The Insider’s Guide to Mastering Windows’ Operating Systems
Operating a Windows computer provides users with ample tools to unleash their productivity. However, it can often appear overwhelming for novices to grasp the full functionality that Windows offers. Through our extensive hands-on expertise and research into Windows user forums, we’ve compiled the ultimate guide to help you master Windows and utilize its operating system to its fullest potential. From navigating settings to troubleshooting common issues, read on to become a Windows power user.
Optimizing Windows Settings for Peak Performance
Tweaking your Windows settings provides one of the easiest ways to improve performance and customize the user experience to your preferences. Let’s explore some key settings worth adjusting:
Under Display Settings, consider adjusting the screen resolution to find your monitor’s ideal sharpness and text size. Enabling Night Light can reduce eye strain when working at night by shifting colors to the warmer end of the spectrum.
Can You stream Xbox games on Windows 10?
If you’re an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber, and in the right region, you can now stream games anywhere. Audio player loading… After a prolonged Android exclusivity, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can now stream games in-browser on Windows 10 PCs.
Why is my Xbox Game Pass not launching games?
You should be able to fix this issue by repairing the Xbox App and the Xbox Game Pass from the Apps & features. Gaming Services problems – Another motive that might cause this Game Pass not launching games error is because the ‘Gaming Services’ from Microsoft is going through some problems or scheduled maintenance.
For those using laptops, Battery Saver mode can significantly extend battery life by limiting background activity and visual effects. When plugged in, switch to Best Performance to allow unthrottled CPU speed.
Under Privacy Settings, limiting app permissions and toggling options like Location Services can curb power consumption. We also recommend toggling tips and advertisements off to reduce clutter.
Finally, under Update & Security Settings, enable automatic updates to regularly receive the latest features and security patches. Pausing updates when using demanding applications avoids interruptions.
Cleaning Up Disk Space
Over time, Windows computers inevitably accumulate unnecessary files that hog storage space. Here are our top tips for freeing up capacity:
- Open Storage Settings and click on Temporary Files to clear out system junk files.
- Uninstall unused apps and games from Apps & Features settings.
- Use Disk Cleanup to eliminate system files like previous Windows installations.
- Delete downloads and clear caches of browsers and media apps.
- Remove personal files you no longer need like photos, videos, and documents.
Regularly applying these steps can reclaim gigabytes of space and keep your system speedy.
What games are not available on Xbox Game Pass?
There are some truly great indie titles in there as well that aren’t available on Xbox Game Pass, such as Into the Breach, and some classic PC titles like Hexen. If you have Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you also get access to the cloud gaming library direct from the Xbox app on Windows 10 or 11.
Does Xbox Game Pass work on Windows 10?
Streaming games through the Xbox app provides the quickest way to play without having to install games on your PC, giving you more time to dive right into Psychonauts 2, Hades, or whatever else you are playing. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members in 22 countries can now play Game Pass games directly from the cloud in the Xbox app on Windows 10 PCs.
Speeding Up an Overloaded PC
When your computer begins suffering from performance issues like slowness and freezes, there are ways to get it humming again:
Check Task Manager to identify applications consuming excessive CPU or memory and disable unnecessary start-up programs.
Update graphics drivers, which often improve gaming fps and overall snappiness.
Click ‘Optimize Drives’ in Disk Defragmenter to consolidate fragmented files.
Consider upgrading to an SSD, which provides a significant boost over conventional hard drives.
Refreshing your PC reinstalls Windows while retaining personal files and settings for a clean slate.
As a last resort, resetting your PC completely erases everything for maximum performance.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Windows encounters its fair share of quirks and errors. We’ll outline fixes for some prevalent problems:
Frozen screens can be cleared by opening Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and ending unresponsive processes. For full lockups, hold the power button to force shut down the computer.
‘Blue screen of death’ errors point to critical OS issues. Use the troubleshooting options to diagnose the cause – often a faulty driver.
How do I get a PC Game Pass?
The PC Game Pass service is delivered from the Xbox app that is pre-installed on Windows 10 and Windows 11. You can find it by simply typing “Xbox” into your Start Menu. You’ll need a Microsoft Account to use it, and a valid payment method.
How do I reinstall Xbox Game Pass on Windows 10?
On Wednesday, Microsoft shared a workaround to help Xbox Game Pass subscribers, which requires deleting Gaming Services registry keys and reinstall the Gaming Services app from their Windows 10 devices. Right-click the Windows Start button in the lower-left corner of the main screen, and then select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
How do I reinstall the Xbox app?
To do this, type “Xbox” into the Start Menu as seen above, then simply right-click on the Xbox app, and select Uninstall. Next, you can head to this link to open the Microsoft Store listing for the Xbox app, and hit download to reinstall it. Repair the Xbox app. To this, type “Xbox” into the Start Menu, as seen above, then select “App Settings.”
How do I play games on my PC with Xbox Game Pass?
Play consoles games from the cloud on your PC with Xbox Game Pass. Play games from your Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One console right on your PC. Download the Xbox Game Pass mobile app to install games from wherever you are to your PC. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can redeem their Perks within the app. Intel Core i5; AMD Ryzen 5.
Apps failing to open may indicate Windows Store corruption. Run the Store’s troubleshooter and reset it if necessary.
Sluggish game performance can be improved by updating graphics drivers, closing unnecessary background apps, and tweaking in-game video settings.
Failing to boot is remedied by using System Restore or the Windows recovery environment to access advanced start-up repair tools.
By accurately identifying issues and using the right tools, you can reliably fix common problems impacting Windows PCs.
Mastering Windows Takes Time, But PAYS OFF
At first glance, Windows appears simple to operate. But beneath the surface lies great depth in customizing, optimizing, and troubleshooting your system. Investing the time to master Windows unlocks the ability to squeeze every ounce of utility from your computer. We hope our guide has revealed tricks allowing you to operate Windows with newfound competence. Let us know your tips and favorite features to take your Windows prowess even further!
What is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?
And finally, “Xbox Game Pass Ultimate” gives you access to all the games on Xbox consoles, Windows PCs, and a selection of games to stream from the cloud to PC, Android, and modern web-friendly devices. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also includes Xbox Live Gold, which is needed for multiplayer gaming on Xbox consoles.
How do I get Xbox Game Pass?
On Xbox, you can simply find the games in your library under the Xbox Game Pass section. On PC, Xbox Game Pass exists through the Xbox app for Windows 10. To access Xbox Game Pass in the cloud, you can either grab the app on Android, or use the Xbox app on PC.
Does Game Pass work on Windows 10?
Discover and download new games with Game Pass, play console games on your Windows PC with cloud gaming, and chat with friends across PC, mobile, and Xbox console. Requires Windows 10/11, v.22H1 or higher. See system requirements. Having trouble installing the update or app? Get help here.
