Personalizing your desktop Window 10

Windows 10 makes it easy to customize the look and feel of your desktop. To access the Personalization settings, right-click anywhere on the desktop, then select Personalize from the drop-down menu. The Personalization settings will appear.

To change the font size:

• If you have difficulty seeing the text on your computer, you can increase the font size. Increasing the font size will also increase the size of icons and other items on your desktop. Open the Settings app, then select System. 

• The Display options will appear. Use the slider to select the desired item size. Note that a larger size may interfere with the way some items appear on the screen.
  
  
   
  
  3. Click Apply to save your changes. You may then need to restart your computer for these changes to take effect.

  To adjust ClearType settings:

  ClearType allows you to fine tune how the text on your computer looks, which helps improve readability.
  From the Display settings, select Advanced display settings. 

• Choose ClearType text below Related Settings.  

• The ClearType dialog box will appear. Follow the instructions, choosing the text that appears best to you.

• When you're done, click Finish. The ClearType settings will be applied.

Tips for managing multiple windows

Windows 10 has several features that make it easier to multi-task and work with multiple windows at the same time.

Snap

Snap allows you to resize windows quickly, which is especially convenient when you want to see two windows side by side. To do this, click and drag the desired window to the left or right until the cursor reaches the edge of the screen, then release the mouse. The window will snap into place. To unsnap a window, simply click and drag the window down.

 

 Note: If you have more than one window open when snapping, you'll be to able to choose a window to snap to the other side of the screen automatically.

 

Flip

You can use Flip to switch between open windows. To do this, press and hold the Alt key on your keyboard, then press the Tab key. Continue pressing the Tab key until the desired window is selected.

Task view

The Task view feature is similar to Flip, but it works a bit differently. To open Task view, click the Task view button near the bottom-left corner of the taskbar. Alternative, you can press Windows key+Tab on your keyboard. All of your open windows will appear, and you can click to choose any window you want.

Virtual desktops

Instead of keeping everything open on the same desktop, you can move some of your windows to a virtual desktop to get them out of the way. This feature wasn't available in previous versions of Windows, and it's especially helpful for managing a lot of windows at the same time. To create a new desktop, open Task view, then select New desktop near the bottom-right corner.

Once you've created multiple desktops, you can use Task view to switch between them. You can also move windows between desktops. To do this, open Task view, then click and drag a window to the desired desktop.

To close a virtual desktop, open Task view and click the X in the upper-right corner of any desktop you want to close.

Showing the desktop

If you have a lot of windows open at the same time, it can be difficult to see the desktop. When this happens, you can click the bottom-right corner of the taskbar to minimize all open windows. Just click it again to restore the minimized windows.

Searching for files and apps window 10

To search for something on your computer—like a specific file or application—click the Start button, then start typing. Alternatively, you can press the Windows key on the keyboard to begin a search. In the example below, we're searching for a presentation file.

 

Adjusting your settings

You'll use the Settings app to change the most important settings on your computer, like your network and display options. To open the app, click the Start menu, then select Settings.

You can also use the Control Panel to adjust your settings, just like in earlier versions of Windows. However, there are some options that can only be accessed from the Settings app, like adding a new user. Because of this, you'll probably use the Settings app more often.

 

Shutting down your computer

When you're done using your computer, it's important to shut it down properly. To do this, click the Start button, then choose Power > Shut Down.

Getting started with Windows 10

Whether you're using a new computer with Windows 10 or an older machine that was recently upgraded, this lesson will show you the basics of using this version of Windows.

Signing in to Windows 10

You'll probably be asked to create a Microsoft account the very time you use Windows 10 (if you don't have one already). From this point on, whenever you turn on the computer you'll need to sign in to that account. To do this, type your password into the box and press Enter.

 

To learn more, you can review our lessons on Creating a Microsoft Account and Managing User Accounts and Parental Controls.

Navigating the desktop

Once you've signed in, the first thing you'll see is the desktop. You can think of the desktop as the main workspace for your computer. From here, you can view and manage your files, open applications, access the Internet, and much more.

Click the buttons in the interactive below to become more familiar with the Windows 10 desktop:

 

Opening applications

You'll use the Start menu to open programs on your computer, just like with previous versions of Windows. To do this, click the Start button in the bottom-left corner, then choose the desired application. If you don't see the one you want, select All apps to see a full list of applications. In the example below, we're opening OneNote.

