Guides

Learn practical tech skills with our how-to guides and tutorials, covering a wide range of topics for all experience levels. Browse our comprehensive Guides section, featuring 227 items organized from newest to oldest. Whether you're after in-depth benchmarks or expert buying advice, it's all here. Also, learn about how TweakTown tests and reviews hardware. Use the Subcategories and Years filters to quickly find what you need.

GuideThe Complete Windows 11 Tweaking Guide for 2026: What to Change and What to Avoid

August 26, 2026 | The Windows 11 tweaks worth making for performance, privacy, security, debloating, power, networking, and more - plus the popular tweaks you should avoid.

GuideUsing Multiple Monitors? Change these Windows settings for a Better Experience

August 17, 2026 | Improve your multi-monitor setup by changing key Windows display settings for better productivity, clarity, and usability on every screen.

GuideWindows Sandbox is The Windows Security Feature Most People Never Use

August 15, 2026 | Windows Sandbox lets you test untrusted apps and files in an isolated Windows session without risking your main PC or needing a VM.

GuideI ditched the Windows 11 context menu for this open-source tool, and here's why

August 13, 2026 | The Windows 11 right-click menu buries half of its options behind an extra click. One open-source tool puts every one of them back on the first press.

GuideWindows 11 may be encrypting your drive already, and I checked where my recovery key went

August 8, 2026 | Most modern PCs finish setup with the drive already encrypted and a 48-digit key parked in an account nobody opens. Mine turned out to be one of them.

GuideI swapped File Explorer for this free file manager and finally got the layout I wanted

August 4, 2026 | File Explorer shows one folder and forgets your tabs. OneCommander does neither, and its columns view is the layout I stopped expecting Windows to offer.

GuideHow to tell if someone has been using your Windows PC without your permission

August 2, 2026 | Use Windows Sign-In logs, recent files, browser history, and remote-access checks to spot unauthorized access to your PC and lock it down.

Guide6 Task Manager tips for troubleshooting Windows performance problems

August 1, 2026 | These Windows Task Manager tips show how to find bottlenecks, Spot Suspicious Processes, and troubleshoot slow PCs faster without guessing.

GuideSix File Explorer tips every Windows user should know

July 31, 2026 | These File Explorer tips help Windows users search faster, preview files, pin folders, and navigate folders more efficiently every day in Windows.

GuideI switched my PC to encrypted DNS in Windows 11, and browsing felt more private

July 30, 2026 | My ISP used to get a readable list of every domain I visited. Two minutes in the settings took that away, though not as much as I first assumed.

GuidePrinter Not Working in Windows? How to fix detection, print queues and drivers

July 26, 2026 | Having trouble printing on Windows? Try these fixes for printer detection, stuck print queues, drivers, and The Print Spooler service.

GuideThe Ultimate Guide to Personalizing Your Windows 11 Taskbar

July 25, 2026 | Learn how to customize the Windows 11 taskbar by pinning apps, changing alignment, hiding icons, and enabling Auto-Hide for a cleaner layout.

GuideHow to Turn Your Windows Laptop Into a Second Monitor with Miracast and Wireless Display in Minutes

July 24, 2026 | Need more screen space? Use Windows Wireless Display and Miracast to turn a spare Windows laptop into a Second Monitor in just minutes.

Guide6 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Windows Laptop

July 23, 2026 | Buying a new Windows laptop? Avoid these buying mistakes and choose a Windows laptop that fits your needs, budget, and long-term expectations.

GuideI capped Windows Update's bandwidth with Delivery Optimization, and my downloads stopped choking

July 22, 2026 | Windows hands your update files to other PCs when you browse and game. A few settings later, my connection stopped buckling every time a big update landed.

GuideI use this decade-old free tool that finds files faster than Windows Search does

July 19, 2026 | I've kept Everything installed for many years, and it still beats the Windows 11 search box at finding files, so results appear as fast as I can type them.

GuideI install and update most of my apps with this Windows command now, and I stopped downloading sketchy installers

July 18, 2026 | A few commands handle searching, installing, and updating most of what I run, and there's a graphical version if you would rather not touch a terminal.

GuideI stopped digging through Windows menus after I set up this one folder

July 12, 2026 | Windows keeps splitting its controls between the Settings app and the old Control Panel. This folder drags the scattered half into one searchable list.

GuideDon't sell your Windows laptop until you do these things

July 8, 2026 | Before selling your Windows laptop, back up your data, Sign Out of accounts, clean the device, and perform a full Factory Reset to protect your privacy.

Guide6 PC cleaning mistakes to avoid for safer hardware maintenance

July 7, 2026 | Avoid these six common PC cleaning mistakes to protect your hardware and keep your system running smoothly with safe and effective maintenance tips.

GuideHow to Remap Keyboard Keys in Windows using Microsoft PowerToys

July 4, 2026 | Discover how to remap, disable, or customize keyboard keys on Windows with Microsoft PowerToys to enhance your productivity and workflow.

Guide7 tips to organize your Windows files for faster, easier access

July 2, 2026 | Struggling to find files on your PC? These seven practical tips will help you organize your Windows files for quicker and easier access.

GuideHow to fix Wi-Fi Adapter Not Working on Windows laptops: troubleshooting tips

June 27, 2026 | Learn effective troubleshooting steps to fix Wi-Fi adapter issues on Windows laptops and restore your wireless connection quickly and easily.

Guide6 underrated Microsoft Word features worth using to boost your productivity

June 25, 2026 | Unlock a smarter way to work in Microsoft Word with six overlooked features that make writing, formatting, and editing more efficient.

Guide7 Windows settings to change right after installation for better privacy, security, and performance

June 22, 2026 | Change these seven Windows settings after installation to improve your PC's privacy, security, and overall performance quickly and easily.

