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Windows

Tutorials, how-to guides, and blog posts about using Windows. How to use laptops, tablets, PCs, and other gadgets with Windows.

tutorial How to download Windows 10 for free

How to download Windows 10 for free

Windows 10 is the most widely used PC operating system in the world right now. Obviously, it’s a good idea to keep a USB memory stick, a DVD, or an ISO file with the Windows 10 setup handy. You may need it for various reasons, whether it’s reinstalling Windows 10 on your laptop or assisting friends in trouble, when their computers malfunction. Or, why
tutorial How to start Windows 11 in Safe Mode with Networking

How to start Windows 11 in Safe Mode with Networking

If your Windows 11 system is having issues or failing to start, booting into Safe Mode can be a lifesaving step for troubleshooting. Safe Mode is a specialized startup mode that loads only essential components, allowing you to identify problems and potentially resolve them. More often than not, you also need internet connectivity for that, which makes Safe Mode with Networking indispensable. In this
tutorial How to pin to the taskbar in Windows 11

How to pin to the taskbar in Windows 11

If you want to access your frequently used apps, programs, or other tools quickly, you can pin them to the taskbar of your Windows 11 computer. And that’s not all you can do with the taskbar: you can also pin special items and shortcuts to it, such as File Explorer’s This PC or Network, and even the Recycle Bin. Moreover, you can even add
tutorial How to restart a Windows 10 computer

How to restart a Windows 10 computer

Sometimes, you need to restart your Windows 10 laptop or desktop PC simply to give it a fresh new start. Some other times, you may have to reboot because you just installed a new app or driver, or maybe because Windows 10 updated itself. Whatever the reason, there are plenty of ways to restart Windows 10, and they’re all quite simple. I have a
tutorial How to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking

How to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking

If your Windows is acting up or not booting at all, you may want to try Safe Mode to fix it. Safe Mode is a special way of starting Windows that only loads the essential stuff, so you can troubleshoot and repair the issues. But sometimes, you need more than just the basics, like internet access. That’s where Safe Mode with Networking comes in
tutorial How to master the touchpad on a Windows laptop

How to master the touchpad on a Windows laptop

If you have a Windows 11 or a Windows 10 laptop with a precision touchpad, you can use various gestures to interact with both the operating system and your apps. Did you know that you can use gestures that involve not just one or two fingers but also three or even four fingers? And that using them can help you perform certain actions a
tutorial How to enable and use fingerprint authentication in Windows 10

How to enable and use fingerprint authentication in Windows 10

Biometric authentication is available in Windows 10 if you have a laptop or desktop computer with a fingerprint reader or a webcam that can be used for face recognition. Of the two authentication methods, the fingerprint reader is the fastest, and I like using it because it allows Windows 10 to boot faster than other sign-in methods. If you want to try it out
tutorial How to shut down a Windows 10 laptop, tablet or desktop PC

How to shut down a Windows 10 laptop, tablet or desktop PC

When you finish working on your Windows 10 computer, you will probably want to turn it off. Windows 10 gives you a lot of choices for how to do that. While this isn’t hard at all, it’s good to know the different ways you can shut down your Windows 10 laptop, desktop PC, or tablet. Here are nine methods that you to use to
tutorial What is and how to use Personal Vault in OneDrive

What is and how to use Personal Vault in OneDrive

OneDrive is a cloud storage service that lets you store and access your files from any device. One of its best features is the Personal Vault, a secure folder that requires additional authentication to access your most sensitive and important files. In this tutorial post, I’m going to show you how to enable and use OneDrive’s Personal Vault to secure your data, no matter
tutorial How to boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode

How to boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode

One of the best ways to troubleshoot Windows 10 issues is to use Safe Mode, a minimal environment that allows you to run the operating system with only the essential drivers and services. However, the old methods of pressing F8 or SHIFT + F8 during boot are no longer effective because Windows 10 boots too fast, and Microsoft disabled them. Instead, you have to
tutorial How to use the On-Screen Keyboard in Windows

