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15 Must-Have Windows Apps and Software for Any New PC – Subscribe to Help Desk Geek.

Whether you\’ve just purchased a new PC or reinstalled Windows, the first task you\’ll likely do is installing apps. While there are dozens of amazing Windows programs, knowing which ones are the must-have software for Windows 10 or Windows 11 makes setting up a new installation easier.
In no particular order, let\’s step through 15 essential apps for Windows that everyone should install right away, along with some alternatives for them. Unsurprisingly, Google Chrome is still our top browser pick. It\’s super-speedy, includes little conveniences like letting you instantly search Google Lens for an image, and has a vast library of Chrome extensions.
Throw in cross-platform syncing that lets you open your desktop tabs on your phone and vice-versa, and you\’ve got a fantastic browser for all purposes.
Chrome isn\’t without its faults, however. But the good news is that you have plenty of other fantastic browsers to choose from, like Firefox and Opera. Even the built-in Microsoft Edge is based on Chromium , so give it a try if you prefer Microsoft\’s approach over Google\’s. Download: Google Chrome Free. Download: Firefox Free. Download: Opera Free. If you only pick one cloud app service, Google Drive is the one you should install due to the amount of free space it includes.
Google Drive offers an app for every major platform, so you can take your files anywhere. In addition to syncing files you place in the dedicated Google Drive folder, the desktop app makes it easy to back up folders on your computer and external devices, too.
It\’s also super easy to share files with others, plus the service plays well with Google\’s productivity suite. Whether you use it as part of your backup plan, as a cloud flash drive, or for setting up shared folders with others, Google Drive is an essential app pick for Windows 10 and Paired with OneDrive which comes built into Windows or another free cloud storage provider , you can get plenty of storage space and separate your files logically by service.
Download: Google Drive Free, subscription available. Years ago, listening to music on your desktop meant painstakingly importing and organizing a collection of MP3s. That\’s no longer the case; music streaming services eliminate the need for buying individual albums physically or digitally. There are a lot of music streaming services available, but we think the essential pick for Windows 10 or 11 is Spotify.
Its ad-supported free plan lets you listen to as much music as you like, and there are several Spotify Premium plans that are worth it for avid listeners. Spotify is also home to millions of podcasts, making everything available in one convenient place. Spotify also has a dedicated Windows app, unlike some of its competitors. If you\’re already invested in another ecosystem, though, Apple Music or YouTube Music might be a better choice for you. Download: Spotify Free, subscription available. Visit: Apple Music Subscription required, free trial available.
Visit: YouTube Music Free, subscription available. Chances are you\’ll need a productivity suite that lets you work with documents, spreadsheets, and presentations at some point. You might think that paying for Microsoft Office is the only way to get such access, but that\’s far from the truth. No Windows user should go without LibreOffice.
It\’s a completely free and powerful office suite that includes alternatives to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and more. Once you get used to a few small aesthetic differences from MS Office, you\’ll be flying through your work with LibreOffice. Note that OpenOffice, a once-popular alternative, is basically dead now.
If you don\’t want to use LibreOffice, try FreeOffice. You can use web apps like Word Online or Google Docs too, but we\’re focused on full desktop downloads here. Download: LibreOffice Free. Download: FreeOffice Free. Whether you want to try your hand at basic image manipulation, need a way to blur sensitive info in screenshots, or want to retouch old photos, everyone should have an image editing program installed.
Photoshop is the gold standard for this, but there are plenty of free tools that are more accessible. NET is a must-have Windows app for your image editing needs. It\’s far more powerful than Microsoft Paint, but doesn\’t overwhelm you with loads of confusing tools. You can easily blur out parts of an image, auto-level photos to make them look better, and add text and shapes to your pictures in just a few clicks. Plenty of plugins allow you to expand its functionality, too.
If you find Paint. Download: Paint. NET Free. Windows 10 and 11 include Windows Defender, which is a good enough antivirus for most users. However, it\’s wise to keep a secondary security program installed to supplement it.
