Picking the right RAM for your Intel Core i9-9900K processor isn't as simple as buying the most affordable modules on the market. You'll need some speedy RAM sticks to go alongside this powerful CPU. To help you out, we've rounded up some of the best kits you should consider.

If we were to recommend RAM...

There are plenty of RAM kits out there, but not all of them are fast enough to keep up with the 9900K from Intel. If you partner this processor with some slow modules, you'll suffer from a sub-par performance in games and other software. If you go with our top pick, Corsair's Vengeance LPX 16GB Kit, you'll be able to enjoy the available headroom.

If you have your eyes on more premium components, look no further than the G.SKILL TridentZ kits kit. It's becoming more popular with system builders thanks to its seriously good looks and solid performance.

A few customization tweaks can make the Windows 10 experience more personal, and in this guide, we show you how to accomplish this task.

Windows 10 includes a wide range of settings to customize the appearance to make the desktop and apps look better and reflect your personality.

For example, you can change the desktop background with a custom image or use a theme from the Microsoft Store. You can enable the dark mode or change the color accent for visual elements. You can tweak and organize the Start menu and taskbar, and you can adjust a variety of settings to change the entire look and feel of Windows 10.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to customize the desktop appearance and making the experience more personal whether you work from home or office.

• How to change desktop background on Windows 10
• How to change system colors on Windows 10
• How to customize the Lock screen on Windows 10
• How to change themes on Windows 10
• How to customize the Start menu on Windows 10
• How to customize the taskbar on Windows 10

How to change desktop background on Windows 10

The easiest way to personalize Windows 10 is to change the desktop background with a custom image or collection of pictures.

Changing desktop wallpaper

To change the Windows 10 desktop background, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Background.
4. Using the "Background" drop-down menu, select the Picture option.

5. Click the Browse button to select the new wallpaper image.

6. Using the "Choose a fit" drop-down menu, select the fit that best suits the images:

   • Fill.
   • Fit.
   • Stretch.
   • Center.
   • Span.

If you're using a multi-monitor setup, use these steps to choose a different background for each display.

Setting up a desktop slideshow

To showcase a picture collection on the desktop, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Background.
4. Using the "Background" drop-down menu, select the Slideshow option.
5. Click the Browse button to select the folder with the picture collection.

6. Use the "Change picture every" drop-down menu and select how often images should rotate.

7. (Optional) Turn on the Shuffle toggle switch to show images in random order.

8. Using the "Choose a fit" drop-down menu, select the fit that best suits the images:

   • Fill.
   • Fit.
   • Stretch.
   • Center.
   • Span.

Once you complete these steps, the desktop will display the collection of pictures in the background at the intervals you specified.

How to change system colors on Windows 10

Windows 10 allows you to change the color accent for elements that appear across the experience, including for Start, taskbar, Action Center, title bars, and links in apps and Settings.

Enable dark or light mode

Windows 10 includes two personalization modes. The light mode is the default mode and works well during daytime, and then there's the dark mode that uses a dark color scheme in backgrounds and other parts of the OS and supported apps. Also, it's an option more suited for a low-light environment.

To switch between the light and dark mode, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Colors.

4. Use the "Choose your color" drop-down menu and select the Light or Dark mode.

If you want to go a step further, you can use this guide to configure your computer to switch between the dark and light mode automatically.

Set custom color mode

You can also use a custom color mode on Windows 10 using these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Colors.

4. Use the "Choose your color" drop-down menu and select the Custom option.

5. Use the Choose your default Windows mode options to decide if Start, taskbar, Action Center, and other elements should use the light or dark color mode.
6. Use the Choose your default app mode options to decide if apps should use the light or dark color mode.

After you complete the steps, the color mode will apply depending on your configuration.

If you want to use the original light color mode, you need to select the Dark mode for Windows mode and Light for default app mode.

Control transparency effects

Some elements of Windows 10, such as Start, taskbar, Action Center, and apps include transparency effects with blur and noise textures, and in the Colors page, you can enable or disable these effects.

To enable or disable Windows 10 transparency, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Colors.

4. Turn on or off the Transparency effects toggle switch.

Once you complete the steps, transparency effects will be available according to your selection.

Select color accent

To change the system color on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Colors.

4. Select the color accent you want across Windows 10.

   Quick tip: If you want to use again a previous color, you can use the "Recent colors" list.

5. (Optional) Under the "Choose your accent color" section, check the Automatically pick an accent color from my background option to allow the system to set a color scheme based on the colors of the current wallpaper.

After you complete the steps, buttons, links, system icons, and other elements will switch to the color you specified. If you want to see Start, taskbar, Action center, and other elements to use the same color scheme, you need to enable the options at the bottom of the page.

Create custom accent color

If the color you want isn't on the list, you can create a custom one using these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Colors.

4. Click the Custom color button.

5. Create a custom color using the palette.

6. (Optional) Click the More button to use RGB or HSV codes to create a new color.
7. Click the Done button.

Once you complete the steps, the desktop will use the custom color that you created.

Set accent color for elements

Out of the box, Windows 10 uses the dark and light color scheme for Start, taskbar, Action Center, and File Explorer. You can also use an accent color for these elements if you want to add a little more customization.

To show accent color for Windows 10 elements, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Colors.
4. Use the "Choose your color" drop-down menu and select the Custom option.

5. Use the "Choose your default Windows mode" option and select the Dark option.

6. Under the "Show accent color on the following surfaces" section, check the Start, taskbar, and action center option.

7. Check the Title bars and window borders option.

After you complete the steps, instead of a dark or light color scheme, the Start menu, taskbar, Action Center, and other elements will use the color you selected.

How to customize the Lock screen on Windows 10

You can also customize the Lock screen, which is the screen that slides up every time you need to get to the Sign-in screen.

Set custom image on Lock screen

The lock screen uses "Windows spotlight" as the default option to display different backgrounds every time you sign in to Windows 10, and while this option pulls stunning images from the cloud, you can also set any image you want.

To use a custom image on the Windows 10 Lock screen, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Lock screen.
4. Use the "Background" drop-down menu, and select the Picture option.

5. Click the Browse button.

6. Select the picture you want to use.
7. Click the Choose picture button.
8. (Optional) Turn off the Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen option.

Once you complete the steps, the Lock screen will show the custom image that you selected.

Display slideshow on Lock screen

To show a collection of pictures in the Lock screen, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Lock screen.
4. Use the "Background" drop-down menu, and select the Slideshow option.

5. Click the Add a folder button to locate the folder with the images you want to see.

   Quick tip: You can delete a source by selecting the item from the list and clicking the Remove button.

6. (Optional) Turn off the Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen option.

7. (Optional) Click the Advanced slideshow settings option.

8. Select the slideshow settings:

   • Include Camera Roll folders from this PC and OneDrive.
   • Only use pictures that fit my screen.
   • When my PC is inactive, show lock screen instead of turning off the screen.

9. Use the "Turn off screen after the slideshow has played for" drop-down menu and select when turning off the monitor.

After you complete the steps, every time you power on your device, the Lock screen will show a different image background from the collection.

Control app notifications on Lock screen

Certain apps can display information and status in the Lock screen, and you can control what app you want to see notifications.

To add or remove app notifications in your lock screen, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Lock screen.

4. Under the "Choose one app to show detailed status on the lock screen" section, click the plus (or app icon) button and select an app. (Typically, you want to select Mail or Calendar.)

5. Under the "Choose which apps show quick status on the lock screen" section, click the plus (or app icon) button and select an app.
6. Repeat step No. 5 to show up to six apps with quick status on the lock screen.

Once you complete the steps, the Lock screen will display notifications for apps in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

Disable Sign-in screen background

Windows 10 shows the same lock screen background on the sign-in screen, and you can disable this behavior if you only want to show a solid color background.

To disable the Sign-in screen background, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Lock screen.

4. Turn off the Show lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen toggle switch.

After you complete the steps, the Sign-in screen will display a solid color as the background.

How to change themes on Windows 10

On Windows 10, a theme is a small package containing one or more background images, accent color, and in some cases, sounds, and you can choose from hundreds of them from the Microsoft Store.

To download and install a new theme on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Themes.

4. Click the Get more themes in the Microsoft Store option.

5. Select the theme you want.

6. Click the Get button.

7. Click the Apply button.

8. Click the newly added theme to apply it from the "Themes" page.

Once you complete the steps, the theme will apply and update the background with a collection of images and custom accent color.

How to customize the Start menu on Windows 10

The Start menu is an essential component of Windows 10, as it's the experience where you can find your apps, settings, and files.

There are a number of ways to customize the menu, some of the settings can be customized from Start itself, and some additional options can be configured through the Settings app.

Change Start menu settings

To customize the Start menu with the Settings app, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.

3. Click on Start.

The Start page includes several options you can customize, including:

• Show more tiles on Start — Allows you to add a fourth column of tiles to fit up to 8 (small) tiles in a single row.

• Show app list in Start menu — Disabling this option will remove the all apps list with only access to your pinned Live Tiles. You can continue to access the apps clicking the All apps button on the top-left, or typing a search as you open the menu.

• Show recently added apps — If you're not interested in seeing the "Recently added" list, you can turn off this option.
• Show most used apps — The Start menu lists your more frequently used apps, but you can disable this option if you only want to see all the apps.
• Occasionally show suggestions in Start — You can disable this option to prevent seeing recommendations from the Microsoft Store.

• Use full screen — Enables a Windows 8.1 Start screen-like experience to stretch the menu across the desktop, allowing you to see more pinned tiles without scrolling.

Control folders on Start

To add or remove quick folder access from the Start menu, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Start.

4. Click the Choose which folders appear on Start option.

5. Turn on or off the toggle switches for the items you want to be listed in the Start menu.

Once you complete the steps, the left rail menu will only include access to the folder you specified.

Customize Live Tiles

In addition to the customization options available, you can also personalize the experience from within the menu.

Resizing Start

You can resize the menu vertically and horizontally by stretching the edges outwards using the mouse.

You can also open the menu and use the Ctrl + arrow keys keyboard shortcut to change the height and width.

Working with tiles, folders, and groups

The Start menu provides the ability to drag tiles around, group tiles together in sections, and create folders anywhere on the menu.

To better organize your app tiles, you can create a group by dragging tiles into an empty space. You can even click the header of the group to change the name to anything that makes more sense for the group — and yes, emojis are supported.

You can also create folders, which is another way to group tiles to optimize the Start menu space. You can create a new folder by dragging and dropping a tile on top of another tile. Then dropping more items into the folder will add them to the group.

Live Tiles and folders include support for different sizes, which you can change right-clicking a tile, selecting the Resize menu, and choosing from one of the available sizes, including Small, Medium, Wide, or Large.

If you're not interested in live updates, right-click the tile, and select the More menu, and choose the Turn Live Tile off option. Also, depending on the app, you may see additional options, such as options to pin or unpin the taskbar, run it with administrator privileges, and more.

Windows 7 Start menu style

In the case that you prefer a more classic look, you can always remove all the tiles to end up only with the all apps list view, which is similar to the menu style that was available on Windows 7.

Windows 10 doesn't offer an option to hide the tile section, so you'll have to right-click each tile and select the Unpin from Start option to accomplish the desired look.

