Windows

Best Windows 11 Themes, Backgrounds And Skins 2024

By admin February 9, 2024

Best Windows 11 Themes, Backgrounds And Skins 2024, Windows 11 Themes, Backgrounds, Skins, and Icons can offer a unique look to your computer coupled with unlimited customization possibilities.Using different skins and Themes For Windows 11 you can change your desktop icons, icon packs, background wallpaper, mouse cursor, color scheme, widgets, screensavers, wallpapers, and even system sound effects.

Thanks to Windows 11 Skin Packs it’s even possible to transform your Windows desktop background to look like a macOS or Linux computer.

As the title suggests, in this article, we have shared some of the best Windows 11 Themes And Icon Packs out there.

1. macOS Monterey SkinPack

First on the list is the new macOS Monterey SkinPack. The name says it all, this Windows 11 SkinPack will help you to replicate the latest macOS Monterey.

After applying the theme your background wallpaper, icons, the taskbar, buttons, and even software windows will look and feel like macOS.

The lite version of this Windows 11 Theme is free but you have to pay a small amount to get the icons. Do note that the developer suggests that you delete every existing SkinPack or Theme before applying the macOS SkinPack.

DOWNLOAD macOS Monterey SkinPack

2. 3D Theme

Next on the list is the 3D Theme for Windows 11. The feature-packed theme consists of 17 background HD wallpapers that will completely change the look and feel of your PC.

3D Graphics of this free Windows 11 Theme enhance your desktop and you can even couple 3D Theme with any of your existing themes.

Lastly, the installation is quite simple as well.

After downloading the 3d.deskthemepack file all you have to do is open and it will automatically apply to your PC.

DOWNLOAD 3D Theme

Best Windows 11 Themes, Backgrounds And Skins 2024

3. Ubuntu SkinPack

Once again the name says it all, Ubuntu SkinPack for Windows 11 will help you to transform your Windows PC into a Ubuntu PC.

The Unix-based OS SkinPack is very light and can run flawlessly on low-powered laptops and aging desktops. Sadly, it doesn’t support every Windows program but apart from that, the theme does offer a left-aligned taskbar with Ubuntu icons.

Similar to other packs on the list Windows 11 Ubuntu Theme is free to use but you can unlock some cool features by paying three dollars.

DOWNLOAD Ubuntu SkinPack

4. Xbox Series X theme

Xbox Series X theme is another great theme for Windows 10 that will be compatible with Windows 11 as well. As the name suggests this theme offers Xbox Series X console wallpapers.

If you’re a fan of Xbox consoles then do check out this theme. You can download the Xbox Series X theme from the Microsoft Store for free and it consists of 16 premium wallpapers.

DOWNLOAD Xbox Series X Theme

5. Mountain Light Premium

Next on the list is Mountain Light Premium. This Windows 11 Theme can be directly downloaded from the Microsoft Store and it’s completely free.

The theme consists of around 18 high-quality 4K premium mountain images from around the world. After applying them the Windows 11 accent color will change based on the color of the wallpaper.

DOWNLOAD Mountain Light Premium

6. Windows Nostalgia Bliss

If you consider yourself a long-time Windows user then do check out the Windows XP-inspired, Windows Nostalgia Bliss theme for Windows 11. With this theme, you will get access to the beautiful Bliss wallpaper.

The wallpaper is updated to make it compatible with Windows 11. The resolution of this wallpaper is 1920*1080.

DOWNLOAD Windows Nostalgia Bliss

7. Hacker Theme

Hacker Theme is ideal for anyone who wants to make his PC look and feel like a hacker’s rig.

In addition to Windows 11, this dark theme is compatible with Windows 10 / 8 / 8.1 / 7.

The slideshow of wallpapers offered by the Hacker Theme consists of many classic hacker symbols including the anonymous logo.

Another noteworthy feature of the Win 11 Theme is the green text that changes after every 30 minutes. This theme also gives a look of dark theme for windows 11.

DOWNLOAD Hacker Theme

8. Squid Game Theme

Anyone who is a fan of the Squid Game TV show should definitely check out the Squid Game Theme for Windows 10 and Windows 11.

After downloading and installing this Windows 11 theme you will get access to a total of 15 high-quality wallpapers from The Squid Game Netflix series.

Similar to other wallpaper themes on the list Squid Game theme doesn’t change icons and cursor.

DOWNLOAD Squid Game Theme

9. Northern Lights

If you are looking for a minimalistic theme that will enhance the overall look and feel of Windows 11 then do check out Northern Lights.

Northern Lights can be directly downloaded from the Microsoft App Store. The free theme for Windows offers a set of 15 high-quality wallpapers.

DOWNLOAD Northern Lights

10. Fortnite

Last on the list we have Fortnite. Yes, you read it right, there’s a Fortnite Windows 11 Theme. In addition to Windows 11, the theme is compatible with Windows 10 / 8 / 8.1 / 7.

This free Themepack for Windows 11 consists of 15 wallpapers and you will even get app icons with this Fortnite theme.

DOWNLOAD Fortnite Theme

11. World National Parks

World National Parks was one of the best themes for Windows 10 and now the theme is available on Windows 11 as well.

The theme consists of 18 high-quality images of spectacular national parks from all around the world. The theme is completely free and can be directly downloaded from the Microsoft store.

DOWNLOAD World National Parks

12. Polar Animals Theme

The name says it all, the theme Polar Animals has visually impressive images of snow leopards, polar bears, snowshoe hares, and other snow animals.

If you would like to experience winter vibes right on your desktop then do check out this well-crafted theme.

DOWNLOAD Polar Animals Theme

13. Beach Time PREMIUM

Beach Time PREMIUM is one of the best beach themes for Windows 11. This premium Windows 11 theme consists of 15 idyllic 4k images.

Beach Time PREMIUM is ideal for anyone who wants his desktop to look refreshing and clean. Using this theme you can even set a slideshow. If you do so images will automatically change after regular time intervals.

DOWNLOAD Beach Time PREMIUM

14. Vanilla

The theme Vanilla has been in existence since Windows 7 and now it’s available for Windows 11 as well.

Vanilla features a clean interface that makes your PC looks minimal and since it’s a borderless theme you won’t see any boundaries around open Windows.

DOWNLOAD Vanilla

15. Cosmic Beauty

Next on the list of the best Windows 11 themes and skins we have Cosmic Beauty. This free-to-use theme for Win 11 consists of 20 spectacular photos from outer space.

These photos feature strange planets, nebula, black holes, quasars, stars, and much more. You can download Cosmic Beauty directly from the Microsoft store.

DOWNLOAD Cosmic Beauty

16. Botanical Garden

This theme is offered by Microsoft Corporation and showcases seven aesthetically pleasing wallpapers. For those who prefer simplicity over vibrancy, this could be a perfect fit.

Though the theme solely provides backgrounds, it is an excellent pick for individuals who appreciate simplicity without animated visuals.

The captivating photography ensures a good greenish vibe on your desktop.

DOWNLOAD Botancial Garden

17. Classic Manga Action

Are you an Anime fan? Then you will like this Manga theme for Windows 11.

You get 8 different wallpapers that capture the different shades of the Manga characters.

This fresh Win 11 theme, available for free on the latest Windows, infuses the wallpapers with a burst of color and brings out the character’s energy.

DOWNLOAD Classic Manga Action

How To Apply Windows 11 Themes

If you have selected a good Windows 11 now it’s the time to apply it on your PC. So here’s how to apply themes in Windows 11.

1. Right-click anywhere on your desktop and click on Personalize.

2. Next select Themes. You can now apply any of the installed themes on your PC or click on browse themes to find some more themes on the Microsoft Store.

How to Install Custom Themes On Windows 11

To install a non-microsoft theme on a Windows 11 PC follow these simple steps.

NOTE: Before following this method either create a restore point or an image backup. So if something goes wrong you can always revert back.

1. Firstly, download and install UltraUXThemePatcher on your PC.

2. Next, copy all of your downloaded theme files to “C:/Windows/Resources/Themes“

3. You can now apply your custom theme from the Control Panel’s Personalization menu.

CONCLUSION

So these were some of the best Windows 11 Skins and Themes out there. We will continue to update the post as more and more themes become available for Windows 11.

Windows 11 Themes FAQs

Where can I download themes for Windows 11?

You can download themes for Windows 11 from the official Microsoft store or sites like DeviantArt, Skinpacks and Themepack

How do I customize my desktop in Windows 11?

You can customize your desktop on Windows 11 by using or customizing themes, wallpapers, widgets, apps, start menu, system tray, etc.

Which theme is best for Windows 11?

macOS Monterey SkinPack and Northern Lights are considered to be the best themes for Windows 11.

What are the best themes for Windows 10?

If you are looking for windows 10 themes you can find some of the best ones here in this list.

What are the best Windows 11 themes for Windows 10?

Find out the best Windows 11 themes for Windows 10 in this article.

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Windows

Windows 10 Media Creation Tool User Guide

By admin February 8, 2024

Windows 10 Media Creation Tool User Guide, If you want to install Windows 10, you first have to create installation media such as a bootable USB memory stick or a DVD with the Windows 10 setup. Fortunately, that is a simple thing to do, as Microsoft developed the Media Creation Tool< for just that reason. If you want to learn where to download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool and how to use it to create a USB stick or download an ISO file with the latest Windows 10 May 2021 Update (also known as Windows 10 version 21H1), read this guide.

NOTE: This guide is based on Windows 10 May 2021 Update, the latest version of Windows 10, and MediaCreationTool21H1.exe, both officially released on May 18, 2021.

What you should know before you go ahead

Before creating an ISO file, a USB memory stick, or a DVD with the Windows 10 setup, you should first check these requirements and recommendations:

• You must have a working internet connection to be able to download the installation files.

• You must have sufficient free storage space on your hard disk or solid-state drive for the installation files. Microsoft recommends you have at least 8 GB of free space. However, the ISO file we last downloaded had 4.24 GB for the 64-bit version of Windows 10. When we chose to create an ISO file with both the 32-bit and the 64-bit setup, the file had 7.37 GB.

• If you want to create a USB memory stick, note that any data stored on it gets deleted. Media Creation Tool needs to format it before creating the bootable memory stick with the Windows 10 setup.

• If you want to create media with Windows 10 setup, you need to use a DVD or a USB memory stick with at least 8 GB of storage space.

• If you intend to upgrade your computer or device to Windows 10, make sure it meets the system requirements. You can check them here: Windows 10 Specifications.

• You must be logged in as an administrator on your computer to use the Media Creation Tool.

How to download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool

If you’re wondering what the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool is, here’s the answer: a small executable file made by Microsoft, that allows you to download Windows 10 and create your installation media both on USB devices or in an ISO file. Furthermore, the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool also lets you directly upgrade your current computer or device to the latest version of the operating system.

The next question you might ask is: “How do I get Windows 10 Media Creation Tool?” To download the Media Creation Tool, open your favorite web browser and go to this webpage: Download Windows 10. Scroll until you reach the “Download tool now” button found in the “Create Windows 10 installation media” section.

Microsoft asks you to download an executable file called MediaCreationTool21H1.exe, with a size of 18.5 MB. The file name ends with the version number of the latest Windows 10 update. In our case, 21H1 is the version number for Windows 10 with May 2021 Update. Save the executable file for the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool somewhere on your PC and then run it with a double-click or double-tap.

When you see the UAC prompt on your screen, choose Yes to allow the MediaCreationTool21H1.exe to run.

Depending on what you want to do, read the next section of this tutorial or the one after it.

TIP: The future versions of the MediaCreationTool21H1.exe file and of Windows 10 will have a different version number at the end. To learn more about Windows 10 versions, read: How to check the Windows 10 version, OS build, edition, or type.

Use the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB memory stick with the Windows 10 setup

You can use the Media Creation Tool as a Windows 10 USB tool. In other words, it can download the Windows 10 setup files and automatically create a bootable Windows 10 USB memory stick, which you can then use to install the operating system on any computer. When the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool loads its user interface, it asks you to accept its license terms. Read the terms, and click or tap Accept to continue.

Media Creation Tool needs a few seconds to “get a few things ready.” Then, it asks whether you want to upgrade your PC or create installation media that you can use to install Windows 10. Check the second option: “Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC,” and press Next.

Next, you can choose the Language, Edition, and Architecture (32-bit, 64-bit, or both) that you want to use for the Windows 10 setup media. By default, the Media Creation Tool uses the recommended options for your PC. It is best to leave these options as they are and just press Next. However, if you uncheck the box for “Use the recommended options for this PC,” you can set things in detail before moving on to the next step.

You are prompted about the media storage you want to use. Plugin the USB memory stick on which you want to store the Windows 10 setup files, select “USB flash drive” and press Next.

You see all the flash drives and external hard disks currently connected to your Windows computer or device. Select the one you want to use for creating Windows 10 installation media, and then press Next. Do not forget that all the data on the drive is going to get wiped during this process. Make sure that you have a copy of it before moving forward.

Once you have selected the USB flash drive, the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool starts to download the latest installation files. Depending on your internet connection speed and the load on Microsoft’s servers, this might take a while. All you need is patience.

