Familiarity in Windows 10

Our Windows 10 launch is just around the corner, in 10 days if you’re counting. On July 29^th we will make Windows 10 available, across 190 countries, as a free upgrade* or with new PCs and tablets. Today, we’re kicking off a series of blog posts sharing Windows 10 features like Cortana**, Microsoft Edge, the Xbox app, Windows Hello*** and more. To start the series we’re beginning with familiarity in Windows 10.

You’ll notice a lot of familiarity in Windows 10. It’s the best combination of the Windows you already know, plus lots of great improvements you’ll love having. The familiar Start menu is back in a more robust and expanded format that provides one-click access to the functions and files you use most. You can quickly reach your most frequently used apps, PC settings and there is plenty of space to add your favorite Live Tiles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiACjVsxFYk&feature=youtu.be

Your apps—right at your fingertips

Here’s what you’ll find on the left side of the Start menu:

• Most used — the apps that you use every day, front and center.
• Suggested/recently added — the place to discover new apps based off of your current collection. You’ll also find any new apps you install from Windows Store so that they’re easy to access or pin to Start right away.
• Places — the fastest way to access File Explorer, Settings, and Power.
• All apps —a list of all your installed apps, arranged for easy alphabetical browsing.

Pin all your favorite things to Start

If you want fast access to the things that matter most to you, whether it’s favorite apps, programs, folders, people, or websites, simply pin them to your Start menu.

Get up-to-the-minute updates with Live Tiles

New email, your next appointment, or the weekend weather: Live Tiles deliver updates from your apps right on your Start screen so you can easily see what’s happening in your world and jump right into an app when you need to.

Stay organized with tile groups

If your Start menu starts to feel cluttered, try moving some of your pinned apps into a group of similar items. Just move a tile to an open space, and when a gray divider bar appears, release the tile. Then move more tiles in or out of the group to suit your needs. You can also remove a tile by right clicking on the tile and selecting ‘Unpin from Start’.

We’ve got your back

Over 5 million Windows Insiders have been helping us test Windows 10 and make it our best Windows ever. They’re also helping us make the upgrade process smooth and easy. Upgrade preserves your documents and files so you don’t need to worry about things getting lost. Plus you can pick up the phone or text chat^**** with the Microsoft Answer Desk for any reason. It’s all part of our ‘No worries’ approach.

Stay tuned for more blog posts like this one in the coming days leading up to launch on July 29^th!

* Limited offer. Details available at Windows.com.
** Cortana available in select markets at launch; experience may vary by region and device.
*** Windows Hello requires specialized hardware, including fingerprint reader, illuminated infrared sensor or other biometric sensors.
**** Chat available in select markets.