Windows
Guides, tips and fixes for Windows 10 and 11.
Basic PowerShell Commands for Beginners
The 8 you genuinely need to get started, and how to find any other one when you need it.
Read articleBasic Windows Glossary for Beginners
Essential Windows terms explained without jargon, for anyone starting from scratch.
Read articleBlue Screen of Death (BSOD): how to diagnose and fix it
Find out what causes the blue screen error and how to fix it step by step, based on the error code.
Read articleComputer Won't Boot: Diagnostic Guide for Windows
Diagnose and fix the most common boot problems on a Windows PC.
Read articleDifference Between CMD, PowerShell and Windows Terminal
Terminal isn't a third interpreter — it's the window that hosts the other two.
Read articleDifference Between Legacy BIOS and UEFI
Interface, boot speed, disk limit and why Windows 11 requires UEFI.
Read articleDifference Between Quality and Feature Updates on Windows
Which ones to install as soon as possible and which ones you can safely postpone.
Read articleDifference Between Restoring Windows and Restarting Windows
What each one does, when to use each option, and why they aren't the same as resetting the PC.
Read articleDifference Between Task Manager and Resource Monitor
Both show what your PC is doing, but with very different levels of detail.
Read articleDifference Between a Local Account and a Microsoft Account on Windows
Syncing, OneDrive, password recovery, and how to switch between the two.
Read articleFile Explorer Closes by Itself: How to Fix It
Restart the process from Task Manager for an immediate fix, then the three usual root causes — bloated history, a third-party context-menu extension, or an outdated Windows — with SFC as the fallback.
Read articleGames Stuttering on Windows: How to Fix It
Start with Game Mode and the power plan before touching anything more technical.
Read articleHow to Activate Windows 11 for Free — Legitimately
"Free" here means no extra cost beyond what you've already paid — not third-party scripts or generic keys used outside their purpose.
Read articleHow to Automatically Arrange Desktop Icons
How to arrange desktop icons automatically on Windows, and how to sort them by name, date or size.
Read articleHow to Back Up Windows: The Complete Guide
Windows includes two native ways to back up, no extra install needed. Which one to use depends on whether you prefer an external drive or the cloud.
Read articleHow to Back Up the Registry Before Touching It
To be able to undo any change if something goes wrong.
Read articleHow to Calibrate Your Laptop's Battery with Windows
So the displayed percentage is more accurate, and when it's actually needed.
Read articleHow to Cap a Game's FPS on Windows
From the game's own options or your graphics card's panel, and why it can feel more stable.
Read articleHow to Change a Process's Priority on Windows
Give a specific program more, or less, CPU priority than the rest.
Read articleHow to Change the Boot Order from the BIOS
To install Windows or Linux from a USB, with the quick boot menu as an alternative.
Read articleHow to Change the Default Downloads Folder on Windows
To another location, such as a secondary drive.
Read articleHow to Change the Default Sound Device on Windows
Between speakers, headphones and other audio outputs.
Read articleHow to Change the Font Size on Windows
The difference between adjusting just the text and changing the whole interface's scale.
Read articleHow to Change the Mouse Pointer on Windows
Size, colour and style, including the accessibility option to see it better.
Read articleHow to Check Disk Health with Windows Commands
A no-command way through Properties, a one-line PowerShell health check with a HealthStatus table to read the result, and CHKDSK for when you also want Windows to repair what it finds.
Read articleHow to Check System File Integrity (SFC)
A different layer from checking the disk itself: SFC checks whether Windows' own internal files are intact, and DISM is the follow-up when SFC's own repair copies are damaged too — with the fastest order to run them in.
Read articleHow to Check Which Version of Windows You Have
Need to know if you have Windows 10 or 11, and which exact edition? The full answer is one command away.
Read articleHow to Compress a Folder into a ZIP File on Windows
With nothing to install, and when it's worth it (and when it isn't) depending on the file type.
Read articleHow to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to Windows
Step by step, and what to do if they don't show up in the device list.
