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For the best experience with Windows 10, you should run through some basic but important tasks. Here's what we recommend doing, whether you're setting up Windows 10 for the first time or reinstalling a fresh copy.

1. Run Windows Update and Configure Update Settings

Even though you just installed Windows 10, some updates are likely pending. You should install these to get the latest security patches for your system.

To do so, open the Settings app (using the Win + I shortcut or the gear icon on the Start menu) and go to Update & Security > Windows Update. On this page, click Check for updates. After a few moments, it will begin to download and install updates, if needed. If there are any that require a restart, you'll see a prompt to do so.

Windows Update Windows 10

Windows Update runs automatically in Windows 10. While this means less manual work on your part, it can also be a pain if it interrupts you. Learn how to manage Windows Update to make it integrate with your workflow.

2. Make Sure Windows Is Activated

It's easy to install Windows 10 without a valid license. If you didn't enter a license key or sign into a Microsoft account that has a digital license during the setup process, you should activate Windows now to access all its functions.

Head to Settings > Update & Security > Activation to check if you've activated Windows yet. If you have, you're all set. If not, you'll either need to sign into your Microsoft account or enter a license key.

Windows 10 Activation Menu

See our full guide to Windows activation to learn more. You can use Windows 10 without activation, but there are a few limitations.

3. Update Your Drivers

update drivers in device manager

Device drivers are special software that allow Windows to properly communicate with your computer's hardware. These are usually provided by hardware manufacturers, but like most software, aren't always perfect. Sometimes they're buggy or don't get updates for compatibility with the latest versions of Windows.

You don't need to keep a close eye on most types of drivers—generally, if they're working, you don't need to risk breaking something by updating them. But when you're first setting up Windows, installing the right drivers is an important step. Windows will install generic drivers for devices like keyboards and mice on its own, but you should know how to install other important drivers that do need semi-regular updates.

See how to find and replace outdated drivers for instructions. If you're wondering what drivers to install after installing Windows 10: prioritize graphics drivers, chipset drivers, and anything for special hardware that you rely on.

4. 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 list for our recommendations in categories like browsers, security, image editing, messaging, and more.

Whether you've just started using Windows 10 or did a full reset, your experience will be a lot better with the right tools at your disposal.

5. 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. Since there's a lot to manage in Windows 10's Settings app, let's focus on a few key recommended changes after a Windows 10 installation.

Adjust Default Windows Apps

After you've installed your favorite apps, you should set them to open files by default. To change the apps that Windows 10 uses for various purposes, perform the following:

  1. Head to Settings > Apps > Default apps.
  2. Select your preferred apps for each category, including Email, Music player, Web browser, and more.
  3. Below that, click on Choose default apps by file type if you'd like to associate various file types, such as PDF, DOCX, and TXT, with specific programs.
  4. For another view, choose Set defaults by app. Here you can pick an app to see which defaults it currently has and which ones it can use.
Windows Change Default Browser List

See our guide to setting defaults in Windows 10 for more help with this.

Disable Unnecessary Startup Items

Many apps set themselves to run at startup, which is a waste of resources and makes your computer take much longer to boot up. After you've installed your desired software, you should make sure that only approved apps run at boot.

To disable unnecessary startup items in Windows 10:

  1. Open the Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, or by right-clicking on the taskbar and choosing Task Manager.
  2. Click More details to switch to the full view, if needed.
  3. Switch to the Startup tab.
  4. Right-click on every app you don't want to start automatically and select Disable to prevent it from launching on startup.
taskmanager windows startup

Optimize Power Plan Settings

Windows 10's power settings allow you to tweak various aspects of the operating system that involve power usage. This is important to help laptop users save battery life, but has useful performance-related settings that apply to desktop users too.

You can tweak your power plan using these steps:

  1. Head to Settings > System > Power & sleep.
  2. On the right side, choose Additional power settings to open the Power Options section of the Control Panel. If you don't see this link on the right, increase the Settings window's horizontal size and it should appear.
  3. You'll see several plans to choose from, including Balanced, Power Saver, and High performance. Select the plan you want, then click Change plan settings to the right to modify it.
  4. Choose the amount of time that passes before the screen turns off and the computer goes to sleep. Then click Change advanced power settings for more options.
  5. While you can review everything here, pay special attention to the settings under the Hard disk, Sleep, Power buttons and lid, Processor power management, and Display categories.
  6. Click OK to save your changes.
windows 10 custom power plan sleep

See how to use Windows power plans to save battery on your laptop to learn more.

Tweak Privacy Settings

Windows 10 collects all sorts of information about how you use the operating system. This helps Microsoft improve its ever-evolving product, but many view it as an invasion of privacy. Thankfully, you can reduce or disable a lot of the telemetry functions.

Follow our guide to disabling telemetry in Windows for help with this.

Enable Night Light

Windows 10 Night Light Options

Windows 10 includes a built-in feature that makes your screen display warmer at night. This helps reduce the blue light that keeps you awake and makes your computer less harsh on your eyes when working late.

You can enable this by visiting Settings > System > Display. Enable the Night light slider and click Night light settings to change how it works. You can adjust the intensity of the effect and set it to run automatically from sunset to sunrise, or during certain hours of your choice.

6. Set Up a Windows Backup Plan

Selecting the Go to Backup and Restore (Windows 7) option in Windows

You wouldn't want to go through all these Windows setup steps only to have your computer ruined by a malware infection or dead hard drive. It's vital to back up your data to protect it from these and other dangers.

Consult our Windows 10 backup guide to learn easy ways to back up your computer without much hassle.

7. Configure Microsoft Defender

Microsoft Defender Quick Scan

Microsoft Defender, the built-in antivirus for Windows 10, is good enough for most people. From the moment you start using Windows 10, it protects your PC from all sorts of threats. But it's smart to review how it runs and make changes to increase your computer's resistance to threats.

See our overview of Microsoft Defender to get the most out of the tool.

8. Personalize Windows 10

Windows 10 Set Wallpaper Slideshow

While it's not as important as the above steps, you should still take some time to customize your desktop after installing Windows 10. It's amazing what a fresh wallpaper, unique mouse cursor, and other small personalization tweaks can do to make your system feel like home.

You have plenty of options for this. For some quick changes, we've shown how to change the look and feel of Windows 10. To get more in-depth, try some of the best tools to customize Windows 10.

Now you don't have to wonder what to do after installing Windows 10. We've looked at the essential things to do with a fresh Windows 10 installation so your system is ready for everyday use. While you might still have to make small tweaks here and there, the initial setup is most of the work.