Microsoft Windows has been around for approximately 30 years. Since it was introduced, the operating system has continued to evolve to meet the needs of business and consumers around the world. Microsoft just updated Windows to include even more bells and whistles than ever before. The popular operating system is full of very useful and sometimes hidden new features that are worth exploring.

Windows 10 has a variety of special features that make it easy to do a variety of tasks like share content among multiple devices and boost your computing speed.

In this guide, we’ll look at some of the most useful tricks for greater efficiency and productivity. These tips will help you streamline your computing tasks and enhance the overall Windows experience.

#1 Near Share

A new feature in Windows 10 allows you to share files and URLs with local PCs right over the air. So, if you are sitting down at a conference table, you can share files with your boss right over the air. Similar to Apple’s Airdrop, Near Share allows you to beam a file from your PC to another PC in a flash. Near Share is disabled in Windows 10 by default. To use Near Share, both computers will have to have both WiFi and Bluetooth enabled. Then, turn on the Nearby Sharing option in the settings menu. Recipients will automatically receive a popup when you send something to them.

#2 Secret Start Menu

The secret start menu offers an easy way to access important Windows features. The Secret Start Menu is not really a secret — you just have to turn it on, which you can do by right-clicking on the Windows/Start icon button. After you right click, you have the Secret Start menu. Then, you can access a variety of apps, files and documents using this menu. You won’t have to spend precious moments searching in varying places for these things.

#3 Shake

This feature is not new. It actually debuted with Windows 7. However, not very many people seem to know about it. Shake is a very handy feature that everyone should know about. This feature helps keep your desktop clutter-free. It is great for people that always seem to have a display full of windows. Simply grab the top of the window that you want to keep and shake it to minimize all of the other windows. This saves you the time of going through and individually closing every window that you don’t want. You can even reverse this action by shaking the window again. When you do that, all of the other windows will come back.

#4 God Mode

This feature was also introduced with Windows 7. God Mode is for power users who want to have access to all of their PC’s inner parts. Right click on the Desktop then > New > Folder. After you do that, rename the new folder with the following code: GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}. Double-click on the folder to access God Mode. You’ll then be able to access a folder that contains 270 items. These items represent nearly every configurable option in Windows.

#5 Custom Privacy Settings

This option allows you to take charge of your privacy settings. You can customize browsing, speech, typing, cameras and other settings. Custom privacy settings is so much more secure than Express Settings, which forces you to agree to a variety of behavior tracking and data collection. To use Custom Privacy Settings, go to Start then Settings > Privacy.

#6 Windows Hello

This feature allows you to secure your PC with either face recognition or fingerprint detection. You do need to have required hardware to use this feature but it is useful for enterprise users that need to strengthen authentication and guard against spoofing.

Most newer windows PCs and notebooks already have existing fingerprint readers, which allows you to use Windows Hello fingerprint sign in. The software for Windows Hello is built in with Windows 10. So, you just need to enable Windows Hello to use the fingerprint feature.

To use face detection, you’ll have to have one of the newer all-in-one PCs that has the Intel RealSense camera built in or you’ll have to purchase an external RealSense F200 camera.

Vernon Computer Source rents desktops, laptops and tablets running on Windows 10 to businesses and event planners. If you have a temporary computing need, we have you covered. Contact us to get a quote.