Support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025
After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.
When Windows backup is turned on, Windows backs up the settings you choose across all your Windows devices that you've signed in to with your Microsoft account.
Turn on Windows backup
In the Settings app on your Windows device, select Accounts > Windows backup.
The following items can be backed up:
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OneDrive folder syncing Turn on OneDrive folder syncing to start backing up your files and folders right from Settings. This setting is not available for work or school accounts.
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Remember my apps Windows will remember the apps you have installed and help you restore them from Microsoft Store on your new devices. This setting is not available for work or school accounts, and Windows does not remember your apps for work or school accounts.
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Remember my preferences You can back up preferences including accessibility, accounts, Wi-Fi networks and passwords, personalization, language preferences, and other Windows settings. If you turn on Other Windows settings, Windows also syncs some device settings (for things like printers and mouse options), File Explorer settings, and notification preferences.
Note: The Remember my preferences settings are available for a work or school account if it’s allowed by your organization. For more information, see Enable Enterprise State Roaming in Microsoft Entra ID.
How to stop backing up items
To stop backing up your settings and remove them from the cloud, turn off Windows backup settings on all the devices connected to your Microsoft account. After this is done, you'll need to remove these settings from your account. Here's how:
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Under Cloud synced settings, select Clear stored settings
Windows Backup settings and preferences catalog
This section provides details of what is backed up for each item that you can select from Settings or from the Windows Backup app.
Note: In Windows Settings > Accounts > Windows backup this is the Remember my apps switch.
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Setting page |
Setting |
|---|---|
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Apps |
List of installed apps |
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Setting page |
Subpage |
Setting |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Accessibility |
Text size |
Size of text on your device |
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Visual effects |
Always show scrollbars Transparency effects Animation effects Dismiss notifications after preferred amount of time |
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Mouse pointer and touch |
Mouse pointer style Mouse custom color Cursor size Touch indicator Make the touch indicator circle darker and larger |
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Eye Control |
Eye control On/Off Choose how to click Show gaze cursor Use Shape Writing Use advanced mouse features Typing Dwell Time General Dwell Time Smoothing Lag |
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Text cursor |
Text cursor indicator Text cursor indicator size Text cursor indicator color Text cursor indicator thickness |
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Magnifier |
Start Magnifier before sign-in Start Magnifier after sign-in Zoom level Zoom increment |
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View |
View preference |
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Have Magnifier follow my: |
Mouse pointer Keyboard focus Text cursor Narrator cursor |
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Keep the mouse pointer location Keep the text cursor location |
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Invert Colors Smooth edges of images and text Reading shortcut |
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Color filter |
Color filters Preferred color filter selection Keyboard shortcut for color filters |
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Contrast themes |
Contrast themes |
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Narrator |
Narrator’s voice |
Choose a voice Speed Pitch Volume |
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Lower the volume of other apps when Narrator is speaking |
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Verbosity level |
Verbosity level Emphasize formatted text Read phonetically when reading by character Pause slightly when reading punctuation Read advanced details like help text on buttons and other controls Change how capitalized text is read |
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Context level for buttons and controls |
Context level for buttons and controls Read hints on how to interact with buttons and other controls Tell me why actions can’t be performed Play sounds instead of announcements for common actions Tell me details about buttons and other controls |
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Have Narrator announce when I type |
Letters, numbers, and punctuation Words Function keys Arrow, Tab, and other navigation keys Toggle keys, like Caps lock and Num lock Shift, Alt, and other modifier keys |
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Narrator key On touch keyboards, activate keys when I lift my finger Read and interact with the screen using the mouse Show the Narrator cursor Move my text cursor with the Narrator cursor as Narrator reads text Sync the Narrator cursor and system focus Decrease verbosity in Outlook |
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Audio |
Mono audio Preference for flashing screen during audio notifications |
