Category: Systems and procedures

Windows 8 Remastered Edition is better than Windows 10

Microsoft took a big gamble with Windows 8. Back in 2012 the tech giant believed that touchscreens were the way we’d all be interacting with our devices, and so overhauled Windows to give it a touch-first design and a Start screen in place of the traditional Start menu — which didn’t go down at all well with the Windows faithful.

Although the company relented and eventually added a Start menu and made various other user-requested tweaks, Windows 8 is viewed by many as one of the worst versions of Windows, which is a little unfair as it had much to recommend it.

8 years on from that operating system’s original launch, Addy Visuals — which previously gave us a vision of what Windows 21 could look like — has created a concept of a remastered version of Windows 8, and it’s great.

His vision of the modern OS has a full-screen Start menu — which will once again divide opinion I’m sure — plus built-in Cortana, and a redesigned File Explorer with tabs.

Addy Visuals’ remastered Windows 8 also introduces the Action Center from Windows10 and a modern Settings experience, plus of course there’s the now expected Dark Theme too.

For lovers of Windows 7 there’s an Aero 8 Theme which makes the OS look more like that.

Personally I like the look of this reimagined Windows 8 — which is referred to as Windows 8.2 in the screenshots — but I’m sure there will be plenty of people who view it less favorably.

Windows 10X is arriving next year: What we know so far

In 2019, Microsoft announced Windows 10X, a new version of Windows for dual-screen foldable devices. Microsoft promised that Windows 10X would be simple, sleek and faster than the current generation of Windows.

Windows 10 was originally supposed to work with dual-screen devices, such as the Surface Neo, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold, and Intel prototypes. The plans, however, changed after the pandemic, and Microsoft’s new priority is to get Windows 10X work on the single-screen devices.

According to reliable sources, Windows 10X is now expected to launch on single-screen devices in the Spring of 2021.

The operating system has now been updated to meet the growing needs of flexibility on low-end hardware and it’s likely to debut on mid-range devices.

Windows 10X latest news

According to a new report, Microsoft has already finalized the RTM candidate for Windows 10X. This will now allow OEM and Microsoft vendors to start the work on devices with Windows 10X.

The OS is still on track to launch in Spring 2021 to enable unique experiences on PCs from various hardware manufacturers.

Reports have also suggested that Windows 10X won’t ship with Win32 apps (desktop application) due to compatibility issues.

According to sources, Windows 10X compatibility levels with Win32 apps were not great and Microsoft decided to focus on Windows 10X without native support for Win32.

This means consumers can only download and install the apps available via the Microsoft Store or Microsoft Edge (Progressive Web Apps). However, Microsoft is believed to be working on a premium service called ‘Cloud PC’ that will allow business users to stream their desktop apps to Windows 10X.

It’s also worth noting that Windows 10X won’t be released for beta testing and it is not something that you can install on your current hardware. Like ChromeOS, Windows 10X will ship with new devices only.

Windows 10X features

As we reported last year, Windows 10X comes with a new Start Menu experience and attractive set of colored icons “to fuel a new era of productivity.” In addition, Windows 10X will ditch the flat and aesthetic live tiles to offer simple experience with fewer customization options.

“Flat, monochrome icons look great in the context of colorful tiles, but as more icon styles enter the ecosystem, this approach needs to evolve,” Microsoft said.

Action Center

Windows 10X comes with a new Action Center that puts more emphasises on quick actions. The new Action Center also comes with new volume controls, power options, and also battery percentage.

Windows Updates to get faster

Last year, Microsoft claimed that Windows 10X would be technically separated from the OS components such as the drivers and apps, which allows Windows 10X to handle updates better than the traditional version of Windows 10.

According to Microsoft, Windows 10X has been designed to download and apply updates in less than 90 seconds by saving the update package in a different partition. Once done, update data is moved to another partition and it is used for system update during the reboot.

What Is an “Optional Quality Update” on Windows 10?

On Windows 10, Windows Update may sometimes offer you an “Optional Quality Update.” Unlike other updates, Windows won’t automatically install these—so what exactly are they? Should you install them?

Windows Update Won’t Automatically Install These

An “optional quality update” is a Windows update that you don’t have to install immediately. These never include security fixes—if an important security patch is available, Windows Update will install it without waiting.

However, some updates are optional. These fix stability issues and other problems in Windows. Some of these may be optional hardware driver updates. You have the choice of whether or not to install these—it’s up to you.

