If you've been using Windows 10 for a while, you probably think you know it pretty well. But Microsoft packed this operating system with dozens of hidden features, shortcuts, and tweaks that most users never discover. Whether you want to make your PC faster, more private, or just easier to use every day — these Windows 10 hacks will genuinely change how you work.

1. God Mode — Access Every Setting in One Folder

Windows 10 has a hidden "God Mode" that puts every single setting, control panel option, and system tool into one folder. It sounds dramatic, but it's incredibly useful.

Here's how to enable it:

  1. Right-click on your Desktop → New → Folder
  2. Name the folder exactly this (copy-paste it):
    GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
  3. Press Enter — the folder icon changes to a Control Panel icon
  4. Open it — you'll find over 200 settings organised by category

From network adapters to display settings to user accounts — everything is right there. No more hunting through menus.

2. Speed Up Boot Time with Fast Startup

Most people don't realise that Windows 10's default shutdown doesn't fully power off your PC — it uses a hybrid sleep state. But you can make boot times even faster by tweaking the power settings.

  1. Open Control Panel → Power Options
  2. Click "Choose what the power buttons do"
  3. Click "Change settings that are currently unavailable"
  4. Check "Turn on fast startup"
  5. Click Save changes

Your PC will boot noticeably faster from a cold start. If you ever need to do a full restart (for driver updates etc.), use Restart instead of Shutdown — Restart does a full reboot.

3. Virtual Desktops for Better Multitasking

If you're juggling work, personal browsing, and a side project all at once, virtual desktops are a game changer. Windows 10 lets you create multiple desktops and switch between them instantly.

  • Press Win + Tab to open Task View
  • Click "New desktop" in the top-left corner
  • Switch between desktops with Ctrl + Win + Left/Right arrow
  • Move a window to another desktop by right-clicking it in Task View

Keep your work apps on Desktop 1, YouTube and personal stuff on Desktop 2. Your boss will never know.

4. Clipboard History — Copy Multiple Things at Once

The old Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V only remembered one thing at a time. Windows 10 has a Clipboard History feature that stores everything you've copied.

  1. Press Win + V — it will ask you to enable Clipboard History
  2. Click Turn on
  3. Now every time you copy something, it's saved to your clipboard history
  4. Press Win + V anytime to see your full clipboard and paste anything from it

You can even pin frequently used items (like your email address or standard paragraphs) so they're always available. This alone saves hours every week.

5. Secret Right-Click Menu on the Start Button

Right-clicking the Start button (or pressing Win + X) opens a hidden power-user menu that Microsoft barely advertises. It gives you direct access to:

  • Device Manager
  • Disk Management
  • Event Viewer
  • Task Manager
  • PowerShell / Command Prompt (Admin)
  • System Properties
  • Network Connections

This is the fastest way to get to system tools without searching or navigating through menus. IT professionals use this constantly.

6. Disable Telemetry to Improve Privacy

Windows 10 sends a lot of data back to Microsoft by default — usage statistics, diagnostics, error reports. You can significantly reduce this:

  1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Diagnostics & feedback
  2. Change to "Basic" diagnostic data
  3. Turn off "Improve inking and typing"
  4. Turn off "Tailored experiences"

Then go to Settings → Privacy → Activity history and uncheck "Send my activity history to Microsoft."

For deeper control, open Settings → Privacy and go through each section — Camera, Microphone, Location, Contacts — and disable access for apps that don't need it.

7. Shake to Minimise All Other Windows

This one feels like magic. If you have 10 windows open and want to focus on just one:

  • Click and hold the title bar of the window you want to keep
  • Shake it rapidly left and right
  • All other windows minimise instantly
  • Shake again to restore them all

This feature is called Aero Shake and it's been there since Windows 7. Most people discover it by accident.

8. Pin Websites to Your Taskbar

If you use a web app constantly — Gmail, Google Sheets, your company portal — you can pin it to the taskbar like a real app using Microsoft Edge.

