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Windows 10 is definitely a huge improvement when it comes to a Windows series desktop operating system. This statement is valid especially after what was provided to people in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. Microsoft tried to do too many things at once and this led to a very confusing system that was not only criticized around the world, but people were also going back to Windows 7 after trying Windows 8.
Windows 8.1 brought some improvements, but it was still a mix of an operating system that was intended for touchscreen devices and for desktop PCs. However, Windows 10 fixes many of these problems and it was important that Microsoft get it right.
It’s not that Windows 10 doesn’t come with touch-related features anymore, but Microsoft has done some serious work on Windows 10 to make sure both experiences stay on the same system without interfering with each other.
Anyway, going to the topic, Windows 10 also has some bugs like any other Windows OS in the past. Some people face problems with the Store and others face other errors. But there is an error related to the Control Panel that we are going to talk about in this post.
Many people have faced Control Panel related issues in Windows 10 and that is what the entry is all about. I will post some solutions in Control Panel not opening in Windows 10 , which will help you fix the problem. Let’s start.
Control Panel won’t open in Windows 10
Solution # 1: Your PC Has Malware, Run a Full System Scan
Did you know that malware causes many of the problems on Windows-based PCs, you can easily get rid of these problems by removing these malicious programs using a good anti-malware program like Windows Defender. Oddly enough, Windows Defender is on par with other security programs for Windows. You can easily scan your Windows Defender computer to see if your computer is affected by some kind of malware or not, and if Defender finds some kind of malware on your computer, it will make sure that it cleans your computer.
Solution # 2: Clean up your startup programs list
There is a possibility that a program that is running on your PC startup is causing some kind of problem with the Control Panel. To fix this problem, follow the steps below.
Open task manager. Right-click on the taskbar and click Task Manager.
Now open the Startup tab in Task Manager. You will see a list of programs that run when the PC starts.
You can view the list of programs and disable all those that do not seem productive to you during PC startup. But be careful and don’t disable a program that may harm your PC in any way. Google is your friend, so use it.
Solution 3: make sure the Windows 10 Software Licensing Service is running
Press Windows key + R to start the Run Windows dialog.
Now enter services.msc in the Run dialog and hit ENTER.
This will open the Windows Services window and you will notice the number of services running on your PC. Using this utility you can start or stop a service according to your needs.
Make sure the Software Licensing service is running and, if it is now, start it and restart the computer. This should solve the problem.
Solution # 4: Run the System File Checker and Scan Your PC
If the above solutions don’t work, try running the system file checker. To do this, follow the steps below.
Find CMD in the start menu and press Ctrl + SHIFT + ENTER simultaneously and this will launch the Command Prompt in Administrator mode.
Click Yes for any question and then type the following at the command line
sfc / scannow
This will start scanning your system for corrupted files and will also fix you if there are any corrupted files on your system.
Solution # 5: Use Microsoft’s own utility to fix the problem
If you are still looking for a solution then I hope this fixes it for you in one go. Just follow the steps below.
Go to this link and download the utility.
Once downloaded, simply double click on it to run the utility. It will look like this:
Click the Next button and let it scan your PC. This will take some time, so hang on.
After the scan is complete, the utility will fix the issues automatically and the Control Panel should now work properly.
Solution # 6: Modify your Registry
Many Windows 10 users confirmed that the removal of the BagMRU and Bags folders brought the Control Panel back. Before modifying your Registry, don’t forget to make a backup copy. In case something goes wrong, you can restore a working OS version.
So, here are the steps to follow:
Go to Start> type regedit> navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREClassesLocal SettingsSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsShell
Delete all BagMRU and Bags folders
Solution # 7: Change the screen scale
Other users confirmed that the problem had been fixed by changing the display settings. As surprising as this solution may sound, it worked for many users, so it’s worth a try.
If you have scaled your screen beyond 100%, this may explain why the Control Panel is not available. So if you are using any settings other than 100% for your text, apps, scale down to 100%.
Go to Start> type Resize apps on screen and double click on the first result. Go to Custom Scale and change the value back to 100%.
Solution 8: Reinstall Windows 10 again
Most of the people who are facing this problem are people who have upgraded from Windows 7 or Windows 8 / 8.1. The problem seems to go away when you install a fresh new Windows 10 on your PC. So why not go ahead and give it a try?
These are some of the solutions that seem to fix the issue of Control Panel not opening in Windows 10 . If you have corrected this problem in exactly another way, be sure to comment below with the solution as it will help other people get rid of this error.
Do you Want Windows 10 to run faster? From Computer World give useful information about you. In just a few minutes you can try the tested tips below and then your machine will be with much better performance and without the usual system problems.
7 Ways to Improve the Speed of Your Windows 10
1. Change the power settings
If you’re using the Windows 10 Power saver plan, you’re slowing down your computer. This plan reduces the performance of your computer to save energy. Changing this setting from “Power saver” to “High performance” or “Balanced” will give an immediate increase in performance.
To do this, launch the Control Panel application, then select Hardware and Sound -> Power Options. However, you should see two options: “Balanced (recommended)” and “Power saver.” However, depending on the make and model of your computer, you may see other plans here, including some marked by the manufacturer. ”Click the down arrow next to“ Show additional plans. ”Select the desired setting, and then exit the control panel.
2. Disable the programs that start when you start your computer
One of the reasons your Windows 10 computer slows down is that you have too many programs running in the background – programs you rarely or never use. Stop them and your computer will run smoother.
Start Task Manager: press “Ctrl-Shift-Esc”, right-click on the lower right corner of your screen and select “Task Manager” or type “manager” in the Windows 10 search box and press “Enter”.
If “Task Manager” starts as a compact application without tabs, click “More details” at the bottom of the screen. Click the Startup tab. You’ll see a list of programs and services that start when you start Windows. To stop a program or service from starting when you start your computer, right-click it and select “Disable.”
This does not disable the program completely; it just won’t start when you start your computer – you can always change this setting if you decide something else later. To do this, repeat the steps described above and select “Enable” instead of “Disable”.
Many of the programs and services that start when you start Windows 10 may be familiar to you, such as OneDrive or Evernote Clipper. But there will certainly be some that you do not recognize. Task Manager helps you get more information about unknown programs. Right-click an item and select “Properties” for more information about it, such as its location on your hard drive, whether it has a digital signature, and other information, such as the version number, file size, and last time it was changed.
You can also right-click on the item and select “Open file location”. This opens File Explorer and takes you to the folder where the file is located, which can give you a different idea of the purpose of the program.
You can also select “Search online” after right-clicking. As a result, Bing will show you links to sites with information about the program or service.
Is it good to know about the existence of the Reason Software site called “Should I Block It”? Where you can search with the file name. You will usually find very solid information about the program or service.
