As Windows 10 approaches its second birthday, Microsoft has been working hard to make the OS more intuitive and cohesive. Many of the updates in the Anniversary Update were focused on fine-tuning features that had been introduced in previous updates, such as the Action Center and Cortana.
However, there were also a few new features added in the Anniversary Update, such as Ink Workspace and Windows Hello. And if you're like most people, you probably didn't even know about them. That's because Microsoft has been doing a better job of concealing some of its features in order to avoid overwhelming users.
In this article, we'll take a look at some of Windows 10's secret features and show you how to access them.
Why Microsoft Made Some Features Hidden.
Microsoft has made some features in Windows 10 hidden for a reason. They don't want every person using the operating system to know about them. They want it to be a discovery.
Think about it this way: if you were Microsoft, would you want people know that you can access a secret menu by pressing three buttons at the same time? No, because not everyone would know about it, and it would just cause confusion. It's like when you buy a new car and figure out all the features—you feel smart and like you accomplished something. That's what Microsoft is hoping for with Windows 10.
But that doesn't mean that they don't want us to find these features. In fact, they've included several ways for us to uncover them. It's just up to us to explore and find them.
Customization Tricks to Improve Performance.
There are a few customization tricks that you can use to improve performance on Windows 10. One is to change your power plan. By default, Windows 10 is set to Balanced, which tries to find a happy medium between power conservation and performance. If you're having issues with speed or performance, you can try switching to High Performance.
To do this, click on the battery icon in your system tray and select "More Power Options." From there, you can switch to the High Performance plan. Just be aware that this plan will consume more power and could result in shorter battery life.
Another trick is to adjust how quickly your screen saver and screensaver timeout kick in. To do this, open the Control Panel and select "Personalization." Under the "Screen Saver" tab, you'll see a drop-down box that allows you to choose how long your screen saver should wait before kicking in. You can also choose how long your computer should wait before going to sleep.
How to Access the Hidden Settings in Windows 10.
There are a lot of hidden features in Windows 10 that can make your life a lot easier. But accessing them can be a little tricky.
Here are the steps to take:
1. Type "hidden features" into the search bar and select "Settings."
2. Select "Activate Windows Features."
3. Scroll down and select the features you want to enable.
4. Click "OK" and wait for the process to finish.
Once these features are enabled, you can access them by clicking on the Windows icon in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen. Then select "Task View" and you'll see all of the hidden features at the bottom of your screen.
Use Command Prompt for Accessing Secret Tools.
If you’re looking for a quick way to access the hidden features of Windows 10, then the Command Prompt is you're go-to. This powerful tool will let you glean insights into the inner workings of your operating system and even use diagnostic commands to debug various issues.
To get started,
- open up Command Prompt by typing “cmd” into the Windows search bar.
- Then type “netstat -a” to get an overview of established communication sessions .
- open ports, or “ipconfig” to get a list of IP addresses assigned to your computer.
You can also use commands like “hostname” or “ipconfig/all” to find out specific information about your computer or connection. To check for updates, type in “wuauclt /detectnow” and you’ll get a report of available updates from Microsoft servers, as well as pending downloads from other programs. And if you want to learn what else commands can do for you, just type in “help [command name]” and you'll get a full list of options available for that command.
How to Take Advantage of Microsoft's OneDrive Cloud Storage.
One of the coolest things about Windows 10 is its integration with Microsoft's OneDrive cloud storage system. With OneDrive, you can store your files in the cloud and have access to them anywhere, anytime.
This feature makes it easy to back up your files, share files with friends and colleagues, and access them from any device. Plus, it's easy to set up: just log into your Microsoft account, link it to OneDrive, and you can start saving whatever files you'd like!
Once your account is set up, you can free up space on your computer by moving large folders or files to the cloud in just a few clicks. You can also use it as a collaboration tool—just create a folder and share the link with others so they can access or edit your documents.
The best part about OneDrive is that it offers plenty of storage for free (up to 5GB) so you don't have to worry about maxing out your hard drive or spending money on extra storage space!
Tips and Tricks for Productivity and Security.
If you’re looking to get the most out of Windows 10 and keep your device secure, there are a few tips and tricks you should know. First off, let’s start with productivity.
For starters, you can access Task View to quickly switch between multiple open applications, or use Snap Assist to easily move windows around on your desktop. And if that wasn’t enough, Windows 10 also has a built-in virtual assistant called Cortana, which can autonomously search your hard drive and the web for the files and info you need—all via voice command!
On the security side of things, Windows 10 includes a set of features that help keep your PC safe from malicious software, viruses, and hackers—things like two-step verification for logging in remotely, or Windows Defender Firewall for blocking suspicious activity. To go even further, you can also take advantage of encryption tools like Microsoft BitLocker or third-party options such as VeraCrypt to protect sensitive files from snoopers.
Bottom line is: There are lots of hidden tricks in Windows 10 that can help boost both productivity and security—all at the same time!
Conclusion.
These are just a few of the many hidden features in Windows 10 that can make your life a lot easier. So diving in and taking advantage of these tricks is definitely worth your time.