For this, you can\’t beat Malwarebytes. The free version lets you scan your system for malware that your antivirus might not catch. And for a powerful blended security solution, upgrading to Malwarebytes Premium is worth the cost. Download: Malwarebytes Free, subscription available. Thanks to YouTube\’s ubiquity, you probably don\’t watch local videos too often.
However, everyone should still keep a solid video player around on their desktop for when they need to play media files locally. Even if it\’s not one of the tools you think to download on a new computer right away, it will come in handy someday. For this task, nothing beats VLC Media Player, which packs a ton of features and is capable of playing nearly every video and audio format imaginable.
You\’ll save yourself the hassle of messing with video codecs or using QuickTime, which hasn\’t been supported on Windows for years. Download: VLC Free. Taking a screenshot on Windows is useful for everything from capturing funny moments to having a record of important information. You won\’t find a more powerful free screenshot tool than ShareX. With tons of capture methods, a solid built-in editor, the ability to run automated steps after you take a screenshot, and extra tools like a color grabber and ruler, ShareX has an impressive feature set for no cost.
If ShareX overwhelms you, give PicPick a try instead. If you bought a new Windows laptop on Black Friday or received one as a gift, you may be struggling to figure out which apps to download. Never fear.
I have scoured the internet, the Microsoft Store, and my own downloads folder to find all the best Windows apps for whatever purpose you may need. You might be surprised how many online services you already use that have their own dedicated Windows app.
I find that the main benefit of many Windows apps is to help mentally separate my life. It can get hard to navigate all of my various streaming services, work apps, chats, and social media using Chrome tabs — and it also puts me at greater risk of getting distracted. There are also some services that are significantly better in app form than they are in browser form — and some that only exist in app form. Take a look. Note: pricing was accurate at the time of publishing but may change.
Duolingo is a fun and easy way to pick up a new language with just a few minutes of practice a day. And you can leave in the middle of lessons and come back to complete them later, which makes Duolingo ideal for learners with busy schedules.
I use this service two or three times a day for work meetings, virtual events, or just chatting with friends. I have a pretty slow and unstable internet connection, but I always find meetings to be stable and easy to start up. And there are all kinds of neat features to make it easier. You can customize your background picture, set personal notes on your chat profile, swap between portrait and landscape layouts, and more. Users on the free tier can host sessions of up to participants capped at 40 minutes.
Another neat trick: you can share files just by dragging and dropping them into the chat window. Amateur photographers can get the free Photoshop Express , which has all the features you need for basic image editing. Paint has come a long way since you had to use it to draw stick figures in computer class. I use it for basic image work, and it has all of the tools I could ever need. Artists can use the free program to make 3D models in addition to 2D creations, with all kinds of textures, filters, and lighting options.
From the Windows Audible app, you can browse a huge selection of audiobooks and listen to them at your leisure. Its Windows app is easy to navigate and gives you access to all kinds of recommendations and curated playlists. Netflix is one of the most popular streaming services in the US and also one of the most popular apps on the Microsoft Store.
You can use the app to quickly pull up TV shows and movies without having to navigate in a browser, and the service syncs across devices, so you can pause an episode on your PC and resume where you left off on your phone. Not only can you access some of the most popular TV shows like Seinfeld and This is Us , but you can also get live TV from over 65 channels and can add content from other services like HBO Max and Showtime for an extra cost. Not a streaming service, but still quite useful, VLC is a free media player that can handle all kinds of formats.
It includes some features to improve the viewing experience, including equalizer settings and presets for music playback. Discord started out as a service for gamers, but the company has worked to expand it to more demographics this year.
Slack is a must-have for many workplaces — especially teams that are partially or fully remote. Anyone can create a virtual workspace to chat and hang out, whether for your book club or your fantasy football league.
