Windows 10 Settings

Windows 10 settings is different from other versions of windows such as windows 7, 8 and other older versions. As earlier explained in the introduction to windows 10 tutorial, settings in windows 10 is now unified.

Account Details

These details are located at the top left side. It shows your account display picture, PC display name, email account signed up.

The option My Microsoft Account when you click on it, it takes you to your default internet browser, open Microsoft Sign up or Login page where you can either sign up or log in into your existing Microsoft account.

(a) One Drive

This option is used to sign into your One Drive account which can be used to backup your documents like Google Drive.

(b) Windows Update

Windows update option link when clicked takes you to a new page where you can take actions concerning windows updates. A detailed explanation is given in the Update and Security section of this tutorial.

(c) Rewards

This option link when clicked takes you to your Microsoft rewards.

(d) Web Browsing

Web browsing option is used to set or restore recommended Microsoft browser settings for your computer system.

Windows 10 Settings (System)

This is the first settings section of the windows settings

It is one of the frequently used section, because in this section it contains the basic settings such as adjusting display, sound, setting notifications and other options used to customize your computer. Below, I will be explaining the various sections in this system settings section.

(i) Display

In this display section (under the heading Brightness and Color)

The first option is used to adjust the system's brightness by moving the range slider to either right of left.

The second option is used to switch off/on the night light. Night light reduces the amount of blue light which helps to reduce eye strain by displaying warm colors at night when using your computer system.

The third option is a link Night Light Settings Which takes you to a page that has options for turning ON night light, adjusting the strength of night light and scheduling the time which it can automatically be turned ON.

Under the heading (Windows HD Color), when you click on the Windows HD Color Settings it takes you to a page where you can see the windows hd color settings for your system.

Under the heading (Scale and Layout), the first option is used to change the size of your computer text, icons, apps and other resizable things in the system.

The second option is when you click on the Advance Scaling Settings it takes you to a page where you can allow the system fix scaling for application and customize your own scaling.

This third option is for changing your desktop resolution and orientation. The resolution can be set to different sizes and the orientation has the portrait, landscape, portrait flipped and landscape flipped

Under the heading (Multiple Displays) you can click on the button Detect to display others displays that might be connected.

The next option is Advance Display Settings which takes you to page and shows you options for choosing displays if there are more than one, viewing the active display information and also an option for setting refresh rate.
Also in the advance display settings page, when you click on the Display adapter properties for Display 1 it takes you to a small modal where you can see the properties for Display 1, such as the adapter, monitor and color management.
Learn more opens your default browser to search and display Microsoft full online support for this settings.

The last option here under Multiple Displays is Graphic Settings link. This opens a page fore graphic setting. In this page you can choose any application to set preference.

Note that at the right side there are also Get help and Give feedback link which you can also use to get help from the internet and give your feedback through the system application.

(ii) Sound

This is where you can set all sound settings in your computer system. In this section under the heading (Output) the first option is used to choose an output device, if an external speaker is connected, it will bring out the option for selecting it, but if none, it will only have one option which is the system's Speaker (High Definition Audio Device)

Underneath this option there is a link Device properties which when clicked takes you to another page where you will find the options for renaming the device, selecting spatial sound format and adjusting the balance of sound.

At the right side of this page there are Additional device properties which when clicked display the other advance properties (such as levels, enhancement etc.). There is also the Get help and Give feedback link which you can also use to get help from the internet and give your feedbacks.

The second option is the master volume used to adjust the volume, and beneath it are the Troubleshoot button - Used to check for issues and fixes them. Manage Sound Devices - which when clicked opens a new page with options for testing and disabling input and output sound devices.

Under the heading (Input) section, the first option is used to choose an input device, if an external microphone is connected, it will bring out the option for selecting it, but if none, it will only have one option which is the system's Microphone (High Definition Audio Device)

Underneath this option there is a link Device properties which when clicked takes you to another page where you will find the options for renaming your device, adjusting and testing volume.

At the right side of this page there are Additional device properties which when clicked display the other advance properties (such as levels, listen etc.). There is also Get help and Give feedback link which you can also use to get help from the internet and give your feedback

The second option is the Test your Microphone used which shows you the testing, and beneath it are the Troubleshoot button - Used to check for issues and fixes them. Manage Sound Devices - which when clicked opens a new page with options for testing and disabling input and output sound devices.

Under the heading (Advance Sound Option) section, there is an option for app volume and device preferences which is used to customize master volumes and system sounds.

When clicked it displays a new page where you can see these options.

At the right side of this entire Sound page. you will see the following links. Under the heading Related Settings we have Bluetooth and other devices, Sound Control Panel, Microphone Privacy Settings and Ease of Access Audio Setting. These are links to pages you will learn in this Windows 10 settings tutorial. For now, just follow up with this process so that you do not get confused.