  1. Open the website in Microsoft Edge
  2. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top right
  3. Go to Apps → Install this site as an app
  4. Name it and click Install
  5. It will open in its own window like a desktop app and appear in your taskbar

This works brilliantly for web apps like WhatsApp Web, Notion, Figma, and more.

9. Speed Up Windows with ReadyBoost

If your PC has an older spinning hard drive (HDD) and limited RAM, ReadyBoost can improve performance using a USB flash drive as extra cache memory.

  1. Insert a USB drive (at least 4GB free)
  2. Open File Explorer → right-click the USB drive → Properties
  3. Click the ReadyBoost tab
  4. Select "Use this device" and allocate space
  5. Click OK

Note: This doesn't help if your PC already has an SSD and 8GB+ RAM. It's specifically useful for older budget machines.

10. Night Light to Protect Your Eyes

Staring at a blue-white screen at night strains your eyes and disrupts sleep. Windows 10's Night Light feature warms your display colour automatically after sunset.

  1. Go to Settings → System → Display
  2. Toggle on Night light
  3. Click "Night light settings" to set a schedule and adjust the warmth level

Set it to turn on at sunset and off at sunrise. After a week you'll wonder how you ever worked without it.

11. Create a Local User Account (No Microsoft Account Required)

Windows 10 pushes you hard to use a Microsoft account. But you can create a fully offline local account:

  1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Family & other users
  2. Click "Add someone else to this PC"
  3. Click "I don't have this person's sign-in information"
  4. Click "Add a user without a Microsoft account"
  5. Enter a username and password

This is especially useful when setting up a PC for someone who doesn't want to create a Microsoft account or when you want a clean guest account.

12. Use Focus Assist to Block Distractions

Notifications are productivity killers. Focus Assist lets you block all or some notifications for set periods.

  • Go to Settings → System → Focus assist
  • Choose Priority only (allows important notifications) or Alarms only (maximum focus)
  • Set automatic rules — for example, silence notifications during working hours or when playing games

You can also quickly toggle Focus Assist from the Action Center (Win + A).

13. Free Up Disk Space with Storage Sense

Windows 10 accumulates gigabytes of junk over time — temporary files, old Windows updates, Recycle Bin content. Storage Sense cleans it automatically.

  1. Go to Settings → System → Storage
  2. Toggle on Storage Sense
  3. Click "Configure Storage Sense or run it now"
  4. Set it to run monthly and clean up temporary files, old Recycle Bin items, and downloads older than 60 days

You can also run it manually right now by clicking "Clean now" at the bottom of that page.

14. Keyboard Shortcuts You Probably Don't Know

These are the shortcuts that separate power users from everyone else:

  • Win + D — Show/hide the desktop instantly
  • Win + L — Lock your PC immediately
  • Win + E — Open File Explorer
  • Win + I — Open Settings
  • Win + P — Project to a second screen
  • Win + Shift + S — Snip a screenshot of any area
  • Win + . (period) — Open emoji keyboard
  • Ctrl + Shift + Esc — Open Task Manager directly
  • Alt + F4 on the desktop — Quick shutdown/restart dialog
  • Win + number (1-9) — Open the app pinned at that position in your taskbar

Bonus: Check Your PC Health

Windows 10 has a built-in PC Health Check tool. Search for it in the Start menu. It tells you if your hardware is healthy, whether your PC can run Windows 11, and highlights any performance issues.

For a deeper diagnosis, open Event Viewer (Win + X → Event Viewer) and check the Windows Logs for any repeated errors or warnings that might indicate a failing component.

When Tweaks Aren't Enough

These hacks can significantly improve your Windows 10 experience. But sometimes the issue goes deeper — a failing hard drive, corrupt system files, RAM problems, or malware can make even a well-tuned PC feel sluggish.

If your PC is running slow despite trying these tips, our certified technicians can diagnose and fix the root cause remotely in under 30 minutes. No home visit required — just ₹500 for a full remote support session.