In what's becoming all too common of late, there's a new bug affecting Windows 11 (and Windows 10) users. And when I say a "new bug," I mean one that we've seen before a couple of times, which we thought was gone for good.

The issue has to do with BitLocker, and it arrived with Microsoft's October security updates (via Windows Latest). Microsoft has confirmed this bug as active via its Microsoft 365 Business and Windows 11 Enterprise channels, for which you need an account to see.

Microsoft says the latest BitLocker bug is affecting Windows 11 versions 25H2 (KB5066835) and 24H2 (KB5066835), as well as Windows 10 version 22H2 (KB5066791).

Should your system be affected, the next time you restart or boot your PC fresh might involve a big blue blockade standing between you and your OS. Microsoft says that some PCs "might boot into the BitLocker recovery screen, requiring users to enter the recovery key once."

Should you have your key handy, it's a fairly easy workaround, and it doesn't appear that any data is being lost or corrupted following a successful login. However, if you don't have your key, you'll be effectively locked out of your PC.

PCs using Intel hardware that supports Modern Standby seem to be the primary target of this recurring BitLocker issue. Microsoft says it is currently rolling out a fix.

It's recommended that organizations affected by the bug use the Known Issue Rollback tool to get around the problem.

What to do if you experience the Windows BitLocker recovery bug

Attempting to boot or restart your PC, only to see the BitLocker recovery screen standing in your way, can't be a nice feeling. Any time I encounter issues with BitLocker, my immediate concern is a loss of data. However, that shouldn't be the case here.

If you're currently sitting at the bugged BitLocker recovery screen, you can (fairly quickly) grab your BitLocker recovery key that's stored in your Microsoft account.

Visiting aka.ms/myrecoverykey on a separate device and ensuring you're signed in with the proper account will take you straight to a list of keys. Choose the correct PC (if you have more than one listed) and copy the code to bypass the BitLocker recovery screen.

If you're on an account managed by someone else (like your work or school), you'll want to visit aka.ms/aadrecoverykey instead.

Is AI coding hurting Windows stability?

Each time a fresh Windows bug pops up, I'm reminded of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's April 2025 boast that AI already writes between 20% and 30% of the company's code.

Whether or not that's contributing to the recent string of Windows issues, I can't say, but it's not likely helping. There have been several major bugs in recent memory.

The August 2025 security update (KB5063875) introduced a fresh bug on Windows 10 and 11 that began blocking the "Reset my PC" feature. This, of course, stopped users from wiping a PC for an OS reinstall or to sell second-hand.

Windows 11 version 25H2 launched at the end of September, and with it came two known issues involving BluRay/DVD playback and failed updates installed via WUSA.

In October, Windows 11 update KB5066835 broke localhost connections, blocking developers from running and testing websites and applications locally before pushing them live.

The same update also broke the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), resulting in a loss of USB mouse and keyboard input on the blue screen.

Microsoft has been fixing bugs in the meantime, including the "Update and shut down" issue that seemed like it'd been around for years. The company also recently fixed a bug that prevented the classic Outlook client from launching properly on the OS.

An operating system as complex as Windows is bound to have bugs, but there's extra pressure on Microsoft to release stable updates due to the end of official Windows 10 support and the CEO's comments regarding the use of AI to code.

FAQ

After nearly a decade of service, Windows 10 is reaching its end of support on October 14, 2025. After that date, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or technical support for the operating system. While you can continue using your PC for another year through the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program or upgrade to Windows 11 to stay protected, you might also decide to retire the device altogether if you have a new computer.

If that's the case, you shouldn't simply recycle, trade in, or give away the system without first properly cleaning it. Unless you securely erase the drive, your personal files, passwords, and other sensitive data could still be recovered.

➡️ See all of our Windows 10 End of Life coverage

For older systems running Windows 10, the "Reset this PC" feature in the "Recovery" settings provides the easiest way to wipe out your data before decommissioning.

Although there are many other advanced tools for erasing drives beyond recovery, the built-in reset feature is accessible to everyone and simple to use. And for those who want complete peace of mind, physically destroying the hard drive (such as removing it or rendering it unreadable) is still the most foolproof way to keep your data safe.

In this how-to guide, I'll outline the steps to completely erase your Windows 10 computer before decommissioning it.

This process makes it harder, but not impossible, to recover your files. However, it's better than decommissioning the device without clearing the data. Microsoft notes that this feature is targeted at consumers, but it doesn't meet industry data erasure standards.

Important: Since this process will delete everything on the computer, it's recommended that you back up any files you wish to keep.

Reset your Windows 10 PC to protect your privacy before the end of life

To wipe out your computer running Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Recovery.
4. Click the Get started button under the "Reset this PC" section.

5. Click the Remove everything option.

6. Choose the Local reinstall option.

• Quick note: Only choose the "Cloud download" if the local image fails to reset the system.

7. Click the Change settings option.

8. Turn on the "Delete files from all drives" toggle switch to securely erase all the drives on the computer.

8. Click the Confirm button.
9. Click the "Show me the list of drives that will be affected" option to see drives that will be erased during the reset process.

8. Click the Back button.
9. Click the Next button.
10. Click the Reset button.

If you're preparing to decommission the computer, there's nothing else you need to do after the system completes the process. The reset process is considered complete once the setup requires you to complete the Out-of-box Experience (OOBE).

FAQs about resetting a Windows 10 device

These are common questions regarding resetting Windows 10 to its default settings.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Support for Windows 10 will finally come to an end on October 14, 2025. After that date, Microsoft will stop providing free security updates, bug fixes, and technical assistance for the operating system. For millions of users still running Windows 10, this milestone raises an important question: Do I need to buy a new computer, or can my current one continue to run safely after support ends?

➡️ See all of our Windows 10 End of Life coverage

What the End of Life actually means

When the software giant ends support for Windows 10, your computer won't suddenly stop working. You can continue using the device as usual, and your files, apps, and features will remain accessible.

However, once those cumulative updates stop, the operating system will no longer receive patches to protect it against new security vulnerabilities. Over time, this makes it increasingly risky to connect a Windows 10 device to the internet or use it for online activities like banking, shopping, or email.

In other words, Microsoft is discontinuing the development and maintenance of the operating system, meaning that no further bug fixes, performance updates, or new features will be made available. Software developers and hardware manufacturers may also begin dropping support for Windows 10 as they continue to shift focus to Windows 11 and future versions. While the operating system may not become immediately obsolete, it will gradually become outdated and potentially insecure.

What happens after October 14, 2025

If you do nothing, your computer will continue to start and run as before. You'll still be able to open documents, browse the web, and use your apps.

Microsoft Defender Antivirus, for example, will continue to receive virus definition updates for a limited time (until 2028) to provide basic protection. However, the underlying system will no longer receive critical fixes if new vulnerabilities are discovered. This is critical because it means that you cannot rely solely on an antivirus to use your device securely.

Over the following months and years, you'll likely see growing compatibility issues. Some apps or web browsers may stop working, hardware drivers may no longer receive updates, and newer peripherals might not install correctly. Eventually, without support, it'll be more difficult to use your computer for everyday tasks.

Stay secure without replacing your PC

If your computer is still running without issues and meets your needs, you have a few ways to extend its life beyond 2025. Microsoft is now offering enrollment to the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, which allows you to receive critical security patches for an additional year, through October 13, 2026.

The program has been designed for organizations, but for the first time, the company is making it available to regular consumers. Also, the ESU program won't roll out new features or fixes. It's only a temporary security measure designed to give you more time to plan your next steps.

You can enroll your computer in the Extended Security Updates program for free if you use the Windows Backup app to upload your files to OneDrive, or if you use 1000 points from your Microsoft Rewards account.

The company is also making it available as a one-time purchase for $30 (or equivalent, depending on your region).

If you're in Europe, you don't need to sync your data or redeem any of your points, but you'll still need to use your Microsoft account to connect the device to the program (like everyone else).

In the case that you don't want to use a Microsoft account, European users can use a local account, but only if they pay $30.

You can enroll your device now or at any time after October 14, 2025. Technically, October 13, 2026, is the last day, but it will not extend support beyond that date.

Upgrading to Windows 11 as soon as possible

If you can't decide, consider that upgrading to Windows 11 is the best long-term solution if your computer meets the hardware requirements. Microsoft's current version will continue to receive major feature updates, including new features and innovations, for the foreseeable future.

If your device doesn't meet the official requirements, you might still be able to install Windows 11 manually using a custom USB bootable created with third-party tools, such as Rufus.

Microsoft doesn't support unofficial methods, and technically, your computer will be considered in an unsupported state. Also, while the computer will continue to receive updates, they're not guaranteed to work.

You don't have to buy a new PC

You don't have to buy a new computer immediately after October 14, 2025. Your device running Windows 10 will continue to function, and you can extend its life using the ESU program or by switching to another operating system. However, if you rely on your computer for critical daily tasks or online activities, investing in a Windows 11-compatible device will be the safest and most future-proof choice.

Microsoft's timeline gives you another full year to prepare. Use that time to back up your files, check if your system can upgrade to Windows 11, and decide whether extending Windows 10's life or transitioning to new hardware makes more sense. Eventually, switching from Windows 10 will be unavoidable, but you can do it on your terms, for now.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

The end of life (EoL) for Windows 10 is scheduled for October 14, 2025. After this date, Microsoft will discontinue maintenance and security updates, as well as technical support, for all users. If you plan to upgrade to Windows 11 to continue receiving updates, this guide will walk you through the steps to complete the process.

If you have a computer running Windows 10 version 22H2 with the latest updates installed and properly activated, you can perform a free in-place upgrade to Windows 11.

This process will reinstall the operating system, but it'll keep your files and applications. Also, the setup will automatically reactivate after installation, as Windows 10 was previously activated.

However, the system won't upgrade to version 25H2 directly. It'll first upgrade to the next supported version of the operating system, which in this case is version 24H2 (as version 23H2 is reaching the end of support in November 2025), and then, you'll have to trigger the installation of the latest version through the Windows Update settings.

Alternatively, if your computer is having issues with the Windows Update settings, you can also use the Installation Assistant to force the upgrade process. This tool will also perform an in-place upgrade, keeping your files and applications.

In this how-to guide, I'll outline the steps to upgrade a computer that is still using Windows 10 to the latest release of Windows 11.

Important: Before proceeding, it's still (highly) recommended to create a full backup of your current setup in case something goes wrong and you have to roll back to the previous version.

How to upgrade to Windows 11 version 25H2 using Windows Update

To upgrade your computer to the latest version of the operating system from Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings on Windows 10.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Windows Update.
4. Click the Check for updates button.
5. Click the "Download and install" button.

6. Click the Restart now button.
7. Open Settings on Windows 11.
8. Click on Windows Update.
9. Click the Check for updates button.
10. Click the "Download and install" button.

11. Click the Restart now button.

Once you complete the steps, the computer will upgrade to Windows 11 version 24H2, and then, it will install the eneblement package (eKB) to switch versions to 25H2.

How to upgrade to Windows 11 version 25H2 using Installation Assistant

To upgrade the system to the Windows 11 2025 Update with the Installation Assistant tool, use these steps:

1. Open this Microsoft support website.
2. Click the Download Now button under the "Windows 11 Installation Assistant" section.

3. Double-click the Windows11InstallationAssistant.exe file to launch the tool.
4. Click the Accept and install button.

After you complete the steps, the utility will download the necessary files and install the new version of Windows 11, preserving your files, settings, and apps.

FAQs about upgrading to Windows 11

This section includes the frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers regarding the upgrade process from Windows 10 version 22H2 to Windows 11 version 25H2.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Windows 10 has been one of Microsoft's biggest successes, powering millions of PCs for nearly a decade, but its time is coming to an end. In the coming days, the company will officially retire the operating system and shift its focus entirely to Windows 11 and future releases.

For those still running Windows 10, the transition may feel uncertain. Will your computer suddenly stop working? How long will apps like Microsoft 365 or Edge continue to be supported? What about ongoing security protections? The answers aren't always straightforward, and Microsoft's policies include some surprising details that many users may not be aware of.

To help you prepare, here are 14 interesting facts about Windows 10 End of Life that explain exactly what's happening now and after support ends.

Facts you probably don't know about the End of Life for Windows 10

These are some of the facts regarding the end of Windows 10.

1. The exact date for Windows 10's End of life

Windows 10 reaches the end of support on October 14, 2025, exactly 10 years after its original release in 2015.

This is an obvious fact, but it is worth mentioning nonetheless.

2. PCs won't stop working after the end of life

On October 15, 2025, Windows 10, apps, and drivers will continue to boot and run normally. The change is about ending free security updates, bug fixes, and feature updates, not shutting down the operating system.

3. PCs won't become insecure immediately

After the deadline, nothing changes overnight. On October 14, Microsoft will release the last Patch Tuesday update for Windows 10, meaning that your computer won't instantly become unsafe on October 15.

During the first few months, you'll probably be fine. However, as time passes, new vulnerabilities will emerge, and that's when the risks of using an unsupported operating system will increase.

Having said that, you should consider preparing your device now, instead of waiting until after the support ends.

4. Antivirus isn't enough to keep using Windows 10

Although an antivirus is always recommended to protect your computer from malware and hackers, this is just one of the many layers of protection. The operating system still requires a continuity of updates to stay secure.

In other words, an antivirus isn't enough to keep using an unsupported operating system.

5. The Extended Security Updates free option requires a Microsoft account

By now, most people are already aware of the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, a service from Microsoft that provides critical security updates for an additional year for those who are still not ready to switch.

Although this is a paid service, the company is also making it available for free. However, to enroll a device, you must connect it to a Microsoft account, regardless of your geographical location, including users in Europe.

6. European users have different ESU requirements

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you can still enroll your computer in the Extended Security Updates program, but you'll also have to provide your Microsoft account information.

The only difference is that users in Europe are not required to sync their settings or use the Windows Backup app to upload files to the Microsoft cloud. However, the user must continue to use their Microsoft account credentials on their device. Otherwise, after 60 days, the computer will lose the enrollment.

At any time, after the 60 days, the user can authenticate one more time with their Microsoft account credentials to resume updates.

Furthermore, if the user prefers to use a local account, they can proceed with the one-time purchase of $30 USD or its equivalent. This is also a key difference, as the one-time purchase option in all the other markets requires authentication with a Microsoft account.

7. Extended support is only available for the version of Windows 10

The Extended Security Updates program is limited to specific editions of Windows 10, including Home, Pro, Pro Education, and Pro for Workstations.

The version of the program isn't available for computers using kiosk mode, devices connected to an Active Directory domain, Microsoft Entra-joined devices, or when using the Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution.

8. Windows 10 ESU enrollment doesn't have a deadline

Although it's recommended to enroll your device in the program before the support ends, you can sign up at any time after October 14, 2025 (up to the last day of support). However, you won't be extending support, as the program will end for consumers on October 13, 2026, regardless of when you signed up.

9. You can sign up to 10 PCs with the same Microsoft account

Microsoft uses your online account to track the activation of the Extended Security Program on your devices, and when using the same account, you can activate up to 10 computers with the same account.

This also means that if you choose the one-time purchase option, you don't have to pay more money to enroll other devices.

10. Microsoft plans to support Defender Antivirus until 2028

Despite the end of support for Windows 10, the default Microsoft Defender Antivirus solution will continue to receive definition updates until 2028 for this version of the operating system. This is primarily because commercial customers will continue to receive support through the Extended Security Program for a period of three years.

11. Microsoft plans to support Edge until 2028

Microsoft Edge won't stop receiving updates because the support of the operating system ends on October 14, 2025. In fact, the web browser is expected to be maintained at least until 2028 for Windows 10 devices due to the support timeframe for commercial customers.

12. Microsoft 365 apps will continue getting updates

After the end of support for Windows 10, the Microsoft 365 (Office) apps will continue to function normally, and Microsoft will continue to provide security updates until 2028. However, the apps will no longer receive new features or updates.

If you want to receive new features and improvements, you'll have to upgrade to Windows 11.

Also, the company notes that running applications on an unsupported version of the operating system can eventually start causing performance and reliability issues.

Finally, on October 14, Microsoft will end support for Office 2016 and Office 2019 for all operating systems. In addition, Office 2021 and 2024 (as well as the LTSC versions of Office) will continue to run, but they will no longer receive support on Windows 10.

13. Windows 10 LTSC is not an official option

Officially, switching to Windows 10 Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) from the consumer versions of Windows 10 is not an option for most devices.

Although it might be technically possible to switch from Windows 10 Home or Pro to IoT Enterprise LTSC or Enterprise LTSC, these variants of the operating system are limited to commercial customers with a valid license through Volume Licensing programs or through an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

For context, Windows 10 LTSC is a specialized version of the operating system designed for specific scenarios, such as devices requiring extended support and minimal updates.

For example, the Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC is optimized for embedded devices, such as industrial computers, robotics, Point-of-Sale (POS) systems, and ATMs, among others.

On the other hand, Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC has been designed for regular use on mission-critical devices, specialized workstations, and computers requiring long-term stability.

Typically, some users prefer these versions because they receive fewer updates and have more extended support periods. The Enterprise LTSC is supported for five years, while the IoT variant is supported for ten years.

14. Windows 11 installs on unsupported PCs will keep them unsupported

On devices that are not compatible with Windows 11, it's still possible to upgrade to the newer version of the operating system. However, since this method is not supported by Microsoft, the device will remain in an unsupported state.

Being in an unsupported state means the computer will not be eligible for official technical support. Although system and driver updates may continue to be delivered, there is no guarantee they will work correctly.

Despite the drawbacks, upgrading remains an option for older hardware, allowing you to extend the life of a computer instead of discarding usable components or continuing with an operating system that no longer receives security updates.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Microsoft is set to drop support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, which means you're likely planning the next logical step, which is upgrading to Windows 11 to continue receiving maintenance and security updates, as well as support. However, since Windows 11 has a stricter hardware requirement, it's unclear whether your existing hardware will support the upgrade.

If you're not sure whether your existing hardware configuration meets the minimum requirements, Microsoft provides the PC Health Check app that can quickly determine if your device will support the new version of the operating system.

In this how-to guide, I'll outline the easy steps to check if your computer running Windows 10 is compatible with the Windows 11 setup.

Check if your computer is compatible with Windows 11

To determine if your device will run the new version of the operating system after the support of Windows 10 ends, use these steps:

1. Open the PC Health Check app direct link.

• Quick tip: You can always check if the app is already installed on your computer by doing a search for "PC Health Check" in the Start menu.

2. Save the app executable on your computer.
3. Double-click the WindowsPCHealthCheckSetup.msi file to launch the setup.
4. Check the option to accept the terms.
5. Click the Install button.
6. Check the option to launch the app after the installation.
7. Click the Finish button.
8. Click the Check now button.
9. Confirm if your Windows 10 PC is compatible with Windows 11.
10. Click the "See all results" button to confirm the hardware is compatible with the new version of the operating system.

Once you complete the steps, you'll have an understanding of whether you can proceed with the upgrade process of Windows 11.

If the app confirms that your device isn't compatible, it doesn't necessarily mean that you cannot upgrade. For example, if the app shows that TPM 2.0 isn't supported. You may simply need to enable the feature in the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) firmware of your motherboard.

However, it could also be the case that the computer is still using the legacy Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) firmware type, and this also means that the setup is using the Master Boot Record (MBR) partition style.

In this case, you can convert the partition from MBR to GUID Partition Table (GPT), and then switch from BIOS to UEFI to enable TPM 2.0.

If the app detects that the storage doesn't have enough space, you can use these tips to free up storage to proceed with the upgrade. Alternatively, you can also connect an external USB hard drive that the system can use as temporary storage.

If the processor is not supported, in this case, you won't be able to switch versions, as the operating system requires specific instructions, such as the POPCNT instruction. Typically, this only affects processors released prior to 2007.

Finally, if your computer isn't supported, you can still install Windows 11 by bypassing the hardware requirements.