GuideI stopped Windows 11 notifications from interrupting me with Do Not Disturb, Focus, and a priority list

June 20, 2026 | Most notification advice stops at turning things off. Mine sorts them instead, so what's urgent reaches me, and everything else waits in the center.

Guide7 ways to transfer data from Android to Windows PC quickly and easily

June 18, 2026 | Discover seven effective methods to transfer photos, videos, and documents from your Android phone to a Windows PC quickly and hassle-free.

GuideI read the Windows Backup app screen carefully, and it does not back up what most people think

June 17, 2026 | Windows Backup syncs folders, app lists, and settings to OneDrive but misses key data, so you need a real backup plan beyond Microsoft's tool.

GuideLow Sound Volume on Windows 11? How to fix audio issues and restore normal volume

June 16, 2026 | Struggling with Low Sound Volume on Windows 11? This guide covers easy fixes for audio issues, including driver updates, output device checks, and sound.

Guide8 Critical Warning Signs You Should Never Ignore in Windows 11

June 15, 2026 | Discover 8 critical warning signs in Windows 11, from performance drops to system crashes, that you should never ignore to keep your PC secure and stable.

GuideThis Windows security feature protects Documents from ransomware, but it is off by default

June 13, 2026 | Ransomware encrypts your most important files and then demands payment for them, yet a built-in Windows 11 feature can shut it down before it ever starts.

GuideWindows 11 already has a voice typing tool, and it is the one most people are not using

June 12, 2026 | Most people who try voice on Windows reach for the accessibility tool. The faster one has been sitting behind a two-key shortcut the whole time.

GuideQuick Assist is the only remote-support tool I open when a relative calls about their PC

June 11, 2026 | A six-digit code and a quick tap of approval let you see or fix a relative's PC from anywhere, without ever handing over standing access to their machine.

GuideThe PowerToys utilities I keep enabled on every Windows 11 PC, and the ones I turned off within a week

June 5, 2026 | PowerToys ships with around thirty utilities, and most people enable them all. After an audit, my active list is half that size, with one new addition.

GuideUSB Ports Not Working in Windows 11? Try These Fixes

May 28, 2026 | USB ports not working in Windows 11? These fixes can help resolve driver, power, hardware, and connection issues to get devices working again.

GuideSecond Monitor Not Detected in Windows 11? Try These Fixes

May 23, 2026 | Windows 11 not detecting your second monitor? These fixes can help resolve connection, driver, and display-setting issues to get it working again.

GuideTurn Your Old Smartphone Into a Dedicated Webcam for Your Windows PC

May 22, 2026 | Here's how to turn your old smartphone into a dedicated Windows PC webcam and upgrade your video quality for free with a simple setup.

GuideThe Send To menu is the right-click feature on Windows 11 that nobody bothers to customize

May 21, 2026 | The Windows "Send To" submenu is just an editable shortcuts folder. A printer, dated folder, OneDrive path, and batch script earn permanent spots.

GuideWindows 11 will not let you pin a folder to the taskbar, but a 30-second workaround does

May 20, 2026 | Windows 11 doesn't offer folder pinning to the taskbar, but a one-word edit to a shortcut target brings it back - and it works for drives and applets, too.

GuideWhat Happens If You Don't Activate Windows 11? 5 Downsides Explained

May 19, 2026 | Windows 11 runs unactivated, but it never lets you forget it. Limited features, constant prompts, and a locked-down feel hold you back.

GuideFast Internet on Your Phone but Slow on Your PC? Try These Fixes

May 18, 2026 | Getting fast internet on your phone but sluggish speeds on your PC? These fixes can help pinpoint and remove what's slowing your connection down.

GuideThe Snipping Tool quietly became the only screenshot app I keep installed on Windows 11

May 17, 2026 | Microsoft has turned the Snipping Tool into a real screenshot app, and most people still haven't noticed. These are the four features that won me over.

GuideHow to Set Up a Windows Computer for a Senior User

May 16, 2026 | The right way to set up Windows for seniors or less tech-savvy users - simple, clutter-free, and easy to use from the very first click.

GuideBluetooth Toggle Missing in Windows? Try These Fixes

May 15, 2026 | Can't find the Bluetooth toggle in Windows? Don't worry - this isn't always a hardware issue. These quick, no-nonsense fixes will help you bring it back.

GuideGPU Overclocking Basics in Windows 11: Safe Performance Gains Without the Guesswork

May 14, 2026 | Learn the basics of how GPU overclocking works, what it changes, and how to push performance safely in Windows 11 without sacrificing stability.

GuideI automated 5 annoying Windows maintenance tasks, and my PC basically runs itself

May 9, 2026 | Task Scheduler is one of the most underused tools in Windows 11. These five scripts turn it into the maintenance assistant your PC has needed all along.

GuideHow to Fix Windows 11 Black Screen on Boot or After Login

May 8, 2026 | Stuck on a black screen in Windows 11 after boot or login? Don't panic - try these quick, proven fixes to get your display back up and running.

GuideThe first 8 settings I disable on every fresh Windows 11 install in 2026

May 7, 2026 | Microsoft's defaults in Windows 11 lean heavily on suggestions, ads, and tracking. These are the eight settings I switch off on every fresh install.

GuideIs Your Ethernet Performance Slower Than Wi-Fi? Here's How to Fix It

May 5, 2026 | Ethernet should beat Wi-Fi in performance almost all the time - so why is yours crawling? Let's track down the hidden bottleneck and get your speed back.

GuideHow to Fix "We Couldn't Find a Fingerprint Sensor Compatible With Windows Hello" in Windows 11

April 29, 2026 | Unable to set up Windows Hello fingerprint sign-in because your fingerprint scanner isn't being recognized? These checks can help you fix it.