2016 Top Downloads and Publications for Windows
Windows 10 celebrated its first year with its Anniversary Update this year. The free update is also finally over. Here are our biggest Windows posts of 2016.
All the coolest features of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update
Microsoft’s first major update for Windows 10, the Anniversary Update , is out today. It comes with a smarter Cortana, better desktop tools and settings that take away the annoyances we’ve hated since the launch of Windows 10.
How to back up your computer automatically with built-in Windows 10 tools
If you don’t already have a backup system, you’ll create one today. In about 15 minutes, we will finally ensure that your computer and all of its valuable data are backed up regularly. On Windows 10, it’s mostly painless and easier than ever. There really is no excuse not to .
Microsoft’s Official Guide to DIY, Raspberry Pi-Based Magic Mirror with Facial Recognition
Smart mirrors have been all the rage this year, and it looks like Microsoft is getting into the game too. While Microsoft’s mirror is teased as a commercial product, they’ve released source code if you’re interested in making it for yourself.
You can still get Windows 10 for free if you use assistive technology
Microsoft’s free Windows 10 upgrade offer officially ended yesterday . However, the company left a loophole. If you need to use assistive technology, you can still upgrade for free. Microsoft also doesn’t check if you do this.
This versatile set of system recovery tools automatically restores your computer
We made a special mention of Paul Vreeland’s System Rescue Toolkit a few months ago, but now he has created a new, “lightweight” version that includes most of the same tools and can automatically start and fix common Windows problems for you. If you liked the original, you will love this.
Lifehacker Pack for Windows: Our list of essential Windows apps
There are more awesome programs in Windows than we can count, but some of them are essential for just about any PC setup. In this year’s Annual Lifehacker Pack for Windows, we’re highlighting the downloads you need to improve productivity, communication, media management, and more.
2016 To-Do App Teardowns: Wunderlist vs Any.do
It’s been a long time since we’ve heard from some of our favorite to-do apps, Wunderlist and Any.Do, which means now is the perfect time to take a fresh look at both apps. Both are still some of the best cross-platform and free case managers available, but let’s see how far they’ve come.
Windows 10 is now a “recommended update” that downloads automatically
Microsoft isn’t forcing Windows 7 and 8.1 users to upgrade to Windows 10, but they are pushing it to them quite aggressively. Windows 10 is now automatically downloaded to all Windows 7 and 8.1 computers as a “recommended update” using the Windows Update tool – whether you like it or not.
Open365 – an open source alternative to Microsoft Office 365
Windows / Mac / Linux / Android: One of the main advantages of Microsoft Office 365 over open source alternatives is the ability to sync documents over the cloud so you can edit them anywhere. Open365 has come to a close to finally match this feature set.
Best antivirus app for Windows
There are more antivirus programs in Windows than we can count, and none of them are perfect. We recommend Avira right now because it is the best balance between security, ease of use, and cost.
Get the latest version of Windows Forever with the Windows Insider Program
The Windows 10 Anniversary Update launches later this summer, but you can try out all the new features like Bash and notifications from your Android phone right now using the Windows Insider Program.
Windows 10 updates remove some apps without notifying users
If you’ve recently applied a major update to Windows 10, you may notice that a couple of your apps are missing. It’s not a mistake. Windows 10 removes apps it considers incompatible or obsolete.
How to save your favorite Windows 10 lock screen images
There is a looping rotation of pretty good photos on the Windows 10 lock screen. If you want to save the found images, you can find them on your hard drive here.
Win10 widgets bring system monitors and other built-in tools to your desktop
Windows: Built-in desktop widgets left Windows with the end of the sidebar, but they’ve always been available with third-party apps like the always incredible Rainmeter. Win10 Widgets is a Rainmeter package that brings many of these informative widgets back to Windows in a way that looks natural on Windows 10.
BitTorrent Transfer Client finally arrives on Windows
Transmission is one of your favorite BitTorrent clients and has unfortunately only been available to Mac and Linux users for a long time. It is now finally available for Windows.
Microsoft Start Menu Repair Tool fixes common annoying Windows 10 Start Menu issues
Windows: The Windows 10 Start menu is useful, but not perfect. Sometimes tiles disappear or they don’t open at all when you click on them or press the Windows key. In other cases, the tiles are not updating or Cortana is unresponsive. Luckily, this is where Microsoft’s free Start Menu Repair Tool comes in handy.
How to flip Android notifications on Windows 10 using Cortana
Windows 10 Anniversary Update is out today, and one of the coolest features deserves special attention. Now you can duplicate Android notifications from your phone to your computer and even control it with a few voice commands. You just need the Cortana app.
You probably don’t need to optimize your SSD anymore
When solid state drives first became common, most sites ( including our own ) offered ways to optimize your SSD. Except in very rare cases, this is no longer necessary.
How to choose the perfect laptop for school use
Great time to buy a laptop. Discounts are back to school, and new models appear on store shelves. We’ve talked about how to pick the perfect laptop , but if you’re heading to college or even back to school and don’t know what you’ll need, it’s going to be more difficult. Don’t worry, we will help you with this.
Windows 8 and Internet Explorer 8, 9 and 10 are no longer supported, update now
This is the end of the line for Windows 8.0 and Internet Explorer 8, 9, and 10. Since Microsoft already supports them today, it is time to “upgrade or hack”.
If you still want more Windows tips and news, check out our best Windows posts 2015 , 2014 , 2013 , 2012 , 2011 , 2010 and you can stop there. You’ve completely rolled back to Windows 7 at this point, and Microsoft will likely force you to upgrade to a newer version of our Best Ofs with persistent updates.