When it comes to the PC market, Microsoft Windows rules the roost by a long distance as the entire competition seems to be more or less a one-horse race. Windows’ latest iteration Windows 10 has ticked off most essential boxes, becoming arguably the first choice for both common users and professionals. Microsoft releases new features for Windows 10 in two major cycles. Sadly, most regular Windows 10 users are not familiar with those features. That’s why, to help our readers, we are going to list out the 25 best Windows 10 features that you should know in 2020.

Microsoft updates Windows 10 roughly twice a year. The latest Windows 10 May 2020 update, which happens to be version 2004, is primarily focused on performance improvements and minor refinements. There are quite a few features that are worth taking note of.

  • Limit Download Speed on Windows 10 Updates
  • PowerToys Run
  • Your Phone
  • Change Refresh Rate
  • WSL 2
  • Cloud Download and Reset
  • Cast Windows 10 to Smart TVs
  • Virtual Desktop
  • Display FPS
  • Winget
  • Clipboard History
  • Windows Sandbox
  • Separate Cortana and Search Bar
  • Enhanced PC Search
  • Pause Updates
  • All-New Light Theme
  • Uninstall Default Apps
  • Stream Spotify from Game Bar
  • Log in Without a Password
  • Smarter Task Manager
  • Reserved Storage
  • Automatic Focus Assist
  • Install Fonts Faster
  • Unpin Group from Start
  • Smart Touch Keyboard

List of New Windows 10 Features

1. Limit Download Speed of Windows 10 Updates

We all have been at the receiving end of Windows 10’s infuriating update system. In fact, we also wrote a guide on how to stop Windows 10’s nagging updates, but Microsoft keeps coming up with new workarounds to force updates down the user’s throat. However, after the Windows 10 May 2020 update (20H1), Microsoft has added an option to limit the bandwidth of background Windows update.

You can set a download limit and Windows 10 will not hog your internet bandwidth beyond that point. You can find the option under Windows Settings -> Update and Security -> Delivery Optimization -> Advanced Option -> Download Settings. That’s it. I think for many PC users, this might be the best Windows 10 features to have come up in the last few years.

If you are unaware, PowerToys is a tool developed by Microsoft that brings additional features to Windows 10. The tool does not ship with Windows 10, but you need to install it separately. That said, the tool is tightly integrated with Windows 10 and has some amazing features which you are going to love.

Your Phone is not a new addition to Windows 10, but it’s constantly getting new features after every major update. With the Your Phone app, you can get smartphone notifications, text messages with the ability to reply, messages from WhatsApp and other social media apps, images from your smartphone, and much more.

After the Windows 10 October 2020 update (20H2), you can now change the refresh rate of your display panel. This is going to be a very helpful Windows 10 feature, especially for gamers who generally opt for higher refresh rate panels. You can increase the refresh rate before gaming and reduce it for performing simple Windows tasks.

This way, you will save a lot of battery juice on gaming laptops. So to find the option, open Settings -> System -> Display -> Scroll down and open Advanced Display Settings -> scroll down and you will find the new Refresh Rate section.

Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL 2) is not for everyone, but if you love using Linux software then Windows 10 has got plenty of features for you. After the Windows 10 May 2020 update, Microsoft has officially added WSL 2 on Windows 10. Unlike WSL 1, it comes with a real Linux kernel meaning the subsystem is not being emulated so the performance will be pretty good.

6. Cloud Download and Reset

Cloud Download and Reset is one of my favorite Windows 10 features that has arrived after many years of wait. Now after the Windows 10 May 2020 update, anyone can reset their PC without having to go through the hassle of Windows 10 media creation tool or creating a bootable USB drive. Windows 10 will itself download the latest build and will automatically clean install Windows 10 on your PC.

Many are unaware but you can cast Windows 10 to smart TVs just like Android casting. It works on Android TVs and also some LG, Sony, and Samsung TVs that run their proprietary OS. Windows 10 and the smart TV use Miracast technology to cast the screen seamlessly. We have written a detailed guide on how to cast Windows 10 to smart TVs so go through the tutorial and you will find the feature really helpful.

While Virtual Desktop has been available on Windows 10 for quite some time, now Microsoft has brought the option to rename your virtual desktops. You can rename it to your own preference and make it easier to navigate across various virtual desktops.

Microsoft has added an option to display FPS (frame per second) counter in the Xbox Game Bar. While gaming, you can enable the FPS counter as an overlay window. The best part about this feature is that now you no longer have to rely on third-party apps like FRAPS.

Winget is a cool new feature of Windows 10 operating system. For years, we have been waiting for a native package manager on Windows 10, but finally, Winget is here. It’s a command-line tool that helps you install and remove programs just like the Linux terminal. In just one command, you can install apps without having to go through the installation wizard.

11. Clipboard History

“Cloud Clipboard” has got a couple of pretty neat improvements. You can now save up to 26 most recent items you copied to the history. You can access these items using Windows + V keyboard shortcut. More significantly, it also lets you sync the copied items to other PCs connected with the same Microsoft account.

