Microsoft Windows 10 went a long way towards fixing the problems that were endemic with earlier versions of Windows - notably Windows 8. But it's still far from an ideal operating system and has its share of headaches.
Looking through various user discussions (and tapping our own experiences) we've identified six issues that many people are complaining about: forced Windows 10 updates; the Cortana digital assistant (which quite a few users would like to get eliminate and should not); lost disk space; sluggish boot times; annoying notifications; and problems with the beginning menu.
But don't worry, assistance is on the way. We've researched ways to look after these problems (or at least make them a little less irritating). Here are some solutions that can make Windows 10 easier to make use of.
Note that we've updated this story for the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, version 1809. Should you haven't made the move to that version of Windows 10, things might look or work a bit differently for you.
1. Circumvent forced Windows 10 updates
We will start with a biggie: Forced updates. For many people, this is actually the biggest Windows 10 headache of all. Unlike earlier Windows versions, Windows 10 doesn't allow you to pick and choose which updates to install. Now when Microsoft issues an update, your machine installs it. Case closed.
Well, almost. Windows Update does provide you with control button over when updates is going to be installled, so they won't interrupt your projects. And Windows 10 Professional, Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Education users can defer updates. Those techniques are covered within our story "How to deal with Windows 10 updates."
Starting with Windows 10 version 1903, which is because of launch in May, Windows Update will let Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro users delay installing twice-yearly feature updates until their current Windows 10 version is no longer supported with security updates - generally about 1 . 5 years after it had been released. In accessory for that, Windows Home users will have the ability delay all updates by up to 35 days. (You'll find instructions here.) However, you won't have that functionality until version 1903 is released as well as your computer is upgraded to it.
Meanwhile, there are some workarounds that allow anyone steer clear of the updating process. One note, though: As a general rule, it's wise to help keep Windows 10 current, because many updates don't merely fix bugs or add additional features, but additionally contain security patches.
However, it is your machine, your operating system, as well as your life. If you wish to halt forced Windows 10 updates, here are two methods to do it. I'll also show you the best way to uninstall a previously installed update, and it uninstalled.
Make use of the metered connection feature
Windows 10's metered connection feature is made to save you money if you pay for bandwidth use over a specific amount, but you can use it as being a clever workaround to stop automatic updates. Automatically, this feature is switched off for Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections, but switched on for cellular data connections. Here's how to turn it on for Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections.
For Wi-Fi connections:
Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
Click "Manage known networks."
Click each Wi-Fi network that you connect, and click on Properties.
On the screen that appears, scroll to the "Metered connection" section and move the slider to On.
For Ethernet connections:
Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status.
Click "Change connection properties."
On the screen seems, scroll towards the "Metered connection" section and slowly move the slider to On.
From now on, Windows 10 won't automatically upload updates, although a minumum of one person has reported on my colleague Woody Leonhard's AskWoody forums that some updates continue to be installed. You'll have to follow the above instructions for every Wi-Fi and Ethernet network that you simply connect to in order to stop the updates.
Turn off the Windows Update service
Windows Update runs like every other Windows service - meaning you are able to turn it off:
Go to manage Panel > System and Security > Administrative Tools. You're then delivered to a folder in Windows Explorer having a listing of administrative tools, one of which is Services.
Double-click on Services.
On the right side from the screen that appears, scroll down to Windows Update and double-click it.
In the Startup Type box seems, select Disabled, then click OK.
Restart your PC.
The Windows Update service won't run any more, and also you won't download and install updates automatically. If you ask Windows 10 to check for updates after you've turned off Windows Update, you'll receive an error message.
We reached out to Microsoft many times and asked the company to confirm whether this method for switching off Windows Update works. Microsoft refused to verify or deny it. However, we used the technique on multiple PCs running the latest form of Windows 10, and it worked in each and every instance. Other sources have reported the strategy works too.
Remember that if you are using either of those solutions, you'll block all Windows updates. You can't pick and choose which to install, and which not. The exception is security updates. If you are worried about security, the metered connection technique is a little safer, since it lets through important security updates, which you're not likely to get when you turn off Windows Update.