WPS has some handy features of its own: for example, Writer allows you to keep multiple documents open in browser-esque tabs. Widely praised as the best task-management program out there, Todoist allows you to create projects and tasks within those projects and assign them priority ratings, due dates and times, labels, and all kinds of other details.
I use it to write notes and reminders to myself and keep them hanging on the side of my screen, the same way you would with a Post-It. The subscription-based suite includes all the office tools you might be looking for, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. Anyone who uses Dropbox for work or personal use can take advantage of its nice Windows app, which gives you a convenient way to view your photos and documents.
You can also download and upload items in the app. Check out Google Drive for a cloud-based alternative to Dropbox. The free version of Google Drive gives you 15GB of storage. The nice thing about the Windows app is that it can sync your online files with your desktop automatically, so you can easily work offline and have backups if something goes awry. Dolby Access allows you to run Dolby Atmos through your headset or headphones.
– Cool things to download on windows 10 free
I will provide some recommendations for the best Windows 10 themes that are light, not heavy, and make the computer slow, but have a nice and cool appearance. Windows 10 comes with a UI that is more modern than the previous version, users can use two main modes, namely light mode which gives a bright nuance with grayish-white dominance, or dark mode with black domination.
To get a different feel, we can actually customize the colors, but if you want something more unique then you can install other cool themes according to your taste. Simplify 10 — A lightweight Windows 10 theme with an elegant look Download.
Looking for a theme with a minimalist look but still looks cool and elegant? You must try this theme called Simplify In terms of beautiful design and performance, this theme is one of the best themes for Windows Simplify 10 will minimize the elements in the theme, making it look neater while making Windows 10 lighter.
There are three main modes of this theme, namely light mode light theme , dark mode dark theme , and Maverick which is similar in design to one of the most popular Linux distributions, namely Ubuntu.
Interested in trying it? Please download the Simplify 10 theme from the link we have provided above. One of the things that are mandatory after installing Windows 10 is to make it look more attractive. Dark mode themes always look cool, in Windows 10 you can also have themes with dark mode.
In addition to the appearance that will look more elegant, the theme with dark mode also makes the eyes less sore when lingering on the screen. When using a laptop with a dark theme battery it can also save power consumption. One of the best dark mode themes for Windows 10 that we recommend is Win11 Dark which you can use for free.
This cool theme is suitable for those of you who like a black Windows look. This theme will change all existing elements with a combination of dark gray and black, making Windows 10 look cool but still comfortable to look at.
If you like dark themes with black nuances then this one is a must-try. Indeed, there is not much difference between the dark mode theme and this black theme, maybe it is only different in terms of layout design. This Penumbra 10 theme also provides an appearance dominated by dark and gray colors.
Folders and icons are flat design with black-gray color to make the display look more modern. Do you like 3-dimensional themes? Try this 3D Theme first. In this theme pack, there are 17 cool HD wallpapers that will give you a 3D illusion as if the image is moving and alive. You can also add other 3D wallpapers according to your taste.
To monitor users with high resolution, you can use 4K wallpapers to get a clear view. Windows 10 Anime Themes Download. Love anime themes? In Windows 10 you can use it too. Please choose which anime theme is your favorite to install on your Windows 10 laptop. To make it look cooler, you can also find your favorite anime wallpaper then make it a background to enhance the appearance of the theme. Windows XP theme for Windows 10 Download.
Does Miss the old school look like Windows XP? Now you can change the appearance of Windows 10 to look like Windows XP by installing this theme. The appearance of Windows XP is indeed very simple, people who have been using the Windows OS for a long time must be very familiar with its appearance. When using Windows 10 there may be a lot of changes, to change it to a simpler Windows XP look, we need a theme.
When used, only the appearance changes, but all the features in Windows 10 will remain the same. MacOS theme for Windows 10 Download. Take it easy, you can still feel the sensation of using a MacBook on a Windows 10 laptop.