Alternatively, you can always enroll your computer in the Extended Security Updates program to continue receiving critical security updates until October 13, 2026.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

To fix a second monitor not being detected on Windows 10 or 11, first check its physical cable connections, including AC power, and its input sources, such as HDMI or DisplayPort. If this doesn’t work, use Windows Settings to manually detect displays or add wireless monitors, if you have them. Otherwise, address software issues by updating, reinstalling, or rolling back graphics drivers via Device Manager or tools from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel.

On Windows 10 and Windows 11, connecting a second display allows you to expand your desktop and work with multiple apps, as well as play games, on your laptop or desktop computer.

Although setting up an external monitor is usually straightforward, the operating system may sometimes fail to detect older displays or second monitors due to driver or hardware-related issues. However, if your device has a problem, you can use several troubleshooting steps, including checking the connection and installing the correct drivers, to fix the issue quickly.

In this how-to guide, I'll further explain these ways to troubleshoot and fix issues that block the system from automatically detecting the second monitor. This set of instructions is focused on Windows 10, but you can also refer to them if you're dealing with the same issues on Windows 11. I have also added a section with more specific steps for the newer version of the operating system.

These instructions have been updated on September 17, 2025, to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process in the operating system, as well as adding an FAQ.

How to fix external monitor connection issues from hardware troubleshooting

When your desktop or laptop does not detect the second external display, it could be a software problem, but it might also be an issue with the physical connection or the monitor itself.

If the monitor does not show up in the settings, use these steps before messing around with the configuration settings on Windows:

• Confirm the monitor is receiving power – Confirm that the display is securely connected to a working power outlet and that the power cable is not damaged.
• Verify the monitor is turned on – Use the physical power button on the monitor to check if it’s powered on. Look for any LED indicators.
• Restart your computer – A simple reboot can refresh the hardware connections and resolve minor glitches.
• Check the input source on the monitor – Use the monitor’s built-in menu to ensure it’s set to the correct input port (for example, HDMI or DisplayPort).
• Inspect the signal cable connection – Check that the cable connecting the monitor to the graphics card is securely plugged in at both ends.
• Reconnect the signal cable – Disconnect the video cable from both the monitor and the computer, wait for 60 seconds, then reconnect it firmly.
• Swap the video cable – Use a different cable to rule out a faulty or incompatible one. Even small issues, such as bent pins or poor shielding, can screw up the signal.
• Check cable specifications – Ensure you’re using a cable that meets the monitor’s requirements. For example, DisplayPort 1.4 or HDMI 2.0/2.1 may be necessary for high resolutions or refresh rates. Refer to the manufacturer’s documentation for compatibility guidelines.
• Try different video ports – If your monitor and graphics card support multiple input and output ports, test each one to rule out port-specific issues.
• Connect the monitor to another computer – This will help determine if the issue lies with the display itself.
• Test a different monitor – Connect a known working monitor to your computer to check if the problem is related to your system’s graphics card or drivers.
• Disconnect all peripheral devices – Unplug printers, cameras, USB drives, and other accessories to eliminate potential conflicts.
• Surface devices using a docking station – Bypass the dock and connect the monitor directly to the device. This helps identify whether the dock is the cause of the problem.
• Update your monitor’s firmware – Although rare, outdated firmware can cause compatibility or performance issues. Check your manufacturer’s website for firmware updates and installation instructions.

If the basic troubleshooting steps outlined above do not fix the problem with the second monitor, it could be a software-related issue, which you may be able to fix with the steps below.

In the event that the problem is the monitor or you are in the market for a new one, check our best 4K monitor roundup that you should consider getting.

How to fix external monitor connection issues from Settings

After determining that there isn't a physical problem with the connection, monitor, or computer, you can use the Settings app to force the system to detect the second monitor.

Force second display detection

To detect a second monitor manually on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Display.
4. Click the Detect button to connect to the external monitor under the "Multiple displays" section.

5. (Optional) Click the Detect button in the bottom-right corner, under the "Rearrange your displays" section (if applicable).

• Quick note: If you have only one monitor, the option won't be present since it's only available when connecting multiple displays.

Once you complete the steps, Windows 10 should detect the external monitor connected to the computer.

Connect wireless external display

To connect a wireless display on Windows 10 as a secondary screen on your computer, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Devices.
3. Click on Bluetooth & other devices.
4. Turn on the Bluetooth toggle switch (if applicable).
5. Click the "Add Bluetooth or other device" button.

6. Select the "Wireless display or dock" option.

7. Confirm the wireless display is on and discoverable (refer to device documentation).
8. Select the display (wireless monitor, TV, or PC with Miracast support) from the list.
9. Continue with the on-screen directions (if applicable).

After you complete the steps, the wireless display will be detected as a new external display.

How to fix external monitor connection issues from latest graphics drivers

A buggy, outdated, or corrupted graphics driver can cause problems that prevent the operating system from automatically detecting a second monitor. The easiest method to fix this issue is to update, reinstall, or downgrade the driver.

Update graphics driver

To update the graphics card driver through Windows Update, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Windows Update.
4. Click the "View optional updates" option.

• Quick tip: If the option is not available, Windows Update does not have a newer driver available.

5. Select the Driver updates setting.
6. Check the graphics driver to update on Windows 10.

7. Click the "Download and install" button.

Once you complete the steps, Windows Update will install the graphics driver, fixing the external monitor's detection problem.

If Windows Update does not have a newer driver version, check the manufacturer's support website to download and install a more recent version (if available).

Reinstall graphics driver

To reinstall a corrupted video driver on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the app.
3. Double-click to expand the Display adapters branch.
4. Right-click the adapter and select the Uninstall device option.

5. Clear the "Delete the driver software from this device" option (if applicable).
6. Click the Uninstall button.

7. Restart the computer.
8. Open Device Manager again.

• Quick note: The system should detect the monitor again automatically. If it's not the case, you can scan for changes manually to reinstall the display.

8. Right-click the computer name and select the "Scan for hardware changes" option.

After you complete the steps, Windows 10 will automatically reinstall the driver. However, it's good to follow the above steps to ensure the driver is installed correctly.

Rollback graphics driver

If the computer was recently updated or the graphics driver was manually upgraded, and the system cannot detect the second monitor, rolling back to the previous driver version may resolve the issue.

To remove and reinstall an older version of a graphics driver on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the app.
3. Double-click to expand the Display adapters branch.
4. Right-click the graphics adapter and select the Properties option.

5. Click the Driver tab.
6. Click the Roll Back Driver button.

1. Quick tip: You cannot use this rollback process if the option is unavailable. However, you may still be able to use an older version from the device manufacturer's support website, if available.

7. Select an option to answer the question.
8. Click the Yes button.
9. Restart the device.

Once you complete the steps, Windows 10 should start rendering content on the external monitor.

Update graphics driver with manufacturer control panel

The operating system can automatically install drivers for most graphics adapters, but the drivers available through Windows Update are usually not the most recent. If you need to install the latest driver, companies like NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel offer tools to quickly update to the newest version, which may help fix external display problems.

Check out these links to download the drivers, depending on your manufacturer:

• Intel Driver & Support Assistant
• NVIDIA GeForce Experience
• AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition

If you want to use the manufacturer's control panel application, the installation is simple. You only need to download and double-click the installer using the links above. Then, follow the on-screen directions to complete the setup and check for updates.

Alternatively, you can download the drivers directly from the manufacturer's support website using their recommended instructions. You can use the links below to find the drivers:

• Intel
• NVIDIA
• AMD

Check manufacturer and driver version

To check the graphics card vendor and driver version on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for System Information and click the top result to open the app.
3. Double-click to expand the Components branch on the left pane.
4. Select the Display category.
5. Confirm the Adapter Type and Driver Version information to determine the driver's card model and current version.

Once you've completed the steps, use the links above to find, download, and install the correct driver.

Finally, manufacturers (such as Dell, HP, Razer, Acer, and Microsoft) usually change the original drivers to optimize their computers. As a result, if you have a branded computer (also known as an Original Equipment Manufacturer, or OEM, computer), you should always consider using the graphics driver available from the device manufacturer before trying those from the graphics card manufacturer to avoid problems.

How to fix external monitor connection issues on Windows 11

Although these instructions also apply to Windows 11, some steps are slightly different because the newer version features an updated interface.

Force external monitor detection

To detect an external monitor manually on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click the Display page on the right side.

4. Click the Multiple displays setting.
5. Click the Detect button.

Once you complete the steps, the system should detect the external display.

Connect wireless external display

To connect a wireless display as a secondary screen, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Bluetooth & devices.
3. Turn on the Bluetooth toggle switch (if applicable).
4. Click the Add device button.

5. Select the "Wireless display or dock" option.

6. Confirm the wireless display is turned on and discoverable (refer to device documentation).
7. Select the display (wireless monitor, TV, or PC with Miracast support) from the list.
8. Continue with the on-screen directions (if applicable).

After you complete the steps, the display will be detected as a new external display on the computer.

Update graphics driver

To update the graphics driver, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Windows Update.
3. Click the Advanced options page on the right side.

4. Click the Optional updates option under the "Additional options" section.

5. Select the newer graphics driver to install on Windows 11.
6. Click the "Download & install" button.

Once you complete the steps, the system will download and install the available update for the graphics driver, fixing the external monitor's detection problem.

FAQs

These are common questions when dealing with a multi-monitor setup on Windows 10.

More resources

Find in-depth guides, troubleshooting tips, and the latest updates on Windows 11 and 10 here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is a command-line tool built into Windows 10 that allows network administrators to prepare, modify, and repair system images, including Windows Recovery Environment, Windows Setup, and Windows PE (WinPE). However, you can also use the tool with the local recovery image to fix most system problems.

When you try to fix a specific error, figure out why the computer stopped booting correctly, or resolve performance problems, the System File Checker (SFC) is one of the best tools to replace missing or corrupted system files using the recovery image. The only caveat with this approach is that if one or more system files in the local image are damaged, the SFC command won't work. In this scenario, you can use the "install.wim" image file with DISM to repair the image and then use the SFC tool to fix the setup without reinstalling the operating system.

In this how-to guide, I will show you how, in 2025 and beyond, the DISM and SFC are the best tools for restoring a computer from a broken to a healthy working state without reinstallation.

Warning: The commands outlined in this guide are non-destructive, but since you will be making system changes, it is still recommended to create a temporary full backup before proceeding.

How to use DISM to repair image of Windows 10

The DISM command tool includes multiple features to repair a system image, including "CheckHealth," "ScanHealth," and "RestoreHealth," and you want to use them in that order. Also, depending on the issue, you can use the "RestoreHealth" option to fix the locally available image using different source files.

DISM command with CheckHealth option

The "CheckHealth" option with the DISM determines any corruptions inside the local Windows 10 image. However, this option does not perform any sort of repair.

To check the image of Windows 10 for issues with DISM, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to perform a quick check and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

Once you complete the steps, the DISM tool will run and verify any data corruption that may require fixing inside the local image.

DISM command with ScanHealth option

The "ScanHealth" option performs a more advanced scan to find out whether the image has any issues.

To check image problems with the "ScanHealth" option, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to perform an advanced DISM scan and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

After completing the steps, the scan may take some time to check whether the image needs fixing.

DISM command with RestoreHealth option

If the system image has problems, the "RestoreHealth" option scans and repairs common issues automatically.

To repair Windows 10 local image problems with DISM, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to repair the image and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

• Quick note: It's normal if the command appears stuck. After a few moments, the process will be completed successfully.

Once you complete the steps, the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool will connect to the "Windows Update" servers to download and replace damaged files (if applicable).

Fix problems with DISM using install.wim image

The Deployment Image Servicing and Management commands typically don't cause issues. However, if the tool finds problems replacing the damaged files or the computer doesn't have an internet connection, you can use another image using the "Source" option. Usually, you can use an "install.wim" or "install.esd" file from another device, install media, or ISO file. You only need to ensure the files match the version, edition, and language of the version you are trying to fix.

Download Windows 10 ISO file

If you need another file source, use the Media Creation Tool to download a fresh copy of Windows 10.

To download the ISO file of Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open this Microsoft support website.
2. Click the Download Now button.
3. Double-click the MediaCreationTool_xxxx.exe file to launch the setup.
4. Click the Accept button to agree to the terms.
5. Select the "Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC" option.

6. Click the Next button.
7. Click the Next button again.

8. Select the ISO file option.

9. Click the Next button.
10. Select the destination to store the Windows 10 ISO file.
11. Click the Save button.
12. Click the link to open the file location on File Explorer.

13. Click the Finish button.
14. Double-click the Windows.iso file to mount the image.
15. Confirm the drive letter for the mount point of the ISO file under the "This PC" section.

After you complete the steps, continue with the DISM tool using the "Source" option to repair the image locally stored on the computer.

Fix Windows 10 recovery image

To run the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool with an alternate source (install.wim) image, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to repair the image and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:E:\Sources\install.wim

In the command, replace "E" with the mount point drive letter on File Explorer.

4. (Optional) Type the following command to limit the use of Windows Update and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:G\Sources\install.wim /LimitAccess
5. (Optional) Type the following variant of the previous command to accomplish the same task and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim:G:\Sources\install.wim:1 /LimitAccess

In the command, change "G:\Sources," for the path to the "install.wim" file.

Once you complete the steps, the command will scan and repair the problems using the "install.wim" file you specified as the alternative source.

Fix problems with DISM using ESD image

In case you have an encrypted "install.esd" image, it's possible to use that image to repair the damaged system files on Windows 10.

To use DISM with an "install.esd" image file as the source to repair Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to repair the image with an "install.esd" file and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\ESD\Windows\sources\install.esd

In the command, change "C:\ESD\Windows\sources" with the path to the location of the ".esd" file (if different).

4. (Optional) Type the following command to limit the use of Windows Update and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:C:\ESD\Windows\sources\install.esd /LimitAccess
5. (Optional) Type the following variant of the previous command to accomplish the same task and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:esd:C:\ESD\Windows\sources\install.esd:1 /LimitAccess
6. (Optional) Type the following command to use an install.esd file located in another drive and press Enter: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:E:\Sources\install.esd

In the command, replace "E:\Sources" with the path to the location of the "install.esd" file.

After you complete the steps, the tool will repair the damaged files using the files included in the "install.esd" image.

Troubleshooting common errors

If the RestoreHealth command fails, depending on the error, you can try these fixes:

• Error 0x800f081f: The source files could not be found – You can resolve this error by running the DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:wim:D:\sources\install.wim:1 /LimitAccess command.
• Error 87: The parameter is incorrect – Check the command for typos and re-try it. Commands are case-insensitive, but spaces must be exact.
• DISM stuck at 20%, 40%, or 80% – Restart the computer and try again. It can also help run the chkdsk C: /f /r /x command to check for disk errors. However, before taking any actions, consider that sometimes, if the command appears stuck, it could also mean the tool is busy repairing the system.
• Error 0x800f0906: DISM fails to download files – This error indicates that the tool is having issues downloading files from Windows Update. In this case, ensure your internet connection is stable. Try using a local Windows installation source using the above steps.

You can also examine the command-line tool log file located at C:\WINDOWS\Logs\DISM\dism.log to find clues to determine the exact problem.

If you're unable to get this DISM command working and the current setup has problems, you may want to consider resetting the computer to the factory default with the Reset this PC feature or by performing a clean installation of Windows 10.

How to run SFC to repair problems on Windows 10

The above steps are meant to repair issues with the system image, not the problems with the installation of Windows 10. After restoring the image to a healthy state, you can use the System File Checker command tool to repair the current setup of Windows 10.

To use the SFC command tool to repair system problems, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to repair the installation and press Enter: SFC /scannow

• Quick tip: If errors are found, you may want to run the command around three times to ensure that everything was fixed correctly.

Once you complete the steps, the System File Checker tool will repair the system files using the local image files, and the log files will be saved on "%windir%/Logs/CBS/CBS.log" and "%windir%\Logs\DISM\dism.log," which you can view to get more details about the process.

You can use these instructions to learn more ways to use the SFC tool to fix problems on Windows 10.

FAQs

These are common questions when using DISM on Windows 10.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

On Windows 10, checking your computer's hardware and system specifications can be useful for many tasks. Whether you're verifying compatibility for an app, preparing to upgrade to a new Windows version, troubleshooting issues, or considering a hardware upgrade, knowing your specs gives you the insights you need.

For instance, if the system slows down or crashes, identifying the processor, memory, graphics, and storage configuration can help you determine the root cause.

Windows 10 provides multiple ways to view detailed system specifications, including CPU, RAM, motherboard, graphics card, BIOS or UEFI firmware, device model, driver versions, update history, and Windows version. You can access this information through built-in tools such as Settings, System Information, and the Command Prompt. However, available details may vary slightly depending on the method you choose.

In this how-to guide, I'll walk you through the steps to check your device's complete hardware and software specifications.

How to find computer hardware specs from Settings

The "About" page includes the basic system specifications, such as processor, memory, and Windows installation details.

To check the computer tech specs with the Settings app, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on About.
4. Check the processor, system memory (RAM), architecture (32-bit or 64-bit), and pen and touch support under the Device specifications section.

5. Check the software specifications under the Windows specifications section.

• Edition — Shows whether this is a Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Home installation.
• Version — Reveals the Windows release currently on the computer, and the version changes every year after a feature update.
• Installed on — States the date when the last feature update was installed.
• OS build — Indicates the build number of the release. The first five numbers represent the version, and anything after the period represents the latest quality update.

Once you complete the steps, you will understand the computer's basic technical specifications.

While on the "About" page, you can also click the "Copy" button under each section to copy and share the specifications with others, save them for future reference, or for inventory purposes.

Microsoft has also updated the "About" page, which now provides the key hardware specifications at the top of the page using cards. These specifications include the amount of memory and its type, processor details, graphics card information, and storage capacity.

How to find computer specs from System Information

The System Information app on Windows 10 is one of the best options to view a complete overview of the computer's technical specifications.

To view all the hardware specs of the computer, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for msinfo32 and click the top result to open the System Information app.
3. Select the System Summary category from the left navigation pane.

4. Confirm the computer specs on the right side, including system model and type, processor brand and model, UEFI (or legacy BIOS) version and other details, system memory capacity, motherboard brand and model, and virtualization support.
5. (Optional) Expand the Components branch.
6. Click on Display to view the graphics card technical information.

After completing the steps, you will have a detailed overview of the laptop or desktop's specs.

In addition, at the bottom of the page, you will find a search box to find the information you need quickly. The only caveat is that you must be precise with the queries to obtain the desired information.

Create hardware specs report

System Information also offers an option to create a report that includes hardware and software specifications, which you can save for future reference, use for inventory, or share with technical support.

To create a report with the system specifications on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for msinfo32 and click the top result to open the System Information app.
3. Select the specifications to export from the left navigation pane.

• Quick tip: Selecting System Summary will export everything. However, if you only need to export the graphics card details, you only need to select the Display item.

4. Click on the File menu.
5. Click the Export option.

6. Select the folder to export the file.
7. Confirm a descriptive name for the report — for example, "Windows 10 Hardware Specifications".
8. Click the Save button.
9. Open File Explorer.
10. Open the folder containing the exported information.
11. Right-click the text file and select the open option to view the exported system information.

After you complete the steps, the specifications will export into a text file, which you can then open with any text editor.

How to find computer specs from DirectX Diagnostic Tool

Windows 10 also includes the DirectX Diagnostic Tool (dxdiag), which provides detailed information about the system’s DirectX components, sound, and video capabilities. While primarily designed for troubleshooting graphics and audio issues, this tool also provides a quick way to view key hardware specifications, similar to those found in the "About" section of Settings. It displays details such as system manufacturer, model, processor, memory, graphics card, and DirectX version.