Once the download of the Windows 10 setup files is over, it is verified for integrity. Then, the USB memory stick you selected is made bootable, with the newest Windows 10 setup. This process may take another couple of minutes.

When the process is finished, you are informed that the USB memory stick is ready. Click or tap Finish, and then you can use that drive to boot from and install Windows 10.

Safely remove the USB flash drive from your computer, and use it as you see fit.

TIP: To install Windows 10 without problems, read: How to install Windows 10 from DVD, USB, or ISO file.

How to use the Media Creation Tool to download an ISO file with the latest Windows 10 setup

You can also use the Media Creation Tool to create a Windows 10 setup ISO file. When the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool loads its user interface, it asks you to accept its license terms. Read the terms, and click or tap Accept to continue.

You are asked to choose what you want to do. Select “Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC,” and click or tap Next.

By default, the Media Creation Tool chooses for you a recommended language, architecture, and edition of Windows 10. If you want to personalize these settings, uncheck the box for “Use recommended settings for this PC,” and make your selections. When you are done, press Next.

You are asked to choose which media to use. Select “ISO file” and click or tap Next.

The Windows 10 Media Creation Tool asks you to select where you want to save the ISO file and the name you want to give it. Browse your computer or device, choose the location that you want, choose a file name (by default it is named Windows.iso), and then click or tap the Save button.

Media Creation Tool starts to download the latest Windows 10 installation files to your computer or device. Depending on your internet connection speed and the load on Microsoft’s servers, this might take a while, so give it a couple of minutes.

Once the download is over, it is verified for integrity to make sure that everything is OK. Then, the ISO file is created in the folder you selected, with the file name you chose.

When the Windows 10 ISO file is created, you are shown where it was saved. Click or tap Finish.

You can burn the ISO file with the Windows 10 setup to a DVD or mount the ISO file in a virtual machine.

Did you have issues using the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool?

As you can see, using the Media Creation Tool is intuitive and straightforward, even if you are not a technical expert. With our instructions, you should have no trouble creating a Windows 10 ISO setup file of your own or a bootable Windows 10 USB memory stick with all its setup files on it. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask in the comments section below.

What is the latest version of Windows 10? Check the version you have

The latest version of Windows 10 is 2022 Update or 22H2, build 19045, and it was released starting October 18th, 2022. This version doesn’t introduce new features, instead including only quality and security improvements. Still, it does keep the evolution process of Windows 10 alive and kicking. If you want to know whether you have the latest version of Windows 10 installed and how to check what version, build, or type of Windows 10 you’re using, read this guide.

What version of Windows 10 do I have? The quick method!

This method is fast and works the same, no matter what version of Windows 10 you have: use the Search bar next to the Start button, type winver, and press Enter, or click or tap the search result with the same name.

Alternatively, press the Windows + R keys to bring up the Run window, type winver, and press Enter or click or tap OK.

This command opens the About Windows box, where you see the Windows 10 version followed by the OS Build and the Windows 10 edition. For example, below, you see a PC with Windows 10 Pro and the 22H2 version, build 19045.

Is all this data confusing? Continue reading this tutorial to make sense of the version numbers you see, the OS Build, the Windows 10 edition you have, and so on.

How to check the Windows 10 version from the Settings app

This method works in all versions and editions of Windows 10, but things can look differently depending on the specific build you’re using. First, open the Settings app (the quickest way is to press Windows + I on the keyboard). Then, click or tap System.

On the left, scroll to the bottom and choose About. On the right, you see information about your system. The amount of information shown differs depending on the Windows 10 version you have installed. On the right, you see the lines with the data that interests you:

• System type – it tells you whether you use a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 10

• Edition – it shares the edition of Windows 10 that you have: Pro, Home, Enterprise, Education, etc.

• Version – displays the version of Windows 10 currently installed

• OS Build – see the Windows 10 build number

These lines of information are positioned differently, depending on your version of Windows 10. For example, here is how the About section looks in the Windows 10 November Update from 2015. The lines we mentioned exist here too but are ordered differently.

How to check the Windows 10 version from PowerShell

If you prefer using a command-line environment, open PowerShell and type or copy and paste this command:

wmic os get version

Then, press the Enter key to execute it and see the information you’re looking for.

The Version number tells you the build of Windows 10 you have installed. In the earlier example, the build number is 19045, which comes after 10.0. With this number, you can then make sense of the exact Windows 10 version you’re using, so continue reading.

How to translate Windows 10 version numbers into feature updates

Until November 2021, Microsoft kept updating Windows 10, releasing two major feature updates each year. These feature updates have a specific version and a marketing name (like Creators Update or November 2021 Update) and come with new features, new apps, significant changes, and so on. As a result, Windows 10 has evolved a lot since it was first released in July 2015.

From November 2021 onwards, Microsoft has changed the Windows 10 release cadence to align with Windows 11, targeting annual feature updates in the second half of each year.

Getting back to your Windows 10 version, if you know the version number for your PC, here is how it translates into feature updates:

• Version 1507 or build 10240 – The initial release of Windows 10, launched in July 2015, codenamed Threshold 1.

• 1511 or build 10586 – The first significant update for Windows 10 was released in November 2015, called November Update, and codenamed Threshold 2.

• 1607 or build 14393 – The second major update is the Anniversary Update for Windows 10. It was launched a year after the initial release of Windows 10, in July 2016, and codenamed Redstone 1.

• 1703 or build 15063 – The third major update, named Creators Update for Windows 10. It was released in April 2017 and codenamed Redstone 2.

• 1709 or build 16299 – The fourth major update, also called Fall Creators Update for Windows 10. It was released in October 2017 and codenamed Redstone 3.

• 1803 or build 17134 – The fifth major update is named April 2018 Update for Windows 10. It was codenamed Redstone 4 and released in April 2018.

• 1809 or build 17763 – The sixth major update for Windows 10 is named October 2018 Update for Windows 10. It was codenamed Redstone 5 and released in October 2018.

• 1903 or build 18362 – The seventh major update for Windows 10. It is named May 2019 Update, and its codename is 19H1. The “19” stands for the year when the update is released, and the “H1” stands for the first update of that year. You can learn more about this codename change here.

• 1909 or build 18363 – The eighth major update for Windows 10, codenamed 19H2. It was named November 2019 Update and began rolling out on November 12, 2019.

• version 2004 or build 19041 – The ninth update to Windows 10, codenamed 20H1. It was called May 2020 Update and released later than other similar updates on May 27, 2020.

• 2009 or build 19042 – the tenth major update for Windows 10 is codenamed 20H2. Named October 2020 Update, it was rolled out starting October 20th, 2020. Cool date, isn’t it? 🙂

• 21H1 or build 19043 – the eleventh major update to Windows 10. Its name is May 2021 Update, and it began rolling out on the 18th of May 2021.

• 21H2 or build 19044 – the twelfth major update to Windows 10. It is named November 2021 Update and rolled out starting November 16th, 2021.

• 22H2 or build 19045 – the thirteenth major update to Windows 10. It is named 2022 Update and started rolling out on October 18th, 2022.

• 23H2 or build 19046 – the fourteenth major update to Windows 10 and probably the last. It’s probably going to be named the 2023 Update.

When will we get the last version of Windows 10?

According to this page on Microsoft.com, the retirement date for Windows 10 is October 14th, 2025. This means that we shouldn’t expect to get a new Windows 10 version past 2023 at the latest since that would imply the need to support this operating system past its October 2025 retirement date. However, these dates may change, and we’re keeping an eye on what Microsoft communicates about its future plans for Windows 10.

Windows 10 editions – what is different about them?

You can have one of the following editions of Windows 10 installed on your computer or device:

• Home – the most used edition of Windows 10. It is designed for home users and new devices sold in the retail space. It includes only consumer-oriented features and lacks business features like BitLocker encryption or virtualization.

• Pro – this version adds features for small business environments and power users, like BitLocker encryption.

• Enterprise – provides all the features of Windows 10 Pro, with additional features to assist network administrators and technology-oriented companies.

• Enterprise LTSC – the long-term servicing channel of Windows 10 Enterprise, released once every two or three years. It is supported with security updates for ten years after each new version.

• Education – it initially had the same features as Windows 10 Enterprise and was designed for academic organizations. Since the Fall Creators Update, its feature set has been lowered.

• Pro Education – a special edition of Windows 10 for the educational sector. It includes a “Set Up School PCs” app that allows provisioning settings using a USB flash drive. It does not have Cortana, Microsoft Store suggestions, or Windows Spotlight.

• Pro for Workstations – this edition is designed for high-end hardware, intensive computing tasks, and the latest server processors and file systems.

• S – a feature-limited mode of Windows 10 designed for retail and education. Its most important limitation is that you cannot install desktop apps unless distributed through the Microsoft Store. Also, Microsoft Edge is enforced as the default web browser, with Bing as its search engine. Windows 10 Home, Pro, and Pro Education can be run in S mode. Other editions cannot.

• N and KN – N versions are available only in Europe, while KN versions are available only in Korea, to comply with antitrust laws in those regions, where Microsoft has been found abusing its monopoly to hurt competing video and audio applications. These editions of Windows 10 remove Windows Media Player, Media Player, and other multimedia features. N and KN can apply to all other editions of Windows. Therefore, you can have Windows 10 Home N, Windows 10 Pro N, and so on.

• IoT – this edition is designed for low-cost devices like Raspberry Pi and specialized machines like robots, ATMs, POS terminals, or barcode scanners. There are two editions of Windows 10 IoT: IoT Enterprise and IoT Core.

NOTE: If you need help deciding what Windows 10 edition to buy, read: How much is Windows 10? Where to buy Windows 10 Pro or Home?

What is the Windows 10 OS build?

The OS Build number changes with each Windows 10 update you install. To help you understand, let’s take the following situation:

When Windows 10 October 2018 Update was released, it had version number 1809, and the OS build showed the value 17763.1. After the first update to Windows 10, the OS Build changed to 17763.55, while the version number remained the same. After the most recent update to Windows 10, launched in October 2022, the build number is 19045.2130.

The OS build number changes with each update made by Microsoft to Windows 10. This information is helpful for troubleshooting purposes. For example, when you encounter a bug and talk to a tech support engineer, the OS Build is critical to understanding the exact version of Windows 10 you’re using and what updates are necessary to fix the problem. You can learn more about the evolution of Windows 10 build numbers from this Windows 10 release information.

What is the Windows 10 system type?

This information only tells you whether Windows 10 uses the 32-bit or 64-bit register of the processor. Modern processors tend to be 64-bit, and their advantage is they can address and process much more data than 32-bit processors. So in most cases, Windows 10 should be 64-bit, which is a good thing.

Did you check what Windows 10 version you have?

Now you know how to find the Windows 10 version you have and what it means. Before closing this article, share your Windows 10 version, edition, and build number with us. We are curious to discover the most popular versions and editions with our readers.

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Computer

How to download Windows 10 for free

By admin February 8, 2024

How to download Windows 10 for free, Windows 10 is the most widely used PC operating system in the world right now. Obviously, it’s a good idea to keep a USB memory stick, a DVD, or an ISO file with the Windows 10 setup handy. You may need it for various reasons, whether it’s reinstalling Windows 10 on your laptop or assisting friends in trouble, when their computers malfunction.

Or, why not, even for upgrading a very old Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 computer. If you want to know how and where to download Windows 10, don’t worry. Here are three ways to get Windows 10 for free and legally, regardless of whether you need to download a 64-bit or 32-bit full version.

1. How to download Windows 10 from Microsoft using the Media Creation Tool

The best option to obtain Windows 10 is to use a small program that Microsoft provides to everyone for free: the Media Creation Tool. This small application allows you to download Windows 10 as an ISO file or to create a DVD or a USB drive with Windows 10 on it. You can download the Media Creation Tool from the Windows 10 website.

The app provides a straightforward and user-friendly interface. It allows you to choose between 32-bit or 64-bit versions of Windows 10 and includes different editions like Windows 10 Pro and Home. For more guidance, you can check out our tutorial: Windows 10 Media Creation Tool: Create a setup USB stick or ISO.

Download: Media Creation Tool.

How to download Windows 10 for free

2. How to get Windows 10 free (full version) with Rufus

Using Rufus is another great way to download Windows 10. Rufus is a handy application that allows you to create bootable drives from image files. What many don’t know, however, is that you can also use it to download operating systems, including Windows 10. To get the most recent version of the software, visit the Rufus website.

Once you get Rufus on your computer, run it and make sure you allow it to check for updates. Otherwise, you won’t be able to download Windows 10.

Then, click or tap the small arrow next to the Select button.

This opens a small menu with two options: Select and Download. Choose Download instead of the default Select option.

That will initiate a small wizard where you can tell Rufus that you want to get Windows 10. Choose it from the Version list and click or tap on Continue.

The next steps of the Download ISO image wizard in Rufus are as clear as they can be. All you have to do is select the options you prefer and click/tap Continue to move on to the next ones.

