State of Decay 2 is an addictive zombie apocalypse simulation, but it's not perfect.

Several bugs hinder the overall experience in State of Decay 2 as of writing, but Undead Labs is hard at work to polish up and fix the finished product.

Here are some of the issues we've found, and some of the issues Undead Labs is currently working to fix.

Updated May 23, 2018: Added new bugs discovered by myself and the community. Including invincible zombies and missing UI elements.

Updated May 23, 2018: A new patch is currently being tested on the game's closed technical beta, expect bug fixes and polish soon.

Updated June 3, 2018: A new full reinstall patch has arrived fixing tons of stuff.

Updated June 18, 2018: Undead Labs has issued Patch 1.4 fixing several notable issues, including door states.

Current version: Patch 1.4

• Fixed issue with ladders where players would sometimes not mount the ladders properly during descents and as a result fall off and take damage.
• Fixed some rare instances of odd follower behavior where players would sometimes lose their follower entirely, or the follower would disappear and then teleport to the player later.
• Door state should now always match its visuals. (No more running face first into a door that looks open!)

Bugs we've found on Xbox & PC

• Door open/close states are often inaccurate. (Should be fixed as of June 18, 2018)
• Inventory access is often broken in multiplayer. (Should be fixed as of June 3, 2018)
• Some players are reporting unplayable multiplayer lag, but it could be due to host/client multiplayer infrastructure. (Should be improved as of June 3, 2018)
• Zombies raining from the sky (should be fixed as of May 20, 2018).
• Host facilities don't always load in for clients during multiplayer sessions. (Should be fixed as of June 3, 2018)
• While driving, sometimes cars appear to crash into an invisible wall (although they might actually be clipping into the floor somehow). (Should be fixed as of June 3, 2018)
• Sometimes opening doors and flipping cars can cause you to fall through the floor, although it looks as though Undead Labs accounted for this possibility by teleporting your characters back up to the surface, avoiding perma-death.
• Viewing certain facilities can cause the UI to lock up, specifically the Bell Tower on the Church on the Hill base.
• Sometimes newly built facilities like watchtowers have no floor collision. Rebooting the game can fix.
• The leader mission(s) that follows clearing out all Plague Hearts sometimes doesn't trigger properly, reportedly. (Should be fixed as of June 3, 2018)
• Sometimes the game won't give you the option to cure a Blood Plague victim. Logging out and logging back in can fix it.
• Seen reports of invincible zombies that seem immune to player attacks, but can still deal damage.
• Reports of missing UI elements/garbled text (seen on Xbox One S).
• Reports that the community tab on Xbox One X can cause overheating problems.

Bugs Undead Labs is tracking on Xbox & PC

Here are the bugs Undead Labs is currently tracking on its support site.

• Infinite loading bug (Xbox).
• Stuck on black screen during initial load (PC).
• "Error code 6" PC connectivity issue. Follow the Windows Firewall fixes here as a workaround.

What bugs are you seeing?

Hit the comments below to let us know what bugs and other issues you might have encountered in State of Decay 2, providing as much information as possible. Undead Labs encourages you to email bug reports and support requests to SOD2@Microsoft.com, providing reproduction steps and platform information where possible.

More: State of Decay 2 on Windows Central

You asked for it. Here is Amazon Alexa for your PC.

The app for Amazon Alexa is limited exclusively to PCs sold through HP, Lenovo, and Acer, but you install it to any PC.

As usual, there are some caveats, but for those who want a peek at what Alexa can do you for you on the go, this is what you need to get started.

Amazon Alexa: download, install

Amazon Alexa is currently a single executable file called 'Alexa_App_for_PC_Installer_1_2_9' at 134MB in size.

1. Download Amazon Alexa for PC
2. Install the app and follow prompts.
3. Launch app from Start menu.
4. Log in using your Amazon account.
5. Those outside the U.S. may need to change system language.
6. Optionally enable 'Launch app on sign into this computer' under Alexa settings for auto-start feature.

Installation of the app will automatically grab Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 if your PC does not already have it loaded.

Presumably, newer versions of Alexa will become available. This version we are providing is version 1.2.9.115 (Shopping assistant v1.0.200243.0).

If you would like to show the Alexa app all the time in the Windows 10 taskbar go to Windows Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Select which icons appear on the taskbar and enable Alexa (it is off by default).

It is unclear if the app will auto-update itself or a new installer will have to be provided later.

What works and what doesn't

Unless your PC is officially supported (unlikely) and you have custom firmware for Alexa (also questionable) the feature for Wake word which lets you call Alexa via voice will not work. That means to use Alexa on PC you need to press the blue Alexa button in the app manually.

Other than the 'wake word' limitation everything else behaves just as Amazon had planned it for PC users. Here is a short list of things that you can try with Alexa:

If you already use Microsoft's Cortana around 90 percent of this will be redundant except for shopping on Amazon, using Amazon skills (third-party apps) and playing Amazon Music.

Related reading

• Amazon's Alexa on PC gets off to a rough start and is not that impressive (yet)
• Why 'PC exclusives' like Amazon's Alexa app for Windows are bad for consumers
• Cortana is far from dead as Microsoft plans to make an 'Intelligent OS' with Windows 10

If you use multiple network adapters on your Windows 10 PC, in this guide, we'll show you the steps to prioritize each one in two different ways.

On Windows 10, if you have a device with more than one network adapter (such as Ethernet and Wi-Fi), each interface receives a priority value automatically based on its network metric, which defines the primary connection that your device will use to send and receive networking traffic.

Although, for the most part, Windows 10 does a pretty good job selecting an optimal connection to access the network, sometimes you may need to configure the order of the network adapters manually. For example, if you want to use a Wi-Fi over an Ethernet interface when both adapters are connected to the network.

You could disable those adapters you don't use, but it may not be the best solution as you may need them as backups. Instead, a more straightforward solution is to adjust the interface metric to specify in which order your device should use each network adapter, which you can do using Control Panel and PowerShell.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to change the network adapter priorities to stay connected using your prefered adapter when using multiple interfaces.

• How to change network adapter priorities using Control Panel
• How to change network adapter priorities using PowerShell

How to change network adapter priorities using Control Panel

If you want to change the order in which Windows 10 uses network adapters, do the following:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & Internet.
3. Click on Status.

4. Click the Change Adapter options item.

5. Right-click the network adapter you want to prioritize, and select Properties.

6. Select the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) item.

7. Click the Properties button.

8. In the "General" tab, click the Advanced button.

9. Clear the Automatic metric option.

10. In the "Interface metric" field assign a priority value for the adapter.

    Quick Tip: The lower the metric number means higher priority, and a higher number indicates lower priority.

11. Click the OK button.
12. Click the OK button again.
13. Click the Close button.

Once you've completed the steps, Windows 10 will prioritize the network traffic depending on your configuration.

The only caveat using the Control Panel experience is that depending on your network setup, you may need to adjust the metric for the Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) as well, if that's the protocol you're using. (Usually, you will be using the TCP/IPv4 protocol.)

At any time, you can revert the changes using the same instructions, but on step No. 9, make sure to check the Automatic metric option.

How to change network adapter priorities using PowerShell

Alternatively, you can change network adapters priorities on a device with multiple interfaces using PowerShell with these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Windows PowerShell, right-click the top result a select Run as administrator.

3. Type the following command to identify the current interface metric and interface index number and press Enter:

   Get-NetIPInterface

4. Type the following command to change the priority order of the network adapter and press Enter:

   Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceIndex 21 -InterfaceMetric 10

   In the command, make sure to change the -InterfaceIndex value to reflect the network adapter you want to prioritize and change the -InterfaceMetric value to assign a priority. Also, remember that a lower metric number means higher priority, and a higher metric number means lower priority.

5. Type the following command to see the new metric applied to the network adapter and press Enter:

   Get-NetIPInterface

After completing the steps, Windows 10 will prioritize the network traffic depending on your configuration when multiple network adapters are connected to the network.

At any time, you can go back to the previous behavior allowing Windows 10 to decide the network adapter priority using these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Windows PowerShell, right-click the top result a select Run as administrator.

3. Type the following command to identify the current interface metric and interface index number and press Enter:

   Set-NetIPInterface -InterfaceIndex 21 -AutomaticMetric enabled

   In the command, make sure to change the -InterfaceIndex value with the correct number of the network adapter you want to apply an automatic metric.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

Cross-play is becoming common on Xbox One and Nintendo Switch – here's what you need to know.

Cross-platform multiplayer is one of the latest features on the rise across new releases, with a growing list of titles offering multiplayer between platforms. Allowing players to band together regardless of their console, "cross-play" blurs the lines between ecosystems, making it easier than ever to play with friends.

While Sony policies mean that the PlayStation 4 is often excluded from the cross-play action, the Nintendo Switch has embraced the initiative alongside the Xbox One. Here's everything you need to know about Xbox One and Nintendo Switch cross-play and the growing list of titles with support.

How the Nintendo Switch fits perfectly in this PC gamer's life

How cross-play works on Xbox One and Nintendo Switch

In the past, buying a console has meant being locked into an ecosystem, with games and online services tied down to a single family of devices. However, the lines between platforms have begun to blur, with various titles allowing buyers to play together regardless of the console they own.