How to use the On-Screen Keyboard in Windows

If you need to type without a keyboard, the On-Screen Keyboard in Windows might be helpful. It allows you to type by using a mouse. You can even set up and use this function without having a keyboard connected to your computer, which can be useful if your keyboard is unavailable. This article explains how to access the On-Screen Keyboard, how to operate it,
tutorial How to disable the touchpad in Windows 10

How to disable the touchpad in Windows 10

Are you wondering how to turn your touchpad off? If you’re using a Windows 10 laptop with a touchpad, you may sometimes want to disable it to prevent accidental clicks or movements. Or maybe you just want to turn off your touchpad when typing on your Windows 10 laptop? Without further ado, here’s how to disable the touchpad in Windows 10 using five different
tutorial How to enable and use fingerprint authentication in Windows 11

How to enable and use fingerprint authentication in Windows 11

Some of our readers have asked us if Windows 11 supports biometrics. Yes, it does, but in order for biometric authentication to work, you also need laptops or desktop computers with hardware that’s compatible with things like fingerprint authentication or face recognition. Both types of biometric authentication allow for fast and secure logins, and I personally like using them over traditional sign-in methods. If
tutorial How to use Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge

How to use Internet Explorer mode in Microsoft Edge

Do you need to access old websites or legacy web apps that were designed to work well in Internet Explorer but aren’t working as they should in Microsoft Edge? It’s a situation that’s more common than one might think, and as some of my friends say, it happens a lot to business users and some web developers working with older technologies. If you find
tutorial How to change the Microsoft Store region in Windows

How to change the Microsoft Store region in Windows

The region or country setting in Windows can have an effect on the apps and games you get access to in the Microsoft Store. If you set the wrong region, you may not be able to find or use certain apps or content that are relevant to your location. Moreover, to download apps and games from the Microsoft Store that aren’t available in your
article 4 tools to lock and password-protect folders in Windows

4 tools to lock and password-protect folders in Windows

It would be great to see Microsoft release a Windows version that allows users to password-protect specific folders that contain sensitive data. However, until that happens, if you want to protect your folders, you must use software created by other companies. Although there are many such apps, they aren’t all friendly to use, and most are also dodgy. I did some research and tested
review HUAWEI MateBook D 16 2024 review: A capable mid-range laptop!

HUAWEI MateBook D 16 2024 review: A capable mid-range laptop!

While we all love high-end laptops with amazing displays and incredible performance, most people cannot afford them. Therefore, when buying a laptop, we’re looking for reasonably priced options that provide good value for money. HUAWEI MateBook D 16 2024 is a mid-range model that aims to provide people with a balanced experience at an affordable price. It looks good, has an excellent battery life,
tutorial How to change the language on Windows’ lock screen

How to change the language on Windows’ lock screen

Did you install an English version of Windows on your computer, only to change the default display language to another language afterward? Like maybe Spanish, French, German, or any other language you prefer using? If you did that, you probably found out the hard way that although the display language is the one you want, the language your computer uses on the sign-in/lock screen
tutorial What is and what you can do with Windows’ Maps app

What is and what you can do with Windows’ Maps app

If you are planning a trip to some exotic location or just to another city in your country, you may need map guidance. Almost everybody owns a smartphone nowadays, or at least some other GPS-enabled device to help assure you that you’re on the right track. In some situations, however, a laptop or a tablet running Windows 11 or Windows 10 might be more
tutorial How to open Performance Monitor in Windows

How to open Performance Monitor in Windows

If you’re having trouble with the performance of your Windows computer or laptop, one tool that can help you identify what’s wrong is the old Performance Monitor, which has been available in Windows operating systems since 1993. This tool can help you monitor how your computer’s processor, memory, or storage space are utilized and troubleshoot problems. But, before using it, you need to know