Windows 10 is pretty easy to get started with, but for the best feel, there are some important things to do after installing Windows. Doing these takes a bit of time, merely sets yous up for a smoother time downward the route.

Permit'south wait at the showtime things you should exercise after installing Windows 10. These are most important when installing it for the first time, but are worth checking after installing a major feature update or reinstalling a fresh re-create of Windows, as well.

one. Run Windows Update and Configure Update Settings

Fifty-fifty though yous just installed Windows 10, chances are that some contempo updates are pending. You should install these right abroad to make sure y'all accept the latest features and security patches.

To cheque for Windows updates, open the Settings app (using the Win + I shortcut or the icon on the Commencement carte) and go to Update & Security > Windows Update.

On this page, click Check for updates and give it some time. Subsequently a few moments, information technology will begin to download and install updates, if needed. If there are whatever that require a restart, y'all'll see a prompt to do so.

You'll too encounter a message here if in that location are any feature updates to Windows x ready, which are the larger revisions released roughly twice per year.

Updates Page in Windows 10 Settings Page

Windows Update runs automatically in Windows 10. While this means less manual work on your part, it tin besides be a pain if it interrupts you. Acquire how to manage Windows Update to make it piece of work smoothly in the background.

This is an important affair to do as soon every bit you install Windows 10—you don't want a poorly-timed update to mess up what you lot're doing.

2. Make Sure Windows Is Activated

Dissimilar older versions of Windows, Microsoft makes it easy to install Windows 10 on your PC without a valid license. If you lot didn't enter a license key or sign into a Microsoft account that has a digital license during the setup process, you should activate now. This will let you lot access all the functions of Windows ten.

Caput to Settings > Update & Security > Activation to check if you lot've activated Windows all the same. If you have, yous're all set up. If non, you'll either need to sign into your Microsoft account, or enter a license primal.

Windows 10 Activation Menu

Cheque out our guide to removing the "Activate Windows x" watermark to learn more. Y'all can employ Windows 10 without activation, merely there are a few limitations.

3. Update Your Hardware Drivers

update drivers device manager

A device driver is a piece of software that interfaces with and controls how a particular device works when connected to your system. In other words, drivers allow Windows to properly communicate with your estimator's hardware.

Drivers are usually provided past hardware manufacturers, and like virtually software, aren't always perfect. Sometimes they're buggy or don't see updates for compatibility with the latest versions of Windows.

You don't usually need to keep a close heart on your drivers—in about cases, if they're working, you don't need to risk breaking something by updating them. But when you lot're beginning setting upward Windows, installing the correct drivers is an important pace. Windows will install generic drivers for devices like keyboards and mice on its own, but you lot should know how to install other of import drivers that do need semi-regular updates.

See how to detect and supercede outdated drivers for instructions. If yous're wondering what drivers to install after installing Windows 10, prioritize your graphics drivers, chipset drivers, and annihilation for special hardware that you rely on.

four. Install Essential Windows Software

Windows 10 comes with basic apps for many purposes, but a lot of the best Windows software isn't pre-installed. We've written a total guide to the Windows software that everyone should install right away.

Take a expect at that for our recommendations in categories similar browsers, security, epitome editing, messaging, and more. Whether you've just started using or reset Windows 10, your feel will be a lot better with the right tools at your disposal.

five. Change Default Windows Settings

Windows 10's out-of-the-box settings aren't optimal for everyone. They're usable, but you'll probably have a improve experience past tweaking them.

In that location's a lot to manage in Windows 10's Settings app, so allow's focus on a few key recommended changes later on a Windows 10 installation.

Suit Default Windows Apps

Windows Change Default Browser List

Later on you've installed your favorite apps, you should ready them to run by default. To modify the apps that Windows 10 uses for diverse purposes, perform the following:

  1. Head to Settings > Apps > Default apps.
  2. Select your preferred apps for each category, including Email, Music player, Web browser, and more.
  3. Below that, click on Choose default apps past file blazon if you'd like to acquaintance various file types, such as PDF, DOCX, and TXT, with specific programs.
  4. For some other view, choose Prepare defaults by app and pick an app to run across which defaults it currently has, and which ones information technology can utilise.

See our guide to setting defaults in Windows 10 for more help with this.