3. Turn off Windows tips and tricks
While you’re using your Windows 10 computer, Windows keeps track of what you’re doing and offers tips on what you might want to do with the operating system. If you don’t find these tips useful, and you’re worried about your privacy, Windows is still “watching” you. On top of all that, this Windows help slows down your computer. So if you want to speed things up, tell Windows to stop giving you advice. To do this, click the Start button, select the Settings icon and go to System -> Notifications & actions. Scroll down to the “Notifications” section and uncheck “Get tips, tricks, and suggestions as you use Windows.”
4. Stop OneDrive synchronization
Another way to speed up your computer is to stop syncing. However, before you turn it off permanently, you’ll need to check if it’s actually slowing down your computer, because OneDrive is a useful backup tool, and if your computer or hard drive gets damaged, you’ll be able to recover your files.
Right-click the OneDrive icon (looks like a cloud) in the notification area, at the far right of the taskbar, and then click the More button at the bottom of the screen. On the screen that appears, click on “Pause syncing” and select 2 hours, 8 hours or 24 hours, depending on how long you want the pause to be. During this time, consider whether you see a noticeable increase in speed.
If so, and you decide you really want to turn off syncing, right-click the OneDrive icon and select Settings -> Account from the pop-up menu. Click on “Unlink this PC” and then on the screen that appears click on “Unlink account.” When you do this, you’ll still be able to save your files to your local OneDrive folder, but it won’t sync to the cloud.
If you find that OneDrive is slowing down your computer, but you prefer to continue using it, you can try to troubleshoot OneDrive. For information on how to do this, see the Microsoft page titled “Fix OneDrive sync problems.”
5. Turn off search indexing
Windows 10 indexes your hard drive in the background, which in theory allows you to search your computer faster than if no indexing is performed. To turn off indexing completely, type services.msc in the Windows 10 search box and press Enter. The Services application will open. Scroll down to Indexing Service or Windows Search in the list of services. Double-click the option, and from the screen that appears, click Stop. Then restart the computer.
6. Clean your hard drive
If your hard disk is full of files that you do not need, delete them. Cleaning the hard disk will improve the speed of your machine.
7. Clean your registry
The Windows Registry tracks and controls almost everything about how Windows works and looks. This includes information about where your programs are stored, which DLLs are used and shared, what types of files need to be opened by which program, and almost everything else. But from time to time the information in the Registry needs to be cleaned up, because over time it can be filled with countless outdated settings of any type. Which in turn slows down the system.
However, to clean the registry you will need the right tools, it is impossible to do it yourself. There are many available, some free and others paid. But don’t rush to spend money, first try the free Auslogics Registry Cleaner, it does a good job.
Before using Auslogics or any other registry cleaner, you should back up your registry so that you can restore it if something goes wrong. To back up the Registry, type regedit.ext in the search box and press Enter. The Registry editor will start. From the File menu, select Export. From the screen that appears, be sure to select the “All” option in the Export range section at the bottom of the screen. Then select a location and file name and click Save. To restore the Registry, open the Registry editor, select Import from the File menu, and then open the file you saved. Now download, install and run Auslogics Registry Cleaner.
Microsoft continues to change key elements of the Windows 10 interface to make it easier for users. The company has also begun to shift important configuration options to the modern operating system settings menu.
We remind you that Microsoft has introduced an updated settings section in Windows 8. Many of the configuration options have then been moved to this menu. However, many users were confused where certain features are located.
Some of them can be found in the “Device Manager” or “Control Panel” menus, while others are in the traditional Settings section. Months ago, we learned about Microsoft’s plans to fix this problem by making changes to the operating system.
The idea is for all Windows 10 settings to be open and easily accessible in the Settings menu, informs mspoweruser. So the company hopes to save users valuable time by allowing them to quickly find the information they’re looking for on Windows 10 devices.
This process started in the summer with the relocation of the System Control Panel in July, which was followed by the Disk Management tool only a month later. The last step in this direction was to redirect the “Programs and Features” tab to the modern “Apps & Features” page in the “Settings” menu.
Now, a few weeks later, we find out about the next integration that is part of this plan. Microsoft has replaced an option to change the display refresh rate, which you will no longer find in the advanced monitor settings section.
The release of Windows 10 Preview Build 20236 will add the feature to the “Advanced Display Settings” menu.
How to remove ads from the Windows 10 Start menu
Microsoft often provokes negative comments with the distribution of the two major updates to Windows 10, which they distribute within a calendar year. The reason is that some of the new features create problems for users, and in some cases the updates create unexpected problems in the company’s work.
Despite Microsoft’s attempts to deal with the situation, there is still something to be asked of the update system. If you’re using Windows 10, you’ve probably noticed that the company has been showing ads in apps like Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, and Word for a while, but also in the operating system’s Start menu.
This is quite annoying as the messages are displayed even if you download the popular applications yourself and are chatting from the Windows 10 Version 2004 version of the software. Even stranger is that the company has not officially announced that it plans to display ads in this way, which creates further confusion among consumers.
The good news is that there is a way to remove the annoying ads that you see in the Start menu of computers , reports BGR.
If you go to “Control Panel> Programs> Programs and Features” you will see a list of Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel applications. In this case, instead of the name of the developer, which is respectively Microsoft Corporation, the names of the titles are written.
The right part shows that you have a “1.0” version of each of the applications. When you try to delete them, you will see a message asking if you want to remove the software from Microsoft Edge . Opening the browser and entering the command “edge: // apps” will confirm that you have installed them.
In fact, these are icons for quick access to Office Web Apps versions of applications that run in Edge. Removing them from your device will restore Windows 10 to normal operation.
Websites today use advertising support to generate revenue, and while it is not a bad idea, the important thing is the advertising method. There are ads that are placed on the web page although on a regular basis, it is easy to read the content on the page without interruption, then there are ads.
There are many cases where the web page just won’t open until you allow the pop-up ad to run, and in most cases, browsers ensure that they block the pop-ups as a safety concern. The new Microsoft Edge is among these browsers. Built on the robust Chromium engine, the new Microsoft Edge is loaded with features and functionality previously unmatched by its predecessor, Internet Explorer. You see Microsoft Edge will block pop-ups alone so you can be safe, but there are ways you can prevent it.
Some websites, however, use pop-ups to redirect you to a payment gateway or login form. If you are trying to link to those pages or websites, it is a good idea to quit the pop-blocker for now.
we show you how to install pop-up blocker on Microsoft Edge.
step 1 . Launch Microsoft Edge browser on your PC / Laptop.
step 2 . Click on the ‘ three-point ‘ icon at the top right-hand side of the browser.
step 3 . Click on the ‘ status ‘ option from the drop down list.
step 4 . On the left side, click on the ‘ Permissions Site ‘ option.
step 5 . In the right-hand side pane, scroll down and click on the ‘ Popups and Alerts ‘ option
step 6 . Toggle the ‘ Block ‘ option to ‘ ESE ‘.