How to customize the taskbar on Windows 10

The taskbar is perhaps one of the essential components on Windows 10, and you can customize it in many ways using the Settings app and with options available within the experience.

Change taskbar settings

To change basic taskbar settings on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.

3. Click on Taskbar.

In the Taskbar page, you can change many basic settings, including:

• Lock the taskbar — When enabled, you can't move or resize the taskbar. If disabled, you can click and drag the taskbar to any side of the screen, and you drag the edge of the bar to change the height.
• Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode — If enabled, the bar will stay hidden, unless you're actively interacting with it in normal mode.
• Automatically hide the taskbar in tablet mode — If enabled, the bar will stay hidden, unless you're actively interacting with it in tablet mode.
• Use small taskbar buttons — Allows you to use smaller buttons to reduce the footprint of the taskbar.
• Show badges on taskbar buttons — Apps in the taskbar can show status notifications, and this option lets you disable or enable the feature.

Change taskbar location

Although you can change the location of the taskbar by just dragging it around with the mouse, this page also includes a drop-down menu to relocate the bar anywhere you like.

To change the taskbar location, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Taskbar.

4. Use the Taskbar location on screen drop-down menu and select the location:

   • Left.
   • Top.
   • Right.
   • Bottom.

After you complete the steps, the taskbar will relocate to the side of the screen you selected.

Customize taskbar visuals

The taskbar also lets you combine buttons in three different ways, including always combine and hide their labels (default), show labels and combine buttons only when the taskbar is full, and never combine and show buttons labels.

To combine the taskbar buttons, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Taskbar.

4. Use the Combine taskbar buttons drop-down menu and select the best option for you:

   • Always, hide labels.
   • When taskbar is full.
   • Never.

Once you complete the steps, the taskbar the changes will apply accordingly.

Customize notification area

The bottom-right corner of the taskbar is where the notification area is located, and it usually gets clutter with system and app icons. However, you can customize it to show only the icons you need using these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Taskbar.

4. Under the "Notification area" section, click the Select which icons appear on the taskbar link.

5. Turn on the toggle switch for each icon you want to appear in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

   Quick tip: There's also a toggle switch to alwas show all icons in the notification area, but it'll clutter the taskbar reducing the space to pin apps.

6. Under the "Notification area" section, click the Turn system icons on or off link.

7. Turn on the toggle switch for each system icons (such as Clock, Volume, and Network) that will appear in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

After you complete these steps, only the icons you need will appear in the notification area.

Customize taskbar for multiple displays

If you have a multi-monitor setup, the Taskbar page also includes additional settings to show the bar on all displays, choose where apps button appear, and combine buttons on other taskbars.

To customize the taskbar for multiple displays, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Taskbar.

4. Under the "Multiple displays" section, turn on the Show taskbar on all displays toggle switch.

5. (Optional) Use the Show taskbar button on the drop-down menu and select in which displays the buttons should appear:

   • All taskbars.
   • Main taskbar and taskbar where window is open.
   • Taskbar where window is open.

6. (Optional) Use the Combine buttons other taskbars drop-down menu and select the best option for you:

   • Always, hide labels.
   • When taskbar is full.
   • Never.

Once you complete the steps, the taskbar will display on all the monitors according to your settings selection.

Disable My People

My People is a new experience that makes it easier to connect with people you know, but it hasn't gained popularity, and now, it's a deprecated feature.

If you have My People enabled, you can disable it using these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Click on Taskbar.

4. Under "People," turn off the Show contacts on the taskbar toggle switch.

After you complete the steps, My People will no longer be available in the taskbar.

Optimize taskbar space

Along with the customization options available through the Settings app, you can change a few other options from the taskbar itself.

For instance, if you don't actively use the search box, you can make it smaller or remove the box to create more space to pin additional apps.

To remove the search box, you can right-click the taskbar, select Search, click the Hidden option, or select the Show search box option.

Using the same taskbar context menu, you can remove the Task View, People, and other buttons, wasting valuable space in the taskbar.

You can also check this guide for more details on how to fully optimize the space on the taskbar.

While the default settings should be more than adequate for most users, Windows 10 offers many settings to make the experience more personal without having to resource to third-party tools or hacks.

We're focusing this guide on personalizing the desktop with settings that would fit more users, but it's worth noting that there are many other ways to customize Windows 10.

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

Installing Plex on the ASUSTOR AS6508T is relatively straightforward, thanks in part to how easy the ADM software is to use. It's possible to get Plex Media Server up and running in less than a minute, and this guide will show you exactly how to go about it.

Products used in this guide

• Serious NAS: ASUSTOR AS6508T ($1,097 at Newegg)
• Manage your media: Plex Media Server (Free at Plex)

How to install Plex Media Server

1. Install your drives and configure the NAS for first-time use.
2. Log into ADM using your favorite browser.

3. Open up App Central.

4. Search for "Plex".
5. Hit Install.
6. Launch Plex using the newly created shortcut.

Configuring your new server

Launching Plex Media Server on the AS6508T for the first time will open up the install wizard. This will run you through setting up libraries and remote access to the server. It's all self-explanatory and easy to follow. We recommend you create a Plex account to enjoy all the benefits of running the media server on your NAS.

Ultimate Plex beginner's guide

Plex is one of those services that has been around for some time. Many of us might have passed it over for some reason, be it a lack of understanding of what it does, thinking it couldn't possibly be useful to you, or something else entirely. The truth is, Plex could be just what you're looking for to help you manage your media collection.

How to get started with Plex

Once Plex has been installed with libraries configured for photos, music, movies, TV shows, and more, you'll be able to stream from the ASUSTOR AS6508T to all connected hardware in the home or office. The Intel CPU is good enough to handle the transcoding of 1080p movies, but you may struggle with 4K, mainly if more than one person uses the NAS simultaneously.

ASUSTOR AS6508T

$1,097 at Newegg

The ASUSTOR AS6508T is an 8-bay NAS with upgradable RAM, M.2 SSD slots, an Intel processor, and a built-in LCD panel. It's a killer mid-tier NAS for the home or small office.

Achieve greatness in Minecraft Dungeons.

Minecraft Dungeons is finally here, and that means it's time to suit up and obtain that gold! If you're one of the thousands of dedicated achievements hunters, Minecraft Dungeons is a fun game with some easy achievements and simple directions for how to complete them. Still, some of the more valuable achievements require hours of work, meaning you'll have to earn them with sweat, blood, tears, and (most importantly) time.

Beware, there may be potential spoilers in this article!

Minecraft Dungeons has 24 achievements for a combined value of 1,000 gold on Xbox One and Windows 10.

• The full list of achievements
• How to earn the hardest achievements
  • Medium difficulty achievements
  • Hard difficulty achievements
  • Very hard difficulty achievements

Not your average Minecraft

Minecraft Dungeons

$20 at Best Buy (Xbox One)$30 at Best Buy (Xbox One Hero Edition)$20 at Best Buy (Windows)

Minecraft grows up and reaches out.

Minecraft Dungeons is the next saga in Minecraft's story, and it looks like Mojang and Microsoft are hitting another one out of the park. Minecraft Dungeons combines the familiar world we all grew up on with an injection of Diablo, a whole lot of fun. Available on every platform you're on, for a ridiculously attractive price, what's not to love?

The full list of achievements in Minecraft Dungeons

All of the achievements in Minecraft Dungeons can be earned simply by playing through the game, so there's no secrets or tricks to get the last bit of gold out of the game. That being said, some of the game's numerous achievements range from hard to very hard to get and require a lot of preparation and patience. To get to 100% completion of the game, you'll need to have intimate knowledge of all the weapons, armor, unique gear, mobs, and artifacts.

Alternatively, you can just play through the game and quite easily earn several hundred gold just by finishing the game, and enjoy hours of action-packed content and looting-based fun that Minecraft Dungeons has to offer.

Without further ado, here are all the achievements in Minecraft Dungeons:

Name		Description	Gold value	Difficulty
Life of the Party		Revive a downed friend 20 times	50G	Medium
Wooden Sword		Defeat 50 mobs	10G	Easy
Diamond Sword		Defeat 2,500 mobs	30G	Medium
Passive Aggressive		Defeat 50 passive mobs	10G	Easy
Break the Spell		Defeat 50 enchanted mobs	30G	Medium
Scrappy Scout		Reach Level 10	10G	Easy
Apprentice Adventurer		Reach Level 25	30G	Medium
Expert Explorer		Reach Level 50	100G	Hard
Fancy That!		Find and open your first 'fancy' treasure chest	10G	Easy
More For Me		Open 100 treasure chests	30G	Medium
Cha-Ching!		Collect a total of 1,000 emeralds	30G	Easy
Oooh! Shiny!		Collect a total of 5,000 emeralds	100G	Medium
Om Nom Nom		Eat 200 food items	10G	Easy
Happy Camper		Complete Squid Cost and set up camp	10G	Easy
Out of the Woods		Complete Creeper Woods	10G	Easy
The Plot Thickens		Complete Pumpkin Pastures and Soggy Swamp	20G	Medium
Built On Sand, Set in Stone		Complete Redstone Mines and Cacti Canyon	50 G	Medium
High and Dry		Complete Desert Temple, Fiery Forge, and Highblock Halls	80G	Hard
Saved the Overworld		Defeat the Arch-Illager at the Obsidian Pinnacle	100G	Hard
High Treason		Defeat the Arch-Illager on Apocalypse difficulty	100G	Very hard
Blast Radius		Kill any 10 mobs at once with TNT	30G	Easy
Maxed Out and Geared Up		Equp a gear set consisting of fully enchanted items (3 enchantment slots upgraded to level 3).	100G	Hard
Worked Like a Charm		Enchant an item and upgrade the enchantment to Tier 3	20G	Medium
A Friend in Need		Use artifacts to summon the Wolf, Llama, and Iron Golem allies at least once each	30G	Medium

How to earn the hardest achievements in Minecraft Dungeons

While most of Minecraft Dungeons' achievements require nothing more than enjoying all the game has to offer, there are a few that require further explanation. Fortunately, you have us here to do all the legwork, and leave you with all the solutions. We're hard at work compiling all of the answers into handy guides, which we'll put here for your convenience.

Here are some of the hardest achievements to earn in Minecraft Dungeons, and how to earn them:

Medium difficulty

Life of the Party: This achievement needs you to be playing with friends. Whenever a friend or ally is knocked down in combat, you'll have precious moments to revive them and bring them back into the fold. You'll need to do this twenty times to earn this achievement, so better read up on how to play with your friends and family. Minecraft Dungeons will also support cross-play in a future update, further increasing your multiplayer pool.

Diamond Sword: The only prerequisite to earn this achievement is the merciless slaughter of hostile mobs. Playing through the game will inch you closer to this achievement, but getting all the way to 2,500 may require more than one playthrough or replays of older levels, including at higher difficulties, which increases the number of hostile mobs you can come across.

Break the Spell: Enchanters are illager-type hostile mobs that have no attacks of their own, but will make surrounding mobs significantly more dangerous by increasing their aggressiveness, health, and attack power. Earning this achievement shouldn't take too long (if you refrain from killing enchanters immediately), but can be difficult if you're not powerful enough. Best make sure your gear is as enchanted as possible.