Disable Unnecessary Startup Items

taskmanager windows startup

Many apps set themselves to run at startup, which is a waste product of resources and makes your calculator take much longer to boot up. Afterward y'all've installed software, you should make certain that but approved apps run at boot.

To disable unnecessary startup items in Windows ten:

  1. Open up the Task Director with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, or by right-clicking on the taskbar and choosing Task Managing director.
  2. Click More details to switch to the full view, if needed.
  3. Switch to the Startup tab.
  4. Right-click on every app you don't desire to kickoff automatically and select Disable to preclude information technology from launching on startup.

Optimize Power Plan Settings

windows 10 custom power plan sleep

Windows ten's power settings let you to tweak diverse aspects of the operating system that involve power usage. This is important to help laptop users relieve battery life, but has useful performance-related settings that utilise to desktop users too.

You can tweak your ability program using these steps:

  1. Head to Settings > System > Power & sleep.
  2. On the correct side, choose Additional ability settings to open the Ability Options section of the Control Panel. If you don't see this link on the right, increment the Settings window'southward horizontal size and information technology should appear.
  3. You'll come across several plans to choose from, including Counterbalanced, Ability Saver, and High performance. Select the programme y'all want, then click Change plan settings to the right to modify it.
  4. Choose the corporeality of time that passes before the screen turns off and the computer goes to sleep. Then click Change advanced power settings for more options.
  5. While you can review everything here, pay special attention to the settings nether the Hd, Sleep, Power buttons and chapeau, Processor ability management, and Display categories.
  6. Click OK to save your changes.

Run across how to utilise Windows power plans to save battery on your laptop to learn more than.

Tweak Privacy Settings

Windows 10 collects all sorts of information about how you use the operating system. This helps Microsoft improve the ever-evolving product, but many view it as an invasion of privacy. Thankfully, you tin can reduce or disable a lot of the telemetry functions.

Follow our complete guide to Windows 10 privacy settings for all you demand to know.

Enable Dark Calorie-free

Windows 10 Night Light Options

Windows 10 includes a congenital-in feature that makes your screen display warmer at night. This helps reduce the blue light that keeps you awake, and makes your computer less harsh on your optics when working belatedly.

You can enable this past visiting Settings > Arrangement > Display. Enable the Night light slider and click Night low-cal settings to change how it works. Yous can adjust the intensity of the effect and set it to run automatically from dusk to sunrise, or during certain hours of your option.

six. Prepare a Backup Plan

Selecting the Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7) option

Yous wouldn't want to go through all these Windows setup steps but to have your computer ruined by a malware infection or dead hard drive. Information technology'due south vital to back upwards your information to protect it from these and other dangers.

Consult our guide to backing upward and restoring data to the cloud in Windows 10 to learn easy ways to back upwardly your estimator without much hassle. We've besides explained which files y'all should support and which ones to skip.

7. Configure Microsoft Defender

Microsoft Defender Quick Scan

Microsoft Defender, the built-in antivirus for Windows x, is skilful enough for nigh users. As before long every bit you lot've installed Windows ten, it will protect your PC from all sorts of threats. But it's smart to review how information technology runs and brand changes to increase your reckoner's resistance to threats.

Learn how to boost your security with Microsoft Defender in social club to become the most out of the tool.

8. Personalize Windows 10

Windows 10 Set Wallpaper Slideshow

While it's not of import as the above steps, you lot should still take some time to customize your desktop after installing Windows ten. It'south amazing what a fresh wallpaper, unique mouse cursor, and other pocket-size personalization tweaks can practice to brand your organization feel like home.

You have plenty of options for this. For some quick changes, we've shown how to modify the look and feel of Windows x. To become more in-depth, endeavor some of the best tools to customize Windows 10.

After Installing Windows 10, You're All Ready

Now you don't have to wonder what to exercise afterwards installing Windows x. Nosotros've looked at the essential things to do with a fresh Windows 10 installation, so your arrangement is set for everyday use. While you might still have to make pocket-sized tweaks here and there, the initial setup is most of the work.

Meanwhile, to keep your PC running smoothly in the future, make sure yous know how to keep your arrangement make clean.

The Best Way to Clean Windows 10: A Step-by-Step Guide

Don't know how to make clean Windows 10? Hither's a articulate step-by-pace guide to getting your Windows PC nice and tidy again.

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