Block-blocking will be disabled on your Microsoft Edge browser. Keep in mind that it is a good idea to turn on the pop-up blocker once you have completed the required work on the web. Not all websites out there have secure security.
How to convert a PDF to Microsoft Edge
When it comes to exporting or reading text documents, the most popular format in the market is ‘.pdf’. Initially, pdf documents could only be opened with the Adobe Reader but today, we have many alternatives in the market. One of the most under-rated PDF viewers is the Microsoft Edge browser.
Microsoft Edge is the new browser that Microsoft announced as a direct replacement for Internet Explorer. Unlike previous revelations, the new Microsoft Edge browser has been built from the ground up, on the Chromium Engine. What’s interesting to note is that the same Chromium engine has been used in building the popular Chrome browser, and as such, Microsoft has instantly taken the fight to Chrome in the battle for web browser supremacy.
The Microsoft Edge browser comes with a built-in PDF viewer, but the important thing here is, you can do most actions on a PDF document with just this PDF viewer.
In this tutorial, we will show you how to convert PDF to Microsoft Edge.
Step 1. Locate the PDF file you want to compress. Be sure to download and save the PDF file to your PC.
step 2 . Right, Click on the PDF document.
Step 3. Navigate to the ‘ Open Together ‘ option.
Step 4. Click on the ‘ Microsoft Edge ‘ option from the drop down list.
step 5 . The PDF file will now open in the Microsoft Edge browser via the default PDF viewer.
Step 6. In the toolbar, click on the switch button to start cleaning the paper at 90-degrees.
step 7 . Convert PDF until you have the desired link.
Step 8. Select where you want to save the word file and click on ‘ save ‘.
It will save the password of a backup file to the desired location on your PC. Do not share this script file with anyone as they will be able to see all your passwords and may be a problem in the end.
Here’s how to export save pages to your PC from Microsoft Edge.
How to deliver ready-made data on Microsoft Edge
Internet research has changed over the years. The media has ensured that we continue to be good on the web for hours or even days at times, relying more on the digital world than on the real world.
Any social media site or website these days comes with a membership program, where you need to make an investment to use the platform. It is advisable to create a different password for such new deposits, but what happens is that we try to forget some of these passwords.
Microsoft Edge comes to the rescue ii. For those of you who didn’t know, Microsoft Edge is the new website developed by Microsoft as a direct replacement to Internet Explorer. A search engine built from scratch using the Chromium engine, the same thing that makes up the Chrome browser. Microsoft Edge is showcasing new changes and enhancements never before available on the Internet. Not only can you save passwords for autofill, but there is a way for you to reach out to save the password and save them on your computer for future information.
In this tutorial, we will show you how to export saved passwords on Microsoft Edge.
step 1 . Launch Microsoft Edge browser on your PC / Laptop.
step 2 . Click on the ‘ three-dot ’ icon on the right hand side of your browser.
step 3 . Click on the ‘ status ‘ option in the drop down list.
step 4 . On the left side, click on the Notes tab.
step 5 . Click on the ‘ three-dot ’ icon next to the ‘ Save Word ’ option.
step 6 . Click on the ‘ Publish Word Information ‘ option.
step 7 . Click on ‘ Publish Word Information ‘ and re-enter it in the validation window.
Step 8. Select where you want to save the word file and click on ‘ save ‘.
It will save the password of a backup file to the desired location on your PC. Do not share this script file with anyone as they will be able to see all your passwords and may be a problem in the end.
Here’s how to export save pages to your PC from Microsoft Edge.
With its possession of a lot of features that make it the best version of Windows without a doubt, and its being the most stable and compatible without a doubt, there is in fact an ongoing problem for Windows 10 users: updates are many and come all the time, consuming internet speed, occupying computer resources, and leading to delays and disrupting tasks that are sometimes inevitable Even. As a result, there are many users who want to stop Windows 10 updates and get rid of them completely.
It is important to mention here that stopping Windows 10 updates is not really a good idea in the long run, as it means that new features and bug fixes will not reach you, and the biggest problem may be the security holes that will remain open in the system and can cause major problems is yours. So you can review our previous article: “ Is Windows 10 Really Necessary to Update Periodically? Or is it better to stop updates? “Learn more about it and make your own decision.
Here, we will discuss the best ways to stop Windows 10 updates as simple as possible, and provided that they never include downloading external programs or tools. All that we will explain here is a change to the system’s settings only, in order to avoid the fact that programs that stop updates come with malware
Stop Windows 10 updates by making the network limited
Right-click on the network logo within the taskbar.
Select Open network and internet settings.
From the side menu select Wireless Networks (Wi-Fi).
Click on the name of the network to which you are connected to enter its settings.
Under the options you should enable the option to set as metered connection.
You can now exit the settings and your computer will never download updates over this network. But for other networks, the matter will be different, and you have to specify each of them separately to ensure that updates are not downloaded, and you can do so by following these steps:
Repeat the first three steps of the previous explanation.
Click Manage known networks.
Click on the name of the network whose settings you want to change from the list and select Properties.
Under the options you should enable the option to set as metered connection.
Of course, any of these changes can be reversed by repeating the steps and then deselecting the network as a metered connection, and it is worth noting that the limited connection means stopping the sync for services such as OneDrive and others, so if you do not want to stop syncing, you can follow one of the following methods.
Pause Windows 10 updates (only for Pro and Enterprise users)
In principle, Windows 10 gives the option to pause updates so that they are downloaded and installed after a period of time, but the option is not available to users of the home version of the system (Windows 10 Home), but to users of Pro and Enterprise versions exclusively. You can do this as follows:
Enter system settings from the Start menu, Notification Center, or by using the keyboard shortcut: Windows + I.
Choose Update & Security.
Click on “Advanced Options”.
Under the Pause Updates tab, you can choose a later date (the maximum is after 35 days) in which the updates will be stopped, and on this date the updates will be downloaded before you are allowed to pause later.
You can postpone the installation of downloaded updates from other options. The installation of general system updates can be postponed for up to a year, while security updates can be postponed for only 30 days.
This method is not ideal, of course, as it forces you to download and install updates later, so if you want a final option that does not install updates until you re-enable them, you can use one of the last two methods.
Turn off Windows 10 updates via Group Policy
This method involves changing advanced settings in the system, so it is important to be careful in applying it exactly as mentioned and to avoid changing any other issues that may cause problems later on. In general, this method is comprehensive and it is done through these steps:
Use Windows shortcut + R to open Run minimized window.
In the place of the text type gpedit.msc and then press Enter to continue.
In the window that will appear, follow the following path: Computer Configurations, followed by Administrative Templates> Windows Components> Windows Update.
Double click on the Configure Automatic Updates option to open it.