Although cross-play is becoming an increasingly popular feature, it's still far from a common implementation in games. Without a standard for multiplayer between consoles, cross-play varies between games and their approach to online features. This means that while cross-play is now more common, the supported platforms and its execution varies from title to title.

With cross-play being developed and implemented at the will of a developer, the steps for using the feature can also drastically vary between titles. While one may require players to set up a dedicated private match to play between systems, another may simply allow players matchmake together, regardless of platform. This often comes down to the nature of the gameplay and what approach a developer deems best for the best experience.

How to use cross-play on Xbox One and Nintendo Switch

While the specific steps behind using cross-play vary from game to game, there are some common prerequisites to meet between titles.

To use cross-play, you'll need a copy of a supported game for both Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. And without any form of cross-platform systems for purchasing titles, like Microsoft's Play Anywhere program for Xbox One and Windows 10, you'll need to buy two copies of each title.

Both consoles will also need online connectivity and multiplayer access. On Xbox One this means an Xbox Live Gold subscription, while on Nintendo Switch, players will need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. For now, the Nintendo Switch Online subscription is offered for free, though a paid rollout is scheduled for later in 2018.

List of cross-play games for Xbox One and Nintendo Switch

Adoption of cross-play is on the rise, though only a small subset of games across Xbox One and Nintendo Switch actually offer this functionality. Of those offering cross-play, many also offer multiplayer between more than just the two platforms, including PC and Mac.

• Rocket League (Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam, Mac, Linux)
• Chess Ultra (Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam)
• Mantis Burn Racing (Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam)
• Pinball FX 3 (Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows 10, Steam)
• Fortnite (Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, iOS, Android (Coming soon))

Several developers have also announced plans to implement cross-platform play between Xbox One and Nintendo Switch in their titles. Among these is Microsoft, with Nintendo Switch cross-play support on track for 2018 and other upcoming multiplayer titles.

• Minecraft (Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows 10, Android, iOS, Windows 10 Mobile, Apple TV, Fire OS, FireTV, Gear VR)
• Crazy Justice (Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam)
• Gunscape (Xbox One, Nintendo Switch)
• Trailblazers (Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam, Mac, Linux)
• Hover (Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam)

Have you used cross-play on any of the aforementioned games? Which games would you like to see with cross-play support? Make sure to drop into the comments section and share your thoughts with us.

• How the Nintendo Switch fits perfectly in this PC gamer's life
• More: Xbox Help

Updated June 18, 2018: Refreshed with the latest details on cross platform multiplayer.

If you don't want to reveal your full name on the sign-in screen of Windows 10, there are three different ways to change your account name.

On Windows 10, when using an account connected to a Microsoft account, you'll notice that your full name always appears on the sign-in screen. Although revealing the user's name in the sign-in screen is usually no a big deal, as it makes the experience more personal, some users may find this feature to be a privacy concern, especially for those using their devices in public.

While you won't find an option to stop showing your full name or use a nickname, a workaround to this limitation is to change your name in your Microsoft account ,which Windows 10 will then download automatically and use to display your account information in the sign-in screen.

In this Windows 10 guide, we walk you through three different ways to change your account name that appears on the sign-in screen, whether you use an account connected to a Microsoft account or a traditional local account, to make it a little more private.

• How to change your sign-in screen name using Settings
• How to change your sign-in local account name using Control Panel

How to change your sign-in screen name using Settings

If you want to change the name displayed on the sign-in screen on Windows 10, you'll need to use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Accounts.
3. Click on Your info.

4. Click the Manage my Microsoft account link.

5. On the left, under your profile image, click the More options menu.

6. Click the Edit profile option.

7. Under the current name, click the Edit name option.

8. Type a new name and last name that is more discrete or completely different. For example, you can use the first six letters of your name and the first two letters of your last name.

9. Click the Save button.

10. Restart your computer.

Once you complete these steps, you'll notice the new name on the sign-in screen. Although you should see the updated information after the first reboot, it can take some time for your device to reflect the new changes.

The only caveat to using this method is that changing your name in your Microsoft account will also change the name and last name that appears on your email account and other cloud services, as well as on all your computers connected with the same Microsoft account.

How to change your sign-in local account name using Control Panel

In the case that you're using a traditional local account that isn't connected to a Microsoft account, you can use Control Panel to change your account name using these steps:

1. Open Control Panel.

2. Click the Change account type link.

3. Select the account you want to modify the name.

4. Click the Change the account name link.

5. Type the new name for the account.

6. Click the Change Name button.

After completing these steps, the sign-in screen will display the new account name you specified.

Changing account name using User Account Manager

Alternatively, you can also use the old User Account Manager to update the account's username and full name using these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Run, and click the top result.
3. Type netplwiz.
4. Click the OK button.
5. Select the account you want to modify.

6. Click the Properties button.

7. Type a username. (Usually, you want to use a short name that uses one word.)

8. In the Full name field, enter the name that you want to see on the sign-in screen.

9. Click the Apply button.
10. Click the OK button.
11. Click the OK button again.

After you complete these steps, the sign-in screen will display the name you specified in the Full name field.

While you can use the same instructions to change the name of an account connected to a Microsoft account, once you sign out and sign back in, the previous information from your Microsoft account will download and apply again to your account. This means that you can only use the above steps with a traditional local account.

Wrapping things up

Although there are multiple methods to change an account name on Windows 10, remember the folder name for your account will continue to use the original name.

You may be able to find different tips online on the steps to update the user folder name, but it's not recommended to use them. If you must change the user folder name as well, it'll be best to start with a brand new account with the settings you want, and then move all your settings and files to the new account.

Do you think Windows 10 should include an option to show a nickname in the sign-in screen when using a Microsoft account? Tell us in the comments.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

Want to use your own set of headphones with the Xbox One rather than a headset? Here's how to make it happen.

You don't have to purchase a sometimes very expensive gaming headset to get the most from your Xbox One audio experience. Especially not if you've already invested in a set of good, sometimes very expensive headphones.

There are some features you'll lose, but ultimately it might well be the way to go for you. Here's everything you need to know.

Connecting your headphones

This part is super simple as long as you're using the more recent versions of the Xbox One controller. These have the 3.5mm headset jack in the bottom, and so to use them all you have to do is plug the headphones into the controller.

If you're using a first-generation Xbox One controller, there is no headset jack on it. As such you'll need to invest in the Stereo Headset Adapter. It connects to the bottom of your controller with your headphones hooking up to the bottom of the adapter.

You also get added handy features like volume adjust, chat/game audio mix adjust and a big old mute button. Even on the later versions of the Xbox One controller (with the headset jack), you can gain a fair bit from using one of these.

The product is no longer sold new, which is understandable, so in most cases, you'll be looking towards getting a used or refurbished item for around $25

See at Amazon

Controlling audio without the adapter

If you don't have inline volume controls, you'll have to control the audio on the console directly. It's not difficult, though with the latest update to the Xbox One dashboard, the audio controls are a little more hidden. Follow these steps:

1. Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide.
2. Scroll all the way to the right to system.
3. Select audio.

You'll now have options for enabling and disabling any microphone attached, adjusting volume, mic monitoring and the mix of game audio to party chat.

Adding a microphone

There are some really easy, really solid ways of adding a microphone to your headphones so you can indulge in a little party chat action on your Xbox One.

One is the Turtle Beach Stream Mic. It's never going to win awards for outright sound quality, but it has one huge selling point: You can plug it directly into the Xbox One console. It's probably still going to be better than any headset microphone, and it's now pretty affordable, too at around $60. For more on that be sure to check out our full review.

Turtle Beach Stream Mic Review

See at Amazon

An alternative is to invest in something like the Antlion Modmic. This is a microphone that you can clip to your headphones and create your own gaming headset. With a splitter to attach the headphones and the microphone, you've then got a full gaming headset plugged into your controller.

The bonus is that you can take the microphone off and then just keep on enjoying your headphones. Not all gaming headsets have a detachable microphone. It's about $50, which isn't cheap, but it's also not bad considering it's also a noise-canceling microphone.

See at Amazon

Getting more advanced

If you want to get really fancy, particularly if you're a streamer, you can use something like Astro's Mixamp to integrate your headphones with your PC, console and even mobile devices audio.

Hook up to the console over optical audio, stick the USB into your PC and connect headphones or a music player like your smartphone over 3.5mm.

The Mixamp gives you control over the mix of audio, for example, your level of game audio to party chat. If you use one of Astro's more expensive headsets you can get the Mixamp thrown in, but it's also available to purchase on its own for about $170.

How to set up the Astro Mixamp with PC and Xbox One

See at Amazon

Updated June 19, 2018: We updated this guide to ensure you have the most up to date information on using your own headphones with Xbox One.

Having issues with your Surface Laptop or just want to go back to Windows 10 S after upgrading to Pro? Here's how to recover it and restore the factory settings.

Microsoft provides Surface customers with recovery images that allow you to reset your Surface as if it was just new out of the box. This requires a USB drive, some time, and an internet connection. If you're planning to sell your Surface Laptop, go back to Windows 10 S after an upgrade to Pro, or are having technical difficulties, recovering the Surface Laptop is recommended. Here's how to do it.

