How to use Windows 10: useful tips and tricks you should know

With the news that support for Windows 7 will soon come to an end, it will not be uncommon for many people to have now updated their device to Windows 10 for free. Or maybe you just bought a new laptop that brings the latest Microsoft operating system. Learning how to use Windows 10 may seem like an overwhelming task, but the reality is that this operating system has an intuitive user interface, in addition to some functions that you already know from previous versions of Windows that will make you feel at home. To help you with the transition, we composed this little guide with practical advice.

How to use the Start Menu and Live Tiles

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One of the first things to learn to use in Windows 10 is the Start Menu. The Windows 10 Start Menu has improved a lot since Windows 7. There are a couple of things you should know about the layout, functions and ability to anchor applications.

First: on the left side of your Start Menu is your list of applications. Ah you must go when you want to open a program. You can install applications from the Microsoft Store or through classic installers.

This area is a bit similar to Windows 7, but now there is a new option to anchor these applications to the right side of the menu, for easier access. You can also start typing something anywhere within the Start Menu while it is open to find an application or some setting. If you want the Start Menu to be larger or wider, place your cursor on the shore and drag up or on the right side.

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Anchoring is one of the enhanced features of the new Windows 10 Start Menu. Simply right-click on the name of the application you want to pin and choose Anchor to start. This create something known as a Live tile. You can change their size by clicking on them with the right button and selecting Resize.

You can change the application by leaving the button pressed on it and dragging it wherever you want, or remove it from there by clicking with the right button and choosing Unpin from start. Some applications will present more options when you click with the right button; For example, with Twitter you can create a tweet.

There are other important areas in the Start Menu that you should observe. In the lower left there are a series of quick access cones to some common Windows functions. See your profile picture, followed by a cone for your documents and another for images. There is also one to access the configuration and, finally, the cone with which you can turn off your device.

How to use the Taskbar

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The next thing you should learn to use in Windows 10 is the Taskbar. This area has improved considerably since Windows 7. Look at it from left to right.

On the far left is the Start Menu button. Then there is the cone of the search bar, with which you can search for applications, settings or documents. Then you see the cone of Cortana, the digital assistant in Windows 10.

Next to Cortana is the Task View. This is an area that you can open to see all your activities of the day and all your devices. After the October 2018 update, Task View is where you can also create virtual desktops.

We move on. Find the applications that have been anchored to the taskbar. You can anchor an application to this area by right-clicking on it in the Start Menu and choosing Pin to taskbar. Active applications will have a blue bar below.

Then you will get to the right end of the Taskbar. Here you see the status of the system. This includes battery, audio levels and wifi. If your version of Windows 10 is recent you also see a cone with a pen; ah you can access some of the ink features of Windows 10.

After that you will find the area of ​​time and date; click ah to see a mini calendar. Finally there is a button to open the Action Center, which we describe below.

How to use the Action Center

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The third step in learning to use Windows 10 is the Action Center. This is home to all your notifications and quick settings of Windows 10. You can open it by clicking on it or by pressing the Windows Key + A.

Look at the upper area. This is where you will receive notifications from applications such as Twitter, Facebook or Slack. There are also ways to control notifications, if you don't like them.

Below is an area for what Microsoft calls Quick Actions. These are settings cones or common Windows functions. Vers options to enter tablet mode, block the rotation of your device and disable sharing in the vicinity, in addition to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, VPN and other settings. You can always change the order by clicking with the right button and selecting Edit Quick Actions.

Finally, down there is a slider for the brightness of your screen. This just came with the May 2019 update; If you don't have it, this will be a good time to get it and find out all the new things you can do with it. Worth it.

Do you want more?

When you have learned to use the Start Menu, the Taskbar and the Action Center, you will practically be a Windows 10 master. Almost everything else is similar to the other versions of the operating system. To open and close applications and use File Explorer, basically the same as before. However, there are many other things you can do. We have guides for you to learn how to use keyboard shortcuts, take a screenshot, customize your Windows 10, split the screen and more. There are many tools at your disposal and using them is very simple.

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