By default, Not Configured will be enabled, just change the setting to Disabled and then click Ok to continue.
Windows 10 updates can always be reversed by following the same previous steps, but instead of Disabled, select Enabled.
Turn off Windows 10 updates by changing the update service Settings
Like the previous method, the command here involves tinkering with advanced settings that you must be very careful when handling.
Use Windows shortcut + R to open Run minimized window.
In the text area, type services.msc and then press Enter to continue.
Swipe down until you get to Windows Update option and double click on it to open Properties.
Change the starting mode from Manual to Disabled.
Click Ok to save changes and exit open windows.
This method is also reversible by following the same steps and simply returning the starting position to manual.
The easiest way to update Windows 10 and solve its problems
Windows 10 can be updated easily by going to the updates and security settings and then searching for new updates for the Windows system, in order to obtain all the new features that Windows is working on providing for Windows 10 in order to improve performance and protection levels in addition to that these updates include many New tools often, including: updating the internet browser and updating the Xbox software.
Windows 10 latest update 2020
New updates for Windows 10 appear on the Windows Updates page when they are available for our computers, and the Windows system will automatically install these updates at the time previously specified to install updates, and computer owners can install the updates available at the present time as follows:
Start your Windows 10 computer and click on the Start menu.
Click on the settings option, then choose updates and security.
Click on the “Windows Update” button, then click the “Check for updates” button.
Click on Install Updates if there are any new updates.
How long does Windows 10 update take?
An estimate of the time it takes for Windows 10 updates to complete the installation process depends on the internet speed that is being used to download the updates as well as the type of hard disk drive on your computer; Where the installation process takes from 10 minutes to 20 minutes when using an SSD, while conventional hard drives take longer, and here are some reasons that lead to an increase in the installation time of updates:
Some programs that install on your computer interfere with available Windows 10 updates.
There is a defect in Microsoft’s servers as a result of a large number of people downloading updates together at the same time.
Some update components are faulty, which increases the installation time for these components.
Windows 10 Update Tool 1903
Microsoft has launched Windows 10 update number 1903 in 2019, and this update is characterized by providing many security and protection features in addition to many performance improvements as well, and many people use the download tool to install 1903 updates because they are not able to download them automatically. By following the following steps:
Go to the Windows 10 download page on the Microsoft website directly ” from here “, then click the update button immediately.
Run the downloaded update tool and wait for this tool to verify your computer’s properties.
Follow the instructions on the screen to download available updates for Windows 10.
Manually download Windows 10 updates
Many people want to download Windows 10 updates manually due to the failure of the computer to install these updates automatically, and here are some steps that can be followed to download the mentioned updates manually:
Go to the Microsoft Update Catalog directly “ from here ”.
Type the KB number for the update package we want to download into the search bar, then press Enter.
Choose the package that is compatible with your computer from the results displayed by the site.
Click on the Download button, then click on the msu file link that appears in the popup to download it
Go to the download course, then run the previous msu file, to have Windows install the required updates.
Windows 10 update incomplete
New updates for Windows 10 offer many additions that protect the computer from various damages, in addition to correcting previous errors so that the Windows system can provide better levels of performance, but the Windows system is exposed to many problems that prevent the ability to download some of these updates, The following are some steps that can be followed to try to solve this problem:
Restart the computer: All temporary data is deleted from the computer’s memory when it is restarted again, and this leads to stopping some stuck programs that cause incomplete updates.
Knowing the details of the error: We can learn about the details of the errors that Windows 10 update is exposed to by going to settings, then going to the Windows Updates option and looking for the option to fix errors to solve many update problems.
Using the problem-finding tool: Microsoft has provided a standard tool in its operating systems to find and fix errors, and this tool can be used to fix update problems by going to the control panel, searching for the troubleshooting tool, clicking on it, and then choosing to fix Windows update problems.
Windows 10 Update 1903 Problems
Many problems appeared for computer users when updating Windows 10 to version 1903, and among these problems: The operating system used a large percentage of the central processing unit, which led to a significant decrease in performance degrees in addition to many malfunctions in Windows tools such as the Windows Desktop search tool Search As many users of this update noticed the computer runs out of battery faster, and Microsoft fixes the problems that appear constantly in its subsequent updates.
There are many methods that we can follow in order to obtain the latest Windows 10 update, including: using the update tool that can be downloaded from the official Microsoft website or using the update options that are available in Windows 10 settings as standard as previously.
Windows 10 – also known as version 20H2 – for subscribers to its beta program (Windows Insider), and it is expected to be widely released in October.
The October 2020 update for Windows 10 includes the new Edge browser, an updated user interface for the Start menu, updates to the taskbar and notifications, in addition to some other features and improvements in the Windows 10 operating system.
Microsoft said last March: “The Windows 10 operating system is now working on more than one billion devices around the world.” Now that support for Windows 7 has officially ended, Microsoft encourages users to upgrade to Windows 10 to keep their computers running smoothly and safely.
The major updates for Windows 10 are released every six months, the latest being the May 2020 Update – also known as the (Windows 10 2004) release – and if you have already installed this update, it should only take a few minutes to download the October Update. But if the May 2020 Update is not already installed in your device, it may take 20-30 minutes or more to install the update on older devices.
Here are 7 of the most important new features in the Windows 10 October 2020 Update:
Windows 10 October 2020 Update doesn’t include many of the fancy changes from the May update, but there are many small improvements and fixes that should make your system experience better
1- The new version of Edge Browser:
This will be the first version of the Windows 10 system , which automatically includes Microsoft (EDGE) browser Edge new rather than the old version. When you log in to the system, you will be prompted to complete the new Edge setup, with no traces of the old browser visible.
The new Edge Browser includes a new privacy feature that blocks websites that track you online, and a feature called (Collections) that allows you to easily collect information from different websites, organize and export it to different files, or return to your search at a later time and start where you left off.
2- The updated Start menu:
Starting with the October 2020 update, the visual design of the Start menu in Windows 10 will change to become more streamlined, as Microsoft replaced the colored background boxes for icons in the app menu with partially transparent backgrounds, which helps to highlight the icons more. And you can also set a color for the highlighting if you like.
3- Easy to navigate between multiple tabs:
Windows 10’s October 2020 Update allows you to access open tabs in the browser by pressing the Alt and Tab buttons on the keyboard, instead of displaying only one thumbnail for each browser window.
So if you are using multiple webpages simultaneously, you can quickly find and switch between them using just the Alt and Tab buttons. You can also customize this feature to show only the last three or five tabs, or turn it off entirely in Settings.
4- Improving the taskbar:
Microsoft also introduces a new feature in the taskbar that helps you quickly access the tabs of your pinned sites in the ribbon so that you can find what you are looking for faster, as clicking on a pinned site in the taskbar will now show all the open tabs for that site across any From browser windows, just as it happens to any application with multiple windows open.