Read articleHow to Connect Windows to a Network Printer
Whether shared from another PC or directly over Wi-Fi.
Read articleHow to Convert an Audio File to Another Format on Windows
With no paid software: use VLC, which already includes this feature for free.
Read articleHow to Create Multiple Virtual Desktops in Windows
Windows + Ctrl + D creates one, Windows + Ctrl + Arrow switches between them — separate spaces for work, leisure and projects, with a different wallpaper per desktop so you always know where you are.
Read articleHow to Create a Full System Image on Windows
Different from a file copy, to recover the entire machine after a serious failure.
Read articleHow to Create a New User Account on Windows
With or without a Microsoft account, and when a Standard account makes more sense than Administrator.
Read articleHow to Create a Shortcut to Task Manager
Add a desktop shortcut to skip the search steps every time you need Task Manager.
Read articleHow to Create a Windows Recovery USB
Before you need it, so you can repair or reinstall the system even if it won't start up.
Read articleHow to Customise Windows 11 Colours and Themes
Light/dark mode, accent colour, wallpaper and saved themes.
Read articleHow to Customise Windows Terminal: Themes and Profiles
Colours, backgrounds and a settings.json file for finer control, without needing to touch any code.
Read articleHow to Delete a User Account on Windows Without Losing Files
Copy what you need before deleting, since there is no automatic merge.
Read articleHow to Edit a Basic Video with the Windows Editor
Trimming, joining clips, adding text and music with no installation, inside the Photos app.
Read articleHow to Enable and Configure Windows Firewall Correctly
What it does, how to confirm all three network profiles are on, how to allow one blocked program without opening the whole system up, and why a third-party antivirus firewall usually replaces it rather than stacking on top.
Read articleHow to Enter the BIOS or UEFI from Windows 11
With no guessing which key to press during startup, using the recovery menu.
Read articleHow to Exclude a Safe Folder from the Windows Defender Scan
And which folders you should never exclude — with the real security precautions.
Read articleHow to Find Your Computer's IP with Windows
The difference between local IP (ipconfig) and public IP, and when you need each one.
Read articleHow to Fix Error 0x8007000d When Updating Windows
Solutions for Windows Update and for the Microsoft Store, including the command that clears the Store cache without uninstalling apps.
Read articleHow to Fix Error 0x80070057 When Updating Windows
A frequent failure during Windows updates and the fixes that work best, step by step.
Read articleHow to Fix Permission (Access Denied) Errors on Windows
How to take ownership of files, and the case of EFS encryption that persists even with administrator permissions.
Read articleHow to Fix the "Disk Is Write-Protected" Error
Level-by-level solution, from the physical switch to DiskPart, with no lost files if you follow the right order.
Read articleHow to Fix the CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED Error on Windows
Causes specific to this code and the steps to take, with a link to the BSOD and boot guides for the full diagnosis.
Read articleHow to Fix the DPC_WATCHDOG_VIOLATION Error
Almost always related to the storage disk and its driver, with the specific steps to fix it.
Read articleHow to Force a Stuck Windows Update Download
What to do when an update has been stuck at the same percentage for hours.
Read articleHow to Free Up Disk Space on Windows 11
When the drive fills up, Windows 11 doesn't just warn you — it noticeably slows down too. Freeing up space is one of the quickest wins you can make.
Read articleHow to Free Up RAM on Windows Without Restarting
The computer's slow from having too much open, but you don't want to lose your work with a full restart. These options free up real RAM without shutting anything down.
Read articleHow to Get Back the Quick Access Toolbar in File Explorer
What to do if the File Explorer quick access toolbar has disappeared.
Read articleHow to Get the Classic Start Menu Back on Windows 11
With Open-Shell, the more reliable open-source alternative, since Microsoft doesn't offer this option natively.
Read articleHow to Install Android Apps on Windows 11
Microsoft discontinued the official route in March 2025; here's what's still possible through the community.
