Skip to main content
Tech Radar TechRadar the technology experts
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
RSS
Asia
flag of Singapore
Singapore
Europe
flag of Danmark
Danmark
flag of Suomi
Suomi
flag of Norge
Norge
flag of Sverige
Sverige
flag of UK
UK
flag of Italia
Italia
flag of Nederland
Nederland
flag of België (Nederlands)
België (Nederlands)
flag of France
France
flag of Deutschland
Deutschland
flag of España
España
North America
flag of US (English)
US (English)
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of México
México
Australasia
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of New Zealand
New Zealand
  • Phones
  • Computing
  • TVs
  • AI
  • Streaming
  • Health
  • Audio
  • VPN
  • More
    • Cameras
    • Home
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Opinion
    • How to
    • Versus
    • Deals
    • Coupons
    • Best
Tech Radar Pro
Tech Radar Gaming
Trending
  • Amazon Prime Day
  • Nintendo Switch 2
  • Best VPN
  • ChatGPT
  • Best web hosting
  • NYT Wordle today
  • Best laptop

Recommended reading

A woman sitting in a chair looking at a Windows 11 laptop
Windows Microsoft has a big new AI settings upgrade for Windows 11 on Copilot+ PCs – plus 3 other nifty tricks
Unhappy
Windows Microsoft’s latest attempt to persuade upgrades to Windows 11 falls spectacularly flat on its face
Asus Zenbook A14 laptop
Windows Windows 11’s big Start menu revamp is real – Microsoft has shared a first look at the redesign, and I’m very glad to see it
A laptop with the Windows 11 desktop on screen, glowing, while on a work desk
Windows Windows 11 is getting a very handy change to the taskbar, as Microsoft takes a leaf from Apple’s Mac playbook
A young woman is working on a laptop in a relaxed office space.
Windows New update for Windows 11 24H2 is the most feature-packed for some time, delivering some seriously useful additions
businessman loves his laptop computer
Windows The end is nigh for Windows 10 – here are 5 things Microsoft must do to get people to love Windows 11
A frustrated looking girl playing a video game
Computing I build PCs for a living – here are the 6 worst things you’re doing to your PC (and how to fix them)
  1. Computing
  2. Software
  3. Windows

The best quick and easy Windows 10 tweaks

How-to
By Nick Odantzis published 6 April 2016

Make Windows 10 better

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Windows 10 tweaks

Windows 10 tweaks

For anyone who is new to Windows 10, you might be happy with the way things are working, and won't want to change a thing. And we understand because the operating system is set up well from the factory. But over time you might find certain things start to grate, such as prompts that frequently remind you of something you don't care about, or not being able to open fi les the way you're used to.

While it's easy to ignore such things, it's also easy to make some simple tweaks and have a better version of Windows 10 at your fingertips. And, that's just what we'll show you how to do. We have eight 'hacks' that make your PC experience a much smoother one.

Don't let the word 'hack' scare you either – these are just simple tricks that anybody can try out, and if you don't like the result, just put it back how it was before.

  • Check out our collection of guides on how to get the best of Windows 10
Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
1. Open PDFs your way

1. Open PDFs your way

We like opening PDFs the old-fashioned way in a dedicated PDF reader. You can do this by typing default app settings into the Taskbar search, then clicking on 'choose default applications by file type'.

Scroll down until you see a .pdf file type. You'll see Microsoft Edge is the default app. Change this to another default by clicking on it and choosing it from the list that appears.

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
2. Use Google search

2. Use Google search

When you click on the search box in the Taskbar and type something in, Cortana will also search online using Microsoft's search engine Bing. If you prefer to use Google, go to 'Settings > System > Default apps > Web browser' and set this as 'Google Chrome'.

Now open Chrome and install Chrometana Chrome and choose Google in the page that opens.

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
3. Manage your battery

3. Manage your battery

Turning on Power Saver is a quick trick for hanging onto power on long excursions. Windows 10 also comes with a Battery Saver feature, which kicks in when your power drops below a certain amount and turns off battery-draining features.

To get to this feature, type battery saver into the Taskbar search, and click on the result. Then toggle the switch to 'On'.

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
4. Speed up Windows with gestures

4. Speed up Windows with gestures

Boost your productivity levels through speedy shortcuts, such as dragging two fingers up or down to scroll on your touchpad. See which gestures are available by typing Mouse and touchpad into the Taskbar search and clicking the result.

In here you can toggle gestures on or off, and you can also change what Windows does when you do a three-finger tap or drag and slide.

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
5. Get your life organised!

5. Get your life organised!

To use your calendar, type calendar into the Taskbar search, open the result and click 'Get started'. If you have an email account set up, you'll see it under 'Accounts'.

Hit 'Ready to go' to open 'Calendar', then click '+ New Event'. If you use other calendars, you can sync events. Hit 'Settings > Manage accounts > Add account', and choose your email you'll now see all events.

