Windows is a powerful ecosystem partly because of the freedom it provides to users. But did you know the Windows OS comes packed with some nifty features you can use without downloading or paying for other apps? Here are 5 underutilized Windows 10 programs that will make your life easier:
1. Snipping tool
Windows 10 Snipping Tool has come a long way and it can be your go-to utility for capturing screenshots on your Windows device. The free form snipping feature allows you to select any irregular shape on your screen and capture it as a screenshot. You can also capture specific windows with the window-snipping feature or capture your entire screen with the full-screen snipping feature.
On top of that, the snipping tool also offers a delay option, which gives you a few seconds to set up your screenshot before it’s captured. This is especially handy when capturing context menus or other pop-ups that disappear quickly. Once you’ve captured your screenshot, you can use the built-in annotation tools to add arrows, highlights, or notes.Â
2. Timeline
The Timeline feature on Windows 10 is a productivity tool that allows you to easily switch between and resume recent activities like open files, websites, and apps for up to 30 days. To access it, press the Windows key + Tab, and you’ll see a list of recent activities organized by date, represented by cards with a preview of the activity and the app it’s associated with. To resume an activity, just click on the card. You can also use the search bar at the top of the Timeline to find specific activities and remove activities by visiting the activity history option under the privacy tab in settings.Â
 3. Power User Menu
The Power User menu in Windows 10 is a quick access menu that provides shortcuts to various system and administrative tools like Command Prompt, Terminal, Device Manager, Disk Management, Event Viewer, Control Panel, File Explorer, Task Manager, System properties, and options to shut down, restart, sign out or switch user account. It can be accessed by pressing the Windows key + X or by right-clicking on the Start button. This is a powerful tool that can help users access and manage the important system and administrative features and speed up their workflows.
4. God Mode
If you thought the power user was powerful, wait till you enter the God Mode. It’s a special folder in Windows 10 that provides quick access to a wide range of powerful settings, all in one place. To enable it, create a new folder and name it “GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}“, press enter, and the folder’s icon will change. When you open it, you’ll find over 200 shortcuts to various system and administrative settings. You can search for specific tools and even drag and drop to the desktop. It’s a great way to access all the settings you need quickly and easily, but it’s important to be cautious when making changes as it could cause OS issues if not done properly.Â
5. Windows Reliability Monitor
The reliability monitor in Windows 10 is a tool that tracks the stability of your system over time and can help you identify and troubleshoot problems that may be causing your computer to crash or become unresponsive. You can find it tucked under the maintenance tab in the security and maintenance in the control panel or by using the search box. The Reliability Monitor window will show a graph of your system stability over time, and you can view specific events by clicking on a date on the graph or by categories. By right clicking an issue you can see the technical details, read the descriptions, and take appropriate actions. Before you run to the service center, you should check this one out.