How to reinstall Windows 10 S on Surface Laptop

Download the recovery image

Before we get started, you have to acquire the files necessary for recovery. To do that, you're going to need your Surface Laptop serial number and some time to allow the download to complete. (You can find the 12-digit serial number on the bottom of your Surface Laptop.) The download is around 9GB, so it may take a while depending on your internet connection.

1. Open Microsoft's recovery image download page
2. Select Surface Laptop from the drop-down menu.

3. Enter your Surface Laptop serial number. It is located on the underside of your laptop.

4. Select Download recovery image on the latest version available. The download will take some time depending on your internet connection.

Create a USB recovery drive

Now that you have the necessary files for recovery, you need to set up a USB drive for recovery. We'll be using this USB drive to recover the Surface Laptop. Make sure the USB drive is at least 16GB in size, and that you backed up all the data on it first.

1. Press Start

2. Search for "Create a recovery drive".

3. Deselect Backup system files to the recovery drive.

4. Press Next.

5. Select the USB drive you'll be using as the recovery drive.

6. Press Next.

7. Select Create drive.

Extract recovery files

Once your USB recovery drive is created, you need to transfer all of the recovery files you downloaded earlier.

1. Right click on the downloaded recovery file.

2. Select Extract All.

3. Select Extract. This will create a folder in the same directory as your downloaded recovery file, into which the contents will be extracted.

4. Open the extracted contents folder. It will have a name along the lines of "SurfaceLaptop_BMR_151_8.199.0" (the specific name may vary depending on the latest version available).

5. Copy all the files in the extracted folder into your newly created USB recovery drive.

   You can press CTRL + A to select all of the files in the folder and drag-and-drop them into the drive labeled "RECOVERY" in the left sidebar.

   You may be prompted to replace already existing files in the destination. If so, select "Replace files in destination."

Recover Surface Laptop

Now that you've created the USB recovery drive and loaded all the necessary files onto it, you can finally get to recovering the Surface Laptop. Make sure you backed up all your data first, as this process will remove all your apps, documents and settings.

1. Turn off the Surface Laptop.
2. Insert the USB recovery drive we just created into the USB port on the Surface Laptop.
3. Hold the volume-down button and power button at the same time.
4. When the Surface logo appears, let go of the buttons. A blue screen with language selection options will appear.

5. Select your language and keyboard settings.

6. Select Troubleshoot.

7. Select Recover from a drive.

8. If prompted for a recovery key, select Skip this drive.

9. Select Just remove my files.

   If you're parting with your Surface Laptop, I recommend selecting Fully clean the drive to thoroughly erase your old files.

10. Select Recover. This will restart your Surface Laptop and take some time, but when it's done, Windows 10 S will be back on your Surface Laptop.

That's it. Your Surface Laptop should now be recovered and running Windows 10 S.

You can connect your PSVR to your PC with the help of some third-party software.

Sony's entry into the VR world has been a hit — the head-mounted display is as comfortable as they get, and the library of quality games continues to grow. For some of you, however, PlayStation VR (PSVR) games might not be enough. Thanks to some clever programming by the developers at Odd Sheep Games, you can actually connect your PSVR to your PC. Trinus PSVR is a piece of software that handles all the communication between your PC and PSVR that would normally never happen.

Why would you want to connect your PSVR to anything other than a PS4? If you have a library of Steam games on your PC, whether VR or not, you can play them with Trinus PSVR. If you'd like to watch movies or TV in VR, you can also do so through the PSVR head-mounted display.

If this is something you've always wanted to do, I'm here to show you how to get it all set up.

See PlayStation VR at Amazon

• What you need before you begin
• How to download and install Trinus PSVR
• How to set up your PSVR and PC
• How to set the correct resolution for PSVR
• How to set up Trinus PSVR
• Mouse mode
• Troubleshooting

What you need before you begin

Here's what you need to play Steam games on PSVR:

• Steam account
• SteamVR
• PlayStation VR
• Trinus PSVR

That's pretty much it. Easy right? If you already have a Steam account and a PSVR, you can download and install Trinus PSVR and get started.

The version you download is the free trial — if you enjoy Trinus PSVR, you can buy a license to unlock the full version.

See at Trinus

How to download and install Trinus PSVR

Before you can start playing, you must get going with Trinus PSVR.

1. Launch your favorite web browser from your Start menu, taskbar, or desktop.
2. Navigate to www.trinusvirtualreality.com/psvr/.

3. Click Download Trinus PSVR— you might have to scroll down a bit to find it.

4. Click Run when the file has finished downloading.

5. Click I accept the agreement.

6. Click Next.

7. Click Install.

   When the installation is complete, a driver install window will open.

8. Click Next.

9. Click Finish.

How to set up your PSVR and PC

Before you start playing games, you have to physically set up your PSVR with your PC.

1. Plug an HDMI cable into the PS4 HDMI port on the processing unit.

2. Plug the other end of the HDMI cable into an HDMI port on your PC.

3. Plug a USB to Micro-USB cable into the processing unit.

4. Plug the other end of the USB to Micro-USB cable into a USB port on your PC. Use USB 3.0 if at all possible.

5. Plug the PSVR head-mounted display into the processing unit.

6. Plug the processing unit power cable into a power outlet.

To power on your PSVR, you can hit the power button on the PSVR inline cable remote.

How to set the correct resolution for PSVR

For Trinus PSVR to work properly, you want to make sure your primary monitor is set to 1080p, and you also want to make sure the displays are extended. Power on your PSVR before continuing.

1. Right-click a blank spot on your desktop.

2. Click Display settings.

3. Click the dropdown arrow beneath Multiple displays.

4. Click Extend these displays.

5. Click Advanced display settings.

6. Click the dropdown arrow beneath Resolution.

7. Click 1920 x 1080.

8. Click Apply.

How to set up Trinus PSVR

Now that your PSVR is hooked up to your PC and Trinus PSVR has been downloaded and installed, you can launch it and get started. Before starting these steps, ensure your PSVR is sitting on a flat surface.

1. Right-click Trinus PSVR in the Start menu or desktop.

2. Click Run as Administrator.

3. Click the Install button.

4. Click Install. Trinus should automatically find your Steam folder.

5. Click the Main tab.

6. Click the dropdown arrow next to PSVR Display.

7. Click DISPLAY1.

8. Click the dropdown menu next to PSVR Mode.

9. Click VR. Here you can also choose Cinematic if you'd, say, like to watch a movie or play a regular, 2D game in VR.
10. Click the Assign Key button next to Reset View.

11. Press a key on your keyboard to assign it to reset your view in PSVR.

12. Click the checkbox next to Use Mouse Wheel. This ensures you can adjust your zoom while in game using your mouse wheel.

13. Click Start. Trinus PSVR will now calibrate the headset, so be sure it's on a flat surface.

14. Right-click Steam in the Start menu or desktop.

15. Click Run as Administrator.

16. Click VR.

17. Click Run Room Setup.

18. Click Standing Only.

19. Click Next.

20. Click Calibrate Center.

21. Click Next.

22. Click the height field.
23. Type your height in inches or cm.

24. Click Calibrate Floor.

25. Click Next.

26. Click Done. You'll now see a pleasant SteamVR home in split view on your display.

27. Hit Windows key + Shift + Right arrow on your keyboard to move the headset display over to the PSVR. If you put on your PSVR, you'll be able to see everything just as though you were wearing a Rift or Vive.

You can now launch a SteamVR game and enjoy it in PSVR. To get your keyboard and mouse or controller to work in the game, use the Alt + Tab shortcut on your keyboard to bring up the actual game window on your standard monitor.

Mouse mode

If you'd like to play all of your Steam games in PSVR, you can do so with Mouse mode. Some games, like Crysis 3 and Doom 3, come with built-in side-by-side support that let you play as you normally would in VR, but most games don't have this type of support unless you use something like VorpX.

In the case of standard games, you can still enjoy them in cinematic mode within your PSVR.

1. Click the Main tab at the top of the Trinus PSVR window.

2. Click the dropdown arrow next to PC Mode.

3. Click Mouse.

4. Click the dropdown arrow next to Non-VR.

5. Click None— if the game you're playing is known to have side-by-side support, click Side by Side.

6. Click the dropdown arrow next to PSVR Mode.

7. Click Cinematic.

8. Click Start.

9. Launch a non-VR Steam game.

The same headset window with a split view should be moved over to your PSVR by hitting Windows key + Shift + Right arrow on your keyboard until it leaves your standard monitor.

Instead of leaving the actual game window on your standard monitor, you want to also move it over to the PSVR by hitting Windows key + Shift + Right arrow on your keyboard. Once you've moved it over to the PSVR, you'll see the game appear on a large screen in front of you. You can now enjoy all your non-VR games in cinematic mode in PSVR.

Troubleshooting

Trinus PSVR is a work in progress, so there are understandably a few bugs. Here are a few fixes to some common problems.

Audio problems

Can't hear anything while using PSVR with your PC? Try connecting your headphones to your PC rather than the inline jack on the PSVR cable. Also, ensure that audio output is set correctly in Windows settings. Right-click the speaker icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen to see audio output options.

Tracking and drift problems

When you first click Start in Trinus PSVR, ensure your head-mounted display is placed on a steady surface and is pointing toward the direction you're facing. If you don't have the PSVR on a steady surface when you first launch, it will track all over the place and you'll have a frustrating time trying to get your cursor into the right place.