Apprentice Adventurer: Every mob you kill, boss you defeat, and level you complete nets you some XP. You'll need quite a bit to reach Level 25, which is the requirement to earn this particular achievement. You'll level up through playing the game, but you can read our guide on leveling up to get some more tips, like replaying older levels at higher difficulties. Eventually, you'll reach your goal!

More For Me: Scattered throughout the many levels in Minecraft Dungeons are hidden secret (and not-so-secret) chests that contain valuable loot and emeralds. Finding these chests requires diligence, patience, and just a little bit of luck. Still, fortunately we have all the tips and tricks you need, including everything to know about piggy banks, which are akin to treasure goblins from Diablo.

Oooh! Shiny!:Emeralds is the currency used in Minecraft Dungeons for buying better equipment, important for achieving the highest level of power you can. Obtaining 5,000 emeralds, however, takes quite a bit of time. Fortunately, that's all it takes. Replay older levels, find hidden chests, and salvage old gear to accelerate the process. Besides, earning emeralds only helps you in the long run.

The Plot Thickens: Completing "the Plot Thickens" just means completing the third and fourth levels in the game, Pumpkin Pastures and Soggy Swamp. The reason this achievement earns the "medium difficulty" tag is that these levels are when the first bosses are introduced to the game. The first is a mini-boss known as an evoker, which we already have a guide on defeating. The other will have to wait for us to get our hands on it!

Built On Sand, Set in Stone: This achievement continues through the story, requiring you to take on increasingly difficult mobs, challenges, and bosses. The farther you get, the more important it is to check your gear and artifacts to make sure you're as powerful as you can be. We'll update this section the moment we have more comprehensive guides for taking on these bosses.

Worked Like a Charm: This achievement is a little out of the way if you're not certain what to do, but you should be able to do this by the end of a playthrough if you focus. Enchanting gear in Minecraft Dungeons requires leveling up and gaining enchanting points, which means playing through the game to earn XP. Each enchantment type has three tiers to unlock, which each successive tier requiring more enchanting points.

A Friend in Need: Minecraft Dungeons features three different companions that will aid you in battle in different ways. The three companions are the wolf, iron golem, and llama. Each companion has a unique artifact that's required to summon them, after which they'll do whatever they need to do. This achievement is actually very easy to finish, the hard part is simply finding the artifacts necessary for each companion, and then using them.

Hard difficulty

Expert Explorer: The "Expert Explorer" achievements takes the difficulty of the "Apprentice Adventurer" achievement and more than doubles it, requiring you to reach player Level 50. At that point, you should be extremely powerful, but you'll also need to severely up the power of your opponents to continue to gain enough XP to be worth the hassle. This means replaying levels at higher difficulties, and making sure your gear is as good as possible with enchantments.

High and Dry: The first story-based achievement that earns the "hard difficulty" tag, if only because in the three levels you need to complete for this achievement, you'll face a full boss. This ends up being major challenge after major challenge leading up to the final boss. This is the perfect time to replay older levels and earn better gear to find the best possible build that suits your playstyle. No holds barred from here on out.

Saved the Overworld: After all this time, you're finally here: facing the intimidating Arch-Illager as your final opponent in Minecraft Dungeons. This means you need to best possible set-up with the best possible enchantments at the highest level you can achieve. The Arch-Illager is an absolutely insane final boss, and will definitely leave an impression on your memory. We'll update this section when we have a guide written up because there's a good chance you'll need the help.

Maxed Out and Geared Up: This is one of the harder achievements in Minecraft Dungeons, if only because it's time-consuming to accomplish. Having fully maxed out gear is actually incredibly useful, and significantly increases your overall power and ability in the game. Doing this just means replaying older levels to gain XP and earn nicer gear through looting, carefully selecting which weapon, armor, or unique gear you want to power up, then investing the enchanting points earned through levelling up. You'll need a lot to max out a piece of gear fully, and not every gear can do it.

Very hard difficulty

High Treason: This is the only achievement in Minecraft Dungeons that we felt deserved the "very hard difficulty" tag, and that's only because we felt "impossible difficulty" was a little intimidating. This is the hardest achievement to earn by a considerable margin, if only because it requires playing through the game multiple times to even unlock the difficulty necessary. Then it's an uphill battle to move through the game and defeat the Arch-Illager at his most powerful.

If you're going to attempt to tackle this harrowing accomplishment, you'll need to pull out all of the stops. This means studying all of the weapons, armor, and unique gear to find the best possible loadout for your playstyle; then replay older levels to earn emeralds and increase your chances of actually obtaining the upgraded gear through buying or looting; then carefully enchant all of your gear with the best possible enchantments; and round it all off with a killer combination of artifacts.

Then, and only then, can you attempt this. And even then, it'll be difficult beyond belief.

Dungeon crawler, gold digger

Overall, Minecraft Dungeons has a great mix of achievements for players to earn. Most of them are gained just by playing the game, and those who are more determined to gain bragging rights can put in the extra time to tackle the most difficult achievements, like defeating the game's final boss on the hardest difficulty (which requires completing the game multiple times and awesome gear). No matter who you are, there's a lot of stuff to do.

Not your average Minecraft

Minecraft Dungeons

$20 at Best Buy (Xbox One)$30 at Best Buy (Xbox One Hero Edition)$20 at Best Buy (Windows)

Minecraft grows up and reaches out.

Minecraft Dungeons is the next saga in Minecraft's story, and it looks like Mojang and Microsoft are hitting another one out of the park. Minecraft Dungeons combines the familiar world we all grew up on with an injection of Diablo, a whole lot of fun. Available on every platform you're on, for a ridiculously attractive price, what's not to love?

If you need to rename a printer, in this guide, we'll show you four ways to accomplish this task on Windows 10.

On Windows 10, when you add a new printer, the installation process assigns a default name based on the manufacture name, series, and model number. Although this information should be descriptive enough to identify the printer, there are still plenty of reasons to change the name of the device to something different.

For example, if you print to multiple (of the same) printers in different locations, you may want to update the name to identify the device better. You're a network administrator, and you need to comply with your organization device naming convention policy. You recently installed a new printer with a different driver to make it work on Windows 10, and the printer now shows the wrong name, or you don't like the default name, and you want to use something different.

Whatever the reason it might be, Windows 10 includes multiple ways to rename a printer using the Settings app, Control Panel, PowerShell, and even Command Prompt.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the different ways you can change the name of a printer installed on your device.

• How to rename printer using Settings
• How to rename printer using Control Panel
• How to rename printer using PowerShell
• How to rename printer using Command Prompt

How to rename printer using Settings

To rename a printer using the Settings app, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Devices.
3. Click on Printers & scanners.
4. Under the "Printers & scanners" section, select the printer.

5. Click the Manage button.

6. Click the Printer properties option.

7. Click the General tab.

8. Specify a new name for the printer.

   Quick tip: If you're setting up a printer for an organization, you should be using a unique descriptive name. Usually, you would want to use the location, brand, and model as part of the name.

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

Once you complete the steps, the name of the printer will change to the name you specified.

If you're in the market for a new printer, we recommend the all-in-one HP OfficeJet Pro 8025 because of its smart functionality, compact design, printing quality, and price point.

Best for the money

HP OfficeJet Pro 8025

• $170 at HP

There when you need it

The OfficeJet is the solution for your home office or small business. It's full of smarts so that you can use it with the cloud.

How to rename printer using Control Panel

To rename the printer using Control Panel, use these steps:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click on Hardware and Sound.

3. Click on Devices and Printers.

4. Right-click the printer and select the Printer properties option.
5. Click the General tab.

6. Specify a new name for the printer.

7. Click the Apply button.

8. Click the OK button.

After you complete the steps, the system will identify the printer with the new name.

How to rename printer using PowerShell

To change the printer name with PowerShell command, use these steps:

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

3. Type the following command to list the available printers and press Enter:

   Get-Printer | Format-Table Name

4. Type the following command to change the name of the printer and press Enter:

   Rename-Printer -Name "CURRENT-PRINTER-NAME" -NewName "NEW-PRINTER-NAME"

   For example, the following command changes the printer name to "HomePrinter":

   Rename-Printer -Name "HP4C7695 (HP Officejet Pro 8620)" -NewName "HomePrinter"

Once you complete the steps, the PowerShell command will change the printer name to the name you specified.

How to rename printer using Command Prompt

Although the steps are not conventional, if you must, Command Prompt offers a way to change the printer name using the "prncnfg.vbs" script on Windows 10.

To change the printer name using Command Prompt, use these steps:

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

3. Type the following command to change the name of the printer and press Enter:

   cscript %WINDIR%\System32\Printing_Admin_Scripts\en-US\prncnfg.vbs -x -p "CURRENT-PRINTER-NAME" -z "NEW-PRINTER-NAME"

   For example, the following command changes the printer name to "HomePrinter":

   cscript %WINDIR%\System32\Printing_Admin_Scripts\en-US\prncnfg.vbs -x -p "HP4C7695 (HP Officejet Pro 8620)" -z "HomePrinter"

After you complete the steps, the script will run and change the printer name using the name you specified in the command.

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

Installing an SSD (or two) inside the ASUSTOR AS6508T is a sure way to improve performance with the drive(s) acting as a form of cache. This makes accessing data stored on the NAS a quicker process, especially if multiple users are doing so. This guide will show you how easy it is to install an SSD.

Products used in this guide

• Serious NAS: ASUSTOR AS6508T ($1,097 at Newegg)
• Improve performance: Samsung 970 EVO Plus (From $85 at Best Buy)

How to install an NVMe SSD

1. Remove the three small screws on the rear of the NAS, using a Philips screwdriver.

2. Extract the outer shell by pushing towards the rear and lift the panel up.

3. Locate the two M.2 slots on the top of the inner chassis. (If your M.2 drives aren't 2280, meaning 22mm wide and 80mm long, you'll need to re-position the pre-installed standoffs.)
4. Install the SSDs using screws provided with the ASUSTOR NAS to secure them in place.
5. Re-install the outer shell.
6. Secure the NAS together with the three small screws removed in step 1.

Now you're ready to pop into ADM and add the SSD as a cache. It's worth noting that if you plan on using the SSD cache for read-only, you'll be fine with one or two drives in RAID 0. Still, if you plan on writing to these SSDs for storage on your installed HDDs, I strongly recommend you have two in a RAID 1 configuration for data redundancy.

ASUSTOR AS6508T

$1,097 at Newegg

You're going to need the ASUSTOR AS6508T. If you're looking for an 8-bay NAS with upgradable RAM, M.2 SSD slots, and an Intel processor, this is a solid example. It's a killer mid-tier NAS for the home or small office.

Samsung EVO 970 Plus

From $85 at Newegg

To take advantage of the cache feature, you'll need a good SSD and the Samsung EVO 970 Plus is about as good as you can get for performance and value.

Control your music, calls, and even Outlook emails with a tap of the ear, when using Microsoft's Surface Earbuds.

Surface Earbuds represent Microsoft's first truly-wireless in-ear audio endeavor, delivering a highly capable expansion in the flagship PC lineup. They're primed for premium everyday listening, whether calls or entertainment, coupled with a productivity focus through Microsoft Office integration and real-time translation.

The circular design also boasts two integrated touchpads, allowing for easy-access gesture control. It puts core playback features, like play, pause, skip, and volume within a finger's reach, while also hooking directly into digital assistants and Spotify music. But getting your head around Surface Earbud gesture control can be confusing, especially when just getting started.