What Is a “Cumulative Update Preview”?

One of the most common optional quality updates is a “cumulative update preview.” Microsoft releases cumulative updates once a month on Patch Tuesday, which is the second Tuesday of each month.

These updates bundle a large number of fixes for various problems in a big package. Rather than releasing a slow drip of updates throughout the month, Microsoft bundles them all into one big update.

These packages are called “cumulative” because they include all the fixes from previous months in a single package. For example, if you haven’t turned a computer on in several months, a single month’s cumulative update will include all the fixes from previous months. Windows only has to install one big update, saving you time and avoiding unnecessary reboots.

Microsoft doesn’t hold every fix for the cumulative update. For example, important security updates are released immediately without waiting.

Near the end of most months, Microsoft offers a “cumulative update preview” in Windows Update. (Microsoft generally skips late December’s cumulative update preview.) These preview updates include all the fixes that will be released to everyone in non-optional form on the next Patch Tuesday.

For example, in November of 2020, Microsoft released the 2020-11 Cumulative Update Preview on November 30, 2020. If you didn’t choose to install it, your PC would get the final, non-preview version of the “cumulative update” a few weeks later on the next Patch Tuesday—in our example, that’s December 8, 2020.

These Are “C” and “D” Updates

By the way, if you’re familiar with Windows update terminology, you may know these preview cumulative updates by a different name. Microsoft calls these “C” and “D” updates, depending on whether they’re released in the third or fourth week of every month.

The final stable cumulative update released the next month is known as a “B” update. That’s because it’s released in the second week of the month.

Preview Updates Make You a Software Tester

The word “preview” is a hint that you’re helping Microsoft test the update by installing it. Microsoft is counting on a large number of people noticing the update and choosing to install it. Microsoft calls people who visit the Windows Update page and choose to manually install updates “seekers” who are looking for updates.

By installing the update only for these motivated “seekers,” Microsoft can see whether the update causes problems on a variety of Windows 10 PCs. If it does, Microsoft can hit the pause button or fix the update before it rolls out to everyone on Patch Tuesday.

Think of these monthly preview updates as similar to Microsoft’s Windows Insider Program. People who want to test new versions of the software can get it early, while people who aren’t eager to install new Windows updates can wait.

Should You Install the Optional Update?

If you’re experiencing a problem with your PC, installing the optional update is a way to get a fix for that issue weeks early. They’re usually pretty stable and are much more stable than early builds of Windows 10 intended for people who opt into the “Windows Insider” testing program.

However, if you’re not experiencing an issue with your PC, you don’t need to install the optional quality update—not unless you want to help Microsoft test it. If you wait a few weeks, your PC will get the same fixes after they’ve undergone additional testing.

How to Install Optional Quality Updates

To check for optional quality updates, head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Click “Check for Update” to check for available updates. Windows will install any mandatory updates (including security updates and non-optional cumulative updates) automatically.

If an optional quality update is available, you’ll see a message saying so below the “Check for Updates” button. Click “Download and Install” if you want to install it on your PC.

You can also click “View all optional updates” to see all the optional updates you can install. For example, this list likely includes optional driver updates that might help if you’re experiencing a problem on your PC. However, this button will only appear if optional updates are actually available for your PC.

If you experience a problem with an update, you can head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View Update History > Uninstall Updates to remove the update from your Windows 10 PC.

Windows 10 update might be borrowing one of the only good things left in Windows 7

Windows 10 is set to bring back a design feature from the days of Windows 7 when it launches its WinUI 3 update next year. Rounded corners for top-level windows will be making a comeback, representing a change of aesthetic for Microsoft.

Up until Windows 8, Microsoft employed the aero effect and rounded corners for all app windows, but then abandoned this look in favor of sharp corners. Now, according to a comment issued by Microsoft on GitHub, rounded corners will be available for top-level windows and app pop-ups, although the implementation of the rounded corners will ultimately be left up to developers.

Based on a mock-up screenshot of Microsoft Teams, it is clear that the Redmond-based firm is returning to a style reminiscent of the one employed during the Windows 7, Vista and XP eras.

Going back

The decision to return to its former look is part of a raft of changes that will be included as part of a broader Windows 10 design update coming next year, including the launch of the WinUI 3 user interface. WinUI is a native UX platform delivered separately from the operating system, which means it can be updated frequently according to feedback from the developer community.