To check your Windows 10 computer specs using the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, follow these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for dxdiag and click the top result to open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.
3. Click on the System tab.
4. Check the computer's technical specifications, including processor, memory, BIOS or UEFI version, system model and manufacturer, Windows 10 version and edition, etc., under the "System information" section.

5. Click the Display tab.
6. Check the graphics card specifications, including name and manufacturer, graphics memory, and display details, under the "Device" section.

7. (Optional) Click the "Save All Information" button.

8. Select the folder destination.
9. Confirm a descriptive name for the report. For example, "Windows 10 Hardware Specifications."
10. Click the Save button.
11. Open File Explorer.
12. Open the folder containing the exported information.
13. Right-click the text file and select the open option to view the exported information.

Once you complete the steps, you can open the text file to review the computer hardware and software details.

How to find computer specs from PowerShell

You can also use PowerShell to find out the technical specifications of your computer.

To use PowerShell to check the computer tech specs on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to determine the computer specs and press Enter: Get-ComputerInfo

4. (Optional) Type the following command to view only the details of a specific component and press Enter: Get-ComputerInfo -Property "PROPERTY-NAME"

In the command, change PROPERTIES-NAME for the details you want to review. This example shows everything regarding the BIOS information: Get-ComputerInfo -Property "bios*"

• Quick note: The asterisk (*) in the command is a wildcard to match every property that starts with BIOS.

After you complete the steps, PowerShell will display a full list of Windows 10 and hardware information, or the specific property you requested in the command.

How to find computer specs from Command Prompt

Alternatively, you can use Command Prompt to check your computer’s specifications on Windows 10. By running the systeminfo command, you can access comprehensive details about the system's hardware and software, often revealing more information than the graphical tools. This includes data such as the system model, processor, memory, BIOS version, Windows installation date, hotfixes, and other relevant information.

To view your computer specs with Command Prompt on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to find the device specs and press Enter: systeminfo

• Quick tip: Use the systeminfo /? command to see the available options using this tool in Command Prompt.

After running the command, the output will display detailed hardware and software information, including Windows 10 version, system architecture (32-bit or 64-bit), installed memory (RAM), network configuration, and whether the device uses BIOS or UEFI. If needed, you can also save the output from Command Prompt or PowerShell to a text file for future reference or troubleshooting.

If you can confirm the technical specifications meet the requirements, it's now time to upgrade to Windows 11, as Microsoft is scheduled to end support of Windows 10 on October 14, 2025.

After this day, the company will no longer provide any updates or support. As a result, it's important to prepare in advance.

If your computer doesn't meet the requirements, you can sign up for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program to continue receiving important updates and maintain the device's security until October 13, 2026.

FAQs

These are common questions about technical specifications on Windows 10.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

What you need to know

• Windows 10 support ends October 14, 2025, but Microsoft will offer Extended Security Updates (ESU) for users who need more time before upgrading.
• ESU is a paid subscription that delivers critical and vital security updates, but no new features or design changes.
• Available for individuals and organizations, ESU can be purchased annually for up to three years (through October 2028).
• Pricing increases each year, encouraging users to migrate to Windows 11 or newer versions eventually.
• Setup requires activation keys from Microsoft or authorized partners, which are then installed via Windows Update to continue receiving patches.

As the support of Windows 10 comes to an end on October 14, 2025, it's now the time to sign up for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program to continue getting critical security updates after 2025.

When a version of Windows reaches the end of life, it typically marks the time when Microsoft officially abandons the development of that specific version of the operating system and stops providing security and maintenance updates, as well as technical support.

However, this doesn't mean that the operating system will stop working. Actually, the computer will continue to work normally, but as time passes, it'll become vulnerable to hackers and malware, and eventually, the device may start experiencing compatibility problems with apps and hardware.

Although the next logical step is to upgrade Windows 10 to the next supported version, which in this case is Windows 11, many people are still not ready to switch, and a significant number of devices are incompatible with the newer version due to the stricter hardware requirements imposed by Windows 11.

As a result of these challenges, Microsoft is currently offering regular users access to the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program to extend support for another year, until October 13, 2026.

The program has been available for a long time. However, it was initially limited to commercial customers, allowing them to keep devices running on retired versions of the operating system for up to three years. However, the option is now available to regular consumers, but it is limited to one year since the operating system reached the end of its support.

The company offers at least three options for signing up for the program:

• Free – This option is available if you're backing up files to OneDrive, regardless of whether you have a Microsoft 365 subscription.
• Microsoft Rewards – You can also redeem 1,000 points if you're enrolled in the rewards program.
• Paid – If you don't want to use the other options, you can pay $30 to access the program.

You can enroll up to 10 computers tied to the same Microsoft account, regardless of the option you choose. The only requirement is that you must be signed in with a Microsoft account, since the enrollment information is stored in this account.

Also, the computer must be running Windows 10 version 22H2 with the latest updates already applied. The device doesn't have to be compatible with Windows 11 to be eligible to enroll.

In this how-to guide, I'll outline the steps to enroll your PC running Windows 10 in the Extended Security Updates program.

How to enroll Windows 10 in the Extended Security Updates program

To sign up for the ESU program, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Windows Update.
4. Click the "Check for updates" button to ensure the device has the latest updates, and the enrollment option becomes available.

5. Click the Enroll now option under the end of support notification.

6. Click the Next button.
7. Select the option to enroll your device, including "Back up your PC settings," "Redeem Microsoft Rewards points," or "One time purchase."

• Quick note: If the system detects that you're already backing up files to the cloud, you'll see the "Enroll" option immediately. If you're adding a second device, you'll see the "Add device" option instead.

8. Click the Next button.
9. Continue with the on-screen directions, depending on the option you have selected.
10. Click the Done button.
11. Check for the "Your PC is enrolled to get Extended Security Updates" message in the Windows Update settings to confirm the enrollment.

After you complete the steps, the computer will continue getting critical and security updates (only) until October 2026. However, consider that this program won't offer updates to improve the system, changes, or introduce new features. Also, this program doesn't include technical support.

The Microsoft Defender Antivirus definition updates are independent from Windows Update, and the company plans to continue making available updates until 2028.

Additionally, your Microsoft 365 apps (formerly Office) will continue to receive updates. However, after Windows 10 support ends, these apps won't receive new features.

Furthermore, on October 14, the company will end support for Office 2016 and Office 2019 for all operating systems. In addition, Office 2021 and 2024 (as well as the LTSC versions of Office) will continue to run, but they will no longer receive support on Windows 10.

If you don't find the option to enroll, it's important to note that Microsoft has previously said that the option is rolling out gradually, meaning that it could take some additional time before it's fully visible to everyone.

Finally, if you have a compatible computer, the best option is to upgrade to Windows 11 instead of using the ESU program. This process will keep your computer supported, and you'll continue to receive updates that patch vulnerabilities as well as roll out improvements, bug fixes, and new features.

Are you enrolling in the ESU program or upgrading to Windows 11? Let me know in the comments.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Although Windows 10 last received a major feature update (version 22H2) in October 2022, Microsoft has continued to add new features and improvements through regular cumulative updates. These updates introduced changes that could have been part of another, more minor feature update for the decade-old operating system that many people still prefer to use even after support ends.

Recent updates brought a redesigned "About" page with more technical details, enhancements to the Taskbar calendar, improvements to the Windows Backup app, and additional options in the File Explorer context menu.

In Europe, Microsoft also made adjustments to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), including changes to default apps, search integration, and system behavior.

In this guide, I'll highlight some of the new features and tweaks that are now part of Windows 10.

Windows 10 recently added new features and changes

These are some of the new features and changes that Microsoft has been adding to Windows 10 that you probably overlooked, because they were introduced after the release of version 22H2.

1. Key tech specs on the About page

In the Settings app, the "About" page has been completely revamped with a header that shows the key technical specifications of the computer, including information for memory, processor, graphics card, and storage.

Also, the new design is identical to the same settings page available on Windows 11, with collapsible sections for "Device Specifications" and "Windows Specifications."

Furthermore, the "Device Specifications" section also includes a subsection for "Frequently asked questions," which answers some questions that less tech-savvy users may be wondering about their devices.

Although the new information is a welcome addition, the design of the page is questionable, as it appears that the company didn't spend enough time on the development.

2. System Components page

Also, in the Settings app, the "System Components" page is a relatively new addition that doesn't introduce new features. Instead, it groups the components that are required for the operating system and cannot be uninstalled. These components were previously available in the "Apps & features" page.

This page is also present in the Settings app for Windows 11.

It's important to note that the company also added this page to comply with the changes required by the European Digital Markets Act.

3. Optional features page

The "Optional features" page isn't new, but it was previously available under the "Apps & features" section, and it has a new place in a more logical location.

4. Manage mobile devices feature

Although the Settings app has had the "Mobile devices" section for some time, the "Manage devices" feature was added after version 22H2 was released.

The "Manage devices" feature allows you to manage how your computer interacts with your mobile phone, giving you access to features like notifications when new photos and screenshots are available.

This feature is also available on Windows 11. However, in the newer version of the operating system, you can access other features, such as the ability to manage your phone storage from File Explorer, use your phone camera as a webcam, and more.

5. Taskbar Calendar changes

In the Calendar experience for Windows 10, we've seen several changes. For example, Microsoft brought back seconds to the clock view in the Calendar flyout.

The feature view has also extended the Rich Calendar experience by expanding the period to 30 days. In addition, the Weather button now includes description text.

6. Windows Backup with file transfer to new PC

Although the operating system comes with the Windows Backup app, Microsoft is in the process of adding a new feature that will allow you to transfer your files, settings, and preferences to a new computer through the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE).

The feature is known as "Transfer information to a new PC," and once you choose this option, you can pair the old device with the new one that you're setting up.

Once both devices are paired, the files, settings, and preferences will be transferred through the local network without going through the cloud.

However, it's important to note that this feature will only work using a Microsoft account and for devices that do not have an existing backup in the cloud.

7. File Explorer context menu with new AI entries

You probably didn't notice, but in recent updates, the context menu for File Explorer gained a new "Ask Copilot" option.

This option attaches an image or file directly to the Copilot app prompt box, where you can ask specific questions. For example, if you submit a text time, you can prompt Copilot to summarize or rewrite that content.

In addition, you will also find other entries, depending on the file you're selecting, including "Erase Object with Photos," "Create with Designer," and "Visual Search with Bing."

8. Settings Home page with colored icons

This is a subtle change, but in recent updates, Microsoft redesigned the icons for OneDrive, Windows Update, Rewards, and Web browsing to include solid colors that follow the system accent color.

9. Windows Search improvements for European users

As part of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) from the European Economic Area (EEA), Microsoft had to make changes to the search experience on Windows 10.

Some of these changes include the ability for users to change Bing to other web search providers, and open web results from the Windows Search experience into the end-user default browser rather than forcing links to open on Microsoft Edge.

10. Default browser changes for European users

The Digital Markets Act also forced the company to change the behavior of the default browser configuration on Windows 10.

In the past, when users configured a different web browser as the default, the system would only change the default settings for a set of files, including .http, .https, .htm, and .html. However, on Windows 10 (and 11), when configuring a default browser, the system will include additional link types, including ftp, read, SVG, XML, XHTML, PDF, and others.

Furthermore, the "Set default" button for setting a new default browser now includes the options to pin the browser icon to the Taskbar and Start menu.

Finally, as part of the Digital Markets Act, Windows 10 (and 11) users can now uninstall the Microsoft Edge browser as necessary.

Don't forget to prepare for the end of support

It's important to note that in this guide, I'm only highlighting visual changes and other small features that were added over the past year.

Also, consider that the support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025, and this means that the operating system will no longer receive security and maintenance updates, new features, or technical support of any kind.

As a result, it's recommended to upgrade to Windows 11 to maintain the support of your computer. However, if you want to stay on Windows 10, you can enroll your device in the Extended Security Update (ESU) program to continue receiving security updates for another year.

The program costs $30 (or equivalent in your region), and it'll provide the necessary critical updates to maintain your device's security until October 2026.

Alternatively, you can also access the program by redeeming 1000 points from your Microsoft Rewards program, or you can get it for free (kinda) by using OneDrive to back up your data to the cloud.

To enroll in the ESU program, you can do this from Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click the "Enroll now" option that will appear under the "Check for updates" button, or from the right-side page. You'll also need to be signed in with a Microsoft account to access the program.

Then, you have to choose how you want to enroll, and continue with the on-screen directions.

Microsoft is gradually rolling out this option to devices, which means that it can take some time to appear on your computer.

More resources

Explore more in-depth how-to guides, troubleshooting advice, and essential tips to get the most out of Windows 11 and 10. Start browsing here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Battlefield 6 launch day has finally arrived, and many PC gamers will soon find out that Secure Boot must be enabled in Windows 10 or Windows 11 before playing.

Secure Boot is designed to keep your PC clear of malware that gets hold of your system before Windows can load, but it's also a requirement for several anti-cheat measures, including EA's Javelin system.

Here's a quick and painless guide on how to check for and enable Secure Boot in Windows 10 and Windows 11 so that you can play Battlefield 6 on day one.

How to verify if Secure Boot is enabled in Windows 10 and Windows 11

Secure Boot is a requirement for installing or upgrading to Windows 11, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's currently enabled on your PC. For Windows 10, it's not a requirement. Either way, this is a crucial part of Battlefield 6.

Here's how to verify if Secure Boot is enabled on your Windows PC.

1. Type msinfo into your Windows search bar and hit Enter. No search bar visible? Right-click the Start button and click Search before typing.
2. Verify in the System Summary section that Secure Boot State reads On.
3. Verify in the same System Summary section that BIOS Mode reads UEFI.

If your system has Secure Boot State set to On and the BIOS Mode set to UEFI, you shouldn't need to do much else to enjoy Battlefield 6 with its Javelin anti-cheat.

If the Secure Boot State reads Off and your BIOS Mode reads Legacy, please skip to the section on how to change your BIOS Mode to UEFI.

If your system has Secure Boot State set to Off and the BIOS Mode set to UEFI, please skip to the section on how to enable Secure Boot in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

If your system's Secure Boot State reads Unsupported, you'll need to check with your individual motherboard manufacturer to see if there are any workarounds or BIOS updates available.

How to change your BIOS Mode to UEFI

There are a few hoops to jump through before you can swap your BIOS Mode from Legacy to UEFI, but nothing that will take too long.

First, you must ensure that TPM 2.0 is enabled on your system. Here's how to do it.

1. Tap the Windows key + R shortcut to show the Run window.
2. Type tpm.msc and hit Enter.
3. Verify that the Status section in the middle window pane reads The TPM is ready for use.

If your TPM is not ready for use, you'll have to check with your motherboard vendor on how to enable it before continuing. TPM 2.0 is required to run Windows 11, so this is going to be a potential problem for those still running Windows 10.

Let's assume that your TPM 2.0 chip is ready to go. You now must verify whether your Windows boot drive is MBR or GPT. Here's how to do it.

1. Right-click the Start button and click Disk Management.
2. Right-click the drive that includes the Windows (C:) partition in the bottom section of the Disk Management window. In my case, this reads Disk 0.
3. Click Properties.
4. Click the Volumes tab in the window that appears.
5. Verify that the Partition style reads GPT.

If your drive's Partition style reads GPT, you don't have to do anything more to your drive, and you should be ready to enable Secure Boot.

If your drive's Partition style reads MBR, there are a few more steps to tackle. Only follow these next steps if your drive is using the MBR partition style.

1. Tap the Windows key + R shortcut, type cmd, and hit Ctrl + Shift + Enter to launch the Command Prompt in admin mode.
2. Type mbr2gpt /validate /disk:0 /allowFullOS. Note that your PC might have a different disk:0 value — this is seen in the Disk Management section I laid out above. Use whatever number is assigned to your Windows boot drive.
3. Hit Enter to complete the command.

The command prompt should now validate your drive to ensure it can be converted from MBR to GPT safely. This is a great time to remind you that you should have a backup of your drive already sorted, as this next move has a bit of risk involved.

Once you're ready to convert, follow these steps using the same command prompt window.

1. Type mbr2gpt /convert /disk:0 /allowfullOS. Again, use whatever disk number your PC lists in Disk Management.
2. Hit Enter to run the command.

Your drive should now be converted to GPT. A successful conversion will read something like "Completed successfully."

👉 Related: How to enter UEFI (BIOS) on Windows 10 PCs

If instead it says the conversion failed, you'll likely see a few lines regarding the steps required to complete the conversion. If it mentions that you need to switch to UEFI mode before the conversion can be completed, follow these steps.

1. Restart your PC and enter the BIOS by hitting the appropriate key on your keyboard (usually F11, F12, or Delete).
2. Navigate to the Advanced mode in your motherboard's BIOS.
3. Navigate to the Boot menu in the BIOS.
4. Find the Compatibility Support Module (CSM) section in the BIOS and disable it.

Your motherboard's BIOS might not have quite the same steps as I've laid out above, but at least you know what to look for while you're digging around. Feel like you made some unnecessary changes? Just exit the BIOS, choose not to save anything, and restart your PC to enter the BIOS fresh.

Disabling CSM will kick your PC into UEFI mode. You should now be ready to complete the final step to enable Secure Boot on Windows.

How to enable Secure Boot in Windows 10 and Windows 11

Now that your PC has its UEFI requirements sorted out, you should be ready to enable Secure Boot in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Here's how to do it.

1. Restart your PC and enter the BIOS by hitting the appropriate key on your keyboard (usually F11, F12, or Delete).
2. Navigate to the Advanced mode in your motherboard's BIOS.
3. Navigate to the Boot or Secure Boot menu in the BIOS.
4. Ensure that the Secure Boot state is set to enabled. The status might also simply read Windows UEFI mode rather than mentioning anything about enabled or disabled.
5. Save your BIOS changes and restart your PC.

Secure Boot is also a requirement for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and 7

The Call of Duty team announced that it was adding new hardware-level cheat detection to its RICOCHET anti-cheat, which coincided with the launch of Black Ops 6 Season 5 on August 7.

We also know that Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is arriving on November 14, 2025, with the same Secure Boot requirements. I've put together a separate guide to getting Secure Boot enabled for Black Ops 7, but it's ultimately the same process.

RICOCHET has the same TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirements as Javelin anti-cheat in Battlefield 6. If you can play Battlefield 6, you should also have no issues with Black Ops 7.

It's worth noting that following the Black Ops 7 beta, the RICOCHET anti-cheat team posted on X that by Day 5 of the play test, 98.8% of matches were free of cheaters. I personally hate to give kernel-level access to anti-cheat methods, but if it works, it works.

On Windows 10, you can use the "Find My Device" feature to determine the location of your laptop or desktop computer if lost or stolen.

Find My Device works by using the Location feature on Windows 10 to determine the computer's (approximate) location and then save that information in the cloud inside your Microsoft account.

The idea is that if your device gets lost or stolen, you can access the last known location through your Microsoft account to help you find it. Sometimes, this feature is enabled by default, but you can always check to enable it manually. If, for privacy concerns, you don't want to use it, the operating system offers an option to turn it off.

In this how-to guide, I'll explain the steps to configure the Find My Device feature on Windows 10. (You can use these instructions to set up the same feature on Windows 11.)

How to enable Find My Device on Windows 10

To turn on the Find My Device feature, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click the Find My Device page.

• Quick note: You must have the location turned on for the feature to work. You can always check on Settings > Location and turn on the location services.

4. Click the Change button.
5. Turn on the "Save my device's location periodically" toggle switch.

Once you complete the steps, the feature will turn on, and the system will periodically save the device location in your Microsoft account.

How to check device last known location using Find My Device

To find your device location, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & security.
3. Click the Find My Device page.
4. Click the "Take more action for a lost device on your account page" option.

• Quick tip: You can always access your Microsoft account online directly on any computer or mobile device by following this Microsoft link.

5. Sign in with your Microsoft account (if applicable).
6. Click the "Find my device" option under the computer you want to locate.