By using this MacOS theme you can get a look that is very similar to an Apple laptop. This MacOS theme for Windows 10 will change the look of your laptop to the appearance of a Mac as a whole starting from the location of the icon at the bottom dock , the file explorer window page view, the close button location, to the color nuances very similar to Apple. This theme is also light enough that it can be installed on even low-spec PCs and laptops.
Interested in trying this cool theme? Just download and install via the link we provide above. Ubuntu is the most popular Linux distro with the most users today.
High compatibility and a very friendly appearance for beginners make users comfortable using this OS. This theme will give you the sensation of using Linux on a laptop with the Windows 10 operating system without having to install it. You will get a typical Ubuntu look easily, there are also several cool skin choices that you can use. Flattastic — a theme with a cool flat design Download.
The next cool theme for Windows 10 is Flattastic, this theme will give you a simple yet modern look. Fantastic puts forward a minimalist and clean look, the color combination is also cool on the eyes. Windows 7 Themes Download. Want to change the appearance of Windows 10 to be like Windows 7?
You can do it easily using this theme. The Windows 7 theme will make your Windows 10 look very similar to Windows 7, even if you are used to it you will forget that you are currently using Windows This theme will change all elements in the UI starting from the Start menu, taskbar, tray icon, and explorer display exactly as in Windows 7. For those who are used to using Windows 7 but have to migrate due to work needs, this theme can be a powerful solution.
Windows 10 Live Themes Download. One of the most popular themes is dynamic or moving themes. You can also use this theme on Windows There are tons of themes that support the moving image feature as Wallpaper, one of which we recommend you can find in the link below.
The Windows 10 moving theme lets you set dynamic backgrounds, making them look lively and real. Images of natural landscapes such as waterfalls will look more alive because the waterfall looks as if it continues to flow and gives a soothing atmosphere. Windows 10 Android theme Download.
Want to change the appearance of Windows 10 to be like an Android smartphone or tablet? You can use this Android theme for Windows Android does have a cooler and more pleasing appearance compared to the default Windows 10 display which looks flat. The icons on Android also look nicer and more modern. But by using this theme we can still get a look that is very similar to Android.
Just download the theme via the link above. One Piece theme for Windows 10 Download. One Piece is one of the most popular anime of all time. Even though it has entered the age of 20 years but until now the story is still going on, and the great thing is that One Piece fans are still loyal to follow the storyline. The release of One Piece, both anime and manga versions, is always eagerly awaited by fans around the world. If you are one of the anime fans who tell stories about pirates, then you must try this cool theme.
You can beautify the appearance of Windows 10 with the One Piece theme. The colors on Windows will change to the theme of One Piece, as well as the existing icons. You can also change the background to make it look cooler. There are tons of cool themes that you can download from the Microsoft Store. If you feel uncomfortable using a theme downloaded from an external site, then you can look for Windows 10 themes from the Microsoft Store.
The Microsoft Store is guaranteed security because every software there has passed the verification process. How to install applications from the Microsoft Store is also very easy, and you can use the themes there for free.
Windows 10 Natural Scenery theme Download. Themes with natural landscapes can provide a cool nuance when we are using the computer. Green scenery, beaches, mountains, and oceans can help relieve stress at work. For those of you who like themes like this, here we provide recommendations for themes that you can use.
This theme is equipped with HD quality natural scenery wallpapers. Please try it for free! Windows 10 Superhero Themes Download. Like superhero characters? You can also install cool superhero themes on the desktop of Windows America to Captain Marvel. You can also install a wallpaper that matches the theme to make it look cooler.
Want to install it now, just select the theme via the link we have provided. Windows 10 Gaming Themes Download. Not to forget for gamers who want to make Windows 10 look cool with a gaming theme, here is a Windows 10 theme that you must try. This named theme will make PC and gaming laptops look fierce and more pro by changing the UI appearance, wallpaper, pointer, icon, and window appearance. The theme we provide is a theme from AMD gaming with shades of black and red that look fierce.