Windows 10’s new user interface may be available in preview builds by Spring next year, with rounded corners likely to go live in the second half of 2021. It’s also thought that Microsoft might make a few tweaks to the Start Menu and Action Center, taking ideas from WinUI.

The other big design changes coming to Windows 10 affect app icons, which will be more colorful and curved. Given that top-level windows will also be more rounded, it seems like Microsoft is working to have a consistent design in place by sometime next year.

Windows 10 20H2 update: New features for IT pros

Jesus Vigo reviews the newest additions to Windows 10 (20H2) as they pertain to IT pros. These updates can help you make the most of the latest release to Microsoft’s flagship OS.

Released in October 2020, the most recent update to Microsoft’s Windows 10 operating system has only just begun gaining steam in mass deployment worldwide. Whether it’s come down to the global pandemic, compliance testing, or simply out of an abundance of caution, the slowness is finally picking up steam and more devices are starting to make the transition to update version 20H2.

Beginning with this release, Microsoft has opted to change the nomenclature from a version number based on the year and month pattern, to that of the year and half-year pattern. This results in a clear indication of the timing of the update at a glance. Support for updates will not change, as Microsoft indicates support for 30 months of servicing from release date for Enterprise and Education editions.

Deployment of this update will continue to be made available through Windows Update for all instances. Enterprise environments managing their devices via SCCM or MDT can continue to create packages to deploy the updates to devices in scripted fashion, in either automated or self-service models.

Here are some of the new features you can expect with Windows 10 20H2 update.

Autopilot

While initially introduced in update 2004, Autopilot has received a number of enhancements in managing and reporting for supported devices. Whether tasks are deployed with co-management in mind or not, Autopilot aids administrators in providing as standardized desktop environment from the device vendor to unboxing and setup by the end-user, utilizing tasks, policies, and reporting to ensure that each device is configured exactly as intended and that users are delivered the environment they need to get working faster.

Desktop Analytics

This feature is integrated with Configuration Manager to provide insight into the management statuses of devices within the organization. The cloud-connected service works to identify the state of a particular set of applications, providing administrators the ability to configure apps quickly and efficiently, in uniform fashion across the enterprise, and to remedy any that have not met the baseline criteria.

MDM policy enhancement

Admins with experience managing their infrastructure with Group Policy (GP) now have the Mobile Device Management (MDM)-enabled equivalent to leverage control over MDM-managed devices using the Local Users and Groups MDM policy. This policy, much like its GP counterpart, allows for baseline templates to be applied to groups of devices or granularly applied to specific devices, aiding in the security and compliance of managed endpoints.

Microsoft Defender Application Guard for Office

Microsoft’s Defender Application Guard technology allows for devices with the optional service enabled to leverage the built-in Hypervisor to create a virtualized environment, or VM, to isolate data and apps and prevent their interaction from compromising the system or otherwise allowing malicious code to operate outside the confines of the container. Microsoft has taken this one step forward to include Office documents and data to run containerized as well, to prevent untrusted data, such as macros for example, to run unfettered on a system and inject any malicious code into the device.

Microsoft Edge based on Chromium

Microsoft has further modernized its Edge browser by rebuilding it on the open source Chromium code base. In addition to the switch, the new Edge browser works in tandem with other Microsoft products, such as Office 365 and Microsoft endpoint security standards to ensure that data remains secured and accessible across all Microsoft platforms and services. Additionally, the new Edge provides compatibility with Internet Explorer apps and sites, allowing a transitionary period between current use and end-of-life dates for both Internet Explorer 11 and Edge Legacy support.

Windows Hello

This is another technology that existed prior to the 20H2 update but has been further enhanced and made more secure, by adding support for virtualization-based security. This further protects biometric sensors used in authentication by adding another layer of security to isolate the security data. 

Windows Sandbox

Sandbox technology is not new to Windows 10, but new features found in the most recent update allow even more flexibility and expanded capabilities for those who use Sandbox to test applications, software, or simply provide a secure, isolated environment with which to extend productivity while keeping data and resources containerized, shielding mission-critical and system-level processes.

