Conventions used in this document: Keyboard keys that must be pressed will be shown as Enter or Ctrl. Controls to be activated with the mouse will be shown as Start button > Settings > System > About. Hints will be shown in this format. The table of contents is interactive. Click on any topic to go directly to that section of the document. You can return to the table of contents at any time by holding down the Ctrl key while you press and release the Home key (Ctrl + Home). Table of Contents INTRODUCTION... 2 GETTING STARTED... 2 WINDOWS 10 ACCOUNT... 2 Add another Microsoft Account... 3 Add a Family Member... 4 CONNECT WIRELESS... 4 Wi-Fi... 4 Bluetooth... 4 WINDOWS DEFENDER AND ANTIVIRUS... 5 NAVIGATE THE DESKTOP... 6 INTEGRATED ALL APPS MENU AND START SCREEN... 6 ALL APPS MENU... 7 START SCREEN... 8 Pin an All Apps Icon... 8 Move a Start Tile or Taskbar Icon... 8 Manage Groups on Start... 8 ALTERNATIVE START MENU... 9 ARRANGE WINDOWS SIDE BY SIDE... 10 TASK VIEW... 11 MANAGE THE WINDOWS TASKBAR... 12 Customize the Windows Taskbar... 12 Rearrange Taskbar Icons... 12 Windows Taskbar Alternative Menu... 12 Toolbars... 12 Links Toolbar... 12 Address Toolbar... 13 Desktop Toolbar... 13 Display or Hide Taskbar icons... 13 Task Manager... 14 Move the Taskbar to another location... 14 Taskbar settings... 14 SYSTEM TRAY... 14 Hidden Icons... 14 Action Center... 14 Notification Area... 14 Quick Actions... 15 START SCREEN INTERFACE (TABLET MODE)... 16 Page 1 Revised 11/12/17
Introduction was released on July 29, 2015. It is the replacement for Windows 7, 8 and 8.1. In an unprecedented move Microsoft offered a free upgrade to for all current users of Windows 7 or 8 for one year. This offer has expired. In week 1 of August 2016 Microsoft released the Anniversary Update to. This was timed in accordance with the 1-year anniversary of the introduction of. Microsoft has discontinued the use of Service Packs for major updates and now uses Versions. A version is a major change to Windows and is identified by a version number. The version number of the Anniversary update is 1607. A second major version called the Creator s Update was released in April 2017 as version number 1703. You can verify your computer s build version and other system information by selecting the Start button > Settings > System > About. On October 15, 2017 Microsoft issued another Creators Update version number 1709. This version is expected to roll out gradually over the next several months. Version 1709 has some additional changes to that will be included in this discussion. Because of the transition period the new changes will be clearly identified where applicable so that you can reference the correct information for your computer. There were also a number of changes that will be transparent to you such as faster boot-up times, improvement to apps, and security. You have the choice of waiting for the update version 1709 to be installed for you or you can force the installation. A forced installation of the update to version 1709 is very easy because it is totally automated. You can choose either of these 2 methods to manually start an installation of version 1709. 1. Select Start button > Settings > Update and security > Check for updates. will check for updates and should recognize that version 1709 is available. Once the update has downloaded you will have the option to restart and install immediately or you can schedule a restart. 2. You can also download the Update and Media Creation File and activate it to start the update. This is a small file that will open a window where you can initiate the update. Once initiated the installation will proceed automatically. You can continue to work on the computer until the computer requests a restart. You will also have the option of restarting immediately or later. will automatically set your interface based on the type of computer device you are using and the version of installed. Users who sign in with a Laptop or Desktop computer using Home or Pro Edition will see the Desktop interface which is very similar to the Windows 7 interface. These users will also have the option to switch to tablet mode. Tablet mode features the Start Screen interface. Users with a touch screen may prefer Tablet mode. Tablets and Smartphones with the RT version will only have the Start Screen interface available. Users of Tablets such as the Surface Pro will also have the option of switching to tablet mode with the Start Screen or using the Desktop interface. Getting Started Account requires that you create an account to sign-in with if you want to take full advantage of the features of. The account will use a legitimate e-mail address as the username for the account and will be secured with a password. You can use any e-mail address that you have created from any e-mail provider including Yahoo, Google, or Microsoft. You will be asked to sign into and create your account the first time you start up your computer. When prompted, enter the e-mail address that you want to use to identify your account. If you are using an e-mail address from any other e-mail provider other than Microsoft you can create a new unique password for your account. The passwords for your e-mail and can be different and you will use the correct password depending on which you are signing into. If you are using an e-mail address from Hotmail, Outlook, or any other e-mail service provided by Microsoft your password for both e-mail and will be the same. If you don t have a Microsoft account and want to use one, you can create one right away by selecting the Create Microsoft account option on the sign in screen. Page 2 Revised 11/12/17
