"I enjoy using a PC just as much as some people enjoy using their iPhone." Saying that aloud in front of certain crowds is like declaring that you're insane. People usually assume that Windows can't be that great, that the guy declaring his appreciation for most of Microsoft's products – including Windows 10 – may have some deep issues.
It's not that I love everything about Microsoft or Windows 10; there are some things that I simply can't stand about them both. What I do appreciate is the amount of customizing that you can do and how far reaching the tendrils of Windows and its core services are at this point. My Windows 10 machine is just is good as any Mac, once I've made some changes to the way it works and behaves.
I'm not promising that you too can love Windows 10 if you make the same changes to your device that I have. I do think you could find yourself able to tolerate Windows 10, at the very least.
Turn on Device Tracking
My journey with configuring a Windows 10 PC always starts with security. Windows 10 has built-in virus protection that I choose to use instead of third-party solutions. This is also the first version of Windows that comes with some basic tools to help you retrieve your lost or stolen device.
Go into the Settings app and tap or click on Update & Security. Look for the Find My Device menu option. Turn this on to let you track your device through Microsoft's website if you should ever need to. Note that it uses internet connections to pinpoint where your device is, unless your device has built-in GPS technology.
Enable Cortana Always Listening If You're Going to Use Her
The single best feature of Windows 10, is Cortana, the digital assistant that first came to Windows Phone before expanding into Windows, iOS and Android this year. She's my scratchpad and encyclopedia. Having her in Windows and syncing to my iPhone makes every day run a bit smoother. Once I've got security nailed down, I move on to enabling her.
Click or tap on the Cortana icon to the left of the Windows button on your Taskbar. After agreeing to Microsoft's Terms & Conditions, go into her Notebook and explore her settings. Enable Always Listening so that you can give her commands whenever you need to. You may want to tell her some information about yourself too.
Read: How to Use Hey Cortana with Windows 10[1]
Change Time Zones Automatically
Windows has been able to change its own clock for to adjust for daylight savings time for years. One of the few features Microsoft added in the Windows 10 November Update was the option for Windows to manually adjust for changes in Time Zone. I traveled a lot last year. Sometimes didn't remember to adjust my Surface Pro 4 accordingly.
Enable Time Zone adjustments by tapping or clicking on the clock in the Taskbar. Then tap or click on Date and Time Settings.
Install Microsoft Companion Apps on Your iPhone or Android Device
Using a Windows Phone for years allowed me to get access to the same apps and services of Microsoft's from anywhere. When I switched away from Windows Phone a few years ago I thought I was leaving all of Microsoft's services behind. I did ditch some of them, but not all of them.
OneDrive, Outlook, Cortana, Groove Music, OneNote, Word, PowerPoint and Excel are available in the iTunes Store[2] and the Google Play Store[3].
Get Microsoft Office For Free or With Office 365
Millions of businessmen, craftsmen and computer lovers the world over swear by Microsoft's Office suite of productivity apps. With Windows 10, Microsoft introduced new versions of the primary Office apps that are better suited for touch and casual users.
The first thing that I do productivity-wise on Windows 10 PCs that have a free trial of Office 2016 or Office 365 installed is uninstall them. I go to the Windows Store and replace them with the always saving, always connected, light-weight Word Mobile, OneNote Mobile, Excel Mobile and PowerPoint Mobile apps.
Read: How to Get Free Microsoft Office in Windows 10[4]
You do need an Office 365 account to enjoy them, but that's well worth the $69.99 investment each year. Devices with screen-sizes smaller than 10 inches get access to the Office Mobile apps for free.
Flip One Switch and Add Some Color to Windows 10
Drab and gray, that's what Windows 10 looks like by default. I inject a bit of personality and color into the operating system by adding the accent color to the Taskbar and Start Menu. Usually, it's to complement whatever color Surface Type Cover I'm using at the moment.
Go to Settings app. Tap or click on Personalization. Now choose Colors from the menu on the left. There's switches for adding your accent color to the Action Center, Taskbar and more. Also note that you can have Windows choose an accent color that's inspired by your Desktop picture.
Add a Home Button and Home Page to Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge, Microsoft's new web browser and replacement for Internet Explorer outside of businesses, does two things so wrong by default that I immediately change them. First, it lacks a Home button to take you back to the site you start out at. Second, Microsoft uses a page filled with links to the Windows Store and MSN as the default for new tabs and a home page.
Open Microsoft Edge and click or tap on the three dots on the right side of your screen. From that fly-out menu, select Settings. From here you can explicitly set a Homepage for Edge. Clicking or tapping on the Advanced Settings button lets you add a Home button back to the interface.
Also take note that Internet Explorer is still around if you prefer to use it. Microsoft has it tucked within the Windows Accessories folder in your list of installed apps on the Start Menu/Starter Screen.