Read articleHow to Install Windows from Scratch: Complete Guide
A complete guide to formatting and installing the operating system step by step without losing your important data.
Read articleHow to Install a New Printer on Windows
Over USB or network, with automatic detection in most cases.
Read articleHow to Know If Windows Defender Is Really Active
Quick check, and the industry-standard test file to confirm it for certain.
Read articleHow to Know If Your PC Can Run a Game Before Buying It
dxdiag for your specs, the store page for the requirements, then a straight side-by-side — with which single component to check first if you only have time for one.
Read articleHow to Know If a Windows Update Is Safe Before Installing It
The official known-issues page, and how to tell a real update from a scam.
Read articleHow to Know Which Process Is Using the Most CPU
Sort Task Manager the right way to find the exact program slowing your computer down.
Read articleHow to Make Windows 11 Look Like Windows 10
Start menu, taskbar and right-click adjustments to feel at home on Windows 11.
Read articleHow to Move the Windows 11 Taskbar to the Left
Like in Windows 10, in a couple of clicks.
Read articleHow to Open Advanced System Settings on Windows
Performance, virtual memory, system protection and more in one place (sysdm.cpl).
Read articleHow to Open PowerShell as Administrator
Needed for commands that touch network, services or system configuration.
Read articleHow to Optimise Windows for a Low-Spec PC
If your machine has limited resources (little RAM, an old processor), these combined tweaks make a real difference without spending anything.
Read articleHow to Password Protect a Folder on Windows
Why the .bat trick that circulates online protects nothing, and the two real options (EFS and 7-Zip).
Read articleHow to Read a Windows Error Code to Search for It Properly
Not a code list — a format-recognition table (hex, BSOD constants, small device-manager numbers, plain decimals) plus how to phrase the search so the first result is the right one, and which sources to trust.
Read articleHow to Record Clips of Your Games with the Game Bar
Including the option to capture the last few minutes without having started recording beforehand.
Read articleHow to Record Your Screen on Windows Without Installing Programs
The Windows Game Bar lets you record your screen for free with nothing to install.
Read articleHow to Record Your Screen with Audio on Windows
Capturing both system sound and your microphone with the built-in Game Bar.
Read articleHow to Recover Windows Without Losing Your Installed Programs
Why resetting always uninstalls them, and the alternatives that do keep them.
Read articleHow to Recover a Forgotten Windows Password
Real options for recovering access to your Windows account without losing your files.
Read articleHow to Reduce Input Lag on Windows for Gaming
The highest-impact setting (mouse acceleration), with no risky registry edits or third-party programs.
Read articleHow to Remove Viruses and Malware from Windows for Free
Sudden pop-ups, programs you never installed, unexplained slowness — most infections can be cleaned without paying a cent, using Windows Defender plus one second-opinion scanner.
Read articleHow to Reset Network Settings on Windows
From commands that delete nothing to a full reset, explained by severity level.
Read articleHow to Safely Run a PowerShell Script
Without permanently disabling the protection against malicious scripts.
Read articleHow to Safely Update Your Motherboard's BIOS
The real precautions (suspending BitLocker, stable power) and when it's NOT worth doing.
Read articleHow to Scan a Document on Windows Without Additional Programs
Using the built-in Windows Scan app.
Read articleHow to Schedule Automatic Backups on Windows
So you don't have to remember to do them manually every time.
Read articleHow to Schedule an Automatic Scan with Windows Defender
Using Task Scheduler, including the condition so it doesn't drain battery on laptops.
Read articleHow to Search for Files on Windows More Precisely
Using type, date and size operators, in File Explorer or the Start menu.
Read articleHow to See Hidden Files and Folders on Windows
From File Explorer, and how to hide your own (without it being real protection).
Read articleHow to See Which Devices Are Connected to Your Network from Windows
Task Manager gives an instant list of what's actively transmitting; the router's own admin panel gives the complete list, including idle devices — both free, both built in, no extra app needed.