Windows Shell

No change to the OS would be complete without some additions to the underlying shell. Thankfully, no major changes to the operating system have been made, but several thoughtful aesthetic ones have made their way onto 20H2. Notably, notifications have been modified to provide better readability and using the Alt + Tab keyboard shortcut to toggle between open windows has added support for toggling between open tabs in Edge for a user friendly change. Sadly, one not-so-friendly change for some IT pros is the removal of the Systems setting in the Control Panel. While the Systems panel has been migrated to the Settings > About page—and that is the only change thus far to the Control Panel—this change is a step forward is the belief that eventually more Control Panel settings will be migrated to the Settings app.

Windows Virtual Desktop

This service runs in conjunction with Microsoft Azure and allows users to securely connect to a full desktop environment in the cloud. By allowing management via Microsoft Endpoint Manager, admins can securely and effortlessly manage cloud-hosted VMs—including policies and app provisioning post-enrollment—providing users another way to stay productive.

Latest Windows 10 update causes serious problems — what you need to know

This year has not been a good one for Windows 10 updates installing with no problems, and it looks like upgrade woes are far from over with the new KB4586781 cumulative update. 

Having been pushed out to Windows 10 users in November, the update brings in a suite of security improvements and fixes for Microsoft’s ever-evolving operating system. But for some uses it’s throwing up some odd error messages, failing to install, and freezing laptops. 

One such error encountered when applying the update, Windows Latest reported, reads: “Some update files are missing or have problems. We’ll try to download the update again later. Error code: (0x8007000d).”

“Still stuck on 1909. One day an update will be available for me. It’s crazy, Big Sur came out yesterday and my Mac already updated, but my Windows computer is still waiting on the second most recent update,” one Reddit user said. 

But the update also seems to cause other problems such as messing with user settings, with another Reddit user noting: “Recent Windows update at work pissed me off today by obliterating all user settings, dozens of desktop shortcuts and replacing my user login account as though I started it from scratch. I decided to just go home and save the crappy day for Monday.” 

We have the KB4586781 cumulative update installed on a 2018 HP Spectre x360 15, and it now seems to be running fine. However, before it appeared to be installed, the 2-in-1 laptop suddenly blue-screened. Once rebooted, it moved onto the standard screen for when Windows 10 installs an update before it fully boots into the desktop. 

We can’t say for sure if the update did cause this BSOD, but it seems very likely that the crash wasn’t simply a coincidence. And such problems have popped up before on this machine when applying a new Windows 10 update. Luckily, the crash didn’t cause any data loss, but it was still a nasty thing to deal with mid-way through a working day. 

If you are worried about such updates, then you can turn off automatic updates or pause the installation of KB4586781 cumulative update, until a more stable version is released. Just bear in mind that the update does apply some important security features to Windows 10, so by not installing the update you could miss out on those. 

The whole situation and the fact that other 2020 Windows 10 updates have caused problems, is somewhat of an indication that Microsoft might need to apply a little more quality control and testing to its future Windows 10 updates. 

Windows 21 is the operating system we’d love to be using next year

2020 has been an awful year for most people. The coronavirus has torn through our lives, we’ve experienced lockdowns and job losses, the United States is more divided than ever, and let’s not even mention the ongoing shitshow that is the presidential election.

Although it’s not likely to be much better to begin with, 2021 really can’t come soon enough. A redesigned Windows 10 isn’t going to be at the top of most people’s wishlists for the upcoming year, but Windows 21 has got our attention.

The new Windows concept, from Addy Visuals, takes Windows 10 and gives it a new, stylish Fluent Design-led makeover.

Unlike other similar such concepts, which reinvent the OS and add new features, this one aims to take what we love about Windows 10, and just make it better.

It sees a version of Windows that delivers a seamless experience on even low-end computers, comes with the modern tab-based File Explorer that Microsoft still hasn’t given us, and adds a better dark theme.

Check out the video below and let us know what you think of it in the comments.

Windows 10 update created a major password problem

Microsoft has detailed a temporary fix for a frustrating Windows 10 bug that prevents software from storing account credentials, meaning the user has to re-enter their username and password each time they log-in.

The flaw is also said to delete cookies held in web browsers, preventing websites from memorizing credentials and serving bespoke content to the user.

First reported in April, the issue is present in specific builds of Windows 10 version 2004 and affects applications such as Outlook, Chrome, Edge, OneDrive and more.

Windows 10 passwords issue

Although users have struggled with the Windows 10 issue for months now, Microsoft has only recently acknowledged the issue in an official capacity in the form of a support notice. 