You can choose the Release (there’s only one option here at the time of writing: version 22H2 v1), then select what edition (Home, Pro, and Education are all inside the same ISO), what language, and what architecture you want to download (Windows 10 64-bit or 32-bit). In the end, you get to download the full version of Windows 10 by pressing the Download button.

TIP: If you’re interested, here’s what the latest version of Windows 10 is, and how the Windows 10 editions are different from each other.

Once you press Download, you’re asked where you want to save the Windows 10 ISO file. Select a location on your computer, choose a name for the ISO or leave the default one, and click or tap on Save to begin downloading it.

Rufus then starts downloading Windows 10 on your PC. While the process is running, you can monitor its status at the bottom of the window.

When the download is over, you’ll find the Windows 10 ISO file saved in the location you specified earlier. Then, you can use it to create a bootable DVD or USB memory stick with the Windows 10 setup. If you need help with that, check out this guide: How to make a bootable USB drive with Windows, Ubuntu, or FreeDOS.

Download: Rufus.

3. How to get a Windows 10 download from a safe site, like Softpedia

The third method I can think of is to get a Windows 10 ISO from websites that offer software downloads. However, this option has the highest risk because many of these websites are not trustworthy, and some may even hide malware in the downloads they provide.

Sadly, most of the big download sites that are reliable, such as FileHippo, CNET, and MajorGeeks, don’t have direct links for downloading Windows 10 ISO files. The only website with a good reputation that I found offering direct downloads for Windows 10 ISO files is Softpedia. Go to it, look for Windows 10, and you should see the download options in the first results.

Download: Windows 10 on Softpedia.

What is your favorite way to download Windows 10?

If you want to get Windows 10 for free, legally, and without any risks, these are the options you have. Do you have any other suggestions on how to download Windows 10? Which method do you like the most? Do you use the official Media Creation Tool from Microsoft, or do you prefer Rufus when creating a Windows 10 USB memory stick? Let me know in the comments section below.

How to restart a Windows 10 computer

Sometimes, you need to restart your Windows 10 laptop or desktop PC simply to give it a fresh new start. Some other times, you may have to reboot because you just installed a new app or driver, or maybe because Windows 10 updated itself. Whatever the reason, there are plenty of ways to restart Windows 10, and they’re all quite simple. I have a list of eight different methods for you to choose from and I’m curious whether you know them all, or just a few of them. Here they are.

1. How to restart Windows 10 using the Start Menu

If you want to restart your Windows 10 computer, the easiest way is to use the Start Menu. First, open the Start Menu by clicking or tapping the Windows button in the bottom-left corner of the screen. Then, click or tap the Power button. From the options that appear, choose Restart to reboot your device.

If you have the Start Menu in full screen or you’re using Windows 10 on a tablet, things look a bit different. However, you can follow the same steps to restart your device: tap the Start button, go to Power, and tap Restart.

2. How to restart Windows 10 using the WinX menu

Another way to restart your PC is to use the power user menu, or the WinX menu for short. You can open it by pressing Windows + X on your keyboard or by right-clicking (or pressing and holding) the Windows button in the bottom-left corner of your screen. Then, choose “Shut down or sign out” and click or tap Restart.

TIP: The WinX menu is one of the most powerful things in Windows 10, out of the box. But did you know that you can make it even more useful by editing its options? Here’s how to edit WinX.

3. How to restart Windows 10 using Alt + F4

You may already know that pressing the Alt + F4 keys closes the current application or window you’re using. But did you know that you can also use this keyboard shortcut to restart Windows 10? All you have to do for that is to go to the desktop by pressing the Win + D keys, and then press Alt + F4 to open the Shut Down Windows dialog box. In it, select the Restart option from the dropdown menu and press Enter or click/tap OK to reboot your Windows 11 device.

TIP: The Shut Down Windows dialog also lets you sign out of your user account or switch to another one if that’s what you want.

4. How to restart Windows 10 from the command line

For those who love working with commands, there are ways to restart Windows 10 from the Command Prompt or PowerShell too. Moreover, some commands can also be executed directly from a Run window if that’s what you prefer. Here’s how it all works:

4.1. How to restart Windows 10 using the “shutdown” command

Open a Command Prompt, PowerShell or Run window, and type the command:

shutdown /r

Then press Enter on your keyboard to restart your Windows 10 laptop, tablet, or desktop computer.

Once triggered, the command makes Windows 10 display a warning window (“You’re about to be signed out”), and after a short while, your computer restarts.

Please note that closing the warning doesn’t stop the restart process.

4.2. How to restart Windows 10 using the PowerShell Restart-Computer command

If you prefer using PowerShell, you can also use this command to restart your Windows 10 device:

Restart-Computer

Once executed, the command instantly reboots your Windows 10 computer. There are no other warnings displayed.

Note that this command only works in PowerShell or in a PowerShell tab inside Windows Terminal. You can’t use it in Command Prompt or in the Run window.

5. How to restart Windows 10 from the lock screen

You can also restart your device from the lock screen: you can see this screen before logging into Windows 10 or if you sign out or lock your device. On it, press the I/O icon from the bottom-right corner and then click or tap the Restart option.

6. How to restart Windows 10 with Control + Alt + Delete

If you have a Windows 10 PC with a keyboard, a quick way to get to the power options is to simultaneously press the Control, Alt, and Delete keys on your keyboard. Once you do, look for the I/O button in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Click or tap on it, and you’ll see the usual power menu with Sleep, Shut down, and Restart. Choose Restart, and your Windows 10 computer will reboot.

TIP: There’s more to the Ctrl + Alt + Del screen than just power options. Here’s what Control Alt Delete is and what you can do with it.

7. How to restart Windows 10 using our Shut Down Windows shortcut

If you want to restart (or power off) your PC, you can also use our handy shortcut for the “Shut Down Windows” dialog box I’ve talked about in the third (Alt + F4) method of this guide. This shortcut is a little file we made for you, that works on any Windows machine, whether it’s Windows 10 or Windows 11. Here’s how to get it and use it: Download the shortcut for “Shut Down Windows”.

After you download it, run it, and it will instantly open the Shut Down Windows dialog box. In it, select Restart and either press Enter on your keyboard or click/tap the OK button.

8. How to restart Windows 10 using Simple Shutdown Scheduler

Last but not least, there’s also an app that I believe you’ll like: Simple Shutdown Scheduler. It can help you with scheduling or triggering immediate actions for shutting down or restarting Windows 10. Before installing it though, you will have to install the additional Windows 10 feature .NET Framework 3.5.

Then, open the app, go to the General tab, and pick the Restart action from the Immediate action dropdown menu. Once you do, hit the Go button next to it.

If you want to learn more about this app, check out this guide we published some time ago: Set your Windows PC to turn off or restart at certain time, with Simple Shutdown Scheduler.

How do you usually restart your Windows 10 computer?

You know now that there are many ways to reboot your Windows 10 device. Depending on what you prefer or need, you may use one or the other. Which one’s your favorite? Also, if you’re having any issues restarting your Windows 10 computer, feel free to leave a comment in the section below, and I’ll try to help.

How to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking

If your Windows is acting up or not booting at all, you may want to try Safe Mode to fix it. Safe Mode is a special way of starting Windows that only loads the essential stuff, so you can troubleshoot and repair the issues.

But sometimes, you need more than just the basics, like internet access. That’s where Safe Mode with Networking comes in handy. It’s a variation of Safe Mode that also lets you connect to the web and other networks. In this guide, I’ll show you how to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking using various methods, including from the command line and the graphical user interface of this operating system.

NOTE: This guide covers the ways in which you can boot Windows 10 into Safe Mode with Networking. If you’d like to know more about Safe Mode, what it is, and why it’s useful, you should read this article first: What is Safe Mode? Also, if you’re interested in starting your computer into standard Safe Mode without networking or internet access, read this tutorial instead: How to boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode.

What is Safe Mode with Networking in Windows 10? What’s the difference between Safe Mode and Safe Mode with Networking?

The default Safe Mode starts Windows using only a few core services and drivers to avoid as many issues as possible. Unfortunately, the downside is that the minimal Safe Mode doesn’t let you connect to the network or the internet, so you’re kind of isolated.

That’s where the Safe Mode with Networking environment comes in handy. If you need to use the internet while in Safe Mode to make it easier to troubleshoot your Windows 10 computer, you should try Safe Mode with Networking. This option lets you start Windows with only the essential services and drivers, but it also includes the networking components. However, keep in mind that this only works with wired Ethernet connections. Safe Mode with Networking doesn’t work with Wi-Fi. That’s because wireless cards need more complex drivers that are not loaded by Windows 10 when running in Safe Mode.

Safe Mode with Networking can be tremendously helpful when you need to download repair tools from the internet or when your computer is infected with malware and you must download and run antivirus tools that are up to date. Now let’s see how to boot into Safe Mode with Networking in Windows 10. I’ll first cover the ways to start Safe Mode with Networking when you can’t log in to Windows 10 and then the ones to use when you can sign in with your user account.

How to boot in Safe Mode with Networking when you can’t log in to Windows 10

Having trouble starting or logging in to Windows 10? You can still boot your computer into Safe Mode with Networking in order to fix the problem(s). Here’s how:

1. How to restart Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking using the Shift + Restart keyboard shortcut

One of the easiest methods to boot Windows 10 into Safe Mode with Networking is to restart it while keeping the Shift key pressed. Furthermore, you can do that from the sign-in or lock screen without having to actually sign in with a user account on your Windows 10 computer:

Boot your Windows 10 PC as you would normally do. When you get to the sign-in screen, press and hold the Shift key while clicking the Power button, and then Restart.

After a short while, you should see a blue screen with four options: “Continue (Exit and continue to Windows 10),” “Use a device (Use a USB drive, network connection, or Windows recovery DVD),” “Troubleshoot (Reset your PC or see advanced options),” and “Turn off your PC.” Click or tap the third one: Troubleshoot.

On the Troubleshoot screen, choose Advanced options.

On the Advanced options screen, click or tap on “Startup Settings (Change Windows startup behavior).”

Next, on the Startup Settings screen, click or tap on the Restart button.

After a short while, Windows 10 restarts and gives you some options for how it will boot up. To make it go into Safe Mode with Networking, choose option number five: “5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking”. To select it, either press the number 5 key or the F5 function key on your keyboard.

Your Windows 10 computer will now restart and boot into Safe Mode with Networking.

2. How to open boot into Safe Mode with Networking when Windows 10 shows a black screen

If Windows 10 fails to boot normally three times consecutively, it automatically enters Automatic Repair mode the next time you try to start it. You can access the Safe Mode with Networking from there. Trigger the Automatic Repair mode manually by interrupting the normal boot process three times over: use the reset or the power button on your Windows 10 computer to stop it during boot.

If you use the power button, you might have to keep it pressed for at least 4 seconds to force the power off. When your Windows 10 computer enters the Automatic Repair mode, the first thing you see is a screen letting you know that the operating system is “Preparing Automatic Repair.”

After a short while, the Automatic Repair tries to diagnose the problems that keep your Windows 10 PC from booting successfully.

When the Automatic Repair screen is loaded, click or tap on the Advanced options button.

Then, the “Choose an option” screen loads. Click or tap on Troubleshoot and take the same steps shown in this guide’s first method. In short, follow this path: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart > Enable Safe Mode with Networking (press the 5 or the F5 key).

3. How to restart in Safe Mode with Networking from the command line, with a Windows 10 installation disc or USB stick

If your PC doesn’t boot Windows 10, but you have access to another computer, you can use the working computer to create a Windows 10 installation DVD or USB memory stick. Download Windows 10 and create your own installation media. Then, insert the DVD or the USB memory stick into your non-working Windows 10 computer and boot from it. Wait for the Windows 10 setup wizard to load, and choose the language and keyboard layout you prefer. Then, click or tap Next.

On the next screen, don’t click/tap on Install now. Instead, look at the bottom left part of the wizard and click/tap on “Repair your computer.”

The screen called “Choose an option” loads. On it, click or tap Troubleshoot.

The Troubleshoot screen loads. On it, click or tap Advanced options.

A screen called Advanced options is loaded: click or tap “Command Prompt (Use the Command Prompt for advanced troubleshooting).”

To restart Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking from Command Prompt, run this command:

bcdedit /set {default} safeboot network

After you press Enter on your keyboard, the Command Prompt should state: “The operation completed successfully.”

Close the Command Prompt and then click or tap on “Continue (Exit and continue to Windows 10)”.

After your PC restarts, Windows 10 will boot into Safe Mode with Networking.

IMPORTANT: To get back to normal boot after you’ve finished repairs, follow the same steps, but run this command instead:

bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot

4. How to start Windows 10’s Safe Mode with Networking from a recovery drive

If you already have a recovery disk or you create one on another Windows 10 computer, you can use it to boot your broken Windows 10 PC into Safe Mode with Networking.

Plug the recovery drive into your Windows 10 PC and use it to boot. The first screen you see asks you what keyboard layout you prefer to use. Click or tap on the one you want.

Then, on the “Choose an option” screen, click or tap on “Troubleshoot (Reset your PC or see advanced options.” The next steps are the ones shown in the first method from this guide. Essentially, you should follow this path: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart > Enable Safe Mode with Networking (press the 5 or the F5 key).

