Are You Using Windows to Its Full Potential? Here Are 5 Skills You Need to Learn.

What Are the Most Important Windows Features That Can Make Your Life Easier?

Learning to use your computer well is an important skill. Since many people use Windows at home, school, and work, knowing its key features can make a big difference. This is especially true as older versions like Windows 10 are being phased out, and more people are moving to Windows 11. Gaining mastery over a few essential functions can help you work faster, keep your computer safe, and fix problems on your own.

You might feel like you already know your way around Windows, but many useful tools are often overlooked. Some features that seem simple on the surface have deeper capabilities that can greatly improve your experience. This guide is for everyone, from beginners to those who have used Windows for years. It breaks down five fundamental features that will empower you to take full control of your computer, making it more efficient and secure. By understanding these tools, you will be better equipped to manage your system, protect it from risks, and tailor it to your specific needs.

Dive into the Windows 11 Settings App

The Settings app in Windows 11 is the central hub for controlling your computer. In older Windows versions, many options were located in a place called the Control Panel. Microsoft has been moving these options into the new Settings app to make everything easier to find and manage in one place. Today, nearly every adjustment you need to make can be done through Settings. The app has a clean, modern design that is simpler to navigate. For quick access, you can press the Windows key + I on your keyboard at any time.

The Settings app is organized into clear categories on the left side, helping you find what you need without confusion.

System

This is where you control your computer’s core functions. You can change your display options, like screen brightness and resolution. You can also manage notifications to reduce distractions, check your storage space to see what is taking up room, and adjust power and battery settings to make your laptop last longer. This section also contains the Recovery options, which are critical for fixing major system problems.

Bluetooth & devices

Here, you can connect and manage all the hardware that works with your computer. This includes adding a new wireless mouse, connecting Bluetooth headphones, or managing your printer and scanner.

Network & internet

This category handles everything related to your internet connection. You can connect to Wi-Fi networks, manage VPN settings for a more secure connection, and turn on mobile hotspot to share your internet with other devices.

Personalization

This is where you can make your computer look and feel the way you want. You can change your desktop background, choose new colors for your windows and taskbar, and customize what appears on your Start menu and taskbar. For instance, you can move the Start menu from the center back to the left corner if you prefer the classic layout.

Apps

In this section, you manage all the software installed on your computer. You can uninstall programs you no longer need, which helps free up space. You can also choose which apps start automatically when you turn on your computer. Disabling unneeded startup apps can make your computer boot up much faster. You can also set your default apps, like choosing your favorite web browser or media player.

Accounts

This area is for managing user accounts on the computer. You can change your password, set up a PIN for faster sign-in, or add new accounts for other family members.

Privacy & security

Protecting your information is crucial. In this section, you can see which apps have permission to access your camera, microphone, and location. You can control these permissions to ensure your privacy is protected. This is also where you can run a security scan with Windows Security to check for viruses.

Windows Update

Keeping your computer updated is one of the most important things you can do for its security and performance. This section lets you check for new updates, view your update history, and pause updates if you need to.

Even with these categories, some settings can be tricky to find. The search bar at the top of the Settings app is your best friend. Just type a word related to what you want to do, like “password” or “display,” and it will show you the right setting.

Use Windows Sandbox for Safety

Windows Sandbox is a powerful security feature that many people don’t know about. It is available in the Pro, Enterprise, and Education versions of Windows. Think of it as a temporary, disposable computer that runs inside your main computer. It creates a safe, isolated space where you can test programs or open files without any risk to your actual system. When you close the Sandbox, everything inside it is permanently deleted, as if it never existed.

This tool is incredibly useful for several reasons, not just for software developers.

Testing Suspicious Software

If you download a program from the internet and are not sure if it is safe, you can run it in the Sandbox first. If the program turns out to be malicious or contains a virus, it will be trapped inside the Sandbox. It cannot harm your main files, operating system, or personal data. Once you close the Sandbox, the threat is gone completely.

Opening Unknown Files or Links

You may receive an email with an attachment or a link from someone you don’t know. Instead of risking your computer’s health, you can open it within the Sandbox. This lets you see what the file contains in a secure environment.

Trying New Apps

Perhaps you want to try a new photo editor or productivity tool but don’t want to clutter your computer with another installation. You can install and test it in the Sandbox. If you don’t like it, you can simply close the Sandbox without having to go through a complicated uninstallation process.

Experimenting with Settings

For more advanced users, the Sandbox is a great place to experiment with system settings or registry changes. If you make a mistake that would normally cause problems for your computer, it doesn’t matter. The changes only apply to the Sandbox, and you can start over with a fresh one at any time.

Before you can use Windows Sandbox, you must enable it. It is not turned on by default.

1. Click the Start button and type “Turn Windows features on or off.” Select it from the results.
2. A new window will appear with a list of features. Scroll down until you find Windows Sandbox.
3. Check the box next to it and click OK.
4. Your computer will need to restart to complete the installation.

After restarting, you can find Windows Sandbox in your Start menu. When you open it, a new window will appear with a clean Windows desktop. You can copy files from your main computer and paste them into the Sandbox to start testing.

Reset Your PC to Fix Problems

Sometimes, a computer can become slow, unstable, or infected with a virus that is difficult to remove. In these situations, one of the most effective solutions is to reset it. The “Reset this PC” feature is a built-in tool that allows you to reinstall Windows and start fresh. It is a critical skill to learn because it can solve many serious problems without needing to take your computer to a technician.

You can find this feature by going to Settings > System > Recovery. Next to “Reset this PC,” you will see a button to begin the process. When you start, you will be given two main choices.