7. Confirm the last known location of the device.
8. (Optional) Click the Find button to determine the current location.

• Quick note: This feature will only work if the computer is connected to the internet.

9. (Optional) Click the Lock button to lock the computer remotely to prevent others from accessing the device while it's not in your possession.

After you complete the steps, you should be able to determine the approximate location of the device.

How to disable Find My Device on Windows 10

To turn off the Find My Device feature, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & security.
3. Click the Find My Device page.
4. Click the Change button.
5. Turn off the "Save my device's location periodically" toggle switch.

Once you complete the steps, Windows 10 will turn off the feature, and the system will no longer save the location of the device in the cloud.

More resources

Find in-depth guides, troubleshooting tips, and the latest updates on Windows 11 and 10 here:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

What you need to know

• Windows 11's new Snipping Tool is one of the best "new" programs the platform has received in recent years.
• Replacing the previous Snipping Tool, the Windows 11 Snipping Tool has a wealth of upgraded features, including screen recording, annotations, shape placements, and much more.
• One of my favorite aspects, its Optical Character Recognition (OCR) screenshot-to-text copy and paste is getting a direct keyboard shortcut in an upcoming Windows 11 build.

Windows 11 marches on, with a variety of updates and improvements hitting Windows Insider builds throughout the year. Not all of the updates are particularly welcome, mind. The new Outlook replacing Mail & Calendar leaves a lot to be desired, and other features like Windows Recall lament with delays and other issues. Microsoft has had some wins though. And my favorite is one you might not even know exists.

Although it was missing features I needed initially, the refreshed Snipping Tool has been a delightful success story for the Windows 11 development team. It's something I use almost every day for my job here at Windows Central, given how quickly allows you to crop screenshots for articles and guides and things like that. The updated version also added video recording, stickers in the form of emojis, shapes like arrows and rectangles for highlighting text, and much more.

Last year, though, the Snipping Tool picked up an incredible OCR image-to-text feature, allowing you to copy and paste text straight out of a screenshot with character recognition tech. One of the new Windows Insider Builds also has a great (hidden) enhancement for the OCR feature too, spotted by Insider @phantomofearth on Twitter (X).

So in a future update if the feature ships, you'll be able to hit Win + Shift + T to instantly enter OCR extraction mode in the Snipping Tool, removing some extra steps to get to the feature. Right now, you need to hit Win + Shift + S to pull up the Snipping Tool or open it manually from the Start Menu, and then select the image, and then select the "Text Actions" button from the menu. Of course, there's always a chance Microsoft might decide not to make this keyboard combination public, but we'll keep an eye out for it.

RELATED: How to get started with the Snipping Tool in Windows 11

This update isn't live to the public even in the Insider Program yet, but you can sign up to test future Windows builds using the Windows Insider Program, detailed here, ready for when (and if) it does go live.

OCR is an example of actually useful machine recognition "AI" technology that has made its way into various platforms in recent years. And sure, it's not exactly new (it's decades old in fact), but it hasn't always been the most accurate at translating text. It has improved leaps and bounds in recent years, and has become incredibly useful and intuitive when baked into existing tools like this.

I'd love to see an OCR button appear in the regular Windows Photos app too eventually (if there is one, I can't find it), although it is also present in Phone Link's photo viewer. OCR all the things, please.

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More features, more fun (sometimes)

Microsoft has been leveraging its AI partnerships with OpenAI and its tools like ChatGPT to add new features to a variety of Windows applications. A lot of those features are exclusive to its Copilot+ PC range, however, despite the fact most of them could just as well run on any device in reality using existing chips. Notepad is getting a co-writer feature powered by Copilot and ChatGPT, for example, and Microsoft Paint has this odd co-creator imaging feature that is more useful for memes than actual content, probably. There's also Microsoft Copilot itself, which is a useful tool for doing rapid research on a variety of topics, if you can navigate its occasional factual hiccups.

In amongst the meme-worthy fluff, OCR-style features in the Snipping Tool are among the actual worthwhile tools Microsoft has built for its users in recent years. If you haven't used the Snipping Tool before, drop Windows Key + Shift + S to give it a try on Windows 11. To be honest, I just wanted an excuse to write about how great the Snipping Tool is.

On Windows 10, the ability to rotate the screen can come in handy in many scenarios. For instance, if you're a programmer using an external monitor, turning the screen to portrait mode can improve efficiency when reviewing code. If you're using a tablet, switching the orientation of the screen can be a better way to read a book or document. You can even flip the screen upside down to prank a friend, or return to landscape mode after accidentally invoking the rotate shortcut.

Whatever the reason, Windows 10 includes multiple ways to rotate the screen in landscape, portrait, or flipped mode using the Settings app and keyboard shortcuts or through the vendor graphics control panel software.

In this how-to guide, I will explain the different methods for rotating the screen on your desktop, laptop, or tablet. (These instructions are for Windows 11.)

How to rotate screen using Settings

To rotate the screen with the Settings app, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Display.
4. Under the "Rearrange your displays" section, select the screen that you want to rotate (if applicable).
5. Use the Display orientation drop-down menu to select one of the orientations under the "Scale and layout" section.

• Landscape.
• Portrait.
• Landscape (flipped).
• Portrait (flipped).

6. Rotate the monitor as needed to the orientation you selected.
7. Click the Keep changes button.

Once you complete the steps, the display will change to your preferred orientation.

If the rotation option is grayed out, or the keyboard shortcuts aren't working, you may need to update the video drivers. In the case that you need assistance, you can use refer to these instructions.

How to rotate screen using keyboard shortcut

Alternatively, if your tablet, laptop, or desktop supports it, you can also use keyboard shortcuts to rotate the screen on Windows 10:

Important: This option may only work with some graphics cards. If it's not working for you, then use the Settings app option.

• Ctrl + Alt + Up arrow – rotates to landscape mode.
• Ctrl + Alt + Down arrow – rotates the screen upside down.
• Ctrl + Alt + Right arrow – rotates the screen 90 degrees (right).
• Ctrl + Alt + Left arrow – rotates the screen 90 degrees (left).

To return to the normal orientation, use the "Ctrl + Alt + Up arrow" keyboard shortcut.

How to rotate screen using graphics control panel

Whether you use a graphics card from Intel, NVIDIA, or AMD, each vendor offers a control panel software to control various aspects of the video settings, including an option to rotate the screen.

To rotate the screen using the NVIDIA Control Panel, use these steps:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click on Hardware and Sound.
3. Click on NVIDIA Control Panel.
4. Click on Rotate display under the "Display" section.
5. Select the display (if applicable).
6. Choose the orientation (or use the controls on the right).

7. Click the Apply button.
8. Rotate the monitor as needed to the orientation you selected.

Once you complete the steps, the screen will switch to the orientation you specified.

I'm focusing these instructions for the control panel from NVIDIA, but you can find similar options in the control panel provided by Intel and AMD.

How to rotate screen disabling rotation lock on Windows 10

If you're rotating a tablet and the screen doesn't rotate the screen, you may need to change the system settings.

To disable the rotation lock on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Display.
4. Turn off the Rotation lock option under the "Scale and layout" section.

• Quick tip: This option is only available on supported devices.

5. Rotate the device to change the orientation of the screen.

Alternatively, you can also enable or disable the feature by going to the Quick action settings in the Notifications center using the "Windows key + A" keyboard shortcut and clicking the "Rotation lock" button.

In the case that the option is grayed out, then it's likely that you have a keyboard attached to the device.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources: 

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Generally speaking, most users won't experience difficulties installing or upgrading to Windows 10. However, building an operating system that runs across many hardware configurations is a complex task, so it's expected that some PCs may encounter issues.

One common problem many users encounter on Windows 10 is flashing or flickering on the screen, which is likely to be caused by incompatible apps or display drivers.

In this how-to guide, I will outline the steps to troubleshoot and fix the flickering problem you may be experiencing on your computer.

How to troubleshoot screen flickering

The first thing you need to do is to figure out what's causing the screen to flicker.

You can quickly find this out by opening the Task Manager by right-clicking the Taskbar and selecting the "Task Manager" option, or you can use the "Ctrl + Shift + Esc" keyboard shortcut.

The next step is to pay attention to the screen and see if the Task Manager flickers.

If everything on the screen flickers, but Task Manager doesn't, you're dealing with an incompatible application. If Task Manager flickers along with everything else on the screen, the problem is most likely the graphics driver.

Once you know the root of the problem, you can follow the steps below to resolve the issue.

Uninstall incompatible applications

While many applications could cause issues, you can usually narrow it down to your third-party antivirus and applications designed for previous versions of Windows.

To uninstall incompatible applications, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Apps.
3. Click on Apps & features.
4. Select the app causing the problem 
5. Click the Uninstall button.
6. Click the Uninstall button again to confirm.

If you uninstall an app from the Microsoft Store, you don't need to take any further action. However, if you uninstall a traditional desktop application, you'll need to follow some additional steps.

Alternatively, you can use the Control Panel to uninstall a problematic desktop application.

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click on Uninstall a program.
3. Select the application to remove.
4. Click the Uninstall button
5. Continue with the on-screen directions.

Once you uninstall the apps causing the problem, reboot your computer and see if that fixes the flickering issue.

If you have successfully addressed the issue but still need the application, check the software support website for more information, an updated version, or alternative options that will work on Windows 10.

Update graphic drivers

If the Task Manager flickers along with everything else on the screen, the problem is likely with the video driver.

In this case, it is recommended that you remove the current driver while your computer is in safe mode and then reinstall the latest driver update.

To start your computer in safe mode, do the following:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Recovery.
4. Click the Restart now button in the "Advanced startup" setting.

5. Click on Troubleshoot.
6. Click on Advanced options.
7. Click on Startup Settings.

8. Click the Restart button.
9. Select the option 4 to start in Safe mode. Alternatively, you can choose option 5 to start on "Safe Mode with Networking."

9. Open Start.
10. Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the app.
11. Click to expand Device adapters.
12. Right-click the adapter and select the Uninstall option.

4. Select the "Delete the driver software for this device" check box.
5. Click OK to confirm.

6. Restart your computer.
7. Open Settings.
8. Click on Update & Security.
9. Click on Windows Update.
10. Click the "Check for updates" button.
11. (Optional) Click the "View optional updates" option.

1. Click on Driver updates.
2. Choose the video driver update.
3. Click the "Download and install" button.

Windows Update always delivers the most compatible device drivers, but that doesn't mean they're the most recent version. Alternatively, instead of using Windows Update, you can manually download and install the required driver from your graphics card manufacturer's website (such as Nvidia, Intel, and AMD). Of course, you'll need to know which graphics card is installed on your computer, which you can find by looking up your system information.

If the latest driver doesn't fix the flickering problem on your computer, as a last resort, you can try downloading and installing an older version of the driver (if available). While you may miss out on new improvements and features, sometimes an older driver version may work better on your computer.

The caveat of installing an older driver version is that Windows Update may try to replace it with a newer version. If the previous version works on your computer, you can temporarily prevent the operating system from updating a particular driver.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources: 

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

On Windows 11, the Network Statistics (netstat) tool has been around for a long time (including on Windows 10 and older versions), and it's a command-line utility you can use in Command Prompt to display statistics for all network connections. It allows you to understand open and connected ports to monitor and troubleshoot networking problems for systems or apps.

The tool helps you to list active network (incoming and outgoing) connections and listening ports. You can view network adapter statistics and statistics for protocols (such as IPv4 and IPv6). You can even display the current routing table and much more.

In this how-to guide, I'll show you the steps to use the netstat command to examine connections to discover open and connected network ports on Windows 11 (and 10).

How to use netstat on Windows 11 and 10

In the client version of Windows, you can get started with the Network Statistics tool with a simple command, but then you have a lot of options to view different network activities, and here's how.

Netstats basics

To get started with netstat, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to show all active TCP connections and press Enter: netstat

4. (Optional) Type the following command to display active connections showing numeric IP address and port number instead of trying to determine the names and press Enter: netstat -n

5. (Optional) Type the following command to refresh the information at a specific interval and press Enter: netstat -n INTERVAL

In the command, replace "INTERVAL" with the number (in seconds) to re-display the information. This example refreshes the command in question every five seconds: netstat -n 5

• Quick note: When using the interval parameter, you can terminate the command using the "Ctrl + C" keyboard shortcut.

Once you execute the command, it'll return a list of all active connections in four columns, including:

• Proto: Shows the connection protocol (TCP or UDP).
• Local Address: Shows the computer's IP address followed by a semicolon with the port number of the connection. The double-semicolon inside brackets indicates the local IPv6 address, and "0.0.0.0" refers to the local address.
• Foreign Address: Lists the remote device's IP (or FQDN) address with the port number after the semicolon port name (for example, HTTPS, HTTP, Microsoft-ds, and wsd).
• State: Indicates where the connection is active (established), the local port has been closed (time_wait), and the program hasn't closed the port (close_wait). Other status include, closed, fin_wait_1, fin_wait_2, last_ack, listen, syn_received, syn_send, and timed_wait.

Netstat parameters

The tool also includes several parameters you can use to display different information about the network connections on Windows 11 (and 10).

Show active and inactive connections

The "netstat -a" command displays all active and inactive connections and the TCP and UDP ports the device is currently listening to.

Show executable information

The "netstat -b" command lists all the executables (applications) associated with each connection. Sometimes, applications may open multiple connections.

Show network adapter statistics

The "netstat -e" command generates a statistic of the network interface, which shows information like the number of bytes, unicast, and non-unicast sent and received packets. You can also see discarded packets, errors, and unknown protocols, which can help you troubleshoot networking problems.

Show FQDNS for foreign addresses

The "netstat -f" command shows the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) for foreign addresses. For example, "a23-200-88-24.deploy.static.akamaitechnologies.com:https" instead of "a23-200-88-24:http" or "23.200.88.24".

Show numerical form

The "netstat -n" command displays the addresses and ports in numerical form—for example, 52.159.126.152:443.

Show process ID

The "netstat -o" command shows active TCP connections like "netstat," but with the difference that adds a fifth column to display the Process ID (PID) for each connection. The processes available in this view are the same in the "Details" tab of Task Manager, which also reveals the application using the connection.

Show connections by Protocol

The "netstat -p" can be used to display connections per protocol that you have to specify using "TCP," "UDP," "TCPv6," or "UDPv6" next to the command. For example, you can use the "netstat -p TCP" command to view a list of TCP connections.

Show listening and non-listening ports

The "netstat -q" commands can produce a list of all the connections with the listening and bound non-listening ports.

Show statistics by Protocol

The "netstat -s" shows network statistics for the available protocols, including TCP, UDP, ICMP, and IP protocols (versions 4 and 6).

Show routing table

The "netstat -r" command displays the current network routing table that lists the routes to destinations and matrics known by the device for IP version 4 and version 6 (if applicable). If the returned information looks familiar, it's because you can also output the data using the "route print" command.

Show offload state connections

The "netstat -t" command generates a list of the current connection offload state. The offload state refers to the TCP Chimney Offload, which is a feature that transfers the network workload from the processor to the network adapter during data transmissions. The "InHost" value indicates that offloading isn't enabled, and the "Offload" means that the feature is transferring the workload to the network adapter. (This feature is only present on supported network adapters.)

Show NetworkDirect connections

The "netstat -x" is another supported command, and it produces a list of NetworkDirect connections, shared endpoints, and listeners.

NetworkDirect is a specification for Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA), which is a process that allows fast data transfers using the network adapter, freeing up the processor to perform other tasks. Usually, you'll never use this command unless you're using the Windows server version or a high-performance application with a network adapter that supports this feature.

Show connection template

The "netstat -y" command displays TCP connection templates for all connections.

Combine parameters

When using the "netstat" command, you can combine the parameters to display various information for many cases.

For example, the "-e" parameter can also be used with the "-s" parameter to see statistics for each available protocol, and the "-o" parameter can be combined with "-a," "-n," and "-p" as necessary.

With the "netstat -p" command, you append the "s" parameter. You can display statistics from even more protocols, including "icmp," "ip," "icmpv6," and "ipv6."

Also, when using more than one parameter, you can combine them with a single "-." For example, instead of writing the command "netstat -e -s," you can write it like this: "netstat -es."

To see all the available parameters and additional help, you can always use the "netstat /?" command.

Netstat search

In addition to displaying all the available statistic information, you can also output only the certain details you need using these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to list all the connections that have the state set to LISTENING and press Enter: netstat -q | findstr STRING

In the command, replace "STRING" for the information you want to list. Also, the findstr option is case-sensitive, which means you must enter the string you want to find with the exact casing. This example lists the connections set to "LISTENING:" netstat -q | findstr LISTENING

This other example shows all the connections from a foreign server FQDN, in this case, Amazon: netstat -f | findstr amazon

The "findstr" command isn't part of the netstat tool. It's a simple command to search for a text string in a file, but you can use it with many of the options for this tool to make more sense of the information you're viewing.

The tool is not exclusive to Windows, as it's also available across platforms, including Linux and macOS. Even though the parameters and syntax may be different, they all are very similar.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources: 

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

If you are running Windows 10 or Windows 11 on a laptop or tablet, battery life is one of the most essential things you're constantly checking. There is never enough battery for a portable device, so how we manage them is important.

Checking the estimated battery life on your laptop or tablet is super simple. You simply click the battery icon in the notification area to see the percentage of battery left and the estimated time you have to work. That estimate, however, is just that, and it solely depends on what you are doing now. Even though it shows eight hours, you can still get that much time if you start gaming, for instance.

This raises the question: What is your laptop's battery life? In other words, is there an actual battery time from your real-life usage combined with charge and discharge rates? The answer is yes, although to find it is a bit tricky.

This how-to guide will walk you through the steps to create and understand the battery health report of your laptop or tablet, whether it's using Windows 11 or Windows 10.

How to generate a Battery Report on Windows 10 and Windows 11

To create a report of the battery health on Windows 10 (or Windows 11), use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to create a battery report on Windows 11 and press Enter: powercfg /batteryreport /output "C:\battery_report.html"

Once you complete the steps, the command will generate and save a report in the root of the primary drive.

Battery report

To open and read the report, use these instructions.

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click on This PC from the left navigation pane.
3. Under the "Devices and drives" section, double-click the "C" drive.
4. Double-click to open the "battery_report.html" file in the browser.

The system report has a few sections with self-explanatory details. The section with the most information you want is perhaps the "Installed Batteries" section because it includes a general overview of the battery installed on your device, such as name, manufacturer, serial number, chemistry, design capacity, and cycle count.

You can check the "design capacity" and "full charge capacity" to determine whether the battery needs replacement. On my device, the battery reports a capacity of 38,912mWh, and the "full charge capacity" is 38,912mWh, indicating that the battery can still hold 100 percent of the charge.

It's important to note that if the "full charge capacity" is around or less than 50 percent, then it's time to consider replacing the battery.

"Recent Usage" offers useful details on the time, state (active, suspended), power source, and remaining capacity of the battery. In short, this is the record of when the laptop went to sleep, became active, and charged with AC power and the mWh capacity. If your device is waking when it should not, you should see it here. There is also a nifty "Battery Usage" graph below this area.

Other areas like "Usage history" and "Battery capacity" history are good for checking for battery health. It's known that Li-On batteries deteriorate over time, and this is where you can see that happen.

"Battery life estimates" is probably the most interesting section for most users since you can see what the operating system predicts for the battery life with regular usage. This feedback is usually more stable and accurate than the live estimate found by clicking the battery icon.

The more information this tool can collect, the more accurate the report. If you are using a new installation of Windows 11 (or 10), it's best to power cycles and wait a few days to generate the Battery Report to have enough data for it to be valuable.

If you're planning to take a few days off from work or school, setting up automatic email replies is only part of the preparation. It's also important to update your Outlook calendar to let others know you’ll be unavailable, helping prevent unwanted meeting requests or project assignments during your time away.

In this how-to guide, I'll outline the steps to create an out-of-office calendar event across different versions of Outlook, including the desktop app, Outlook.com, and the new Outlook client on Windows 11.

