Ed Bott's 10 most popular Windows 10 tips

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  • Turn off Cortana completely

    Turn off Cortana completely

      In the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, version 1607, Microsoft removed Cortana's on-off switch. But it's still there, if you know where to look. Use this tweak to make Windows search strictly local.

      Caption by: Ed Bott

    1. Defrag secrets for hard disks and SSDs

      Defrag secrets for hard disks and SSDs

      Should you defrag your solid-state drive? Absolutely not! Here's how to keep conventional hard disks, SSDs, and even virtual disks running at peak efficiency.

      Caption by: Ed Bott

    2. ​Shut down OneDrive completely

      ​Shut down OneDrive completely

      In Windows 10, OneDrive is built in. The connections are so tight, in fact, that OneDrive has its own node in File Explorer, with no obvious way to remove it. But the options to disconnect OneDrive are there if you know where to look. Here are full instructions.

      Caption by: Ed Bott

    3. Find any setting in seconds

      Find any setting in seconds

      One confusing aspect of Windows 10 is the way it keeps some options in the old-style Control Panel and others in the new Settings app. The good news is you don't have to guess where to look, once you learn these two search secrets.

      Caption by: Ed Bott

    4. ​Hunt down battery-draining apps

      ​Hunt down battery-draining apps

      Buried deep in the Settings app on a Windows 10 laptop or tablet is a list of which apps and desktop programs have been burning through your battery lately. You'll also find special Battery Saver settings that can extend your remaining battery life dramatically.

      Photo by: Ed Bott

      Caption by: Ed Bott

    5. Access symbols, emojis, and other special characters

      Access symbols, emojis, and other special characters

      Entering special characters, including foreign currency symbols, fractions, and emoji, is a cumbersome task on most physical keyboards. Use this hidden Windows 10 option to open an on-screen keyboard that puts all those options at your fingertips.

      Caption by: Ed Bott

    6. Disable annoying app notifications

      Disable annoying app notifications

      By default, Windows 10 apps (even desktop programs like Outlook) can interrupt you with notifications. Here's how to take control of those pop-ups and sounds so they don't become a distraction.

      Caption by: Ed Bott

    7. Reclaim precious disk space with these storage tools

      Reclaim precious disk space with these storage tools

      Is your Windows 10 laptop or tablet running low on free space? Built-in storage management tools let you pinpoint exactly which files and apps are to blame. In many cases, you can recover that free space with just a click or two.

      Caption by: Ed Bott

    8. Create a recovery drive

      Create a recovery drive

      If our Windows 10 PC is operating perfectly right now, great. Take advantage of the opportunity to create a recovery drive so you have a way to perform repairs if something ever goes wrong.

      Caption by: Ed Bott

    9. How to access Cortana's secret calculator

      How to access Cortana's secret calculator

      Who needs Windows Calc? Cortana can do simple math, and with one extra keystroke you can display a full-featured calculator in the Start menu.

      Caption by: Ed Bott

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    How well do you know the ins and outs of Microsoft's flagship operating system? Every week, Windows expert Ed Bott delivers a new trick or shortcut. We've collected his most popular tips.

    Read More Read Less

    Turn off Cortana completely

      In the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, version 1607, Microsoft removed Cortana's on-off switch. But it's still there, if you know where to look. Use this tweak to make Windows search strictly local.

      Caption by: Ed Bott

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