Adjust the clarity of the PSVR's picture

Looking at a blurry image in VR is not fun at all. If you find that adjusting the physical headset isn't fixing things, Trinus PSVR has an IPD slider built in that allows you to adjust the picture.

1. Launch Trinus PSVR from your Start menu, desktop, or taskbar.
2. Click the Main tab.

3. Click and drag the slider in the IPD section. You'll likely want to half hold the PSVR over your eyes in order to see the changes. Adjust it as you see fit until the picture clears up.

More troubleshooting

The fine people over at the PSVRHack sub-Reddit are more than eager to help you out with other problems you have with Trinus PSVR.

Did you have success with Trinus PSVR? Let us know how it went if you decided to take the plunge!

Updated June 19, 2018: I've refreshed this article to ensure you're still getting the best advice when it comes to Trinus PSVR.

Want to enjoy a SteamVR game inside your Oculus Go? Our guide to using ALVR can help.

Oculus Go, the standalone, wireless headset that's made it possible for more people than ever before to enjoy a quality VR experience, can now be used in tandem with SteamVR. That's right; content that's normally enjoyed on a PC-based VR system, like Windows Mixed Reality (WMR), Oculus Rift, or HTC Vive, can be ported over to the Oculus Go for a wireless VR experience.

How does it all work? I'm here to walk you through the process of getting everything set up.

See Oculus Go at Amazon

What is required for SteamVR games on Oculus Go?

Playing SteamVR games in your Oculus Go headset is made possible thanks to an open-source project called Air Light VR (ALVR). It's available for download on GitHub for free, and it will also work with Samsung's Gear VR and compatible phones, like the Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8+.

See Air Light VR at GitHub

Aside from the VR headset, you'll need a relatively high-end Windows 10 gaming PC with an NVIDIA graphics card (GPU) that supports NVENC technology. Not sure if you have the right GPU? Figure out the exact name of your GPU, and you can cross-reference it with this NVIDIA Wikipedia page to find out. If the codename of your GPU starts with GK, GM, or GP, you should be in the clear. A lot of the NVIDIA 6- and 7-series GPUs will be compatible, and anything newer shouldn't be an issue.

You likewise need a wireless internet connection to stream video to your Oculus Go or Gear VR. It's recommended that your PC use a wired connection back to your router for best performance.

Finally, SteamVR must be installed on your Windows 10 PC. We have a guide to getting SteamVR installed on your PC that you can reference if you run into any issues.

What can you expect from ALVR?

ALVR allows you to stream VR content to your Oculus Go headset. While the Oculus Go motion controller will work in some cases, most VR experiences that require a controller with six degrees of freedom (6DoF) will not work. Games that you can play with a gamepad or that don't require 6DoF, however, should work almost flawlessly. A full list of tested VR experiences that work with ALVR and Oculus Go is available at the ALVR GitHub page.

If you're so inclined, ALVR should also work with Rift games played on SteamVR through Revive. Check out our guide for more information on using Revive.

How to play Oculus Rift games on the HTC Vive

How to install ALVR on your PC

If you have everything that's required to make this happen, you can get ALVR installed on your PC. This first set of steps is to ensure you have the proper C++ redistributable installed on your PC. Follow these instructions:

1. Navigate to the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015 download page at Microsoft's Download Center.
2. Click Download.

3. Click vc_redist.x64.exe.

4. Click Next.

5. Click Run.

6. Click I agree to the license…

7. Click Install. (If you encounter an error, it likely means that it's already installed.)

It's now time to download and install ALVR. Here's how:

1. Navigate to the ALVR releases page at GitHub.
2. Click the ALVR-vX.X ZIP file in the latest version's section.

3. Click Save.

4. Click Open folder when the download is complete.

5. Click Extract.

6. Click Extract all to extract the folder from its compressed state.

7. Click Extract.

8. Double-click the ALVR folder.

9. Double-click the ALVR application to launch it.

How to install the ALVR client on Oculus Go

Now that ALVR is installed on your PC, it's time to get the ALVR client installed on your Oculus Go headset. Whereas you'd normally have to set up an Android Debug Bridge and register as a developer, ALVR has a handy way of getting the Oculus Go app with minimum hassle. Just follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the ALVR key distribution page in your favorite web browser.
2. Click the Get Key button. (You will be shown a key that you can redeem within the Oculus app on your phone.)

3. Launch the Oculus app on your phone. (In this case I'm using Android, but it will also work on iPhone.)

4. Tap Settings.
5. Tap Redeem Code.

6. Type the code that you received from the ALVR key page.

7. Tap Submit.
8. Tap Air Light VR.

9. Tap Install.

How to stream SteamVR content to Oculus Go

Now that you have the ALVR client installed on your PC and on Oculus Go, you can begin streaming content. ALVR should still be running on your PC, but if it's not, launch it before continuing. Then follow these steps:

1. Click Start server.
2. Launch the ALVR client inside your Oculus Go headset. (It will appear as any other app in your Library.)

3. Click Connect.

A connection should be made in a few seconds, and you'll be able to see SteamVR Home inside your Oculus Go. Note that there's not yet streaming sound to your headset, but you can still use another device connected to your PC to output sound.

Right now, SteamVR Home doesn't exactly cooperate with the Oculus Go motion controller, and launching a VR game straight from your PC desktop seems to be the best solution.

Troubleshooting

One immediate issue I noticed was that my head appeared to be on the floor. Luckily, you can apply an offset to take care of height issues:

1. Click the Other tab.

2. Click Apply offset.

3. Type a value into the Y field. In my case, 1.5 seems like a natural height.

4. Click Save.

If you're having issues with the Oculus Go controller button mapping, you can do a bit of customization:

1. Click the Controller tab.

2. Click Enable controller.

3. Click a dropdown menu next to a button.

4. Click an option.

Remember, the Oculus Go controller probably isn't going to work well with most VR experiences that require 6DoF.

If you run into further issues, the ALVR GitHub page is the place to visit. There are some in-depth troubleshooting guides, as well as a forum where you can have your questions answered.

More resources

• Best SteamVR add-on apps
• Best SteamVR games for Windows Mixed Reality

If you're running low on drive space, this guide shows you seven ways to get rid of junk file, apps, and games you don't need to free up space on Windows 10.

While hard drives keep growing in capacity at a pace we've never imagined, we still find ways to fill them up quickly on our Windows 10 devices with tons of pictures, videos, apps, games, and files we download from the web.

If you're running low on space, before rushing for a new drive, you can use tools built into Windows 10 to clean up junk files, apps, and games you never use to optimize the space you already have. Using these tools will not only help to free up space, but it'll also help to improve system performance as it's never recommended to run a hard drive at full capacity.

In this Windows 10 guide, we' walk you through seven quick ways, plus an eighth bonus trick, to free up storage space on your device (in addition to emptying the recycle bin) to make room for more important files and improve performance.

1. Delete junk files using Storage sense
2. Remove temporary files using Disk Cleanup
3. Uninstall apps and games you don't need
4. Free up space storing files in the cloud
5. Disable Hibernation on Windows 10
6. Compress Windows 10 installation to free up space
7. Migrate files, apps, games to an external hard drive
8. Bonus tip: Understanding what's taking space on a hard drive

1. Delete junk files using Storage sense

Storage sense is a rich feature that provides an easy way to quickly delete junk files from a hard drive, such as previous installation and temporary files to free up space to store more critical content and improve system performance.

Deleting junk files using Storage sense

In order to use Storage sense to free up space, do the following:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Storage.

4. Under "Storage sense," click on Change how we free up space automatically link.

5. Check the Delete temporary files that my apps aren't using option.

6. Use the drop-down menus, and select how to delete the recycle bin files and files that you're storing in the Downloads folder. Options available, include:

   • Never.
   • 1 day.
   • 14 days.
   • 30 days.
   • 60 days.

   Quick Tip: If you're looking to delete the most number of files, select 1 day from the drop-down menu.

7. (Optional) Under "Free up space now," you can also select the option to delete the previous installation of Windows 10. However, this option is only available during the first ten days after installing a new feature update.

8. Click the Clean now button.

Once you've completed the steps, Windows 10 will run the maintenance tool immediately to free up space on the hard drive.

Configuring Storage sense

While you can use Storage sense at any time manually, it's recommended to enable the option to run maintenance automatically.

In order to allow Storage sense to run automatically when you're running low on space, do the following:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Storage.
4. Under "Storage sense," click on Change how we free up space automatically link.

5. Use the Run Storage sense drop-down menu, and select one of the following:

   • Every day.
   • Every week.
   • Every month.
   • When Windows decides (recommended).

After completing the steps, Storage sense will run automatically depending on your configuration.

2. Remove temporary files using Disk Cleanup

Disk Cleanup is a tool that has been designed to give users a more granular control to delete unnecessary files from a hard drive, and starting with Windows 10 version 1803 (April 2018 Update), you can remove the same items using Control Panel and Settings app.

Removing temp files using Settings

Starting with the April 2018 Update, you can virtually delete the same items listed in the Disk Cleanup tool using these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Storage.

4. Click the Free up space now link.

5. Check all the items you want to delete, including:

   • Windows upgrade log files
   • System crashed Windows Error Reporting files.
   • Windows Defender Antivirus.
   • Windows Update Cleanup.
   • Thumbnails.
   • Temporary files.
   • Recycle Bin.
   • Temporary Internet Files.
   • Delivery Optimization Files.
   • Previous Windows installation(s).