5- Improve the notification experience:
Microsoft made some changes in the October 2020 update to improve the notification experience in Windows 10, as you will now know the source of the notification by checking the application logo, and if it is an unimportant notification, you can quickly ignore it by clicking on the (X) icon in the upper right corner.
Microsoft has also improved the Focus Assist feature in Windows 10 – which automatically hides notifications while playing games and using other apps in full screen, and then shows a summary of all notifications once done – by disabling all Focus Assist notifications by default, though From settings that you can still re-enable it.
6- Changes in settings:
This update comes with some changes to the settings page, where the About page will get links to some old utilities that were previously only available from the Control Panel. It also contains a copy button below the device specifications and Windows specifications, which makes it easy to share this information with a support party.
7- Improving the experience of using 2-in-1 computers:
In the previous; When the keyboard was disconnected from the 2-in-1 computer, a notification appeared asking: Do you want to switch to tablet mode? But in the upcoming Windows update, Microsoft has worked to improve this experience further by changing the default setting, so that the Windows 10 system automatically switches to the new tablet experience added in the May 2020 update without prompting or notification, with some touch improvements. You can also change this setting at any time in Settings.
5 Most Important Features that Windows 10 Excels over windows 7
Market studies have shown in recent times that Windows 10 has surpassed the Windows 7 operating system as the most popular version of the Windows operating system, but despite the end of official support for Windows 7, there are up to 24.9% of users still sticking to this system. He is now about 10 years old.
Nobody can force you to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10, but it’s okay to do so, the main reason being security. Without security updates or fixes, you are putting your own computer at risk. Below we will provide you with some of the advantages in Windows 10 that will make you take the initiative to upgrade.
Here are the 5 most important features that Windows 10 excels at Windows 7:
1- Security improvements:
The advanced level of security for the operating system (Windows 10) the Windows 10 security patches and continuous updates are major causes for the upgrade, and include some security features include:
Windows Hello: A program that uses facial recognition technology to unlock your device using a webcam, as well as supports opening more than a dozen applications.
Microsoft Defender: Free Antivirus from Microsoft.
Automatic Updates: Unlike previous versions, Windows 10 offers you automatic updates by default to keep your Windows system safe from attacks and intrusions.
2- Start menu:
Similar to the Start menu in Windows 8, the Start menu in Windows 10 includes large icons on the right for many applications, such as: Mail, Calendar, and Weather, and you can customize these icons as you like.
Using the “Start” menu on Windows 10, you can also access the second, lesser-known “Start” menu that helps you access important features such as: (Control Panel) and (Command Prompt). By either pressing (Windows + X) key or by right-clicking on the Windows icon.
3- Cortana Voice Assistant:
Microsoft provided its voice assistant ( Cortana ) in the Windows 10 operating system, and Cortana works as a personal assistant where you can, through voice commands, assign him to perform some tasks such as: scheduling appointments, reading e-mail, and much more.
4- Microsoft Edge Browser:
If you switch to the Windows 10 operating system, you can say: Goodbye to Internet Explorer, which is known for its slowness and security vulnerabilities, as Microsoft introduced the Edge browser, which relies on the Chromium engine from Google, which makes it more compatible with Modern web sites.
5- Regular system updates:
Instead of releasing a new operating system every period, Microsoft has taken the approach of major updates to the Windows 10 operating system that come twice a year, to solve security problems and make devices work better, in addition to periodic updates to fill gaps and add some new features to applications.
This approach made the operating system work more as a service than as a product, and to check for updates, follow these steps:
Click on the (Start) menu and select (Settings).
Click on (Update and Security) Update & Security.
Choose (Windows Update) Windows Update.
Click on the option (Check for updates) Check for updates.
Thanks to the technological development that we are currently witnessing; Today, students have many tools and options to receive their lessons more effectively, and the most important of these tools are the applications that they can install on their laptop or desktop computer; Whether in real-world classrooms or during distance learning, to help them focus and accomplish assignments efficiently.
Here are 5 of the most prominent Windows 10 apps to help students study
1- Grammarly app:
When writing text drafts, we find that it is common to find spelling errors or badly written sentences, or that punctuation marks are used incorrectly, here you can use the Grammarly application that helps you improve the quality of writing by identifying errors related to spelling and vocabulary, as well as the structure of sentences and correct them .
There is also an add-on from the app that is freely available for all web browsers, but if you upgrade to the paid version you will get additional features such as: advanced correction tools to improve vocabulary, built-in grammar tips, and professional proofreading.
2- Polar app:
It is a book reading application and document manager at the same time, as it allows you to keep all textbooks in one place, and the application supports folders, and allows you to track your reading progress. The built-in commenting tools also allow you to take and manage notes in the sidebar.
The application also supports creating flashcards to facilitate learning and to keep things in your memory, and the application also supports a feature called (progressive reading) incremental reading to facilitate the process of reading and understanding by dividing the pages of the book into easy and appropriate pargraphs.
3- OneNote app:
One of the best educational applications that help improve the learning process, and OneNote 2016 version also comes with the feature of Class Notebook which is a personal and collaborative workspace for both the teacher and the student.
Where teachers can create note books for each class, and make them available to students individually or collectively, to get notes from the teacher in real time, the application also integrates seamlessly with a Learning Management System ( LMS ) to perform assignments or send grades directly from the application.
4- myHomework:
The application myHomework of the best applications for Windows 10 available for students, which allows you to keep track of lessons and tasks of study, tests and projects easily, as the application helps your study time management by giving you a clear presentation of the agenda curriculum, assessment shows the maturity dates of delivery, and a section of household duties.
Also, through the application, you can create reminders and periodic tasks by adding events to the calendar, and record your classes so that you can read them easily, and the application supports the feature of synchronizing data between the computer and the smartphone; For you to access it anywhere.
5- Cold Turkey application:
Cold Turkey application allows you to block websites, applications and games that distract you while performing study tasks, such as: social networking sites, all you have to do is select the website or application that you want to block and restrict access to it, then choose the time you want, and remember while Lock the app or website You cannot disable the app’s functionality or permanently change the time until the time you choose has passed.
Introduced Microsoft ( updated May 2020) the Window 10 Join Date : May 2020 Update , Windows 10 operating system for the general users, comes the new update is a set of new features and changes, the most important of great updates on Digital Assistant Secretary of State ( Kortana ) Cortana, and the ability to run applications automatically when you restart the computer running .
What are the new features in the Windows 10 May 2020 Update ?
Windows 10 May 2020 update, which carries the version 2004 number , includes a number of changes and updates at the level of the operating system and applications, including:
1- Calling your digital assistant, Cortana, without talking to him
Microsoft has updated its digital assistant (Cortana) to become a personal productivity assistant, as it can help you use Microsoft 365 apps, and the app has also been uninstalled in the taskbar, where you can now move it or change its size like any other app.
