DPISD Windows 10 CUSTOMIZING YOUR COMPUTER. Customizing Your Start Menu:

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1 DPISD Windows 10 CUSTOMIZING YOUR COMPUTER When you log into your computer for the first time after it has been updated to Windows 10: Version 1703, you will notice the default programs that you set with the last Windows 10 update have reverted back to the factory default. Follow these directions to make navigating easier in the future. Customizing Your Start Menu: 1. When you click the Start button, you will notice there are tiles for programs which are called apps. You can remove and add the apps that you want. To remove or unpin tiles from your start menu, right click and Unpin from Start 2. On the left you will see an alphabetized list of all the installed programs. You can scroll through the list and click and drag the programs that you want in your Start menu. DPISD Instructional Technology/Created by R.Corry 1

2 3. Make sure you expand the folders in the app list as there are important tools you might use or be interested in having in your Start menu. IMPORTANT: The Windows System folder includes File Explorer and This PC shortcuts which are necessary for accessing your files and servers. Make sure to drag those to either your Start Menu or your Task bar for quick access. Helpful tip: You can click and drag the top or side edges of the Start menu to resize it if you need more room for apps. DPISD Instructional Technology/Created by R.Corry 2

3 4. After you have all the desired apps in your Start menu, you can click and drag to organize into groups. Each group can be named by clicking either on a pre-existing group label or by clicking in a blank space above the apps where you see Name group. You can also rearrange entire groups by dragging the 2 bars at the end of the title. Customizing Your Taskbar and Desktop You can add shortcuts to your taskbar and desktop by dragging the apps to either place until you see the word Link. Changing the Default Program for PDF Documents If the icon for your PDF documents has the Microsoft Edge icon, you can change that by right clicking the icon and clicking on Properties at the bottom of the list. When the Properties window opens, click Change and choose Adobe Acrobat. Click OK, Apply and OK. You will notice all the icons for your PDF documents have been changed and will now open correctly. DPISD Instructional Technology/Created by R.Corry 3

4 Lock, Sign out, Switch account/ Shut Down, Restart, Update and Shut Down or Update and Restart To Lock, Sign Out or Switch accounts, click the person icon. Helpful hint: You can quickly lock your computer by using the shortcut Windows Key + L. Note: You will not be able to change account settings as that is controlled by an administrator. Sleep, Shut down and Restart can be found in the Power menu. If updates need to be run on your computer, you will see Update and shut down and Update and restart. Settings of Which To Be Aware: 1. Search Simply click in the box next to the Start button and begin typing to begin your search. 2. Setting Default Apps Click the Start button, choose Settings and click Apps. In the list on the left, choose Default apps. You can click the current default app or the + sign to choose which app you prefer as the default. Here are some suggestions based upon Windows 7 with which you might be more familiar. 1) Photo viewer: Windows Photo Viewer 2) Video player: Windows Media Player 3) Web Browser: Mozilla Firefox (Skyward friendly) DPISD Instructional Technology/Created by R.Corry 4

5 Setting Your Default Printer Windows 10 remembers the last printer to which you printed. This can be a problem if you frequently use different printers. To set a preferred printer as your default, follow these steps: 4) Click the Start button, choose Settings and click Devices 5) Click Printers & Scanners on the left, scroll to the bottom and turn Off the setting for Let Windows manage my default printer 6) To check to make sure the correct printer is set as the default, scroll back up and look for your preferred printer. If it doesn t have Default listed below the name, click the printer, click Manage and choose Set as default. 3. Outlook Notifications If you prefer not to have the notification chime, you can turn that off in Outlook. 1) Open Outlook 2) Select File, click Options and select Mail in the left pane 3) In the Message arrival area, uncheck the Play a sound box 4) Click OK 4. PowerPoint Each time you open PowerPoint; the default slide is set to Widescreen (16:9). If you prefer Standard (4:3) as the default slide size, follow these steps to create a default theme: 1) Open PowerPoint and click Blank Presentation 2) Click the Design tab, click Slide Size and choose Custom Slide Size 3) Change Widescreen to Letter Paper (8.5x11 in) and click OK 4) While still on the Design tab, in the Themes section, click the More arrow (bottom down arrow) to reveal more options 5) Choose Save Current Theme, give it a name such as Standard and click Save 6) Click the More arrow again and you should see a slide under the Custom heading. Right click that slide and choose Set as Default Theme. In the future when you open PowerPoint, you will see the Default Theme as an option which will open the Standard (4:3) sized slide instead of Widescreen. 5. Windows Store The Windows Store has been disabled district wide. Any apps that Microsoft designated as a Windows Store app will not be available (Ex: calculator, phone companion, etc.) DPISD Instructional Technology/Created by R.Corry 5