On Windows, get a detailed report that includes usage, capacity and battery life estimates. Open the command prompt by hitting the Start menu, then typing in cmd or cmd.exe in the Run command box. Press Enter. Now, smarty-pants, type or paste in the following: powercfg /batteryreport
Tech cleanup: Files and folders taking valuable storage from your PC
It happens. The longer we keep our devices, the more cluttered they become.
Open your phone’s app tray for a great example. How many are sitting there that you haven’t opened in months or years? This clutter isn’t just annoying — it can be dangerous, too. Tap or click to delete apps you’re not using.
On your PC, your Start menu is probably a mess, too. That’s easy to clean up, and you’ll thank yourself every time you click it. Tap or click for quick steps to banish the junk.
Then there are all those files you genuinely don’t need. Keep reading for your easy action plan to free up some space like a pro.
Step 1: Empty the Recycle Bin
When you delete a file, it’s not gone. It first goes to the Recycle Bin, waiting for you to take more permanent action. To get them out of purgatory, right-click on your Recycle Bin and click Empty Recycle Bin.
Here’s another option that shows you even more files: Go to Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files. You’ll see a list of temporary files, including the contents of the Recycle Bin. Check the Recycle Bin box (and anything else you want to get rid of), then select Remove files.
Deleting old photos, documents and spreadsheets is just the beginning. This 5-minute tech fix will help you speed up your PC.
Step 2: Clear temporary files
Temporary files are created to help apps or processes go off without a hitch — or to help with transferring data and other processes. Over time, they can take up a lot of space. To clear them, open your C: drive and select the Windows folder, then Temp (C:WindowsTemp). Press Ctrl + A to select everything, then hit Delete.
You can also navigate to Settings > System > Storage > Temporary files. Select what you want to delete and hit Remove files.
Sick of paying for expensive software? Tap or click for nine free copycats that are just as good as the originals.
Terminal on Mac: How to access your Mac's hidden command center
If you’ve used a Windows PC in the past, you might be familiar with the Command Prompt screen built into its operating system. While a bit outdated, it still exists in Windows 10.
Did you know that Mac has something similar? It’s called the Terminal, and it has some pretty nifty uses you might not be aware of. It’s also surprisingly easy to use. Tap or click here for five pro tips to get more out of your Mac.
🚨 Don’t fall for it: Cybercriminals are sending emails that lead to an “I am not a robot” CAPTCHA. Click the checkbox and you’ll see a prompt to press “Win + R,” which opens the command prompt on a Windows computer. Their final request: “Paste in this code.” It’s malware. The links can look like anything, so be on the lookout for this trick.
Command Prompt: The secret utility menu hiding in your PC
We all love a good action movie, especially when the plot leaves you hanging on the edge of your seat. Have you ever noticed that one of the bad guys is a genius computer hacker more often than not? Tap or click here for Windows tips the pros are using.
Tech how-to: Create your own keyboard shortcuts
You probably know that using keyboard shortcuts is a great way to save time and increase efficiency. You may not know every amazing thing you can do with a shortcut, though.
For example: How do you open a Windows application? Do you roll the mouse pointer over to an icon? Or do you lift your finger up and then tap on a tile? If yes, you are wasting plenty of time and exerting undue strain on your shoulder.
Windows 10: Handy trick to shortcut setting up your new PC
Setting up a new PC can be incredibly tedious and not just because of all the settings you have to tweak but also all the apps you want to install. Fortunately, this tiresome process could be going away. We’ve found a site you can use to bulk install over a thousand apps on a Windows machine in just a few clicks.
Free tool from Microsoft to recover deleted data
If you’ve ever accidentally deleted a computer file that you needed, you know the panic that ensues immediately after it happens. It’s a terrible feeling, knowing that you don’t have access to the file anymore, especially if it’s something you’ve been working on for a while.