Windows 10: If you haven’t tried these three new features, you’re missing out

The latest major Windows 10 ($ 150 on Amazon) The update started rolling out for desktops, laptops and two in one in late October and should be available for download now. (Learn how download the Windows 10 October 2020 update here. If you have not yet upgraded from Windows 7 ($ 26 on Amazon), you may be able to use this trick to download Windows 10 for free, too.) After upgrading your device, you’ll find some important new features that will help you get the most out of the new operating system.

Updating as soon as the update is available to you will make your computing life easier and safer. And at this point, as many of us are spending more time at home on our computers for work or play, every little thing that can make your experience better is a victory in our book. In addition, the update will prepare you for the next Windows 10 update in spring 2021, which seems to be setting the stage for major changes in the future.

Here are three of the best new features in the Windows 10 October 2020 update (also known as version 20H2) and how to use them.

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1. The Microsoft Edge browser brings privacy improvements

Windows 10 Version 20H2 is the first to come with the revamped Microsoft Edge browser installed by default. The browser is now built on Chromium, Google’s open source base for the Chrome browser, which makes it compatible with more sites than the previous version.

There are other benefits as well. The new Edge browser includes a privacy feature that tries to block websites that track you online – similar to Mozilla’s Firefox browser. And a feature called Collections allows you to more easily gather information from different sites while searching.

How to use the new Edge browser privacy settings: You will use the new Edge browser in much the same way as you would any other browser. Navigate to the logo on your taskbar or the Start menu – it appears as a circular wave hitting blue, green and water, similar to the old blue “e” icon in Internet Explorer.

To configure your privacy features, go to Settings> Privacy and services. You will see three crawl prevention options: basic (allows most crawlers), balanced (blocks crawlers from sites you haven’t visited – Microsoft recommends this one) and Strict (blocks most crawlers from all sites).

To check your privacy settings immediately, when using the browser, click the lock icon to the left of the search bar. A box will appear informing you if your connection is secure, with options to check the website’s certificate, cookies in use and website permissions. You can also enable or disable Crawl Prevention and manage the configuration for all sites you visit. If enabled, you will see the number of crawlers the browser has blocked.

How to use the Edge browser collections feature: After navigating to the page you want to save, click on the icon that looks like a “+“in a box to the right of the search bar. This will open the Collections panel on the right of the screen. Click Start new collectionand rename it as you wish. You can click Add current page to save the webpage you’re on. You can also click and drag an image from the page into the collection, as well as select and drag text and add your own notes. To export your collection to Word or Excel, click the three-point button share and more icon at the top of the collection.

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2. Personalize your new Start menu

The classic Windows Start menu is updated in the October 2020 Update. The new version features a more streamlined design and replaces the solid-colored back plates behind the logos in your application list with partially transparent backgrounds, so that the icons stand out most. The colors will also change depending on whether you are running in light or dark mode.

How to customize the new Start menu: If you want to add an accent color so that your tiles match the desktop theme, you can go to Settings> Personalization> Color and enable the accent color in Start, taskbar and action center.

Read more at TechRepublic: 20 professional tips to make Windows 10 work the way you want it (PDF free)

3. Open all of your tabs at once

With the update, you will be able to open all your tabs on the Edge with a simple command, instead of just the active one in each browser window. This makes it easier to get a complete view of all open windows, instead of just one. You can also set it to show only your last three or five tabs, or turn it off completely. However, it only works with the Edge browser, at least for now.

How to customize your tabs: To open all tabs on the Edge at once, press Alt + Tab. To configure the tab settings or turn off the feature, go to Settings> System> Multitasking. You will see a drop-down menu with options for what Alt + Tab can do.

Want more? Check out our summary of the best Windows 10 tips and tricks, and six simple security changes that all Windows 10 users need to make.