2. Connecting and Managing Your Desktop and Devices
This chapter helps you get your computer and devices ready to use with the following tasks:
Connecting to wireless networks
One of the biggest stories about Windows 10 has been a long time coming. The early promise was that the operating system would provide a consistent look and feel across all your computers and devices. The Windows 10 Creators Update takes a big step in that direction, creating a sense of consistency whether you are using a computer, a tablet, or a phone.
Windows 10 adjusts easily and instantly when you undock your tablet and go. You might have been using Windows 10 as a desktop computer, but when you undock the tablet and hit the road, Windows 10 automatically goes into tablet mode, offering the same functionality presented in the best way for the device you’re taking along.
The fact that the software automatically takes care of this for you means that you’ll be able to focus on the tasks at hand: calling up a presentation, navigating your notes, and sharing important data with clients or colleagues as needed. The screens in each format have differences but are very similar to each other, giving you access to the same basic tools in different screen configurations built for each device.
Windows 10 helps you easily prepare your PC and get things up and running. Much of what happens behind the scenes doesn’t need your involvement at all. For example, if you’re using Windows 10 on a computer with a keyboard and a mouse, Windows 10 recognizes that and provides you with setup options related to that usage scenario. If you’re using Windows 10 on a touch device, it enables touch features so that the touch keyboard and other touch features are within reach in all the tasks and tools you use in Windows 10.
When you log in with your Microsoft Account, your preferences for theme, background, user preferences, and even browser favorites are saved so that you have a fairly consistent experience across multiple devices. What’s more, with the new Link Phone category in Settings, you can link your phone to Windows 10 no matter which type of phone—Windows Phone, Android, or iPhone—you are using. That way, you can easily access and share your favorite music, photos, videos, and more—no matter where they reside.
You can also set up other devices to work with your Windows 10 computer. This might include a tablet (one or many), your Xbox, or something else. Windows 10 makes it easy to add devices and get them working smoothly with the operating system. This chapter helps you explore those steps and get things ready to run with Windows 10.
Adding Devices in Windows 10
Windows 10 includes an autodiscovery feature that scans for all devices connected to your PC or your network. When Windows 10 detects those devices, it then connects to those printers, TVs, Xbox systems, and more. This means Windows 10 might be able to find and install all your computer peripherals automatically, and you won’t need to do anything at all! Wouldn’t that be nice?
The first step involves using Settings to see which devices Windows 10 has already discovered and added to your system. You can then add a device if you have one that isn’t included on the generated list or remove devices that were installed but that you are no longer using.
Viewing Installed Devices
You can take a look at the devices Windows 10 has found and installed automatically as part of your setup. And then you can add a device or remove devices that were added but that you no longer need. To display the list, follow these steps:
Click the Start button to display the Windows 10 Start menu. (You learn more about the Start button in Chapter 3.)
Choose Settings.
Select Devices in the top row of the Settings window.
Review the devices listed in the center of the window.
Removing a Device
You can remove a device you no longer need from the Devices list. Having extra devices in the Devices list doesn’t do any harm, but if you want to keep the list short so you can easily find what you need, you might want to take any unnecessary items off the list.
Click the device you want to remove from the list.
If you’re sure you want to remove the device, click the Remove Device button. Windows 10 removes the item from the list.
Connecting to Wireless Networks
In today’s world, we’re almost always connected. We go from the corporate network at work, to Bluetooth or mobile connectivity on the road, to Wi-Fi at the neighborhood coffee shop. Windows 10 makes the change right along with you, discovering networks in your area and giving you the capability to connect (if you have the password or network key, of course) by tapping the connection you want to make. You can easily switch among networks by using the Network & Internet tool in Settings.
Connecting to an Available Network
Now in Windows 10 you can connect to available wireless networks by using the Networks tool in the notifications area in the lower-right corner of your screen. You’ll find the tool to the left of the Volume tool in the system tray (on the right side of the taskbar).
When you click or tap the Networks tool, Windows 10 displays a list of the wireless networks in your vicinity. You can then connect to the network of your choice by selecting it and entering a password if necessary.
Click the Networks tool in the notifications area on the right side of the status bar to display the list of available networks.
Click the network you want to connect to, and click Connect. If you want to disconnect from a network to which you’re connected, tap or click the Disconnect button.
If you want Windows 10 to connect to the network automatically whenever it’s present, click or tap the Connect Automatically check box.
Linking Your Phone to Windows 10
To help you work seamlessly no matter which device you’re using at the moment, Microsoft has included a new Phone category in Windows 10 settings that enables you to link your phone to Windows. This means you’re able to share files among your devices and easily pick up where you left off when you’re switching from laptop to phone to tablet and back again.
This is especially good news for you if you’re an Android or iOS user because when you add the Microsoft Apps tool to your mobile device (Windows 10 will send you a link to that download when you link your phone in Settings), you’re able to carry your work easily between devices.