The first user account you create on will be created as an administrator account. You must always have at least one administrator user account on your computer. Subsequent user accounts you add to the computer will first be created as a standard account which does not have administrator status. A standard account can be elevated to an administrator account by Start button> All Apps > Windows System > Control Panel > User Accounts > Manage another account or Change your account type. You can use the username and password from any administrator account to approve any action needing administrator approval from the computer. Add another Microsoft Account Each user on any one computer can have their own User account with their own username and password. To add another person to the computer with their own account, select the Start button> Settings > Accounts > Family & other people > Add someone else to this PC. If the person you are adding has a current Microsoft account you can add the account at this point. Fill in the Microsoft e-mail address that will be used as the username and approve the change. The new user account will be added to your computer. If the new user will be using an e-mail account from another provider you will have to access another sign-in window. To add another person to the computer with a non-microsoft email address, select the Start button> Settings > Accounts > Family & other people > Add someone else to this PC > I don t have this person s sign in information > Add a user without a Microsoft account. All user accounts for the computer will be displayed on the log-in screen. Select the user account you want to use at the bottom left hand corner of the screen and then enter the correct password to log-in to the computer. Page 3 Revised 11/12/17
Add a Family Member You can add a family member to your computer. Select the Start button > Settings > Accounts > Family & other people > Add a family member > Add a child or Add an adult. If you have added a child you can monitor some of their activity on the computer. Go to https://account.microsoft.com/family/. and sign in with the account used to add the child, to view the actions you can take: Connect Wireless Wi-Fi View activity and websites visited. Choose websites that your child cannot visit. Limit which games and apps can be downloaded from the Windows store. Set a limit for the maximum time they can spend on their devices. If your computer has Wi-Fi capabilities you can connect to any available wireless network. View available wireless networks by activating Action Center > Network. Choose the network you want to connect to, from the available networks. Enter the Passphrase (Security Key) for the network. You will then be connected to the network and the passphrase will be remembered and will not have to be re-entered for subsequent logins unless the passphrase is changed. Bluetooth If your computer has bluetooth capabilities you can connect multiple bluetooth devices to work with your computer. Turn on your bluetooth if it is not turned on already by activating Action Center > Bluetooth. Pair or connect any bluetooth device by Start > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth and other devices. Page 4 Revised 11/12/17
The device you want to connect must be turned on and discoverable. Check the user manual for the Bluetooth device for directions on making the device discoverable. Activate the Add Bluetooth or other device control to discover and connect to the device. Windows Defender and Antivirus Windows Defender Security Center is an antivirus program and a firewall that is already installed with. You can use Windows Defender for virus protection or you can use another third-party antivirus program. If you install another antivirus program Windows Defender will automatically turn itself off so that it will not conflict with your new antivirus program. If for any reason your other antivirus program does not work, Windows Defender will automatically reactivate and keep your computer secure. You can open the Windows Defender Security Center at Taskbar > Hidden Icons then change the settings for Defender and view its status. > Windows Defender > right-click > Open. You can In the Security Center, you can: Monitor threats to your device, run scans, and get updates to help detect the latest threats. See status about your device s performance health and keep your device clean and up to date with the latest version of Windows 10. Manage the settings for your Windows Firewall, and monitor what s happening with your networks and Internet connections. Use Family options to manage your children s online experiences and the devices in your household. Use Windows Defender SmartScreen for Microsoft Edge to help protect your device against potentially dangerous apps, files, sites, and downloads. If Windows Defender has been turned off you can turn it on again at Start > Settings > Update and security > Defender > Turn on Windows Defender antivirus. Page 5 Revised 11/12/17
Navigate the Desktop The desktop in is very similar to the desktop used in Windows 7 and previous versions. The Start button is back in with additional features. has also integrated many of the new features that were introduced in Windows 8. These features are now more seamless and easier to use in. Desktop and Taskbar icons have a new appearance called the Metro look. Desktop Icons Task View Cortana Search Box Start Button Taskbar Icons System Tray The Start button is back and has additional features in. A left-click of the Start button will open and display the new All Apps menu and the Start screen. A right-click of the Start button will open an alternative menu with many of the utility settings of Windows available. Integrated All Apps Menu and Start Screen Activate the Start button to display the new All Apps Menu and Start Screen. These 2 features are now integrated into one screen in. Page 6 Revised 11/12/17