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Captions Live Captions |
Caption style Filter Profanity (In-app setting) Position (In-app setting) |
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Speech |
Voice access |
Start voice access after you sign in to your PC Start voice access before you sign in to your PC Start Filter Profanity (In-app setting) Automatic Punctuation (In-app setting) |
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Voice typing |
Voice typing launcher (In-app setting) Automatic punctuation (In-app setting) |
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Keyboard |
Sticky keys |
Use Sticky keys Keyboard shortcut for Sticky keys Show the sticky keys icon on the taskbar Lock shortcut keys when pressed twice in a row Turn off Sticky keys when two keys are pressed at the same time Play a sound when shortcut keys are pressed and released |
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Filter keys |
Use filter keys Keyboard shortcut for Filter keys Show the Filter keys icon on the taskbar Beep when keys are pressed or accepted |
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Ignore quick keystrokes (slow keys) |
Wait before accepting a key stroke |
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Ignore unintended keystrokes (bounce keys) |
Wait before accepting repeated keystrokes |
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Ignore repeated keystrokes (repeat keys) |
Wait before accepting the first repeated keystroke Wait before accepting subsequent repeated keystrokes |
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Toggle keys |
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Notification preferences |
Notify me when I turn on Sticky, Filter, or Toggle keys from the keyboard Play a sound when I turn Sticky, Filter, or Toggle keys on or off from the keyboard |
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Underline access keys Use the Print screen key to open Snipping Tool |
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Mouse
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Mouse keys |
Mouse keys Only use mouse keys when Num lock is on Show the mouse keys icon on the taskbar Hold the Ctrl key to speed up and the Shift key to slow down Mouse keys speed Mouse keys acceleration |
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Setting page |
Subpage |
Setting |
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|---|---|---|---|
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Time & language |
Language & region |
Language profile Windows display language Country or region Regional format |
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Typing |
Touch keyboard |
Play key sounds as I type Capitalize the first letter of each sentence Add a period after I double-tap the Spacebar Show the voice typing mic button |
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Show text suggestions when typing on the physical keyboard Multilingual text suggestions Autocorrect misspelled words Highlight misspelled words |
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Privacy & security |
Inking & typing personalization |
Custom dictionary |
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Activity history |
Store my activity history on this device |
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Setting page |
Subpage |
Setting |
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|---|---|---|---|
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System |
Display |
Multiple displays |
Remember window locations based on monitor connection Minimize windows when a monitor is disconnected Ease cursor movement between displays Night Light |
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Notifications |
Get notifications from apps and other senders |
Allow notifications to play sounds Show notifications on the lock screen Show reminders and incoming VoIP calls on the lock screen |
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Multitasking |
Snap Windows |
Snap windows When I snap a window, suggest what I can snap next to it |
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Show tabs from apps when snapping or pressing Alt+Tab preference On the Desktop taskbar, show all the open windows Show all open windows when I press Alt+Tab |
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For developers |
File Explorer |
Show file extensions Show hidden and system files Show full path in title bar Show empty drives |
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Sound |
Output |
Mono audio |
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Advanced |
More sound settings (Sound schemes only) |
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Bluetooth & devices |
Mouse |
Primary Mouse Button Mouse pointer speed Roll the mouse wheel to scroll Lines to scroll at a time Scroll inactive windows when hovering over them |
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Touchpad |
Touchpad |
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Gestures & interaction |
Cursor speed Touchpad feedback Haptic intensity |
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Taps |
Touchpad sensitivity Tap with a single finger to single-click Tap with two fingers to right-click Tap twice and drag to multi-select Press the lower right corner of the touchpad to right-click |
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Scroll & zoom |
Drag two fingers to scroll Scrolling direction Pinch to zoom |
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Touch |
Three- and four-finger touch gestures Tap to wake |
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Pen & Windows Ink |
