There is no doubt that Windows 10 is one of the best versions of Microsoft Windows. Not just because it’s a new version. As you know, the transition from Windows 7 to 8 wasn’t perfect. But, with Windows 10, it was a step towards perfection. Anyway, this does not mean that Windows offers just that. If you want, there are a few hacks and tricks to enhance your Windows 10 experience. In this article, we have listed some of those superb Windows 10 hacks and tricks to make it better. Most of these tricks are built into the OS, but majority of people don’t notice them.
#1 Use System Toolkit in Windows 10 PC
There are times when you want to estimate how your PC is running. Won’t it be great to have one toolkit for your PC, which shows enough information. Windows 10 has this feature and you can access it using a simple trick. Just enter msconfig in Start search and press the Enter key.
In seconds, you can see the default System Configuration utility of the PC. It’s divided into five sections, offering you better control.
#2 Print Any File to PDF
This is a great way to convert documents into the handy format of PDF. Thankfully, Microsoft has included a built-in utility for this. This is how things work. Suppose you want to convert a DOC file to PDF.
Go to Word and press the Print button. However, from the list of printers, you can select Microsoft Print to PDF printer. In the next step, you can save the file into a convenient place.
#3 Tell Cortana to Remind You Things
Cortana in Windows 10 comes with a bunch of handy assistance features. One of them is to remind you at a particular time or occasion. To do this, all you have to type the message on the Cortana space.
For instance, if you want to be reminded to take some photographs, type Remember to take photographs. Cortana might ask some more details and you will be notified at the time.
#4 Prevent Your PC from Connecting to Public Wi-Fi Hotspots
Windows 10 comes with a built-in feature for connecting to Wi-Fi hotspots. This is not a secure option always given the risk of security issues. So, for the sake of your security, you have to disable it. It’s easy too, for that matter. You can go to Settings => Network & Internet and choose Wi-Fi from the menu.
Now, make sure that you have disabled the option named Connect to suggested open hotspots.
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#5 Find IP Address of Your Router
In case of making changes to the Wi-Fi router, you should know the IP address. To do this, there is an easy task in Windows 10. You have to open Command Prompt first. It can be done by entering cmd in the Start menu. In the next step, you can see the Command Prompt interface. In the window, enter ipconfig/all
This will show you not just the router IP address but also some other stuff.
#6 Customize the Start Menu
The inclusion of Start Menu is a great thing in Windows 10, which is an undoubted fact. However, you don’t have to use the Start menu as the way it was designed. In fact, Windows 10 has some in-built options to customize the Start menu according to your needs. Also, check how to customize the context menu in Windows 10.
You can go to Settings => Personalization and choose Start from the sidebar. Now, you can make the necessary changes.
#7 Enable God Mode in your PC
When you enable God Mode in your Windows 10 PC, you can have better control and a revamped UI to get your hands on the Control panel. Doing this is simple too. You just have to create a New Folder in Desktop and give it the following name:
GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}.
Now, whenever you want to access God Mode, you can open the created folder. Simple, isn’t it?
#8 Shake to Minimize Other Windows
This happens a lot of times, you know. You have been using the computer for a very long time and there are a lot of windows on the desktop. Now, you want to focus on one window by minimizing others.
You do not have to minimize one by one. Instead, select the Window that you want to keep working. Keep pressing on the window and shake it across the desktop. Everything else will be minimized. It’s quite handy too.
#9 Create Multiple Desktops
This is a great feature when you have multiple projects to manage. Thankfully, Windows had made this one easy task starting from Windows 10. In order to create multiple desktops, you have to click on the Task View button first.
Now, at the right-bottom part of the screen, you will be able to find a + button. Click on that button to create as many desktops as you need.
#10 Use Snap Assist to Arrange Windows
If you have two or three windows on the desktop, you can actually keep them side by side. The best part is, you don’t have to do that manually. Instead, you can drag the first window and bring it to one side. Once it is done, Snap Assist will show you the remaining ones. You can simply choose one Window and it will be kept on the other side
It’s quite a time-saving feature we spotted in Windows 10.
#11 Cortana inside Edge
Would not that be great if the smart assistant Cortana can help you answer your questions? This will be an easy task if you are using Microsoft Edge as the browser. You don’t have to anything special if you have made Cortana available. Search for something in Edge browser in form of a question. Just as you have typed in, it will show you the answer with a blue overview. It means the answer is from Cortana.