 

Working with files

You'll use the File Explorer to manage your files and folders. To open File Explorer, click the File Explorer icon on the taskbar or double-click any folder on your desktop.

Upgrading to Windows 10

Unlike previous versions of the Windows operating system, Windows 10 is available as a free upgrade, as long as you have Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. This upgrade offer will expire after one year, ending sometime in August 2016.
However, Windows 10 is not available as a free upgrade for users with Windows RT, Windows Vista, or Windows XP. This is mostly because any computer with one of these operating systems simply wouldn't be able to run Windows 10 very well. If you're thinking about upgrading from an older system, we'd recommend purchasing a new computer that already has Windows 10 installed.

Things to consider before upgrading

System requirements

In order to upgrade your Windows 7 or 8.1 machine to Windows 10, you'll need to meet the system hardware requirements. Note that these are just the minimum requirements, so if you plan to use your computer for gaming or other demanding apps you may need a faster processor, more memory, or a more powerful graphics card to upgrade.

Software compatibility

In order for software to work, it has to be compatible with the operating system. Therefore, you may not be able to use all of your existing software if you switch to a different operating system. Before upgrading to Windows 10, ask yourself if there is any software on your computer you can't do without—and then do some research to find out if it is compatible.
If you are upgrading from Windows 8 or Windows 7, most of your apps should still work. However, if you're using an older version like Windows XP, there's a good chance some of your apps will not be compatible with Windows 10. A simple web search will often be enough to tell if an app will be compatible.

How to upgrade to Windows 10

If your computer is able to run Windows 10, you should see a small Windows icon near the lower-right corner of your taskbar. Click this icon to open the Get Windows 10 app, then follow the instructions to upgrade your computer.
If you don't see this icon, it either means you need to download to the most recent update for your operating system (specifically, Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 users or Windows 8.1 for Windows 8 users) or your computer does not meet the system requirements for Windows 10. Check out Microsoft's page on How to Upgrade to Windows 10 and its Windows 10 FAQ for more information.

Smartphones

A smartphone is a powerful mobile phone that is designed to run a variety of applications in addition to providing phone service. Smartphones are basically small tablet computers, and they can be used for web browsing, watching videos, reading e-books, and playing games.

Smartphones use touchscreens and operating systems similar to those used by tablet computers. Many of them use a virtual keyboard, but others have a physical keyboard, which allows the entire screen to be used for display purposes.
Internet access is an important feature of smartphones. Generally, you will need to purchase a 3G, 4G, or LTE data plan in addition to normal cell service. Smartphones can also connect to Wi-Fi when it is available; this allows you to use the Internet without using up your monthly data allotment.

3G, 4G, and LTE—sometimes called 4G LTE—are different types of networks for cell phones. 3G is the slowest of the three networks, but it is also the most widely used. 4G has the potential to be much faster than 3G, but most phones are not yet equipped to use it. 4G networks are also not available everywhere—you're more likely to be able to use one if you live in a big city. LTE is the most recent version of 4G. As more phones become 4G compatible, the number of people who use 4G and LTE networks will likely grow.

What is a mobile device?

A mobile device is basically any handheld computer. It is designed to be extremely portable, often fitting in the palm of your hand or in your pocket. Some mobile devices are more powerful, and they allow you to do many of the same things you can do with a desktop or laptop computer. These include tablet computers, e-readers, and smartphones.

Tablet computers

Like laptops, tablet computers are designed to be portable. However, they provide a virtual keyboard and use your finger as a mouse pointer.

different computing experience. The most obvious difference is that tablet computers don't have keyboards or touchpads. Instead, the entire screen is touch-sensitive, allowing you to type on a

Tablet computers can't necessarily do everything traditional computers can do. For many people, a traditional computer like a desktop or laptop is still needed in order to use some programs. However, the convenience of a tablet computer means it may be ideal as a second computer. Below are some of the main features you can expect with a tablet computer.

• Mobile OS: Different types of tablets use different operating systems. Examples include Android and iOS. You'll usually be able to download free updates to your OS as they become available.
• Solid-state drives: Tablet computers usually use solid-state drives, which allow the computer to boot up and open programs more quickly. They are also more durable than hard disk drives.
• Wi-Fi and 3G/4G: Because they are optimized for Internet use, tablet computers have built-in Wi-Fi. For a monthly fee, you can also purchase a 3G or 4G data plan, allowing you to access the Internet from almost anywhere.
• Bluetooth: In order to save space, tablet computers have very few ports. If you want to use an external keyboard or other peripherals, they will often use a wireless Bluetooth connection.