How to boot in Safe Mode with Networking when you can log in to Windows 10

If you want to boot your Windows 10 PC in Safe Mode with Networking, and you can still log in normally, here’s are your options:

5. How to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking using Shift + Restart

If you’re signed in to Windows 10, open the Start Menu. Press and keep the Shift key down, click the Power button, and select Restart.

After a short while, you should see a blue screen with four options: “Continue (Exit and continue to Windows 10),” “Use a device (Use a USB drive, network connection, or Windows recovery DVD),”, “Troubleshoot (Reset your PC or see advanced options),” and “Turn off your PC.” Click or tap on the third one – Troubleshoot – and then take the same steps shown in the first method of this guide. In short, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart > Enable Safe Mode with Networking (press the 5 or the F5 key).

6. How to reboot into Safe Mode with Networking using Windows 10’s Settings

You can also boot into Safe Mode with Networking if you use the Advanced startup settings from Windows 10. Start by opening the Settings app and then click or tap on the Update & Security section.

In the left sidebar, click/tap to select Recovery. On the right, click or tap the Restart now button from the Advanced startup section.

Then, Windows 10 loads the same “Choose an option” screen that I’ve shown in this guide’s previous methods. From here on, you should follow the same steps described earlier: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart > Enable Safe Mode with Networking (press the 5 or the F5 key).

7. How to boot Windows 10 into Safe Mode with Networking using msconfig (System Configuration)

Another easy way to boot a Windows 10 computer into Safe Mode with Networking is to use the System Configuration tool, otherwise known as msconfig.exe. Launch System Configuration: a fast way to do this is to type system configuration or msconfig in the search box on your taskbar and then click or tap System Configuration.

In the System Configuration window, click or tap the Boot tab. Check Safe boot in the Boot options section, and then choose Network.

After you click or tap on OK, Windows 10 pops up a notification saying that you must restart your computer to make the changes. If you want to go into Safe Mode with Networking right now, click/tap on Restart. Otherwise, choose to “Exit without restart,” and when you’re ready, restart your Windows 10 PC in Safe Mode with Networking manually.

When you restart, Windows 10 automatically enters Safe Mode with Networking. The first thing I found when that happened on my test computers was that Microsoft Edge launches automatically in this Safe Mode, loading the Windows help & learning website.

You can now use Microsoft Edge to navigate the internet and read help guides or download any repair tools you might need. Then, when you’re finished troubleshooting your PC, turn off Safe Mode with Networking by following the same steps in this chapter to disable the Safe boot setting from msconfig (System Configuration).

8. How to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking from Command Prompt with the shutdown command

The last method I know for starting Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking relies on Command Prompt. Open CMD and execute the following command:

shutdown.exe /r /o

This command triggers a reboot of Windows 10 into its recovery environment. Immediately after you execute it, Windows 10 notifies you that it will sign you out.

You will then see the Choose an option screen, just like in the previous chpaters of this guide. From here on, follow the same path as in the first chapter: go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options -> Startup Settings -> Restart. Then, press 5 or F5 on your keyboard to boot into Safe Mode Safe Mode with Networking.

That’s it!

Do you know other ways to boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking?

In this article, I covered all the methods I know for starting Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking. And as you’ve seen, there are multiple ways to do this, some more complicated than others. While I tried to be as comprehensive as possible, there may be others that I missed, so if you have any other ideas, please let me know in the comments section. Also, if you have any questions or issues regarding this subject, don’t hesitate to ask.

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Best free mouse cursors for Windows 2024

By admin February 7, 2024

Best free mouse cursors for Windows 2024, Are you bored with the Windows user interface? Are you tired of its default customization options? Then maybe it is time for you to make your desktop look unique by downloading, installing, and using a new mouse cursor theme. There are plenty of cool cursors available on the internet.

Most of the pointers are animated, some are excellent for gaming or inspired by games, others are simply well-designed and fresh. In this article, we are going to share with you thirty of the best free mouse pointer schemes for Windows 10 and Windows 11. Let’s get started.

NOTE: You can install and use the following custom cursors in Windows 11, Windows 10, as well as older versions. Here’s how to tell what Windows you have. To make sure that the files are safe, we scanned them with ESET Internet Security.

How to install custom mouse cursors in Windows

Mouse schemes downloaded from the internet can usually be installed with the help of a file that is included in the archive file that you download. This file has an INF extension, and it’s usually named install.inf. Once you have downloaded the custom mouse cursor pack (usually a ZIP or RAR file), extract the files to a temporary folder on your computer or device, then follow the instructions from these tutorials, depending on whether the pack includes an INF installer file

• If the mouse cursor pack includes an INF file: How to install custom mouse cursors in Windows

• If there is no INF file included in the archive, to install the new cursors manually, follow the directions found in this tutorial: How to use custom mouse cursors and pointers in Windows

•

Also, if all you want is to change the size or color of your mouse pointers, not necessarily install custom new ones, read this tutorial: How to change the mouse pointer size and color in Windows.

Now, let’s look at what we think are the best free mouse pointers out there:

1. Numix Cursors

This is our favorite set of custom mouse cursors for Windows PCs. Numix pointers are smooth, elegant, and look entirely professional. Furthermore, the pack includes both dark and light versions of the cursors, and also install.inf files that you can run to easily install the mouse cursor theme you prefer.

Mouse cursor download: Numix Cursors

Best free mouse cursors for Windows 2024

2. Oxygen Cursors

Created for KDE, this mouse cursor set was ported to Windows and is one of the most famous mouse pointer sets of all time on DeviantArt. The set contains 37 different color schemes.

Mouse cursor download: Oxygen Cursors

3. Breeze Cursors for Windows

KDE is one of the most popular and beautiful desktop environments for Linux. Therefore, it also has some of the best mouse cursor themes you can find. That’s what inspired the Breeze Cursors for Windows pack. It features gray pointers with white borders and some orange and blue variations. Take a look at them in the screenshot below and, if you like them, download and install them. Unfortunately, this pack does not have an INF file, so you have to set each of the cursors manually.

Mouse cursor download: Breeze Cursors for Windows

4. macOS cursor pack for Windows

Are you a fan of MacOS? Did you recently switch to a Windows PC? Maybe you’d like to use some cursors that resemble the ones on your Mac. That’s what macOS cursor pack for Windows gives you.

The mouse pointers look great, and there are different sizes and types to choose from.

To download the cursor pack, go to the following webpage, tap or click on the green Code button, then on Download ZIP: macOS-cursors-for-Windows: With 2 types and 3 different sizes.

5. Windows 11 Cursors Concept v2

Since we presented a cursor pack similar to the ones used on macOS, it seems fair to show you one made specifically for Windows 11. The cursors come in two packs, Dark and Light, and both packs feature a clean design that perfectly matches the refreshed interface of Windows 11.

Download the cursors here: Windows 11 Cursors Concept v2 by rosea92

6. Android Material Cursors (Blue)

If you are an Android fan and you love Google‘s material design a lot, maybe you would enjoy a taste of it on your Windows computer too, by using the Android Material Cursors scheme. Fortunately, it also comes with an INF file, so it is easy to install it.

Mouse cursor download: Android Material Cursors.

7. Overwatch Pointer

Overwatch is currently one of the most popular first-person shooter games, with over 60 million players around the world. If you’re one of them, or if you like gaming cursors, you’ll love the Overwatch Pointer cursor pack.

You can get the standard pack here: Overwatch Pointer, and the black version here: Blackwatch Pointer.

8. GTCC

GTCC is a custom cursor pack that offers clean and monochromatic pointers for Windows. The pointers are gray and have a curved appearance, unlike most other cursors in our list. Their shape has drawn our attention, and because we liked them, we believe some of you might too. Furthermore, you can easily install them on your Windows PC by running the install.inf file included in the pack.

Mouse cursor download: GTCC – cursor for Windows.

9. Opera Gx Cursor

Opera GX is a special version of the Opera browser, built specifically for gamers. The browser has some unique features: CPU, RAM, and Network limiters, Discord & Twitch sidebars and more. It also has a very particular design, which is now matched by this excellent cursor pack:

Mouse cursor download: Opera Gx Cursor

10. Volantes Dark Cursor Set

Here’s another dark cursor pack that we like. The archive includes standard-sized cursors, as well as smaller versions.

Mouse cursor download: Volantes-Dark.

11. Metro X1 Animated Cursors Set

Okay, too many dark cursors in the list, time to liven things up a little. The Metro X1 package has quite a few multi-colored cursors, if that’s your thing:

You can download the Metro X1 Cursor Set here: Metro X1 Animated Cursors Set.

12. Gant Cursor Pack

This cursor pack is based on the popular Gant icon set that is used for customizing Windows, Linux, etc. This pack of mouse cursors contains two color schemes: yellow and blue, and each of them has two cursor sets. In other words, there are a total of four sets of mouse cursors, located in four separate folders.

Mouse cursor download: Gant Cursor Pack

13. VS cursor (version 2.0)

This mouse cursor theme features a clean and simple design, with just enough color to keep it interesting. The archive contains two separate cursor packs, one with shadows and one without.

Mouse cursor download: VS cursor (version 2.0). The user who created this pack has also created quite a few other beautiful cursor packs. You can find all of them here: vladsukhetskyi – Interface Designer | DeviantArt.

14. Oxy-Neon Cursors

Do you want something more visible? Well, it doesn’t get much more visible than having neon-colored cursors. You have several colors to choose from: blue, orange, pink, red, white, and our favorite, ow-my-eyes green. Each set has its own installation file, so it’s super-easy to add the theme to your Windows device.

Download the mouse cursor theme here: Oxy-Neon Cursors.

15. Kuttu and Chinnu cursors

If you’re tired of the same ol’ designer cursors, with fluid design and macOS look, here’s a pointer pack that’s the complete opposite: made with free lines and hand drawing, without any design rules in mind. The creator of this pack also draws cartoon characters, and it shows:

Mouse cursor download location: cursors by anoop-pc.

16. Cursors Kawaii Cute Hello Kitty

For those who love the worldwide phenomenon that is Hello Kitty, here is a mouse cursor set featuring the cute Japanese icon. This cursor scheme does not contain an INF file. However, it can be used if you follow the recommendations shared in its description.

Mouse cursor download: Kawaii Cute Hello Kitty. Please note that you have to wait 35 seconds before the download begins if you don’t want to create an account on the website.

17. Direction

Here is Direction, a more unusual set of mouse pointers, which you might enjoy. You can see how they look in the picture below.

Mouse cursor download: Direction

18. Mario Gant

Here’s a set of high-quality custom cursors based on the Super Mario character. Pretty awesome, right?

Mouse cursor download: Mario Gant

19. UNDERSized

A set of simple and small-sized cursors for those who like tiny mouse pointers.

Mouse cursor download: UNDERSized

20. Krystall CS

A unique and colorful mouse pointer set. This cursor pack does not include an INF file for easy installation. However, it can be used if you follow the recommendations shared in its description to assign each custom mouse cursor manually.

Mouse cursor download: Krystall CS

21. Anathema Pink Cursor

How do you feel about the color pink? If you like it, here’s an excellent animated cursor pack by Anaidon-Aserra. The pack has a clean, modern design and contains 15 cursors (plus a few bonus ones).

The pack is available for download here: Anathema Pink Cursor. The good news is that if you like the design but dislike the color, you can also download the set in red, blue, and white.

22. Crystal Clear

Crystal Clear is a translucent mouse cursor set. If you want to see what is behind your mouse pointer, you should try this scheme. It uses material design and blends nicely with Windows’ flat UI.

Mouse cursor download: Crystal Clear v4.1

23. StartCraft 2

Are you a StarCraft fan? If the answer is yes, the StarCraft 2 mouse cursor theme is precisely what you might need to complete your StartCraft computer customization. The only downside is the fact that this theme does not offer any installer, so to get it on your computer, you have to follow the steps from its readme file.

Mouse cursor download: StartCraft 2

24. Radium 2

If you’re searching for a mouse cursor theme that’s intricate and simple at the same time, look no further, as Radium 2 is probably what you want. The detailed design and the beautiful shapes of the custom cursors will surely make you want them on your desktop. Radium 2 also includes an INF file that you can use to install the custom cursor theme on your computer.

Mouse cursor download: Radium 2

25. Vigyori 2

Is there anyone out there who doesn’t like emoticons? Why not try some emoticon-based mouse cursors? What could be better than seeing a smiling face each morning when you turn your computer on? For a brighter and happier desktop, try Vigyori (which, by the way, means Smile in Hungarian). ?

Mouse cursor download: Vigyori (2nd version)

26. Cupcake

Have you ever wished for a mouse cursor pack that is so cute that your heart melts? OK, maybe not yours, if you are a tough guy, but your daughter’s might, if you get the Cupcake mouse cursors on her Windows device.

Mouse cursor download: Cupcake

27. Mickey Mouse

This is yet another cute cursor scheme designed primarily for children, but also for some nostalgic grown-ups. ? If your children love Mickey Mouse and everything about it, you can surprise them with these “cartoon mouse” cursors.