Here's your ultimate guide to Surface Earbud gesture controls — including what you can do, and how to use them.

Surface Earbuds gestures explained — and how to use them

Microsoft Surface Earbuds touch gestures function across iOS, Android, and Windows 10 devices when connected over Bluetooth. Gestures execute a limited set of core functions, utilized through taps and swipes, and eliminating the need to reach for your phone or PC.

The gestures mandate tapping and swiping in preconfigured directions, executing a limited set of core functions, without the requirement to interact with your mobile device or PC. For example, gestures enable easy control over music and calls, or interactions with select aspects of the Office suite.

Most Surface Earbuds gestures apply all aspects of playback, allowing for media control like play, pause, skip, and volume. Access to your device's native digital assistant is also supported, whether Cortana, Google Assistant, Siri, Alexa, or more. Android users also receive direct Spotify integration, leveraging machine learning to create dynamic playlists.

While the gestures are relatively straightforward, some swipe motions are limited to just one ear. Volume and skip use different swipes in different directions, but current hardware limitations mean they're split across the left and right ears.

These are the Surface Earbuds actions, their required gestures, and a handy visual aid follow.

Action	Gesture	Image
Play / Pause	Double Tap
Answer / End Call	Double Tap
Skip Forward Track	Swipe Forward on Left Earbud
Skip Back Track	Swipe Back on Left Earbud
Volume Up	Swipe Up on Right Earbud
Volume Down	Swipe Down on Right Earbud
Hail Digital Assistant	Tap and Hold
Instantly play Spotify (Android only)	Triple Tap

Surface Earbuds Outlook 'Play My Emails' gestures

Microsoft recently released its Play My Emails features for Outlook on iOS, leveraging Cortana natural language and AI to read your inbox aloud. The feature enables multitasking while listening to incoming messages, via a brief overview using advanced text-to-speech. The new Surface Earbuds boast that Office integration, including hands-free access to your Outlook inbox on iOS devices — with Android support on the horizon.

Play My Emails messages act similarly to regular music playback, with play, pause, skip, and volume functions over touch gestures.

Action	Gesture	Image
Play / Pause Message	Double Tap
Skip To Next Message	Swipe Forward on Left Earbud
Skip To Previous Message	Swipe Back on Left Earbud
Message Volume Up	Swipe Up on Right Earbud
Message Volume Down	Swipe Down on Right Earbud

Surface Earbuds put a majority of everyday tasks just a swipe or tap away, ideal for entertainment and productivity when on the move. The above gestures all work out of the box, and function across all officially supported devices.

Work and Play

Microsoft Surface Earbuds

$199 at Microsoft

Crystal-clear audio meets productivity.

Now at a lower price, Microsoft Surface Earbuds bring the first truly wireless earbuds to the premium product lineup, promising comfortable, hassle-free listening on mobile and PC. They ship packed with touch controls and AI-enhanced voice features.

When encountering connectivity issues on Xbox One, your Network Address Translation (NAT) type is the first place you should look. NAT determines how easily you connect to other players, potentially limiting who you can enjoy games with. While various solutions can alter your NAT type, enabling Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) is generally accepted as the first step.

Xbox Live is down on May 22, 2020 for Xbox One consoles, which may cause NAT issues to be displayed. Check here for the latest updates.

Why you need Open NAT on Xbox One

When connected to Xbox Live and playing online games, you may have seen terms indicating the leniency of NAT types. This somewhat represents your compatibility with other players, with stricter NAT types often experiencing issues with multiplayer connectivity. A good way of showing how NAT influences connectivity is through a handy grid (below). This shows the compatibility between NAT types and why aiming for Open NAT makes for the best overall experience.

Users with Open NAT will usually see the best experience on Xbox Live. While getting your NAT open is ultimately the end goal for the best connectivity, this has proven to be difficult for many users. One of the common solutions is port forwarding, helping to route gaming traffic directly to your console.

Understanding UPnP in gaming

Ports are digital channels for your router, used for sorting incoming and outgoing internet traffic. UPnP essentially allows applications to forward ports automatically, avoiding the hassle of manual "port forwarding." Although they often achieve the same end result, UPnP allows the console to request a port seamlessly, rather than requiring specific port numbers to be entered manually. And for many, it's a simple flick of a switch.

You should note that UPnP has seen heavy criticism in the past, due to a long list of security flaws associated with the technology. Malicious programs can leverage UPnP vulnerabilities, simply as a result of its open nature. So there might be some related security risk here. The technology is also far from standardized, meaning implementations can vary between routers, especially on older or less reputable models. It's a case of slightly relaxing security for convenience, though generally, the risk isn't high for home users.

To maintain higher levels of security, port forwarding only creates specific port maps but requires a bit of manual work.

How to enable UPnP for Xbox One

If you want to enable UPnP on your router, the setup process is simple. Steps will vary between router models, though we've provided a general guideline of what to expect.

(Note: Do not use a combination of UPnP, port forwarding, or DMZ when configuring your Xbox One's connectivity. Make sure these are all disabled before moving forward.)

Just follow these steps:

1. Navigate to your router login page. (For more details on logging in to your router, search online for guides related to your specific model.)
2. Log in to your router using the required credentials.
3. Navigate to the UPnP menu on your router. (This action once again varies between models, so search for specifics on your router. If UPnP isn't available, we recommend port forwarding.)
4. Enable UPnP.
5. Save your changes.
6. Open the Settings app on your Xbox One.
7. Select the Network tab.
8. Select the Test NAT type tile. (You should now have Open NAT on your Xbox One.)

If the above steps didn't work for you, we recommend trying port forwarding with your Xbox One. For a step-by-step explainer, check our Xbox One port forwarding guide.

Xbox One networking gear you'll love

Take your Xbox One networking setup to the next level with these affordable accessories.

The ASUSTOR AS6508T NAS has upgradable RAM with two slots ready for up to 64GB of memory. 8GB comes pre-installed, so you'll want to buy a kit of two modules if you're planning to upgrade. Here's how to do it.

Products used in this guide

• Serious NAS: ASUSTOR AS6508T ($1,097 at Newegg)
• Improve performance: Kingston KVR26S19D8 16GB RAM ($81 at Newegg)

How to upgrade the RAM

1. Remove the three small screws on the rear of the NAS, using a Philips screwdriver.

2. Extract the outer shell by pushing towards the rear and lift the panel up.

3. Locate the two RMA slots on the left-side of the inner chassis.
4. Remove the existing RAM module by unlatching the secured clip.
5. Install the RAM modules and secure them in place with the clips.
6. Re-install the outer shell.
7. Secure the NAS together with the three small screws removed in step 1.

Boot up the NAS and check the system status to make sure all modules are read correctly.

ASUSTOR AS6508T

$1,097 at Newegg

You're going to need the ASUSTOR AS6508T to upgrade the RAM. If you're looking for an 8-bay NAS with M.2 SSD slots and an Intel processor, this is a solid example. It's a killer mid-tier NAS for the home or small office.

Faster RAM

Kingston KVR26S19D8 16GB RAM

$81 at Newegg

Buy two of these for stellar performance

The ASUSTOR AS6508T comes rocking 8GB pre-installed, but if we want to ensure compatibility, it's best to install a new pair, and picking up two of these 16GB modules will leave you with 32GB of fast RAM.

Bias lighting looks awesome, and it can help your eyes.

Bias lighting for PCs is something you might have seen before but never known what exactly it was. Simply put, it's a series of (usually) LED lights that you place on the rear of your PC monitor or TV, creating a kind of halo effect that projects behind it.

Not only does it look amazing, but it's affordable and there are some actual benefits for your eyes.

This excellent post from PCPartPicker outlines some of the positives:

If you use your computer in complete darkness a lot, the sudden drop in luminance from your monitor to the surrounding darkness creates a sharp contrast that your eyes strain to manage.

The second benefit is what gives it the name 'bias' lighting. The color of the light used behind the display changes how your brain interprets the colors from the display itself, i.e., you bias your brain's color interpretation. If you shine an orange light behind the monitor, you perceive everything on-screen as slightly more orange. Same with every bias color, including white.

White light can actually help your brain to perceive more accurate colors, which is beneficial to anyone who does creative work where accuracy is a necessity.

If all of this sounds interesting, the good news is it's really low-cost and very simple to install.

A kit like this one is a great, affordable example of what to look for, and there are plenty of options out there. Make sure to find one that's powered by USB, because you'll be able to just plug it into your PC, or even your monitor to power it. No additional power outlets are required.

You'll also need to make sure you get the right length to go around your monitor. Attaching it is simple, because the kits come with adhesive strips on the rear so you literally just need to stick them on, plug them in and go with the glow.

You don't have to go with white, either. Other colors will change your perceptions a little, but whatever you go for you'll feel a benefit if you work a lot at night on your PC.

Eyestrain is common if you spend long hours looking at a PC screen, so anything you can do to help make the effects less is worth the effort.

Bask in the Glow

Luminoodle Bias Lighting Kit

From $18 at Amazon

Add some glow and reap the rewards

Bias lighting can help reduce eye strain and actually affect how you perceive colors and is a really simple thing to install.

Soothing Light

LED bias strip lights

$14 at Amazon

Add some color to your screens

If you'd rather colored light, it's equally effective, easy to install and affordable.

Here's what time Minecraft Dungeons releases for you — including where you can buy and play.

Minecraft Dungeons hits store shelves this week, fusing the best of the hit adventure franchise with titles like Diablo, serving an action role-playing experience founded on family-friendly exploration. The dungeon-crawling foundations see players traversing a variety of blocky worlds, fighting enemy hordes, and chasing down the next loot drop. The addictive balance of accessible gameplay and ongoing exploration poses an ideal pickup for all ages — and uniquely suited to returning Minecraft fans.

Here's what you need to know about getting started with Minecraft Dungeons across all platforms — including its release date and scheduled release time.

Minecraft Dungeons release time

Minecraft Dungeons witnesses a slightly different release schedule to your average blockbuster, as a digital-only title, with no disc-based version. While many games are playable at midnight on release day, Dungeons opts for a simultaneous global launch across all four platforms on May 26, 2020.

That means all budding Minecraft Dungeons players can play at the same point in time, 8 AM GMT, whether living in Australia or the far west U.S. coast. Those located further east will need to wait until later for their time zone, while the equivalent U.S. launch translates to early hours of the morning. Below follows an extensive list of Minecraft Dungeons launch timings per time zone, breaking down availability in your region, via a Mojang FAQ.

• 1 AM PDT
• 4 AM EDT
• 9 AM BST
• 10 AM CEST
• 5 PM JST
• 6PM AEST

Following the launch time, Minecraft Dungeons will be available on your system.

How to preorder Minecraft Dungeons

While Microsoft now owns Mojang, the creators behind the blockbuster series, Minecraft Dungeons remains a fully multiplatform title. Minecraft Dungeons launches on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PCs — but with no disc-based version, buyers find themselves on official storefronts.

Minecraft Dungeons is now available for preorder on Xbox One via the Xbox Store, and Windows PCs via the integrated Microsoft Store. However, Microsoft isn't accepting preorders for Minecraft Dungeons on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, requiring users to pick up the game at release day instead. Exactly why is unclear — but you'll need to buy and install once available in your region.