Adding Your Phone to Windows 10
Click or tap the Start button to reveal the Start menu.
Click or tap Settings.
Click or tap Phone.
Click or tap Add a Phone. A dialog box opens, asking you to enter your mobile phone number.
Type the mobile number of the phone you want to add.
Click or tap Send. Windows 10 sends a text message to your Android or iOS phone that includes a link you can follow to download the Microsoft Apps tool.
Click Close to finish adding the phone.
Managing Your PC Power
Thankfully, as computer makers continue to improve the hardware they offer, our computers and devices are becoming more energy efficient. This is good not only for our bank accounts, but also for our planet. We want the batteries in our laptops, tablets, and smartphones to last as long as possible. The more power we conserve, the more efficient our devices become, the longer our power lasts—and that’s a good thing.
One thing we’ve learned about “green tech” is that small changes can make a big difference. Changing the brightness of your screen or turning off Wi-Fi and roaming when possible can save a lot of behind-the-scenes processing. Even reducing energy consumption on your home desktop PC can have tangible benefits, such as reducing your electric bill. Those simple techniques, added to steps such as thinking through what happens when you close your laptop cover, can add up to smarter energy use for us all.
Windows 10 is the most energy-efficient version of Windows yet, with careful attention paid to apps that are in the foreground. Apps that cycle to the background and go into suspended mode have no impact on power usage at all. And because Windows 10 boots so efficiently, you won’t experience any lag time while you wait for an app to load. That’s a big change from the days you could push the power button and then go to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee while waiting for your computer to boot.
Turning On the Battery Saver
The Battery Saver app in Windows 10 enables you to control how your computer or device uses power. By default, Windows 10 turns on Battery Saver mode when power gets to 20%; but you can change that if you want. You can also adjust the way your computer or device is using power on the fly—that’s something new with Windows 10 Creators Update.
You can check your power status easily by clicking the Power tool in the system tray on the right side of the taskbar. If your computer is currently plugged in, the status shows 100% power. If your computer is using the battery, the status of the battery, the estimated amount of time remaining, and an active link to Battery Settings appear.
Click the Power tool.
Review the battery status.
Adjust the slider to reflect whether you would prefer to save battery or have better performance.
Click Battery Settings to see additional options.
Drag the Battery Saver slider if you want to change the percentage at which the battery saver goes into effect.
Enable the Battery Saver Status Until Next Charge setting if you want to put your computer into Battery Saver mode until the next time it is charged.
Uncheck the Lower Screen Brightness While in Battery Saver check box if you want to turn off the Battery Saver setting that displays a lower percentage of screen brightness. (This setting is enabled by default.)
Click Battery Usage by App to review how your various apps are making use of your battery power.
Review how much battery life your apps are using.
Choose whether you want to see all apps or apps that have been running within a period of time you specify.
Click an app that you want to change.
Click to remove the check in the Let Windows Decide When This App Can Run in the Background check box if you want to manually control the use of battery power.
Changing Your Power Settings
You can also manage the way your computer uses power by choosing the power settings you want Windows 10 to use. The Balanced power plan balances usage with performance, and you can change that balance as needed while you work. Making changes is as simple as pointing and clicking.
Click in the Search box and type power plan.
Click Choose a Power Plan in the results list. The Power Options window appears.
Click Tell Me More About Power Plans to learn more about what goes into a power plan.
Drag the slider to change the screen brightness. (The lower the brightness, the more power you are saving.)
Click Change Plan Settings to change the power settings of your current plan.
Choose when you want Windows 10 to turn off the display when your computer is not in use. You can choose different settings for battery power or plugged-in mode.
Select when you want the computer to go to sleep after a period of non-use.
Adjust the sliders to the level of brightness you want for battery or plugged-in mode.
Click Save Changes.
Resetting Windows 10
We all know—only too well—that computers sometimes have their off days. Things slow to a crawl. Your apps hang. Programs aren’t launching the way they should.
If you’re having problems consistently, Windows 10 gives you a tool that can make things better quickly and easily. Now, instead of crossing your fingers and rebooting—or perhaps arbitrarily choosing a Restore Point and hoping your journey back in time will fix the trouble you’re having—you can use Windows Reset to refresh your Windows 10 installation without wiping away any files or settings.
Resetting Your PC
If you find that a few of your apps aren’t working the way they should, or your computer has been behaving unreliably, you can reset your computer to restore the program files and settings to their original state without losing your files, media, and settings.
Click the Start button to display the Start menu.
Click Settings.
Select Update and Security.
Click Recovery.
In the Reset This PC area, click the Get Started button if you want to reset your PC and reinstall Windows. You can choose whether you want to keep your files or have Windows remove them and start over.
In the Advanced Startup area, click Restart Now to start Windows from a USB drive or DVD, to change your startup settings, or to restore your files from a system image you’ve previously saved.