Mouse cursor download: Mickey Mouse

28. Hirochi Sunburst AWD Cursors

If you happen to be passionate about racing cars, you’ll recognize the cursors in this pack immediately. They are all based on the Subaru Impreza WRX, and their quality is excellent: the archive contains both standard and high-resolution cursor packs. You don’t get an installation file, but you can follow the tutorial presented in the introduction to this article to install them on your system.

Download the cursor pack here: Hirochi Sunburst AWD Cursors.

29. Warframe Cursor Pack 1

Warframe is a role-playing third-person shooter that has captivated the hearts and minds of many gamers. The game itself is free to play and features superb graphics, and these two features are also present on this cursor pack inspired by the game.

Mouse cursor download: Warframe Cursor Pack 1.

30. ASUS ROG Cursor Set

We end this list with a cursor pack made for fans of the ASUS ROG brand. The pack contains 17 cursors which can be installed manually on your computer.

Download the cursor pack from here: ASUS ROG Cursor Set.

What is your favorite mouse cursor pack?

To create this article, we tried lots of mouse cursor schemes, and we shared the best we could find. We hope that you have enjoyed this roundup. If you did, do not hesitate to share it with others. Also, if you feel like searching for more mouse cursor schemes, you should try the Windows Cursors section from DeviantArt. It is a great place to start your search.

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Computer

Best mini gaming PC 2024

By admin January 15, 2024

Best mini gaming PC 2024, Gaming PCs don’t have to be enormous and finding a powerful compact PC is easier than ever. We’ve tested the best mini gaming PCs at all price points.

What is the best mini gaming PC? The traditional image of a gaming custom PC is some hulking behemoth of a machine, with frantically spinning fans, blazing rainbow RGB LEDs, and monstrously large graphics cards. But the best mini gaming PCs are compact machines that house full-scale components. Despite their size, mini PCs don’t skimp on performance and are ideal for smaller gaming desks or if want to take it traveling.

In this guide, we’ve chosen pre-built mini gaming PCs from the likes of Origin, Corsair, and more. Check out how to build a gaming PC if you want to choose the components and PC case yourself.

Some exceedingly small and cheap mini gaming PCs such as those offered by Minisforum take AMD mobile CPUs, with their iGPUs that punch well above their weight and let them rip with their maximum power draw – which can be capable even at 1080p.

We suggest thinking about cooling solutions and how easy it is to upgrade the machine. There’s no point in spending money on components that are going to throttle the moment they heat up. These are the best mini gaming PCs to game in confidence and small spaces. If you want full power (and have the room), check out our full best gaming PCs guide.

The best mini gaming PCs today:

1.Minisforum UM773 – best for most gamers

2.Origin PC Chronos V3 – best premium PC

3.Intel NUC 12 Serpent Canyon – true mini PC

4.Corsair ONE i400 – stunning design

5.Beelink SER6 – best budget option

6.Blackview MP200 – best under $450/£350

7.Asus Rog Ally – best handheld PC

1. Minisforum UM773 Lite

Best mini PC overall for light gaming.

Minisforum Venus UM773 Lite Specs:

.	.
Graphics	AMD RDNA 2 680M
CPU	AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS 8 core 3.2GHz – 4.75GHz
RAM	32GB DDR5
Storage	512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Connectivity	RJ45 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet Port, USB3.2 Gen2 Type-C, USB3.2 Gen2 Type-A ×2, USB2.0 Type-A ×2, USB4 Type-C, HDMI ×2, 3.5mm Combo Jack ×1, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth,
Cooling	Liquid metal thermal compound, Airway Design 120 fan, two heat pipes
Dimensions	5.03 x 4.9 x 1.8 inches (12.78 x 12.45 x 4.57 cm)
Weight	3.65 lbs (1.66 kg) including power brick

Pros

• Small yet mighty

• Plenty of RAM

Cons

• Reported defective WiFi cards

“Integrated graphics?” we hear you cry, and we respond with a resounding yes. The $539.99 (£495.20) Minisforum UM773’s AMD 680M sits between the integrated graphics of Valve’s Steam Deck and the Asus ROG Ally which as we all know by now are very capable little machines.

The 680M is allowed to perform at its best because of the inclusion of very fast DDR5 which AMD’s CPUs and iGPUs work nicely with and 32 GB of it no less. Though it is not as capable as its younger sibling the 780M, it manages to be slightly more efficient due to its lower power draw so those working with constrained power budgets will be served here.

Esports titles will run well at 1080p and emulation will be no problem at all. Older titles too will, of course, return great performance so if you’re not too fussed about the latest AAA games, you’re sure to have a great time with this seriously handy little machine, especially when paired with the best gaming monitor to get the most out of this mighty box.

Whilst the Minisforum Venus UM773 doesn’t offer the same portability as the Deck or Ally, it makes up for it in connectivity with a plethora of ports making this a very practical little machine.

It is also surprisingly upgradable with two SODIMM slots, a PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot, and room on the bottom for a 2.5-inch hard drive. You could also connect an eGPU via the USB4 port if you wanted some extra GPU down the line as the CPU will age more gracefully than the iGPU.

Best mini gaming PC 2024

2. Origin PC Chronos V3

Best premium mini gaming PC.

Origin Chronos V3 specs:

.	.
Graphics	Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti 12GB
CPU	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
RAM	32GB Corsair Vengeance DDR5 5600Mhz
Motherboard	ASUS ROG Strix X670E-I WiFi
PSU	850 Watt CORSAIR SFX-L Series
Storage	1TB Samsung PM9A1 M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 4.0
Connectivity	2 x USB-C 4.0, 1 x USB-C 3.1, 5 x USB-A 3.2, 3 x USB-A 2.0, 5 x USB-A 3.2, 3.5mm headphone/mic
Cooling	2 x 120mm fan, 80mm fan, iCUE H100i ELITE CAPELLIX XT Liquid CPU Cooler
Dimensions (W x H x D)	7.87 x 17.71 x 10.6 (20cm x 45cm x 27cm)

Pros

• Powerful all-rounder

• Easily upgradeable

• PCIe Gen 5.0

Cons

• Not the smallest

• Expensive

Well-established custom PC builders Origin have updated their CHRONOS line to use parent company Corsair’s svelte 2000D case whose vertical design makes us think that it’s some supercharged Xbox Series X with its cuboid design.

At $2,806 it isn’t the cheapest, but Origin PC has been in the business a long time for good reason so you can be sure you will be getting a quality product that won’t be giving you any headaches.

With an AMD Ryzen 7 7800 X3D and Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti, you can be sure to be playing the latest AAA games for a while, especially with more games supporting DLSS 3 frame generation introduced with the RTX 4000 series.

Being owned by Corsair, you can quite often get good deals on peripherals if you need a new monitor, keyboard, mouse, and streaming goodies. Be sure to check out our best gaming headsets if you need a sonic solution for your ears.

It’s on the cusp of being a mini PC however as it is quite large still, but is certainly smaller than your average ATX case. You can go smaller with other options but given Origin’s credentials, customer service, and flexibility, we’ve included it as our best overall pick.

3. Intel NUC 12 Serpent Canyon

Best true mini PC with dedicated graphics.

Intel NUC 12 Serpent Canyon Specs:

.	.
Graphics	Intel Arc A770M 16GB
CPU	Intel i7-12700H
RAM	16GB DDR4 3200Mhz
Storage	1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Connectivity	HDMI 2.1 (4K60), DisplayPort 2.0 x 2, Thunderbolt/USB4 Type-C ports x 2, USB3.2 Gen2 Type-A ×6, 3.5mm Combo Jack ×1, 2.5Gb ethernet, Consumer infrared port, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
Cooling	Two fans and heat pipes
Dimensions	9.06 x 7.09 x 2.36 inches (23 x 18 x 6 cm)
Weight	4.34 lbs (1.97 kg)

Pros

• Pint-sized gaming PC

• Slick console-like design

• Powerful dedicated graphics

Cons

• Intel Arc teething issues

• Expensive

Intel’s NUC (Next Unit of Computing) series has been around for a few years now but for the first time, they’ve updated their designs with their own Arc series of GPUs for a true-blue all-Intel system.

This is all packaged in an exceedingly handsome and small case that puts the PS5 and Xbox Series X to shame when it comes to a performance-to-size ratio as the NUC 12 Serpent Canyon is so small that we’re surprised there’s even a GPU in there. It has an air of “This is what the Xbox 720 will look like” about it which we’re quite fond of too.

The Serpent Canyon has an Intel Arc A770M with 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM so you shouldn’t run into any limitations with the recent spate of resource-heavy AAA games. The Arc cards have excellent ray-tracing performance for their price point, eclipsing AMD in this regard.

Also included is a very capable i7-12700H so CPU workloads will be breezy and will keep up with the performant A770M.

Whilst the CPU and GPU aren’t upgradable, there are plenty of drive options with 2 M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots and an M.2 PCIe slot. The RAM is also user-replaceable.

Something to consider is how the Intel Arc cards have fared since release. They are leaps and bounds better than were with DX9, 10, and 11 performance seeing massive improvements but Nvidia and AMD have better legacy support for older titles. Intel’s upscaling technology XeSS isn’t as widely supported but it is being increasingly integrated by developers.

Recent AAA titles that have VRAM issues have influenced our decision to include the Serpent Canyon as the 16GB of VRAM and good DX12 performance see the NUC punching above its weight here. This is at a high cost, but we think it’s worth it given the unique design and improved performance.

4. Corsair ONE i400

The mini gaming PC with the best design.

Corsair ONE i400 Specs:

.	.
Graphics	Nvidia RTX 3080 10 GB
CPU	Intel i7-13700KF
RAM	32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5-5600MHz
Storage	1TB NVMe SSD
PSU	750W SFX 80 PLUS Platinum
Connectivity	USB 3.1 Gen 1 x 2, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, Thunderbolt 4 x 2, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen 1, 7.1 Audio, 2.5G Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
Cooling	2 liquid AIO coolers
Dimensions	6.93 x 7.87 x 14.96 inches (17.6 x 20 x 38 cm)
Weight	9.6 lbs (4.35 kg)

Pros:

• Striking design

• Excellent performance

Cons:

• Expensive for RTX 3080 PC

• Difficult to upgrade

Look at that subtle RGB lighting. The tasteful thickness of it Oh my god, it even has water cooling. It’s the Corsair ONE i400 with Intel’s latest 13th gen i7-13700KF and clearly, they are still pretty proud of themselves as they have stuck with the tried and true Corsair One case, and really, who could blame them?

It’s become something of a PC design icon since the original Corsair One debuted back in 2017, and we’ve been fans of it ever since – its predecessor was in our best gaming PC list.

The ONE i400 also has faster DDR5 RAM to help raise those 1% lows whilst gaming and chewing through the embarrassing amount of tabs we have open. The RTX 3080 is still a formidable card and most of the time you should have a great experience playing games or using GPU-accelerated programs.

It is a bit disappointing to see only the RAM and CPU see a refresh. At the asking price of $2,499.99, we think an RTX 4070 Ti would be the obvious pairing as the extra VRAM would help ease any concerns about how memory-hungry new AAA games have been as of late. The Corsair ONE i400 is also a little more awkward to work in than even some smaller PCs due to its unique design, but we think the tradeoff here is worth it if you feel confident pulling it apart and back together again.

5. Beelink SER6 Gaming Mini PC

Best budget mini gaming PC.

Beelink SER6 Specs:

.	.
Graphics	AMD RDNA 2 660M
CPU	AMD Ryzen 5 6600H 6 core 4.5Ghz
RAM	16GB DDR5 4800MHz dual channel
Storage	512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Connectivity	USB 3.2 Gen 2 x 3, USB 2.0, HDMI x 2, 2.5Gb ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
Cooling	Two fans
Dimensions	4.96 x 4.45 x 1.65 inches (12.6 x 11.3 x 4.2 cm)
Weight	1.13 lbs ( 0.51 kg)

Pros

• Steam Deck level of performance

• Upgradable RAM and storage

Cons

• Loud and high-pitched fan noise

• Only a little cheaper than 680M systems

AMD’s integrated graphics make another showing here with the Beelink SER6. The SER6 has an AMD 660M that is slightly less powerful than the iGPU of the Steam Deck, but the SER6 has two extra CPU cores and more power available to it so you can expect your games and general computing to feel a little snappier. To keep the Ryzen 5 6600U running sweet there is 16GB of DDR5 RAM and older and lighter titles such as Minecraft and League of Legends will hum along nicely.

You also have good options for expanding your storage and RAM with user two SODIMM slots and a PCIe 4.0 M.2 slot which are user-replaceable. Similarly to the Minisforum, there is space for a 2.5” drive at the bottom of the SER6 if you want to get silly with the storage and dump all your (legally owned) ROMs for a great little emulation machine. If the included 512GB isn’t enough, be sure to check out our best SSD for gaming roundup.

An unfortunate flaw here though is the dual fan design. Because the individual fans are smaller, they are much higher pitched than a larger singular fan would be so when things heat up, it can be a little loud. It’s also only a little cheaper at $429 (£539) than a 680 M-equipped mini PC so you may want to spend an extra bit of cash for the additional CPU and CU cores.

