Unlock Your PC's Full Potential: Top 10 Windows Tricks You Never Knew

Windows 10 is a powerful and versatile operating system that offers many features and functionalities to enhance your productivity, creativity, and security. However, not all of these features are obvious or well-known, and some of them are hidden in the settings, menus, or keyboard shortcuts. In this post, we will reveal 10 Windows tricks that will blow your mind and make you a Windows master.

1. Use God Mode to access all settings in one place

If you are tired of navigating through different menus and windows to find the settings you need, you can use God Mode to access all of them in one place. God Mode is a special folder that contains links to over 200 settings and tools in Windows 10. To enable God Mode, you need to create a new folder on your desktop and name it GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}. The folder icon will change to a control panel icon, and you can open it to see all the settings categorized by sections. You can also rename the folder to anything you like, as long as you keep the .{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} part.

2. Use Snap Assist to arrange windows quickly

If you work with multiple windows on your screen, you can use Snap Assist to arrange them quickly and easily. Snap Assist lets you snap windows to the edges or corners of your screen by dragging them with your mouse or using keyboard shortcuts. For example, you can press WIN + left arrow to snap a window to the left half of your screen, or WIN + up arrow to snap it to the top quarter of your screen. You can also press WIN + TAB to see all your open windows and drag them to the desired location on your screen. Snap Assist will also show you suggestions of other windows that you can snap next to the current one.

3. Use Virtual Desktops to organize your tasks

If you have too many windows open on your screen and want to separate them by different tasks or projects, you can use Virtual Desktops to create multiple workspaces on your PC. Virtual Desktops let you switch between different desktops with different sets of windows, so you can focus on one thing at a time. To create a new Virtual Desktop, press WIN + TAB and click on the + New desktop button at the bottom right corner of your screen. You can also use CTRL + WIN + left/right arrow to switch between your Virtual Desktops.

4. Use Clipboard History to access your copied items

If you copy and paste a lot of text, images, or files on your PC, you can use Clipboard History to access your copied items from any app or window. Clipboard History lets you store multiple items on your clipboard and paste them with a keyboard shortcut. To enable Clipboard History, go to Settings > System > Clipboard and turn on the toggle for Clipboard History. Then, press WIN + V to see a list of your copied items and select the one you want to paste. You can also pin items that you use frequently or clear items that you don’t need anymore.

If you want to share files with another Windows 10 device nearby, you can use Nearby Sharing to do it wirelessly and quickly. Nearby Sharing lets you send and receive files over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi without using any cables or apps. To use Nearby Sharing, both devices need to have Bluetooth and Nearby Sharing turned on. You can do this by going to Settings > System > Shared Experiences and turning on the toggle for Nearby Sharing. You can also choose who can share with you (Everyone nearby or My devices only) and where to save the received files (Downloads folder or Ask me every time). Then, when you want to share a file, right-click on it and select Share. You will see a list of nearby devices that you can share with. Select the device you want and wait for the other person to accept the file.

6. Use Dynamic Lock to lock your PC automatically

If you want to lock your PC automatically when you walk away from it, you can use Dynamic Lock to do it securely and conveniently. Dynamic Lock lets you pair your PC with your phone via Bluetooth and lock your PC when your phone is out of range. To use Dynamic Lock, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and scroll down to Dynamic Lock. Click on the link that says Add a device and follow the instructions to pair your phone with your PC via Bluetooth. Then, check the box that says Allow Windows to automatically lock your device when you’re away.

7. Use Storage Sense to free up disk space

If you are running low on disk space on your PC, you can use Storage Sense to free up some space automatically or manually. Storage Sense lets you delete temporary files, recycle bin items, and old downloads that you don’t need anymore. To use Storage Sense, go to Settings > System > Storage and turn on the toggle for Storage Sense. You can also click on Configure Storage Sense or run it now to customize how and when Storage Sense runs. For example, you can choose how often to delete temporary files, how long to keep files in your recycle bin or downloads folder, and how much free space to leave on your drive.

8. Use Focus Assist to avoid distractions

If you want to avoid distractions from notifications and sounds on your PC, you can use Focus Assist to silence them temporarily or permanently. Focus Assist lets you choose which notifications you want to see and hear, and which ones you want to hide or mute. To use Focus Assist, go to Settings > System > Focus Assist and choose one of the three options: Off (get all notifications), Priority only (get only priority notifications), or Alarms only (get only alarms). You can also click on Customize your priority list to choose which apps and contacts can send you priority notifications. You can also set automatic rules to turn on Focus Assist during certain times, activities, or events.

9. Use Night Light to reduce eye strain

If you use your PC at night or in a dark environment, you can use Night Light to reduce eye strain and improve your sleep quality. Night Light lets you adjust the color temperature of your screen to make it warmer and easier on your eyes. To use Night Light, go to Settings > System > Display and turn on the toggle for Night Light. You can also click on Night Light settings to customize the color temperature and schedule for Night Light. For example, you can set Night Light to turn on automatically at sunset or at a specific time.

10. Use Windows Sandbox to run risky programs

If you want to run a program that you are not sure is safe or trustworthy, you can use Windows Sandbox to run it in a isolated environment without affecting your PC. Windows Sandbox is a feature that creates a temporary virtual machine that mimics your PC but has no access to your files, settings, or network. To use Windows Sandbox, you need to have Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise edition and enable virtualization in your BIOS settings. Then, go to Control Panel > Programs > Turn Windows features on or off and check the box for Windows Sandbox. After that, you can launch Windows Sandbox from the Start menu and drag and drop any program that you want to run inside it. When you are done, just close Windows Sandbox and all its contents will be deleted.

These are 10 Windows tricks that people never knew about. Try them out and see how they can improve your Windows 10 experience. If you know any other hidden or useful Windows tricks, share them with us in the comments below!

Signing off,

//TheModdersDen

Sources

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10 truly helpful Windows 10 tools you might not know about. https://www.pcworld.com/article/403543/windows-10-tools-you-might-not-know-about.html.
10 hidden Windows features that will blow your mind - PCWorld. https://www.pcworld.com/article/702039/10-hidden-windows-features-that-will-blow-your-mind.html.
10 Computer Tricks and Hacks you Probably Didn’t Know. https://www.techlila.com/10-computer-tips/.