   Note: The options available will always vary. For instance, if Windows 10 already deleted the previous version, you won't find the "Previous Windows installation(s)" option.

6. Click the Remove files button.

Once you've have completed the steps, Storage sense will delete the files you selected freeing up space for more important files.

Removing temp files using Control Panel

Alternatively, you can also use the Disk Cleanup tool experience using Control Panel to clean up unnecessary files from your device.

Deleting system files

In order to delete temp files using Disk Cleanup, do the following:

1. Open File Explorer.

2. On "This PC," right-click the drive running out of space and select Properties.

3. Click the Disk Cleanup button.

4. Click the Cleanup system files button.

5. Select the files you want to delete to free up space, including:

   • Windows Update Cleanup.
   • Windows upgrade log files.
   • Downloaded Program Files.
   • Temporary Internet Files.
   • System created Windows Error Reporting.
   • Delivery Optimization Files.
   • Recycle Bin.
   • Temporary files.
   • Temporary Windows Installation Files.
   • Previous Windows installation(s).

6. Click the OK button.
7. Click the Delete Files button.

After completing the steps, just like using Storage sense, the temporary files will be removed from your device freeing up additional space.

Deleting System Restore and Shadow Copies

If you have System Restore enabled, and you use Shadow Copies (volume snapshot that allows to backup files even when they're open), you can also delete junk files to reclaim additional storage using these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. On "This PC," right-click the drive running out of space and select Properties.
3. Click the Disk Cleanup button.
4. Click the Cleanup system files button.
5. Click the More options tab.

6. Under "System Restore and Shadow Copies," click the Cleanup button.

7. Click Delete to confirm.

Once you have completed the steps, your device will reclaim several hundred megabytes.

3. Uninstall apps and games you don't need

Uninstalling apps that you don't use, such as those apps that came preinstalled when you purchased your device, or those you installed but never used is another great way to free up space on Windows 10.

In addition, modern games that downloaded into your machine usually can quickly fill up your hard drive, as such you want to keep the number of installed games to the minimum — not just to reclaim storage, but also to improve gaming performance.

In order to uninstall apps and games, do the following:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Apps.
3. Click on Apps & features.

4. Use the Sort by drop-down menu, and select Size to identify the apps and games wasting the most space more quickly.

5. Select the app you want to remove, and click the Uninstall button.

6. Click the Uninstall button again.

After completing the steps, you'll need to repeat the same instructions to remove other apps and games wasting a lot of space on your device.

4. Free up space storing files in the cloud

If you use Microsoft's OneDrive cloud storage service, you can also help to save local storage using the Files On-Demand feature.

OneDrive Files On-Demand is a feature that allows you to access your documents, photos, videos, and music stored in the cloud using File Explorer, but without having to sync them or use a significant amount of local storage.

When the hard drive is running low on space, you can use this space-saving feature to upload and keep your files in the cloud and download them only when you need them.

Enabling OneDrive Files On-Demand

In order to enable OneDrive Files On-Demand, do the following:

1. Click the OneDrive icon in the notification area of the taskbar.

2. Click the menu button, and select Settings.

3. Click on the Settings tab.

4. Under "Files On-Demand," check the Save space and download files as you use them to enable the feature.

5. Click the OK button.

Once you've completed the steps, you can start using Files On-Demand to move files to the OneDrive folder and make them available only online to free up space.

Freeing up space with OneDrive Files On-Demand

You can free up space using Files On-Demand using these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Click on the OneDrive folder from the left pane.
3. Select the files and folder taking the most space.

4. Right-click the selection, and select the Free up space option.

Alongside making previously synced cloud files available with an internet connection, you can free up even more space by moving files from your account's default folders to the OneDrive folder, and then use the same steps to free up space.

You can even take space-saving using Files On-Demand to the next level by syncing all your files stored in the Desktop, Documents, and other account folders without manually having to move them to the OneDrive folder using this guide.

After completing the steps, you'll be able to access your files using File Explorer, but they will appear with a white cloud with blue borders icon, and you'll need an internet connection to open them.

If you're using the free version of OneDrive, you can only store up to 5GB of storage, but you can always sign up for the paid subscription to up the limit up to 1000GB.

5. Disable Hibernation on Windows 10

On Windows 10, Hibernation is a feature that saves the data in memory to the hard drive allowing to power off your device completely without losing your work. Then when your device comes back on, you can pick up just where you left off.

Although Hibernation is a neat feature, depending on your system memory size, it may require several gigabytes of space to store the data loaded in memory into the hiberfil.sys file.

If you're running low on storage and every gigabyte counts, you can disable Hibernation to make room on the hard drive using these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select Run as administrator.

3. Type the following command to turn off Hibernation and press Enter:

   powercfg /hibernate off

While it may be obvious, bear in mind that disabling Hibernation that you'll no longer be able to use the feature, but it's another way to reclaim a few additional gigabytes when you need the space immediately.

At any time, you can use the same instructions to re-enable Hibernation, but on step No. 3, make sure to use the powercfg /hibernate on command.

6. Compress Windows 10 installation to free up space

Compact OS is a command line tool designed to compress the installation and apps files to reduce the overall footprint of Windows 10 making room to store more valuable files.

Typically, Compact OS is a feature reserved for low-end devices with limited storage out-of-the-box, but anyone can use it without any noticeable performance impact, and you can always undo the changes.

Warning: This is a friendly reminder that modifying system files is risky, and it can cause irreversible damage to your installation if you don't do it correctly. It's recommended to make a full backup of your PC before proceeding.

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select Run as administrator.

3. Type the following command to compress the Windows 10 and apps, and press Enter:

   compact.exe /compactOS:always

Once you complete these steps, the Windows 10 installations and built-in apps will compress freeing up around 2GB on average. The process usually takes anywhere between 10 to 20 minutes, and it's not required to restart your computer.

If you no longer need this feature, you can always revert the changes using the same instructions, but on step No. 3, make sure to use this command compact.exe /compactOS:never.

Although anyone can use this feature, you should only consider using Compact OS as your last resort.

7. Migrate files, apps, games to an external hard drive

If you've tried every method, but you're still running low on storage space, it's time to consider getting a new drive.

The easiest way to add more storage to your devices is to connect an external hard drive that you can use to move existing and store future files. Also, you can configure Windows 10 to move Microsoft Store apps and games to the new drive to free up even more space in the system drive.

If you don't know which one to get, in this guide, we help you get the best external hard drive to add extra space to your computer.

Moving existing files on a new location

In order to move existing files to the new storage, connect the external drive to your device, and then follow these steps:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the folder with the content you wish to move.
3. Select the items you wish to relocate.

4. Under "Home" tab, click the Move to button.

5. Select the Choose location option.
6. Select the new drive.

7. Click the Move button.

After completing these steps, you'll have to repeat the same instructions to move other files and folders to the new location.

Saving new files to the new location automatically

It's also possible to configure Windows 10 to save files and install apps to the new location automatically using these steps after connecting the new removable drive:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Storage.

4. Under "More storage settings," click the Change where new content is saved link.

5. Using the drop-down menus, select the location to save files automatically for each content type.

6. Click the Apply button.

After completing the steps, Windows 10 and supported apps will save files to the new location by default.

Moving apps and games to a new hard drive

Windows 10 also allows you to move many Microsoft Store apps and games already on your device to an external storage without having to reinstall them.

In order to move apps and games to another drive, connect the new storage to your device and use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Apps.
3. Click on Apps & features.
4. Select an app or game.
5. Click the Move button.

6. Use the drop-down menu to select the location.

7. Click the Move button again.

Once you've completed the steps, repeat the same instructions to move other apps or games to the new drive.

When using this option, remember that you must keep the external hard drive connected all the time. Otherwise, you won't be able to start the apps or play those games you moved to the new location.

8. Bonus tip: Understanding what's taking space on a hard drive

Although you may already know that the hard drive is running low on storage, you probably still don't know what files are taking the most space, which is valuable information to understand the files you need to clean up. Thankfully, the Windows 10 Storage settings include a disk analyzer tool to check what's taking up space.

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Storage.

4. Under "Local storage," click on the hard drive running low on space.

In the Storage usage page, the tool analyzes how space is being used, giving you a better understanding on the areas that you need to clean up.

You can also click each of the areas to see even more details and additional actions you can take to free up space.

For instance, if you click the System & reserved item, you'll be able to see how much space the installation of Windows 10 is using, as well as how much space virtual memory, hibernation files, and system restore are occupying on the local drive.

If you're noticing that the Apps & games category is taking a lot of space, you can click this item to access the "Apps & features" settings to figure out and remove the apps and games that are using the most space.

Do you know other ways to free up space on Windows 10? Share your tips in the comments.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

Did you know that Microsoft keeps a copy of everything you asked Cortana? In this guide, we'll show you the steps to view and delete your voice data, and the steps to stop sending out this information.

On Windows 10, Cortana is your digital assistant that can help you to tackle an extended range of tasks. Using this feature, you can always say "Hey Cortana" to get quick answers for virtually any question, set reminders, keep track of flight, packages, calendar, and much more.