6. Blackview MP200

Best mini PC under $300/£300

Blackview MP200 specs:

.	.
Graphics	Intel Ultra-HD Graphics
CPU	Intel Core i5-11400H
RAM	16GB DDR4 3200MHz
Storage	512GB M.2
Connectivity	USB 3.2 Gen 2 x 4, HDMI 2, USB type C, 3.5mm Headphone Jack, Wifi 6, 1000Mbs LAN
Dimensions	183.2 x 150 x 75.5mm
Weight	1.52lbs (690g)

Pros

• One of the cheapest mini PCs

• Good for daily tasks

Cons

• Noisy fans during medium loads

• No dedicated graphics card

The Blackview MP200 is the ideal mini PC for those who want to spend as little as possible. Its competitive pricing makes it our top cheap option, but that price does mean limitations with performance.

Inside the MP200, the Intel Ultra-HD Graphics hinder gameplay somewhat, to the extent that you’ll need to play most in the lowest settings. It’s not impossible to play the best PC games, but you may struggle with triple AAA releases.

There are enough ports to add three displays with USB 3.2 connectivity, and the storage and RAM can both be doubled if you want to add second modules and upgrade the machine further down the line. We’d recommend the Blackview MP200 if you want one of the cheapest Windows 11 PCs on the market, but if gaming is your priority then lack of graphics card and cooling will let you down.

7. Asus ROG Ally

Best portable mini gaming PC.

Asus ROG Ally specs:

.	.
Graphics	AMD 780M
CPU	AMD Z1 Extreme APU 8 core
RAM	16GB LPDDR5 6400Mhz Dual channel
Display	7 inch IPS 1080p 120Hz (VRR)
Storage	512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, microSD
Connectivity	ROG XG Mobile Interface, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C
Cooling	Dual fan design
Dimensions	11.02 x 4.37 x 0.83 ~ 1.28 inches (28.0 x 11.1 x 2.12 ~ 3.24 cm)
Weight	1.34 lbs (0.61 kg)

Pros

• Inexpensive

• Very powerful

• Highly portable

Cons

• Armory Crate software needs improving

• Windows 11 isn’t the best portable OS

The Asus ROG Ally may have a display and a built-in controller but it is by all accounts, a mini gaming PC that just so happens to be extremely portable. We were mightily impressed by the $699 (£699) Ally in our review.

It’s eeked out the Steam Deck for the best portable mini gaming PC because of its extra grunt in the GPU and CPU department which lets us play games on the go at 1080P.

When plugged in at home, you can opt for the maximum power envelope that would normally rinse your battery and have a very capable little computer that you can do pretty much anything on. With the XMG connector, you can plug in one of Asus’ external GPUs without losing any performance to the limitations of USB 4 as you have full access to the PCIe lanes.

You’ll need a good gaming keyboard and gaming mouse setup to make full use of the desktop environment though, editing the Excel spreadsheet might be a little difficult with the joysticks.

Any hiccups in performance will be smoothed out by the VRR screen too so unless you have some very heavy 1% and 0.1% lows, you shouldn’t notice any dips in frame rate allowing for a smooth and consistent experience.

Unfortunately, Asus’ Armory Crate overlay paired with Windows 11 doesn’t shine a candle to Valve’s SteamOS in terms of functionality, but this will no doubt improve with time and you have the added benefit of knowing that games such as Fortnite and Roblox will work out of the box.

Are mini PCs good for gaming?

A mini PC can be a good option for gaming, but it all depends on how much performance you need – and how much you’re willing to spend. The most expensive mini PCs like the Corsair i400 are equipped with high-end CPUs and dedicated GPUs, while there are some limitations to truly mini PCs.

With less space for cooling systems, this can lead to higher temperatures and loud fan noise during intensive gaming sessions – something we found to be true with the Blackview MP200. The compact form factor may also limit upgradability compared to larger desktop counterparts, as you might get fewer expansion slots. As mini PC technology has improved, high-performance mini gaming PCs can now mostly meet the demands of modern gamers.

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Guide

How to Fix high CPU usage 2024

By admin January 14, 2024

How to Fix high CPU usage 2024, PC freezing, going slow, or running into hitches where it shouldn’t? Even if you have one of the best processors, high CPU usage could be to blame. Unfortunately, if you aren’t too computer savvy, what this means, what part of your computer causes the issue, and CPU failure symptoms are all sort of a mystery.

So, what is CPU usage? Here, we’ll investigate high CPU usage, the factors that affect CPU utilization, and more.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

What is CPU usage?

The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU) is arguably the most important component inside any computer. Whether you’ve got one of the best processors on the market or you’re running an entry-level machine, your processor always serves as the brain of the operation. It sends instructions to all the other pieces of hardware in your device and is responsible for executing each and every task. If you’d like to read a more in-depth explanation about the CPU itself, check out our guide to what is a CPU.

Every processor has a limited capacity at which it can execute commands and run various programs. The better the CPU, the more tasks you can simultaneously perform without a hitch. However, no matter how powerful the CPU is, every chip will eventually hit its maximum capacity and begin slowing down. This will depend on your current CPU usage: In other words, the number of things your processor is being made to do at the same time.

When you’re not running many applications, your CPU usage should be low, and in an ideal scenario, everything should run smoothly. However, if you open a CPU-intensive program (such as certain games or video editing software,) you may notice that the response times increase as your CPU usage goes up.

Fluctuations in CPU usage are normal and nothing to worry about — as long as your PC continues running smoothly. If you’re unsatisfied with the performance of your PC, the first step is to check its CPU usage.

How to Fix high CPU usage 2024

How to check CPU usage

Checking CPU usage on Windows comes down to simply opening the Task Manager. If you already know how to do that, you can skip ahead to our next steps.

The three easiest and quickest ways to run Task Manager are:

• Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+Escape to bring up the Task Manager directly.

• Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Alt+Delete to bring up the lock screen and select Task Manager from there.

• Right-click on the taskbar or the Windows icon at the bottom-left side of your screen. Pick Task Manager from the list.

With Task Manager open, navigate to the Performance tab and select CPU from the left-hand side menu. This will produce a curve diagram that displays real-time updates about the performance of your CPU. You can also check the Open Resource Monitor option at the bottom to see more detailed information about your processor.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

What is a normal CPU usage?

Before you jump right in and start trying to fix the problem, it’s important to learn whether the CPU usage you’re currently experiencing is abnormal in the first place.

Remember that depending on your processor, it could be that your computer is just utilizing the resources available to it in an efficient manner under heavy workloads. High-end CPUs are able to handle all manner of multitasking, but budget processors may not be able to run multiple resource-heavy programs at once.

If you are currently not running any additional programs, your CPU usage should be anywhere between 1% and 10% just through Windows processes alone. Anything higher than that on an idle PC means that something might be wrong. However, if you’re playing a game or even have multiple browser windows open, the CPU usage will climb accordingly.

If you’re unsure whether your CPU usage is too high, here are a few indicators to look out for:

• High idle CPU usage: You’re not running any programs and your CPU usage is still above 20%.

• Higher than usual CPU usage: You’re not using any new programs, and yet your CPU usage is higher than it used to be.

• High CPU usage during tasks that aren’t resource-heavy, like word processing, or browsing social media in just a couple of tabs.

• High CPU usage combined with freezes, crashes, and slow performance.

There are some programs that commonly consume a lot of processing power. Check out our suggestions below if you’re not sure whether your software is one of them.

How to fix high CPU usage

It’s important to monitor CPU usage and act if something seems amiss. If the amount of software you’re running doesn’t warrant slower loading times or high CPU usage, check out our quick steps below to resolve this problem.

Restart your computer

Sometimes all your PC may need is just a quick restart. This will clear out temporary files, shut down any programs you didn’t know were running, and give your computer more of a fresh slate.

If a while has passed since you last restarted your computer, save all your work and reboot. After the restart, launch the programs you’ve previously had open and check if your CPU usage is now back to normal.

Check open processes

If the problem comes back after re-launching previous software, it’s time to check which program is the culprit.

Launch Task Manager (if you’re not sure how to do that, click here,) and click the Processes tab at the top. You will be presented with a list of processes that are currently running on your computer. This is a long list, and it’s important that you don’t close any programs without knowing what they do. To make the list easier to navigate, click on Name to sort by software type.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Programs found under Apps are usually safe to close if needed. Check their CPU usage. If it’s a program that typically consumes a lot of CPU power, it might be that your high CPU usage is not abnormal. In any case, you can close the program to make sure your PC is running smoothly without it. Save all your work before you proceed.

Pick the program with the highest CPU usage and click End Task in the bottom right corner. Start it back up and check whether your CPU usage has improved. Try to close all the programs you don’t currently need — if the program or background process that consumes the most CPU power is unknown to you, write down its name and give it a quick Google search. It could be a virus that you need to get rid of.

Be mindful of the following:

• Apps with a very high CPU usage that shouldn’t require too many resources

• Background processes with a high CPU usage

• Windows processes with a high CPU usage

If any of the processes on your computer are CPU-heavy and you’re not sure what they are, write down their names and make sure they’re safe.

Scan your computer for viruses and malware

Unfortunately, malware and viruses are often the culprits behind high CPU usage. You may sometimes notice them by browsing through the Task Manager, but oftentimes they will be concealed and won’t be that easy to spot.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Getting rid of malware and viruses can be tricky and highly situational, but there are a few steps you should take that can resolve your problem.

• Download one of the best antivirus programs available and scan your computer.

• In addition to an antivirus program, you can download malware and spyware-specific programs such as Malwarebytes and SpyBot S&D. Scan your PC with these programs after the antivirus scan is over.

If the software finds any harmful programs on your computer, it will likely help you get rid of them. This may lower your CPU usage.

Update your drivers

Your CPU can take quite a beating if you’re using old drivers or unoptimized software. Sometimes, fixing high CPU usage may be as easy as simply updating your drivers.

In this step, try to update all of your drivers. This includes motherboard drivers, GPU drivers, audio drivers, and more. Check out our dedicated guides on updating all of your drivers and updating your graphics card drivers if you’d like a step-by-step tutorial on how to do this.

A word of warning: Do not use third-party software for updating drivers. A lot of the commonly advertised software on the internet may be dangerous to your computer. Whether it’s out-right malware or it simply downloads all the wrong things, you don’t want to deal with that. It’s best to learn how to update your drivers yourself and rely on secure methods of doing so.

Update your software

The software you’re using may simply be an older version of an already updated program. In such cases, the CPU usage may be abnormally high and it may have been fixed in a patch that you haven’t downloaded yet.

Following the Task Manager, update your most CPU-heavy software to the latest version and see whether that will do the trick.

Update your BIOS

This is more of an advanced option, but in some cases, updating your BIOS may help fix the issue with high CPU usage. Updating your BIOS will require knowing the exact model of your motherboard.

If you’re not sure which motherboard you’re using, we’ve got you covered. Check our guide to find out all of the specifications of your PC, including the motherboard. Once you know the model of your motherboard, simply search for it in Google and add “BIOS.” Download the latest BIOS directly from the manufacturer’s website — do not trust other sources. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer in order to update your BIOS.

Check your power settings

Certain power settings in Windows may affect your CPU performance. This applies to both laptops and desktops. You may currently be using a low power setting without even knowing it, so changing it might help.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Follow the steps below to change your power plan in Windows.

• Click on the Windows logo in the bottom left-hand corner and type in: “Power Settings.”

• On the right-hand side of the Power & Sleep section, navigate to Additional Power Settings.

• Click on Show Additional Plans and then select the High Performance plan. Alternatively, if you’re already running the High Performance plan and you’re experiencing CPU problems, try out the Balanced plan instead.

Clean your PC

Keeping your PC clean is important, not just on the software side, but on the dust-free side. That’s right — our computers gather a lot of dust every single day. The more dust your PC or laptop has accumulated, the worse it will run, and that’s all thanks to the rising temperatures within the chassis.

Don’t let us catch you letting it get this bad … Wikimedia

If you haven’t given your PC a good clean for a while, it might be the time to do so. This process will usually require the use of compressed air. You can pick up a can of compressed air on Amazon and from many other stores.

Remember that before you ever attempt to clean your computer’s vents, you need to fully turn it off and unplug it. If you want to learn how to clean your PC, as well as a few more handy tips to make it run faster, check out our in-depth guide on the topic.

Run System Restore

If your high CPU usage is a recent development and everything was running smoothly just a few days ago, fixing the problem may be as easy as running System Restore on Windows. Windows 10 users can refer to our separate guide on reinstalling and restoring Windows here.

For Windows 11 users, accessing System Restore can be done in a few quick steps:

• Click the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen and type in Control Panel.

• Once in the Control Panel, type in Recovery in the search box.

• Pick Recovery and then Open System Restore.

• In the Restore System Files and Settings section, click Next.

You will then be prompted to select a restore point that you want to go back to. Choose one from before these issues started and follow the instructions provided by Windows. Keep in mind that you may lose any new files and programs you’ve installed since the restore point.

