Optimize Your Windows Experience with These 4 Essential Apps ##--
It's easy to blame hardware when Windows starts feeling sluggish or when you're not getting the best daily performance from your PC. However, the most immediate fixes don't always require a budget. I've found that replacing four of Windows' built-in tools and features can significantly improve your experience. Here are the standout recommendations and actionable tips for enhancing your Windows setup.
1. Replacing Windows' Built-In File Explorer with 7-Zip ###
The default file extraction feature in Windows can be painfully slow, especially when dealing with large files. I noticed a 23-second delay during a 590MB file extraction. This is a significant amount of time, especially when you consider the daily routines that involve extracting several gigabytes of data. To address this, I replaced Windows' built-in file extraction feature with 7-Zip, an open-source file archiver that offers strong encryption and a high compression ratio. 7-Zip not only extracts files faster but also provides additional features such as password protection and secure file compression. By using 7-Zip, you can save time and reduce the frustration of waiting for files to extract.
2. Switching to Everything for Filename Searches ###
Windows Search, while useful, can be frustrating when you need to find a specific file. It often offers results that are not relevant to your search, such as apps, web results, and settings. To improve this, I turned to Everything, a Windows filename search engine that builds its own database from the NTFS file table. This tool allows you to find files almost instantly by typing in a fragment of the filename. Everything is particularly useful for me because it has made the specific part of my workflow, such as finding files, much less cumbersome than Windows Search. By using Everything, you can save time and reduce the frustration of searching for files.
3. Using Brave for Browsing ###
When browsing the web, you often need to find specific content, such as articles, videos, or other types of content. By default, Windows defaults to Edge, which doesn't block most ads. This can make it difficult to find the content you're looking for. To address this, I switched to Brave, a browser that comes with built-in ad-blocking features. Brave's Shields feature blocks ads and trackers by default, which offers a calmer browsing experience and makes it easier to get to the exact content you're looking for. By using Brave, you can save time and reduce the frustration of navigating through ad-heavy websites.
Conclusion ###
Replacing these four built-in Windows apps with 7-Zip, Everything, and Brave can significantly improve your overall Windows experience. By using these tools, you can save time, reduce frustration, and make your computing tasks more efficient. Whether you're dealing with file extractions, filename searches, or browsing the web, these tools can help you get more out of your Windows experience.