The Most Common Windows 10 Problems And How To Solve Them

If you've got a problem and nobody else can solve it, try looking a little closer to home.

- Ian Evenden

When it comes to tech, a little knowledge goes a long way. Windows 10, especially as it becomes more mature, is growing instability, and it’s a long way ahead of its predecessors, but—and it’s a big but—it is still beset by little niggles and gripes that can make it difficult to use. However, you’re the master of your own domain, and you can be the master of your own PC. Those problems can be banished by a little knowledge, either of the right thing to do or the right place to look.

So, we’re bringing you a collection of the most common Windows 10 problems and the best ways to solve them. We’ve broken them up into categories to help you find your way around, so the next time you run into an issue, check this guide—chances are the solution will be here, but if you’re still stumped, we’ll lead you to the right places to find the answer.

Struggling to understand how Windows Update works? Frustrated because it’s not working the way it should? Then you’ve come to the right place. In this feature, we’re also going to take you on a complete tour of Windows Update in Windows 7,8.1, and 10. We take a close look at what Windows Update does and—critically— how it works. You’ll discover the different types of update it provides, and how it packages them up and delivers them to your PC. If you’re running Windows 10, you may be in for a shock, because we reveal how to take back control of how updates are delivered from Microsoft.

Speaking of taking back control, we’ll also reveal how to manually stop Windows Update from forcing updates down your throat if you’re running Windows 10 Home Edition, and take an in-depth look at how to update and control the process if you’re running Windows 10 Pro, or an earlier version of Windows.