CUSTOMISE WINDOWS WITHOUT APPS
Don’t want to spend money or time on third-party apps? Here’s how to tap into Windows’ more hidden options to personalise it for your needs
Not everything needs an add-on. Windows is packed with options for changing the way it looks and behaves – and many are easily rolled back as they’re nothing more than a switch or a tickbox.
For others, you’ll need to edit the Registry. That could cause problems if you make a mistake, so make a full Registry backup before you go any further. To do this, launch the Registry Editor by pressing Windows key+R. Then type “regedit” and press return. Now click File, followed by “Export...” and put the backup somewhere safe.
While you’re at it, check that your system backup is also current. In the worst-case scenario, a Registry error could prevent Windows from starting up.
Switch on logical scrolling
Microsoft implemented an important but easily missed setting in the 24H2 update: a switch for natural mouse scrolling. Previously, scrolling up moved your document south and vice versa, as you were interacting with the scroll bars rather than the page itself. The only way to fix this – so that it worked like a tablet or smartphone – was to dig around in the Registry, even though natural scrolling had been a one-click option for trackpads for years.