Keep my files

This option will reinstall the Windows operating system and remove all of your installed programs and settings. However, it will preserve your personal files, such as documents, photos, and videos. This is a good choice if your computer is running slowly or behaving strangely, but you don’t want to go through the trouble of backing up and restoring all of your personal data.

Remove everything

This option performs a complete factory reset. It erases everything on your computer, including your personal files, installed programs, and settings. This is the best choice if you are selling your computer, giving it away, or dealing with a severe malware infection. It ensures that none of your personal information is left behind.

After making your choice, Windows will ask you how you want to reinstall the operating system. You will have two more options.

Cloud download

This option downloads a fresh, new copy of Windows directly from Microsoft’s servers. This is the recommended method because it ensures you get the latest version of Windows and that the installation files are not corrupted. You will need a stable internet connection for this to work.

Local reinstall

This option uses the system files already stored on your computer to reinstall Windows. This can be faster than the cloud download if you have a slow internet connection. However, if your system files are damaged or corrupted, this method might fail.

Before you reset your PC, it is extremely important to back up your important files. Even if you choose the “Keep my files” option, things can sometimes go wrong. You can back up your files to an external hard drive, a USB flash drive, or a cloud storage service like OneDrive or Google Drive. Taking this extra step ensures that your precious memories and important documents are safe no matter what.

Access Your Computer’s BIOS/UEFI

Every computer has a special pre-startup environment that controls its most basic hardware functions. This is known as the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) on older computers and UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) on modern ones. Though UEFI has replaced BIOS, many people still use the term “BIOS” to refer to this environment. It is the very first software that runs when you press the power button, even before Windows starts.

Most of the time, you will never need to access the BIOS/UEFI. However, there are specific situations where knowing how to get there is essential.

Installing a New Operating System

If you want to install a fresh copy of Windows, or another operating system like Linux, you need to tell the computer to boot from a USB drive instead of its main hard drive. This change is made in the BIOS/UEFI.

Enabling Virtualization

Features like Windows Sandbox require a hardware setting called virtualization to be turned on. This setting is often disabled by default and must be enabled in the BIOS/UEFI.

Troubleshooting Hardware Issues

The BIOS/UEFI can provide information about your computer’s hardware, such as the processor, memory, and storage drives. This can be helpful when diagnosing problems.

Changing System Time and Date

Although you can change the time and date in Windows, the system’s primary clock is maintained in the BIOS/UEFI.

There are two main ways to access the BIOS/UEFI.

The Key Press Method

When you first turn on your computer, a logo screen appears for a few seconds. During this time, a message often flashes at the bottom of the screen, such as “Press F2 to enter Setup” or “Press DEL for BIOS.” You need to press this specific key quickly before Windows starts loading. The key is different depending on the computer manufacturer. Common keys include F1, F2, F10, F12, Delete, or Escape.

The Advanced Startup Method

Sometimes, the startup screen passes too quickly to press the key. A more reliable method is to use the Advanced startup feature in Windows. Go to Settings > System > Recovery. In the “Advanced startup” section, click Restart now. Your computer will restart to a blue screen with several options. From there, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings. This will take you directly to the BIOS/UEFI on your next restart.

Once inside the BIOS/UEFI, you will see a text-based or simple graphical interface. Use your keyboard’s arrow keys to navigate the menus. Be very careful. Changing the wrong setting in the BIOS/UEFI can prevent your computer from starting up properly. Unless you are following a specific guide or know exactly what you are doing, it is best not to change any settings.

Manage Your Files with OneDrive

OneDrive is Microsoft’s cloud storage service, and it is built directly into Windows. It helps you back up your files and sync them across all your devices. When you save a file to your OneDrive folder, it is uploaded to the cloud. You can then access that same file on your phone, tablet, or another computer. This is useful for keeping your important documents safe and accessible from anywhere.

However, by default, OneDrive automatically starts backing up your main user folders, including Desktop, Documents, and Pictures. This can be confusing if you were not expecting it. It can also use up your free cloud storage space quickly. Taking a few minutes to configure OneDrive settings gives you control over what is saved and how.

To manage your OneDrive settings, right-click the blue or white cloud icon in the bottom-right corner of your taskbar and select Settings.

Manage Backup

In the settings window, go to the Sync and backup tab and click Manage backup. Here, you can choose which folders you want to sync to OneDrive. For example, if you do not want your Desktop icons and files to appear on all your computers, you can toggle off the Desktop folder. You can do the same for your Documents and Pictures folders. This allows you to use OneDrive for only specific files you place in its folder manually.

Understand Files On-Demand

OneDrive has a feature called Files On-Demand, which helps you save space on your computer’s hard drive. With this enabled, you will see all your cloud files in File Explorer, but they are only downloaded when you double-click to open them. A cloud icon next to a file means it is only in the cloud. A green checkmark means it has been downloaded to your computer.

Pause or Stop Syncing

If you are on a slow or limited internet connection, you can temporarily pause syncing. Right-click the OneDrive icon and select “Pause syncing.” You can also quit OneDrive entirely from this menu if you do not want it running in the background. If you decide you do not want to use it at all, you can also uninstall it like any other app.

Choose What to Sync: In the Account tab of the settings, you can click “Choose folders.” This lets you select specific subfolders within your OneDrive to sync to your computer. This is helpful if you have a large amount of data in the cloud but only need access to a few folders on a particular PC with limited storage.

By customizing these settings, you can transform OneDrive from a potentially confusing feature into a powerful and intentional backup tool that works exactly how you want it to.