Here are 10 Windows apps you should install on every new computer.
Buying a new PC comes with that specific feeling that you've started your entire tech life with a clean slate and you want to keep it forever.
You promise to never let it dust, you probably also plan to get a screen protector, and you swear that you will properly turn it off every night, unlike an old PC that had the power button stuck inside.
I can't judge the future of your new PC, but I'm sure you can't wait to fill it with amazing apps for the best experience.
If you want to make sure your new PC has the best possible security, is free of unnecessary data, maintains peak performance, and has many utility applications to make your day-to-day tasks easier, then I've got you covered.
Below, I've compiled a list of Windows apps that I think will perfectly complement your new PC experience with better security, performance, and usability.
VLC media player
If I got a dollar every time Windows Media Player disappoints me, I'd buy a new computer too. To be honest, WMP is too poor with terrible format support. If you use your computer to play audio/video files, I recommend that you choose VLC Media Player .
VLC natively supports almost all types of formats and comes with dozens of plugins for further customization. You can download videos directly from the player and even start watching them while downloading. You can boost the volume up to 200%, change media player skins, manage playlists, download and manage subtitles, and more.
The best thing is that VLC Media Player is completely free to use without any restrictions or ads.
Avira Prime
Let's move on to the security of your new PC. If you need an all-in-one security solution that protects your computer from malware and protects your online privacy, then Avira Prime is perfect. Avira Prime protects against malware and also comes with a built-in unlimited VPN to protect your online privacy.
In addition to full malware scanning and real-time protection, Avira Prime also protects your browsing activity by blocking malicious websites/downloads and keeping your applications and drivers up to date. It can automatically configure your computer and browser to turn off privacy-violating settings, and a built-in VPN makes sure you stay anonymous online.
It also comes with some extra features like a built-in secure password manager and a PC cleaner tool.
IObit Driver Amplifier
Up-to-date drivers are the key to the stable operation of your PC in the long run. You should make sure your PC has the latest drivers to enjoy the latest gaming features and avoid performance issues. IObit Driver Booster can not only update your PC's outdated drivers, but it can also install new drivers when they become available.
You just need to run a scan and the tool will automatically detect and list outdated drivers for you to update. It has a free version and a Pro version. The free version is great for updating most drivers, but the Pro version is recommended for accessing rare drivers and prioritizing drivers for better gaming.
Alternatively, DriverFix is also a good option to update all your drivers with just one click.
Advanced System Care
You will definitely need a PC optimization tool if you want to avoid performance degradation over time. Advanced System Care is my favorite PC cleanup tool that cleans your PC of junk and keeps it running at peak performance. It not only cleans up your PC but also tweaks its settings for the best performance.
It has a built-in game mode that disables all unnecessary background processes to free up all resources for games. In addition, it also speeds up your browsing by automatically correcting browser settings and removing data that violates privacy. For regular cleaning, the free version is more than enough. You can upgrade to the Pro version for more powerful scanning and browser-related features.
FixWin
Even on a new PC, you will run into software issues from time to time. While you can fix them manually, many problems can be fixed automatically using the automatic troubleshooter.
FixWin is one of the most powerful tools for fixing Windows problems, and it's completely free.
FixWin has fixes for hundreds of common Windows problems divided into 6 categories such as File Explorer or System Tools. You just need to find the problem you are facing and click "Fix" to fix it automatically. You can also learn more about the causes and solutions for a specific problem.
Greenshot
Taking screenshots is one of the most common tasks for any PC user, but the basic options for taking screenshots in Windows are very limited. If you want to take screenshots in different styles and easily save or share them, you need Greenshot . It is a free and highly customizable screenshot tool that allows you to take screenshots based on window, region, full screen, and even scrolling screenshot.
You can annotate the screenshots you take and automatically save them to the desired location on your PC. There is also an option to directly upload a screenshot to the online storage. I also really like its intuitive interface; all parameters are divided into 7 categories, which makes it easy to configure them.
While it's not necessary to install this app if you want more in the Windows 10 Start Menu, Start Menu X is perfect. This is an alternative start menu that replaces your regular start menu with an even more powerful one. It allows you to create groups of folders and applications without changing their actual location. You can hover your mouse over a folder to easily see the subfolders.
You can customize the appearance of the Start menu and its icon, and manage items by dragging and dropping them. It also has a handy timer-based power options feature that allows you to shut down or restart your computer after a set amount of time.
IrfanView
The Windows Photos app is good for viewing images, but nothing more. You don't get any advanced editing features other than basic cropping, resizing, and annotating, etc. If you want a powerful yet easy-to-use image viewer, then IrfanView is worth a try. This is a small tool for viewing and editing images. For editing, it may not be as powerful as GIMP, but it definitely ranks among the best photo editing tools.
You can convert, compress, optimize images with filters and enhancers, and perform other editing tasks. It also has powerful viewing features like slideshow, rotation, custom scale, hex view, etc. IrfanView is completely free and you can further extend its functionality with plugins .
Your phone
Our lives depend to a large extent on both our PC and our smartphone, and while working on a PC, it can be very difficult to reach for your phone to see and manage notifications. Your Phone The Microsoft app makes it easy to control your smartphone right from your PC.
You can easily view Windows PC notifications, reply to messages and accept/reject calls. You can even view media files on your phone and transfer them wirelessly to your computer. All in all, this is the perfect companion app for Windows so you may never have to take your phone out while working on your PC.
Becky
Wallpaper is the key to making your PC look good, and your new PC definitely deserves to look its best. Backy is a wallpaper app that allows you to find thousands of wallpapers of your choice and apply them to your desktop easily. You can also create slideshows using your favorite wallpapers.
You can create your own personal list or choose from your favorite category and the app will automatically apply them based on a predefined schedule. If you have the Backiee app on Android or iPhone, it can also sync your favorite wallpapers across all devices.
Bonus recommendation
In addition to these applications, I would like to introduce two websites that can provide you with the tools that are perfect for your new PC. NirSoft offers hundreds of free tools that are really effective for fixing or getting more information about your PC. I've already compiled a list of my favorite NirSoft utilities; you can check it out to get started. I'm sure you'll find plenty of tools to enhance your new PC experience.
Niniti is another great website that offers some of the most common Windows tools and lets you download them all at once. Some of the tools listed above are also available on the Ninite website, such as VLC and IrfanView. The website will download and install all the selected tools in one go and update them as well. Definitely worth using if you want to save time installing your favorite Windows apps.
To conclude
All of the above apps combined will give your new PC the best security, privacy, performance and utility. Some of these apps also have paid versions, but the free versions are more than enough for basic use.