How to create an 'Out of Office' calendar event from Outlook app

If you use Outlook 2024, 2021, 2019, or 2016 on Windows 11 (or 10), you can quickly create an event to let people in your circle know you won't be around for several days by creating an out-of-office calendar event.

To create an out-of-office calendar event on the desktop version of Outlook, use these steps:

1. Open the Outlook app.
2. Click the Calendar button in the bottom-left corner.
3. Select the calendar to add the new event from the left pane. For instance, your shared work calendar.
4. Select a day on the calendar.
5. Click the New Appointment button in the "Home" tab.

6. Confirm a descriptive title for the event in the "Subject" setting.
7. Use the "Start time" picker to select the day you're planning to leave work.
8. Use the "End time" picker to select the day you will return to work.
9. Check the "All day event" option.
10. Select the "Out of Office" option from the "Show As" setting in the "Event" tab.

11. (Optional) Create a custom message for anyone who will see your event.
12. Click the "Save & Close" button in the top-left corner.

Once you complete the steps, people who have access to the calendar will see you won't be available for several days.

How to create an 'Out of Office' calendar event from Outlook web

It's also possible to create an out-of-office calendar event when you plan to vacation using Outlook on the web.

To create an out-of-office calendar event on the web, use these steps:

1. Open Outlook (web) on the browser.
2. Click the app launcher button in the top-left corner.
3. Click on Calendar.

4. Click the New event button from the toolbar.

5. (Optional) Click the expand button in the top-right corner of the event to access the full view.
6. Select the "Out of Office" option in the "Event" toolbar.
7. Select the calendar (for example, "Work") to add the event with the drop-down menu next to the "Save" button.
8. Confirm a descriptive title for the event.
9. Use the Start date picker to select the day you leave work.
10. Turn on the "All day" toggle switch.
11. Select the Custom option for the number of days.
12. Use the End date picker to select the day you will return to work.

13. (Optional) Create a custom message for anyone who will see your event.
14. Click the Save button in the top-left corner.

After completing the steps, those with access to the calendar, whether they use Outlook.com or a supported email client, will see you're in vacation.

How to create an 'Out of Office' calendar event from new Outlook app

If you have switched to the new Outlook app for Windows 11 (with or without a Microsoft 365 subscription), the new experience also includes the ability to create an out-of-office calendar event.

To create a calendar event on the new Outlook app, use these steps:

1. Open Outlook app.
2. Click on Calendar from the left navigation pane.
3. Click the New event button from the toolbar.

4. Select the "Out of office" option from the "Event" toolbar.
5. Select the calendar (for example, "Work") to add the event with the drop-down menu next to the "Save" button.
6. Confirm a descriptive title for the event.
7. Use the Start date picker to select the day you leave work.
8. Turn on the "All day" toggle switch.
9. Select the Custom option for the number of days.
10. Use the End date picker to select the day you will return to work.
11. (Optional) Create a custom message for anyone who will see your event.

13. Click the Save button in the top-left corner.

After you complete the steps, people with access to the calendar will be able to notice you will be out of reach for some time.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

On Windows 10, "Precision Touchpad" is an implementation designed to overcome the limitations found with traditional touchpad devices. Using this approach, instead of manufacturers having to build drivers that translate touchpad signals into mouse and gesture inputs, Windows 10 can understand the inputs directly. 

In other words, on devices with supported hardware, the implementation can provide a more accurate and reliable pointer, and it enables additional features, such as a broader range of multi-touch gestures, accidental activation prevention, battery life, security, and the ability to customize many additional settings.

If you have a relatively new laptop (such as a Surface Pro 9 or a Dell XPS laptop), it likely includes support for Precision Touchpads, and you can customize the experience, which can help you to improve navigation speeds and productivity.

In this how-to guide, I'll walk you through the steps to find out if your device includes support for precision touchpads, and I'll outline the steps to enable, disable, and customize the experience.

How to check if your device supports Precision Touchpad

Although nowadays, most laptops and convertible devices come with a Precision Touchpad, there are still devices, especially older laptops, that don't support this technology. 

To quickly find out if you can use and customize multi-touch gestures, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Devices.
3. Click on Touchpad.
4. Under the "Touchpad" section, you should see the "Your PC has a precision touchpad" message. 

If you don't see the message, you'll still find the settings page, but you'll only get an option to adjust the touchpad sensitivity.

How to enable (or disable) Precision Touchpad

Using gestures with a touchpad can be helpful to improve your productivity, but it's not something for everyone and does not always work flawlessly. (If you disable this feature, you won't be able to use the touchpad altogether.)

To disable the experience, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Devices.
3. Click on Touchpad.
4. Turn on (or off) the Touchpad toggle switch.

If you also use your device with a traditional mouse, you can choose to disable the touchpad as you connect the mouse by clearing the "Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected" option. In addition, you can use the available slider to adjust the cursor speed on the screen.

How to customize taps with Precision Touchpad

The default settings are typically good enough for most users, but you can customize many aspects of the precision touchpad. For example, using the "Taps" settings, you can customize the tapping behavior when using a touchpad when clicking and selecting. 

To adjust the tap gestures on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Devices.
3. Click on Touchpad.
4. Under the "Taps" section, use the Touchpad sensitivity setting to adjust the sensitivity level of the touchpad. Options available include:

• Most sensitive.
• High sensitive.
• Medium sensitivity (default and optimal).
• Low sensitive.

5. Select the tap gestures to use on Windows 10. Options available include:

• Tap with a single finger to single-click.
• Tap with two fingers to right-click.
• Tap twice and drag to multi-select.
• Press the lower right corner of the touchpad to right-click.

Once you complete the steps, your preferences for tapping using a touchpad will apply automatically.

How to customize scroll and zoom with Precision Touchpad

The Precision Touchpad settings on Windows 10 also allow you to decide if you can use gestures to scroll content, the scrolling direction, and if you can use pinch to zoom, just like on tablets. Here's how.

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Devices.
3. Click on Touchpad.
4. Under the "Scroll and zoom" section, decide whether or not to use the "Drag two fingers to scroll" option.
5. Use the "Scrolling direction" drop-down menu to change the scrolling gestures. Options available include:

• Down motion scrolls up.
• Down motion scrolls down.

In addition, under the "Scroll and zoom" section, you can enable or disable the "Pinch to zoom" option, depending on your preferences.

How to customize three-finger (or four-finger) gestures with Precision Touchpad

Using the Precision Touchpad settings, you can control gestures with three or four fingers, which helps you speed up navigation when working with multiple apps, virtual desktops, and you can even use gestures to control audio and volume. Here's how:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Devices.
3. Click on Touchpad.
4. Under the "Three-finger gestures" section, you can use the Swipes drop-down menu to customize gestures using three fingers. The available options are:

• Nothing: Turns off three-finger gestures on Windows 10.
• Switch apps and show desktop: Enables three-finger swipe up to open Task View, down to show the desktop, and left and right to switch between apps.
• Switch desktop and show desktop: Enables three-finger swipe up to open Task View, down to show the desktop, and swipe left and right to switch between virtual desktops.
• Change audio and volume: Allows you to swipe up to turn the system volume up, down to turn the volume down, and left and right to skip to the previous or next song using a music app.
• Custom: Turns on the custom gestures configured in the advanced settings page.

4. Use the "Taps" setting to customize the three-finger tapping action. Options available include:

• Nothing.
• Launch Windows Search.
• Action Center.
• Play/pause.
• Middle mouse button.

If the touchpad supports it, you'll also find a section to configure an additional gesture using four fingers.

How to customize advanced gestures with Precision Touchpad

Using the Settings app, it's also possible to customize additional advanced settings when using three-finger (or four-finger) gestures on the touchpad.

To change the advanced gestures settings on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Devices.
3. Click on Touchpad.
4. Under "Related settings," on the right side, click the "Advanced gesture configuration" option.

Instead of using one of the sets of actions under "Three-finger gestures" (or "Four-finger gestures"), this page allows you to specify custom actions for each swipe or tap.

For instance, you can select a three-finger tap or swipe on the Precision Touchpad to open Action Center. Or you can choose the "Custom shortcut" option to specify a keyboard shortcut you want to execute when using a three-finger tap.

List of actions you can use with the three-finger gesture:

• Nothing.
• Switch apps.
• Task view.
• Show desktop.
• Switch desktops.
• Hide everything other than the app in focus.
• Create desktop.
• Remove desktop.
• Forward navigation.
• Backward navigation.
• Snap window to the left.
• Snap window to the right.
• Maximize a window.
• Minimize a window.
• Next track.
• Previous track.
• Volume up.
• Mute.
• Custom shortcut.

After you complete these steps, the three-finger gesture will execute the custom command you specified.

How to reset settings with Precision Touchpad

If you made changes to use the touchpad with custom configurations, you could restore the original settings.

To reset the precision touchpad settings, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Devices.
3. Click on Touchpad.
4. Under the "Reset your touchpad" section, click the Reset button.

Once you complete the steps, the touchpad will revert to its default settings.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

On Windows 10, HomeGroup was a feature to simplify the process of sharing resources across a small network with other users. However, since the feature has been removed, you now have to use different methods to share files, folders, and printers with other users.

Some of these methods include Nearby sharing, OneDrive, and the more advanced sharing options that offer virtually the same experience but use a different set of instructions.

This how-to guide will walk you through the steps to share files and printers inside the local network without HomeGroup on Windows 10.

How to share files on Windows 10

Windows 10 offers several ways to share files and folders with other users, including using the Share feature, OneDrive, and setting up a more advanced configuration File Explorer.

Send files with Share

If you have to share one or more files with another user in the local network or across the world only one time, you can use the "Share" feature, which comes built into File Explorer and most modern apps.

To share files using the Share feature on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Browse to the folder location with the files.
3. Select the files.
4. Click on the Share tab.

• Quick tip: Alternatively, you can right-click the selection and choose the "Share" option in the context menu. Also, the "Share" option can be found in many apps that you acquire from the Microsoft Store.

5. Click the Share button.

6. Select the app, contact, or nearby sharing device.

7. Continue with the on-screen directions to share the content.

Although this is a sharing feature, you're technically sending the files to another destination. If you're about to share files with a nearby device, note that "Nearby sharing" needs to be enabled on the source and destination computers to work correctly. You can learn more about nearby sharing, in this guide.

Share files with OneDrive

OneDrive is the application that Microsoft wants you to use to share files or folders with family, friends, or colleagues.

The difference with the Share feature is that OneDrive allows you to share virtually any file by creating a secure link that others can use to access the content. You can revoke access to the files at any time.

To share files with OneDrive on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click the OneDrive folder from the left pane.
3. Browse to the folder with the files.
4. Right-click the file and select the Share option (blue icon).

5. (Optional) Click the "Anyone with the link can edit" option.
6. Under the "More settings" section, select the "Can view" option to configure the share to read-only.
7. Click the Apply button.
8. Confirm the email address of the person to share the file. Or click the Copy Link option to copy the link to the clipboard.

9. (Optional) Compose a message for the share.
10. Click the Send button.

After you complete the steps, the recipient will receive the link to access the shared file, and depending on the settings, the recipient will be able to view or edit the file.

Stop file sharing

To stop sharing a file in OneDrive, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click the OneDrive folder from the left pane.
3. Browse to the folder with the share.
4. Right-click the shared file and select the Share option (blue icon).

5. Click the three-dotted button in the top-right corner and select the Manage Access option.

6. Click the Can edit button and select the Stop sharing option.

Once you complete the steps, the files will no longer be accessible by other people with the link.

Share files with File Explorer

When you have to share multiple files in the local network, you can use File Explorer's advanced sharing options.

When sharing a folder, usually, you want to share the folder by creating a folder in the root of the "C" drive or secondary drive or partition. Always avoid sharing files from the system folders, including Desktop, Documents, Pictures, etc.

To share a folder in the local network on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Browse to the folder with the content that you want to share.
3. Right-click the folder, select the "Give access to" option, and click the Specific people option.

4. Use the drop-down menu, and select the user or group to share the folder and its contents. Options available include:

• Local users — When you choose individual accounts, the user must provide username and password to access the files. If the user is signed in using the same credentials on their computer, then they may be able to access the data without any prompts.
• Everyone — Shares the contents with anyone in the network without entering a password to access the files.

• Quick note: You may also find an option to create a new account, but it won't be useful since Windows 10 no longer allows the creation of new accounts using Control Panel.

5. Click the Add button.

6. Under the "Permission Level" column, select the permissions that the user will have to access the contents:

• Read — Gives network users the ability to list and open files, but they won't be able to modify or delete existing files and folders. Also, they won't be able to upload or create new folders or files.
• Read/Write — Allows users to list, open, modify, delete, upload, and create new files and folders.
• Remove — Blocks the specified user or group from accessing the folder.

7. Click the Share button.

8. Right-click the shared folder path and select the Copy Link option.

9. Click the Close button.

After you complete the steps, you can share the link (which you copied to the clipboard on step 8) with users in the local network.

Connect to shared files over the network

To access a shared folder on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Right-click and paste the network path for the shared folder in the address bar and press Enter.

3. Confirm your account credentials (if applicable).
4. Upload, download, or modify files as necessary.

If you're logged on using a username and password that matches the credentials on the device sharing the folder, you may not need to sign in again to access the shared folder. However, if you're prompted to log in, you must enter the account credentials of an account that has permission to the files located on the computer sharing the folder to access the content.

Alternatively, users can use the "Network" page from the File Explorer from the left pane to browse the computer and access the shared folder contents.

When sharing folders in the network, users will only be able to access the files if the computer sharing the folder is powered on and connected to the network.

Stop sharing files over the network

If you no longer wish to share files in the network, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Browse to the folder with the content that you want to share.
3. Right-click the folder, select the "Give access to" option and click the Remove access option.

4. Click the Stop sharing button.

Once you complete the steps, the content will no longer be accessible through the network.

Troubleshoot access to shared files

When sharing a folder or printer, there's a chance you won't be able to access the resources because of a problem translating the computer name to a TCP/IP address, issues with the firewall, or network profile settings.

Use IP address instead of computer name

To determine the device network address to replace the computer name in the path to access the shared resources, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & Internet.
3. Click on Status.
4. Click the Properties buttons for the current "Ethernet" or" Wi-Fi" connection.

5. Under the "Properties" section, confirm the current IPv4 address of the device.

6. In the network path to the shared folder, replace the computer name with the IP address . For example, after editing the link, the unique path should look like this: //10.1.2.173/share instead of //homepc/share.

After you complete the steps, you should now be able to access the network content.

Change network profile to private

If the computer uses the public network profile, the folder or printer won't be discoverable in the network. As a result, trying to access the resources will require entering credentials. To avoid this issue, you must set the network profile to private on every computer.

To set the network profile to private, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & Internet.
3. Click on Status.
4. Click the Properties buttons for the current "Ethernet" or "Wi-Fi" connection.

5. Under the "Network profile" section, select the Private option.

Once you complete the steps, users should be able to access shared files and printers from any computer in the local network.

Configure access through firewall

You can temporarily disable the firewall on both devices to determine if that is the cause of the problem. If the firewall blocks access to the shared folder, you'll need to open the corresponding ports.

Disable Microsoft Defender Firewall

To temporarily disable the firewall on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Windows Security.
2. Click on Firewall & network protection.
3. Click the Private network option.

4. Turn off the "Microsoft Defender Firewall" toggle switch.

• Quick tip: after finding out the issue, make sure to turn the firewall back on.

After you complete the steps, repeat the steps on the device, and then try to access the shared folder. If it's a firewall problem, then you'll need to open the corresponding network port. Also, after resolving the issue, remember to re-enable the firewall using the same instructions outlined above, but in step 4, make sure to turn on the "Microsoft Defender Firewall" toggle switch.

Open Microsoft Defender Firewall ports

To allow file and printer sharing through the firewall, use these steps:

1. Open Windows Security.
2. Click on Firewall & network protection.
3. Click the "Allow app through firewall" option.

5. Click the Change settings button.
6. Select the "File and Printer Sharing" option, and make sure to check the Private network option.

7. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, network users can access the shared folder even with the firewall turned on.

If you have a third-party firewall solution, you'll need to check your vendor support website for specific details on how to get around this problem.

How to share printers on Windows 10

In previous versions, the easiest method to share a printer was using HomeGroup, but now even without the feature, you can still share a USB printer with other users in the local network.

If you have a printer with a built-in print server, it's recommended to use that feature. You can refer to the printer manufacturer support website for instructions on connecting the device to the network. If you're dealing with a print server, you only need to follow the steps below to share the printer and connect the computers.

Share printer on Windows 10

To share a printer on Windows 10 (assuming it's already installed), use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Devices.
3. Click on Printers & scanners.
4. Under the "Printer & scanners" section, select the printer to share in the network.
5. Click the Manage button.

6. Click the Printer properties option.

7. Click the Sharing tab.
8. Check the "Share this printer" option.
9. In the "Share name" field, specify a new short and descriptive name.

10. Click the Apply button.
11. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, the printer will be available to network users, but only if the computer is powered on.

Connect computer to shared printer

To connect computers to the shared printer, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Devices.
3. Click on Printer & scanners.
4. Click the "Add a printer or scanner" button.
5. Select the printer from the list.
6. (Optional) If the discovery feature doesn't work, click the "The printer that I want isn't listed" option.

7. Choose the "Select a shared printer by name" option.
8. Type the path of the printer location: \\xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx\PRINTER-SHARE-NAME

In the command, make sure to change the "xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx" and "PRINTER-SHARE-NAME" for the IP address (or computer name) and name of the printer.

• Quick tip: You can also click the Browse button to select the shared printer.

9. Click the Next button.
10. Click the Install driver button (if applicable).
11. (Optional) Specify an name of the printer connection. For example, Network Printer.

12. Click the Next button.
13. Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, you should be able to successfully send a print job to the network printer.

Connect old devices to shared printer

If you have an older version of Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 7, the steps to connect to the printer will be slightly different.

To connect an old computer to a network-shared printer, use these steps:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click on Hardware and Sound.
3. Click on the "Devices and Printers" option.
4. Click the "Add a printer" button.

5. Select the printer from the list.
6. If the discovery feature doesn't work, click the "The printer that I want isn't listed" option.

7. Choose the "Select a shared printer by name" option.
8. Type the path of the printer location: \\xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx\PRINTER-SHARE-NAME

In the command, make sure to change the "xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx" and "PRINTER-SHARE-NAME" for the IP address (or computer name) and share the name of the printer that you're trying to connect.

• Quick tip: You can click the Browse button to locate and select the shared printer.

9. Click the Next button.
10. Click the Install driver button (if applicable).
11. (Optional) Specify an name of the printer connection. For example, Network Printer.

12. Click the Next button.
13. Click the Finish button.

After you complete the steps, remember that users can only print as long as the computer sharing the printer is powered on and connected to the network. If the computer is sleeping, hibernating, or powered off, no one will be able to print.

Stop sharing printer on Windows 10

If there's no need to share a printer over the network anymore, then use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Devices.
3. Click on Printers & scanners.
4. Under the "Printer & scanners" section, select the printer to share in the network.
5. Click the Manage button.

6. Click the Printer properties option.

7. Click the Sharing tab.
8. Clear the "Share this printer" option.

9. Click the Apply button.
10. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, the printer will no longer be available for network users.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Although signing in with a Microsoft account makes it easier to access additional benefits, such as the ability to sync settings, preferences, and files across devices without additional configuration on Windows 10, you still have to configure access manually for apps and services using a different account.

However, if you use multiple services with different accounts, the Settings app lets you add them ahead of time allowing apps easier and faster access to your services.

This how-to guide will walk you through the steps to add and remove accounts from your computer.

Important: These instructions are meant to include additional accounts to your Windows 10 profile. If you're looking to add a new user account, you need to use these instructions.