“After installing Windows 10 Version 2004 Build 19041.173 and related updates you will find that Outlook and other applications do not remember your password anymore,” explained the firm.

“The issue occurs when some Windows 10 Task Scheduler tasks are configured in a certain way. Until a fix is available, a workaround is to disable these tasks using Task Scheduler.”

To implement the temporary fix, right-click the Start Menu, select Windows PowerShell (Admin) and enter the following command: 

“Get-ScheduledTask | foreach { If (([xml](Export-ScheduledTask -TaskName $_.TaskName -TaskPath $_.TaskPath)).GetElementsByTagName(“LogonType”).’#text’ -eq “S4U”) { $_.TaskName } }”

If any tasks are listed in the PowerShell window, note them down and launch the Task Scheduler app. Once you’ve located the relevant tasks, disable them via the right-click drop-down menu. Restarting the affected device should then resolve the issue.

It is not clear at this stage when Microsoft will roll out a full fix for the problem.

What Is the “Windows Feature Experience Pack” on Windows 10?

Windows 10 now has a strange specification named “Experience.” Standard desktop versions of Windows 10 say you have the “Windows Feature Experience Pack” installed. What does that mean? Microsoft is being secretive as always, but here’s what we know.

Another Windows 10 Mystery

If you head to Settings > System > About and scroll down to “Windows specifications,” you’ll see a line named “Experience.” It likely says you have the “Windows Feature Experience Pack” installed.

This section also tells you what edition of Windows 10 you have installed, which update version you have installed, when it was installed, and your OS build number.

We know what all those mean—but what is a “Windows Feature Experience Pack?”

Unfortunately, Microsoft won’t explain it! Microsoft watcher Mary Jo Foley asked Microsoft about it and got a “no comment” from Microsoft. We think we can explain a lot of this anyway.

Some Windows 10 Features Are Part of the Pack

As Foley points out, the Windows Feature Experience Pack is listed as one of many “Features on Demand” in Windows 10. For example, Microsoft Paint is now a “feature on demand.”

This particular feature comes preinstalled with Windows. Microsoft says it “Includes features critical to Windows functionality” and says you should “not remove this package.”

The same documentation says the Windows Feature Experience Pack was first introduced in Windows 10 version 2004—that’s the May 2020 Update.

According to Foley, the pack currently includes features like a snipping tool for taking screenshots and a text input panel. Rather than being part of the base version of Windows 10 itself, these features are part of this “pack” that is preinstalled. Microsoft may move more features from Windows 10 itself to this “features on demand” pack.

Most of these “features on demand” are listed under Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Optional features, but the installed “Experience Pack” doesn’t appear here.

Tracking Down Clues in the Windows Store

So, why does this Feature Experience Pack even exist? Why not just leave these features in Windows 10 proper?

Well, Microsoft won’t say, but we definitely have some ideas. Take a look at this: The Microsoft Store has a listing for a “Windows Feature Experience Pack” and a separate “Windows 10X Feature Experience Pack.” This suggests two things.

Faster Updates for Windows Components?

As of the October 2020 Update, there’s no indication this feature experience pack is being updated through the Store yet. However, it could be!

If Microsoft were updating the feature experience pack through the Store, the company could update the software inside the pack more often than once every six months.

Anything moved from Windows to the pack—perhaps a built-in application like File Explorer or a component like the Windows taskbar or Start menu—could be updated much more quickly.

A Single OS For All Microsoft’s Devices?

Microsoft is working hard on Windows 10X, which was going to be designed for dual-screen devices, but now looks like it will initially just be a more “modern” version of Windows that confines traditional desktop applications to containers.

These different versions of Windows could have the same underlying operating system and differ only in their “Feature Experience Pack.”

In other words, this could help advance Microsoft’s Windows Core OS goals: Having a single Windows core operating system that powers all devices, with different experiences installed on top of them. Imagine if a future Xbox could run Windows 10 with the “Xbox Feature Experience Pack,” or a future Windows Phone could run Windows 10 with the “Windows Phone Experience Pack.”

Hints About a Future, But No Use in the Present

As of Windows 10’s October 2020 Update at the end of 2020, you should ignore the “Experience” line in the Settings screen and forget about the “Windows Feature Experience” for now. It doesn’t really mean anything.

Its presence is an artifact of Microsoft’s development process: The company is always experimenting internally, and signs of that experimentation are appearing in the released versions of Windows 10. This information may be important for Microsoft engineers who are experimenting and troubleshooting, but it doesn’t mean anything to Windows users outside Microsoft.