All Apps Menu The All Apps Menu in is similar to the Start Menu > All Programs in Windows 7. All of the Programs and Apps available on your computer are listed and can be activated from the All Apps menu. All Apps Menu Scroll down through the All Apps menu to locate the program or app you want to activate. To reduce scrolling click any letter in the All Apps menu and select any letter to immediately go to that area. Activate the Menu Bars control to view the description of the controls on the Start Menu. Controls on the Start Menu Area of the Computer Control What it Does User Opens a menu that can be used to change the active user to another user or log out of the current user. File Explorer Opens the utility program This PC which the latest version of the classic File Explorer program. Settings Opens the new Settings app for. Power Opens up power options to shut down or restart the computer. Page 7 Revised 11/12/17
Start Screen The Start Screen is a customizable area, where controls to open programs and apps can be placed and organized for convenience. The taskbar icons on the Windows taskbar can also be customized. Pin an All Apps Icon To add a program or an app to either the Start screen or the Windows taskbar, you first locate the shortcut that will open the program or app on the All Apps menu. Right-click on the control to open the alternative menu. Activate the Pin to Start option or the More > Pin to taskbar option to place a control on the appropriate control group. Move a Start Tile or Taskbar Icon To move a tile or icon, point, click, and drag the control to a new location. The other icons will rearrange themselves to make room for the control being moved. When the control is in the correct location drop it. Manage Groups on Start To create a new group, drag a tile on the Start screen to an open location until you see a bar appear between the tile and another group. Drop the tile and the new group will be created. You can add or move other tiles to and from the group as needed. Page 8 Revised 11/12/17
To name or rename a group activate the rename button for the group. Type a new name or replace the current name and press the enter key when done. The name will then be displayed above the group. Alternative Start Menu A new alternative menu is available with a right-click of the Start button. The menu gives you quick access to many control areas of the computer. Simply activate any control to open its control area on the screen. Page 9 Revised 11/12/17
Arrange Windows Side by Side Multi-tasking is having more than one window open at the same time. You can open as many windows as you want but you can only work in one window at a time. To manage this, you can select any window and give it the focus. The focus means that the selected window is the one you can work with. At any time, you can select another window and give it the focus. Using this method, you can move back and forth between windows as often as you want. will let you arrange the open windows on the screen so they are side by side or in the corners and not overlapping. This makes it easy to work in one window while viewing the contents of another window. Comparison of Window Organization Overlapping Windows Side by Side Corners and Half Screen Four Corners Use the Windows key in conjunction with the arrows on the keyboard to position any window that is open on the screen. 1. Select and give the focus to the window you want to reposition. 2. Hold down the Windows key while you use the arrow keys. 3. Use the left or right arrow key to move a window to half screen. Page 10 Revised 11/12/17
4. When you move a window left or right the screen will display all of the other open windows. 5. Select any other window to automatically position it at the other side. 6. At your option you can select a window already positioned at half screen and use the Windows key and a up or down arrow to reposition the window in a corner. Task View Task View is a new method to view all the open windows on the computer and let you manage them. Locate and activate Task View on the Windows taskbar to view all of your open windows. You can close any window by activating its close button. You can also view any window by selecting it while in Task View. Selecting a window will bring that window into the focus and close the Task View. New to is Virtual Desktops. Activate Task View > New Desktop to open another desktop. Page 11 Revised 11/12/17
Another virtual desktop will be added to the screen. You can access either desktop by activating the Task View a desktop from the icons at the bottom of the screen. button again and selecting While you are viewing any desktop, you can activate a program or an app and it will be placed on the desktop you are are viewing. Switching to a desktop will let you work with the programs or apps open on that desktop. Virtual desktops are not permanent and will be cleared when you shut down or restart the computer. Manage the Windows Taskbar Customize the Windows Taskbar The Windows taskbar can be customized from the alternative menu for the taskbar or in Taskbar settings in the Settings App. Rearrange Taskbar Icons Icons pinned to the taskbar can be rearranged. Simply Click and Drag any icon to a new position. Pinned icons can only be placed on the taskbar between the Task View button and the System Tray. Windows Taskbar Alternative Menu The alternative menu for the taskbar can be displayed with a right-click on any open area of the taskbar. TOOLBARS has three optional toolbars, Links, Address, and Desktop, that can be added to the taskbar and you can add your own toolbars. Links Toolbar The links toolbar can be added or removed from the Windows taskbar by Right-click an open space on the taskbar > Toolbars > Links. Currently the Links toolbar only displays favorites from Internet Explorer. Edge is not yet supported. I recommend that you wait until Edge is supported before you attempt to use the Links toolbar. Page 12 Revised 11/12/17