Read articleHow to Set Up Parental Controls on Windows
The requirement that determines whether it works, screen time, filters and spending, with Microsoft Family Safety.
Read articleHow to Set Up Windows Hello (Fingerprint or Facial Recognition)
The hardware requirements to check first (IR camera, fingerprint reader), and how to set up each method step by step.
Read articleHow to Set Up a VPN on Windows Without Third-Party Programs
A clear line up front: this connects to a VPN you already have (work, university, your own home network), not a commercial privacy service — five settings screens either way, plus what to check when the connection fails.
Read articleHow to Set a Printer as Default on Windows
And why it sometimes changes on its own without you asking for it.
Read articleHow to Set the Windows Power Plan to Save Battery
Balanced for everyday, Best power efficiency for long stretches without a charger, Best performance when plugged in — plus the automatic brightness cut, one of the most effective battery-stretchers there is.
Read articleHow to Share Your PC's Internet Connection over Wi-Fi
Using Windows' native feature, with no third-party programs to install.
Read articleHow to Share a Folder on a Local Network from Windows
To access its content from other devices, without manually copying files.
Read articleHow to Show File Extensions on Windows
Why it improves your security by helping you spot malicious files disguised with deceptive names.
Read articleHow to Take a Screenshot on Windows
Every way to capture the screen on Windows 10 and 11, with keyboard shortcuts and the Snipping Tool.
Read articleHow to Tell If Your Disk Is Limiting Windows Performance
A disk pinned at 100% is not the same as a failing disk: how to read that number differently for HDD vs SSD, find the process saturating it, and confirm the disk really is your bottleneck.
Read articleHow to Tell If a USB Device Is Damaged or It's the Port
Two swaps settle almost every case — another port, another computer — before Device Manager and USB selective suspend cover the rest, plus the one error code that answers the question on its own.
Read articleHow to Temporarily Pause Windows Updates
Delay Windows updates for a while without disabling them completely.
Read articleHow to Turn Off Windows Visual Effects to Gain Speed
Especially useful on machines with limited resources.
Read articleHow to Turn On Extreme Battery Saver Mode on Windows
To stretch the battery as far as possible when charge is running low.
Read articleHow to Turn On Game Mode on Windows 11
Reduces interruptions and prioritises resources during your games.
Read articleHow to Turn On High Contrast Mode on Windows
Improves readability, with a keyboard shortcut included to turn it on quickly.
Read articleHow to Turn On Windows Remote Desktop
The Pro edition requirement to check first, and how to connect securely from another device.
Read articleHow to Turn On the Narrator Screen Reader on Windows
Reads content out loud, with the keyboard shortcut for quickly turning it on.
Read articleHow to Turn Windows Optional Features On or Off
WSL, Hyper-V, .NET Framework, with no additional downloads needed.
Read articleHow to Uninstall Programs That Won't Uninstall on Windows
Fix the cases where a program doesn't show up in the list or the uninstaller doesn't work.
Read articleHow to Uninstall a Problematic Windows Update
Revert Windows to its previous state, and the pause step most guides skip.
Read articleHow to Update Windows to the Latest Version
The quick steps to get Windows fully up to date, plus what to check before jumping from Windows 10 to 11.
Read articleHow to Use System Restore in Windows
System Restore rolls recent software changes back without touching your personal files — a very different beast from 'Reset this PC'. Here is how to check it is on, use it, and create your own restore points.
Read articleHow to Use Windows 11 Widgets
Weather, news and calendar in a quick panel, and how to customise or turn them off.
Read articleHow to Use Windows Task Manager
A complete guide to Task Manager: opening it, its main tabs, and closing programs that stop responding.
Read articleHow to Use the Copilot Built into Windows 11
What Copilot reliably does today, how to open it, why Microsoft has been dialling back its deeper system integrations during 2026 — and how to switch it off entirely if you prefer.
Read articleInternet Is Slow Only on One Windows PC: How to Diagnose It
Confirm it's isolated to this machine, then test by cable to remove Wi-Fi from the equation, before three causes few guides mention: wifi power saving, Delivery Optimization, and background bandwidth you can watch live in Task Manager.