Although it's a powerful feature, when you enable Cortana, you're also giving it permission to upload a copy of your voice data to the Microsoft servers every time you talk to the assistant on your PC, phone, and Xbox. The reason is that this data helps the recognition engine to learn your speech patterns and ultimately answer your questions more accurately over time.

Microsoft has always been upfront disclosing the data that is collected while using the digital assistant, but if you were not aware of it, and you think this is a privacy concern, you can clear your voice activities and even prevent the company from collecting such information.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to delete the your voice recording data that Microsoft has collected when you talk to Cortana. Also, we'll show you the steps to stop uploading this information to the Microsoft servers.

• How to delete voice data when using Cortana from the Microsoft servers
• How to prevent Microsoft from collecting voice data when using Cortana

How to delete voice data when using Cortana from the Microsoft servers

If you must delete one or all the voice data when using Cortana from the Microsoft servers, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Accounts.
3. Click on Your info.

4. Click the Manage my Microsoft account link.

5. In your Microsoft account online, click the Privacy tab.
6. If prompted, sign-in again using your Microsoft account information.

7. In the "Privacy dashboard" page, click the Activity history tab.

8. Under "Explore your data," click on Voice.

In this section, you'll find a chronological list of every voice recording that has been collected every time you use Cortana on your computer, phone, and Xbox.

If you want to delete all your voice recording data from the Microsoft servers, click the Clear activity option on the top-right corner.

You can also click the play button to review each piece of data and click the Delete option to remove recordings individually.

Once you've completed the steps, you voice data will be removed from the Microsoft servers, but your devices will continue to upload future recording to your Microsoft account.

How to prevent Microsoft from collecting voice data when using Cortana

In the case that you want to prevent Microsoft from collecting your voice data every time you talk to Cortana, you can use these steps to disable the feature:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Privacy.
3. Click on Speech, inking, & typing.

4. Click the Turn off speech services and typing suggestions button.

After completing the steps, your device will no longer send voice data to Microsoft. However, remember that when you disable the Microsoft speech and typing service, you'll no longer be able to talk to Cortana, and the built-in user dictionary will be cleared. However, turning this option off won't affect speech recognition for users depending on this feature, and typing suggestions and handwriting recognition.

Wrapping things up

While many users may consider Microsoft logging voice data as a privacy concern, it's actually a common practise among companies to improve their voice assistant services, including Google Assistant and Amazon's Alexa.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

Using the correct monitor refresh rate can help to improve your viewing experience, and in this guide, we'll show you the steps to adjust this setting in Windows 10.

Refresh rate refers to the number of times per second an image refreshes on the screen — in a process measured in Hertz (Hz). The higher the refresh rate, the better the experience, while lower refresh rate usually results on screen flickering, and it can cause eye strain and headaches.

Typically, a refresh rate of 60Hz is good enough for everyday computing tasks. You'll notice some jitters while moving the mouse on the screen, but it's an optimal rate. If you drop below 60Hz, that's when you'll start experiencing problems.

If you're a gamer, things are a bit different. Although 60Hz should provide a good experience, using a higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz or even 240Hz will offer a much better and smoother gaming experience.

Depending on the monitor, resolution, and graphics card you're using, on Windows 10, it's possible to adjust the refresh rate manually for a sharper and smoother viewing experience.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to change the screen refresh rate on a monitor using the Settings app.

How to set a different screen refresh rate in Windows 10

If you're experiencing monitor issues because of the refresh rate configuration, use these steps to set the most accurate rate:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Click on Display.

4. Click the Advanced display settings link.

5. Click the Display adapter properties for Display 1 link.

   Quick Tip: Alongside resolution, bit depth, and color format, in this page, you can also see the refresh rate currently set on your monitor.

6. Click the Monitor tab.

7. Under "Monitor Settings," use the drop-down menu to select the refresh rate you wish.

8. Click the Apply button.
9. Click the OK button.

Once you've completed the steps, the monitor should start using the new refresh rate that you've applied.

The rates you can select will always depend on the monitor, graphics adapter, and resolution your device is using.

If your display supports a higher refresh rate, but the option is not available, make sure to re-install the latest graphics driver. Also, you can try setting a lower resolution as many times displays can support higher refresh rate but on a lower resolution.

In the case that you're changing the screen refresh rate from 59 to 60 Hertz, but the refresh rate reverts to 59 Hertz, this is an expected behavior, and no additional action is required.

The reason for this behavior is that specific displays will only report 59.94 Hertz, and when this happens, Windows will display two frequencies, including 59Hz and 60Hz for compatibility reasons. However, both 59 to 60 Hertz will set the refresh rate to 59.94 Hertz.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

Display inside your WMR headset won't turn on? We have some potential fixes.

Windows Mixed Reality (WMR), the PC-based VR system, is relatively easy to set up compared to HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, but you might still run into a snag here and there. One issue commonly reported is that the headset doesn't "wake" when it's needed and won't show any sort of picture on the internal display. If you've recently plugged it in or switched ports, a PC restart might take care of the problem. Read on if you're still stuck with a sleeping headset.

See WMR at Microsoft Store

Ensure Windows 10 is up to date

The WMR Portal app is a bit finicky, especially when you start using other software, like SteamVR, with it. If you're not sure if Windows 10 is up to date, it won't hurt to do a quick check and download and install anything outstanding.

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Click Settings.

3. Click Update & Security.

4. Click Windows Update.

5. Click Check for updates.

If there are updates detected, they will now be downloaded and installed. A restart of your PC will be required.

Ensure your graphics card driver is up to date

It's possible that your graphics card (GPU) driver isn't up-to-date and is thus not working properly. NVIDIA and AMD both have apps that make updates easy. To update drivers in GeForce Experience, follow these steps. Note that AMD's Gaming Evolved app has similar steps.

1. Click the Search Windows field in your taskbar.
2. Type GeForce.

3. Click GeForce Experience.

4. Click the Drivers tab at the top of the window.

5. Click either Express installation or Custom installation depending on your preference.

The driver will now be downloaded and installed.

Updating GPU drivers in Windows 10

Verify your video adapter

If a video adapter or hub is involved in the mix and you notice that your headset won't wake up when it should, the problem might be to do with the adapter. Even if you were using the adapter without issue at one time, try removing it, restarting your PC, and trying again without. If the headset works, you'll know it's the adapter.

In other cases, where you haven't had any luck getting the video adapter to work with the headset, you might have a faulty or incompatible adapter. Try using it with a different piece of hardware, and check out our guide to using proper adapters with WMR.

How to connect a WMR headset to your PC using adapters

Remove custom resolutions or refresh rates

As reported by Reddit user fikkityfook, a problem with a WMR headset not waking up had to do with a custom resolution and refresh rate. In this case, using a DisplayPort to HDMI adapter for a standard desktop monitor was interfering somehow with the headset.

Using the same adapter with the headset — and plugging the desktop monitor straight into the PC's HDMI port — seemed to alleviate the problem, but this wasn't an ideal setup.

The main cause of the issue seems to be a custom resolution that was allowing for a 70Hz refresh rate on the PC monitor. This was interfering with the signal to the WMR headset, and once set back at a native resolution and refresh rate, the headset would wake and display properly.

Bottom line: stick with a resolution and refresh rate native to your PC monitor to avoid interference with your WMR headset.

More resources

• How to ensure the best VR performance from your PC
• 5 reasons to buy Windows Mixed Reality and 2 reasons to pass

You can add an option to open Timeline using the context menu from the desktop. Here's how.

On Windows 10, Task View is an experience designed to help you organize apps and create virtual desktops to multitask more efficiently. Using this feature, you can see and quickly switch between your running applications or jump to a different virtual desktop.

Starting with Windows 10 April 2018 Update (version 1803), Task View also gives you access to your Timeline activities, to pick up tasks where you left off on apps you were working in the past — on your computer or other devices, including iOS and Android devices.

While you can access the experience using a dedicated button in the taskbar, you can also add an option to the context menu to open Timeline from the desktop.

In this Windows 10 guide, we walk you through the steps to modify the Registry to add a new context menu option to access your Timeline, part of Task View, and running applications by right-clicking the desktop.

How to add an option to open Windows 10 Timeline using the desktop context menu

If you want to access Timeline using the right-click context menu, use the following steps.

Warning: This is a friendly reminder that editing the Registry is risky, and it can cause irreversible damage to your installation if you don't do it correctly. We recommend making a full backup of your PC before proceeding.

1. Use the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run command.
2. Type regedit, and click OK to open the Registry.

3. Browse the following path:

   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell

   Quick Tip: Alternatively, you can now copy and paste the path in the new Registry's address bar to quickly jump to the key destination.

4. Right-click the shell (folder) key, select New, and click on Key.

5. Name the key Timeline and press Enter.

6. Right-click the newly created key, select New, and click on Key.

7. Name the key command and press Enter.

8. On the right side, double-click the Default string and set the following value:

   explorer shell:::{3080F90E-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257}

9. Click OK.

Once you complete these steps, restart your computer, and you should be able to right-click on the desktop to access Task View, which includes your Timeline activities.

You can now right-click the taskbar, and clear the Show Task View button option to remove the button and free up space to pin another application in the bar.

At any time, you can revert the changes using the same instructions, but on step No. 4, right-click the Timeline key and select the Delete option.