Unfortunately, many users cannot utilize System Restore. This is because Windows doesn’t automatically create restore points, which is why your list may be empty. If that’s the case, you may need to take more drastic measures.

Reinstall Windows

This option should be treated as a last resort. If all the other steps failed and you still cannot pinpoint the reason why your CPU usage is so high, giving your Windows a clean install may be the solution to your problems.

Before you pull the trigger, keep in mind that reinstalling Windows will delete all of your installed programs. You are allowed to keep your files, but you may also opt to do a completely clean install and let Windows delete all of them. Whether you choose to keep your files or not, it’s good to back up your data before you begin.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Reinstalling Windows 10

If you’re not sure how to reinstall Windows 10, check out our guide that will lead you through the steps required to do so.

Reinstalling Windows 11

In order to reinstall Windows 11, click on the Windows logo at the bottom-left side of the screen and type in: “Reset this PC.”

Once you’re in the correct section, select Reset PC. Windows will then prompt you to choose from several reinstall options. You can choose whether to keep your personal files, keep any changes you’ve made to Windows settings, and keep pre-installed apps that came with your Windows 11 PC.

Pick the option that suits you best and allow Windows to reinstall itself. When the reinstallation is complete, you will have to install all your drivers and trustworthy programs again. Once your system is back up and running, check your CPU usage again — you should be able to see a marked improvement.

Further troubleshooting

If you have tried every one of our recommended steps and found no improvement, the issue may be more complex than can be covered in any given guide. Fortunately, all you need is an internet connection in order to troubleshoot your computer.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

There are two main things to search for in times of abnormal CPU usage:

• Your exact model of CPU + “high CPU usage.” Check our guide to learn which processor you have.

• The process or program that hogs the most CPU usage in Task Manager + “high CPU usage.”

Searching for these terms will give you more specific advice from users who have gone through the same kinds of issues. Read the advice carefully and follow it as best as you can. However, never download any third-party programs: You may put your PC at much greater risk instead of fixing it.

CPU usage FAQ

Which programs cause high CPU usage?

Many kinds of programs can cause high CPU usage. If you’re running one of them, your computer may slow down. In such cases, make sure you close all other programs to give your processor the breathing space it needs in order to run these resource-heavy tasks.

Some of the most notorious CPU-heavy programs include:

• Video and photo editing software

• Encoding and decoding software

• CPU-heavy games, such as PUBG

• Browsers with many tabs open, many plug-ins, websites with a lot of videos and photos, etc.

• DVD burning programs

• Video or photo converters

• 3D modeling software

• Benchmarking programs

Is high CPU usage bad?

Every PC will go through cycles of high CPU usage — there is nothing wrong with that. However, If your CPU usage is constantly high or even at 100%, there is definitely a reason for concern.

Your CPU heats up when under heavy loads. This may cause your computer to overheat, but even in the best-case scenario, it contributes to wear and tear. Your PC may freeze when running at 100% CPU usage as soon as you add an extra application into the mix. Freezes and crashes are common, and each one may cause another problem to pop up.

In short: Yes, it’s bad, although as long as you’re expecting your CPU usage to be high, it’s fine and fully expected to happen at times.

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Featured

Best Data Recovery Software in 2024

By admin January 6, 2024

Best Data Recovery Software in 2024, You don’t want to be caught off guard when you lose an important file. Instead, you want to have reliable data recovery software already installed on your system, and this article is here to help you pick the best solution for you.

Our Data Recovery Software Selection Criteria

Here are some of the critical aspects that delineate top data recovery software from the competition.

• Performance & Versatility: A common issue with a lot of these recovery apps is that the rescue tools support very limited file types. A recovery app becomes resourceful when it supports the restoration of a wide range of file types; so, you can confidently restore deleted photos, videos, music files, and other more specific file types, such as XLS, DOC, or PDF files. Another unpleasant realization is that most of your programs do not support the recovery of files from external storage devices such as external HDD, memory cards or USB flash drives. This is quite inconvenient as the major chunk of data loss these days occur on external or portable storage devices. We favored versatile data recovery software with high performance, supporting various file types, file systems, and recovery from external storage devices, while maintaining a high recovery rate.

• Scanning Speed: Time is something nobody has enough of these days. You can’t expect users to spend the whole day waiting for the scanning and recovering processes to finally get their hands on something urgent. Good-performing data recovery software generally has options for high-speed scanning. And some even come with customized scanning while targeting a specific file for recovery. We preferred data recovery software with fast scanning speeds, offering high-speed and customizable scans for targeted file recovery, thus saving time and increasing efficiency.

• File Preview & Recovery Chances: Another important feature is to preview files that have already been identified. Also, the recovered files need to be in their original quality. Reliable data recovery applications also display the recovery chances of each file. We gave preference to data recovery software with file previews, original quality preservation, and displayed recovery chances for informed decision-making.

• User-Friendly UI: There’s no use in having the world’s best data recovery app if it can only be operated by the team behind it. A simple interface and ease of use are essential to any app. A lot of recovery programs feature flashy icons and supposedly high-tech features that are rather useless. The end-user often only needs a well-defined interface that delivers the goods, period. We prioritized user-friendly data recovery software with a simple interface, removing flashy elements, for easy end-user operation.

Now that you know what makes an awesome recovery program, let’s move on to the ranking.

Top 10 Best Data Recovery Software

1. Disk Drill Data Recovery (Windows & Mac)

Disk Drill is one the best data recovery software for Windows and Mac because of its ability to effortlessly recover lost or deleted data from all internal and external storage devices, regardless of their file system.

✅

Pros:

• Supports hundreds of file formats

• Powerful recovery capabilities

• Lost partition search

• Data protection and backup features

• Intuitive user interface

• Recovers up to 500 MB of data for free (Windows)

• Ability to mount scan results as a folder

❗️

Cons:

• No phone support

• Average scan speed

• Limited support for Linux file systems

Download Disk Drill

User Experience

Developed by the data recovery experts at CleverFiles, Disk Drill is the best choice for professional and casual home users alike, providing an exceptionally polished experience and best-in-class data recovery results. The latest version of the software can recover data in more than 400 file formats from a variety of storage devices and file systems using its advanced scanning algorithms.

Data recovery with Disk Drill is an intuitive process that doesn’t require any expert knowledge. You can filter scan results to find a specific file and preview it before recovery directly inside Disk Drill. If you need to shut down your computer, you can simply pause the scan and resume it later.

The free version of Disk Drill can recover up to 500 MB of data (on Windows), and it provides enhanced data protection with its Recovery Vault and Drive backup features (which makes Disk Drill a backup and recovery tool at the same time). Both of these features are just as easy to use as the data recovery portion of Disk Drill because they share the same polished user interface. Another important aspect of Disk Drill is its ability to recover data with original file names and folder structure.

Users who would like to enjoy unlimited data recovery can upgrade to Disk Drill PRO for just $89.00 and activate it on up to 3 computers. Lifetime upgrades can be purchased for $29 to reliably recover data even on future versions of Windows and macOS.

On top of that, when you buy Disk Drill you actually get two for one. For example, your purchase of Disk Drill PRO for Windows automatically gets you a version for macOS.

Despite the word PRO in its name, the paid version of Disk Drill is just as easy to use as the free one, so even inexperienced home users with no expert knowledge shouldn’t feel intimidated by it.

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If you’re interested in using Disk Drill, check out our full review to learn about its features and performance. We also conducted an analysis of its safety and security, which you can find on our website.

Versions / Licensing:

• Disk Drill Basic: Free

• Disk Drill Pro: $89

• Disk Drill Enterprise: $499

System requirements: Windows 7 SP1+, 44 MB of storage space / Mac OS X 10.8.5+, 22 MB of storage space

Supported languages: English, Arabic, German, Spanish, French, Turkish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Dutch, Polish, Brazilian, Portuguese, European Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Chinese, Hindi

Supported file systems: NTFS, NTFS5, FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, exFAT, EXT3/EXT4, HFS, HFS+, APFS

2. R-Studio (Windows, Mac, and Linux)

This comprehensive data recovery software solution is geared toward more experienced users who are able to appreciate its extensive options and powerful features.

✅

Pros:

• Advanced features for data recovery professionals

• Available as a bootable ISO image

• Disk sanitization feature

❗️

Cons:

• Not suitable for non-technical users

• Doesn’t display results during scan

• Can preview only a few file formats

Download R-Studio

User Experience

Whereas most data recovery products on the market target regular home users, R-Studio is intended primarily for professionals who already understand the ins and outs of data recovery. It provides support for all commonly used file systems and partition layout schemes and handles even damaged or deleted partitions.

Instead of guiding users through the recovery process step by step, R-Studio gives them the freedom to start multiple data recovery jobs at the same time in separate tabs. Recovered files can be sorted by their extensions, creation time, modification time, access time, and other parameters. You can preview many supported file types or view files using the built-in hex editor to assess their integrity or perform partial recovery.

When buying R-Studio, make sure you get the right version. The least expensive version of R-Studio ($49.99) can recover data only from the FAT, exFAT, and Ext2/3/4 file systems. To also recover data from NTFS, ReFS, HFS+, APFS, HFS, and UFS, you need to purchase the $79.99 version.

System requirements: Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP/2000 or Windows Server 2019/2016/2012/2008/2003 / Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard or newer / Any kernel 2.6+ Linux distribution capable of installing .rpm or .deb packages

Supported languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Portuguese, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, and Japanese

Supported file systems: NTFS/ReFS, FAT/exFAT, Ext2/Ext3/Ext4, HFS+/APFS/ HFS/UFS

3. PhotoRec (Windows, Mac, and Linux)

PhotoRec has powerful file recovery capabilities and support for a wide range of platforms. Whether it’s a digital camera or a traditional hard drive, PhotoRec has you covered as long as you’re able to figure out how to use it.

✅

Pros:

• Compatible with all major operating systems

• Recovers about 300 file families

• Support for many file systems

❗️

Cons:

• Intimidating for beginners

• All files are automatically recovered during scan

• Unable to restore file names and folder structure

Download PhotoRec

User Experience

Judging by its name, you might think that PhotoRec can recover only image file formats, but that’s not the case at all. In reality, this open-source data recovery software can recover more than 480 file extensions (about 300 file families) from hard drives, memory cards, CD-ROMs, USB flash drives, and other storage devices.

PhotoRec is known for scaring inexperienced users away with its text-only user interface, but we found the data recovery process to be reasonably self-explanatory. Sure, beginners could benefit from even more handholding, but that’s what the official documentation is intended for.

In terms of performance, PhotoRec can measure up to many paid data recovery software applications. It uses a non-destructive data recovery method, which prevents it from writing to the same storage device the user is about to recover from. In certain cases, PhotoRec can successfully recover even fragmented files scattered all over the place.

Versions / Licensing: Free and open-source

System requirements: Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP, Windows Server 2016/2012/2008/2003 / Any recent version of macOS / Linux kernel 2.6.18 or later

Supported languages: English, Catalan, Chinese, Czech, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish

Supported file systems: FAT, NTFS, exFAT, ext2/ext3/ext4 filesystem, HFS

4. Recuva (Windows)

Recuva is a small freeware program you can use to recover pictures, music, documents, videos, or any other types of files on your hard drive, memory cards, floppy disks, iPod or MP3 player, or USB sticks.

✅

Pros:

• Low price

• Free version available

• Preview screen

❗️

Cons:

• Can’t recover as many files as high-priced rivals

• The interface is rather outdated

• Limited support of restoring the original folder trees and file names

Download Recuva

User Experience

We like Recuva for its low cost, its clear interface, and its ease of use, but it only recovered two-thirds of the deleted files on my test drive, and that kind of performance may not be good enough in a crisis. The reason why Recuva performs poorly compared with the top 3 listed in this article is simple: it doesn’t support many file formats.

The lackluster file format support may not matter to you if all you want to do is recover files saved in a format that is supported by Recuva. What will matter to you, in either case, is the tool’s usability, which is rather good thanks to its clean interface design and integrated preview screen.

It’s clear, however, that Recuva’s user interface comes from the Windows XP era (Recuva was released during the transition period from Windows XP to Windows Vista). The latest major Rucuva update (v1.53) was released in 2016, and the software has received only minor improvements since then. Fortunately, it still works fine on all recent versions of Windows.

Versions / Licensing:

• Recuva Free: $0

• Recuva Pro: $19.95

System requirements: Windows 10, 8.1, 7, Vista, and XP

Supported languages: Albanian, Arabic, Armenian, Azeri (Latin), Bosnian, Brazilian Portuguese (Portugues do Brasil), Bulgarian, Catalan (Catala), Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Croatian, Czech (Ceský), Danish, Dutch (Nederlands), English, Estonian, Finnish (Suomi), French (Français), Georgian, German (Deutsch), Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian (Magyar), Italian (Italiano), Japanese, Lithuanian (Lietuviu), Norwegian, Polish (Polski), Romanian (Romana), Russian, Serbian (Cyrillic), Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish (Espanol), Swedish (Svenska), Turkish (Türkçe), Ukrainian, Vietnamese.

Supported file systems: FAT, exFAT, and NTFS

5. Data Rescue (Windows & Mac)

Simplicity is what Data Rescue is all about, but its steep price makes it prohibitively expensive for most home users, the demographic that would ironically most appreciate its clean and simple user interface.

