How to download and install Windows 11
Curious to check out Microsoft's new operating system? Here's how you can download Windows 11 right now to try it for yourself.
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How to use Threads on desktop in Windows, Mac, Linux, and ChromeOS
No need to wait for the official Threads desktop client!
Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard of Threads by now. Meta’s latest social media app is unapologetically a Twitter (or X) competitor, and it's deeply interconnected with Instagram to create an amalgamation of the two. However, access to Threads was only possible through its official iOS and Android apps when it launched. There was no proper web interface at the beginning, although you could directly go to a user's profile.
Our Windows computers are great at locating files and folders in an instant, but that’s not always to our benefit. Sometimes, there’s content on our PC that we want to keep tucked away from prying eyes. Search tools like File Explorer can make any file visible with just a few typed characters, but thankfully, there are a few system customizations you can make to hide certain files and folders. Here are a few of our go-to methods for hiding those treasured bytes in Windows 11.
Windows 11 features in preview: Everything you can try right now
Windows 11 is on the way, but you can try some of its features right now. These are all the Windows 11 features currently in preview.
Windows 11 first showed its face on June 24, 2021, and became officially available on Oct. 5 of that same year. Today, most laptops sold come with Windows 11 installed out of the box, but the Windows development cycle never stops, and there's always something to look forward to. That's where the Windows Insider Program comes into play, as it lets fans try out new Windows 11 features in preview before anybody else.
Windows 11 update tracker: Download and install the latest update
Now that Microsoft has released Windows 11 via stable channel, we're tracking all the updates
Keeping Windows up to date will ensure that you’ve got the least buggy version of the OS. When it comes to Windows 11, Microsoft has opted for the one update per year strategy, although it continues to make available regular patches and fixes throughout the year to address known issues. New feature sets, such as the Moment 3 release, are also being seeded through the Windows Update framework. This article will serve as the central repository of knowledge base (KB) articles and download links for all updates related to Windows 11.
How to install Jupyter Notebook on Windows
Are you using Jupyter Notebook for part of your coding? You can install it on Windows, and access it via the web in a few steps.
If you're a programmer, data scientist, or anyone who codes you're probably familiar with Jupyter Notebook. This is a web-based interactive development environment. It's pretty flexible, so you might want to know how you can use it on the latest version of Windows 11. Even though it is a web-based interface, Jupyter Notebook works best when paired with Anaconda, which will assist in downloading Jupyter Notebook and getting you right into the right dependencies.
How to use Dynamic Lighting on Windows 11
Windows 11 has a new feature called Dynamic Lighting to change RGB effects on compatible devices. Here's how to use it.
For the longest time, the only way to change the RGB lighting effects for the peripherals on your Windows 11 PC has been to use the dedicated software from the brand that makes those peripherals. Each of the companies making some of the best gaming keyboards — whether that's Razer, SteelSeries, Corsair, and so on — has its own app, and if you end up buying equipment from different companies, it means you'll also need multiple pieces of software bloating up your device. Thankfully, Windows 11 is finally introducing Dynamic Lighting, a feature that brings together RGB lighting controls to a native Windows 11 interface, so you no longer need all of these apps.
How to find the specs on your Windows 11 PC
Knowing the specs of your Windows 11 PC can help with troubleshooting, or let you know if you can run certain apps — here's how to find them.
At one point or another, you might need to find the specifications — or specs — of your Windows 11 PC. It can be useful for troubleshooting if you're having issues, or maybe you just want to know if your laptop is compatible with a certain app or able to run a specific game. If you're more tech-savvy, of course, you probably already purchased your PC based on the specs, but that's not the case for everyone.
How to generate SSH keys on Windows
SSH keys allow enhanced security and convenience for authentication. Here's how you can easily generate SSH keys on Windows
If you find yourself logging into a remote server on your Windows machine repeatedly, you probably know you need SSH keys. Besides being a more secure way of authentication, SSH keys are more convenient than conventional passwords, and offer a variety of additional benefits. Generating SSH keys on Windows 11 is fairly simple and you can do it in a number of ways, based on your preferences and what system you're used to. So, let's get into the various methods you can use to generate SSH keys on Windows.
How to disable Xbox Game Bar on Windows
Don't care about Microsoft's Xbox overlay in games? Here's how you can disable the Xbox Game Bar UI in Windows.
Out of the box, Windows 11 and 10 give you a way to record and share your games, as well as chat with your Xbox friends, manage system resources, and do all kinds of things thanks to plug-ins. All of this is available through the Xbox Game Bar, but what if you don't care about any of these features and they're just using up resources on your laptop? Thankfully, you can disable the Xbox Game Bar so it doesn't bother you. Here's how.
Virtual private network (VPN) providers usually supply an application to be downloaded, installed, and run to set up and configure the secure connection automatically. Even with an available app from the best VPNs, there may be a time when you need to configure the connection manually within Windows. This is precisely what our guide will aid you with, and it should work for most (if not all) VPNs out there.
