To create a backup of the Windows 10 Registry, open System Restore and click on Create . (The restore point will include a copy of the Registry.) To restore the Registry form backup, open the System Restore wizard and select the restore point. Changes to the Registry on Windows 10 can cause issues and prevent your computer from starting correctly. As such, even if you know your way around the database, a backup of the Registry can help restore the original settings if something goes wrong....

On Windows 10, the search box is located in the Taskbar to give you quick access to search, but it takes a lot of valuable space that you can use to pin other apps. However, if you would like to make the search box smaller or remove it completely from the Taskbar, Windows 10 has the option to disable it or make it smaller. In this guide , you’ll learn the easy steps to remove the search box from the Taskbar on Windows 10 ....

To disable “News and interests” on Windows 10, right-click the “Taskbar,” select the “News and interests” submenu, and choose the “Turn off” option. You can also use the Registry by creating the “ShellFeedsTaskbarViewMode” DWORD and setting the value to “2” in the “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Feeds” key. UPDATED 11/22/2023: On Windows 10, you can disable the “News and interests” experience from the Taskbar, and in this guide, I will show you two ways to complete this configuration....

To enable the Dark mode on Windows 10, open Settings (Windows key + I) > Personalization > Colors and choose “Dark.” Or, with or without a Windows 10 activation, you can turn on the Dark mode by setting the “AppsUseLightTheme” and “SystemUsesLightTheme” DWORD values to “0” in the Registry. UPDATED 12/11/2023: On Windows 10 , you can enable the Dark color system mode in two ways using the Settings app and Registry, and in this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps to apply this configuration on your device to personalize your desktop experience....

To enable DRR on Windows 11, open Settings > System > Dispaly > Advanced display , and choose the “Dynamic” option from the “Choose a refresh rate” setting for version 23H2. On version 24H2 and higher releases, open Settings > System > Dispaly > Advanced display , and turn on the “Dynamic refresh rate” toggle switch. Windows 11 has a “Dynamic Refresh Rate” (DRR) feature, allowing laptops and desktops computers to lower their refresh rate to save battery....

UPDATED 3/31/2023: On Windows 11 build 23424 , you can enable an early preview of a new Windows Update option that allows you to choose to receive “moment” and other preview updates before they’re available to everyone. The option is known as “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re ready for your PC,” and according to @phantomofearth3 (who spotted the feature), it is an option you can enable to receive “moment” updates (enablement packages) before they roll out to compatible devices....

Alongside the ability to sync your favorites, settings, autofill, and passwords, the Chromium version of Microsoft Edge also allows you to sync open tabs across devices making it easier to pick up websites on other computers. However, if this is a feature you want to use, you have to make sure it’s enabled in your profile settings before you access open tabs from other devices using the “History” menu. In this guide , you’ll learn the steps to enable open tabs sync on the Chromium version of Microsoft Edge ....

Windows 11 lets you see other computers in the same local area networks (LAN) to access remote resources, such as shared folders , printers, or applications. If you have to access another computer’s resources, File Explorer is the primary application you should use on Windows 11 . However, you first need to enable the feature to discover network devices in the network. This guide will teach you the easy steps to quickly find other computers connected to the local network on Windows 11....

On Windows 11 , you may sometimes need to find your printer’s manufacturer, model, and serial number for various reasons, including getting the proper ink cartridges or toner, replacing parts, or troubleshooting problems. Whatever the case might be, Windows 11 (version 22H2 and higher) can show the manufacturer, printer model, serial number, and other details from the printer’s settings page in the Settings app. This guide will teach you the steps to quickly find the printer information on Windows 11, so you don’t have to walk to the printer to check that information in the stickers, the device’s complicated menu, or using commands....

UPDATED 1/14/2025: On Windows 10 , trying to print and getting the document stuck in the queue can be frustrating. Also, if you try to cancel the job, it could stay stuck deleting forever. Although there could be many reasons you cannot print, including connection problems or physical issues with the printer, it’s usually an issue with the Windows 10 “print spooler.” This service spools print jobs and handles the interactions with the printer, and sometimes, it will stop working, even after restarting your device and printer....