Pen handedness Use the pen button as a right-click equivalent when it’s available Use the top of the pen to erase ink when it’s available Choose what your shortcut button does |
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Choose what your shortcut button does |
Single-click Double-click Press and hold (only supported by some pens) Allow apps to override the shortcut button behavior When available, show pen menu after I remove my pen from storage |
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Additional pen settings |
Show visual effects Show cursor Let me use my pen as a mouse when it’s available Ignore touch input when I’m using my pen Display additional keys pressed when using my pen |
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Handwriting panel settings |
Font Font size When I tap a text field with my pen, use the handwriting panel or touch keyboard to input text Write with your fingertip |
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Autoplay |
Use AutoPlay for all media and devices Choose AutoPlay removable drive default Choose AutoPlay memory card default |
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USB |
Connection notifications Show a notification if this PC is charging slowly over USB |
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Printers & scanners |
Let Windows manage my default printer |
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Network & internet |
Wi-Fi |
Random hardware addresses |
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VPN |
Allow VPN over metered networks Allow VPN while roaming |
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Cellular |
Cellular data per-app Wi-Fi failover Metered Let Windows keep me connected Data roaming option dropdown |
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Accounts |
Windows Backup |
Remember my preferences |
Accessibility Accounts and passwords Personalization Language preferences Other Windows settings |
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Email & Accounts |
Accounts used by other apps (MSA accounts only) |
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Time & language |
Date & time |
Set time zone automatically Time zone |
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Gaming |
Game Bar |
Open Game Bar using a button on a controller All shortcuts |
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Game Mode |
Use Game Mode |
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Windows Update |
Get the latest updates as soon as they're available |
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Advanced options |
Receive updates for other Microsoft products Get me up to date Notify me when a restart is required to finish updating |
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Other |
File Explorer |
Single click to open an item (point to select): Underline icon titles Double click to open an item (single-click to select) Decrease space between items (compact view) Display full path in title bar Hide extensions for known file Types Hidden files and folders: Don’t show hidden files, folders, or drives/Show hidden files, folders, and drives Use check box to select items |
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Recycle Bin |
Display delete confirmation dialog |
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Desktop |
View (Icon size, Auto arrange icons, Align icons to grid, Show desktop icons) Sort by (Name, Size, Item type, Date modified) |
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Setting page |
Subpage |
Setting |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Personalization |
Background |
Personalize your background Choose a fit for your desktop image |
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Colors |
Choose your mode Choose your default Windows mode Choose your default app mode Transparency effects Accent color Show accent color on Start and taskbar Show accent color on title bars and window borders |
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Themes |
Current theme Custom inbox theme |
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Lock screen |
Personalize your lock screen Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen |
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Text input |
Theme for touch keyboard Touch keyboard size Show key background Key text size |
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Start |
Layout Show recently added apps Show recommended files in Start, recent files in File Explorer, and items in Jump Lists |
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Folders |
Settings File Explorer Documents Downloads Music Pictures Videos Network Personal folder |
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Taskbar |
Taskbar items |
Task View Widgets |
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Taskbar behaviors |
Taskbar alignment Automatically hide the taskbar Show badges on taskbar apps Show flashing on taskbar apps Show my taskbar on all displays When using multiple displays show my taskbar apps on Show recent searches when I hover on the search icon Share any window from my taskbar Select the far corner of the taskbar to show the desktop Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels on other taskbars |
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Other |
Pins on Taskbar and Start Menu |
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Note: In Windows Settings > Accounts > Windows backup this is the Accounts and passwords checkbox.
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Setting page |
Subpage |
Setting |
|---|---|---|
|
Network & internet |
Wi-Fi |
Wi-Fi profiles (only WPA profiles) |
|
Other |
Passwords |
Web credentials |
Note: In Windows Settings > Accounts > Sync your settings this is the Get access to apps on Windows device switch.