#12 Secret Desktop Button
Do you know that there is a secret Desktop button in your Windows PC? Well, it’s quite useful when you just need a simple look at the Desktop or when you want to minimize everything on the screen. So, when you’re doing something and want to access your Desktop files quickly, you can use this feature.
Quite handy, isn’t it? What’s more, you can also decide whether you need a sneak peek at Desktop or minimize all windows.
#13 Customize Task Bar
Compared to the previous versions, the Task Bar of Windows 10 has been revamped completely. It now has a lot of options as well as integrations. More importantly, Microsoft has also included some option to control what is shown on your Task Bar and how those are shown.
All you have to do is to just right click on Task Bar and select the appropriate menu from the option.
#14 Enable Battery Saver
Do you know that there is an in-built Battery Saver in Windows 10? There is one, and it can surely help you to extend the battery life like never before. To enable this feature, you can go to Settings and choose Battery Saver. In the Battery Saver settings section, you can decide when the battery saver will be enabled.
You can set it to 30 or 25, according to how paranoid you’re about low battery.
#15 Use Wi-Fi Sense
Wi-Fi Sense is one of the best features included in Windows 10, and you can make use of this feature if you’d like to spend a lot of time online. Wi-Fi Sense can actually help you in many ways, but particularly in finding useful Wi-Fi hotspots around. Not just that, you will also get the PSK to access those hotspots.
When you’re in an airport or other public hotspots, this feature will save your ass.
#16 Turn On Background Scrolling
Background scrolling does exactly what you understand from its name. Normally, when you use the scroll button, the window on focus will be used for scrolling. When you have enabled background scrolling, though, this is not the case. Even if a window is not selected, the screen can be scrolled. To enable this, go to Settings => Devices and find Mouse and Touchpad. From the menu, disable the following option.
Scroll inactive windows when I hover over them
Now onwards, you can enjoy inactive scrolling in your Windows PC. You can also adjust a few other settings such as Scroll speed and select primary button of the mouse.
#17 Enable Night Light
One of the best features you can find in Windows 10, Night Light can make your work comfortable, as it can minimize the strain caused to your eyes. Enabling this is also simple. You can go to Settings => System and choose Display from the menu. There, you can find the various settings for enabling and controlling the Night Light option.
You can also decide if you want to turn on the feature at certain time periods.
#18 Manage Files Easily
There were some changes made to the File Explorer UI when we consider the Windows 10 updates. One of those changes will help you to manage your files easily using a Copy to and Move to function. In this case, it is not necessary to open another window and place it side by side. Before you begin, make sure that the top section control panel is enabled in File Explorer.
Once you have selected the files to be moved, you can click on the Copy to or Move to button that you see in the interface. From the options you can see then, simply select the place you want to move the files to. It works like quite simple and is useful while organizing different files.
#19 Record Screen Video
As you may know, Windows 10 comes with in-built support for game recording. Using the dedicated bar, it can record what you are doing in the game. However, not many people know that you can use Game DVR to record content from any screen as well. You just have to press Windows Key + G to launch the utility.
And, if you are asked, give the input that the program is a game.
#20 Use Performance Monitor
Windows 10 packs one of the best performance monitors you can find for laptops. If you’re concerned about the total performance you get, you should try this. To access it, you can enter perfmon /report into the Win search bar. Just press enter and you can see the fully-fledged performance monitor with different sections.
You can also get to know more about hardware and software configurations from this panel.
Wrapping Up
So, these are some of the best Windows 10 tips, tricks and hacks you can check out now. As you can see, we haven’t used any third-party programs. Most of these are in-built features that are unnoticed by most people out there.
Deirdre says
Oh wow, nice list.
Tushar Thakur says
Thanks.
Armando says
I never knew about that God mode. It sounds interesting. Thanks for the nice article.
Tushar Thakur says
Glad you find this Armando.
Ken says
Too much nerdy stuff. LOL.
Tushar Thakur says
LOL. Most of them are very simple.
Alicia says
Hey Tushar, that screen recording feature of Windows 10 is really awesome. I use that in my tutorials.
Tushar Thakur says
Well, indeed Alicia.