Trick and Tips in Windows 10

Windows 10: Useful tips and tricks to get ahead

Ever since Windows 10 was officially released on 29 July worldwide, many have pondered over whether to upgrade from their earlier versions. Microsoft has added a fair share of changes to the way Windows works and communicates with the user.

Virtual Desktop

We tried Virtual Desktops 101. Not the fundamentals, but 101 in count. Turns out, there’s no limit to the number of virtual desktops you could add in Windows 10.

101 virtual desktops and still counting! Club applications and isolate them so that you’re not overwhelmed by the number of applications open.

Apple inspired swipe
The touchpad now supports 3 finger and 4 finger gestures. If you use 3 fingers to swipe right or left, you switch between open Windows. If you keep the fingers on the trackpad while swiping you get a preview of the open Windows. Similar to the Alt-Tab function.

If you have only one desktop open (virtual desktop) then Windows+Tab and Alt-Tab works the same way.
If you have multiple desktops open, then Windows+Tab will give you a preview of the virtual desktops open. You could then switch between them. Alt-Tab or 3 finger swipes would continue to switch between open Windows in the same desktop.

A 3 finger swipe upwards shows all open applications. Further, a 3 finger swipe downwards minimises all applications.

In a folder, 2 finger swipes towards the right or left allow you to switch between folders and files! This doesn’t end here. If you are in a text document, a 2 finger swipe to the left or right moves your cursor forward or backward within the document. A 2 finger swipe upward or downward helps you scroll within the document.

Zoom in at specific menu items
If you access the network menu for Wi-Fi networks and you pinch, then the menu appears to zoom in. However, the next time you access it, it’s visible at default zoom. Here’s a screen capture of the zoom at work.

 

One possible use of this is that if you are at a place with an unusually high number of network SSIDs, you could simply pinch zoom on your mouse trackpad and select the appropriate network to connect.

Your Start menu

When Windows 10 was released, it was compared to Windows 8 and effectively to the Start menu that was infamously axed. With Windows 10, not only does it come back, it also gives you power over customising it to suit your needs.

Now you can select the size of the Live tiles from the Start menu itself. You can also Uninstall the app in case you don’t see value in having it. If you discover interesting tricks around Windows 10, share them with us!