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Setting page |
Setting |
|---|---|
|
Apps |
List of installed apps |
|
Setting Page |
Subpage |
Setting |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ease of Access |
Display |
Display text size Show animations on windows Show transparency in windows Automatically hide scroll bars in windows Time to show notifications |
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|
Mouse pointer |
Change pointer size Change pointer color Show visual feedback around the touch points when I touch the screen Make visual feedback for touch points darker and larger |
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|
Eye Control |
Eye control On/Off Choose how to click Show gaze cursor Use Shape Writing Use advanced mouse features Typing Dwell Time General Dwell Time Smoothing Lag |
|||
|
Text cursor |
Turn on text cursor indicator Text cursor size Text cursor indicator color Text cursor thickness |
|||
|
Magnifier |
Start Magnifier before sign-in Start Magnifier after sign-in Zoom Level Zoom Increment Smooth Edges of image and text Invert Colors Choose a view |
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|
Have Magnifier follow my |
Mouse pointer Keyboard focus Text cursor Narrator cursor |
|||
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Keep mouse pointer location Choose a modifier key for reading Keep text cursor location |
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|
Color filters |
Turn on color filters Allow the shortcut key to toggle filter on or off Selected color filter to see elements on the screen better Selected colorblindness filter to make the nine colors on the wheel more distinct |
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|
High contrast |
Turn on high contrast High contrast theme Selected colored rectangle to customize high contrast colors |
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Narrator |
Start Narrator before sign-in Start Narrator after sign-in Show Narrator Home when Narrator starts Choose a voice Change voice speed Change voice pitch Change voice volume Lower the volume of other apps when Narrator is speaking Change the level of detail Narrator provides about text and controls Change how capitalized text is read Have Narrator’s voice emphasize formatted text Hear phonetics as you read by character Have Narrator use punctuation to determine pauses when reading Hear advanced detail, like help text, on buttons and other controls Change the level of context Narrator provides for buttons and other controls Adjust when Narrator provides details about buttons and other controls Hear hints on how to interact with buttons and other controls Hear Narrator announce why an action can’t be performed Hear only sounds for common actions Have Narrator be more efficient in Outlook (experimental) Hear letters, numbers, and punctuation as you type Hear words as you type Hear function keys as you type Hear arrow, Tab, and other navigation keys as you type Hear when toggle keys like Caps lock and Num lock are turned on or off Hear Shift, Alt, and other modifier keys as you type Select Narrator key On touch keyboards, activate keys when I lift my finger Show the Narrator cursor Move my cursor with the Narrator cursor as Narrator reads text Sync the Narrator cursor and system focus Read and interact with the screen using the mouse |
|||
|
Audio |
Turn on mono audio Select how visual alerts for notifications are displayed |
|||
|
Keyboard |
Sticky Keys |
Use Sticky Keys Allow the shortcut key to start Sticky Keys Show the Sticky Keys icon on the taskbar Lock the modifier key when pressed twice in a row Turn off Sticky Keys when two keys are pressed at the same time Play a sound when a modifier key is pressed and released |
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|
Toggle Keys |
Use Toggle Keys Allow the shortcut key to start Toggle Keys |
|||
|
Filter Keys |
Use Filter Keys Allow the shortcut key to start Filter Keys Show the Filter Keys icon on the taskbar Beep when keys are pressed or accepted |
|||
|
Turn on Bounce Keys to wait before accepting additional keystrokes when you press the same key more than once |
Choose how long your PC waits before accepting repeated keystrokes |
|||
|
Turn on Slow Keys to make your PC wait before accepting keystrokes |
Choose how long your PC waits before accepting a keystroke |
|||
|
Turn on Repeat Keys to delay repeated keystrokes when you press and hold down on a key |
Choose how long your PC waits before accepting the first repeated keystroke Choose how long your PC waits before accepting subsequent repeated keystrokes |
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|