Minecraft goes full RPG

Minecraft Dungeons

$20 at Microsoft (Standard) - $30 at Microsoft (Hero Edition)

Minecraft grows up and reaches out.

Minecraft Dungeons is the next saga in Minecraft's story, and it looks like Mojang and Microsoft are hitting another one out of the park. Minecraft Dungeons combines the familiar world we all grew up on with an injection of Diablo, a whole lot of fun. Available on every platform you're on, for a ridiculously attractive price, what's not to love?

Why can't I buy Minecraft Dungeons on PS4 and Nintendo Switch?

As previously mentioned, Minecraft Dungeons preorders remain exclusive to Xbox One and PC versions of the game. The exact reasoning remains unclear, but PlayStation Store and Nintendo eShop purchases are expected to open once the game goes live — currently scheduled for 8 AM GMT on all platforms.

Minecraft Dungeons only weighs in around a few GB, so downloading it shouldn't be a massive issue for most.

How to preload Minecraft Dungeons

With Minecraft Dungeons only available as a digital download, preloading is recommended for those on Xbox One and PC. The game also comes included with Xbox Game Pass on both platforms, which also supports preloading. To preload on your desired platform, pre-order the game and initiate the download process.

The feature allows those who preorder to download the full game before launch, ensuring it's ready to play the moment it unlocks across the globe. Preloading helps avoid potential delays when installing, proving especially valuable during a period when gaming networks are under heavier loads than ever. However, Minecraft Dungeons isn't available for preload on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch.

Minecraft Dungeons has a wide array of biomes and dungeon styles, and here are the ones we've found so far.

Minecraft Dungeons is an old-school action RPG set in Minecraft's charming blocky world. With similarities to games like Diablo, Minecraft emphasizes combat and loot above all else, set across a wide range of levels that represent different biomes and areas from the regular game.

While we have had a look at the full world map, we still don't know exactly how many levels are present in the game. As of writing, we have found an additional five hidden levels, connected to other areas from the game. It could be that all nine main missions have additional hidden areas, and we're still trying to hunt them down. Here are the ones we have confirmed so far.

Smash and loot

Minecraft Dungeons

See at AmazonGet with Xbox Game Pass

Minecraft meets Diablo

Minecraft Dungeons is an upcoming action RPG set in the blocky worlds of Minecraft! Team up with three friends and get your dungeon crawl on.

Minecraft Dungeons World Map

This is the full Minecraft Dungeons world map as of launch. As you progress, new dungeons and areas will become available to you, complete with their own potential rewards. Some dungeons are "secret," hidden within regular story scenarios, and must be unlocked by exploring the area. We have no doubt that this map will expand further with future DLC and expansion content.

Camp

The camp is the central area where you'll make your base. Here, merchants show up that let you convert your emeralds into random pieces of loot, and it's here where you'll choose missions and can test your damage on some target dummies.

Creeper Woods

Creeper Woods is the first level after the tutorial, taking place in some spooky woods that are reminiscent of any Minecraft forest biome at night. Skeletons, zombies, and creepers are typical to this rea, so be careful!

Creepy Crypt

The Creepy Crypt is unlocked via the Creeper Woods and is a large stone dungeon with various types of mobs, typically of the undead and creepy variety. Hidden chests and random puzzles can spawn in this area, which grant powerful loot.

Soggy Cave

The Soggy Cave is a hidden level found from inside the Soggy Swamp. It's a relatively small level, with a few puzzles for good measure.

Pumpkin Pastures

After the Creeper Forest, you'll head to Pumpkin Pastures, which is made up of burned-out villages under attack by the Arch Illager and his forces. Expect to battle a boss here.

Arch Haven

Arch Haven is a hidden level you can find through Pumpkin Pastures. It's almost like a small seaside resort, but the Illagers are swarming the area and using it to perform some sort of spell. Go and ruin their plans, and maybe get some loot in the process.

Cacti Canyon

Cacti Canyon is a sun-scorched biome with plenty of cacti plants and charming Western, cowboy-themed music. This zone is populated with angry Illagers and other random nasties. Watch out for those bloody Geomancers especially.

Redstone Mines

The Redstone Mines detail a far more claustrophobic atmosphere than most of the other levels. Long narrow hallways, sparkling caverns, and lava floes await in the Redstone Mines.

Desert Temple

The Desert Temple is a large complex full of skeletal remnants of a forgotten empire. Full of necromancers and great loot for Soul-oriented builds, the Desert Temple is a fun level with an epic boss battle.

Fiery Forge

The Fiery Forge is a complex underground facility where the Arch-Illager constructs his Redstone golems. Full of lava and angry Illagers, the Fiery Forge is also home to a rather large, dangerous boss.

Highblock Halls

Highblock Halls is the Arch-Illagers castle, crammed with his Illager minions, now clad in heavy armor and huge shields.

Underhalls

Underhalls is a secret level off of Highblock Halls. It's the castle's cellars and catacombs, full of mobs, and loot!

Obsidian Pinnacle

The final level (as far as we know... this game is full of secrets), Obsidian Pinnacle is the upper echelons of the Arch-Illager's castle. As you ascend the towers of the castle, you'll face off against the Arch-Illager himself at the end, so come prepared.

Future areas?

The world map has variety of other locations, including temples, fortresses, mountains, swamps, and practically every other biome from Minecraft you can imagine. It stands to reason that one day, we may even see the Nether or The End depicted in Minecraft Dungeons too. The sky really is the limit on what they can add, and we can't wait to find out more of what's to come. A DLC ad on the world map also refers to "Island" adventures coming in a future DLC, so maybe pirates too?!

Secret level (spoilers)

The game also has a very special secret level, in tribute to old-school ARPG Diablo II. Read about that over here, but don't read if you'd rather discover it for yourself!

Descend into darkness with your bros.

Mojang's next adventure into the wonderful world of Minecraft is none other than Minecraft Dungeons, an aggressive entry that combines the best of Diablo with the sandbox title everyone knows and love. The only way I can think of to make the experience even better is to combine it with all those friends I wish I had. If you have friends, here's everything you need to know about co-op in Minecraft Dungeons.

How can I play with friends in Minecraft Dungeons?

Minecraft Dungeons is a fantastic platform for social features and gameplay, so of course Mojang made those features front and center when you're playing. The only requirement? Be hanging out at your camp, which is your rest point between every level. Here you can take a moment to upgrade your weapons with enchantments, buy new gear with emeralds, and more.

If you're at camp, all you need to do to play with friends is open the Friends menu using the "View" button (the one that looks like two interlocking squares) or pressing the "F" key on a keyboard. This brings up a handy screen that lets you add more controllers for local play (yes you can do that!), check to see if any of your friends are already playing and have active sessions that you can join, or select one of your friends from a list to invite to your own game.

The UI is simple and put together pretty well, so it's easy to either join games or get friends to join yours. Even better, Minecraft Dungeons does support local play so you can get multiple people playing on one device! Local play isn't a guarantee in any game anymore, so it's awesome to see it here.

Better together, even in Dungeons

Competitive multiplayer isn't for everyone, but cooperative games with friends and families can make a world of difference when playing games, and Minecraft Dungeons has a great formula to support it. Whenever you jump into Minecraft Dungeons, be sure jump on with others and tackle the Arch-Illagers hordes hand-in-hand. That way when you're beaten anyways it's not just your fault.

Minecraft goes full RPG

Minecraft Dungeons

$20 at Microsoft (PC)$20 at Microsoft (Xbox One)

Minecraft grows up and reaches out.

Minecraft Dungeons is the next saga in Minecraft's story, and it looks like Mojang and Microsoft are hitting another one out of the park. Minecraft Dungeons combines the familiar world we all grew up on with an injection of Diablo, a whole lot of fun. Available on every platform you're on, for a ridiculously attractive price, what's not to love?

Become a superhero with a feathered friend by equipping your Minecraft Dungeons hero bonuses.

Minecraft Dungeons brings a new top-down perspective to Minecraft's world, focused on action role-playing, and the endless drive for a loot. The dungeon-crawling setup puts your gear at the center of progression, with melee weapons, bows, and armor all fundamental to your loadout.

However, Minecraft Dungeons also features a small lineup of cosmetics — currently largely untapped — but with two items exclusive to Minecraft Dungeons Hero Edition. The premium edition includes a unique Hero Cape and Chicken Pet, accompanying your journeys over the hours ahead. Here's how to claim these items and equip them in-game.

Minecraft Dungeons Hero Edition bonuses explained

The bonuses included with Minecraft Dungeons Hero Edition, plus two future DLCs.

Minecraft Dungeons is available for purchase in two versions: the standard Minecraft Dungeons base game, and Minecraft Dungeons Hero Edition. This alternative version ships at a $10 premium, featuring access to the Hero Pass, comprised of two upcoming downloadable content (DLC) packs for the future, and exclusive cosmetics. That includes two bonus player skins, listed at the bottom of the character creation screen, and a Hero Cape and Chicken Pet. The Hero Pass isn't available for purchase separately.

The Hero Cape is currently the only cape available in Minecraft Dungeons, comprised of red fabric with yellow highlights. This cosmetic item doesn't serve a gameplay purpose but sets you apart from the average player. The Chicken Pet is the first of companions in Minecraft Dungeons, following you around on dungeon-crawling missions.

These are all available exclusively via the Minecraft Dungeons Hero Edition, purchasable for $30 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PCs.

Minecraft goes full RPG

Minecraft Dungeons Hero Edition

$30 at Microsoft (Xbox One)$30 at Microsoft (PC)

Minecraft grows up and reaches out.

Minecraft Dungeons is the next saga in Minecraft's story, and it looks like Mojang and Microsoft are hitting another one out of the park. Minecraft Dungeons combines the familiar world we all grew up on with an injection of Diablo, a whole lot of fun. Available on every platform you're on, for a ridiculously attractive price, what's not to love?

How to claim and equip Minecraft Dungeons Hero Cape and Chicken Pet

Upon purchasing Minecraft Dungeons, your cape and pet come automatically unlocked in the first minutes of gameplay. Capes and pets sit in the player inventory, via a dedicated cosmetics tab. From this submenu, players can equip or unequip both their cape and feathered friend.

1. Load into a Minecraft Dungeons game.
2. Open your Inventory by pressing up on the directional pad or the I key on PC.
3. Navigate to the Cosmetics tab on the right-hand side.
4. Equip your Hero Cape and Chicken Pet.

This same cosmetics tab appears to leave space for future Minecraft Dungeons DLC, potentially including further cape designs and new pets.

There is an app for Disney+ on Windows 10. Here is how to get it.

A lot of people are stuck at home right now, and many are doing their best to work effectively remotely. However, we all need to unwind, too. Thankfully, there is Disney+ for that, and the service is packed with great content, including classics like The Lion King and new hits, such as The Mandalorian and the brand new Pixar film Onward.

While there are plenty of apps to watch the service on, there is unfortunately no dedicated app for Windows 10. But that's OK because thanks to the power of modern web browser standards and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) you can easily get one-click access and start streaming.

All you need is your favorite browser, like the new Microsoft Edge based on Chromium or Google Chrome.