(iii) Notification & Actions

The Notification and action section is where you can turn ON/OFF application and system notifications. You can also show/hide notification screens and others.

Under the heading (Quick Actions) section, the first option is Edit your quick actions which when clicked opens the notification area from the right side of your computer desktop, giving you the ability to remove and add you quick action tiles.

Under the heading (Notification) section, the first is button used to turn ON/OFF notification from applications and other senders. The focus and assistant link immediately after the button is a link that will take you to the focus and assist page. Below this link option are other actions to enable notifications display for various things.

Under the heading (Get notification these senders) section, are list of applications that has notification functionality which the system can access and display its notification messages. You can turn it ON/OFF for any of your preferred applications. You can also click on the app and it will take you to its own individual page where you can show/hide banners, sounds, set number of visible notification and also set notification priority (top, high and normal).

(iv) Focus Assist

The focus assist is used to choose only preferred or important notifications that you want to display. It allows you to focus on your selected chosen notifications only.

The first option is used to turn OFF all notifications from your computer contacts and applications. The second option Priority Only is used to selected the applications you want to receive notifications from.

Below this is the Customize your priority list which when clicked takes you to another page called Priority List. In Priority list page you can enable/disable notification coming from calls, text and reminders. You will also see the option from enabling/disabling notification from pinned contacts on taskbar. You can add contacts and application which you want their notification to be shown. You can also click on the existing contacts and application that is already on the list, and you will see a button option Remove which is used to remove that contact or application from the notification list.

Now go back to the main page. the third option Alarms Only is used to disable all notification and allow only alarm notification to be turned ON.

Next is the automatic rules section which is used to set time and activities when you don't want to be disturbed.

Under the Automatic Rules section, the first option During these times when clicked, it takes you to its individual page where you can set the start time, end time, repeats and focus level when you want to automatically turn focus assist ON. It also has option which you can use to display it on the notification center.

The second option When I'm duplicating my display, when clicked on takes you to another page where you can turn ON, change the focus level to alarms only or priority only. It also has option which you can use to display it on the notification center. This option applies to when you are projecting your computer/laptop screen to another bigger screen on the wall using a projector.

The third option When I'm playing a game, when clicked, also takes you to another page where you can turn ON, change the focus level to alarms only or priority only. It also has option which you can use to display it on the notification center.

The fourth option When using an app in full screen mode, when clicked, also takes you to another page where you can turn ON, change the focus level to alarms only or priority only. It also has option which you can use to display it on the notification center.

Lastly, you can check/uncheck the box (enable/disable) which will show you summary of what you missed while the focus assist was ON.

(v) Power and Sleep

This is a setting area where you can set how long your computer screen light stay when you are not operating it. And also, how long your computer will stay, before it goes to sleep.

Under the heading (Screen) section, the first option On battery power, turn off after is used to set how long the computer screen light will stay when you are not using it and when your computer is not connected or plugged to a power source (i.e when your computer/laptop is not charging).

The second option When plugged in, turn off after is used to set how long the computer screen light will stay when you are not using it and when your computer is connected or plugged to a power source (i.e when your computer/laptop is charging).

Under the heading (Sleep) section, the first option On battery power, turn off after is used to set how long the computer will stay before it goes to sleep, when you are not using it and when your computer is not connected or plugged to a power source (i.e. when your computer/laptop is not charging).

The second option When plugged in, turn off after is used to set how long the computer will stay before it goes to sleep, when you are not using it and when your computer is connected or plugged to a power source (i.e. when your computer/laptop is charging).

At the right side of this Power and Sleep page, there a link for Additional power settings. When you click on this link, it will take you to another page where you will see other related settings from the control panel. Do not be in a hurry to go over there and start moving around, as I will also teach you everything that you need to know in the control panel as you follow up in this computer tutorial to the ending.

(vi) Battery

Here you can see your battery percentage and set your battery, to battery saver mode.

The first display on this page is your battery percentage in figures (for example: 90%), with a bar line underneath it which is proportional to the battery percentage.

Under the heading (Battery Saver) section, the first option there, is used to turn ON/OFF battery saver mode. Also, the second option is used to automatically turn ON/OFF battery saver mode when your battery reaches a particular percentage. You can set the percentage by selecting it from the dropdown options. (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, Always, Never)
Lastly under this section, you can Lower your screen brightness when the battery saver is ON, by checking the box option.

Under the heading (Battery usage per app) section, there is only one option which is used to keep track of your battery when it is not charging or plugged to a power source. The two options to select from are 24hours & 1week.

(vii) Storage

This settings page has to do with everything about file memory spaces and unused memory in the computer hard disk drive.

