Windows

The virtual touchpad puts a software trackpad on your screen. You drag your finger on it to move the mouse pointer, much like a laptop touchpad. It is useful on…

Changing the sleep settings in Windows 11 controls how long your PC sits idle before it goes to sleep. Sleep is a low-power state that keeps your open apps and…

Mouse hover time controls how long your pointer has to rest on an item before Windows acts on it. Windows 11 uses it, and the same setting also exists in…

Windows 11 keeps a list of words you use often with a digital pen or a physical keyboard. This list is called the Custom Inking and Typing Dictionary. It applies…

A BitLocker recovery key is a 48-digit number that unlocks your encrypted drive if Windows detects unexpected hardware changes. If you lose it, you lose access to your files for…

Recent search history in Windows 11 saves the apps, files, and web searches you type into the taskbar search box so you can find them again quickly. Microsoft turns this…

Windows 11 hides some files, folders, and drives by default, such as parts of C:\Windows\System32. This protects important system data from accidental deletion or changes. File Explorer can show these…

Hiding a file or folder in Windows 11 keeps it out of normal view in File Explorer. It’s handy for tidying a cluttered folder or keeping personal documents out of…

Public folder sharing lets other people on your home network, and other users of the same PC, open files you put in the Public folders. It is off by default…

File and printer sharing in Windows 11 lets other computers on your home network see and use your shared folders and printers. You can send a document from a laptop…

Changing your account type in Windows 11 lets you switch a user profile between a Standard User and an Administrator. A Standard User can run installed apps and change their…

Regional formats in Windows 11 control how dates, times, currencies, and numbers appear across your system. Changing this setting switches date styles from 12/31/2024 to 31/12/2024 or alters currency symbols…

Random hardware addresses (MAC addresses) protect your privacy on Windows 11 by hiding your network adapter’s permanent physical ID behind a temporary identifier. A MAC address (Media Access Control address)…

Facial recognition sign-in lets you log in to Windows 11 with your face through Windows Hello, the built-in system that checks your biometric data. Turning it off deletes your saved…

Microsoft Defender Firewall in Windows 11 blocks unwanted network traffic and protects your PC from online threats using built-in security rules. Windows 11 turns it on by default. You can…