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Perhaps one of the most common tasks we do with our phones, besides making phone calls, is to search for directions using Google Maps. Now, starting today Google will let you get directions using your computer and then push those directions to your phone. How does it work? It’s pretty straightforward, all you need to do is type “Send directions” in Google search, select your location, click “Send directions to my phone”, and Google will then send the directions to your Android phone....

However, starting with the April 2018 Update, Windows 10 brings the sound settings to the Settings app. You’re still required to use Control Panel to access advanced configurations, but eventually all the options will be migrated to the new Sound page to the Settings experience. In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to adjust volume, choose input and output devices, and troubleshoot sound or microphone problems using the Sound settings....

A firewall works as a gatekeeper and blocks unused network ports, and every time an app wants to communicate outside your device, it checks if a rule exists in its database to allow or deny network access. If a rule doesn’t exist, the firewall will prompt you to identify and grant or deny permission. While the Microsoft Defender Firewall does a pretty good job managing which apps and features should connect through the network automatically, sometimes you may need to allow or deny an app manually....

The popularity of game streaming has been growing at a fast rate in the past few years, and while there are services like Twitch and YouTube Gaming, Microsoft’s Beam not only lets gamers broadcast or watch their favorite streams, but the service also gives them the ability to interact and play along together. In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to start broadcasting your favorite games using Beam on Xbox One....

Usually, the recommended method is to perform an in-place upgrade using Windows Update, but changing the current setup can lead to errors and many other problems due to compatibility issues and custom configurations. A clean install of Windows 10 21H1 minimizes the risks of issues because it deletes everything on the hard drive and sets up a fresh copy of the operating system. If you have had the same installation for a long time, starting from scratch with a fresh copy of the operating system can improve performance, booting times, memory usage, and resolve existing problems....

An alias is just an additional name you can add to your Microsoft account. It can be a completely new email address, or you can bring your email address from Gmail, Yahoo, GMX, and other services. In addition, you can add your Skype name, or use OneDrive, Office, Xbox account, and you can even use your phone number as an alias. When you set up aliases there is always a primary name and then the rest of aliases, and they all use and share the same inbox, contact list, and account settings....

The idea of the feature is to keep you on your device instead of opening your phone to peek into news and other information throughout the day. Although it is a good idea, the caveat is that it comes enabled by default, and it’s not something that everyone wants since it can add unnecessary distractions. If the widget is not for you, Windows 10 includes options to disable or enable the feature in at least two ways using the taskbar settings or registry....

Although this is a useful feature, it’s not for everyone since these notifications can be intrusive and can easily clutter the Taskbar, but you can disable the badge feature using the Taskbar settings page. In this guide, you will learn the easy steps to disable badge notifications on Windows 11. Disable Taskbar badge notifications on Windows 11 To disable badge notifications for apps in the taskbar, use these steps: Once you complete the steps, apps in the taskbar will stop showing notifications, making the taskbar less distracting....

Microsoft has confirmed that version 21H1 will roll out sometime in May 2021 as a quick update that does not require full reinstallation, but if you cannot wait, the company is now making available the final version through its Windows Insider Preview Downloads page. The ISO file is meant to allow commercial customers to test and validate the operating system before it becomes generally available. However, anyone can download it to start using the new version of Windows 10....

Swift Pair has been available since version 1803, and basically, it’s a feature that reduces the steps required to pair a device. When enabled, you can set the Bluetooth peripheral closer to your computer for Windows 10 to detect it and display a notification to complete the pairing. However, if the feature isn’t already enabled, you must turn it on from the Settings app before using it. In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to enable Swift Pair to set up Bluetooth devices on Windows 10 without even opening the Settings app....

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to enable the dark mode color scheme for Chrome version 74 on Android devices. How to enable dark mode on Chrome using settings How to enable dark mode on Chrome using flags How to enable dark mode on Chrome using settings Use these steps to enable dark mode on Chrome for Android: Once you complete the steps, the browser should start using its new dark color scheme....

The “Gallery” entry, under “Home,” is currently a hidden feature that you must enable manually (via @PhantomOcean3) using a third-party tool called “ViveTool” created by Rafael Rivera and Lucas on GitHub, to enable the option on your computer. This guide will teach you the steps to turn on this new feature on Windows 11. Enable Gallery in File Explorer on Windows 11 To enable File Explorer Gallery, use these steps: Once you complete the steps, File Explorer will now include a “Gallery” entry to access your pictures on Windows 11....

Whatever the reason it might be, on Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise (excluding the Home edition), “Offline Files” provides a convenient and fast way to access files no matter the network condition. Then the next time you connect to the network, the files will synchronize automatically. In this guide, you will learn the steps to make network files always available offline on Windows 10. In addition, we will outline the steps to use Sync Center to manage the feature settings, resolve conflicts, and delete temporary files....

Although the default view fits most people, the Windows 10 Start menu also includes an option to make the menu full screen, allowing you to view all your pinned apps in one view. The mode was primarily designed for convertible devices and tablets, but anyone can use it. In this guide, you will learn the steps to enable or disable the full-screen mode for the Start menu on Windows 10....

If the feature is enabled, you’ll no longer see prompts to enable notifications for a given site, and all the requests will appear as a bell labeled as blocked in the address, which you can still use to manage the website settings as necessary. In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to enable (or disable) quiet notification requests on the Chromium version of Microsoft Edge for Windows 10. Enable quiet notification requests on Edge Disable quiet notification requests on Edge...

Although processes are essential, sometimes they can cause problems, such as high processor and memory usage, or they can stop responding or misbehave, preventing you from continue using the device. If you’re experiencing issues with an app or feature on Windows 10, you can identify the name or Process Identifier (PID) to kill the process to fix the problem using Task Manager, Command Prompt, PowerShell, and Settings. In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to terminate app processes on Windows 10....

Although it might sound like a tedious process, it’s not, and Windows 10, similar to previous versions, includes many ways to quickly format a drive, including using PowerShell. In this guide, you will learn the steps to use PowerShell commands to format a hard drive on Windows 10, whether it’s a new drive or you simply want to delete everything and start over. Format drive using PowerShell on Windows 10 The process of formatting a drive and getting it ready to store data is straightforward....

The latest update finally brings Cortana to the console (start getting used to say “Hey Cortana” to your console, instead “Xbox”), as well as a number of other features, including a revamped game collection, new improvements on social media, and the Xbox Store finally begins to unify with the Windows Store. Now you’re probably asking yourself, how do I get the New Xbox One Experience (NXBOE) on my console? Similar to what Microsoft has done with previous updates, the company will begin rolling out the new preview to member who opt-in to try the new experience....

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to install Windows 10 for ARM on your Lumia 950 phone. How to install Windows 10 for ARM on Lumia 950 To install Windows 10 on your Lumia 950 phone, you’ll need to download the ARM version of the operating system, reset your phone, and use a third-party app to load the software onto the device. Downloading Windows 10 on ARM ISO Microsoft doesn’t offer a direct download for the ARM version of Windows 10, as such you’ll need to use a workaround....

Although you usually need a USB flash drive to perform a clean installation or in-place upgrade, you can also use the virtual disc drive support to mount the Windows 11 22H2 ISO file to launch the setup without any physical media. This guide will teach you the steps to perform a Windows 11 22H2 upgrade or clean installation without a bootable USB or Media Creation Tool. Install Windows 11 22H2 from ISO without USB To install Windows 11 22H2 without a USB flash drive, use these steps: If you want to do a clean installation of version 22H2, click the “Change what to keep” option, select the Nothing option, click the Next button, and then click the Install button....