Windows can be a powerful operating system, but it’s not always the easiest to navigate. If you’re looking for some tips that will help make navigating Windows easier, this article has what you need!
Here are several simple strategies that will make your computing experience much more pleasant and productive.
Create Shortcuts on Your Desktop
To save time and navigate this operating system a little better, you will want to know how to create shortcuts on your desktop. Shortcuts are a symbol of a file, folder, or program that you can click on to open.
To create a shortcut:
Right-click the item you want to make into a shortcut
Select “Create Shortcut” from the dropdown menu and drag it over to your desktop
Now, anytime you need access to this particular file, all you have to do is double-click on the icon on your desktop! This saves time because Windows will automatically display whatever application is needed for opening that specific type of document.
For example, if I right-clicked my Microsoft Word Document and left-clicked Create Shortcut, then dragged it over onto my desktop, when I double click on that newly made Shortcut, Word opens up.
Organize Your Startup Programs
You can easily organize your startup programs in Windows to save time, and you can even put them on different folders or drives. To do this, open the System Configuration window by executing Msconfig from Windows’ Run menu.
On the Startup tab of that window, select all startup items in the lower list, click “disable,” and press the OK button. Next time when your computer boots up, it will not load those programs automatically – giving you more control over what loads with Windows.
Right-click an application file on your desktop to create a shortcut for quick access anytime!
Easily organize which applications start at bootup using MSConfig (Msconfig). Find it under Start -> Run (Windows key + R) -> type: ms config into search bar -> Hit Enter and you are set.
If you find that Windows is constantly running slow, it may be due to a virus or malware program installed in your computer. Make sure to scan for viruses regularly with antivirus programs.
Prioritize Your Task Bar
Prioritizing your taskbar will make you more productive by displaying your most important tasks first. Right-click on the taskbar and select “Pin to Task Bar” -> then uncheck “Unpin to Task Bar.”
You can also move the taskbar icons around to organize the programs you use most often.
Start Using Jump Lists
Jump lists are another little tip that makes navigating Windows so much easier. Right-click over an icon in your taskbar to see a list of recent programs you have been working on. It’s simple to do and saves you a lot of time when you need to get back to a program you were just using.
Organize Your Programs by Category
You can also organize your programs into categories if that makes it easier for you. This is great because when you look at all of your programs on the start menu, they will be put together in different groups and not scattered about as much, so it’s more organized and less cluttered. All you have to do is click right-click over an icon or taskbar, then select “Pin this Program To Start Menu.”
Or drag one onto another category folder! And there are several ways to organize them too: alphabetically or by most used with a list view option available. The choice is yours!