In addition to the ability to use it to open applications and adjust settings such as: brightness, create emails, and use it in the calendar application to create and inquire about meetings.
2- Automatically launch applications upon restart:
Microsoft has now allowed the ability to control the running of applications automatically when performing the process (restart) Restart, where you can choose the applications that run automatically once you log in again to Windows 10.
3- Download a fresh copy of Windows 10 when the computer is reset:
If you need to reset the computer for any reason, you can now specify that Windows 10 Update Tool download the latest OS version from the Internet before starting the process.
This is a much better option than reinstalling the old version of the operating system on your hard drive, thus you will save a lot of time, as you will not have to re-download and install all the updates that have been released since then.
4- Multiple options to unlock the computer:
It may sound strange, but using a PIN to unlock the computer is actually more secure than a password, so if you set the PIN as an option to log in, you will find that even if someone has access to your Microsoft account password Then he will not be able to log into the system if you close it using a PIN.
In addition to being able to log in using a PIN code or Microsoft account password, you will also be able to enforce fingerprint or facial recognition logins to log into the computer if your computer supports it.
5- Memory improvements in Microsoft Edge browser:
Results of early internal testing of devices in the (Windows 10 May 2020 Update) show a reduction in memory usage of up to 27% when browsing with the Microsoft Edge browser.
Although the performance of each computer varies according to its internal components and the way it is used, the low memory consumption is great for providing a better computer usage experience, by providing more memory capacity for other applications that are in use.
6- Block unwanted apps:
When you download an application, you may have no idea what it is doing except for the task you are using it for, as some applications display unexpected ads, or use your computer to mine cryptocurrencies.
But now with this update you can identify unwanted apps and choose whether to use these apps or not.
How do you update Windows 10?
Windows 10 users can download the Windows 10 May 2020 update through the following steps:
Open the (Settings) app.
Click on (Update and Security) Update & Security.
Click on the Windows Update option at the top of the screen.
Microsoft launches the first big update for Windows 10 in 2020
Microsoft began launching the May 2020 update of the Windows 10 operating system to bring with it a number of new features.
The Windows 10 May 2020 update comes with the integration of the Windows Subsystem for (Linux 2) Linux, and it also comes with updates to the digital assistant (Cortana).
The American software giant launched the final version of the update for subscribers in its beta program last month, and now all Windows 10 users can obtain the update through the Windows Update section of the system.
By integrating (Windows Subsystem for Linux System 2) WSL 2, Microsoft aims to improve the performance of the subsystem in Windows, and the company also promised to update the kernel of the system through Windows updates, and it will be open source so that developers can create the WSL kernel and contribute to the changes.
WSL 2 will not include Linux GUI application support or GPU hardware acceleration, but Microsoft promised to add these features in an upcoming Windows update.
The Window 10 May 2020 Update includes major improvements to the Cortana digital assistant, which can be separated from the taskbar, and now can choose between speaking or writing commands.
Cortana has got interface improvements to make it more modern, and Microsoft has added quick search terms to the main search interface. This also includes quick access to weather, news, and more.
Windows 10 users can download the update by going to (Settings) Settings, then (Update and Security) Update & Security, then (Windows Update) Windows Update.
Windows 10 update will make a big change to the copy and paste feature
The upcoming Windows 10 update is expected to improve the existing Cloud Clipboard, allowing users to copy and paste materials across all of their devices.
This feature was introduced in 2018, but now it syncs clipboard content across multiple computers – running Windows 10 – connected to the same Microsoft account. For example: Users can copy text to the clipboard on their desktop and paste it into a document stored on their laptop later in the day.
However, Microsoft is working to expand this useful tool for phones and tablets as well via the company’s SwiftKey Keyboard for Android.
(SwiftKey Keyboard) for Android is an alternative keyboard that learns the user’s typing style to provide predictions for the most relevant words, with the aim of increasing the typing speed, and the SwiftKey Keyboard also provides a different way for users to type texts and emails on their Android devices.
In a beta version of the copy and paste feature in Windows 10, Microsoft is experimenting with integration with the current Windows 10 Cloud Clipboard – a project that first launched two years ago, but was suspended temporarily.
With the new integration, Android users will be able to copy and paste items on their mobile devices to their Windows 10 devices (and vice versa), making working across multiple parts of the tools much smoother.
The SwiftKey Clipboard will also receive a new Cloud Clipboard user interface, which can be accessed via the keyboard toolbar.
Microsoft recently unveiled a new-looking local folder will contain a panel that stores the latest copied images and GIFs, plus 25 entries – and is expected to arrive with the next Windows 10 update.
The company’s main web browser – Edge – is also getting a new link formatting feature, which will allow users to specify that the URL copied from the address bar has been pasted as a link or plain text.
Thanks to the technological development that we are currently witnessing; Today, students have many tools and options to receive their lessons more effectively, and the most important of these tools are the applications that they can install on their laptop or desktop computer; To help them focus and accomplish their study tasks efficiently, whether through real classrooms or during distance learning, so you can see the most prominent Windows 10 applications to help students study from here.
Microsoft hasn’t said much about Windows 10X, but there are clearly many of the company’s plans associated with this new OS. Windows Central journalists decided to collect everything that sounded or heard from informants in the past few months. Windows 10X is a new version of Windows 10 built from the ground up for foldable PCs, for both dual-screen and single-screen configurations. It builds on the new modern version of Windows 10, which leaves legacy components and features of the past in favor of a modern user experience and improved security. This means that everything from the shell to the basics of the OS has been rebuilt using modern technology. At the same time, support for old applications will be preserved.
New custom environment
Windows 10X will receive a fresh shell – a user interface built with the use of modern technologies. It is adaptive and adjusts based on the position of the device. For example, on a foldable PC, the user may want to use it in several different ways: as a laptop, as a tablet, or in tent mode for watching movies. Because of this, the user interface must adapt to provide the best experience, no matter how the device is used.
New Start Menu
Microsoft is redesigning the Start menu experience in Windows 10X with a focus on work efficiency. It will get a system-wide search bar at the top, which can also search the web, and a grid of installed apps below it instead of live tiles. The menu also has a “recommended” area that dynamically updates according to what the user may need: recent Office documents, visited sites, and the like.
The list can be customized so that users can change the shortcuts of the applications that occupy the first rows. Windows 10X will also support application folders in the Start menu, allowing you to group multiple applications, similar to the existing Start menu in Windows 10.
New taskbar
Windows 10X also introduces a new responsive taskbar that can change based on device format or user preference. In marketing materials, items such as the Start button, pinned and launched applications are centered on the taskbar. It will reportedly be customizable, and users will be able to choose to left-align these icons if they wish – just like in regular Windows 10.