You can also use these steps on Windows 10 version 1709 or earlier releases, but you'll only be able to access Task View, because Timeline is only available on version 1803 and later.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

Want to watch Blu-ray discs on your Windows 10 PC? It's easy when you know how.

DVDs are fairly simple to deal with on Windows 10, but what about Blu-ray? These discs are now the standard for HD video on the physical format, and as more and more of us use our PCs for home entertainment, it's perfectly acceptable to want to play a Blu-ray on it.

But it's not just a case of popping a disc in the drive and putting your feet up. There are paid apps out there that will do the legwork, but you don't have to part ways with your money.

Converting your discs to digital

This isn't for the light-hearted, mostly because it takes such a long time to do and it's easy to make a mistake. But there is a free way to do it using two pieces of software.

MakeMKV and Handbrake have been featured before in our roundup of DVD cloning software, and for good reason. Both are completely free, though MakeMKV is technically still a beta, and they're still very powerful.

Essentially you use MakeMKV to pull the data from the Blu-ray, then run it through Handbrake to compress it down. You can, of course, skip Handbrake, but each file from a Blu-ray will be huge. So unless you have an awful lot of storage on hand, running through Handbrake is a good step to reduce the file size at the expense of outright quality.

Download MakeMKV for WindowsDownload Handbrake for Windows

Apps

You can watch the actual discs on your Windows 10 PC without having to convert them to a digital file. The first option to mention is the good old Swiss Army Knife, VLC. Natively, VLC won't just play your Blu-ray discs, and you need to do some tweaking.

It's not necessarily the best option, but if you're a heavy VLC user already, it's at least an option.

How to watch Blu-Ray discs in VLC

Perhaps a better, also free, method is the Leawo Blu-ray player application. It also supports DVDs, and while you're not paying for it, you're only getting a very basic Blu-ray player. Nevertheless, it's reliable and gets the job done.

Download Leawo Blu-ray player

If you're interested in something a little more feature-filled, there are a number of paid apps out there. One of the better ones is Cyberlink's PowerDVD. The latest version starts around $60 and offers support for 3D Blu-ray as well as regular discs, high frame rate playback, casting and 4K UHD Blu-ray.

Additionally, PowerDVD will also play back directly any of your ISO files from Blu-rays or DVDs, so you've got everything you need under one roof.

See at Amazon

If you've got a good method we didn't talk about here, be sure to drop it into the comments below.

Updated June 26, 2018: We added the latest version of PowerDVD to our roundup.

If you have HEIC image files or H.265 videos, you can use this guide to view them on Windows 10.

High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) is an image and video file container that uses codecs like the High Efficiency Video Codec (HEVC) to significantly improve file compression, while still providing better image quality and additional benefits over older formats, such as JPEG, PNG, and GIF.

If you've never heard of this format, you're forgiven, because it's not until Apple started using HEIF to save photos on its products that the format began to gain popularity. (Google also supports HEIF since the release of Android P.)

Originally, Windows 10 didn't include native support for HEIF, but starting with the April 2018 Update, you can now open photos and videos wrapped in this file container. However, it's not a feature that comes enabled by default. Instead, you need to download and install two extensions to open HEIC images and videos encoded using HEVC (also known as H.265 and MPEG-H Part 2).

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to add support for HEIF to Windows 10, so you no longer have to convert HEIC to JPG anymore to view pictures taken with your iPhone or Android phone.

How to add HEIF support to Windows 10

Without the extensions, the Windows Photos app offers a link to get them from the Microsoft Store, but you'll be directed to a paid bundled extension. However, it's possible to get these packages for free with different Store links. Here's how:

1. Use this Microsoft Store link to get the HEVC extension.

2. Click the Install button.

3. Use this Microsoft Store link to get the HEIF extension.

4. Click the Install button.

While you may think that installing the HEIF codec will be enough to open this file format, you must also install both codecs in order to view images and play videos.

Once you complete these steps, Windows 10 and the Photos app will be able to read and write HEIF files, which are usually found with .heic, .heif, and .avci file extensions.

The only caveat about HEIF is that files using HEVC codecs requires modern hardware, such as Intel 7th Gen Core processors and newer graphics cards. Otherwise, the extension will not work as expected when playing videos.

Also, note that adding support for HEIF to Windows 10 doesn't necessarily mean you'll be able to open images and videos with any app. These extensions has been designed to work with the File Explorer and the Photos and Movies & TV apps.

If you need to remove these codecs, you'll need to uninstall them just like any other application from Settings> Apps> Apps & features.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

Here's a solid gaming PC build that doesn't require a vast budget.

The most important component (aside from the power supply unit (PSU) which essentially powers everything) for PC gamers is the graphics card. This is where we'll spend the most money on our custom build, but it's well worth it especially if you wish to enjoy the latest games on PC. A GTX 1060 or GTX 1070, paired with 16GB of RAM and a decent processor, ensures we have ample power available with little bottlenecking.

Of course, you won't be able to turn all the settings up to "ludicrous" and beyond, but solid frame rates can be achieved when configuring visual quality conservatively.

Build a gaming PC on a budget

Now, time for the build. Here are all the pieces of our puzzle:

Case Phanteks Eclipse Series P400

We opted for the $69.99 P400 by Phanteks to house all the goodies, but if you wish to go cheaper, it's possible to save even more on this build. That said, the company has done a stellar job in keeping costs down for the consumer, while throwing together a sleek-looking case with some handy features.

See at Amazon

CPU AMD Ryzen 3 1200

Do not underestimate the CPU. Yes, for gaming, in most instances the GPU is a better investment, but you aren't only going to game on this PC, right? Also, instead of going for a locked down dual-core, you can enjoy the fruits of AMD's labor with the Ryzen 3 1200. This quad-core CPU isn't expensive but will manage to keep up with the GTX 1060, especially in more demanding titles.

It also comes with the rather good AMD Stealth CPU cooler.

See at Amazon

GPU ZOTAC GTX 1060 (6GB)

ZOTAC makes some excellent-looking GPUs that perform well in-game. The GTX 1060 is a solid 1080p powerhouse that will handle even more demanding titles at full HD resolution (medium to high settings). Should you be looking to go up to 1440p, you will want to look at the GTX 1070 series, but the best part about opting for a more expensive Ryzen 3 CPU is that you shouldn't need to touch anything else when upgrading.

See at Amazon

PSU Corsair 450W B1

Most PSUs from reputable companies tend to be of high quality and are worth the money. And you really shouldn't cut corners when it comes to the power supply. This 450W unit from Corsair is a solid option with a three-year warranty. It's not fully modular, but with the Phanteks P400, it has ample space for effective cable management.

See at Amazon

Motherboard ASUS Prime B350M-A/CSM

Again, with the motherboard, you can choose from various manufacturers and it generally won't matter aside from some features, design, and personal preference. It's best to go for a motherboard with the B350 chipset though as the cheaper A320 doesn't pack overclocking support and other handy features like CrossFire. (The B350 chipset does not support SLI, so you'll need the X370 for that.)

The Prime board by ASUS is a great option.

See at Amazon

RAM Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB

When it comes to RAM at this price point, it's best to go with whatever you like the look off (and is positively rated). Should you come across two options that share the same speed and capacity, take a quick look at the timings, but generally, you'll be fine. We opted for 8GB since that's the baseline recommendation for gaming on Windows 10. Should you find yourself running out of resources, simply pop a second stick into the motherboard.

It's best to start out small and work your way up if you hit a ceiling.

See at Amazon

SSD Corsair Force Series MP500 120GB M.2

This was a tough one, and we had a shortlist that included both this M.2 stick and a Kingston 2.5-inch solid-state drive (SSD). This little unit isn't the quickest M.2 storage on the market, but for $75, you really can't grumble with read and write speeds of 3,000 MB/s and 2,400 MB/s, respectively.

While SSD technology is certainly more affordable than a few years ago, it's still not ideal for storing games. This is why we've only gone with a 120GB stick for the OS and software, with an optional mechanical hard-disk drive (HDD) for gaming.

See at Amazon

HDD Seagate 1TB BarraCuda

This is an optional purchase, simply because you'll be forking out some more pennies for a 500GB SSD at the very least. Games require more space than ever, and nothing comes close to mechanical drives in terms of value. Since we're not relying on this unit for the OS and software, everything will still feel snappy.

And you're only paying just $0.04 per GB, as opposed to $0.50 with the SSD — a notable difference.

See at Amazon

Truly budget friendly?

What do you make of our roundup? Feel as though we could have swapped out a component for a cheaper alternative? Did you recently put together an affordable PC? Let us know in the comments.

Updated June 28, 2018: We updated this guide to include new pricing and swapped out the ZOTAC GTX 1060 AMP! for its more affordable sibling.

Make the taskbar come and go as you desire with ease in Windows 10.

The Windows 10 taskbar is a pretty useful tool, but it's also one you might not want to see on your screen all the time. Whatever the reason, you can make it come and go as you please in Windows 10 with a few simple steps.

This works for both desktop PCs and tablets, and the method is exactly the same.

How to auto-hide Windows 10's taskbar

Just follow these simple steps:

1. Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar. (If you're in tablet mode, hold a finger on the taskbar.)