The first option is the toggle ON/OFF button for automatically deleting temporary files that have not been used and also files in the computer recycle bin (place where temporary deleted files are stored in the computer system). When the button is turned ON, your computer system will automatically delete these files, but when it is turned OFF, it will not automatically delete any files, you would have to go to the location of the files you want to delete in your computer system and delete them.
Below this option there is a link Configure storage space and run it. On clicking this link takes you to another page with the following options. First option is used to ON/OFF the storage sense (which automatically frees up space in the memory in order for your computer to run efficiently and effectively). Below it you can see options to select from when you click on the box below Run Storage sense.

In this same page under Temporary Files, you will see options to delete temporary files that your apps is not using, delete files in the recycle bin and downloads folder.
The last option in this page is a button Clean now under the heading Free up space now which can be used take action to clean files using the setting above.

Alright, so if you go back to the main page, the second heading option is the Local Disk name and its size. It shows the amount of space that has been used, at the left-hand side of the rectangular tile diagram, and on the right hand side it shows the amount of space that is remaining.

Below this are location details that occupies these spaces.

• (a) Desktop - These includes all files in the desktop location.
• (b) App and Features - These are application and features that are in your computer.
• (c) Temporary Files - These are temporary files in your computer system.
• (d) Other - These can be files and applications with uncommon extension names.
• (e) Documents - It includes all files that is located in the documents folder.

There are a lot of locations shown here, you can click on the link Show more categories to display other locations like music, pictures, videos, maps, mail, one drive and other people.

Under the heading (More Storage settings) section, you will see the following link options below.
View storage usage on other devices - Shows you the amount of used and unused space on your computer system and other devices.
Change where new content is being saved - when clicked, takes you to another page where you can change the location of where contents are being saved. Usually if there is no external disk drive, you will only have one option in the selection menu which will be your computer hard disk drive.
Manage Storage Spaces - this link takes you to a control panel page where you have different options for managing your storage spaces.
Optimize Drives - option link which is used to optimize drives in the computer system. optimization helps your computer to run more efficiently.
View Backup Options - when clicked, this link takes you to the view backup options page. In this page you have options to backup to OneDrive, backup to using File History and to backup older version of your windows operating system.

(viii) Tablet Mode

In this section of windows 10 settings, it is used when you want to set your computer to tablet mode. It has only two options and one link. The first option is when you sign in and the second option is when you put your device in tablet mode.

The last option is the change additional tablet settings. On clicking this link, takes you to another page where you will find the additional options for when you are using tablet mode and when you are not using tablet mode.

(ix) Multitasking

The Multitasking settings has to do with when you are working with different desktops.

Under the heading (Working with multiple windows) section, you can switch ON/OFF the snap windows. (Snap is short for smart windows which allows you view two windows side by side without resizing the window itself) And under this, you will see options that you can enable when the snap windows is ON.

Under the heading (Timeline) section, you will find an option for switching ON/OFF the timeline. (Timeline shows the activities that you have opened or the on going activities you are currently on)

Under the heading (Alt + Tab) section, which is the keyboard shortcut for showing timeline activities, you will find a selection menu box which you can use to set the maximum number of activities that will display when you open the timeline by pressing Alt + Tab.

Under the last heading here (Virtual Desktops), you will find options: selection box options for when viewing taskbar and when viewing the timeline by pressing Alt + Tab. You can select for All Desktops which all activities or tasks for all the desktops you have opened. You can also choose the Only the Desktop I'm using option which shows all activities or tasks for only the desktop you are currently on.

(x) Projecting to this PC

This page has to do with all settings for projecting your computer system's screen onto another computer system onto another phone and vice versa using a wireless network.

The first option there is adding a wireless display, and underneath it you will see a link option Optional Features. When you click on the optional features it takes you to another page where you can add a feature and see optional feature history by clicking on the See optional feature history link which opens a dialog page or box which you can use the search input field to search for the history and also sort history using either date or time by clicking on the arrow button close to the Sort by option. On the same optional features page, you can also see installed features listed out which can also be searched and sorted too using the search input field and the sort option respectively.

At the right side of this page under the related settings, there is an option More windows features which when clicked will open a small dialog box which displays more windows features.
There are a lot of features there which I will be teaching you their functions and how to use them later on in the how-to tutorial section on this platform.

Going back to the main page of the Projecting this PC you will find other options which you can enable like windows or android projecting to this PC when you say its Ok, Ask to project to this PC, Require Pin from pairing and allowing the PC to be discovered for projection only when it is plugged to a power source.

Lastly in this page, you will find a link option Rename your PC. When you click this link, it will take you to the About settings page where you can find the option for renaming your PC.