What is a web app?

Previously, we talked about how desktop applications allow you to perform tasks on your computer. However, there are also web applications—or web apps—which run in the cloud and do not need to be installed on your computer. These are sometimes called cloud apps.

Examples of web apps

Many of the most popular sites on the Internet are actually web apps. You may have even used a web app without realizing it! Here are just a few examples:

• Online email services: Services like Gmail and Yahoo! Mail run within your browser and can do many of the same things email programs like Microsoft Outlook can do. After you sign up for an online email service, you can begin using it immediately—no installation is required. Instead of being stored on your computer, your emails are stored in the cloud.
• Facebook: Facebook lets you create an online profile and interact with your friends. Profiles and conversations are constantly evolving, so Facebook uses web app technologies throughout the site to keep the information up to date. There are also games and other web apps you can add to your Facebook profile.
• Google Docs: Google Docs (shown below) is an office suite that runs in your browser. Much like Microsoft Office, you can use it to create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more. Your documents are stored in the cloud, which makes it easy to share them with others.

Why use the cloud?

There are many reasons to use the cloud, but the main reasons are convenience and reliability. Saving a file to the cloud ensures that you'll be able to access it with any computer that has an Internet connection, so you won't need to worry about using CD-ROMs or USB flash drives. The cloud also makes it much easier to share a file with coworkers and friends.
With the cloud, you're much less likely to lose your data because it is stored on servers. However, just like anything online, there is always a risk that someone may try to gain access to your personal data, so it's important to choose a strong password and pay attention to any privacy settings for the service you're using.

What is the cloud?

You may have heard people using terms like the cloud, cloud computing, or cloud storage. But what exactly is the cloud? Basically, the cloud is the Internet—more specifically, it's all of the things you can access remotely over the Internet. When something is in the cloud, it means it is stored on servers on the Internet instead of on your computer. It lets you access your calendar, email, files, and more from any computer that has an Internet connection.

If you've ever used web-based email, you've used the cloud. All of the emails in your inbox are stored on servers. However, there are many other services that use the cloud in different ways. Here are just a few examples:

• Dropbox is a cloud storage service that lets you easily store and share files with others, and it lets you access your files from a mobile device as well.
• Evernote lets you type notes, clip webpages, take photos, and organize all of them from your computer or mobile device.
• Mozy and Carbonite can automatically back up your data in case your computer is lost, stolen, or damaged.

There are also apps you can use that live in the cloud so you can use them without installing them on your computer. These apps are sometimes called web apps. Web apps include things like Google Docs, which allows you to create documents and spreadsheets online; and Runescape, which is a game you can play in your browser without downloading anything.

What is an application?

You may have heard people talking about using an application or an app. But what exactly does that mean? An app is a type of software that allows you to perform specific tasks. Applications for desktop or laptop computers are sometimes called desktop applications, and those for mobile devices are called mobile apps. When you open an application, it runs inside the operating system until you close it. Most of the time, you will have more than one application open at the same time, and this is known as multitasking.

App is a common term for an application, especially for simple applications that can be downloaded inexpensively or even for free. Many apps are also available for mobile devices and even some TVs.

Types of desktop applications

There are countless desktop applications out there, and they fall into many different categories. Some are more full-featured (like Microsoft Word), while others may only do one or two things (like gadgets). Below are just a few types of applications you might use:

• Word processors: A word processor allows you to write a letter, design a flyer, and create many other types of documents. The most well-known word processor is Microsoft Word.
• Personal finance: Personal finance software, such as Quicken, allows you to keep track of your income and expenses and create a budget, among other tasks. Most personal finance programs can automatically download information from your bank so you don't have to manually type in all of your transactions.
• Web browsers: A web browser is the tool you use to access the Internet. Most computers come with a web browser pre-installed, but you can also download a different one if you prefer. Examples of browsers include Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari.

• Games: There are many different games you can play on your computer. They range from card games such as Solitaire to action games like Halo 2. Many action games require a lot of computing power, so they may not work unless you have a newer computer.
• Media players: If you want to listen to MP3s or watch movies you've downloaded, you'll need to use a media player. Windows Media Player and iTunes are popular media players.
• Gadgets: Sometimes called widgets, these are simple applications you can place on your desktop (or on the Dashboard if you're using a Mac). There are many different types of gadgets, and they include calendars, calculators, maps, and news headlines.