Create Multiple Desktops and More with TaskView
This isn't a setting, but rather a tip. On your Taskbar there's a button beside the search bar that allows you to easily switch between different apps and get a complete look at what you have open. It's called TaskView and definitely use it if you're one of those people that has a ton of open apps and programs to manage like I usually do.
You can also open TaskView by pressing the Tab and Windows keys at the same time.
Snap Apps To Every Corner of Your Screen
Another tip instead of a setting, Snap apps to the sides and corners of your screen by dragging them with your mouse or finger. They'll automatically resize. Windows 10 will also list other apps that you have open and may want to multitask with.
Reconfigure Your File Locations to Sync Everything to OneDrive
Microsoft neutered the OneDrive syncing client for Windows. Why that is remains a mystery, but one of the things that drive me crazy in recent years is how you need to do a bit of trickery to get all of your files onto OneDrive if you don't want to have to manage them yourself.
You're better able to manage your local storage and what's on OneDrive if you configure the app to sync entire folders down to your PC. Do this by clicking or tapping on the cloud icon in the Taskbar on the right. Select all the folders that are important to you to sync.
I also map my personal folders to companion folders in OneDrive so that everything saves to the service by default. You can do this by right-clicking on folders like Documents, Music and Video and changing their file location to folders in your OneDrive.
In the System area inside the Settings app under Storage there's an option for deciding where your files are saved. Don't hesitate to take advantage of this option too.
Turn On Windows Hello or Passcode
Not all Windows 10 devices have it, but there's a feature called Windows Hello that makes it crazy simple to login without just a gaze or a swipe of you finger.
Go into the Settings app and choose Sign-In options from the Menu on the right. If your computer is compatible, go ahead and setup Windows Hello. All Windows PCs can be configured with a passcode too. If you don't have Windows Hello, go for a passcode instead. Both keep me from having to retype my very long and complicated real Microsoft Account password.
Read: How to Login with Windows Hello in Windows 10[5]
Add Your Game Links to the Xbox App
Microsoft says that its Xbox for Windows app is a one-stop shop for playing games inside and outside of the Windows Store. The company is right; the app does let you record video and take screenshots from games, plus other cool stuff.
When you install a game inside or outside of the Windows Store, it'll surface in the Xbox app on your Windows 10 PC. You can manually add games that don't show up there by default. I add all of my games here for mental clarity. It also helps that it keeps me connected to Xbox Live when I'm away from my Xbox.
Read: How to Use Xbox on Windows 10[6]
Switch In and Out of Tablet Mode Automatically
Windows 10 2-in-1s have a feature that lets them switch in and out of Tablet Mode when a keyboard is detected. Manufacturers decide whether this switch happens automatically or if users should be asked if they'd like to switch. I turn this feature on by default so that the entire experience is a bit more seamless. If I've removed my keyboard I clearly want to be in a more touch-friendly environment.
Turn this on from the Settings app. It's listed in System under Tablet Mode.
Read: How to Use Tablet Mode in Windows 10[7]
Add Shortcuts to the Action Center That Make Sense for Your Device
The Action Center offers quick shortcuts to what Microsoft has determined are most used settings. Thankfully, you can go beyond this and add some settings to it of your own.
Listed in the Settings app under System are the Actions and Notifications options. Choose which settings you'd like to quickly have access to from there.
Turn On Battery Saver at 30% and Make Some Exceptions for Your Crucial Apps
The last thing I do is take a hard look at storage and battery life. Storage is pretty easy to get a grasp on, Microsoft has analyzer in the System area that lets you get a quick look at what apps, programs and games are taking up the most space on your system.
Battery life takes some time though. Use your Windows 10 device for a few days, then dive into the Battery Saver area from the Settings app under System. Windows 10 provides a detailed breakdown of what apps and services are consuming the most power. From there you can choose to uninstall or not use the apps affecting your device's battery life the most.
Read: How to Get Better Windows 10 Battery Life[8]
Don't stick to just making these changes. Explore the settings and options that are in Windows 10 to tailor it more to your style. There ae enough toggles and switches for popular features that you should end-up with a Windows 10 that's more tailored to your needs specifically.
Good luck.
References
- ^ How to Use Hey Cortana with Windows 10 (www.gottabemobile.com)
- ^ iTunes Store (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ Google Play Store (play.google.com)
- ^ How to Get Free Microsoft Office in Windows 10 (www.gottabemobile.com)
- ^ How to Login with Windows Hello in Windows 10 (www.gottabemobile.com)
- ^ How to Use Xbox on Windows 10 (www.gottabemobile.com)
- ^ How to Use Tablet Mode in Windows 10 (www.gottabemobile.com)
- ^ How to Get Better Windows 10 Battery Life (www.gottabemobile.com)