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
6. Make Autoplay work for you

6. Make Autoplay work for you

Insert a USB drive, or other type of media device, into your machine and you'll see Windows 10 recognises it and asks what you want to do with it each time. If you want to avoid this prompt, turn it off.

Head to the Taskbar search and type Autoplay settings. Switch 'Use Autoplay for all media devices' to 'Off', or choose an action that occurs only when you insert specific media.

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
7. Disable the login screen

7. Disable the login screen

If you have little need for a password it can be annoying to always have to enter one at the login screen. But there's a trick that allows you to remove that process altogether.

Go to your user accounts area by typing Run into the Taskbar search and then type netplwiz into the box and hit 'Enter'. Where it says 'Users must enter a password…' uncheck the tick box, then restart.

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
8. Grab a screenshot

8. Grab a screenshot

There are many instances where screenshots are handy, but how do you take one? The easiest way is by holding the Windows key and pressing the [PrtScn] button.

Windows will capture your whole desktop and pop the resulting image into your 'Pictures > Screenshots' folder. To capture a specific part of your desktop, use the Snipping Tool (type snipping tool into the Taskbar search).

  • Enjoyed this article? Discover how to get the most from your PC and new things to do in Windows Help & Advice. Take advantage of an exclusive offer in our sampler today.
Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
TOPICS
Windows 10
Nick Odantzis
See more Computing How Tos
Read more
A woman sitting in a chair looking at a Windows 11 laptop
Microsoft has a big new AI settings upgrade for Windows 11 on Copilot+ PCs – plus 3 other nifty tricks
Unhappy
Microsoft’s latest attempt to persuade upgrades to Windows 11 falls spectacularly flat on its face
Asus Zenbook A14 laptop
Windows 11’s big Start menu revamp is real – Microsoft has shared a first look at the redesign, and I’m very glad to see it
A laptop with the Windows 11 desktop on screen, glowing, while on a work desk
Windows 11 is getting a very handy change to the taskbar, as Microsoft takes a leaf from Apple’s Mac playbook
A young woman is working on a laptop in a relaxed office space.
New update for Windows 11 24H2 is the most feature-packed for some time, delivering some seriously useful additions
businessman loves his laptop computer
The end is nigh for Windows 10 – here are 5 things Microsoft must do to get people to love Windows 11
Latest in Windows
Upset PC gamer with head in hands by his PC
I don't generally recommend downloading Windows 11's preview updates, but some gamers may want to chance Microsoft's latest effort
A young woman is working on a laptop in a relaxed office space.
Microsoft confirms Windows 11 25H2, and in some ways, I'm glad we're not getting a major update like Windows 12 this year
Man with laptop showing Blue screen of death or BSOD on the monitor screen
Forget the Blue Screen of Death – Windows is replacing it with an even more terrifying Black Screen of Death
A woman sitting at a table and using a laptop with her phone nearby
Windows 10 users who don’t want to upgrade to Windows 11 get new lifeline from Microsoft
Render of the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X
Microsoft's 'if you can't beat them, join them' approach to the threat of Steam in the new Xbox PC app is a great idea
Windows fail
Windows 11 user has 30 years of 'irreplaceable photos and work' locked away in OneDrive - and Microsoft's silence is deafening
Latest in How Tos
Emma Raducanu preparing for Wimbledon 2025
How to watch Raducanu vs Xu online: live stream Wimbledon 2025 tennis FREE
A woman dances on a friend's shoulders at the Glastonbury Festival held at Worthy Farm, in Pilton, Somerset on June 29 near Glastonbury, England. The festival, founded in 1970, has grown into one of the largest outdoor green field festivals in the world.(Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
How to watch Glastonbury replays on BBC iPlayer (it's FREE)
Max Verstappen leads the pack at the beginning of the 2024 Austrian GP.
How to watch Austrian Grand Prix F1 on ORF On today (it's free)
Jake Paul and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in their face off for their fight on 28 July.
How to watch Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr live on DAZN tonight – best PPV prices, start time
Sione Katoa of the Sharks scores a try during the NRL Preliminary Final match between the Penrith Panthers and the Cronulla Sharks
NRL Premiership live stream 2025: how to watch rugby online, FREE options, streaming guide
Maro Itoje in training for British & Irish Lions
Western Force vs Lions FREE streams: How to watch British & Irish Lions tour live online from anywhere now
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. 1
    This Lenovo Chromebook uses a CPU not found in any other laptops - and it should give AMD and Intel a run for their money
  2. 2
    This touching viral AI video of Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian’s mom hugging him is also sparking a fiery debate
  3. 3
    70% of new hires click on phishing links within the first 3 months of employment - here's how to stay safe
  4. 4
    Samsung just launched a new 32-inch 4K smart OLED monitor with AI and Microsoft 365 access, but why is it so expensive?
  5. 5
    I went on an AI-powered vacation, and it's changed how I use my smartphone for good

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Web notifications
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...