Read articleKeyboard Types the Wrong Letters on Windows: Fix
It's almost always a badly configured keyboard layout. Here's how to fix it in under a minute.
Read articleLaptop Battery Drains Very Fast on Windows: Why
A five-cause table plus the Battery Usage tool that shows the actual culprit instead of guessing, and the Modern Standby check with a single command for the specific case of losing charge while asleep.
Read articleLaptop Doesn't Go into Sleep Mode Properly: Fix
Non-obvious causes (background apps, devices that wake the machine) and how to diagnose them.
Read articleMost Common Windows Update Errors and How to Fix Them
Fix the most frequent failures when updating Windows without having to reinstall the system.
Read articleNo Sound on Windows: How to Get Audio Back
Get your machine's audio back when it suddenly stops working, step by step.
Read articlePrinter Prints Blank Pages: Causes and Fixes
The most common causes (empty ink, clogged print heads, protective tape) and how to fix it.
Read articlePrinter Stuck in Queue and Not Printing: Fix
Three escalating levels — cancel from the queue, restart the Print Spooler service, force-clear it by command — plus the driver angle for when the same jam keeps coming back.
Read articleSystem Requirements to Install Windows 11
Check whether your computer is compatible with the latest version of Windows before upgrading.
Read articleTPM 2.0 Requirement on Windows 11: How to Check and Turn It On
How to check it with tpm.msc in seconds, and why it's off (not missing) on most machines that fail this requirement.
Read articleTask Manager Won't Open: How to Fix It
Alternative ways to get in when Task Manager itself won't open, and how to rule out malware.
Read articleThe BIOS Doesn't Detect the Keyboard or Mouse: What to Do
Why it happens (even though they work fine in Windows), and the specific causes, including gaming mode.
Read articleThe Wi-Fi Icon Has an Exclamation Mark on Windows: What It Means
What that warning next to the Wi-Fi icon means and how to fix it step by step.
Read articleUnknown Process in Task Manager: How to Identify It
Learn to trace a strange process name back to its source and tell a legitimate one from a suspicious one.
Read articleUseful Network Commands in the Windows Command Prompt
The 4 network commands you genuinely need on Windows: ipconfig, ping, tracert and flushing the DNS cache.
Read articleWebcam Doesn't Work on Windows: How to Fix It
The privacy permission that's the most common cause, before suspecting drivers or hardware.
Read articleWhat Does the INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE Error Mean on Windows
Its specific causes (AHCI/RAID mode, a moved disk) and how to fix it without reinstalling.
Read articleWhat Is BitLocker and How to Enable It on Windows
The real difference between Home and Pro, and why safely storing the recovery key is literally the most important part of the process.
Read articleWhat Is Ransomware and How to Keep It from Locking Your Files
Ransomware encrypts your files and demands money to release them — yet a handful of habits, led by disconnected backups, cut the risk to almost nothing.
Read articleWhat Is Secure Boot and When Should You Turn It Off
Specific cases (installing Linux, old hardware), not a setting to touch routinely.
Read articleWhat Is Snap Layouts on Windows 11 and How to Use It
To organise several windows automatically, with and without a mouse.
Read articleWhat Is V-Sync and When to Turn It On on Windows
The simple rule based on the type of game, and why turning it on introduces a small delay.
Read articleWhat Is Windows Terminal and How Does It Differ From CMD
Tabs, panes, customisation, and how it hosts different command interpreters in a single window.
Read articleWhat Is Windows Virtual Memory and How to Adjust It
The emergency backup for when RAM fills up, when it's worth adjusting and when it's better left on automatic.
Read articleWhat Is Windows? A Plain-English Guide
What exactly is that thing you see the moment you turn on your computer? Here's the answer, assuming nothing.
Read articleWhat Is a Static IP and How to Set It Up on Windows
The real difference between the local IP (free, in 2 minutes) and the public IP (a provider service).