Address Toolbar The Address toolbar can be added or removed from the Windows taskbar by Right-click an open space on the taskbar > Toolbars > Address. You can type an address in the box or select a previous address from the drop-down and it will be opened in your default browser. Desktop Toolbar The Desktop toolbar can be added or removed from the Windows taskbar by Right-click an open space on the taskbar > Toolbars > Desktop. The Desktop toolbar will list your desktop icons and some other areas of the computer. Activate any area to view or activate the associated program or app. DISPLAY OR HIDE TASKBAR ICONS Cortana can be displayed on the toolbar in 3 different ways. Change how Cortana is displayed by Right-click an open space on the taskbar > Cortana. Only one option can be used at a time. You can also add or hide the icons for some of the new apps by Right-click an open space on the taskbar > Select any option. Page 13 Revised 11/12/17
System Tray TASK MANAGER You can easily open Task Manager by Right-click an open space on the taskbar > Task Manager instead of using Alt + Ctrl + Delete. MOVE THE TASKBAR TO ANOTHER LOCATION The default location for the Windows taskbar is at the bottom of the screen. It can also be displayed at the top or either side of the screen. To move the taskbar, you must first unlock it by Right-click an open space on the taskbar > Lock the taskbar. Once unlocked you can Click and Drag an open space on the taskbar and move it to the new location. Select Right-click an open space on the taskbar > Lock the taskbar to lock the taskbar again. TASKBAR SETTINGS There are additional settings for the taskbar in the new Settings app. You can quickly open the Settings to the correct page by Right-click an open space on the taskbar > Taskbar Settings. The system tray is much the same as it was in Windows 7 with some additions and cosmetic changes. Hidden Icons All of the background programs that were opened when Windows was started are viewable in the Hidden Icons area. To view the hidden icons, activate the arrow. Each background program will be represented by an icon. Most of the icons are interactive and can be activated to access each program. Action Center The action center has been revamped and is viewable by activating the Notifications icon located in the System Tray. Quick Action icons have been added to the Action Center to make it easier to perform some common functions. Notification Area Quick Action Icons Notification Area The Notification Area is where and its Apps may display messages. Notifications are enabled in by default. You can customize which notifications you receive from or turn them off entirely at Start button > Settings > System > Notifications and actions. You can also add notifications from some of the apps you install in the settings of the app. Page 14 Revised 11/12/17
You can respond to a notification if it has an activating the Clear button. Quick Actions arrow to the right. If you do not want to take action you can clear the notification by Quick actions are a set of icons that will activate a setting quickly without having to search for it. Some of the Quick Actions will be discussed in detail where they apply. Quick Action Icons Name Tablet Mode Network Note All Settings Airplane Mode Location Quiet Hours VPN Project Connect Battery Saver Night Light What it Does Tablet Mode is a toggle that will switch the screen from Desktop view to Tablet view alternately as it is activated. Will display the networks available to your computer and indicate which network you are currently connected to. You can select and connect to any network listed that you have a passphrase for or is not secured. Opens the online OneNote window. OneNote is a program which can be used to store and organize notes, webpages, drawings, and more in the online OneDrive storage area. Opens the All Settings app. Toggles airplane mode on or off. Airplane mode should be activated on all commercial flights to disconnect you from all outside communications. Toggles the location feature in your computer. Location allows the computer to search and give local results a priority. Toggles Quiet Hours on or off. Quiet Hours is a time frame when the computer will not send you any notifications. Virtual Private Network (VPN) will open up the All Settings app where you can add a VPN and enable it. If you don t know what a VPN is you don t need this action. If you have 2 monitors connected to your computer, you can select which monitors you will use and how they will display. Will search for and let you connect to Bluetooth and other wireless devices. When your battery is low battery saver will automatically change some settings to conserve power. When enabled night light will help protect your eyes from fatigue and damage by reducing the amount of blue light emitted from the screen and warming up the colors. Page 15 Revised 11/12/17
Start Screen Interface (Tablet Mode) Tablet Mode will have 2 screens you can switch between, the Start Screen and the All Apps Screen. You can access Tablet mode quickly by activating the Tablet mode icon in the Notification area. Tablet view will initially display the Start Screen. You can switch between Start Screen and All Apps view by activation of the view icons located at the top left of the screen. Switch Screens in Tablet Mode Description Icon What It Does All Apps Icon Will switch the desktop to the All Apps screen so you can access your programs and apps. Start Screen Icon Will switch the desktop to the Start screen so you can access your customized tiles. The All Apps screen will let you reduce scrolling by clicking on any letter for a group. Selecting a letter from the grid that displays will take you immediately to that group. Start screen in Tablet Mode Page 16 Revised 11/12/17
All Apps screen in Tablet Mode Page 17 Revised 11/12/17