2. Click taskbar settings.

3. Toggle Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode to on. (You can also do the same for tablet mode.)

The taskbar will now disappear unless you move the mouse to the appropriate area of the screen, when it'll magically just pop back up before your very eyes. On a tablet, you can swipe up from the bottom of the screen at any time to make the taskbar re-appear.

There are a few other taskbar related goodies in here you can experiment with too, such as moving its position on the screen or making the icons much smaller. Many will be happy with the default look, but there are some good options here to customize it to your own tastes.

Updated June 28, 2018: We refreshed this post for the latest Windows 10 April Update.

Here's how to quickly get the all-new Skype app for Windows 10.

The Skype team is at it again, with another attempt at making Skype a great experience on Windows 10. The app has been rewritten using React Native and Microsoft's Universal Windows Platform (UWP).

You can read more about the new Skype app, what's new, and some behind the scenes info here, but if you want the app now and are not a fan of early "Redstone 5" Windows Insider Program builds, here is how to get it officially.

Join the Skype Preview Program to get the app

Microsoft has individual preview programs for many of its apps, including Skype. Users can opt-in to the preview program and download the latest version even if they're not a Windows Insider or on Redstone 5 (which is currently how most users are getting it).

Update: Turns out, you must at least be a part of "Release Preview" for the Insider Program, which is just new apps and drivers but never touches the OS.

Signing up for the program is super easy, as it just a click of a button. Here is what you need to do:

1. Open the Skype UWP app on your Windows 10 PC.
2. Open Settings in the app.

3. Scroll down to Skype App Preview.

4. Push Join preview.

5. Agree to the terms and select Join now.

6. Hit Ok on the dialog screen.

7. Go to the Microsoft Store and check for app updates.
8. The latest version of Skype Preview should download.

On one of our PCs, our app jumped to version 12.x, which is not the latest re-built version. However, when we checked the Microsoft Store for app updates again we immediately saw version 14.25.22.0, which is the one you want. (The current public release that this replaces is 8.25.76.22).

While you usually can leave the Skype Preview Program within the app, so far we have not found a way to do so in this version. Uninstalling it will not revert to the older public release, either. While the app is working well for us, there are some missing features, especially in the My People hub. But for the most part, it should be OK across Windows 10 PCs and laptops, including Windows 10 on ARM.

Let us know what you think about the new app in comments, and don't forget to report bugs and share feedback with the official Feedback Hub (linked in the app's settings) to help improve things.

Thanks, reportered, for the tip!

It's never fun to not have the right amount of RAM for the task at hand.

RAM, or random access memory, is a vital hardware component used by your Windows 10 PC to store temporary data that can be accessed quickly by software, speeding up processes and keeping you from banging your head against the desk in frustration. Essentially, the more RAM you have, the more you can have going on at once.

The amount of RAM you need in your PC depends on what you plan on doing — gaming, for instance, takes a generous amount of RAM, and media editing can take a lot of RAM. Let's find out how much RAM you currently have, what type of RAM is compatible with your system, and how much RAM you should have for specific daily tasks.

• Benefits of upgrading your RAM
• How much RAM do you really need?
• Choosing RAM speeds
• Your PC's RAM configuration
• Best RAM for your PC

Benefits of upgrading your RAM

Let's get one thing straight: adding RAM to your computer is not a process that will magically make everything faster. It will, however, aid your PC in multitasking and performing heavy duties like gaming and multimedia editing. More RAM doesn't make the computer faster, but it will make it harder for it to get bogged down.

If you have a PC with a beefy graphics card (GPU) and fast processor (CPU) but you can't figure out why 17 browser tabs won't simultaneously load without grinding things to a halt, adding RAM will probably help.

If you have an old PC that you want to eke a few more years out of, adding RAM could make the difference between a couple years of frustration and a couple years of fond memories.

How much RAM do you really need?

How much RAM you need in your PC depends heavily on what you use your PC for on a day-to-day basis and on how long you intend to keep the computer. If you're thinking of investing in a completely new machine in the near future, waiting things out might be the best bet.

If you already have a computer you love but want to shift gears into a different daily task that requires better performance, upgrading your RAM as part of the process is a great idea.

Productivity

If you use your Windows 10 computer for word processing, checking emails, browsing the internet, and playing Solitaire, you should have no problem using 4GB of RAM. If you are performing all of these activities at once, however, you might experience a dip in performance.

A lot of budget PCs come with 4GB of RAM as a base option, but if you plan on keeping your machine for several years, opting for 8GB of RAM is the safer bet, even if you only use it for light duties.

Gaming

I'm not talking about Solitaire — heavy PC gaming at acceptable performance levels requires a substantial amount of RAM. Popular esports titles like DOTA 2, CS:GO, and League of Legends will allow you to get away with 4GB, but other popular titles, like Fallout 4, Witcher 3, and DOOM, will need at least 8GB to run properly.

If you're a gamer and want to ensure you have enough RAM for some current titles and future titles, go with at least 16GB. If your budget allows, why not push it up to 32GB?

Related: Best current RAM deals

Virtual reality (VR)

VR is a relatively new medium, at least in its latest incarnation, and it requires a good chunk of RAM to run smoothly. I'm referencing HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Windows Mixed Reality (WMR) here, all of which should have at least 8GB of RAM on the associated PC to run smoothly.

The Vive only recommends 4GB, but, honestly, go with at least 8GB; you have to take into account the games you'll be playing, many of which require a decent amount of RAM to run smoothly.

Game streaming

If you'd like to join the thousands who stream video of themselves playing games or other activities, go with at least 8GB of RAM but consider opting for 16GB or even 32GB depending on the game's requirements. Your PC has to deal with both running the game and streaming video to the internet at the same time.

Need a hand getting your stream set up? We have a guide for that!

See a beginner's guide to Mixer streaming

Video and photo editing

This really depends on your workload. If you're editing a lot of HD video, go for 16GB or more. If you're working with photos and a bit of video thrown in, 8GB should get you through.

Editing apps will work on lower amounts of RAM, but you'll become so frustrated with the poor performance you'll soon start yearning for an upgrade. Don't skimp here.

Choosing RAM speeds

Not only do you need to think about how much RAM you have, you also need to think about the speed of the RAM in your PC. RAM's frequency affects the maximum bandwidth. If you want more data to be moved back and forth at once, you need to go with RAM with a higher frequency. Latency, on the other hand, is how fast your RAM realizes it needs to act when the CPU calls on it.

Column Access Strobes (CAS) latency has increased as the frequency of RAM has increased, but true latency has remained about the same due to a decrease in clock cycle times. That means you can get high-speed DDR4 RAM with about the same true latency as older DDR3 RAM that's only about half the speed.

If you're doing any sort of high-performance task on your PC, opting for a higher frequency — measured in megahertz (MHz) — is the best plan of action.

Your PC's RAM configuration

RAM configurations differ depending mostly on your motherboard. Some motherboards have four dual inline memory module (DIMM) slots for RAM, some have two, some have a lot more. Here's how to see how much RAM you currently have, what type of RAM is compatible with your PC, and how many slots you're currently working with.

How to check your PC's current amount of RAM

This method will simply and quickly tell you how much RAM your PC currently has installed:

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Click System.

3. Verify the Installed memory (RAM) line. (In this case, you can see I have 8GB of RAM installed.)

How to check RAM configuration and compatible RAM using Crucial System Scanner

To take things even further, Crucial System Scanner is a great app that will scan your computer and show you how much total RAM your motherboard and processor can handle, how many slots are available for RAM, and some options for purchasing compatible RAM.

1. Navigate to www.crucial.com/usa/en/systemscanner.
2. Click the checkbox next to Agree to the terms & conditions.

3. Click download the scanner.

4. Click Save. The download will begin.

5. Click Run when the download is complete.

When the scan is complete you will see on the left side of the window a memory section with the number of slots for RAM and the maximum amount of RAM your PC's motherboard can handle. In this case, the motherboard has two slots and can handle up to 32GB of RAM.

You will see on the right side of the window a list of compatible RAM available for purchase from Crucial. This is a clear indicator of what type of RAM your PC uses, and is a great tool for anyone not comfortable with buying RAM on their own. In this case, you can see that my PC is using DDR4 SODIMM RAM.

RAM is available in two common types: DDR3 and DDR4. DDR4 is newer than DDR3 and uses a different pin configuration to fit into your motherboard. For this reason, DDR3 RAM can't go into a motherboard designed for DDR4, and vice versa. Also, "small outline dual inline memory module" (SODIMM) RAM won't fit in a standard RAM slot — it's just too small. If you're using a laptop or an all-in-one PC, chances are you've got SODIMM RAM inside, so keep that in mind when you're buying RAM.

Related: How to install RAM in your desktop or laptop PC

Best RAM for your PC

Once you determined how much RAM you need for your specific PC duties and what type of RAM works with your processor and motherboard, you can start shopping.

If you aren't completely confident when buying RAM, worry not. We've put together an ultimate RAM buyer's guide that should answer any questions you might still have. Plus, check out our roundup of the best DDR4 RAM available now for some great suggestions.

• Ultimate RAM buyer's guide for Windows 10 PC users
• Best DDR4 RAM for your PC
• How to pick the right PC upgrades for you

Updated June 27, 2018: We refreshed this article to ensure you're still getting current information about how much RAM you really need in a PC.