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Pros:

• Clean and simple interface

• Can duplicate a potentially failing drive onto a healthy drive

• Automatically determines a set of RAID configurations

❗️

Cons:

• Unnecessarily complicated multi-step recovery process

• Expensive

Download Data Rescue 6

User Experience

Data Rescue is a somewhat confusing data recovery software application because its clean and simple user interface (the main screen features just three large buttons with colorful icons and detailed descriptions) suggests that its target are regular home users, but its steep price tag and website tell a completely different story.

A single license (which can be used by one user on an unlimited number of systems) costs $399.00 a year. That’s more than twice as much compared with what most other competing data recovery software applications charge for a lifetime license.

If you can afford to pay such a large amount of money for Data Rescue, you can look forward to fast scan and recovery speeds, improved RAID recovery, and additional disk tools for byte-to-byte disk copies and secure file deletion.

Versions / Licensing:

• Data Rescue 6 Demo: Free

• Data Rescue 6 Standard: starts at $19 (pay for the files you want to recover)

• Data Rescue 6 Pro: $399 per year

System requirements: Windows 7 or later or macOS 10.12 or later, secondary storage location, internet connection

Supported languages: English

Supported file systems: FAT, FAT32, exFAT, ext2, ext3, HFS+, APFS, and NTFS

6. Wondershare Recoverit (Windows & Mac)

One of the best data recovery programs in its price range, Wondershare works flawlessly with a wide range of storage devices, including camcorders, hard drives, memory sticks, and USB flash drives.

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Pros:

• Supports many file formats

• Sleek design and great usability

• Compatible with Windows and Mac files systems

❗️

Cons:

• Can recover only up to 100 MB of data

• Preview feature limited to a handful of file formats

• Many duplicates in scan results

Download Wondershare Recoverit

User Experience

The company behind this data recovery software has been around for many years, and it has successfully earned the trust of millions of home users and many large companies. Recoverit is its flagship data recovery product, and it boasts support for over 1,000 file formats and all commonly used file systems, including NTFS, FAT, HFS+, and APFS.

Just like all other software applications from Wondershare, Recoverit is really easy to use, and we had to go through just three simple steps to recover our files. During the last step, we were able to preview recovered files before retrieving them with a single click.

The only problem is that the free version of Wondershare Recoverit can recover only up to 100 MB of data. That’s not much considering that a single high-resolution picture taken with a modern smartphone can easily have around 5 MB.

Versions / Licensing:

• Wondershare Recoverit Essential: $59.95 a year

• Wondershare Recoverit Standard: $69.95 a year

• Wondershare Recoverit Advanced: $79.95 a year

System requirements: Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP (either 32-bit or 64-bit) or Windows Server 2016, 2012, 2008, 2003 / macOS 10.9- 10.15

Supported languages: English, Japanese, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic, Dutch, Korean

Supported file systems: NTFS, FAT32, FAT16, exFAT, APFS, encrypted APFS, HFS+, encrypted HFS, HFSX

7. DiskGenius (Windows)

DiskGenius is an all-in-one data recovery and partition management solution aimed at professional and home users alike. You can use it to solve many unpleasant disk problems and try it for free before spending money on one of the two paid versions.

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Pros:

• Combines data recovery and partition management

• Is able to virtualize Windows into a VMware virtual machine

• Disk cloning functionality

• 30-day money-back guarantee

• Free version available

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Cons:

• Doesn’t have the most intuitive user interface

• Jack of all trades but master of none

Download DiskGenius

User Experience

Partition and data loss issues often go hand-in-hand, which is why the people behind DiskGenius decided to create an all-in-one data recovery and partition management solution that lets you recover lost data from deletion, formatting, RAW drive, partition loss, OS crash, and many other data loss situations.

While the user interface of DiskGenius is nothing to write home about, the actual data recovery process is simple and boils down to just three steps. First, you select a partition or drive, then you scan for lost data, and, finally, you preview all listed files and select those that you want to get back.

DiskGenius comes with several extra features that even several times more expensive products don’t include, such as the ability to recover data directly from VMware, Virtual Box, or Microsoft Virtual PC images. It also includes a hex editor that facilitates the analysis of raw disk data, but it’s unlikely that regular users would ever take advantage of this feature.

System requirements: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10, Small Business Server 2011/2003/2008, Windows home server 2011, and Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016 (both 32bit and 64bit)

Supported languages: English, Japanese

Supported file systems: NTFS, FAT32, FAT16, exFAT, EXT2, EXT3, and EXT4

8. Stellar Data Recovery (Windows & Mac)

Stellar Data Recovery is a professional-grade data recovery software for Windows and Mac that can deal with completely crashed and unbootable systems that many lesser applications of its kind would deem unrecoverable.

✅

Pros:

• Support for a wide range of storage devices

• Easy to use

• Useful preview feature

❗️

Cons:

• Relatively expensive

• Slow scan and recovery speed

• Glitchy store device selection

Download Stellar Data Recovery

User Experience

Previously known as Stellar Phoenix Data Recovery, this data recovery software supports NTFS, exFAT, and FAT (FAT16/FAT32) formatted hard drives, SSDs, USB flash drives, memory cards (including SD cards, MicroSD cards, CF cards, etc.), and other commonly used storage devices.

You can choose from two different versions intended for professional usage: Professional ($79.99 for one year or $99 for a lifetime license) and Premium ($99.99 for one year or $149 for a lifetime license). The former version is slightly cheaper because it doesn’t include any video or photo recovery capabilities.

Except for the missing recovery features, the two versions are identical and equally easy to use. Recovered files can be sorted according to their type or displayed in a tree view, which is useful for locating a specific folder.

System requirements: Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista & XP / macOS Catalina 10.15, Mojave 10.14, High Sierra 10.13, 10.12, 10.11, 10.10, 10.9, 10.8 & 10.7

Supported languages: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish

Supported file systems: NTFS, exFAT, FAT(FAT16/FAT32), HFS, HFS+, ext2, ext3, ext4

9. TestDisk (Windows, Mac, and Linux)

Designed to recover lost partitions and make non-booting disks bootable again, TestDisk is an excellent solution to many desperate data loss scenarios, but its text-only user interface puts it out of the reach of many users.

✅

Pros:

• Capable of recovering many different filesystems and partition schemes

• Broad operating system support

• Free and open source

❗️

Cons:

• Lacks an intuitive graphical user interface – command-line only

• Repairs damaged partitions and file systems but not files

Download TestDisk

User Experience

If you’ve accidentally and permanently deleted an important file, and you desperately want to get it back, TestDisk isn’t the right choice. This open-source data recovery application doesn’t focus on individual files but entire file systems and partitions. It can fix partition tables, repair boot sectors, and do many other things to restore access to lost files.

It’s true that TestDisk can undelete files from FAT, exFAT, NTFS, and xt2/ext3/ext4 file systems, but this functionality is tucked away inside the advanced menu, where most regular users never go. Besides, recovering individual files with TestDisk is extremely cumbersome because you can’t preview files before recovery.

But despite its shortcomings, such as the lack of an intuitive graphical user interface, TestDisk remains one of the best data recovery software solutions for Windows, Mac, Linux, and several other operating systems.

Versions / Licensing: Free and open-source

System requirements: Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP, Windows Server 2016/2012/2008/2003 / Any recent version of macOS / Linux kernel 2.6.18 or later

Supported languages: English, Catalan, Chinese, Czech, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish

Supported file systems: FAT, exFAT, NTFS, and xt2/ext3/ext4

10. EaseUS Data Recovery (Windows & Mac)

EaseUS has managed to garner a great deal of positive feedback across a wide spectrum of users, and our experience with its data recovery features has been similarly positive, which is why it deserves a place on this list.

✅

Pros:

• Reliable data recovery performance

• Lets users sort and filter deleted files

• Makes data recovery accessible to anyone

❗️

Cons:

• Includes unrecoverable files alongside recoverable files

• Previews only files that are smaller than 100 MB

• Doesn’t accurately display remaining scan time

Download EaseUS Data Recovery

User Experience

EaseUS Data Recovery is a tried and tested data recovery software for Windows and Mac. Its developers have successfully made the complicated process of data recovery simple and accessible to anyone. There are no menus with multiple layers and options that require a lengthy manual to decipher what they mean.

When you begin data recovery with this software application, you’re first asked to select a location to scan, such as your hard drive or USB flash drive. You can also select a specific folder, including the Recycle Bin. Then, you simply click the Scan button and wait for EaseUS Data Recovery to find your files.

If your budget is tight, you can purchase EaseUS Data Recovery for just one month. However, we recommend you get a lifetime license for $149.95 to enjoy unlimited free upgrades.

System requirements: Windows 2000 or newer / macOS 10.15 ~ 10.9

Supported languages: English, German, Japanese, French, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), Swedish, Danish, Korean, Russian, Norwegian, Polish, Hungarian, Arabic, Turkish, Indonesian

Supported file systems: FAT (FAT12, FAT16, FAT32), exFAT, NTFS, NTFS5, ext2/ext3, HFS+, ReFS

Honorable Mentions

Are you still hungry for more data recovery software? Then take a look at our selection of try-worthy applications that didn’t make it into the top 10.

• Windows File Recovery: Developed by Microsoft for its Windows operating system, Windows File Recovery, is a command-line tool capable of recovering permanently deleted files that are no longer present in the Recycle Bin. We just wish it delivered better recovery results and came with an optional graphical user interface.

• MiniTool Power Data Recovery: If you can live with an outdated user interface and a limited set of features, then the free version of MiniTool Power Data Recovery deserves a download from you since it works well in all kinds of data loss situations.

• Undelete 360: Last updated in 2017 for Windows 7, Undelete 360 is an outdated data recovery application that has yet to become obsolete. You can use it to recover all Windows-supported storage devices with a few simple clicks, and it even lets you preview files before recovery.

• Wise Data Recovery: If you want to recover data from an older version of Windows, then Wise Data Recovery is a solid choice. Just keep in mind that you may experience serious issues when using it on Windows 10 and newer.

• SysTools Data Recovery Software: The long list of features and the highly technical language the official website of this data recovery software uses to describe them should be enough to tell you that this isn’t the most user-friendly software in the world.

• Remo Data Recovery Software: Because of how dependable Remo Data Recovery Software is, it has received many positive reviews from professional reviewers and real users alike. We just with the Windows application was more polished.

• Zero Assumption Recovery: Also referred to as ZAR Data Recovery, this Windows software supports Windows FAT, NTFS, Linux ext/2/3/4, and XFS file systems, and you can download it free of charge from its official website.

• TogetherShare Data Recovery Pro: You can try the full version of TogetherShare Data Recovery Pro without risking anything thanks to the 30-day money-back guarantee. The last version of the software even supports Windows 11.

• Lazesoft Windows Data Recovery: What’s great about Lazesoft Windows Data Recovery is the free price tag. What’s not so great is its terribly outdated user interface and limited file system and file format support.

• iBoysoft Data Recovery: iBoysoft Data Recovery doesn’t offer anything groundbreaking in terms of features, design, and performance, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you’re looking for an instantly recognizable alternative to established data recovery solutions, then this software is worth looking into.

• GetDataBack Pro: Developed by Runtime Software, GetDataBack Pro excels in the HDD data recovery department but could use improvements in terms of being a more well-rounded and user-friendly program. Despite not being as popular as other data recovery software, it is a suitable choice for intermediate and expert PC users looking for a powerful recovery tool.

• Ontrack EasyRecovery: As a rebranded version of Stellar Data Recovery, Ontrack EasyRecovery offers similar performance, and its free version allows you to recover up to 1 GB of data without paying. Although not among the best data recovery apps, it supports all major file types and is cross-platform, making it a versatile option that’s worth trying. The biggest downside is its expensive annual subscription, which can be a deal-breaker for some users.

• DMDE: Featuring an expansive set of features aimed towards professional users, DMDE stands out for its broad operating system support, even dating back to Windows 98. But despite its technical prowess, DMDE’s complexity can be overwhelming for beginners, with an unintuitive scanning process and complex scanning results.

• AnyRecover Data Recovery: By striking a balance between user-friendliness and data recovery capabilities, AnyRecover Data Recovery positions itself as an attractive alternative to the leading data recovery software applications. If only it didn’t fall short in recovering data from some file systems during deep scans and offered more extra features, it could have made it into our top 10 list.

• Tenorshare 4DDiG: This app’s user-friendly interface makes data recovery a breeze, so it’s a solid choice for regular home users who find complicated software intimidating. Just know that Tenorshare’s ease of use outweighs its data recovery capabilities, especially when it comes to recovering files with their original names intact.

• Cisdem Data Recovery: Though it’s a clone of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, Cisdem deserves the attention of anyone seeking a well-rounded data recovery solution. With fast scan times, a user-friendly interface, and excellent support for various file formats, it makes for an accessible tool for users at all levels of tech-savvy. However, its lifetime license is quite pricey, costing $149.95, and the monthly subscription ($69.95/month) can quickly end up being even more expensive.

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