Tutorials

News and interests on the taskbar will begin rolling out to Windows 10 users on April 22, 2021. UPDATE 5/25: News and interests on the taskbar is now available to anyone who installs the KB5003214 update. News and interests on the taskbar provides easy access to information that’s important to you, without the distraction of switching between apps, websites, and other devices. View your location’s current weather conditions directly on your taskbar and hover over the icon to see concise, scannable information from sports and stocks to local news and breaking headlines. The information shown in news and interests is personalized for individual users. Users can customize the content they see, enabling scenarios like the following: Keep an eye on nearby weather and traffic that may impact a commute. To change the location shown for weather and traffic updates, select More options (…) on the Weather or Traffic card, and select Edit Location. Follow a topic related to professional or personal interests. Follow a specific topic related to an industry, job role, or subject to learn more about. To follow a specific topic, select Manage Interests and select or search for a topic. Get personalized updates on stocks. Keep an eye on major market indicators, see top gainers or losers, or create a watch list of stocks to see updates throughout the day. Share, save or see more stories. Select More options (…) on headlines and articles in news and interests on the taskbar to share them with others or save them to read later. Users can also request to see more or fewer stories like the ones shown. In addition, the appearance of news and interests on the taskbar can be customized. Users can choose to right click or long press a blank space on the taskbar and select News and interests to customize. They can choose Show icon and text or, to save taskbar space, select Show icon only. Users can also select Turn off to unpin news and interests. See also: Stay up to date with news and interests | Microsoft Support Personalized content at a glance: Introducing news and interests on the Windows 10 taskbar | Windows Blogs Group configuration: news and interests on the Windows taskbar | Windows IT Pro Blog This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the news and interests icon on the taskbar for your account in Windows 10. The News and interests feature requires the new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser to be installed on your PC. News and interests is only available on primary monitors and where the taskbar is aligned to the bottom of the screen. If you are using a 3rd party firewall, you will need to allow: C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Search_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchApp.exe Known Issue: After installing KB5001391 or later updates, the news and interests button in the Windows taskbar might have blurry text on certain display configurations. Microsoft is working on a resolution and will provide an update in an upcoming release. Option One: Add or Remove News and Interests icon on Taskbar in Taskbar Context Menu Option Two: Add or Remove News and Interests icon on Taskbar using a BAT File EXAMPLE: News and interests on taskbar option1Add or Remove News and Interests icon on Taskbar in Taskbar Context Menu This option will not be available while Tablet Mode is turned on. 1 Right click or press and hold on the taskbar on your main display (if you have more than one display). (see screenshot below) 2 Click/tap on News and interests, and click/tap on either Show icon and text (default), Show icon only, or Turn off (hidden) for what you want. If you selected to Turn off news and interests, the Reduce taskbar updates and Open on hover settings will be disabled and grayed out. option2Add or Remove News and Interests icon on Taskbar using a BAT File The downloadable .bat files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Feeds ShellFeedsTaskbarViewMode DWORD 0 = Show icon and text (default) 1 = Show icon only 2 = Turn off 1 Do step 2 (Show icon and text), step 3 (Show icon only), or step 4 (Hidden) below for what you want. To Show "News and interests" Icon and Text on Taskbar This is the default setting. A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and go to step 7 below. Show_icon_and_text_on_taskbar_for_News_and_interests.bat https://www.windowsq.com/attachments/show_icon_and_text_on_taskbar_for_news_and_interests-bat.2744/?hash=1631c6ff82f895140f33139d5cfb23a8 To Show "News and interests" Icon Only on Taskbar A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and go to step 7 below. Show_icon_only_on_taskbar_for_News_and_interests.bat https://www.windowsq.com/attachments/show_icon_only_on_taskbar_for_news_and_interests-bat.2745/?hash=1631c6ff82f895140f33139d5cfb23a8 To Turn Off "News and interests" Icon on Taskbar A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and go to step 7 below. Hide_icon_on_taskbar_for_News_and_interests.bat https://www.windowsq.com/attachments/hide_icon_on_taskbar_for_news_and_interests-bat.2743/?hash=1631c6ff82f895140f33139d5cfb23a8 option2s77 Save the .bat file to your desktop, and run it. 8 Unblock the downloaded .bat file, and run the .bat file. 9 You will now notice a command prompt quickly opens and closes to make the registry changes, and your screen quickly flicker as the explorer process is restarted to apply. That's it, Shawn Brink How to Turn On or Off Microsoft Edge Web Widget in Windows 10 How to Enable or Disable News and Interests on Taskbar in Windows 10 How to Enable or Disable Reduce Taskbar Updates for News and Interests in Windows 10 How to Enable or Disable Open News and Interests on Hover in Windows 10 How to Change Language of Feed for News and Interests in Windows 10 How to Change Weather Location for News and Interests in Windows 10 How to Add and Remove Information Cards for News and Interests in Windows 10 How to Show Weather Temperature in °C or °F for News and Interests in Windows 10

