Latest Windows How-To Stories
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How-To
How to personalize your Windows 10 PC
How to set Windows 10's themes, configure your Start menu and taskbar, and understand the privacy features—all to make your new PC feel like home.How-To
How to create a local account in Windows 10
Want to create a local account to use on your PC for yourself or other people in your home? Here's how to do that.
Updated
Windows Sandbox: How to use Microsoft’s simple virtual Windows PC to secure your digital life
Microsoft's Windows Sandbox creates a safe space where you can try suspicious software or sites without risking your 'real' PC. Here's how to use it.
How-To
How to use Paint 3D’s Magic Select tool to edit out photobombers from your photos
You don't need Adobe Photoshop to cut out an unwanted person or object from your digital photos, just Microsoft's Windows 10. Here's how to use the Magic Select tool within Paint 3D to do the job.
Answer Line
How to partition a hard drive
Partitions allow you to segment a single drive for separating programs from files or installing a second OS.
How-To
How to type kaomoji on your PC in Windows 10
Here's how to type kaomoji using the emoji keyboard within Microsoft's Windows 10.
Updated
How to play DVDs in Windows 10 for free
Windows 10 doesn't play DVDs by default, but this free program can help.
How-To
How to use Windows 10’s Your Phone experience
Here's how to use Microsoft's new Windows 10 Your Phone app to connect your phone to your PC, with an emphasis on texts and photos.
How-To
How to create an image backup in Windows 10 and restore it, if need be
There's no better way to protect your Windows installation than creating an image backup. Here's what you need to know in Windows 10.
How-To
How to make your own fonts within Windows 10 with Microsoft Font Maker
Here's how to make your own fonts within Windows 10, based upon your own handwriting, using the free Microsoft Font Maker app.
How-To
How to install Windows on your Mac using Boot Camp
After following these simple instructions, you'll be able to dual-boot your Mac into Windows.
How-To
2 ways to control Windows 10 automatic updates
Windows 10 auto updates whether you want it to or not…you can stop that behavior, as long as you know the trick.
Answer Line
When your computer reboots itself over and over again
Something is rotten in the state of your Windows PC. Here's how to deal with a computer that keeps rebooting.
Answer Line
Your PC boots, gets to the Windows desktop, then freezes. Now what?
It might take some sleuthing to find out what's freezing up your computer, but these tips will help.
How-To
Use Windows 10’s individual display scaling to perfect your multi-monitor setup
Want to boost the scaling on your 1080p monitor by a little and your 4K display by a lot? With Windows 10 that's an easy fix.
How-To
How Microsoft will stop autoplay videos in Microsoft Edge
Here's how to stop videos from autoplaying within Microsoft Edge, within the beta version of Edge that should be rolling out to all Windows 10 users this fall.
Answer Line
Convert text to image, and image to text
Follow these steps to turn text into a .jpg. We'll also explain how to convert an image back into text.
Answer Line
What’s in the hidden Windows AppData Folder, and how to find it if you need it
You know about Documents and other libraries. But some important data files are stored in the difficult-to-access AppData folder. Here's what you need to know.
Answer Line
If you forgot your Windows admin password, try this
That Windows admin password is pretty important. If you lose track of it, though, all is not lost. You just have to wiggle in through the virtual back door.
How-To
Let Windows 10’s Cortana Show Me be your family’s tech support
The Cortana Show Me app within Windows 10 walks you through common tasks within Windows and actually performs them. It's a great tool to help family members who can't quite figure out something on their own.
How-To
How to use Windows 10’s File History backup feature
Need a quick and easy way to back-up your personal files in Windows 10? Give File History a try.
Tip
How to get the Windows 10 April 2018 Update right now
The Windows 10 April 2018 Update starts rolling out today, but not all PCs will be part of the first wave. Here's how to install it today anyway.
Updated
Windows 10 Timeline: How to use Microsoft’s new organizational tool
Timeline, found within Microsoft's Windows 10 April 2018 Update, creates a history within Windows of what you worked on and when.
Tip
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?
Updated
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.
Answer Line
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.
Updated
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