A magical streaming service

Disney+

The new home for anything Disney's light touches

Disney, Star Wars, National Geographic, Marvel, Disney Channel, and Fox programs, are all finally here for you to savor on all your devices.

$7/month at Disney+

What is a PWA?

Streaming Disney+ as a PWA feels just like a native app for Windows 10.

A Progressive Web App (PWA) is when a site has been effectively designed to be "installed" as an app to a device. With a minimal border, a dedicated icon for the Windows 10 Start menu that can be pinned to the Task Bar, and one-click run ability, the website itself becomes the app.

All you need to know about Progressive Web Apps and Microsoft

With Disney+ installed as a PWA on your Windows 10 desktop PC or laptop, you can access the service without having to launch your web browser.

Download Edge for Windows 10

How to install Disney+ as a PWA

Open the new Edge browser (beta, developer, or canary branch) or Google Chrome to get started. (Opera, Firefox, and the older version of Edge do not currently support the installable PWA function.)

1. Navigate to www.disneyplus.com.

2. Log into your Disney+ account.

3. Select the browser menu '…' in the upper right corner in Edge.

4. Navigate to Apps and select Install this site as an app.

5. Name the app Disney+ and hit Install.

The Disney+ "app" will now show in the Windows 10 Start menu like any other app. From there, you can right-click on it to pin to the Start menu or send it to the Task Bar for quick access. Right-clicking on the icon also lets you uninstall the "app" if you no longer need it.

You now have a Disney+ Windows app!

PWAs represent the future for a lot of website experiences on Windows 10 and even mobile phones. The ability to have one-click access to Disney+ as an app ready to stream your favorite shows and movies is much better than using the web browser.

The one downside right now with this method is there is no way to save videos for offline usage, which is something the apps for iOS and Android can do already. Technically, a true PWA can save videos for such a situation, but Disney has not yet gone that route.

Why Disney needs to release its Disney+ Xbox app for Windows 10 PCs

Make sure you install the Disney+ PWA on all your laptops and PCs where you will want to watch iy. And don't forget, you can follow the same steps above for Netflix, Hulu, and others too.

A magical streaming service

Disney+

The new home for anything Disney's light touches

Disney, Star Wars, National Geographic, Marvel, Disney Channel, and Fox programs, are all finally here for you to savor on all your devices.

$7/month at Disney+

Related: Disney+ Xbox One app now available to download

Minecraft Dungeons' abilities aren't bound to a class structure. Instead, you equip them! Minecraft Dungeons' Artifacts give you a range of abilities to make dungeon crawling all the more fun.

Minecraft Dungeons is a dungeon crawler from Mojang, bearing similarities to Diablo and other famous action RPG dungeon crawlers. Minecraft Dungeons is set in the same blocky world as the base game, with many returning familiar monsters and creatures, albeit with an all-new abilities system, that lets you tailor your playstyle as you see fit.

Here are all the Artifacts we've found so far in the game.

But wait, what are Artifacts exactly?

Skills are active abilities that you can equip, based on items and artifacts you collect throughout the game. They have varying strengths, and you can get more powerful ones as you go through the higher difficulty tiers throughout the game. Oftentimes, the game will tell you that you can get them as a reward for going through a level on a specific difficulty, and you can get them by spending emeralds at the artifact trader back at your camp.

Certain armor and unique enchants you get in the later stages of the game and higher difficulty tiers can, directly and indirectly, benefit your Artifacts too, lowering cooldowns, or boosting Souls gathered that power some skills.

Light Feather

Light Feather basically grants you an extra dodge roll, except it will also stun an enemy near to you as you move.

This is an ideal ability to use on a character that is perhaps less physically defensive, giving you an escape mechanism if you're playing something more ranged or squishy, like a sickle-wielding assassin.

This could also be a good tool to use as a gap-closer for a berzerker or a warrior.

Wind Horn

The Wind Horn is an absurdly powerful skill that knocks back all enemies around you a considerable distance.

Like the Light Feather, this is another good option for ranged characters who may want to keep enemies away from them.

Even for melee attackers, this might also be good at managing large groups of mobs, or pushing away an angry Creeper or two from yourself or an ally.

Flaming Quiver

One for the archers, this will add fire to your next few arrow shots, producing damage over time.

This is a great ability for battling mini-bosses and large bosses, who may keep you on your toes with their mechanics. Fire off a few fire arrows to ignite the target, then keep moving to avoid further damage.

Fishing Rod

Formerly designed for relaxing weekends by the lake, this humble Fishing Rod is now a tool of death, repurposed in the battle against the Arch Illager.

A quick swing of this weapon will pull a mob towards you and stun it for a quick kill. This is useful for melee players who want to stop ranged mobs from running away.

Death Cap Mushroom

The Death Cap Mushroom is a power-up that gives you an attack and movement speed boost on a fairly hefty cooldown at base level.

This is ideal for popping in a pinch for melee-oriented characters, to fight off harder mobs or crowds of enemies.

Coupled with fast weapons like Sickles or Daggers, the Death Cap Mushroom truly lives up to its name, creating a flurry of rapid blows.

Tasty Bone

The Tasty Bone summons a trusty wolf companion to fight by your side and take agro from mobs until he dies (don't let him die!)

The higher level the item, the more damage it'll deal. You can also heal him using certain abilities that provide strength to allies, as the game recognizes the pooch as a friendly character. Targeting mobs with the Hunter's Bow lets you direct the wolf's attacks as well, and you can equip up to three of them! Sadly, you can't pet him though.

Fireworks Arrow

The Fireworks Arrow attaches an explosive to your ranged slot, allowing you to deal boosted damage and knockback in a big area of effect every few dozen seconds.

This also stacks with bow enchantments, allowing you to fire off multiple rockets at a time for example.

It also works well with other explosive enchants, and anything that helps you position mobs more easily, such as the Gravity enchantment.

Boots of Swiftness

This gives you a short boost of speed on a fixed cool down, letting you escape from trouble in a flash.

This is great for basically any playstyle. Melee attackers can use it to close gaps with ranged enemies, while ranged playstyles can use it to escape swarms of angry Creepers.

This is a great option for any player, but the Ghost Cloak (below) is arguably a more potent option, since it grants speed while also granting pass-through.

Corrupted Beacon

The Corrupted Beacon is a toggleable death-ray charged by Souls, which you obtain from defeating monsters (or using one of the end-game items that grant Souls on-hit.)

The Corrupted Beacon does crazy damage and has an infinite range, but drains Souls very quickly. This is great for wizard-style builds that focus on gathering Souls.

Ghost Cloak

The Ghost Cloak is a defensive tool that lets you disappear for a few seconds, with increased speed and some damage resistance.

This is a great Artifact to pick for squishy builds for characters like rogues, archers, and wizards, who may need a quick getaway tools. It can also be useful to help you close the gap with a ranged attacker, since it lets you pass through mobs when you use it. It also lets you pass through the nasty Geomancer walls, which can save your life on higher difficulties.

Golem Kit

We haven't gotten this one in-game for ourselves yet, but the Golem Kit is exactly as it sounds like: it lets you spawn an Iron Golem under your command from the base game!

Coupled with weapons like the Hunter's Bow that lets you command summoned creatures, this is a great option for summoner-style builds.

Gong of Weakening

The Gong of Weakening produces an area of effect that reduces the damage dealt by nearby mobs. This is a good pick for a melee-oriented support "Shaman"-style built to go along with some of the game's totems.

Harvester

The Harvester is a spooky book that boosts your Soul gathering, while also containing a rather impressive hidden power.

Your Soul meter charges with every mob you slay, and you can use the Harvester to then unleash a large explosion at your feet, dealing a massive amount of damage.

It depletes souls very quickly, but can be a good tool for a melee-oriented Soul build.

Iron Hide Amulet

The Iron Hide Amulet grants a large defensive boost on a fairly long cooldown.

This is a very high-value pick for any melee-oriented attacker, especially in the higher difficulties when mobs deal very high amounts of damage. If you want to play as a holy warrior or a berzerker, you should consider getting one of these for your arsenal.

Lightning Rod

The Lightning Rod is a Soul-powered staff that summons a large lightning bolt on a targeted mob, landing after around a second or so.

The blast radius can be seen around the mob, and can hit multiple targets in a small area of effect.

This is a great ability for anyone who wants a Wizard or Battlemage-type playstyle.

Love Medallion

The Love Medallion is a powerful Artifact players can use to turn mobs against their allies.

The cooldown is fairly long at 30 seconds but paired with gear that lowers Artifact cooldowns such as some of the Wizard-style sets can reduce it.

This can be a powerful defensive and offensive ability, removing attacking enemies and turning them against your foes. Note that it doesn't work on boss-type mobs.

Shock Powder

Shock Powder is what you'll want to use as a light-armored melee attacker, such as a rogue-style or berzerker-type player.

The Shock Powder creates a large cloud, stunning all nearby mobs for a significant amount of time. If you're a character that is a bit squishy, this is a great tool to keep mobs still while you slap them down or make a rapid escape. Note that it doesn't work on bosses, or even mini-bosses, though (I found out the hard way).

Soul Healer

The Soul Healer is a medallion that grants a sizeable heal to a member of your party (including yourself) with the lowest health. It's powered by Souls, and with a full Soul bar you can cast it around three to four times before running empty.

The heal itself also has a bit of a travel time and a minimum range, so make sure your comrades remember to stand near you if they want to get healed.

Torment Quiver

The Torment Quiver is a fun Artifact ability that gives Soul-oriented builds some seriously impressive ranged capabilities.

When you activate the Torment Quiver, you gain three arrows that can pass through walls, that also knock back mobs. The ability stacks with any arrow enchant you may have too. One build I was using gave me a chance-on-hit to get a triple-crit, and another enchant granted me a chance to shoot five arrows in a radius. Using the Torment Quiver, I was effectively sending out slow waves of death that cut through large groups of mobs.

Totem of Regeneration

The Totem of Regeneration is a support Artifact that lets you create an area of passive health regen, as its name suggests.

The heal itself doesn't seem particularly potent, and may need to be paired with other support abilities or Unique enchants to really shine.

There are some items and armor sets in the game that provide passive auras, and this Totem may be good to stack with lifesteal and other regenerative health enchants.

Totem of Shielding

Similar to the Totem of Regeneration, the Totem of Shielding creates a magical bubble that can protect you and your allies.

The Totem of Shielding deflects projectiles, which can be particularly handy in some of the later levels when crossbow-wielding Illagers show up in large swarms. They hurt!

Totem of Soul Protection

We haven't actually found this one in-game yet, but it creates an aura when it hits the ground, preventing your allies from suffering from a killing blow for the duration. We'll add some more detail here when we get to try it out for ourselves.

Wonderful Wheat

The Wonderful Wheat is rather wonderful indeed, as it lets you spawn a llama!

Llamas do summoning damage at range, spitting at anything and everything hostile they see. You can even equip three of them at once, for maximum llama mayhem. Builds that boost pet damage or improve pet targeting will benefit most from llama friends.

Smash And Grab

Minecraft Dungeons

$20 at Best Buy (Xbox One)$20 at Best Buy (Windows 10)

Minecraft and Diablo make an ideal pairing

Minecraft Dungeons takes the best of Minecraft and Diablo and smushes them together with a healthy dose of action RPG goodness. It's gunning for a May 26 launch and should be on your radar.