(xi) Shared Experiences

This page has to do with all settings that allows you to start task in your PC and finish it in another device or andriod phone.

Under the heading (Accounts) section in this page, the first option you will find is a link Manage your accounts. When you click on this option link, it takes you to the Account settings page which you will find options for managing all your signed in account. I will not go into detailed about the account settings page here, because I will teach you that when you get to the Account settings section in this tutorial.

Under the heading (Share across devices), the first option is the allowing applications on other devices open and message applications this your PC device.

The second option as shown here is a selection menu where you can choose to share from either only your device or any device nearby.

The last three things here are links
The Microsoft account, work or school account and privacy statement. When you click on any of these option links, it opens your default browser to get the required information relating to these options.

You might not really use these settings frequently but some day you might be in need of how to go about it, that is why it is best if you learn the basics of everything so it won't be difficult for you to catch up when the need arises.

(xii) Clipboard

On the clipboard setting page, you will see a few options of how to handle things that you have copied or cut from your windows.

Under the heading (Clipboard History) section in this page, the first option there is used to turn ON/OFF the clipboard history in order to save multiple items to the clipboard which can be used later.

Under the heading (Syn across devices) you will find a button Get Started. When you click on this button it takes you to an online page where you can get started with synchronizing your devices.

The second option is a link Get an app to sync clipboard items to your phone. When you click on this link, it opens a dialog box page to search for an application that you can use to synchronize items to your phone. Below this link you can also see two options which you can choose from which are:
Automatically syn text that I copy - that is when your internet connection is active, your copied text will be automatically synchronized.
Never automatically syn text that I copy - that is, it will not synchronize copied text unless you manually synchronize it.

The last link is Privacy statement which when clicked, opens your default browser and shows you the privacy statement. (Note that your internet connection must be active before any online activities can open.)

Under the last heading (Clear clipboard data), there is a Clear button which is used to clear all data that has been copied or cut which are ready to be pasted. Once the clipboard data is clear, if you press Win + V you will not find any data in the clipboard again.

(xiii) Remote Desktop

This settings page has to do with settings which you can use to set up a remote desktop connection. Remote desktop enables you to be able to work from other devices as if you are working from your own PC device.

In this settings page, the first option is to turn ON/OFF the remote desktop. By default, the remote desktop should be OFF. Once you click on the toggle button to turn it ON, a dialog box will display asking you for confirmation. On clicking on the Confirm button, the dialog box disappears and other options are being displayed below the ON/OFF button.

You can enable or disable other option options by clicking on the check box. The Show settings beside these options, when click on will take you to a different page where you can explore other settings relating to them.

The next link option is the Advance settings. When you click on this link, it will take you to the advance settings page of the remote desktop settings. Here you can enable required computer to use network level authentication to connect, learn how to set external connections and remote desktop ports by clicking their various link and read the processes up on the web.

When you move back to the main page, under the heading (How to connect to this PC) you can click on the link option below which says Don't have a remote desktop client on your remote device?. This link will open your default browser and search for results that will have the answer to that question.

The last link option under the heading (User Accounts) is Select users that can remotely access this PC. When you click on this link option, a dialog box will appear which will show you how to add users that are available to connect or access your PC.

(xiv) About

This is last settings section of the System section in the PC settings. This page contains details about your PC.

The first link here is the See details in Windows Security

Under the heading (Device Specification) of this section you will see the name of your PC written in bold and bigger font size, the Device name, Processor, Installed RAM, Device ID, Product ID, System type, Pen and touch.

Below these details, there is a Copy button. When you click on the copy button, it will copy your PC specifications to the clipboard, ready to be pasted anywhere in your computer system.

The next button to the copy button is the Rename this PC. When this button is clicked, a dialog box will appear that will display an input field in order for you to change the name of the PC.

Under the heading (Windows Specification) you will find all the details about the windows operating system that is installed in your computer system such as: Edition, Version, date installed, OS build and Experience. You will also find the copy button below this details which is used to copy these details to the clipboard for pasting.

The next option under are links to change product key or upgrade windows version, Microsoft service agreement and software license terms. These options when clicked on, opens your default browser to display information about them. (as said before, you must have internet connection for links like this to open on your browser).

Under the last heading (Support) section, there are useful details about the designer and architect of your computer system, such as the Manufacturer's name, Phone number, Hours of working and his online support link.

At the right side of this page, under the heading related settings, you will find some useful settings links which you need not worry about, because some of them already have their own tutorial section in this computer basics tutorials, while others have already be explained in previous tutorials on this platform.

Alright, I know you have really learnt a lot from this particular part, but you still need to know what other settings are there and how to make use of them. You can take a break if you want to, and come back and continue.