Specifically aimed at Pro or Enterprise users, Windows Sandbox is a worthy addition to Windows 10. What makes it super handy is the ability to let you test software securely in a completely isolated environment even without setting up a time-consuming virtual machine. With the help of XML configuration files, you can disable network access and even be able to expose specific folders from your main Windows system.

Microsoft had integrated Cortana with the Search Bar to offer more seamless search results. Unfortunately, the implementation didn’t go down well with many users ( me included) as it seemed to mess up the whole thing and made it slower. Thankfully, Microsoft has now separated the core Windows 10 search and Cortana.

Now, when you start typing in the Search Bar, you will see files/applications on your computer and web results. And, Cortana will be responsible for nothing more than voice searches, which appears to be a well-timed change.

One of my favorite features of the latest Windows 10 update is Enhanced searching. At times, I feel the need to search the entire system and not just file libraries and desktop, especially when looking for a file that seems to be missing.

15. Pause Security Updates and Opt-Out of Major Updates

Windows 10 Pro already had the option to pause security updates. With the May 2019 update, Microsoft has decided to roll it out in Windows 10 Home as well. Now, users can pause security updates for seven days up to five times.

While Windows 10’s Dark Theme may still be one of the most sought-after features of Windows 10, the 1903 update has introduced an all-new light theme that gives Windows a clean look and feel.

As much as I have liked using Windows for years, I have never come to terms with the bloatware that eats into plenty of storage space. With the Windows 10 May 2019 update, Microsoft has fulfilled my long wish to a great extent.

And I guess, a lot of Windows users are also going to appreciate the option to uninstall many default apps including 3D Viewer, Calculator, Mail, Calendar, Movies & TV, Paint 3D, Snip & Sketch, Sticky Notes, and Voice Recorder.

Imagine a situation where you are too engrossed with gaming to even spare a few moments to fine-tune your music. Wouldn’t you find it more convenient had there been an option to control your Spotify music right from Game Bar? Well, that’s exactly what the Windows 1903 update has brought to you.

Who wants to remember passwords and enter them time and time again? Though some of the best password managers do make the sign in process smooth sailing, there is always a desire to embrace a life without passwords. If my own experience holds true, I think no one enjoys dealing with passwords.

Though “Task Manager” has always been a highly efficient tool for keeping a track of what’s happening on your PC and nabbing the culprits that may make your computer sluggish, it’s become even smarter now.

21. Reserved Storage

How often have you gone for a software update, only to realize that your system doesn’t have enough space to get the update? Well, it has happened to many of us at some point or the other.

Times when you are creating big projects or designing something amazing, “Focus Assist” becomes really important Now, it’s become even more helpful in letting you fully concentrate on your task by putting random notifications or alerts at bay.

Until now, when you right-clicked on a font file in File Explorer and selected Install, you had to enter an admin credential and the font would be installed for all users. Long story short, the process wasn’t straightforward at all.

24. Unpin Group from Start

Despite being an iconic feature of Windows for several years, the Start menu never had a pristine and clutter-free appearance. However, things seem to have changed for the better. The default Start menu now sports a single column and looks a lot cleaner than ever before.

If you are using Windows tablets, the new predictive feature can go a long way in accelerating your typing on the touch keyboard. Based on your typing style, it will automatically adjust the hit target for the keys and slightly increase the key size of the ones you are likely to touch.

Thus, you will be able to type both faster and more conveniently. Having used Windows phone back in the day, I can tell, for sure, that it’s a pretty good take and can play a vital role in making typing more convenient.

If you see historically then the Start Menu is something that is unique and one of the main features of Windows OS across several versions. Apart from that, currently, I would say the Your Phone app, the new Dark mode, Clipboard History, and a range of great first-party programs like MS Office and Paint have made Windows so popular.

The advantage of using Windows 10 is that you will get unparalleled app support that is nowhere seen in any other desktop platform. Apart from that, Windows 10 has almost become free so consumers don’t need to pay for pricey activation charges.

If you want to use Windows 10 effectively then, first of all, learn the best Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts. It will boost your productivity immeasurably. Apart from that, you should take advantage of Clipboard History, Virtual Desktops, touchpad gestures, and more. You can find more such Windows 10 tips and tricks from our linked guide.

Q. What Cool Things Can Windows 10 Do?

There are endless cool things that you can do on Windows 10. From creating your own keyboard shortcut to running Android on top of Windows, there is no dearth of features on Windows 10. You can control your PC with Google Assistant and use Linux apps within Windows 10 using WSL 2.

If I have to mention one hidden feature of Windows 10 then I would say the ability to defer Windows 10 updates. Using the Group Policy editor, you can defer Windows updates up to 365 days. Other than that, you can use seamless snapping on Windows 10 tablet mode just like Windows 10X.

God Mode on Windows 10 allows you to access key Control Panel and core Windows 10 features in one window. It can be helpful for users who frequently deal with system settings.

Rather than just adding a plethora of new features, Microsoft has put more emphasis on enhancing performance and boosting the security of Windows 10. Though I’m always up for cool features, what I appreciate more is the improved and seamless performance as it plays a significant role in bolstering productivity.