System Restore is like a time machine that allows you to undo system changes that may be causing problems, and in this guide, we show you how to use it on Windows 10.

On Windows 10, System Restore is a feature designed to create a snapshot of your device and save its working state as a "restore point" when system changes are detected. In the event of a critical problem after installing an update, driver, or app, or after modifying system settings incorrectly using the Registry or another tool, you can use a restore point to revert your device settings to an earlier point in time to fix the problem without losing your files.

Although this is a handy troubleshooting tool, there's one caveat: For some odd reason, System Restore comes disabled by default, which means that you must enable it before you or Windows 10 can create restore points.

In this Windows 10 guide, we walk you through the steps to set up System Restore as well as the steps to recover your device from problems that may be affecting the normal operation.

• How to enable System Restore on Windows 10
• How to create a System Restore point on Windows 10
• How to recover using System Restore on Windows 10

How to enable System Restore on Windows 10

System Restore isn't enabled by default, but you can configure the feature with these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Create a restore point, and click the top result to open the System Properties experience.

3. Under the "Protection Settings" section, select the main "System" drive, and click the Configure button.

4. Select the Turn on system protection option.

   Quick tip: Windows 10 can manage the space automatically, but under the "Disk Space Usage" section, you can also use the slider to specify the maximum amount of storage to reserve for System Restore.

5. Click the Apply button.
6. Click the OK button.

Once you complete the steps, Windows 10 will create a restore point automatically when applying a new update or when specific system changes are made.

System Restore isn't a feature that you can enable globally. It's only available for system drives (the one that has the OS installed on it).

How to create a System Restore point on Windows 10

System Restore will create checkpoints automatically when it detects system changes, but if you're about to make significant modifications to your installation, it's recommended to create a restore point manually.

To create a System Restore point manually, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Create a restore point, and click the top result to open the System Properties experience.

3. Under the "Protection Settings" section, click the Create button.

4. Type a descriptive name for the restore point — for example, before modifying Windows Update settings with Registry.

5. Click the Create button.

6. Click the Close button.
7. Click the OK button.

After completing the steps, you'll have a way to undo changes if something goes wrong while installing a new driver or application, or after editing the Registry.

How to recover using System Restore on Windows 10

If you run into issues after making system changes, before spending time troubleshooting the problem, you can undo the changes using a previously created restore point. You can perform this task while you still have access to the desktop, or even if your computer won't boot correctly.

Undoing system changes using desktop experience

In the case that you still have access to the desktop, you can revert system changes using a restore point with these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Create a restore point, and click the top result to open the System Properties experience.

3. Click the System Restore button.

4. Click the Next button.

5. Select the restore point that you want to use on your computer.

6. Click the Scan for affected programs button to understand the apps that will no longer be available because they're added after the creation of the restore point.

7. Click the Close button.
8. Click the Next button.

9. Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, System Restore will return your computer to the previous working state.

Undoing system changes using Advanced startup

If the device isn't starting correctly, and you can't access the desktop, you can use Advanced startup to access System Restore.

Boot into Advanced startup

Before you can use System Restore, you need to know the steps to access the Advanced startup environment, which you can do with these steps:

1. Power on your computer.

2. As soon as the Windows logo appears on your screen, press the power button to interrupt the boot sequence.

3. Repeat steps No. 1 and 2 two more times. (Or until the device boots into the recovery experience.)

After completing the steps, you can use the steps outlined below to access System Restore.

Alternatively, if you can't access the recovery environment with these steps, you can start your device with a Windows 10 installation media, and while in the "Windows Setup" experience, click the Next button, click the Repair your computer button from the bottom-left corner, and then follow the steps below.

Using System Restore

To access System Restore when your computer doesn't start, use these steps:

1. Click the Advanced options button.

2. Click on Troubleshoot.

3. Click on Advanced options.

4. Click on System Restore.

5. Click the Next button.

6. Select the restore point that you want to use on your computer.

7. Click the Scan for affected programs button to understand the apps that will no longer be available because they're added after the creation of the restore point.

8. Click the Close button.
9. Click the Next button.

10. Click the Finish button.

Once you complete the steps, the changes causing the problem will be discarded, and then your device should be able to start normally.

We're focusing this guide on Windows 10, but this feature has been around for a long time, as such you can also refer to these instructions even if you're using an older version, including Windows 8.1 or Windows 7.

Just be aware that while it might look similar, System Restore isn't a replacement for a backup or an option to reset your computer to its default factory settings. If the hard drive on your computer is experiencing physical issues or unrepairable file corruption, you won't be able to recover, and you may even lose your files.

Updated March 14, 2019: We revised this guide to make sure it's current with the latest version of Windows 10.

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

Minecraft now spans millions of devices, unified via cross-platform multiplayer attributed to its shared "Bedrock" engine. The unification breaks long-established barriers between platforms, including home console rivals, the Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Here's how to get started with cross-play for Minecraft today.

• Living room adventures: Minecraft Master Collection - Xbox One ($43 at Amazon)
• On-the-go wonder: Minecraft - Nintendo Switch ($29 at Amazon)

Related: How to set up cross-play on Minecraft for PlayStation 4

Setting up Minecraft cross-play for Xbox One

Preparing cross-play on Xbox One is straightforward, thanks to relaxed content restrictions compared to other platforms. And with direct Xbox Live integration on the console, you'll be ready to go after installing the game. Xbox One users should ensure "Minecraft" is used, rather than the incompatible "Minecraft: Xbox One Edition."

1. Open the Microsoft Store on Xbox One.
2. Select the Search title.
3. Type Minecraft.
4. Select Minecraft from the available titles.
5. Download Minecraft for Xbox One. This will be a free download for existing Minecraft: Xbox One Edition owners or priced at $43.
6. Open Minecraft.

After completing the above steps, your Xbox One is primed for Minecraft cross-play with other systems.

Setting up Minecraft cross-play for Nintendo Switch

Cross-play on Nintendo Switch brings a few additional hurdles to overcome, due to limitations of the console. Without native Xbox Live integration, you'll need to sign into a Microsoft account. Furthermore, the lack of an integrated browser means you'll need help from a mobile or PC. Like the Xbox version, Nintendo Switch users should ensure "Minecraft" is installed, rather than the incompatible "Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition."

1. Open the Nintendo eShop.
2. Navigate to the Search tab.
3. Search for Minecraft.
4. Select Minecraft from the available titles.

5. Download Minecraft for Nintendo Switch. This will be a free download for existing Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition owners or priced at $29.

6. Open Minecraft.
7. Select Sign In For Free when prompted to sign into your Microsoft account.

8. Navigate to https://aka.ms/remoteconnect on your PC or mobile.

9. Enter the unique code displayed on-screen.
10. Sign into your Microsoft account. A confirmation screen will be displayed. Your Xbox Live profile will appear on your Nintendo Switch shortly after.
11. Select Let's Play to complete the process.

Minecraft is now linked to Xbox Live and ready for cross-play with other systems.

How to create Minecraft cross-play games

The process of creating cross-play sessions is the same as any other Minecraft multiplayer game – set up your world, and you're ready to go. For those with an existing Minecraft Realm from other platforms, these steps can be ignored.

1. Select Play from the main menu.
2. Choose Create New under the Worlds tab.
3. Select Create New World to start a fresh game.
4. Navigate to the Multiplayer subsection.
5. Check to see if multiplayer is enabled.
6. Select Create once you're ready to play

Your Minecraft world will now start and be open to other players.

How to join Minecraft cross-play games

Using Minecraft's Friends tab is a quick way to see active games and join sessions. Navigating to this section will breakdown which online games are joinable across compatible platforms.

1. Select Play from the main menu.
2. Press RB to access to Friends tab on Xbox One. Press R to access to Friends tab on Nintendo Switch.
3. Select an active game to join.

On Xbox One, games will be split between joinable friends and joinable Realms. On Nintendo Switch, games are sorted by Nintendo Switch friends, Xbox Live cross-platform friends, and joinable Realms.

Living Room Adventures

Minecraft Master Collection - Xbox One

$43 at Amazon

A world of wonder to explore.

Dive into Microsoft's blocky world of open-ended adventures primed to unleash your creativity. Explore its trials and secrets alone or pair up with friends via cross-play, still among the best of Xbox One today.

Mobile Worlds

Minecraft - Nintendo Switch

$29 at Amazon$29 at Walmart

Minecraft goes where you go.

Take the full Minecraft experience on-the-go with the Nintendo Switch variant of the voxel adventure epic.

Awesome Minecraft merch

We love Minecraft just as much as you do. These are some of our favorite Minecraft accessories.

You might have heard of "mechanical switches" for keyboards and found yourself on the confusing end of some technical jargon. What are they? Why would you want them? And what's with all the cherries?

Fear not, for we're hear to explain mechanical keyboards, their special switches. and what this all means — and why you'll want to consider one for your next keyboard purchase.

• What is a mechanical switch?
• Cherry MX switches
• Alternative switches
• More on mechanical keyboards

What is a mechanical switch?

First things first: just what is a mechanical switch, anyway? Let's smash through the jargon. Non-mechanical keyboards rely on plastic membranes, which create electrical circuits for input to a PC via rubber switches beneath each key. They're cheap and relatively reliable, but do not provide much in terms of feedback, be it audible or tactile. Odds are that the keyboard that came with your computer — desktop and especially laptop — is a "membrane" keyboard, and you might not realize it, but you're typing on the keyboard equivalent of mushy peas.

Mechanical switches are different — there aren't plastic membranes to flex through here, instead you'll find mechanical springs and other physical components that provide physical and auditory feedback when you press a key. Click. Click. Click. After using a mechanical keyboard for a while and switching back to membrane, you can really tell the difference.

Another advantage of mechanical switches is each switch is its own separate entity, meaning you could press down on all available keys and the PC should be able to register each stroke. The same cannot be said for membrane keyboards, which often have limits on their speed and accuracy (who ever thought you'd be judging a keyboard's accuracy?) in the name of cost savings. This characteristic is call anti-ghosting and can be particularly useful in gaming where you need to press a number of keys in quick succession.

There are greater choices available when it comes to keyboards with mechanical switches. You'll be able to find a switch and keyboard combination that suits your requirements. Taking things further, you can even swap our worn-out key caps or install your custom ones, or start swapping in new switches should the desire arise.

Lastly, mechanical keyboards and their pricey, fancy switches are rated to last much, much longer than their membrane counterparts. So while you may be slightly afraid to spend at least $50 on a new keyboard, it's worth noting that even the more affordable options can be tested for anywhere up to 50 million key strokes.

The Cherry MX switch

The Cherry MX switches were first introduced back in 1983 by the Cherry Corporation, a company best known for its keyboards. These switches were protected under patent for years, but that patent recently expired and keyboard manufacturers have been turning to more affordable Chinese alternatives or building their own custom switches.

Most of the mechanical switches today are very similar to the Cherry MX line and many use similar colors to allow consumers to make more informed decisions should they be used to Cherry MX-sporting peripherals. Here's a quick run-down of Cherry MX switches and the differences between them (cN = centinewton, approximately 1 gram — a measure of how much pressure is required to hit the actuation point):

Cherry MX Black: If you're not a fan of loud click noises and tactile feedback, the Black switches are for you. These switches make the keys easier to tap multiple times. (60cN)

Durgod Taurus K320 RGB Nebula TKL

$140 at Amazon

Pre-built keyboards with Cherry MX Black switches aren't as common as other Cherry switches, but Durgod has a few. This is a tenkeyless design (TKL), so you'll have more room on your desk for a big mousemat.