There is also a new touchscreen taskbar that minimizes when you launch an application and can be used to access items such as the Start menu or Action Center. When the keyboard and mouse are connected, the taskbar will adapt to a behavior more similar to the traditional panel, that is, it will not be minimized when launching applications.
New notification center
In addition to the new Start and taskbar features, there is a new Action Center that complements them. It focuses more on quick actions with the ability to jump to specific tasks with the ability not to leave the notification center to change a number of key settings. It is designed to mimic a control center with a separate area at the top that displays notifications. This new Action Center includes items such as volume controls, power options, and battery percentage – similar to the current bar in Windows 10.
New installation process
As all the major components of Windows 10X have been redesigned, the OS installer interface will also be updated to reflect a more modern platform design. The software will still guide the user through the Windows setup process, select a language, offer to sign in with a Microsoft account, and agree to the terms, but Cortana will no longer be used. That is, in this regard, the installation will become more traditional, albeit in a fresh interface.
Compose mode
Compose Mode is a new Action Center button that switches your device from consuming content to working. Compose mode is automatically triggered on two screen devices like the Surface Neo when the user pushes the keyboard to one of the displays, and is essentially a switch between touch input and more traditional PC keyboard / mouse input.
On devices that do not have a dedicated keyboard or touchpad, Compose Mode will use screen space for the virtual keyboard and trackpad, enhanced by support for pen input, emoticons, and gifs. Compose will also switch the taskbar between more traditional and touch modes.
By default, applications on Windows 10X run in full screen mode and cannot be displayed in traditional windows. However, on devices with large screens, enabling Compose mode should allow applications to run in freeform windows like on a regular laptop. It is not clear what kind of screen sizes we are talking about in this case.
Legacy application support
Because Windows 10X is a modern OS, support for “traditional” Windows apps comes through the new container mode, which essentially runs an optimized version of full Windows 10 in the background every time a user wants to launch an old app. But in the case of working with more modern applications, the OS is not overloaded with outdated components, which increases battery life and overall system performance.
Unlike “traditional” Win32 apps, modern UWPs and web apps work right out of the box on Windows 10X. Microsoft is working to ensure that there is no noticeable difference in and modern applications. However, there may be a slight additional delay when starting x86 programs if no other legacy software has been launched before.
Improved Windows Update
Microsoft will also improve Windows Update so that it runs much faster on Windows 10X. Installing updates will not take as long as it does in Windows 10, since now functional updates will be mounted in the background and will not require a reboot first. When the update is ready to restart the computer, it will restart normally without waiting for 15 minutes.
Dynamic wallpaper
It is reported that Windows 10X will receive dynamic wallpapers similar to macOS, which will change depending on various factors. For example, Windows 10X has mountain view wallpapers that have morning, afternoon, evening, and night variations and are displayed based on the actual time on the device. This wallpaper also features dynamic clouds. It’s not clear how many of these dynamic wallpapers will be present in Windows 10X, or how complex they might be. However, it’s nice to see more options for the desktop.
Exclusive to foldable PCs at launch
Windows 10X will only be available on devices that ship with it, and those devices will begin shipping in the second half of 2020. This means that if a user wants to use Windows 10X, they will have to buy a new PC that comes with a pre-installed OS. The platform will not be sold or distributed digitally for installation on existing hardware, nor will it be offered as an update for Windows 10.
In the future, Microsoft is expected to make Windows 10X available for more than just foldable dual-screen computers. Although the OS will initially be released exclusively for new convertible systems, for a few months after that (apparently already in 2021), manufacturers will be able to sell more traditional devices like laptops pre-installed with Windows 10X.
The Microsoft Windows 10 October 2020 Update (20H2) will introduce the new Microsoft Edge browser to millions of PCs, while updating the venerable Alt + Tab shortcut with a new and necessary feature. But Microsoft designers have turned the once-colorful Start menu into watery mush with a less than impressive visual update.
All in all, the Windows 10 October 2020 Update is one more in line with the anemic fall updates. And that’s fine! We expected this. Over the past two to three years, Microsoft’s major feature updates have been merged into the “spring ” releases , leaving mostly minor patches and quality updates for the fall release. (See Windows 10 November Update 2019) .This year is no different, although the small list of changes does allow for some interesting tweaks on your Windows 10 PC.
Microsoft noted in late August that the Windows 10 October 2020 Update (Windows currently reports the version number as “20H2 ” in our preview version) has been released for commercial testing . We tested it in early September, using the Microsoft Beta Channel (build 19042.508) as the source for our test builds, which Microsoft now designates as the “final ” build . Microsoft has not indicated the exact date when the Windows 10 October 2020 Update will be released to the general PC market.
Here’s what’s new in the Windows 10 October 2020 Update and what it will mean for you
Quick Install
You may be interested to know that the October 2020 update will likely be ultra-fast.
“To the As with Windows 10, versions 1903 and 1909 versions 2004 and 20H2 share a common core operating system with an identical set of system files ” , wrote the program manager at Microsoft, Aria Carley . “New Features are included in the monthly quality updates for the 2004 version in an inactive and dormant state. These new 20H2 features remain dormant until they are activated through the ‘enablement package’, a small quick-install ‘main switch’ that activates the features of Windows 10, version 20H2 ” .
On our test Surface devices, the update took about a minute, including a single reboot.
The Start menu changes … for the worse
One of the biggest changes Microsoft has made to Windows 10 through the October 2020 update involves the Start menu, and I don’t like it.
Whether you choose the “light ” or “dark ” options ( Settings> Personalization> Colors ), the Start menu in current builds of Windows 10 20H1 or earlier uses distinctive colors as backgrounds for individual tiles within the Start menu. For my eyes, that gives the clear color scheme a certain need for visual contrast. (In my opinion, the dark mode looks good within the 20H1 and 20H2 color schemes.) But the clear mode within the Windows 10 October 2020 Update just doesn’t look attractive at all.
If one chooses the light color scheme option within the Windows 10 October 2020 Update, the Start menu and tiles end up feeling pale, sterile, and faded. Unfortunately, because the distinctive color has been completely removed from the Start menu, there seems to be no way to bring some life back to the Start menu. Color tastes may vary and some might like the changes, but not me.
One should see virtually all of the new Fluent Design icons that Microsoft announced in February , both on the Start menu and on the taskbar. Functionally, Microsoft hasn’t changed anything here. Instead, the new icons help give Windows a fresh, clean aesthetic – that’s a positive step.
Welcome to the new Edge
Here’s the biggest change in the Windows 10 October 2020 Update: the ‘new’ Edge browser.
Windows is now in its third browser: the hidden Internet Explorer browser that remains buried within Windows, the original Microsoft Edge, and the ‘new’ Microsoft Edge that officially debuted this year. The new version is based on Chromium, the same fundamentals as Google Chrome, and the same extensions now work in both plug-ins . The new Edge is efficient and smooth, although Microsoft has yet to sync everything from an Edge browser on one PC to another, including shared tab history.