How to add emails and accounts from Settings

To preload accounts for the Mail, Calendar, and other apps on Windows 10, you have two choices.

Add new account for emails

To add an account for emails and apps on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Accounts.
3. Click on Email & accounts.
4. Click the "Add an account" button to include a new email account to allow the Mail and Calendar apps to access your emails and calendar.

5. Select the service provider — for example, Outlook.com.

6. Confirm the email account information.
7. Click the Next button.

8. Confirm the account password.
9. Click the Sign-in button.
10. Click the OK button.
11. Click the Done button.

Once you complete the steps, the new account will be added to your device to access your email, calendar, and contacts. If you add a Microsoft account, the information will also be available to sign in to other apps. (This option is like adding an account directly into the Mail app.)

Add extra Microsoft accounts for apps

If you use apps with a different Microsoft account (such as for OneDrive, Xbox, and others), you can preload those credentials for easier access with these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Accounts.
3. Click on Email & accounts.
4. Under the "Accounts used by other apps" section, click the "Add a Microsoft account" option.

5. Confirm your Microsoft account information.
6. Click the Next button.

7. Confirm the account password.
8. Click the Sign-in button.
9. Click the OK button.
10. Click the Done button.

After completing the steps, the account information will be available for apps to sign in automatically. (You may need to repeat the steps to add more accounts.)

Manage accounts for apps

Windows 10 will use the information to sign you into services automatically when adding accounts for other apps. However, you can change the settings to ask for permission before using your credentials.

To manage a different Microsoft account for apps on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Accounts.
3. Click on Email & accounts.
4. Select the account that you want to change.
5. Use the drop-down menu, and select the "Apps need to ask me to use this account" option.

After you complete the steps, apps will prompt you to allow access before signing in to the service.

How to remove emails and accounts from Settings

If you no longer need the account, you can remove it from Settings using these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Accounts.
3. Click on Email & accounts.
4. Select the account to remove.
5. Click the Manage button.

6. Click the "Delete account from this device" option.

7. Click the Delete button.
8. Click the Done button.

Once you complete the steps, the account information will only be removed from the Mail and Calendar apps. If you want to remove a Microsoft account information completely, you also need to delete the data from the "Accounts used by other apps" section with the steps below.

Removing accounts for apps

If you need to remove an account for apps, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Accounts.
3. Click on Email & accounts.
4. Under the "Accounts used by other apps" section, select the account you plan to remove.
5. Click the Remove button.

6. Click the Yes button.

After you complete the steps, the account information will no longer be available on Windows 10.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

On Microsoft Outlook, when you have multiple email accounts, the first account you configure during the initial setup will dictate many of the default settings. When composing a new email, the app will use the address of the mailbox you're viewing as the default to send the message.

However, if you tend to use a different account to send messages, you can set that account as the new default to create new emails and the default account the desktop version of Outlook should open every time the app launches.

In this how-to guide, we'll walk you through the steps to configure a different account as the new default to open and send messages using the desktop version of Outlook.

How to configure an account as a new default in Outlook

Whether you use Office 365, Office 2021, Office 2019, or an older version, if you want to change the default account to send emails, when opening the app, you'll need to adjust a few settings.

Setting up a default account

To set an account as the new default in Outlook, use these steps:

1. Open Outlook.
2. Click on File.
3. Click on Info.
4. Click the Account Settings drop-down menu.
5. Select the Account Settings option.

6. Click the Email tab.
7. Select the account you want to make the new default.
8. Click the Set as Default button.

9. Click the Close button.
10. Restart the Outlook app.

Once you complete the steps, Outlook will set the new account as the default. However, if you want to make the account the default to send emails or want to start on a specific account every time you launch the email client, then you need to perform some extra steps.

Setting up send message default

If you always want to start a new email using the same default account, no matter the account you're viewing in Outlook, then use these steps:

1. Open Outlook.
2. Click on File.
3. Click on Options.

4. Click on Mail.
5. Under the "Send messages" section, check the "Always use the default account when composing new messages" option.

6. Click the OK button.
7. Restart the Outlook app.

After you complete the steps, every time you start a new email, the new default address will be selected in the "From" section automatically. However, if you must change the sender's email address, you can always choose a different address using the "From" menu.

Setting up the default startup folder

If you have multiple accounts on Microsoft Outlook, and you use a particular account more than others, then you can set that account as the new default when opening the app.

To open Outlook in a new default account (or folder), use these steps:

1. Open Outlook.
2. Click on File.
3. Click on Options.

4. Click on Advanced.
5. Under the "Outlook start and exit" section, click the Browse button.

6. Select the folder that corresponds to the account you frequently use.

7. Click the OK button.
8. Click the OK button again.
9. Restart the Outlook app.

Once you complete the steps, Outlook will always open in the account (or folder) that you specified for quicker access to your emails.

If you're using several accounts, in addition to setting the default folder, you can also move the account you use the most to the top of the list for quicker access. You can do this by clicking and dragging the account title to the desired position.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

All your web traffic runs through a DNS (Domain Name Service), usually managed by your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Several companies offer alternatives, allowing you to route your traffic through a faster or more secure medium, and the web infrastructure giant Cloudflare has its own DNS for consumers: 1.1.1.1, which promises to be faster than the competition. However, it's also more secure and private too.

What is Cloudflare?

Cloudflare is a web infrastructure company offering content delivery network (CDN), Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) mitigation, Authoritative DNS services, and a consumer DNS resolver service. Its network serves over 6 million websites, and between all of its services, Cloudflare has a huge infrastructure spread out around the globe (the closer its CDN servers are to your computer, the faster it can serve content). The sheer size of the Cloudflare CDN also means it had the potential to serve as a consumer-level DNS system.

What is DNS and what makes Cloudflare's service unique?

DNS is essentially the web's phonebook. Every website is located at an IP address — a string of digits denoting the server's exact web location. Because remembering a bunch of IP addresses like "104.16.213.223" would be a pain. Instead, domain names like "WindowsCentral.com" are stored in a DNS database alongside the IP address. So that when you type "WindowsCentral.com" into your browser, the computer sends that domain through the network to a DNS server, which returns the page located at "104.16.213.223."

Your ISP already offers a DNS resolver, making it easy to get online quickly. But they're not always the fastest or most secure services, so third-party options have grown in popularity. Over the years, we've seen a lot of companies offering fast DNS services, including Cisco OpenDNS and Google Public DNS. While these services are known to be quick and reliable, Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 claims to be even faster and more secure.

According to Cloudflare, 1.1.1.1's average latency is around 14ms, making it the fastest DNS resolver everywhere (Google Public DNS latency average is 34ms). Alongside speed, Cloudflare is also touting greater privacy, promising that users' records will never be stored on drives and that it'll flush out logs every 24 hours.

This how-to guide will walk you through the steps to configure your router or computer to use the super-fast and secure 1.1.1.1 DNS resolver from Cloudflare.

Cloudflare free DNS resolver IP addresses

These are the IP addresses to set up Cloudflare's consumer DNS service on a computer or router.

IP version 4

• 1.1.1.1
• 1.0.0.1

IP version 6

• 2606:4700:4700::1111
• 2606:4700:4700::1001

How to configure Cloudflare DNS service on router

The best way to change your current DNS settings to start using Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 is to reconfigure your router. Instead of setting up each device individually, this approach automatically configures every home device (desktop, laptop, tablet, phone, game console, and smart TV).

To configure your router to use the Cloudflare DNS addresses, do the following:

Important: The instructions to configure may be different on your router. Before proceeding, check your manufacturer support website for more specific details.

1. Open web browser.
2. Enter the IP address of your router and press Enter.

• Quick tip: You can find out this information using the "Windows key + R" keyboard shortcut, typing cmd, clicking "OK," and on Command Prompt run the ipconfig command. The router IP address will be the one that is listed in the "Default Gateway" field.

3. Log in using your router username and password as required. (Typically, you'll find this information on a sticker on your router.)
4. Open the DNS server settings page. Refer to your router manufacturer support website to locate these settings. However, most of the time, these settings can be found in the advanced settings section. Here's the location to get to the DNS settings in some of the most popular home router brands:

• Linksys: Setup > Basic Setup.
• ASUS: WAN > Internet Connection.
• Google Wifi: Settings > Networking & General > Advanced Network > DNS.
• Netgear: Internet.
• D-Link: Manual Internet Connection Setup.

5. In the DNS settings section use these IPv4 addresses:

• 1.1.1.1
• 1.0.0.1

1. Save your settings.
2. Restart your browser.

Once you complete the steps, restart your computer to start using the new settings.

Alternatively, you can open Command Prompt and run these two commands:

• ipconfig /flushdns
• ipconfig /renew

These commands will purge the DNS Resolver cache on your device and request a renewal of the IPv4 settings.

You don't need to apply the IP version 6 addresses on your router if your network already uses IP version 4. However, if you must use the IPv6 addresses, you must enter them in your router's IPv6 DNS setting page.

• 2606:4700:4700::1111
• 2606:4700:4700::1001

How to configure Cloudflare DNS service on Windows 11

Alternatively, if configuring your home router is a little challenging, or you want to use the Cloudflare DNS settings on every network you connect, including public networks (for example, coffee shops and airports), with your laptop or tablet, you can configure the DNS settings on Windows 11 (or Windows 10), instead of configuring your router.

Using these instructions is not recommended if you're using a computer at work because changing these settings could cause connectivity problems and other issues. If you want to change these settings on your work computer, always consult with your IT administrator first.

To set the Cloudflare DNS settings on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & internet.
3. Click the active network connection – for example, Ethernet.

4. Under the "DNS server assignment" section, click the Edit button.

5. Select the Manual option.
6. Turn on the IPv4 toggle switch.
7. Under the “Preferred DNS” section, specify the Cloudflare DNS address: 1.1.1.1

8. (Optional) Select the "On (automatic template)" option from the "DNS over HTTPS" setting.
9. (Optional) Turn on the "Fallback to plaintext" toggle switch.
10. Under the "Alternate DNS" section, specify the secondary Cloudflare DNS address: 1.0.0.1
11. (Optional) Select the "On (automatic template)" option from the "DNS over HTTPS" setting.
12. (Optional) Turn on the "Fallback to plaintext" toggle switch.
13. (Optional) Turn on the IPv6 toggle switch.
14. Under the “Preferred DNS” section, specify the Cloudflare DNS address: 2606:4700:4700::1111

15. Under the "Alternate DNS" section, specify the secondary Cloudflare DNS address: 2606:4700:4700::1001
16. (Optional) Select the "Encrypted only (DNS over HTTPS)" option from the "DNS over HTTPS" setting.
17. Click the Save button.

Once you complete the steps, the computer will use the Cloudflare servers to resolve domain names.

How to configure Cloudflare DNS service on Windows 10

To configure the Cloudflare DNS settings on Windows 10, do the following:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Control Panel, and click the top result to open the experience.
3. Click on Network and Internet.
4. Click on Network and Sharing Center.
5. Click on Change Adapter Settings.

6. Right-click the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter, and select the Properties option.

6. Select the "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" option.
7. Click the Properties button.

9. Select the "Use the following DNS server addresses" option.
10. In the "Preferred DNS server" field, enter this IPv4 address: 1.1.1.1

10. In the "Alternative DNS server" field, enter this IPv4 address: 1.0.0.1

11. Click the OK button.

13. (Optional) Select the option if the "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)" stack is enabled in the network adapter properties.
14. Click the Properties button.

15. Select the Use the following DNS server addresses option.
16. In the "Preferred DNS server" field, enter this IPv6 address: 2606:4700:4700::1111
17. In the "Alternative DNS server" field, enter this IPv6 address: 2606:4700:4700::1001

17. Click the OK button.
18. Click the Close button.

After completing the steps, your device will contact the Cloudflare servers to resolve domain names (for example, Google.com or WindowsCentral.com).

The steps mentioned above focus on Windows 10, but the instructions will also work on Windows 8.1 and 7.

How to check if you're using the Cloudflare DNS settings

If you want to make sure that you're in fact using the Cloudflare DNS settings, you can use the nslookup tool to find out this information quickly:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for cmd, and click the top result to open Command Prompt.
3. Type the following command and press Enter: nslookup

The output of the command should include this result:

• Default Server: one.one.one.one
• Address: 1.1.1.1

If you're using the IPv6 addresses, then the output should look like this:

• Default Server: one.one.one.one
• Address: 2606:4700:4700::1111

If you're configuring your router instead of your computer, the nslookup tool will show the IP address of your router. This is an expected result as it's your router the one that is making the DNS requests on behalf of all the devices connected in the network.

If this is the case, you can verify that the Cloudflare DNS settings are configured correctly using your router's network tools (if applicable), and using the nslookup method to test the settings.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

In computing, the graphics card is an essential component that makes it possible to render every pixel on the screen when navigating the Windows 10 desktop, running an app, and playing a game. Typically, devices can have graphics cards from one of the three leading manufacturers, including NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel.

Although for the most part, you don't need to worry about the graphics specifications on your computer, it might be something important for users who work with graphics-intensive programs or play games. Usually, if you don't have a card with a powerful graphics processing unit (GPU), it may not be possible for an application to perform as intended. Or, if you're a gamer, you may not be able to play games, or you may need to determine the hardware to adjust the settings accordingly to prevent affecting performance.

Whatever your reasons might be, Windows 10 includes multiple ways to quickly find out the graphics card specifications using Settings, Device Manager, System Information, DirectX Diagnostic Tool, Task Manager, and, of course, using the card's control panel software.

This how-to guide will walk you through the steps to check which graphics card is currently installed on your computer.

How to find out graphics card details using Settings

To find out the graphics card manufacturer and model using the Settings app on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Display.
4. Under the "Multiple displays" section, click the "Advanced display settings" option.

5. Under the "Display information" section, confirm the graphics card vendor and model.

Once you complete the steps, you will understand the video card installed on your device.

How to find out graphics card details using Device Manager

To determine the graphics card installed on the system with Device Manager, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the tool.
3. Expand the Display adapters branch.
4. Confirm the manufacturer and model of the video card.

After you complete the steps, the graphics card information will be revealed.

How to find out graphics card details using System Information

To check the graphics card on Windows 10 with System Information, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for System Information and click the top result to open the tool.
3. Expand the Components branch.
4. Click on Display.
5. Under the "Adapter Description" field, determine the graphics card installed on your device.

Once you complete the steps, you'll know the graphics card make and model, driver information, and more.

How to find out graphics card details using DirectX Diagnostic Tool

To find out the video card installed on your PC using DirectX Diagnostic Tool, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for dxdiag and click the top result to open the tool.
3. Click the Yes button (if applicable).
4. Click the Display tab.
5. Under the "Device" section, check the manufacturer and processor type of the graphics card.

After you complete the steps, you'll be able to understand the basic information about the video card and other details. For example, the amount of memory built into the device and driver information.

How to find out graphics card details using Task Manager

To figure out the graphics card available on Windows 10 with Task Manager, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Task Manager and select the top result to open the tool.

• Quick tip: You can also use the "Ctrl + Shift + Esc" keyboard shortcut to open Task Manager.

3. Click the Performance tab.
4. Click on GPU.

5. Confirm the brand and model of the graphics card on the top-right corner.

Once you complete the steps, the Task Manager will display the manufacturer name and model, the dedicated amount of memory, DirectX version, the physical location in the motherboard, and current utilization details.

How to find out graphics card details using Control Panel

Alternatively, if you have a GPU from Intel, NVIDIA, or AMD, you can also use their control panel software to check the graphics card specifications, including settings to adjust many preferences.

To check the specifications using the NVIDIA Control Panel, use these steps:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click on Hardware and Sound.
3. Click on NVIDIA Control Panel.
4. Click the System Information option from the bottom-left corner.

5. Click the Display tab.
6. Under the "Graphics card information" section, confirm the graphics model on the left side.

Once you complete the steps, you'll know the exact graphics card model. On the right side, you'll also find various other details, such as the number of CUDA cores, processor clock speed, memory data rate, bandwidth, type, amount, and the video BIOS version.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

A Windows 10 computer and pretty much any device that connects to a network has a unique identification number known as the Media Access Control (MAC) address embedded on the physical network adapter (Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth), and it's a necessary component, alongside the Internet Protocol (IP) address, to allow communication between devices inside a local network.

Although you usually don't have to worry about this information, sometimes you may need to find out the MAC address of the network adapter. For example, to identify the device or configure networking permissions on a router.

Regardless of the reason, Windows 10 includes several ways to determine the hardware address using the Settings app, PowerShell, Command Prompt, Control Panel, and even using System Information.

This how-to guide will walk you through five days to find the MAC address on the network adapters available on Windows 10.

How to find MAC address from Settings on Windows 10

To find the MAC address on Windows 10 through the Settings app, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & Internet.
3. Click on Ethernet or Wi-Fi depending on your network connection.
4. Select the connection.

5. Under the "Properties" section, confirm the physical address (MAC) of the device.

Once you complete the steps, you'll have an understanding of the MAC address for the network adapter installed on your computer.

How to find MAC address from Control Panel on Windows 10

To determine the physical address of a network card on Windows 10 from Control Panel, use these steps:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click on Network and Internet.
3. Click on Network and Sharing Center.

4. Click the "Change adapter settings" from the left pane.

5. Double-click the Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter depending on your connection.
6. Click the Details button.

7. Confirm the MAC address of the network adapter.

After you complete the steps, you'll know the physical address of the network card, which you can use filter access in the network settings or to identify a device on the router.

How to find MAC address from System Information on Windows 10

To view the MAC address through the System Information app, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for System Information and click the top result to open the app.
3. Expand the Components branch.
4. Expand the Network branch.
5. Select the Adapter option.
6. Scroll down to the network adapter you want.
7. Confirm the PC's MAC address.

Once you complete the steps, you'll be able to determine the media access control address of the network adapter.

How to find MAC address from Command Prompt on Windows 10

To find the MAC address from Command Prompt, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt and click the top result to open the app.
3. Type the following command to determine the MAC of your computer's network connection and press Enter: ipconfig /all
4. The MAC will be listed in the "Physical Address" setting.

5. (Optional) Type the following command to check the MAC address of the active network adapters and press Enter: getmac /v

After you complete the steps, Command Prompt will display the hardware address of all the network adapters installed on Windows 10.

How to find MAC address from PowerShell on Windows 10

To find the MAC address from PowerShell on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for PowerShell and click the top result to open the app.
3. Type the following command and press Enter: Get-NetAdapter

4. Confirm the MAC address of the adapter install on Windows 10.

Once you complete the steps, PowerShell will list the MAC address for every network adapter configured on your Windows 10 device.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription to access Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, you've probably noticed new features and changes showing up quite frequently. This is because Office uses automatic updates to ensure that apps are always up to date with the latest security patches, improvements, and features.

However, if updates are causing problems on Windows 11 (or 10), or a new release became available with visual changes and features you don't need, it's possible to disable automatic updates completely in the Office version from Microsoft 365 and in the standalone version.

This how-to guide will walk you through the easy steps to completely disable updates for the suite of apps, whether you have a Microsoft 365 subscription or the standalone version, including Office 2021, 2019, 2016, or an older version.

How to disable automatic updates for Microsoft Office

To stop getting updates and features for Office on Windows 11 (or on Windows 10), use these steps:

1. Open an Office app. For example, Word.
2. Create a new blank document.
3. Click on File.
4. Click on Account.
5. On the right side, click the Update options menu.
6. Select the Disable Updates option.

7. Click the Yes button to confirm.

Once you complete the steps, your Office apps will no longer download and install updates automatically.

If you want to enable updates again, you can use the same instructions outlined above, but on step 6, select the "Enable updates" option. You can also use this guide to learn all the steps to enable and install updates, and to check the version of Office that you're running.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

On Windows 10, when your computer suddenly becomes slow and apps are unresponsive, the reason could be that the system already exhausted all the available Random Access Memory (RAM). However, it does not immediately mean that a memory upgrade is needed since the problem might be an app misbehaving.

