Windows 10 is pretty easy to get started with, but for the best experience, there are some important things to do after installing Windows 10. Doing these takes a bit of time, but sets you up for a smoother time down the road.
Let's look at the first things you should do after installing Windows 10. These are most important when installing it for the first time, but are worth checking after installing a major feature update, too.
1. Run Windows Update and Configure Update Settings
Even though you just installed Windows 10, chances are that some recent updates are pending. You should install these right away to make sure you have the latest features and security patches.
2. Upgrade Your Hardware Drivers
A device driver is a piece of software that interfaces with and controls how a particular device works when connected to your system. In other words, drivers allow Windows to communicate with hardware properly.
Drivers are usually provided by hardware manufacturers, and like most software, aren't always perfect. Sometimes they're buggy or don't see updates for compatibility with the latest versions of Windows.
Keeping drivers updated is important to make sure your hardware runs at optimal performance. Windows will install generic drivers for devices like keyboards and mice on its own, but you should also know how to update other important drivers, such as display drivers.
3. Install Essential Windows Software
Windows 10 comes with basic apps for many purposes, but a lot of the best Windows software isn't pre-installed. We've written a full guide to the Windows software that everyone should install right away.
Take a look at that for our recommendations in categories like browsers, security, image editing, messaging, and more.
4. Change Default Windows Settings
Windows 10's out-of-the-box settings aren't optimal for everyone. They're usable, but you'll probably have a better experience by tweaking them.
There's a lot to manage in Windows 10's Settings app, so let's consider a few key recommended changes after a Windows 10 installation.
5. Set Up a Backup Plan
You wouldn't want to go through all this setup only to have your computer ruined by a virus or dead hard drive. It's vital to back up your data to protect it from these and other dangers.
Consult our guide to backing up and restoring data in Windows 10 to learn everything you need to know, including how backups work, where to store them, how often you should back up data, what software to use, and much more. We've also explained which files you should back up and which to skip.
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