UPDATED 5/22: Windows 10 version 1903, May 2019 update, is the first semi-annual feature update available starting May 21, 2019, with an array of new features and improvements . However, as a result of upgrades being incremental, and they’re simply known as “Windows 10,” it’s difficult to know which version your device is running. Although you won’t find an May 2019 update label anywhere, each release of Windows 10 receives a specific version number....

The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update is now available for all compatible devices adding a new set of features and improvements. The only caveat is that because new releases of the OS are incremental updates, and they’re simply labeled “Windows 10,” it’s difficult to tell which version is installed on your PC. Although you will not see the “Fall Creators Update” reference anywhere, Microsoft assigns a version number to each feature update of Windows 10 ....

On Windows 11 , it’s simply known as Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), but with every major update, the platform receives a version number. Currently, there are two versions of the platform. WSL version 1 was the original release, and it introduced the ability to run Linux distros natively alongside Windows 10 . WSL version 2 is the second version that runs the Linux kernel inside a lightweight virtual machine. In the nutshell, the virtualization approach features the same benefits as the original version, improves system performance, brings support for Linux GUI apps , and offers full system call support compatibility....

To connect a Bluetooth device on Windows 11, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices , click on “Add device,” choose “Bluetooth,” select the device, and continue with the on-screen directions to complete the pairing. Alternatively, open “Quick Settings” (Windows key + A), click on “Manage Bluetooth devices,” select the device, and confirm the pairing code. On Windows 11, you can connect to virtually any Bluetooth device, and in this guide, you will learn how....

On FreeNAS, when setting up the hard drives to store your files, you have to create a pool, which is a logical group of physical drives that you can then use to create volumes (vdevs) using ZFS . However, before you create a storage pool, you need to decide the level of redundancy. FreeNAS uses ZFS, which is a robust file system that offers many levels of redundancy, including RAIDZ1, RAIDZ2, RAIDZ3, Stripe, and Mirror....

To change the action when pressing the Copilot physical key on Windows 11, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Keyboard and customize the keyboard key using the “Customize Copilot key on keyboard” setting. UPDATED 12/17/2025: On Windows 11 , it’s possible to change the action when you press the Copilot key on the keyboard to launch virtually any app, including other chatbots like ChatGPT, and in this guide, I will explain this configuration....

On Windows 11 , it’s possible to disable the Copilot AI assistant on the Microsoft 365 (Office) apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, and in this guide, I’ll show you how to complete this configuration. Although in the past, you had to get the Copilot Plus subscription to access the AI assistant in the Office apps, Microsoft decided to raise the prices and bundle Copilot with the Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscription....

To disable flashing on Taskbar apps for Windows 11, open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors and clear the “Show flashing on Taskbar apps” option. Alternatively, you can also set the “ForegroundFlashCount” and “ForegroundLockTimeout” keys to “0” in the Registry to prevent apps from flashing. On Windows 11 , you can prevent apps from flashing in the Taskbar when they require your attention, and in this guide, I will explain two ways to complete this configuration....

On Windows 10, the Windows Search experience can now show your recent searches to quickly return to them. The list includes the four most recent from web queries, apps, files, and settings that you searched in the homepage of Windows Search. When using the Start menu or search box in the taskbar. Although it’s a useful feature that allows you to quickly remember and go to a previous search, it’s not a feature that everyone wants, even more if you are using a shared computer and you don’t want others to see these activities....

Although you can already use Messenger on a web browser, Facebook is now also making the desktop for Windows 10 and macOS. Similar to the browser version of the service, you can sign in with your social network account to send text messages as well as to make voice and video calls. The app comes out as more people are using communication services to stay in touch with family and friends, and work remotely due to the global health crisis that is forcing people to stay at home and practice social distancing....

To enable Spotlight on Windows 11 (or 10), open Settings > Personalization > Background and choose the “Windows Spotlight” setting. If you’re using the “Themes” settings page, select the “Windows Spotlight” theme. On Windows 11 (and 10), Spotlight is a feature that automatically changes the desktop background image daily with panoramic images from around the world, and in the guide, I’ll teach you the steps to complete this configuration....

To enable tabs on File Explorer, open Settings > Windows Updates and click the Check for Updates button to install update KB5019509 or higher release. If the update didn’t enable tabs, open the Command Prompt (admin) and run the “vivetool /enable /id:39145991” and “37634385” and “36354489” commands with the ViveTool. UPDATED 1/9/2023: On Windows 11 22H2 , you can now enable tabs in File Explorer on version 22H2. The feature works just like in Microsoft Edge....

The Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 is a mandatory hardware requirement that must be enabled on your computer’s Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) to upgrade to Windows 11 , and in this guide, I’ll outline the steps to complete this configuration On Windows 11 , TPM 2.0 is a security chip integrated into the motherboard of many modern computers, such as those from Asus, Dell, MSI, ASRock, and Gigabyte, and it provides a secure environment for storing and protecting sensitive cryptographic keys, passwords, and certificates, making it more difficult for malware, ransomware, and attackers to compromise your system compared to software-based security alone....

To view devices registered with your Microsoft account on Windows 11, open Settings > Accounts > Linked devices . Alternatively, open your Microsoft account (online) and open the “Devices” page. You can view the computers and game consoles associated with your Microsoft account through the “Linked devices” settings page on Windows 11 and your online account. In this guide, I will show you how to complete this process. If you ever signed in with your Microsoft account to a Windows 11, 10, or 8....

If you’ve been trying to install the KB3020114 update in your Windows 10 Technical Preview build 9879 and failed with error 80070005. You’re not alone. Many users are reporting that they cannot install this update that Microsoft released on December 2nd. The update that Microsoft issue for build 9879 is to fix a big crashing and restarting issue with Explorer.exe. The company is aware of the problem and it’s working on a permanent fix....

You probably heard that this time around Microsoft is letting people clean install Windows 8 using an upgrade installation media (e.g., DVD or USB drive). However the catch is that you need to have a previous valid version of Windows already installed in your PC to properly activate the operating system. As the guys from Lifehacker pointed out, if you are using the “Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant”, you are all set....

On Windows 10, when the hard drive starts running out of space, you can always use the Storage settings to see what’s taking up space and remove files and apps you don’t need. Starting with preview build 19603 , Windows 10 is adding a storage analyzer tool known as User cleanup recommendations , which analyzes the entire system automatically to identify unused files and apps you can remove to free up space....

If you have an Xbox Series X , S, or Xbox One, the power mode is set to “Instant-on” for quick startup, allowing you to get to your games nearly instantly, but you can also select the “Energy-saving” option that lowers the power consumption. The only caveat is that neither of these modes fully powers off the console, and the power menu only includes an option to put the console in standby mode or restart....

To install YouTube as an app on Windows 11, open “YouTube” with Edge, open the main menu, choose “Install YouTube,” and click “Install.” To install YouTube as an app, open “YouTube” with Chrome, open the main menu, select the “Save and share” menu, choose “Create shortcut,” check “Open as window,” and click “Create.” UPDATED 10/16/2023: Although Google has a native YouTube app for Android and iOS, there was never an official app for Windows 11 or even Windows 10 ....

On Windows 11 (or 10), sometimes it’s necessary to automate certain routine tasks (for example, mount a network drive, launch an app, run a batch file, show a message) and run them at specific scheduled times. Usually, you use Task Scheduler, as it’s a tool designed to execute tasks based on a wide range of criteria. The only caveat is that while creating a task, you can check a “Hidden” option, but when the task runs, the Task Scheduler will show a command window on the desktop briefly, which is not only annoying, but it’s also a bad user experience....