If you suspect a memory usage problem with apps, Windows 10 includes at least two ways to check for this issue using Task Manager and Resource Monitor, which you can also use to terminate apps and restore the device to a working condition.

This how-to guide will walk you through the steps to find out the memory usage of an app running on your computer and what to do when a particular app is hogging the resources.

How to check app memory usage on Windows 10

To determine which apps are using the most memory, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Task Manager and click the top result to open the app.

• Quick tip: You can also right-click the taskbar and select the "Task Manager" option, or right-click the Start button and select the "Task Manager" option. Or you can also use the "Ctrl + Shift + Esc" keyboard shortcut.

3. Click the More details option (if in compact mode).
4. Click the Processes tab.
5. Click the Memory header to sort the applications by memory usage.

6. Confirm the apps using the most memory.

7. (Optional) Select the app consuming a large amount of memory.

• Quick note: It is only best to terminate an app if it is not responding or consuming an unusual amount of memory since shutting it down, you may lose unsaved work.

8. Click the End task button.

Once you complete the steps, the program will be terminated, freeing up more memory for other applications.

How to check app memory usage from Resource Monitor

To check the amount of RAM that apps are using from Resource Monitor, follow these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Resource Monitor and click the top result to open the app.
3. Click the Memory tab.
4. Click the Private (KB) header to sort the applications by memory usage. (The information is presented in kilobytes.)

5. Confirm the apps using the most memory.

• Quick note: Unlike Task Manager, the Rources Monitor only provides the processes name, not the friendly name of the app — for example, "msedge.exe" instead of "Microsoft Edge" and "MsMpEng.exe" instead of "Microsoft Defender Antivirus." As a result, if you cannot determine the app's name, right-click the item, and select the Search Online option. Also, using this tool, you can only terminate one process or tree at a time, which means that to terminate the application, you may need to end all the related processes (usually, they all have the same name).

6. (Optional) Right-click the app consuming a large amount of memory and select the End process option to terminate the process.

After you complete the steps, you'll understand the apps consuming the most memory on the device.

If you have problems ending a task or too many processes are consuming most of the memory, consider restarting the computer. The reboot process will reset all the applications, potentially fixing the resource issue.

While it's always a good idea to understand which apps use the most system memory because an app uses many resources, it does not necessarily mean it's not behaving correctly. Some software like photo and video editing and games typically require a large amount of system memory to operate.

If your device suddenly becomes slow, an app may be a problem. However, if you recently installed an app that requires a significant amount of resources or the total memory usage is hitting around 70 percent constantly, you may have to upgrade the system memory or get a new computer that can handle the load.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

When you upgrade a device to a new version of Windows 10 or install an Insider Preview build, the setup process saves a copy of the previous version in the "Windows.old" folder.

This is part of the safety mechanism in case the upgrade process goes wrong. If the installation fails, the system can use the "Windows.old" folder to undo the changes. Also, if the upgrade completes successfully, the backup copy of the previous version will be kept to provide the option to roll back if the new installation starts causing issues.

Although this is a handy feature, if your device works correctly after the upgrade, you can safely delete the previous installation files to reclaim storage space.

In this how-to guide, we'll walk you through how to get rid of the "Windows.old" folder to free up several gigabytes of space to store more important files.

How to delete the Windows.old folder from Storage Sense settings

The easiest method to delete the Windows.old folder from your computer is to use the Storage Sense with these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Storage.
4. Under the "Storage sense" section, click the "Change how we free up space automatically" option.

5. Under the "Free up space now" section, check the "Delete previous version of Windows" option.

6. Click the Clean now button.

Once you complete the steps, the folder with the previous installation of Windows 10 will no longer be available on your device.

How to delete the Windows.old folder from Temporary files settings

To remove the Windows.old folder from the Temporary files settings, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Storage.
4. Under the "Storage sense" section, click the "Temporary files" option.

5. Check the "Previous Windows installation(s)" option.

6. (Optional) Clear the default selected options if you only want to remove the Windows.old folder.
7. Click the Remove files button.

After completing the steps, the folder with the previous installation of Windows 10 will be removed, freeing up 14GB to 20GB of storage space on your primary hard drive.

How to delete the Windows.old folder from Disk Cleanup

To remove the Windows.old folder with the legacy Disk Cleanup tool on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click on This PC from the left pane.
3. Under the "Devices and drives" section, right-click the drive with the Windows 10 installation (usually the C drive) and select the Properties option.

4. In the "General" tab, click the Disk Cleanup button.

5. Click the "Cleanup system files" button.

6. Check the "Previous Windows installation(s)" option.

7. (Optional) Clear the default selected options if you only want to remove the Windows.old folder.
8. Click the OK button.
9. Click the Delete Files button.
10. Click the Yes button.

Once you complete the steps, the Windows.old folder will be removed from your device.

While it's safe to delete the Windows.old folder, if you remove its contents, you will no longer be able to use the recovery options to roll back to the previous version of Windows 10. If you delete the folder and then want to roll back to the previous version, you'll need to perform a clean installation with the desired version.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Although Office comes with a number of fonts, sometimes you may need to add new styles to make text stand out on your document or spreadsheet. However, none of the apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook, have the option to install new fonts.

If you have to install a new style or an entire font family, you must first download and install the font files (TrueType ".ttf" or OpenType ".otf") on Windows 11 (or 10) to make them available to all your apps using a Microsoft 365 subscription, the standalone version of Office 2021, Office 2019, or an older version.

In this how-to guide, we walk you through the steps to install (and uninstall) new font styles for Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other Office apps.

How to install new fonts in Office from Microsoft Store

Whether you use Windows 11 or 10, you can use the Microsoft Store to download and install many different fonts.

Windows 11

To install new fonts for Office from the Microsoft Store on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click the Fonts page on the right side.

3. Click the "Get more fonts in Microsoft Store" option.

4. Select the font family.
5. Click the Get (or Install) button.

After you complete the steps, the fonts will be available on Windows 11 and through out the Office apps.

Windows 10

To make available new fonts in your Office apps on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Fonts.
4. Click the "Get more fonts in Microsoft Store" option.

5. Select the font family to use with your Office apps.
6. Click the Get (or Install) button.

Once you complete these steps, the new font will be available in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and any other app that includes support for system fonts.

How to install new fonts in Office from installer

If you have a custom font or get one of the font families that are freely available from companies like Google, you can install them in different ways.

Self-installer on Windows 11 or 10

To use new fonts in Microsoft Word or another Office app using a file, use these steps on Windows 11 or 10:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Browse to the folder with the font files.

• Quick tip: If you downloaded the font on a zipped file, use these steps to unzip the files before trying to install them.

3. Click the Install button.

After you complete the steps, the new font will be available for all Microsoft Office apps. You may need to repeat the steps to install additional styles for a particular family.

File Explorer context menu on Windows 11 or 10

To add a new font on Windows 11 (or 10) to use in Office, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Browse to the folder with the font files.
3. Right-click the font file and select the Install option to add the new font.

Once you complete these steps, the next time you start a new Office document, the new fonts will be available from the "Font" settings in the "Home" tab.

Settings app

On Windows 11 or 10, you can use the "Fonts" settings page to quickly install fonts that will then be accessible from the Office apps.

Windows 11

To install fonts manually from the Windows 11 Settings app, use these steps:

• Open Settings.
• Click on Personalization.
• Click the Fonts page on the right side.

3. Select, drag, and drop all the files into the "Drag and drop to install" box to install fonts.

After you complete the steps, the family of fonts will be available for Word, Excel, and the other Office apps.

Windows 10

To install fonts manually from the Windows 10 Settings app, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Fonts.
4. Select, drag, and drop all the font files into the "Add fonts" box to install them.

Once you complete the steps, the fonts will be available in all the Office apps.

How to uninstall fonts in Office from Settings

If you're no longer using a particular font on your Office apps, the Settings app also includes an option to uninstall fonts from your device.

Windows 11

To uninstall fonts on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click the Fonts page on the right side.

4. Click the font you want to remove.

5. Under "Metadata, click the Uninstall button.
6. Click the Uninstall button again.

After you complete the steps, the font will be removed from Windows 11 and Office apps.

Windows 10

To remove a font from Windows 10 and Office, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Fonts.
4. Select the font you want to delete.

5. Under "Metadata, click the Uninstall button.

6. Click the Uninstall button again.

Once you complete the steps, the font you uninstalled will no longer be available on Windows 10 or Office.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

On Windows 10, knowing your computer’s model number can come in handy in many scenarios. Whether you're upgrading hardware components (like memory, a storage drive, a monitor, or a power supply) or troubleshooting issues, having this information readily available simplifies the process. It’s also useful when contacting technical support or keeping track of your device in an inventory.

While manufacturers often place a sticker or print the model number directly on the chassis of a laptop or desktop, Windows 10 also provides some tools to retrieve this information. You can check your PC’s model number and serial number (also known as the service tag) using the System Information app, Command Prompt, or PowerShell. You don't need to open the case or hunt for labels.

In this how-to guide l'll the steps to check the model number of your computer, whether it's from Dell, HP, Acer, Lenovo, or another manufacturer.

How to determine PC model from System Information

To find the computer model number with System Information on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for System Information and click the top result to open the app.
3. Click on System Summary.
4. Confirm the model number of your device under the "System Model" field.

Once you complete the steps, you will clearly see the computer model.

How to determine PC model from Command Prompt

To figure out your computer model number with Command Prompt on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt and click the top result to open the app.
3. Type the following command to find out the computer model and press Enter: wmic csproduct get name

4. Confirm the device model number.
5. (Optional) Type the following command to view the model and serial number and press Enter: wmic csproduct get name, identifyingnumber

6. Confirm the device model and serial number.

After you complete the steps, the commands will display the model number and the serial number of the desktop or laptop running Windows 10.

How to determine PC model from PowerShell

To determine a laptop or desktop model number with PowerShell commands, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for PowerShell and click the top result to open the console.
3. Type the following command to check the model and the serial number of the device and press Enter: Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_ComputerSystem

4. Confirm the computer model number.
5. (Optional) Type the following command to check the serial number and press Enter: Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_bios

6. Confirm the model as well as serial number of your laptop or desktop PC.

Once you complete the steps, PowerShell will reveal the model and the computer's serial number.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

On Windows 10, "DiskSpd" is an optional tool that Microsoft has designed to test workload storage performance. Using this command-line tool, you can quickly determine the performance of a drive to confirm if it's as fast as the manufacturer has advertised. Or you can compare the reads and writes of different hard drives to find out which is the fastest for specific workloads. For instance, when you're building a server or workstation to host virtual machines, a web hosting server, or a database, or plan to run heavy input/output operations per second (IOPS) applications.

Regardless of the reason, the DiskSpd includes many options to create a stress test to measure the maximum reads and writes performance a drive can handle, and the tool works either with Windows 10 or Windows Server.

This how-to guide will walk you through the steps to get started benchmarking a hard drive performance with the DiskSpd tool on Windows 10.

How to install DiskSpd on Windows 10

To install the DiskSpd tool on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open DiskSpd GitHub download page.
2. Under the "Releases" section, click the DiskSpd.zip option to save the file on your computer.

3. Open the zip folder on File Explorer.
4. Click the Extract all option from the "Compressed Folder Tools" tab.

5. Confirm a path to extract the files.

7. Check the "Show extracted files when complete" option.
8. Click the Extract button.

Once you complete the steps, you can start using the tool from Command Prompt.

How to use DiskSpd on Windows 10

Before proceeding with the performance test, it's recommended to close all running applications and ensure that the storage health is in good condition.

To run the DiskSpd tool with Command Prompt, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to navigate to the folder containing the DiskSpd tool and press Enter: cd \PATH\TO\TOOL

In the command, specify the command to the destination of the DiskSpd.exe file. For example, this command opens the tool location inside the "Downloads" folder: cd C:\Users\username\Downloads\DiskSpd\amd64

• Quick note: You must use the version of the tool compatible with your installation. If you have a 64-bit version of Windows 10, you need to use the executable inside the "amd64" folder. Otherwise, if you are using the 32-bit version of the operating system, then you should use the executable in the "x86" folder. If you do not know the system type of the device, you can check on Settings > System > About, under the "Device specifications" section.

4. Type the following command to run the DiskSpd to test a read and write performance of a local hard drive on Windows 10 and press Enter: diskspd -d60 -W15 -C15 -c128M -t4 -o4 -b8k -L -r -Sh -w50 c:\disk-speed-test.dat

• Quick note: This tool is case-sensitive. As a result, you must type each parameter with the correct case for the command to run correctly. See the description below to understand the options I use in the command. Also, in the command, do not forget to update the path and filename for the target data file as necessary.

5. (Optional) Type the following command to run the command and export the results to a text file, and press Enter: diskspd -d60 -W15 -C15 -c128M -t4 -o4 -b8k -L -r -Sh -w50 c:\disk-speed-test.dat > c:\drive-test-results.txt

• Quick note: In the command, update the path and filename for the target data file and the file to store the benchmark results. Also, consider that when outputting the results to a text file, you won't see any results on the screen. Instead, the test results will be written to the text file.

6. (Optional) Type the following command to test sequential reads and press Enter: diskspd -d60 -c128M -t4 -o4 -b8k -L -Sh -w0 -si c:\disk-speed-test.dat
7. (Optional) Type the following command to test random reads and press Enter: diskspd -d60 -c128M -t4 -o4 -b8k -L -Sh -w0 -r c:\disk-speed-test.dat
8. (Optional) Type the following command to test sequential writes and press Enter: diskspd -d60 -c128M -t4 -o4 -b8k -L -Sh -w100 -si c:\disk-speed-test.dat
9. (Optional) Type the following command to test random writes and press Enter: diskspd -d60 -c128M -t4 -o4 -b8k -L -Sh -w100 -r c:\disk-speed-test.dat

Once you complete the steps, the DiskSpd tool will test the hard drive performance based on the parameters you specified in the command.

Here's a breakdown of the options we used in the first command (see step 5):

• -d60 — Indicates how long the command will stress the hard drive in seconds.
• -W15 — Set the warm-up time before the test begins.
• -C15 — Set the cool-down time after the test.
• -c128M — Customize the file size to create for testing.
• -t4 — Indicates the number of threads to use. Usually, you can use one per available core in the processor.
• -o4 — Specifies the number of outstanding I/O requests per target per thread.
• -b8k — Defines the size of the block (default is 64K).
• -L — Measures latency statistics.
• -r — Produces random I/O. You can override this with the "-s" option.
• -Sh — Disables software and hardware write caching.
• -w50 — Specifies the percentage of write and read requests. Using the 100 number means the command will write 100 percent of the time during the test. Using the 0 number means the command will only perform 100 percent reads. For instance, "-W50" will perform 50 percent writing and 50 percent reading. This is a balanced test, but you can change the number to adjust the test to fit your situation.
• c:\disk-speed-test.dat — This is the path to store the target file for the test.

We are focusing on showing some of the command examples to get you familiar with the tool. You can always use the "diskspd /?" command to review all the options available to build a custom command to test the storage based on your situation.

If you plan to use the DiskSpd tool, consider that these are artificial tests, which means that they will never match real-world workloads. However, the tests will give you an idea of what performance to expect. You only need to be aware of the options you choose to match your workload as closely as possible.

How to review DiskSpd results on Windows 10

The completion time will depend on the parameters you used in the command. As you execute the command, you won't see any information on the screen until the tool finishes the test.

Once the performance test is complete, the output will print on the screen. The first part includes a summary of the options you specified in the command, including the duration, warm-up and cool-down times, latency statistics, and other details.

Then there's the section that includes the results of the test, which is divided into multiple tables. In the first part of the result, you will find how long the command took to complete the test, the number of threats, and the processors. Then there is a summary of the average processor load during the test.

The "Total IO" table shows the reads and writes per thread. The information offers the average performance in mebibytes per second. Or the operations (reads and writes) that were executed in a given period (second), and the total input/output (IO) also in a given period. Typically, the information of importance would be the total result from the MiB/s, which tells you the average reads and writes in mebibytes per second.

The "Read IO" table shows only the reads statistics per thread. The "Write IO" table shows only the writes statistics per thread. And the table at the bottom of the page includes information about the latency.

While these statistics can help understand how the drive performs, the information will make more sense if you already know what to expect. For instance, if you know the reads and writes advertised by the manufacturer, you can determine whether the drive will live up to the expectations. Or you can also rerun the DskSpd tool on different drives to determine which is the fastest.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Although the Microsoft Store app is the experience that Microsoft envisioned for Windows 10 users to download apps, games, and entertainment, it's not perfect and doesn't always work as expected.

Among the most common issues are apps queuing up waiting to update, or being stuck in a pending state. If you experience these problems or any other issues (assuming you already restarted the device and you're on the latest release), there are several troubleshooting steps that you can follow to download and install apps on Windows 10.

This how-to guide will walk you through five different methods to troubleshoot and fix apps pending or stuck downloading on your device.

How to fix issues downloading apps resetting account of Microsoft Store

To sign out and sign back into the Microsoft Store to resolve downloading issues, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Store.
2. Click the profile icon from the top-right and click the Sign out button.

3. Click the profile icon from the top-right and select the Sign in option.

4. Select your Microsoft account from the list.
5. Click the Continue button.

Once you complete the steps, try to download the app again, and now, it should start downloading again.

How to fix issues downloading apps resetting cache of Microsoft Store

To reset the Microsoft Store cache, close the app, and use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command and press Enter: wsreset

After you complete the steps, you can check to see if the apps are downloading and no longer stuck.

How to fix issues downloading apps with troubleshooter of Microsoft Store

To fix apps stuck or pending using the troubleshooter on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Troubleshoot.
4. Click the "Additional troubleshooters" option.

5. Under the "Find and fix other problems" section, select the "Windows Store Apps" item.
6. Click the "Run the troubleshooter" button.

6. Continue with the on-screen directions (if applicable).

Once you complete the steps, the troubleshooter will scan, detect, and resolve any problems with the Microsoft Store app on Windows 10.

How to fix issues downloading apps resetting Microsoft Store

If the previous steps didn't fix the problem, and you're still seeing apps pending or stuck downloading, you can reset the Microsoft Store app using the Settings app.

To reset the Microsoft Store app from the Settings app, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Apps.
3. Click on Apps & features.
4. Under the "Apps & features" section, select the Microsoft Store app.
5. Click on Advanced options.

6. Under the "Reset" section, click the Reset button.

After you complete the steps, the app will reset and delete the app data to resolve common problems when it isn't working correctly.

How to fix issues downloading apps reinstalling Microsoft Store

As a last resort, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the Store app using PowerShell.

To reinstall the Microsoft Store app to fix problems, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to uninstall the Microsoft Store app and press Enter: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.WindowsStore | Remove-AppxPackage

4. Type the following command to install the Microsoft Store again and press Enter: Add-AppxPackage -register "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsStore*\AppxManifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode

Once you complete the steps, the app should be reinstated on your Windows 10 installation, and if everything is working correctly, apps should no longer get stuck downloading.

In the rare case that the same problem continues to happen, you can try switching to a new account. Alternatively, you can also reset your device to factory default settings to resolve the problem with the Microsoft Store app.

More Windows resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Although Windows 10 doesn't have the option to protect folders and files with a password, it doesn't mean your data isn't secure. One of the reasons why you can't apply a password to a folder is that your account is already protected from unauthorized access with a password (and even encryption if you use BitLocker).

However, if you have priceless pictures, bank information, and other business documents you feel would be more secure using a password, you can use a combination of a virtual hard disk and BitLocker to password-protect folders and files. And you can do this without third-party tools or complicated scripts, which are probably not as secure as using the Windows 10 built-in encryption feature.

In this how-to guide, we'll walk you through the steps to protect a folder with a password using a virtual hard disk and BitLocker available with the professional version of Windows 10.