Cherry MX Blue: Popular with typists due to the audible feedback, accompanied by the tactile "bump" when pressing down on a key. (60cN)

HyperX Alloy FPS

$80 at Amazon$90 at Best Buy

The Alloy FPS is a very affordable full-size board with a slim and sleek profile. You're stuck with red backlighting if you want the Blue switches, though.

Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT

$200 at Amazon$200 at Best Buy

This keyboard has all the features you could want: RGB, media controls, numpad, gamer-y font, and Blue switches. Yeah, it's pricey, but Corsair's boards are built like tanks.

Cherry MX Brown: The middleground in the Cherry MX range and common due to its popularity. Quieter than the Blue switch, but retains soft tactile feedback. (55cN)

Durgod Taurus K310

$119 at Amazon

The bigger brother to the previous Durgod Taurus, this full-size board comes with a fine-looking set of key caps, Brown switches, and USB-C.

ASUS ROG Strix Flare

$130 at Amazon

The ROG brand from Asus has a little bit of everything, including this full-fize Cherry MX Brown keyboard. Yep, it sports full RGB, media keys, and so on.

Cherry MX Red: Similar to Black switches, these offer less resistance and thus are favored by gamers. (45cN)

Corsair K68

$102 at Amazon$120 at Best Buy

Corsair does a pretty good job making keyboards, and the K68 is one of the best options if you have your heart set on Red switches.

HyperX Alloy FPS Pro

$70 at Amazon

An incredibly afforable keyboard, the HyperX Alloy FPS Pro is a TKL that sports Red switches, Red LED backlighting, and a sleek, minimalist design.

There are less common Cherry MX switches out there but the above are the most popular options that will be available in keyboards. If you'd like to try the different Cherry MX switches out and do not have access to different mechanical keyboards, there are tester kits available for order.

Alternatives to the Cherry

Since the patent protecting Cherry MX switches has expired, the flood gates have opened to alternative switches. There are so many options out there from the likes of Gateron, Kaihua (Kailh), Razer, and even Logitech. Many more switch manufacturers and types exist out there, like the wholly unique Topre switches, but if you're just getting your feet wet, those others can wait.

It can be difficult to tell the difference between Cherry MX switches and those that are created to replicate said typing experience; some even go beyond and create their own unique typing experiences (looking at you, Holy Pandas). Some people even view switches from other manufacturers to be better than the originals. As is the case when selecting a mouse or keyboard, it's all about personal preference.

As well as deciding on which type of mechanical switch is best suited to how you type (or game), the different brands of switches offer slight differences in actuation points, force required to activate, and noise. For example, should you be interested in mechanical keyboards but don't like the loud click noise, it may be worth checking out Matias switches, which are billed as quieter and more tactile than Cherry MX.

Shop around, try out tester and sample kits and have a play with mechanical keyboards your friends own to see what options you prefer. Ask around in the mechanical keyboard community, like on r/MechanicalKeyboards, for tips and advice, too.

You can also buy hot swappable keyboards — like the GMMK or Drop ALT and CTRL— which allow you to change switches on the fly and to try out different typing experiences and combinations, not to mention the pre-existing variety of key caps and even dampeners. You can buy most hot swap options pre-built with switches and key caps, or barebones and you install your own switches and caps.

Next-gen switches

But what about switches that shirk the membrane-mechanical dichotomy? Since this is a mechanical keyboard switch rundown, we won't stray too far into the weeds, but you should be aware of alternate types. Yep, we're talking about optical and magnetic switches.

Optical switches aren't new by any means, but they've been brought into the mainstream periperhal consciousness thanks to Razer. They're similar to traditional mechanical switches, but instead of having two metal contact points soldered to the PCB, opticals work by using, you guessed it, light to transmit the signal. Essentially, there's a beam of light within the switch shaft that's blocked by the stem of the switch itself.

When you press down, you push a notch in the stem into the beam of light, allowing the light through and completing the circuit. This sends the signal that the key has been pressed. So unlike a laser tripwire, where blocking the light triggers the event, optical switches typically (there are exceptions, of course) work by letting the light complete its path.

SteelSeries came out with the Apex Pro keyboard last year which sported a unique feature: magnetic switches. Using the power of science, this keyboard allowed you to adjust the actuation point per key, anywhere between 0.4mm to 3.6mm. As pointed out in our review, "The software interacts with the magnetic Omni point switches to adjust how each key performs, and you can set keys to different values that can then be saved to profiles."

The use cases for this limited only by your imagination. Check out the review of the Apex Pro if you'd like to know more about that board specifically.

That being said, there's no right or wrong choice when it comes to PC peripherals since you'll be the one using them. One switch does not and cannot please all, and that's why we have choices!

More on mechanical keyboards

Need to learn more about mechanical keyboards? We've got some more resources available to help you better understand some of the solutions available.

• Best Mechanical Keyboards
• Best Affordable Mechanical Keyboards

Minecraft Dungeons is finally here! I'm level 90, having been lucky enough to play in the review program, and thought I'd offer some tips for those diving in.

Minecraft Dungeons is here, available now on Xbox Game Pass or the Microsoft Store for an absurdly low $20. Dungeons takes an old-school approach to action RPG dungeoneering, with an emphasis on loot and discovery. The game has quite a few hidden levels, and piles of loot and playstyles to build up, all across three major difficulty tiers.

As a level 90 player with dozens of hours played, here are some general tips and tricks I'd offer to those jumping in for the first time.

The point of the game is loot

Minecraft Dungeons is not a story game, although it does have some fun plot details and lore for fans of the franchise. The game revolves around the Arch-Illager and his Orb of Dominion staff, granting him powers from beyond the Minecraft world. You'll complete the basic difficulty tier relatively quickly, in around 3 to 4 hours, depending on how much exploration you do. However, the real meat of the game is in its loot and gearing system.

As you head into Adventure and Apocalypse difficulty, new types of armor and weapons open up to you, alongside powerful "Unique" armor and weapons that offer unique synergies with the game's Artifact abilities.

Finding a specific weapon or armor set you want to build your class around is ultimately the name of the game, grinding out the levels with your friends and making different builds.

After completing the game on Apocalypse difficulty, there's not much left to do besides going hunting for loot. Still, Mojang is gearing up to add two more DLC packages in the future, and there's a mysterious broken Nether Portal hidden inside the Camp area, possibly hinting at Diablo-style procedurally-generated Greater Rifts for more end-game style content. Getting to the end on Apocalypse difficulty will ultimately take around 20-30 hours, depending on how you pace yourself. I'm personally holding off on defeating the Apocalypse difficulty final boss until I perfect my build.

You get more loot (and fun) with friends

Since the point of the game is loot, the most efficient way to get the pieces you want is from playing with friends. Similarly to other games like this, adding more friends adds even more difficulty to the game. Just adding three players into the mix creates huge swarms of mobs that can be truly tough to get through if you're not working as a team.

To offset this bump in difficulty, the game also throws in more loot and rewards.

Synergize your artifacts and armor with your weapon style

Similarly to Monster Hunter World and other gear-based progression titles, Minecraft Dungeons character development is in its gear above all else. There are no set classes, and instead, it's your loadout that determines your style of play.

I saw some reviews where the reviewers were complaining that melee classes are too weak and die too easily, for example. The reality is that they weren't using an optimal build for that particular playstyle. If you're planning on playing something like a squishy Berserker, for example, using a Double Axe or some other heavy melee weapon, you're going to want to use defensive artifacts that can help you mitigate tons of incoming melee damage. The Iron Hide Amulet and the Gong of Weakening give you protective boosts in defense, and the Light Feather lets you roll around the battlefield stunning enemies as you go, preventing them from attacking you.

If you find that your current set-up isn't working, try to identify your weaknesses and accommodate with a different build. You can purchase more level-appropriate items from the vendors too, and don't be afraid to backtrack to find better gear on a more manageable level if you think you need to!

General gear tips: Melee, archery, and souls

Minecraft Dungeons has dozens of potential playstyle combinations you can make by mixing and matching gear, Artifacts, and enchantments. The sky really is the limit, and discovering what works for yourself is part of the fun. Still, if you want to get started, here are some beginner's tips.

Tips for melee players

Melee players can be squishy, especially in higher difficulties. There are specific armor sets designed to mitigate damage, such as Plate Armor, Mercenary's Armor, and many others. You'll want to wear those to withstand hits, but even then, you can die very quickly in the middle of a large pack of mobs.

You can offset the incoming damage using Artifacts like the previously-mentioned Iron Hide Amulet and Gong of Weakening. There also items like the Shock Powder that stuns enemies in a large area of effect for quite a long time. Melee attackers can also prioritize getting Enchants like Lifesteal or Radiance that heals you in return for doing melee damage. Mitigation should be a key part of your build mentality when playing a melee character, whether it's through automatic healing, stuns, or defense boosts.

Tips archery-style players

Archery-style players will want to pick up armor that boosts ranged damage. The Hunter's Armor not only does that but also grants more arrows. Indeed, arrows are finite in Minecraft Dungeons, and the whole party shares their drops.

If you use the communication wheel to say "Need More Arrows!" to your teammates, it'll help you make sure you're topped off. Additionally, armor like the Phantom Armor lets you increase the number of Souls you can absorb from defeated enemies, which works nicely with the Torment Quiver, turning Souls into arrows. Using an item like the Ghost Cloak can help you pass through obstacles enemies set up, allowing you to reposition in a pinch.

Tips Souls-using players

The Souls mechanic is interesting since it lets you convert defeated enemy souls into a resource. Some abilities, like the Corrupted Beacon or the Harvester, are immensely, immensely powerful, and require tons of Souls to work. This is great if there are plenty of mobs to kill, but on boss fights where adds don't spawn, you may need to finish the boss off with melee or arrows, so just don't be caught out!

That said, there are weapons in the game like a Unique Soul Knife that grants you Souls on-hit rather than on-death, helping to keep your artifacts powered up.

Don't read in-depth guides (even ours), discover for yourself!

Honestly, the best thing about Minecraft Dungeons is the sense of discovery. Throughout the review program, naturally, I had no access to the internet for reading guides and that sort of thing, and working it all out for myself proved to be incredibly fun. Experiment, explore every corner of the map, use the dodge roll to jump over gaps that don't seem passable, you never know what you might find. And of course, have fun.

Bonus tip: Spiders will become your most-hated enemy towards the end game, for their ability to net you at the most inopportune moments. Kill all the spiders, ASAP!

Minecraft goes full RPG

Minecraft Dungeons

$20 at Microsoft (PC)$20 at Microsoft (Xbox One)

Minecraft grows up and reaches out.

Minecraft Dungeons is the next saga in Minecraft's story, and it looks like Mojang and Microsoft are hitting another one out of the park. Minecraft Dungeons combines the familiar world we all grew up on with an injection of Diablo, a whole lot of fun. Available on every platform you're on, for a ridiculously attractive price, what's not to love?