Should you go for switching off Windows Update, at some point you need to turn it back onto get the security patches you've missed. And if you opt for the metered connection technique, you'll likely wish to turn it off eventually to get the feature or bug-fix updates. When that happens, you'll upload all of the updates, not just ones you would like.
Note, though, that there's still a good reason to make use of they to turn off automatic updates, because if you stop them from immediately installing, you can then check for reports about problematic updates. If nobody complains, you can then allow them to install; if there are issues, you can wait until the fix can be obtained.
Uninstall and conceal problematic updates
If you're stuck with an update that's harming (or could harm) your pc, there's another workaround for you personally: Uninstall the bad update, then hide it from Windows 10 so that it doesn't automatically reinstall. This way, once the fix for the update turns up, you can install all of the updates, such as the fix.
Observe that you won't be able to uninstall every update, and you won't be able to hide all updates that you've uninstalled. Still, it's well worth trying, if you've got a bad update.
You can observe all the updates that you've installed by visiting Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View update history. A listing appears, divided into five sections: Feature Updates, Quality Updates, Driver Updates, Definition Updates along with other Updates. The Feature Updates section shows the major semiannual updates - for example, the Windows 10 April 2018 Update. But you won't observe that designed in clear language. Instead, you'll see the version number Microsoft uses to consult the upgrade, for example version 1809 for that October 2018 Update.
The Quality Updates section lists the more mundane updates to Windows that fix bugs, improve security and add minor features. Driver Updates shows the drivers which have been updated. Definition Updates lists all of the anti-virus and anti-malware updates for Windows' built-in anti-malware tool. Other Updates lists miscellaneous other updates, for example to the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool. Click the update to obtain information about your updates. That way, you may be in a position to track down an update that has been causing you problems.
Whenever you click to obtain information regarding an element update, you'll be delivered to a webpage full of tips, videos and other content concerning the update. For quality, driver, and other updates, you'll be sent to a web page having a detailed written description of the update.
If you want to uninstall a feature updates (for example Windows 10, version 1803), you'll need to do it within 10 days of the upgrade being installed. Next, there's nothing that you can do to uninstall it. If you wish to uninstall it in that 10-day time period, go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. In the "Go back to the previous version of Windows 10" section, click the "Get started" button, then stick to the prompts.
Even if you wish to uninstall the upgrade within the 10-day period, the "Go to the previous form of Windows 10" selection might not appear. If that happens, you won't have the ability to uninstall the update. The likely cause of the problem is that your Windows.old folder continues to be deleted. That folder holds the previous version of Windows, therefore if it's not there, you can't revert to the previous version.
To uninstall other updates, back around the View Update History page, click Uninstall Updates. You will see a list of your Windows updates - although you won't see all of them. Not every update listed in the "View installed update history" can look on screen that allows you to uninstall updates, and you can't uninstall any that don't appear there. So when you click some updates that do show up on the uninstall updates screen, the uninstall button vanishes. Double-click the update that you would like to get rid of. A screen will appear asking if you want to uninstall it. Click Yes.
In some instances, you may be capable of making sure that Windows 10 won't reinstall the update you've uninstalled, using a free Microsoft tool to completely hide it from Windows Update. To do it, visit this Microsoft support page, scroll toward the underside and click on the "Download the ??Show or hide updates' troubleshooter package now" link. Install the download, click Next, and follow the instructions for hiding the update you don't want reinstalled.
2. Kill Cortana
Not everyone is a fan of Cortana, Microsoft's sometimes pushy digital assistant. Before the Windows 10 Anniversary Update was launched in August 2016, that wasn't necessarily a problem, because it was easy to turn Cortana off. All you needed to do was to open Cortana, select Settings, search for the setting "Cortana can give you suggestions, ideas, reminders, alerts and much more," and move the slider to Off. But the Anniversary Update removed that option.
You may still turn Cortana off, though. If you are using any form of Windows 10 apart from the Home version, you should use the audience Policy Editor to get it done. Launch the Group Policy Editor by typing gpedit.msc in to the search engine. Then navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Search > Allow Cortana. Set it to "disabled."