How to protect a folder with password on Windows 10

Windows 10 doesn't include an option to add a password to a folder, but you can set up a virtual hard drive with BitLocker, enabling you to mimic the same password protection experience and extra security.

Create virtual hard disk

To create a virtual hard disk on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Disk Management and click the top result to open the app.
3. Click the Action menu.
4. Click the Create VHD option.

5. Click the Browse button to select a location to store the virtual disk.
6. Specify a name for the drive – for example, folder_vault.

7. Click the Save button.
8. Under the "Virtual hard disk size" section, specify the space to reserve for storage. For example, 8GB, but you can use any amount based on the content you want to protect.
9. (Optional) Under the "Virtual hard disk format" section, select the VHDX option.
10. Select the Dynamically expanding option so the storage will grow as you save files.

11. Click the OK button.
12. Right-click the "Disk x," and select the Initialize Disk option.

13. Check the new Disk x.
14. Select the "MBR (Master Boot Record)" option.

15. Click the OK button.
16. Right-click the "Unallocated space" and select the "New Simple Volume" option.

17. Click the Next button.
18. Use the default settings for the volume size.

19. Click the Next button.
20. Use the "Assign the following drive letter" drop-down menu to select a letter for the new drive.

21. Click the Next button.
22. Use the "File system" drop-down menu, and select the NTFS option.
23. Use the "Allocation unit size" drop-down menu, and select the Default option.
24. In the "Value label" field, type a descriptive name for the drive—for example, folder_vault.
25. Check the "Perform a quick format" option.

26. Unless necessary, clear the "Enable file and folder compression" option.
27. Click the Next button.
28. Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, you'll end up with a virtual hard disk that you can treat as a folder and password protect using BitLocker.

Enable BitLocker on virtual hard disk

To set up BitLocker on a virtual hard disk on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click on System and Security.
3. Click on BitLocker Drive Encryption.
4. Under the "Fixed data drives" section, select the folder_vault drive.
5. Click the "Turn on BitLocker" option. 

6. Check the "Use a password to unlock the drive" option.

7. Create a password to protect your folders inside the drive.
8. Click the Next button.
9. Click the "Save to a file" button.

10. Select a location to store the recovery key.

• Quick tip: If you forget the password or lose the recovery key, you won't be able to recover your files, so make sure to keep this file in a secure place. You can also use the option to save the password on your Microsoft account.

11. Click the Save button.
12. Click the Next button.
13. Select the "Encrypt used disk space only" option.

14. Click the Next button.
15. Select the Compatibility mode option.

16. Click the Next button.
17. Click the Start encryption button.
18. Click the Close button.

After you complete the steps, you can begin using the virtual disk as a folder to protect your content with a password.

Lock and unlock folder

Once you created a virtual drive and configured BitLocker, you'll need to know a few steps to lock and unlock your files and folders.

Unlock folders with password

To access folders and files protected with a password on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Browse to the folder with the folder_vault.vhd file.

3. Double-click the VHD (VHDX) file to mount it to File Explorer.

• Quick note: If you receive a "is not accessible" and "Access is denied" message, this is normal behavior because you mounted the drive, but you haven't unlocked it with the password yet.

4. Click on This PC from the left pane.
5. Under the "Devices and drives" section, double-click the drive to open the sign-in page.

6. Type the password to unlock the drive with your important files and folders.

• Quick tip: If you can't remember the password, click the "More options" option, click the "Enter recovery key" option, and type the 48-digit recovery key available in the text file that you should have saved when setting up BitLocker on the virtual hard disk.

7. Click the Unlock button.

Once you complete the steps, you will be able to access your important files and folders.

Lock folders with password

To lock the folder again on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click on This PC from the left pane.
3. Under the "Devices and drives" section, right-click the BitLocker drive, and select the Eject option.

After you complete the steps, the folders will remain encrypted and protected. The next time you access your files and folders, you'll need to follow the unlock instructions, which include entering the password again.

The best part about using a virtual hard drive with BitLocker to add a password to a folder is that you can continue to unlock your files on the same or different computer using the above steps.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

On Windows 10, the network adapter is an essential component that offers the means to connect to the network and internet using a wired or wireless connection, and understanding the current link speed can come in handy in many scenarios.

For example, checking the link speed is helpful to find out whether the adapter is operating according to its technical specifications and can help you diagnose performance problems. If you're upgrading your internet service to a faster tier, knowing the maximum speed of the Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter will help to confirm whether you'll be able to take advantage of all the bandwidth. If you plan to upgrade the network to 10Gbps, you can quickly determine if you need to change the card. Or if you use a USB network adapter that doesn't include any information, checking the speed connection will reveal if you're using a 100Mbps or 1Gbps chipset.

Whatever network card you use, Windows 10 provides different features to confirm the link speed of a connection using Settings, Control Panel, and command lines with PowerShell and Command Prompt.

This guide will walk you through several ways to determine the speed of the adapter connected to the network, whether you're using a wired or wireless connection.

How to check network adapter speed from Settings

To view the connection speed for a Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & Internet.
3. Click on Status.
4. Under the "Change your network settings" section, click the "View your network properties" option.

5. Under the "Properties" section, find the network adapter (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
6. Determine the connection speed in the "Link speed (Receive/Transmit)" field.

Once you complete the steps, the Settings app will reveal the speed the adapter uses to connect to the network.

How to check network adapter speed from Control Panel

To determine the network adapter speed with the Control Panel settings, use these steps:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click on Network and Internet.
3. Click on Network and Sharing Center.
4. Click the "Change adapter settings" in the left pane.

5. Double-click the network adapter (Ethernet or Wi-Fi).

6. Check the connection speed in the Speed field.

• Quick note: If you're looking at a Wi-Fi adapter, you can also confirm the signal quality.

After completing the steps, you'll better understand the connection speed for the Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter connected to the network.

How to check network adapter speed from Command Prompt

To find out the speed for the wireless or wired adapter with Command Prompt, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt and click the top result to open the console.
3. Type the following command to determine the connection speed for all the Ethernet and Wi-Fi adapters and press Enter: wmic nic where netEnabled=true get name, speed

4. Confirm the network adapter speed.

Once you complete the steps, you'll be able to determine the speed (in bits) the card uses to connect to the network.

How to check network adapter speed from PowerShell

To check the Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection speed on Windows 10 with PowerShell, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for PowerShell and click the top result to open the console.
3. Type the following command to determine the connection speed for all the Ethernet and Wi-Fi adapters and press Enter: Get-NetAdapter | select interfaceDescription, name, status, linkSpeed

4. Check the Wi-Fi or Ethernet network card connection speed.

After you complete the steps, the PowerShell output will display the connection speeds in a user-friendly format (for example, 780 Mbps and 1 Gbps).

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 or Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know 

On Windows 10, the ability to format a USB flash drive can be helpful in many scenarios. For instance, sometimes, you may need to reformat a removable storage device to ensure it does not contain malicious code. Or when the thumb drive is not accessible because of data corruption, you received a flash drive using a file system incompatible with your platform, or you plan to get rid of the storage device and want to make sure you are not leaving behind any personal information.

Regardless of the reason, Windows 10 includes several tools to format all kinds of storage (such as USB flash drives) using File Explorer, Disk Management, Command Prompt, and PowerShell.

This guide will walk you through the steps to format a USB flash drive to quickly erase its contents or fix problems when the device isn't recognized.

Warning: These instructions will erase everything on the selected drive. If you have any important files, you should back them up before proceeding.

How to format USB flash drive from File Explorer

To format a USB flash drive from File Explorer on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click on This PC from the left pane.
3. Under the "Devices and drives" section, right-click the flash drive and select the Format option.

4. Use the "File system" drop-down menu and select the NTFS option.

• Quick tip: If you plan to use the removable storage on Windows 10 and macOS systems, you may want to select the "exFAT" option for compatibility. However, if you think you might use the device on a Linux machine, "FAT32" is the best option, even though you will be limited to 4GB file sizes.

5. Use the default selection in the "Allocation unit size" drop-down menu.
6. In the "Volume label" field, confirm a drive name that will appear in File Explorer. For example, workUSB.
7. Under the "Format options" section, select the Quick format option.

• Quick note: The "Quick format" option only deletes the file system table and the root folder, but the data may still be recoverable. If you do not check the setting, a full format operation will be performed, and it will scan for bad sectors and write zeros in all sectors deleting the data. As a result, this process can take a long time, depending on the drive size.

8. Click the Start button.
9. Click the Yes button.

Once you complete the steps, the flash drive will be ready to store documents, pictures, videos, and other files.

How to format USB flash drive from Disk Management

On Disk Management, you have at least two ways to format a USB flash drive. You can format the storage to rebuild the file system table and erase the content, or you can delete the partition that comes in handy to fix storage problems.

Format flash drive

To use Disk Management to format a USB drive on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for "Create and format hard disk partitions" and click the top result to open the Disk Management app.
3. Right-click the removable drive and select the Format option.

4. In the "Volume label" field, confirm a name to identify the storage in File Explorer.
5. Use the "File system" drop-down menu and select the NTFS option. (You can also choose the "FAT32" or "exFAT" option.)
6. Use the Default option in the "Allocation unit size" drop-down menu.
7. Check the "Perform a quick format" option.

8. (Optional) Check the "Enable file and folder compression" option.
9. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, the drive will be erased and reformatted to store data again.

Clean and format flash drive

When the USB drive is experiencing problems, it's best to clean it and start again from scratch with a new partition and file system.

To clean and format a USB flash drive on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for "Create and format hard disk partitions" and click the top result to open the Disk Management tool.
3. Right-click the removable storage and select the Delete volume option.

4. Click the Yes button.
5. Right-click the "Unallocated" space and choose the "New Simple Volume" option.

6. Click the Next button.
7. Click the Next button again to use all the available space.
8. Select the "Assign the following drive letter" option.
9. Use the drop-down menu to select one of the available letters.

• Quick tip: If you assign a letter manually, it is best to select a letter in reverse order (Z, Y, X, and so on).

10. Click the Next button.
11. Select the "Format this volume with the following settings" option.
12. Use the File system drop-down menu and select the NTFS option.

• Quick note: Using this method, you can only use "NTFS" or "FAT32." If you need to format the drive using "exFAT," you will need to use Command Prompt or PowerShell.

13. Use the Default option for the "Allocation unit size" setting.
14. Type a label in the "Volume label" field to quickly identify the flash drive on File Explorer.
15. Check the "Perform a quick format" option. (If you clear the setting, a full format will take place that can take some time, depending on the storage size.)

16. (Optional) Check the "Enable file and folder compression" option.
17. Click the Next button.
18. Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, the process will create a new partition and set up the file system, fixing common problems with the flash drive, including data corruption.

How to format USB flash drive from PowerShell

PowerShell is another tool that allows you to format a USB flash drive to delete its contents. In addition, the command-line tool can be used to clean and format the storage to resolve corruption and other problems.

Format flash drive using PowerShell

To format a USB flash drive using PowerShell commands on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to perform a quick format on the flash drive and press Enter: Format-Volume -DriveLetter DRIVE-LETTER -FileSystem FILE-SYSTEM -NewFileSystemLabel DRIVE-NAME

In the command, replace DRIVE-LETTER with the correct letter reflecting the drive you want to format, FILE-SYSTEM for FAT32, exFAT, or NTFS, and DRIVE-NAME with the name you want the device to appear in File Explorer. 

This example performs a quick format of the "F" drive with the NTFS file system: Format-Volume -DriveLetter F -FileSystem NTFS -NewFileSystemLabel workUSB

4. (Optional) Type the following command to perform a full format of the USB flash drive and press Enter: Format-Volume -DriveLetter DRIVE-LETTER -FileSystem FILE-SYSTEM -Full -Force

In the command, replace DRIVE-LETTER with the correct letter reflecting the drive you want to format and FILE-SYSTEM for FAT32, exFAT, or NTFS, depending on the file system you want to use. If you do not know and are on Windows 10, you should use NTFS. The Full option tells the command to perform a full format, and the -Force option specifies the override switch.

This example performs a full format of the "F" drive: Format-Volume -DriveLetter F -FileSystem NTFS -Full -Force

After you complete the steps, PowerShell will format the storage with the settings you specified.

Clean and format flash drive using PowerShell

To clean and format a removable drive with PowerShell commands, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for PowerShell, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to view the flash drive you want to fix and press Enter: Get-Disk

4. Type the following command to delete the volume and press Enter: Get-Disk DISK-NUMBER | Clear-Disk -RemoveData

In the command, change DISK-NUMBER for the correct number for the flash drive you are formatting. 

This example selects and cleans disk number 2: Get-Disk 2 | Clear-Disk -RemoveData

5. Type Y to confirm the action and press Enter.
6. Type the following command to create a new partition and press Enter: New-Partition -DiskNumber DISK-NUMBER -UseMaximumSize

In the command, change DISK-NUMBER to the correct number for the storage you are formatting. 

This example creates a new partition using the entire space available on drive number 2: New-Partition -DiskNumber 2 -UseMaximumSize

7. Type the following command to perform a quick format and assign a drive label, and press Enter: Get-Partition -DiskNumber DISK-NUMBER | Format-Volume -FileSystem FILE-SYSTEM -NewFileSystemLabel DRIVE-NAME

In the command, change DISK-NUMBER for the number that identifies the storage in the system, FILE-SYSTEM for "NTFS," "FAT32," or "exFAT," and DRIVE-NAME with the name you want the device to appear in File Explorer. 

This example selects, and formats drive number 2 using the NTFS file system: Get-Partition -DiskNumber 2 | Format-Volume -FileSystem NTFS -NewFileSystemLabel workUSB

8. Type the following command to assign a new letter to the drive and press Enter: Get-Partition -DiskNumber DISK-NUMBER | Set-Partition -NewDriveLetter DRIVE-LETTER

In the command, replace DISK-NUMBER for the number that identifies the storage in the system and DRIVE-LETTER with the letter you want the device to appear in File Explorer. 

This example sets "E" as the drive letter for disk number 2: Get-Partition -DiskNumber 2 | Set-Partition -NewDriveLetter E

After you complete the steps, PowerShell will delete the data on the removable USB storage to fix problems, including corruption, write protection, and unrecognized drives. Then it will create a new partition and configure a file system to store files.

How to format USB flash drive from Command Prompt

You can use the Command Prompt to clean the drive and start fresh with a new partition and file system table.

Format flash drive using command-line

To perform a quick or full format on a USB flash drive with Command Prompt on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to perform a quick format of the USB flash drive and press Enter: format VOLUME: /v:FLASHDRIVE-LABEL /fs:FILE-SYSTEM /q

In the command, make sure to replace the VOLUME with the correct drive letter of the storage, FLASHDRIVE-LABEL with the name you want the drive to appear in File Explorer, FILE-SYSTEM with one of the available file systems, including "FAT32," "exFAT," or "NTFS."

This example performs a quick format of the E drive: format E: /v:workUSB /fs:NTFS /q

4. Press Enter again to continue.
5. (Optional) Type the following command to perform a full format of the USB flash drive and press Enter: format VOLUME: /v:FLASHDRIVE-LABEL /fs:FILE-SYSTEM

This example performs a full format of the E drive: format E: /v:"workUSB" /fs:NTFS

6. Press Enter again to continue.

After completing the steps, the thumb drive will be formatted with the specified settings.

Clean and format flash drive using command-line

To clean and format a flash drive with commands on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to launch the DiskPart tool and press Enter: diskpart
4. Type the following command to view a list of the available drives and press Enter: list disk
5. Type the following command to select the flash drive you want to delete and press Enter: select disk DISK-NUMBER

In the command, replace DISK-NUMBER with the number for the drive you are trying to format. 

This example selects the flash drive listed as disk number 2: select disk 2

6. Type the following command to delete all the partitions on the storage and press Enter: clean

7. Type the following command to create a primary partition and press Enter: create partition primary
8. Type the following command to perform a quick format and press Enter: format fs=FILE-SYSTEM label=DRIVE-NAME quick

In the command, make sure to replace FILE-SYSTEM for your preferred file system, including "FAT32," "exFAT," or "NTFS." Also, replace DRIVE-NAME with the name you want to give the device. If you do not specify the "quick" option, then a full format will be performed. 

This example quickly formats the removable storage using the NTFS file system and applies the "workUSB" name: format fs=NTFS label=workUSB quick

9. Type the following command to assign a drive letter and press Enter: assign

Quick note: You can append "letter=E" in the command to assign (in this case) "E" as the drive letter. Otherwise, the system will assign a letter automatically.

10. Type the following command to close DiskPart and press Enter: exit

Once you complete the steps, the DiskPart tool will remove any information from the USB flash drive. It will create a new partition and configure a compatible file system to store files from your Windows 10, macOS, or Linux machine (depending on your configuration).

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

Bluetooth is a ubiquitous short-range wireless technology that allows compatible peripherals (mice, keyboards, headphones, and speakers) to communicate with a computer without the need for cables. It's usually used as a medium to transfer low-rate data between devices, such as phones, laptops, and desktops.

Typically, when you have to replace a broken Bluetooth adapter, you can remove it and install a new replacement. However, if the adapter happens to be integrated into the wireless card or motherboard, even when it does not work, Windows 10 can still see it, making the new adapter installation a challenge. The reason is that you are only allowed one adapter per device. Otherwise, you are likely to run into stability problems connecting devices.

This guide will walk you through the steps to install a second Bluetooth adapter on Windows 10 if removing the old wireless radio adapter is impossible.

How to install second Bluetooth adapter

Before installing a new Bluetooth adapter on Windows 10, you must first disable the old adapter to avoid conflicts and other problems.

Disable old Bluetooth adapter

To disable a Bluetooth adapter on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the app.
3. Expand the Bluetooth branch.
4. Right-click the wireless adapter and select the Disable device option.

5. Click the Yes button.

Once you complete the steps, the system will no longer interact with the adapter, preventing problems with the new device.

If your Bluetooth adapter is up for a replacement, we recommend the TP-Link UB500 Bluetooth 5.0 dongle because of the compact design and USB connection that makes it the perfect option to add reliable short-range wireless connectivity on any laptop or desktop running Windows 10 or 11. The adapter uses Bluetooth 5.0 EDR technology, but it is compatible with previous standard versions.

Install new Bluetooth adapter

To install the new Bluetooth adapter on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Connect the new Bluetooth adapter to a USB port on the computer.
2. Allow Windows 10 to detect and install the driver automatically.

After you complete the steps, it's recommended to check the new short-range wireless radio is configured and working correctly.

Check new adapter

To determine whether the Bluetooth adapter was correctly recognized, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Devices.
3. Click on Bluetooth & other devices.

4. Confirm the Bluetooth toggle switch is available.

If the toggle switch is available, the device is correctly installed. Otherwise, if you only see an "Add Bluetooth or other device" button, there is a problem adding the short-range wireless radio adapter.

Install driver manually

On Windows 10, setting up a Bluetooth USB dongle should be a plug-and-play process. However, in some cases, you may be required to install the driver manually.

It's always a good idea to check your device manufacturer's support website to download the latest drivers and follow their instructions. However, most manufacturers publish their drivers and make them available through Windows Update, making the setup process much easier.

To install a Bluetooth driver manually on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Update & Security.
3. Click on Windows Update.
4. Click the "Check for updates" button (if applicable).
5. Click the "View optional updates" option.

6. Click the Driver updates tab.
7. Select the driver you want to update.

8. Click the "Download and install" button.

Once you complete the steps, you should be able to connect wireless devices to your computer without problems.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 or Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know 

On Windows 10, every process from an app or a service has an identification number known as a Process ID (PID). The PID has various uses, but mainly, it exists to identify each process across the system and programs running multiple instances (such as when editing two text files with Notepad).

Although users do not have to worry about the system processes, the ability to determine their specific system number can come in handy in many scenarios. For instance, when you need to debug an app. A program is stuck, and you must terminate the process manually. Or you need to check the system resources that a particular process is using.