Top 10 Secret Features in Windows 8

Windows 8 is full regarding awesome features andhandy shortcuts, but what you may not know is that it's got a lot regarding handy, lesser-known settings under the hood. Here are 10 regarding Windows 8's best kept secrets.
10. Run Automatic Maintenance at a Schedule

Windows 8 has a new feature that runs automatic maintenance tasks like software updates, security scanning, furthermore other diagnostic tests daily. By default, it runs them at 3AM, regarding if you're using your computer, the next time your computer becomes idle. You can change this time in the Action Center, as well as tell Windows whether you want toward wake your computer up toward perform these tasks. You can also perform the maintenance manually from the Action Center, if you desire.

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9. Customize the Apps in the Search BarFull size

When you start searching from the Start screen, you'll see a list regarding apps under the search bar. Click at one regarding them, furthermore you'll search those same terms in that specific app. What you may not know is that you can tweak this list, removing furthermore adding apps through Windows 8's settings. Bring up the Charms bar (with Win+C), click Settings, furthermore go down toward "Change PC Settings." From there, choose Search from the left sidebar, furthermore turn off the apps you don't want taking up space in this menu.

8. Enable the Hidden "Aero Lite" Theme

When Windows 8 was in the testing phases, it had an additional "Aero Lite" theme that took away some regarding the transparent glass features regarding Windows Aero. However, the final version regarding Windows 8 opted beneficial to a much more basic theme than the testing builds, so Aero Lite no longer shows up—however, you can still find it in the Themes folder at your computer. With a few small tweaks, you can re-enable it in your Personalization preferences. It isn't too different from the default themes, but it does give a slightly different look toward the title button bars furthermore some other small parts regarding the OS.

7. Enable the Secret Start Screen Animation

When you first sign onto Windows 8, you get a very cool flow-y animation regarding all your tiles filling up the screen. After that, though, the Start screen has a much more toned-down animation. If you want toward enable the cooler animation beneficial to every launch regarding the Start screen, you can do so with a simple Registry tweak. You can also customize certain settings beneficial to the animation too, which is pretty cool.

6. Customize More Icons in Windows Explorer

Remember in Windows 7, when you created a library, it had that ugly, nondescript icon? And you had toward go through somecomplicated process toward change it? Well, Windows 8 now lets you customize your Library icons right from its settings. Just right-click at the Library, go toward Properties, furthermore you should see the option toward change the library's icon right at the bottom. Bonus tip: If Windows Explorer's Favorites icon is getting in your way in the sidebar, you can right-click at the sidebar toward hide it (sadly, you can't do the same beneficial to Libraries, Homegroup, or other annoying icons).

5. Create furthermore Name App Groups at the Start Screen Full size

When you first open up the Start screen, you'll notice that some regarding your apps are in their own "groups." You can create your own groups just by dragging an app's tile toward an empty space at the Start screen—it'll create its own group. If you want toward name your groups—say, beneficial to "Work," "Games," furthermore so on—you can do so by clicking the small button in the bottom-right corner regarding the screen furthermore right-clicking at the groups.

4. Take Faster Screenshots Full size

For a long time, Windows had an absurd screenshot shortcut in which you had toward press Print Screen, then open up an app like Paint or the GIMP furthermore paste in your screenshot from the clipboard. Well, no more! Now, if you press Win+Print Screen (or Win+Volume Down at a tablet), Windows will take a screenshot regarding your screen furthermore automatically save it in your Pictures folder as a PNG file. It still isn't as powerful as something like Skitch, but if you only need the occasional screenshot, it's nice toward see a simpler shortcut built in toward the OS.

3. Tweak the Number regarding Rows at the Start Screen

By default, the Start screen fills your monitor up with as many rows regarding tiles as it can fit, up toward 6 rows. If you'd like toward lower that number—maybe you have a particularly cool background, or your groups just aren't that big—you can tweak this number by editing the Registry. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem toward let you pack more tiles onto smaller monitors, but it's a cool little tweak if you want toward give your Start screen a more minimal look.

2. Hide Recent Files from Your Jump ListsFull size

Jump Lists were a great addition in Windows 7 that helped boost your productivity, but their "Recent Items" feature were a possible privacy concern—say, if there were documents or files you didn't want others toward know you had viewed. Windows 8 lets you customize Jump Lists more than Windows 7, giving you the option toward hide recently opened items furthermore recently opened programs. To access the preferences, just right-click at the Taskbar, go toward Properties, furthermore click the Jump Lists tab.

1. Get More Out regarding Your Multiple MonitorsFull size

If you have multiple monitors, you've probably noticed that Windows extends your taskbar across both screens. It does more than just that, though: you can press Win+PgUp toward move your current app toward your left monitor, furthermore Win+PgDn toward move it toward the right monitor. In addition, if you go toward the Desktop Background section regarding your Personalization settings, you can right-click at any individual wallpapers furthermore choose which monitor you'd like it toward show up on. Of course, if you like things the old way, you can also turn off the dual taskbar in Taskbar Properties