu in Windows 10 are Most Used List, Recent Programs List, PC Settings, Power Options, and Apps Sub-menu. Show or Hide Recently added apps group. Remove Most Used list from the Start Menu in Windows 10.

10. Enable Start Screen or Full-screen Start

Miss the Start Screen? You can enable Start Screen by enabling the Tablet Mode. If wish to enable Start Screen without enabling the Tablet Mode, then the best option for you would be to enable full-screen Start.

11. Add Blur to Start Menu background

Don’t like Transparency? Remove it and enable Blur in Start Menu background.

12. Make your Start Menu and Taskbar colorful

See how you can show or change the colors of your Start Menu and Taskbar. Don’t like the default taskbar colors? Add a new custom color for Windows 10 taskbar. More tips here on how to customize Windows 10 taskbar.

13. Change Taskbar Search default search provider

The Taskbar Search textbox allows you to easily search your device as well as the web. The default service provider when you install Windows 10 is Bing. But if you wish to change it to Google, you can do so easily. Read Set Google as Default Search in Windows 10 taskbar search.

14.  Record screen using Xbox app

The new built-in Windows 10 Xbox app also includes a screen recording feature that lets you record the screen of the active window, as well. To use it, start the Xbox app, click Win+G to open the Game bar and select Screenshot or Start Recording.

15. Change Theme, Wallpaper, Lock Screen

One of the first things to check out after upgrading to Windows is how to personalize it according to your taste. Read Personalization settings in Windows 10 to know what all settings you can change. You can also set up personal lock screen, wallpaper and control themes in Windows 10. To know more on the topic, please read Change Theme, Lock Screen & Wallpaper in Windows 10.

16. Use Dark Themes

Enable the Windows 10 Dark Theme or use the Dark Theme in Edge – really easy on the eyes!

17. Prevent Windows 10 Themes from changing desktop Icons

Desktop icons help you locate and run a program. Different people like different looks of the desktop icons. The traditional icons are appreciated more. But there are chances that if you install a theme, it will change the desktop icon images too. You can prevent that using the PC Settings option. Check out Allow or Prevent themes from changing Desktop icons in Windows .

18. Customize Screensaver

Still use a screensaver? These tips will help you customize Screensaver in Windows 10.

19. Install or move Windows 10 Apps to another Drive

Running out of disk space on your system drive? Get smart change the install location & move Windows 10 Apps to another drive.

20. Change default programs

Don’t like the default browser? This post will show you how to change default programs. Change and use your favorite the media player, browser, etc, to op.en file types.

21. Change default Credential Provider

Windows 10 comes with multiple sign-in options available. This is possible due to presence of various Credential Providers. This regitsry hack will let you change your default Credential Provider in Windows 10.

22. Using Virtual Desktop Feature

With Windows 10, you can create many desktops and run applications from each individually, so that each desktop shows only the applications running in that virtual desktop and thereby reduce the clutter in the taskbar. See how you can use the Task View or Virtual Desktop feature. If you don’t use this feature, you can remove the Task View button easily.

23. Using Windows Hello

Windows Hello is a new feature in Windows 10 that is meant to increase the security of the system you are using. It uses fingerprints and Iris scan to let you login. But not all computers will be able to use the feature as it needs special hardware. Check out the list of PCs that support Windows Hello.

24. Use Snap Assist or disable it if you don’t

The Snap feature was introduced in earlier version of Windows. It has now been improved in Windows 10, and called Snap Assist. Use it or disable it if you wish.

25. A new CMD tip

Microsoft has added CTRL+C and CTRL+V keyboard shortcuts that let you copy and paste content respectively.

26. Use these Media center alternatives

So what if Windows 10 removed Windows Media Center… you can use these Media center alternatives.

27. Windows quick tips

There are always those classic Windows tips and trick that can help you get the best out of your Windows PC:

Hold down Shift key as you drag a folder or file to the Recycle Bin to delete it instantly

Hold down Alt & click on file or folder to open its Properties box

Press F5 to add the date and time to a Notepad

To open an elevated Command Prompt window from the Desktop, press Win+X and A at the same time

To quickly create a shortcut, hold down Ctrl+Shift and then drag and drop the file or folder icon in the desired destination folder

Open an extended context menu, by just pressing and holding down SHIFT Key while you right-click your mouse button

Press Ctrl+Shift and then right-click on the Taskbar. You will then see the option to Exit Explorer.