If you are using Windows 10 Home, you'll need to get serious with the Windows Registry. Of course, when you're dealing with the Registry, be careful when editing it - that you can do major harm to your OS if you change the wrong setting. It is also smart to create a System Restore Point before editing the Registry so you can bring the body to the state it was in before you decide to did your editing.
With those caveats, here's how you can kill Cortana via the Registry:
Type regedit into the Search engine and press Enter to operate the Registry Editor.
Go to the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search. If you don't have that key in your system, you'll have to create it. To do it, right-click the Windows folder and choose New > Key. A key will automatically be made up of a default name, for example Key #1. Name it Windows Search by simply keying in the brand new key name. If for whatever reason the key name isn't highlighted having a cursor inside it, right-click it, select Rename, and type in the Key name you would like.
Right-click the Windows Search key and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
Name the value AllowCortana.
Double-click AllowCortana and hang its value to 0.
Close the Registry Editor. Sign out and sign in, otherwise restart your computer to help make the change take effect.
To show Cortana back on, delete the AllowCortana value, otherwise set it to 1.
Keep in mind that if you turned off Cortana to protect your privacy by preventing Cortana from collecting data in regards to you, you've still got try to do. That is because the information Cortana has gathered in regards to you remains within the cloud. If you want to delete part or all of it, here's what to complete:
Head to the Cortana's Notebook section of Microsoft's Privacy Dashboard. You'll see a variety of personal content, which range from finance to flights, news, sports, and much more. Click any kind of content, then do as instructed for deleting it. If you wish to delete all the data Cortana has gathered in regards to you, click "Clear Cortana data" around the right side of the screen.
3. Fix Start menu woes
When it was initially announced that Windows 10 would reinstate the beginning menu, many users welcomed it. But after Windows 10 was launched, some people began complaining about problems with the Start menu - it didn't run once they clicked the beginning button, or it froze, or random entries appeared or disappeared. If you have Start menu problems, fear not; there are many ways to try and fix them.
Note: Before trying any of these techniques, first restart your computer. Sometimes a mere reboot will fix things.
Look for updates
There is a chance that a Windows update will solve the issue - Microsoft continually squashes bugs in the updates. To ensure you have all of the latest Windows updates, visit Settings > Updates & security > Windows Update and choose "Check for updates." If it finds any, set them up. You may need to restart your PC for that update to enter effect.
Use PowerShell to fix corrupted files
If the Start menu continues to have problems, the problem may be corrupted files. Use a command-line tool called PowerShell that is included in Windows to locate and connect them:
Type powershell in to the Windows search engine, right-click Windows PowerShell in the search engine results, and select "Run as administrator." Which will launch PowerShell.
If for whatever reason the search box isn't working, press the Windows key + R on your keyboard, type PowerShell and press Enter. That runs PowerShell, but not the administrator account, that you simply have to be using. That takes a few more steps: Right-click the PowerShell icon around the taskbar and select "Pin to taskbar." Then close PowerShell. Now right-click the PowerShell icon around the taskbar and choose "Run as administrator."
Once you're running PowerShell as an administrator, type sfc /scannow and press Enter. PowerShell will scan the body for corrupt files. This can take some time.
When PowerShell finishes scanning your system, it will tell you just how it found and fixed corrupt files, found corrupt files but couldn't fix them, or found no corrupt files. If it found corrupt files but couldn't fix them, type the command dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth and press Enter. Which should repair the problem.
Produce a new local administrator account or reset your computer
If none of the works, Microsoft has some last-ditch advice: Create a local administrator account and, when the Start menu works for the reason that account, move all of your files and settings into it; or reset your computer with Windows 10 recovery options.
4. Recover lost storage space
Windows 10 could be a hard-drive hog, particularly if you've upgraded to it from a previous version of Windows, or after a major Windows 10 update. That's because whenever you upgrade or install a major update, Windows 10 keeps the earlier version of the operating-system, in the event you want to revert into it.
But the old operating system version takes up several gigabytes of storage space. If you have a PC with plenty of storage, no worries. But if you're stretched for storage, it can be a serious issue.
For example, I've an HP Stream laptop with 32GB of storage, so when I tried to upgrade towards the newest version of Windows 10 I could not do it - my old Windows version used a lot space, the new form of Windows couldn't install.
