Yous but bought a new Windows laptop, built a new desktop, or are simply clean installing on a new SSD. Gotta beloved the smell of a fresh new motorcar, only now yous take to go back to productivity zen by recovering your files and installing programs.

Not sure which ones? Well, allow us help. We've compiled a list of essential programs to become you started. From browsers to productivity tools and lots of suggestions for the areas in between, and as usual with a special accent in corking complimentary options you can download right away.

Update: A new, more up-to-date list can be plant here.

Browsers

Windows 10 offers Border which is a serviceable browser, nothing wrong with information technology but you lot'll rarely find power users favoring it over Chrome or Firefox. The default choice for most is indeed Chrome, a great browser that is very extensible. Although information technology'southward been suffering from some performance hiccups equally of late, Google is hard at work correcting those. Chrome is cracking for Android users, too for natively syncing beyond devices.

Then there's Firefox which is long time contender that has never stopped evolving and arguably equally every bit good browser as Chrome.

If you're up for a piddling experimentation, Opera remains a slick and feature rich browser that is based on Chrome's engine. Same goes for Vivaldi (from the original makers of Opera), the new kid on the cake, it'due south not as polished as Opera on the UI front end, but is very customizable and offers many power user friendly features.

Cloud Storage

Cloud storage and services are a must-accept in your toolbox. There is cipher more convenient than accessing data from any identify or device, and having that data sync across devices.

Bankroll up and restoring data has never been smoother either, and fifty-fifty though there's a huge array of options we've long been spoiled by Dropbox'south ease of use. Major alternatives include Google Drive and Microsoft's own OneDrive, which is integrated into Windows ten. Odds are you already rely in i (or more one) of these 3, but if not, I'd outset by picking one and making the most of the free storage yous become to sync and backup important documents.

Messaging

Information is power only having the right information at the right time is even more of import. For video calls there'south Skype. The most ubiquitous messaging platforms are Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger, though only the onetime offers a native desktop application which comes super handy when you lot're working on your PC.

It's always fun to stay in touch with family and friends, only if you demand to collaborate in a workgroup then Slack, Spark or Hipchat are the most likely platforms you lot'll be using. And if yous're interested in having all your different communication services in one place y'all could attempt Franz.

Security

If yous know what you lot're doing, Windows 10 comes out of the box with more than than decent security. Common sense and Microsoft'south born tools should exist enough for near users, merely if y'all desire to go the extra mile and add together some other layer of protection that won't turn into a burden for your system, you should install Malwarebytes. A veteran specializing in preventing malware and rootkits attacks, it'due south good and free for personal utilise. In that location's also Virustotal.com which you can utilise to scan downloaded files for threats before you open up them.

Gaming

For gaming we take to recommend Steam. Valve's platform does an awesome job at being a ane-terminate store for all PC gaming. It's a dandy hub and gaming communication platform, too known for its killer sales. Do annotation however that certain franchises are absent from Steam, namely games from the likes of EA, Ubi and Blizzard. Then here are download shortcuts for Origin, Uplay and GOG Milky way.

Multimedia

For watching your favorite movies and series in that location'south VLC Player. It simply works, simply if that'due south not enough it has keen support, a wicked equalizer, and simple controls. To be fair, Windows x's built in histrion works well and supports a diversity of formats, too. Last fourth dimension we checked it saves you bombardment when playing movies on a laptop, and then we certainly wouldn't discard it.

It's not uncommon for PCs to act every bit hubs to stream movies or serve as HTPCs. If yous are looking for more than a actor, something that offers streaming and tin organize your library there is Plex, which is very pop, and Kodi, less known but simply every bit capable culling.

Productivity

Personally I'm a big LibreOffice fan. It's the showtime thing I install for productivity. It offers all the basics (and and then some) y'all'll need from Microsoft Office merely at no cost. Not everyone agrees on my choice -- there are other free alternatives as well equally Google Docs if you can't justify paying for the Office suite.

For annotation-taking there'southward OneNote, which Microsoft now offers every bit a free cross-platform, cloud continued app. If you're more than of a visual person you tin use Monosnap for taking screenshots with annotations.

We all need an image editing tool. Windows ten users can rely on Adobe's Photoshop Limited for basic editing, free of charge.

Finally, for coders and developers nosotros accept to give a shout out to Sublime Text, possibly the all-time text editor you'll find.

Bonus Killer Apps

Feel the list is missing something? Since publishing this article, the community has provided invaluable feedback in the form of your own app suggestion and recommendations. Check that out further downward below!

If we were to list i more useful application, we accept F.lux as a bonus. This nifty piddling app shifts the colour of your computer'due south display to conform to the time of twenty-four hour period, warm at night and similar sunlight during the mean solar day. If you similar to work at night, F.lux is a godsend.

5 days, 5 killer tech tips is a TechSpot monthly feature

On the third week of every calendar month, nosotros'll publish 5 killer tech tips, 1 for each twenty-four hour period of the week for a given app, service, or platform.

This week nosotros are uncovering not bad Windows 10 usability tips and tricks.

  • Mean solar day 1: Get Rid of Windows ten Ads, Part Offers and Other Annoyances
  • Day 2: 7 Free Apps to Install on a New Windows PC
  • Twenty-four hours 3: Take advantage of Xbox Streaming and Game DVR in Windows 10
  • Day four: 7 Ways to Screenshot in Windows 10 + Windows 10's God Way
  • Day 5: Tweaking Windows x Privacy Settings