Top Windows 10 tips
Introduced in 2015, Windows 10 was an exciting Microsoft upgrade and still serves as a powerful operating system today. Designed to enhance your computing experience with its innovative features and user-friendly interface, Windows 10 offers much more than its predecessors. For many businesses and individuals, Windows 10 remains the standard, but you may not have leveraged its full potential.
So, whether for work or play, new user or a regular, we want to help you get the most out of Windows 10 and all its functions. So, here we have compiled the top 10 Windows 10 tips to help you utilise all its capabilities and be productive.
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Create Virtual Desktops
To help you organise your everyday tasks, Windows 10 allows you to create multiple virtual desktops. This feature enables you to separate your workspaces and manage your apps more clearly. By visualising your different pages, you can prioritise, collate and easily locate each task when you have a lot to focus on.
To create a virtual desktop, press the Windows Key + Tab. This will open Task View, allowing you to add a new desktop and seamlessly switch between pages. This is a great tool for multitaskers, as it prevents clutter and keeps your work organised. Your virtual desktop will also keep only the relevant pages displayed. This may help reduce the number of apps you have open, which can better your computer’s response.
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Optimise Cortana to assist you better
Windows 10 comes with a virtual assistant called Cortana, which can help save you time both at work and at home. As a smart tool, Cortana can be used to set your reminders, search the web, and manage your calendar.
To optimise Cortana, click on the Cortana box and navigate to Settings. From here, ensure the “Respond Best To Me” option is turned on. This will personalise Cortana’s responses and enhance its capabilities based on your preferences and usage patterns.
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Play Your Favourite Xbox Games on Your Windows 10 Computer
With Windows 10 you can stream Xbox games directly to your computer. This quick and easy setup is unique to Windows 10, so you can have a seamless gaming experience.
First, download the Xbox app from the Microsoft Store. Make sure both your Xbox One and Windows 10 devices are turned on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Then, to start streaming you can open the Xbox app and click on the Xbox One symbol. This unique connection lets you enjoy your favourite games without needing to switch devices.
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Schedule Updates to Avoid Interruptions
Windows 10 frequently updates to help improve device performance and boost security. However, updates can pop up at inconvenient times and cause disruptive downtime. Luckily, Windows 10 provides you with options so you can adapt future updates to your schedule.
To avoid interruptions, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Advanced options. From here, select “Notify to schedule restart.” This setting allows you to choose a more convenient time for updates, ensuring they don’t interfere with your work or play.
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Speed Up Updates with Peer-to-Peer Delivery
Sometimes you may want to speed up the process of updating multiple devices simultaneously. To do so, you’ll need to enable peer-to-peer (P2P) delivery.
Go to Settings > Update & Security > Advanced options > Delivery Optimization. Switch on “Allow downloads from other PCs,” and select “PCs on my local network, and PCs on the internet.” This method accelerates the update process by downloading parts of the update from multiple sources simultaneously.
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Prevent Updates from Draining Your Bandwidth
A common problem you may encounter when installing a lot of updates is low bandwidth. So, if you don’t want updates to interfere with tasks, or simply want to surf the net with ease, we have another great Windows 10 tip for you.
Again, navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Advanced options > Delivery Optimization. Choose “PCs on my local network” to limit update downloads to only devices within your local network. This will reduce bandwidth usage and prevent future updates from slowing down your internet connection.
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Set Up Reminders Easily with Cortana
Cortana functions to help you simplify tasks and even organise your events. A useful tool is Cortana’s reminder feature, allowing you to set calendar reminders for custom tasks, events or deadlines.
To set up a reminder, simply type or say “Remind me” to Cortana, followed by its details. Cortana will then remind you at the specified time or location. This feature is particularly handy for staying organised ahead of time and ensures you don’t forget important tasks.
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Customize the Start Menu
In Windows 10, the Start menu can be customised to fit your desired layout. To resize the Start menu, right-click on it. Here you can unpin tiles you don’t need or pin the ones you frequently use. These customisation features allow you to tailor the Start menu to fit your preferences and highlight access to your main apps and settings.
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Utilise Keyboard Shortcuts for Efficiency
Using keyboard shortcuts proves useful for many tasks, helping improve your productivity by allowing quick access to various functions. Here we have included some essential Windows 10 shortcuts:
- Windows Key + Tab: Opens Task View
- Windows Key + Right + Up: Moves an app to the top-right quadrant of the screen
- Windows Key + Ctrl + Left/Right: Switches between virtual desktops
- Windows Key + Ctrl + D: Creates a new virtual desktop
- Windows Key + Ctrl + C: Activates Cortana listening mode
- Windows Key + S: Opens the search bar for weather, news, and sports
- Windows Key + Ctrl + F4: Closes the current virtual desktop
- Windows Key + Up/Down: Snaps apps to the top or bottom of the screen or maximizes them
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Use Microsoft Maps Offline
Often you may need to navigate on maps without an internet connection. To help with this, Microsoft Maps in Windows 10 provides offline use. This is useful when traveling or in areas with limited internet access.
To download maps offline, go to Settings > Apps > Offline maps > Download maps. Choose the regions you need, and the maps will be available to you even when offline.
Need More Help with Windows 10?
If your business requires additional assistance with navigating Windows 10, or is simply seeking support for your new operating system, our team of IT experts are here to help. From OS setup to continual maintenance, our managed IT services in London offers a comprehensive range of IT support to help you get the most out of your Windows 10 experience.