10 Useful Features Hidden in Windows 10

Though users are annoyed by frequent scratchy updates, Windows 10 is still one of the most popular operating systems. It provides a lot of advanced features and options to maintain the productivity of the users. Windows 10 came out in 2015, but most people are yet to explore all the tools it provides. 

Some of these tools are not new and taken directly from the older Windows OS, while others are introduced during the semi-annual feature updates. These power tools are not directly available on the Windows 10 app list; that’s why they are unpopular and rarely used.

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In this post, we will list out ten useful Windows 10 features that are hidden from plain sight.

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Nearby Sharing

Nearby Sharing is the recently added Windows 10 feature that lets you share files, documents, and links to the nearby Windows 10 devices. It uses the WiFi and Bluetooth networks for transferring the files wirelessly. Now you don’t require USB drives to share the data with your nearby colleagues or friends. You can do that seamlessly using Windows 10 Nearby Sharing.

To enable Nearby Sharing, follow these steps:

  1. Search for Nearby Sharing on the windows search bar and click on the suitable icon to launch its settings.
    open-nearby-sharing

  2. Configure the settings and enable the Nearby Sharingconfigure-nearby-sharing

After enabling it, you now need to right-click on the file you want to transfer and select Share.

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Timeline

Timeline is an excellent feature introduced by Microsoft in Windows 10 October 2018 feature update. It is similar to browsing history, i.e., it displays the recently opened files and folders in chronological order. You can click on any of those files to relaunch them. The best part is, Timeline is linked with the Microsoft Account of the user and not with the device. So, if you store your files on Cloud, you can pick them on any device with the same Microsoft Account enabled. To access the Timeline, use Windows + Tab keys combination.

Storage Sense

You might not know that some elements on your system, such as Recycle Bin or Temporary Folder, can eat lots of hard disk space. If you are facing problems in manually managing the disk space, Storage Sense can help you in that. It can automatically get rid of the unwanted files when specific scenarios are met.

You might not know that some elements on your system, such as Recycle Bin or Temporary Folder, can eat lots of hard disk space. If you are facing problems in manually managing the disk space, Storage Sense can help you in that. It can automatically get rid of the unwanted files when specific scenarios are met.

  1. To enable the Storage Sense, search for it in search bar and click on its icon.turn-on-storage-sense
  2. You can configure or run it by clicking on this option.Configure Storage sense
  3. Set Storage Sense according to your preference. You can also run it instantly to free up space.set-Storage-sense

If you want to give Storage Sense even more control over your stuff, you can have it manage the files that are stored in your local OneDrive folder and backed up to your OneDrive account in the Cloud.

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File Explorer Dark Mode

If you are bored of the same old look of the Windows 10 File Explorer, you can enable the dark mode to give it a fresh appearance. 

  1. Navigate to Settings -> Personalization -> Colors
  2. Under Choose your default app mode, select DarkDark-Mode-File-Explorer
  3. Dark Mode will be enabled across all your apps.Dark-File-Explorer

It will not only freshen up the app windows but is also soothing to the eyes.

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Windows Reliability Monitor

If you have recently started facing troubles on your system and cannot retrieve its cause, you can check the Windows Reliability Monitor to know about it. Windows Reliability Monitor tracks the health of your system and takes the regular snapshot. Windows 10 users can use it for hunting down the app that is causing disturbance to the system.

To use it, type Reliability Monitor in the windows search bar and click on View Reliability History.

Open-Reliability-monitor

Check for the red crossed apps or services. They are the ones causing the critical error in the system.

Reliability-Monitor

Virtual Desktops

This Windows 10 feature is one of the best for multitasking. It is like running two systems on a single screen. Using virtual desktops, you can run your work-related applications on one screen and entertainment-related applications on the other screen. Every screen would be like a different device altogether. You can also use virtual desktops to group similar applications. For example, you can launch all applications you require for video editing on one screen. On another screen, you can open all the MS Office applications and so on.

To create a virtual desktop, you need to launch the Timeline by pressing the Windows + Tab keys combination. On top of the Timeline, you will get the option to create a new desktop.

Create-new-virtual-desktop

Cloud Clipboard

If you work on more than one Windows 10 system, the Cloud Clipboard feature would be a bliss for you. The Cloud Clipboard lets you copy the text on one device and paste it on another one. It is quite a handy feature, especially if your devices are apart by a long distance. Cloud Clipboard keeps the history of your copied text so that you can use them at your convenience. 

To enable it, navigate to Start -> Settings -> System -> Clipboard. Then switch ON the buttons to enable the options.

Clipboard

Dynamic Lock

If you are working in an office and don’t want your colleagues or anyone else to access your system, you can enable the Dynamic Lock in Windows 10. It is a cool and handy security feature that pairs with your phone via Bluetooth and automatically locks the computer system when you are away from the desk, and the phone gets disconnected. Before setting up the Dynamic Lock, pair your smartphone with the PC through Bluetooth.

  1. Head towards the windows search bar and type Dynamic Lock 
  2. Click on its icon. It will navigate you to sign-in settings.open-dynamic-lock-settings
  3. Under Sign-in settings, look for the Dynamic Lock option.
  4. Click the box next to “Allow Windows to automatically lock the device when you’re away.”Dynamic Lock
  5. Windows will now start looking for the paired device in the range.enable-Dynamic-Lock
  6. After few moments, the Dynamic Lock would be enabled.Dynamic-Lock-enabled

God Mode

God Mode in Windows 10 is a special folder that will allow you to browse all 206 tools hiding in the operating system. It exposes Windows’ administrative, settings, and Control Panel tools in one place. One thing to note, God Mode does not magically unlock any extra features on your operating system. It just makes all tools, which are otherwise difficult to access, accessible in a single folder.

Enabling God Mode is easy. First, ensure that you have administrative privilege on your Windows account. Go to your desktop and create a new folder by right-clicking any blank area. Choose New, then Folder.

Once the new folder appears, rename it using the following;

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

You can replace “GodMode” with any folder name, but you will need to type characters before the period for the operating system to accept the name.

You will be able to access these tools:

Secret Power User Menu

Not many know that by right-clicking on the Windows Start icon, you will get quick access to many power settings like Task Manager, Disk Management, Computer Management, Command Prompt, and many more.

Secret-Start-menu
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Bottom Line

Though Windows 10 is not liked much by the classic Windows OS fan (read Windows XP and Windows 7 fans), it is still a great power-packed OS that helps you seamlessly complete your tasks. It is surprising that most of the productivity tools mentioned in this guide are unpopular despite being very useful. Comment down if you know about any more of such hidden gems of Windows 10.

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