If you are sure you aren't likely to wish to revert for your old version of Windows, it is simple to delete it. It's kept in a folder called Windows.old that you will find in the /Windows folder. Rather than deleting it manually, though, use the Disk Cleanup tool:
Run the tool by typing Disk Cleanup within the search bar and clicking the Disk Cleanup search result that appears. The tool will require a few minutes to appear using your system.
When Disk Cleanup has finished, scroll on the listing of files you are able to cleanup and check the box next to "Previous Windows installation(s)." This entry will only appear if you have an earlier Windows installation on your hard disk drive.
Click OK.
That old version of Windows will be deleted, and you'll get your hard disk space back.
5. Speed up Windows bootup
From the moment that Windows 10 was released, people started complaining their bootup times were more sluggish compared to previous versions of Windows. If you're being aggravated by a lethargic Windows 10 startup, listed here are two methods to speed it up:
Enable Fast Startup
Windows 10 includes a feature called Fast Startup, which mixes an ordinary shutdown with the Windows hibernate feature.
With Fast Startup, when you shut down your PC, it closes your applications and logs off all users, but loads the Windows kernel and drivers to a hibernation file on your hard disk. Then, when you restart your PC, Windows loads the kernel and drivers in the hibernation file, accelerating startup.
Fast Startup may already be enabled on your computer. Here's how you can check whether it's and just what to do about this if it's not:
Right-click the Start button and select Power Options from the menu seems.
Click "Additional power settings."
Click "Choose exactly what the Power buttons do."
Look in the "Shutdown settings" portion of the screen that appears. If there's a cheque alongside "Turn on fast startup (recommended)," you don't have to do other things.
If there's not really a check next to it, click "Change Settings which are currently unavailable."
Check this area alongside "Turn on fast startup (recommended)" and click on Save changes.
That's all it takes. Observe that on some machines fast startup isn't enabled. If that's the case with yours, you won't see the "Turn on fast startup (recommended)" entry.
Use the Task Manager to speed up startup
The Windows 10 Task Manager is a superb tool for managing your PC's startup. With it, you are able to to disable programs running on startup:
Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager.
If the Task Manager runs as a small window and just shows the applications that are currently running in your system, click on the "More details" link at the end from the screen. This opens up an expanded view, with multiple tabs over the the surface of the screen.
Click the Startup tab. It lists all the applications that run on startup.
Right-click each application you don't want to run on startup and select Disable. You will still have the ability to run this program by launching it within the usual way - it simply won't operate on startup.
Some additional tips: To help decide which programs to disable, consider the "Startup impact" column. That shows if the program has no impact on startup time, a low impact, a medium impact or a high impact.
Most of the programs on the list may be unfamiliar, and also you will not be sure whether to disable them or otherwise. Right-click any you don't recognize and choose "Search online." That will launch an online search from the filename. Feel the results; they'll usually let you know just what the program does, and help you decide whether or not to have it run on startup.
You can also right-click any program on the list and select "Open file location." Which will open Windows Explorer towards the folder in which the program's .exe file is found. That's another clue to a program's purpose, and whether to disable a course to operate on startup.
6. Turn off annoying notifications
The Windows 10 Action Center sends you notifications about your email, social networking, software updates, system messages plus much more. That can be useful or intensely annoying, based on your personality and how many notifications you get.
There's an easy way, though, to turn from the notifications with an app-by-app basis, in order to stop them all in a single fell swoop:
Go to Settings > System > Notifications & actions.
You'll see five kinds of notifications you are able to switch off: notifications that appear on the lock screen, reminders and incoming VoIP calls that appear on the lock screen, "Windows welcome experience" tips that appear after updates and occasionally when you register, tricks and tips that appear as you use Windows, and notifications from apps along with other senders.
Turn off any kinds of notifications by sliding the button alongside these to Off. The two most persistent types are those from apps and other senders and also the Windows tips and tricks, so consider turning them off.
If you want to keep some notifications from apps and other senders but not others, don't turn that slider to Off. Instead, visit the "Get Notifications from all of these senders" section below and move the slider to Off for just about any apps and services that you don't would like to get notifications.
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