How to back up your Windows 11 PC
Want to keep a full copy of your PC in case something goes wrong? Or just back up your files? It's made easy with Windows 11's system tools.
The more you use your Windows 11 PC, the more important files and memories you gather. Whether you have photos, documents, videos, or even favorite apps, it's natural to want to back things up in the event something goes wrong with your PC. Thankfully, Windows 11 offers three different ways to back up your system. You can back up individual files with File History, copy folders to the cloud with OneDrive PC folder backup, or create a system image of your PC. We have a look at all three for you right here.
How to create a guest account on Windows 11
If you need to share a Windows 11 PC with someone, you can add a guest account under their name through the Windows 11 settings app
There might come a time when you have to share your laptop, or your Windows 11 PC with someone. In the old days of Windows, there was a dedicated guest mode for these situations, but Windows 11 and Windows 10 have since removed this. It doesn't mean you can't manually add a guest account, though.
How to customize notification settings on Windows 11
Notifications can be useful, but also overwhelming at times. Here's how you can customize notification settings in Windows 11 to your liking.
Notifications can be a hugely important feature on our laptops, just like they are on our smartphones. They let us know when something needs our attention, or remind us if we need to get something done. However, as we install more and more apps, things get a bit noisy, and you may want to turn some notifications off. If you want to regain some peace, here's how to customize notification settings in Windows 11.
How to customize your Windows 11 PC
Windows 11 is a great operating system, but not everyone has to like how it looks out of the box. Here's how you can change
Windows 11 is a great iteration of Microsoft's operating system, with many streamlined design elements and new features that make it a big upgrade. As much as we like the fresh, default look of Windows 11, though, it may not be to everyone's tastes. Thankfully, Windows has always been easy to customize, and Windows 11 is no different. It keeps many of the same personalization options from Windows 10, with some new ones, too. In this article, we'll show you how to customize Windows 11 to your liking to make your great Windows laptop or Windows desktop more distinct, both by using the built-in settings and third-party apps.
How to prevent pop-ups in Chrome, Edge, and other desktop browsers
Pop-ups can get in the way, but modern web browsers have controls that help make it easy to avoid them
The more you browse the web on any of the best web browsers (regardless of operating system or device), the more you might come across the occasional pop-up. These can get in the way of whatever website you were originally on, and we understand how frustrating that can be.
How to use and manage multiple monitors on Windows 11
Using multiple monitors on Windows 11 is an easy task and can boost productivity. Here's how you can do it in a few simple steps.
Having a second monitor on your desk setup can be great for work or for photo or video editing. When set up properly, using multiple monitors can help boost your productivity since you'll have more room to spread out. Did you just buy a new monitor and are wondering how to plug it in and use it in Windows 11? It's actually a very easy process!
How to activate Windows
If you made a change to your PC or find that Windows isn't properly activated, all it takes is a few click to properly activate your OS
Windows activations are frequently tied to a digital license that's then linked to your Microsoft account. That way, you just need to sign into your desktop PC or laptop to reactivate your license when you switch devices. But if you end up making changes to a PC, like swapping hardware, or if you're building your own desktop from scratch, you might have to reactivate or activate Windows the old-fashioned way.
Here's how to use ViveTool to force-enable new features in Windows 11
The bleeding edge features are just a few commands away.
You probably already know that Microsoft has the Windows Insider Program, so you can beta-test early versions of Windows 11 on a great laptop or a great Windows desktop, or even in a virtual machine. Each of the channels of the program gets you access to the various versions of Windows. Unfortunately, though, Microsoft often likes to A/B test Windows features in the Windows Insider program.
How to scan documents on Windows 11 using your webcam
If you don't have a scanner, you can use your webcam and an app on Windows 11 to capture documents and email or send them out
There comes a time when you might need to scan a document on Windows 11. It could be an important document you signed that you need to email or just something you might want to digitize for later. Well, if you're using a great Windows tablet or an external webcam, you can scan documents pretty easily. The Windows 11 camera app offers the option to scan a document, and then save it as a photo on your device. You also can use a third-party app like HP Scan and Capture to turn your photos into scans. And though it takes a little extra work, you also can use an OCR tool to capture text from images, helping avoid the need to scan.
PC upgrade guide: How to choose the right parts for your machine
Upgrading your PC is not a question of if, but when. With countless options available, this guide decodes how to prioritize your PC upgrades wisely.
The urge to upgrade your PC can often turn into a rabbit hole of never-ending research, unnecessary anxiety, and, ultimately, bad purchases. The allure of getting your hands on a shiny new graphics card or the latest CPU is tempting, but if your upgrade decisions are not guided by a focus on your specific use case, you can end up with decisions that are hard to take back.