12 Ways to Open File Explorer in Windows 10

File Explorer is an essential file management application. Whether your mouse is broken or you just prefer using Command Prompt, there are many ways you can open File Explorer in Windows 10.

Click the Taskbar Icon

Windows PCs come with certain apps preloaded on the taskbar, including File Explorer; just click the File Explorer icon in the taskbar to open it.

If you’ve removed the File Explorer icon from the taskbar, you can use one of the other methods below to launch it, and then re-pin it to the taskbar.

To do this, launch File Explorer, right-click its icon on the taskbar, and then select “Pin to Taskbar” to keep it there permanently. You can then drag and drop it wherever you want it on the taskbar.

Use the Keyboard Shortcut

Almost every keyboard on a Windows PC has a Windows key (it’s the one with the Windows icon). You can open File Explorer by pressing Windows+E.

Via Windows Search

You can search for any application on your PC in Windows Search. In the Search box to the left of the Taskbar, just type “File Explorer,” and then click (or use the arrow keys to select) “File Explorer” in the search results to launch it.

From the Start Menu

There are three ways you can open File Explorer from the Start menu. The first is to click the Start button, and then scroll down the list of apps and click “Windows System.” In the submenu, click “File Explorer” to open it.

You can also pin File Explorer to the sidebar above the Start button. To do so, click Settings > Personalization > Start, and then click “Choose which folders appear on Start.”

On the next screen, toggle-On the “File Explorer” option.

File Explorer will now appear in the sidebar of the Start menu; click it to launch File Explorer.

You can also add a shortcut to the pinned tile section to the right of the Start menu. To do so, open the Start menu, type “File Explorer” in the Search box, and then, in the pane that appears to the right of the search results, click “Pin to Start.”

Alternatively, if you pinned File Explorer to the sidebar of the Start menu, you can right-click the File Explorer icon, and then click “Pin to Start.”

File Explorer will now appear in the pinned tile section of the Start menu; just click it to launch.

From the Power User Menu

You can also open File Explorer from the Power User Menu. To access it, press Windows+X or right-click the Start button, and then click “File Explorer.”

Ask Cortana

If your PC has a microphone, you can ask Cortana to open File Explorer. To do so, click the Cortana icon (the circle) in the taskbar.

Click the Microphone icon, and then say, “Open File Explorer” (what you say will also appear on the screen). Cortana will respond with “I’ll Open File Explorer,” and then do so.

If you don’t have a microphone, you can just type “File Explorer” in the Cortana search box.

Use the Run Application

You can also launch File Explorer in the Run app. Press Windows+R to open the “Run” window. In the “Open:” box, type “Explorer,” click “OK,” and File Explorer will open.

Run the Source Application

By default, Windows stores File Explorer’s EXE file in the “Windows” folder on the C: drive. Navigate to the “Windows” folder, find “Explorer.exe” in the long list, and then double-click it to open File Explorer.

Add a Shortcut to the Desktop

For quicker access to File Explorer, you can create a desktop shortcut. To do so, click the Start button at the bottom left.

In the app list, scroll down and click “Windows System.” In the submenu, click and drag “File Explorer” to the desktop. You can also drag and drop File Explorer from the pinned app tiles on the right.

Now, you can just double-click the shortcut on your desktop to open File Explorer anytime.

From Task Manager

Task Manager isn’t just for shutting down apps or monitoring processes and performance—you can also launch apps from it. To launch File Explorer this way, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager. Then, click “File” and select “Run New Task.”

The “Create New Task” window will appear. Type “Explorer” in the “Open:” text box, click “OK,” and File Explorer will open.

From Command Prompt

You can launch almost any app on your PC, including File Explorer, from the Command Prompt. To do so, type “cmd” in the Windows Search box, and then select “Command Prompt” from the search results to open it.

In Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter:

explorer

File Explorer will open.

Via PowerShell

You can also launch File Explorer from PowerShell. To do so, type “PowerShell” in the Windows Search box, and then select “Windows PowerShell” from the search results to open it.

In PowerShell, type the following command, and then press Enter:

explorer

File Explorer will then open.

Windows 10 is packed with different ways to accomplish common tasks, like opening the Command Prompt or locking your PC. Explore all the options to find those that work best for you and your workflow.