Read articleWhat Is a Windows Cumulative Update
Why it includes the whole history and why you never need to install them one by one in order.
Read articleWhat Is msconfig and What Is It Used For on Windows
Mainly for quickly reaching special diagnostic boot modes nowadays.
Read articleWhat Is the Group Policy Editor on Windows
Available only on Pro, Education and Enterprise, for advanced system settings.
Read articleWhat Is the Windows Registry and What Is It For
The system's internal configuration database, when (rarely) you need to touch it and how to do it safely.
Read articleWhat Processes Use the Most Battery on Windows and How to See Them
The per-app usage view, and how to limit background consumption.
Read articleWhat Video Formats Does Windows Play with Nothing Installed
And why VLC is a better alternative than loose codec packs from the internet.
Read articleWhat to Do If Someone Has Accessed Your Windows Account Without Permission
How to check depending on whether it's physical or remote access, and the steps to protect yourself immediately.
Read articleWhat to Do If Windows Doesn't Recognise an .exe File
The command that restores the association in seconds, and when it can be a sign of a virus.
Read articleWhat to Do If Windows Sound Is Distorted
Why turning off audio 'enhancements' usually fixes it, before suspecting the speakers or drivers.
Read articleWhat's New in Windows 11 24H2, Explained Simply
Native TAR/7z, Sudo, Recall, and why this version is already being replaced automatically by 25H2.
Read articleWhich Windows Processes You Can Close Safely
Learn which processes in Task Manager are safe to end and which ones you should never touch.
Read articleWindows 10 vs Windows 11: Key Differences
We compare design, performance, requirements and features to help you decide which version to stick with.
Read articleWindows 11 Can't Find Updates: How to Fix It
What to do when Windows Update keeps searching for updates without finding any.
Read articleWindows Defender Has Quarantined a File: What to Do
How to tell if it's a false positive, restore it safely, and stop it from happening again.
Read articleWindows Defender Uses Too Many Resources: How to Optimise It
How to reduce its impact without turning it off or losing protection — CPU limit, priority and scan schedule.
Read articleWindows Doesn't Detect a Bluetooth Device: What to Do
How to tell apart an adapter problem from one specific to a particular device.
Read articleWindows Doesn't Recognise a Second Monitor: How to Fix It
The two checks almost everyone overlooks (input source, projection mode) before touching drivers.
Read articleWindows Doesn't Recognise the Printer: How to Fix It
The steps that genuinely work when Windows doesn't detect or print with your printer.
Read articleWindows Editions: Differences Between Home, Pro and Enterprise
Understand the real differences between Home, Pro and Enterprise before buying or upgrading your machine.
Read articleWindows Freezes or Hangs: What to Do
First wait, then Task Manager, and only as a last resort the power button — plus the after-the-fact checklist (Event Viewer, temperatures, graphics drivers, RAM) so it stops happening.
Read articleWindows Restarts on Its Own Without Warning: Causes and Fixes
One question narrows it fast: does it happen before Windows even loads? If so, it's hardware; if it's always mid-session, overheating, a scheduled update, or a bad driver are the top suspects, with Event Viewer to confirm.
Read articleWindows Says There Is Not Enough Memory: What to Do
How to tell if it's a lack of RAM, a disk problem, or faulty RAM, before buying anything.
Read articleWindows Services You Can Disable to Gain Performance
Fax, Bluetooth, Print Spooler — the reasonable candidates when you genuinely never use them, the disable procedure, and an honest note: the gains are modest and the wrong choice hurts.
Read articleWindows Update Takes Up a Lot of Space: How to Free It Afterwards
What the Windows.old folder is and how to free it up safely, with the step almost everyone skips.
Read articleWindows Won't Connect to Wi-Fi: Step-by-Step Fix
Fix the most common wireless connection problems on Windows 10 and 11.
Read articleWindows running slow: common causes and how to fix it
Identify the most common causes of slowdowns and get your computer back up to speed, step by step.
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