Changes in Windows 10X are coming to Windows 10 consumer devices in the second half of 2021 with the 21H2 release. One of these changes is to the boot progress animation circle on the Windows 10 boot logo screen. Currently, the boot progress animation shows a Windows 8 like style circle spinning with a dotted line. The new Windows 10X boot progress animation shows a WinUI3 style circle spinning with a solid line. If you would like to have the Windows 10X boot logo progress animation now in Windows 10 instead of waiting for the 21H2 release, you can enable it. This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the Windows 10X boot logo progress circle animation in Windows 10. You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable the Windows 10X boot logo progress animation in Windows 10. This will only work in Windows 10 build 19587 and higher. EXAMPLE: Default Windows 10 boot progress circle animation on boot screen EXAMPLE: Windows 10X boot progress circle animation on boot screen Here's How: The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\BootControl BootProgressAnimation DWORD <delete> = Disable 1 = Enable 1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do. To Enable Windows 10X Boot Logo Progress Circle Animation in Windows 10 A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below. Enable_Windows_10X_boot_progress_logo_animation.reg https://www.windowsq.com/attachments/enable_windows_10x_boot_progress_logo_animation-reg.3071/?hash=df9c53fbe4421abdac1bd63d09ae38fa To Disable Windows 10X Boot Logo Progress Circle Animation in Windows 10 This is the default setting. A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below. Disable_Windows_10X_boot_progress_logo_animation.reg https://www.windowsq.com/attachments/disable_windows_10x_boot_progress_logo_animation-reg.3070/?hash=df9c53fbe4421abdac1bd63d09ae38fa option2s44 Save the .reg file to your desktop. 5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it. 6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge. 7 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like. 8 The next time you restart the computer, you will see the boot logo progress animation you set to use. That's it, Shawn Brink

In Windows, you can set to add a watermark on the bottom right corner of the desktop that displays the currently installed Windows edition, build, and version for easy reference. This tutorial will show you how to add or remove the Windows build and version watermark on the desktop for your account or all users in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. This will not affect a Windows Insider Preview Evaluation copy watermark on the desktop. The edition displayed in the watermark is from the ProductName string value (REG_SZ) in the registry key below. The build number displayed in the watermark is from the BuildLab string value (REG_SZ) in the registry key below. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion Option One: Add or Remove Windows Build and Version Watermark on Desktop for Current User Option Two: Add or Remove Windows Build and Version Watermark on Desktop for All Users EXAMPLE: Windows build and version watermark on desktop option1Add or Remove Windows Build and Version Watermark on Desktop for Current User This option is only available for Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10. If the watermark is added using Option Two, it will override this option one. 1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you want to do. option1s22. To Add Windows Build and Version Watermark on Desktop for Current User A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 4 below. Add_Windows_version_watermark_on_desktop_of_current_user.bat https://www.windowsq.com/attachments/add_windows_version_watermark_on_desktop_of_current_user-bat.2318/?hash=6036348267c5aad97f78cf0a0a2d5d53 (Contents of .bat file for reference) @echo off REG ADD "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /V PaintDesktopVersion /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F taskkill /f /im explorer.exe start explorer.exe option1s33. To Remove Windows Build and Version Watermark on Desktop for Current User A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 4 below. Remove_Windows_version_watermark_on_desktop_of_current_user.bat https://www.windowsq.com/attachments/remove_windows_version_watermark_on_desktop_of_current_user-bat.2320/?hash=6036348267c5aad97f78cf0a0a2d5d53 (Contents of .bat file for reference) @echo off REG ADD "HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop" /V PaintDesktopVersion /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F taskkill /f /im explorer.exe start explorer.exe option1s44 Save the .bat file to your desktop. 5 Unblock the .bat file. 6 Double click/tap on the .bat file to run it. 7 You will now notice a command prompt quickly open and close and your screen flicker as the explorer process is restarted to apply the registry changes. 8 When finished, you can delete the downloaded .bat file if you like. option2Add or Remove Windows Build and Version Watermark on Desktop for All Users You must be signed in as an administrator to use this option. This option is only available for Windows 8 and Windows 10. If a user adds the watermark using Option One, this option two will not remove the watermark for that user. 1 Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you want to do. option2s22. To Add Windows Build and Version Watermark on Desktop for All Users A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 4 below. Add_Windows_version_watermark_on_desktop_of_all_users.bat https://www.windowsq.com/attachments/add_windows_version_watermark_on_desktop_of_all_users-bat.2317/?hash=6036348267c5aad97f78cf0a0a2d5d53 (Contents of .bat file for reference) @echo off REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows" /V DisplayVersion /T REG_DWORD /D 1 /F taskkill /f /im explorer.exe start explorer.exe option2s33. To Remove Windows Build and Version Watermark on Desktop for All Users A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the BAT file below, and go to step 4 below. Remove_Windows_version_watermark_on_desktop_of_all_users.bat https://www.windowsq.com/attachments/remove_windows_version_watermark_on_desktop_of_all_users-bat.2319/?hash=6036348267c5aad97f78cf0a0a2d5d53 (Contents of .bat file for reference) @echo off REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows" /V DisplayVersion /T REG_DWORD /D 0 /F taskkill /f /im explorer.exe start explorer.exe option2s44 Save the .bat file to your desktop. 5 Unblock the .bat file. 6 Right click or press and hold on the downloaded .bat file, and click/tap on Run as administrator. 7 You will now notice a command prompt quickly open and close and your screen flicker as the explorer process is restarted to apply the registry changes. 8 When finished, you can delete the downloaded .bat file if you like. That's it, Shawn Brink