You purchased your new Surface and there is a good chance that you already upgraded to Windows 8 as well. But now when you try to launch one of the new Windows Store apps like the Mail, Messaging and MetroTwit, they will not open. What’s happening? What do you do now? Well there are various things that could be happening and the solution will depend where are you using Windows 8....

Microsoft Office 2007 and 2010 Ribbon menu was intended to be simpler and in the process Microsoft not only accomplished that, but it also looks pretty elegant. One of the downside with this new Ribbon menu is that is very long in height — different than menus we are used to –; this could be a disadvantage for smaller and low resolution screens. For example working with low resolution devices such a netbook, it could be pretty functional to minimize the Ribbon menu to better utilize the screen space....

To install Hyper-V on Windows 11 Home, enable virtualization in the UEFI/BIOS, run a custom script to add the Hyper-V components with DISM to the Home setup, and restart the computer. The Microsoft Hyper-V feature to run virtual machines is only available on Windows 11 Pro , but there’s a way to install it on Windows 11 Home, and in this guide, you will learn how. On Windows 11 , Hyper-V allows you to create and manage virtual machines to run other instances of Windows 11 and older versions of the operating system, such as Windows 10 , 8....

After months of waiting, the Lumia Denim update is finally here for the Lumia Icon on Verizon. Microsoft officially announces that the Lumia Denim update, which includes Windows Phone 8.1.1, is ready for download and installation. You can download the update immediately using the Windows Device Recovery Tool. The updates should also be available Over The Air (OTA) very shortly, and it’s something you want to wait for if you do not want all of your content to be erased in the process....

PowerShell 7.5.4 is the modern, cross-platform shell for Windows 11, built on .NET for better performance, faster updates, and advanced automation compared to PowerShell 5.1. You can install it using the MSI installer, Microsoft Store, or winget, with full integration into Windows and support for Windows, Linux, macOS, and ARM64 devices. On Windows 11 , PowerShell 7.5.4 represents the modern evolution of Microsoft’s command-line shell and scripting language, built for power users, network administrators, and developers who need advanced automation, configuration, and cross-platform management capabilities....

To install Ubuntu on Windows 10, open Command Prompt (admin) and run the wsl –install command to install the latest version. Or run the wsl –install -d UBUNTU-VERSION to install a specific version of Ubuntu. You can also download and install the latest version of Ubuntu from the Microsoft Store. You don’t need to dual-boot or create a virtual machine when using WSL. You can install the Ubuntu distribution alongside Windows 10 to run your favorite Linux tools without switching computers or creating a virtual machine ....

To share files on Windows 10, open the folder with the files in “File Explorer,” right-click the folder and access the “Properties,” navigate to the “Sharing” tab, click “Share,” choose the user or group, click “Add,” choose the access permissions, click on “Share.” To share files through Windows Search, open the folder with the files in File Explorer, right-click the item, and choose “Share.” Then, select the computer to which you want to send the file....

To switch from Microsoft to a local account on Windows 11, open Settings > Accounts > Your Info , click “Sign in a local account instead,” confirm the local credentials, sign out, and sign back in. Alternatively, you can create a new local account, transfer your files and setting, and then delete the Microsoft account. UPDATED 4/2/2025: On Windows 11 , a Microsoft account is the default option when setting up a new user, offering better security, seamless integration with Microsoft services, and automatic synchronization of files and settings across devices....

If you’ve realized that the Microsoft Launcher isn’t for you, it’s possible to uninstall it completely from your Android phone. The Microsoft Launcher is a great alternative to Google’s default launcher on Android, especially for Windows 10 users, as it not only allows you to fully customize the look and feel of your phone , but it also connects with Microsoft services for an enhanced cross-device experience between PC and phone....

Cortana has a new skill to let you create lists, which you can also connect with Wunderlist for a deeper integration. If you’ve been using the digital assistant, you know that it can do an array of tasks, but managing lists wasn’t one of them. The new feature allows Cortana on your Windows 10 PC, tablet, or phone quickly and conveniently create and manage all kinds of lists, including your typical to-do and shopping lists....