With the October 2020 update, Microsoft will begin swapping the new Edge for the old one, with a transition pop-up indicating the change. (Microsoft had said earlier this year that it planned to migrate PCs from the old Edge to the new one for the entire year, so your PC may have already been upgraded.)
If you’re in love with the old Edge, I’m sorry: Microsoft is forcing this change on users, with no way to back down. Still, Microsoft has handled the change well, making importing old favorites and passwords a breeze. Not everything is perfect; the old Edge was superior in the sense that it handled PDF documents.
You’re free to use another browser, of course … but Microsoft is also adding Edge-specific features, like the new Alt + Tab behavior, below.
Alt + Tab now has new powers
Traditionally, the venerable Alt + Tab command was used to switch between open applications. But as more and more work gets done within the cloud and the browser, Windows is changing too. Alt + Tab no longer treats Edge as a single monolithic app. Now (optionally) toggles you between the three or five most recently used tabs within Microsoft’s new Edge browser … or all of them
This is very practical. If you’re like me, you go through dozens of tabs, some of which are archived for reference purposes, while others are actual, active web pages that I’m currently using. Because I use multiple monitors with multiple apps set via FancyZones to one part of each screen, I don’t really need to switch between apps – but for my main monitor with dozens of tabs on it, the ability to easily move between tabs most recently used in Edge is a very useful addition.
However, there is a downside that you may have already noticed. The new Alt + Tab behavior only applies to Edge tabs, not to the more popular Google Chrome or any other browser like Firefox or Opera. (However, because the “new Edge ” now uses the same fundamentals as Google Chrome, there is a reason to change.) All of this can be managed via the Settings> System> Multitasking menu , under the Alt + Tab heading .
Is this the best tab switching implementation? No. For one thing, Edge already allows you to jump between tabs (and only between tabs) using the Ctrl + Tab shortcut. And if you are an advanced user, you should know that the rival browser Vivaldi, allows you to scroll from one tab to another using the mouse wheel while holding down the Alt key, another powerful tool. Still, Alt + Tab should be a part of the muscle memory of any Windows user, and should be easily integrated into your workflow.
Pinned tabs on the taskbar
Windows 10’s October 2020 Update is supposed to make some changes to the way pinned tabs work with the taskbar as well. In existing versions of Edge, running on older versions of Windows, you can now “pin ” Edge tabs to the taskbar. (Go to the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner of Edge, then down to More tools and click Pin to taskbar .) This moves the web page favicon to the taskbar, and allows you to launch it (via your default browser) like any other tab.
In 20H2, clicking on the site icon in the taskbar is apparently supposed to which reveals whether the site is already active within Edge, highlighting it within the preview windows that appear when hovering over the application tab on the taskbar. For whatever reason, no preview window appears in 20H2 for pinned sites. Clicking the icon in the taskbar, however, will adjust the focus of the screen to the open tab that the site appears on or, if the site is not currently open, the tab will open. Edge could accomplish this by simply changing the behavior of the Favorites bar to open an existing tab, say, from PCWorld.com, if you’ve clicked on the appropriate favorite. But Microsoft has chosen this different approach.
Modifying the way a pinned site works on the taskbar … it all feels a bit like analyzing the legality in a mortgage document, doesn’t it? It serves to show that 20H2 is indeed a minor update.
New taskbar layout
Since we’re on the topic of taskbars, Microsoft has another tweak for those who want to set up a new Windows 10 PC with the Windows 10 October 2020 update installed. When setting up a new PC, Microsoft’s Out of the Box Experience, or OOBE, asks you to link your Microsoft account to your PC and Android phone. Microsoft rewards you for this by automatically activating your subscription to Microsoft 365 (Office), for example.
Now, there is another small advantage. If you link your Android phone to enable Your Phone experiences, or if Windows “knows ” that you are on a gaming PC with an Xbox Live account, Microsoft will configure the taskbar accordingly.
Please note that these settings are for new equipment only. Microsoft explicitly says that it will not adjust the taskbar on your existing PC, acknowledging that you probably have it set the way you want.
New tablet experience for Surface owners
If you own a detachable Surface Pro 2-in-1, Microsoft’s October 2020 update also allows you more configurability to switch between “tablet ” mode and desktop mode. Remember – this can be confusing – if you disconnect your Surface Pro tablet from the keyboard, it can work in “tablet mode ” or not.
Tablet mode does not change to the Start menu – which looks similar to Windows 8 – with respect to the way it works within the Windows 10 May 2020 update: it places several tiles in the center of your screen for you to select the Applications. It also maintains the options to hide application icons on the taskbar and to automatically hide the taskbar in tablet mode.
What’s new are the additional options (within Settings, System> Tablet , and then Change Tablet Additional Settings ) for when the tablet is unmounted, but you are not using tablet mode yet. This is sometimes referred to as the “desktop mode ” , or the awkward “When I’m not using tablet mode ” in the 20H2 Settings menu.
In this mode, you can create a hybrid tablet / desktop mode environment, with four new options: make taskbar icons easier to touch, make File Explorer buttons easier to touch, and show touch keyboard when no keyboard is connected.
The fourth option, displaying the search icon without the search box, will have the most profound effect. Allow the app icons to have enough breathing room on the taskbar. Otherwise, you’ll notice a slight wiggle if you turn on the option to make the taskbar icons easier to touch as they even out and take up more space.
(Remember that you can already turn off the Search box within Windows by right-clicking on the taskbar, navigating to Search, and unchecking the Show Search Box list.)
Other notable changes
Here are some other small but noticeable changes you’ll notice when you download the latest version.
Notification changes: System notifications in the Action Center have been simplified, so there will only be an “x ” in the upper right. (The gear icon disappears.) If you have enabled Focus Assist to prevent notifications, any automatic activation of Focus Assist will also not launch a notification.
Settings “About ” : Ifhave ever had to quickly copy and paste the unique specifications of your PC (I have not done, butis possible that it does), the Settings menu now fits your desire with buttons “Copy ” That capture all the relevant information. As a result, the “System ” page has been removedfrom the Control Panel.
Notable application updates : More and more application updates are made independently of Windows, in their own development cycles. One we like is the Windows Calculator app, which gained a nifty little graphical feature during the 20H2 development cycle. However, if you’re connected to the internet, take a look atMicrosoft’s page- it’s just as cool and practical too.
Conclusion: A small step forward
The scope of the Windows 10 October 2020 Update deserves a review, although the number of significant changes is relatively small. The biggest, of course, is the new Edge browser, although that’s designed to be a simple transition, too. That’s good news for those who expect Microsoft to leave Windows relatively unchanged, although there is always the possibility of new bugs . However, ours is essentially an assessment to establish a state.