In Windows, you can maximize a window vertically by performing one of the following actions: While the window is active, press the Shift + Windows + Up arrow keys to maximize the window vertically, and press the Shift + Windows + Down arrow keys to restore/minimize the window vertically. Move the pointer to the top or bottom border of a window until the pointer turned into a double arrow, and double click/tap. If you like, you can disable the ability to double-click to maximize windows vertically without affecting being able to use the keyboard shortcut to maximize windows vertically. This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable double-click to maximize windows vertically for your account in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. EXAMPLE: Maximize window vertically Here's How: The downloadable .reg files below will modify the string value in the registry key below. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop SnapSizing string value (REG_SZ) 0 = Disable 1 = Enable 1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do. To Enable Double-Click to Maximize Windows Vertically This is the default setting A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below. Enable_double_click_to_maximize_windows_vertically.reg https://www.windowsq.com/attachments/enable_double_click_to_maximize_windows_vertically-reg.2259/?hash=958c18bab71f0907826070c0398b16e6 To Disable Double-Click to Maximize Windows Vertically A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below. Disable_double_click_to_maximize_windows_vertically.reg https://www.windowsq.com/attachments/disable_double_click_to_maximize_windows_vertically-reg.2258/?hash=958c18bab71f0907826070c0398b16e6 option2s44 Save the .reg file to your desktop. 5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it. 6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge. 7 Sign out and Sign in or restart the computer to apply. 8 You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like. That's it, Shawn Brink How to Turn On or Off Snap Windows in Windows 10 How to Enable or Disable Drag to Snap Windows in Windows 10 How to Maximize and Restore App Window in Windows 10

The text cursor is that blinking line at the end of what you are typing in Windows. The caret timeout is the time in milliseconds that the text cursor will continue to blink before it automatically stops blinking. The default caret timeout is 5000 milliseconds, but you can change this time if wanted. This tutorial will show you how to change the text cursor caret blink timeout for your account in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. EXAMPLE: text cursor blinking in Run (Win+R) dialog Here's How: 1 Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor. 2 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop 3 In the right pane of the Desktop key, double click/tap on the CaretTimeout DWORD value to modify it. (see screenshot above) 4 Select (dot) Decimal, type in how many milliseconds you want for the text cursor blink timeout, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below) The default text cursor blink timeout is 5000 milliseconds. 1000 milliseconds equals 1 second. 5 Close Registry Editor. 6 Either sign out and sign in or restart the computer to apply. That's it, Shawn Brink How to Change Text Cursor Blink Rate in Windows How to Turn On or Off Text Cursor Indicator in Windows 10 How to Change Text Cursor Indicator Size in Windows 10 How to Change Text Cursor Thickness in Windows 10 How to Change Text Cursor Indicator Color in Windows 10 How to Change Mouse Pointers and Change Pointer Color and Size in Windows 10

The mouse hover time is the time in milliseconds that the mouse pointer has to stay hovered over an item before an event happens. For example: Hover pointer over icon on taskbar before thumbnail preview of open window displays. Hover pointer over file, folder, or drive in File Explorer or on desktop to auto select when using Single-click to open an item (point to select). The default mouse hover time is 400 milliseconds, but you can change this time if wanted. This tutorial will show you how to change the mouse hover time for an auto select or open event for your account in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. Here's How: 1 Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit into Run, and click/tap on OK to open Registry Editor. 2 Navigate to the key below in the left pane of Registry Editor. (see screenshot below) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Mouse 3 In the right pane of the Mouse key, double click/tap on the MouseHoverTime string value (REG_SZ) to modify it. (see screenshot above) 4 Type in how many milliseconds you want for the mouse hover time, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below) The default mouse hover time is 400 milliseconds. 1000 milliseconds equals 1 second. 5 Close Registry Editor. 6 Either sign out and sign in or restart the computer to apply. That's it, Shawn Brink How to Open Items with Single-Click or Double-Click in Windows 10 How to Change Delay Time to Show Taskbar Thumbnails in Windows 10 How to Change Menu Show Delay Time in Windows 10