See all these and more such quick tips to a faster way of working with Windows.

28. Turn off Notification sounds

Notification sounds can be annoying – especially if you are playing games, watching videos, or listening to music. But you can always turn them on and off. To know how to do that, read Turn Off Notification and System Sounds in Windows 10.

29.  Download maps for offline use

Travel around a lot? Download and use maps when you do not have an Internet connection. The Maps app lets you do so.

30. A new way to change Screen Resolution

Windows 10 lets you change the Screen Resolution in a smarter way.

31.  Tricks to use the new Windows 10 Calculator

The new Windows 10 Calculator includes some new features. These tips will help you use it to its fullest potential.

32.  Make Windows 10 battery last longer

Use the new Battery Saver mode and make your laptop battery last longer.

33. Work faster with these new keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard junkies, you definitely want to check out these new keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10.

34. Using the new Mail app

See how to create multiple email accounts, add multiple Live Tiles for multiple Email Accounts and more in the new Windows 10 Mail app. These Windows 10 Mail app Tips & Tricks will help you get the best out of it.

35. Sign in securely using PIN

Use a Password, PIN or Picture to sign in to your Windows 10. In addition to traditional password-based logon, Windows 10 also includes PIN and Picture Password logon for the safety and security of users.

36. Set time delays in Snipping Tool

snipping-tool-windows-10

While the Snipping Tool lets you capture screenshots, you can now also set time delays for capturing screenshots using the Snipping Tool.

37. Make Windows 10 Forget Wireless Network Profiles

Maybe the list has become big or maybe you want to preserve your privacy …whatever the reason … this post will see how you can remove, delete or forget Wireless Network Profiles.

38. Use, or not use Wi-Fi Sense … that is the question!

Windows 10 will now allow you to purchase paid Wi-Fi via the Windows Store using the Microsoft Wi-Fi app.  The OS also introduces Wi-Fi Sense. But should you be using it?

39. Using non-Microsoft Store apps

Enable Developer Mode and SideLoad apps, to use your favourite apps which are available outside the Windows Store.

40. Create a folder without any icon or name

Be cool! Create a folder without any icon or name! Will work on all Windows.

41. Recycle Bin Tricks and Tips

There is a lot you can do with the humble and neglected Recycle Bin in Windows, using these Recycle Bin Tricks and Tips.

42. Notepad Tricks

The humble Notepad in Windows actually offers a lot more than the eye can see. These Notepad Tips and Tricks will work on all recent Windows versions, and help you get the maximum out of it. Change the font, add a date, customize the page setup, etc.

43. Magnifier tricks

See the real colors on a negative image using the built-in Magnifier. There’s more at this Windows Magnifier Tips and Tricks post.

44. Mouse tricks

Don’t just use the mouse to click open a program or document, open the context menu and to select and drag-and-drop files or folders. There are many other useful Mouse Tricks you want to know as a Windows user.

45. Move Clock & Date to old position

After installing the Anniversary Update on your Windows 10, you will notice that the Clock & Date which used to be located at the extreme right end of the taskbar, has been shifted to the left and in its place you now see the Action Center icon. You can now move Windows 10 Taskbar clock & date back to its old position.

46. Block Windows Updates

There is no option to turn off Windows Updates in Windows 10. But you could disable Windows Update. But you don’t want to do that, if your objective is to block only unwanted updates. Use this tool to block unwanted Windows Updates, from Microsoft instead.

47. Rollback to your previous versions

If you upgraded to Windows 10 and are facing problems, you need not worry. You can rollback from Windows 10 to your previous version of Windows within a month of installing Windows 10.

 48. Have problems? Use the Contact Support app

Microsoft has made it easier for you to contact Support if you face any problems while using Windows 10. See how to use the Contact Support app.

49. Improve Windows 10 wallpaper quality

You can disable Windows 10 Wallpaper compression & improve the background image quality by using this trick.