Underline access keys Use the Print screen key to open Snipping Tool |
||||
|
Make it easier to type |
Show a warning message when turning on Sticky, Filter, or Toggle Keys from the keyboard Make a sound when turning Sticky, Filter, or Toggle Keys on or off from the keyboard |
|||
|
Mouse |
Control your mouse with your keyboard |
Turn on Mouse Keys to use the numeric keypad to move the mouse pointer Only use Mouse Keys when Num Lock is on Show the Mouse Keys icon on the taskbar Hold the Ctrl key to speed up and the Shift key to slow down Mouse keys speed Mouse keys acceleration |
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|
Setting page |
Subpage |
Setting |
|---|---|---|
|
Time & Language |
Region |
Country or region Regional format |
|
Language |
Language profile |
|
Setting page |
Subpage |
Setting |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
System |
Notifications |
Get notifications from apps and other senders Allow notifications to play sounds Show notifications on the lock screen Show reminders and incoming VoIP calls on the lock screen |
|
|
Devices |
Mouse |
Primary mouse button Cursor speed Roll the mouse wheel to scroll Lines to scroll at a time Scroll inactive windows when hovering over them |
|
|
Typing |
Spelling |
Autocorrect misspelled words Highlight misspelled words |
|
|
Show text suggestions as I type on the software keyboard Add a space after I choose a text suggestion Add a period after I double-tap the Spacebar |
|||
|
Hardware keyboard |
Show text suggestions as I type Autocorrect misspelled words I type |
||
|
Show text suggestions based on the recognized languages you’re typing in |
|||
|
Touchpad |
Touchpad Cursor speed Touchpad sensitivity Tap with a single finger to single-click Tap with two fingers to right-click Tap twice and drag to multi-select Press the lower right corner of the touchpad to right-click Drag two fingers to scroll Scrolling direction Pinch to zoom |
||
|
Pen & Windows Ink |
Handwriting: Font |
||
|
Autoplay |
Use AutoPlay for all media and devices Choose AutoPlay removable drive default Choose AutoPlay memory card default |
||
|
USB |
Notify me if there are issues connecting to USB devices Notify me if my PC is charging slowly over USB |
||
|
Accounts |
Sync your settings |
Sync settings |
Accessibility Wi-Fi networks and passwords Personalization Language preferences Other Windows settings |
|
Time & Language |
Date & time |
Set time zone automatically Time zone |
|
|
Gaming |
Game Bar |
Open Game Bar using a button on a controller Keyboard shortcuts |
|
|
Game Mode |
Use Game Mode |
||
|
Update & Security |
For developers |
File Explorer |
Change settings to show file extensions Change settings to show hidden and system files Change settings to show full path in title bar Change settings to show empty drives |
|
Other |
File Explorer |
Single click to open an item (point to select): Underline icon titles Double click to open an item (single-click to select) Display Full Path in title bar Hide extensions for known file types Show hidden files, folders, and drives Use check box to select items |
|
|
Recycle Bin |
Display delete confirmation dialog |
||
|
Desktop |
View (Icon size, Auto arrange icons, Align icons to grid, Show desktop icons) Sort by (Name, Size, Item type, Date modified) |
||
|
Other |
Pins on taskbar and Start menu |
||
|
Setting page |
Subpage |
Setting |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Personalization |
Background |
Background (Picture, Solid color, Windows spotlight) Choose a fit for your desktop image |
|
|
Colors |
Choose your color (Light, Dark, Custom) Choose your default Windows mode Choose your default app mode Transparency effects Automatically pick an accent color from my background Accent color Show accent color on Start, taskbar, and action center Show accent color on title bars and window borders |
||
|
Lock screen |
Personalize your lock screen Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen Show the lock screen background picture on the sign-in screen |
||
|
Start |
Show recently added apps Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Start or the taskbar and in File Explorer Quick Access |
||
|
Taskbar |
Show badges on taskbar button |
||
|
Multiple displays |
Show taskbar on all displays Preferences for 'Show taskbar button on...' Preferences for 'Combine buttons on other taskbars' |
||
Note: In Windows Settings > Accounts > Sync your settings this is the Wi-Fi networks and passwords switch.
|
Setting page |
Subpage |
Setting |
|---|---|---|
|
Network & Internet |
Wi-Fi |
Wi-Fi profiles (only WPA profiles) |
|
Other |
Passwords |
Web credentials |
