The Hosts file is used by the operating system to map human-friendly hostnames to numerical Internet Protocol (IP) addresses which identify and locate a host in an IP network. The hosts file is one of several system resources that address network nodes in a computer network and is a common part of an operating system’s IP implementation.
The Hosts file contains lines of text consisting of an IP address in the first text field followed by one or more host names. Each field is separated by white space (Tabs are often preferred for historical reasons, but spaces are also used). Comment lines may be included, and they are indicated by a hash character (#) in the first position of such lines. Entirely blank lines in the file are ignored.
If the Hosts file is changed from default, resetting it can help resolve some connectivity issues.
See also: How to reset the Hosts file back to the default | Windows Support
This tutorial will show you how to reset the Hosts file back to default in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.
By default, Windows Update in Windows 10 will automatically download and install updates, except on metered connections where extra charges may apply. In that case, Windows Update will automatically download only those updates requited to keep Windows running smoothly.
If wanted, you are able to allow Windows Update to automatically download updates over metered connections.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Windows Update to automatically download updates over metered connections in Windows 10.
You can connect your phone and computer to get texts, photos, and more on your PC. Link the Your Phone app on your PC with Your Phone Companion to get started.
With Your Phone Companion, you can easily sync your Android phone to your Windows 10 PC for instant access to everything you love on your phone, right on your PC. Text messages can be found with ease, and you can finally stop emailing yourself photos.
Starting with Windows 10 build 18908, you can now sync your photos, messages, and notifications over mobile data without having to connect your Android phone to the Wi-Fi network.
This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off sync over mobile data in the Your Phone Companion app on your Android phone with the Your Phone app on your Windows 10 PC.
A network based on a Domain provides centralized administration of the entire network from a single computer which is called a server. A Domain provides single user login from any computer connected to that network within the network perimeter. Users are allowed (or restricted) to access resources depending upon the permissions they have.
By default, local user accounts are not shown (enumerated) on the sign-in screen on domain-joined computers. Only domain accounts will show on the sign-in screen by default on domain-joined computers.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable showing all local users on the sign-in screen on a domain joined Windows 10 PC.
You can turn your Windows 10 PC into a mobile hotspot by sharing your Internet connection with other devices over Wi-Fi. You can share a Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or cellular data connection.
When you turn off mobile hotspot, you can turn on or off to allow another device to turn on mobile hotspot remotely on your device when it connects to the mobile hotspot.
Both devices must have Bluetooth turned on and be paired to turn on mobile hotspot remotely.
This tutorial will show you hoe to enable or disable allowing another device to turn on mobile hotspot remotely on your Windows 10 PC.
You can turn your Windows 10 PC into a mobile hotspot by sharing your Internet connection with other devices over Wi-Fi. You can share a Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or cellular data connection.
When you turn on mobile hotspot, you can turn on or off a power saving feature that will automatically turn off mobile hotspot in five minutes when no devices are connected.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable automatically turn off mobile hotspot when no devices are connected in Windows 10.
OneDrive is a cloud-based storage service that comes with your Microsoft account. OneDrive is integrated into Windows 10 where you can view, browse, upload, and share the files you saved online to OneDrive from any PC, tablet, or phone.
Once you set up OneDrive and have it running, OneDrive will automatically sync your chosen files and folders with your PC.
Starting with the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, you can manually pause syncing of files and folders on OneDrive as needed.
By default, Windows 10 will automatically pause sync when the device is on a metered Ethernet or metered wireless network.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable automatically pause OneDrive sync when on metered network for your account in Windows 10.
Offline Files is a feature of Sync Center that makes network files available to a user, even if the network connection to the server is unavailable.
Users can use offline files (if enabled) to make their network files always available offline to keep a copy of the files stored on the network on your computer. This allows users to work with them even when they are not connected to the network or a server is unavailable. The next time the user connects to the network or the server is available, their offline files on your computer will automatically sync to the network files on the server to update.
This tutorial will show you how to set or unset network files as always available offline for your account in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.
Offline Files is a feature of Sync Center that makes network files available to a user, even if the network connection to the server is unavailable.
Users can use offline files (if enabled) to make their network files always available offline to keep a copy of the files stored on the network on your computer. This allows users to work with them even when they are not connected to the network or a server is unavailable. The next time the user connects to the network or the server is available, their offline files on your computer will automatically sync to the network files on the server to update.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable offline files for all users on the computer in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.
A metered connection is an Internet connection that has a data limit associated with it. Cellular data connections are set as metered by default. Wi-Fi and Ethernet network connections can be set to metered but aren’t by default.
When Sync settings is turned on, Windows syncs the settings you choose across all your Windows 10 devices that you’ve signed in to with your Microsoft account.
The settings you choose to sync are also saved in OneDrive (cloud).
You can choose to sync your theme, passwords, language preferences, Ease of Access, and Other Windows settings settings. If you turn on Other Windows settings, Windows syncs some device settings (for things like printers and mouse options), File Explorer settings, and notification preferences. For a complete list of settings that Windows can sync, see Windows 10 roaming settings reference.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable syncing Sync your settings when on metered connections for all users in Windows 10.
Windows Remote Assistance lets someone you trust, such as a friend or technical support person whom you have contacted, take over your PC and fix a problem from wherever they are.
Remote Assistance is enabled by default in Windows, so you may want to disable Remote Assistance when not needed since it can be a security risk.
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable allowing Remote Assistance connections to your Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10 computer.
File sharing over a network in Windows 10 allows you to share files and folders on your computer with other users over a private or public network in your workgroup or domain.
You can set the permissions of a shared file or folder to allow groups or users to have a read only, change (modify), or full control access rights.
Starting with Windows 10 version 1803, some features of file sharing over a network have changed, including the removal of HomeGroup. However, even though HomeGroup has been removed, you can still share printers and files by using features that are built into Windows 10.
This tutorial will show you how to backup and restore network shares and permissions in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.
File sharing over a network in Windows 10 allows you to share files and folders on your computer with other users over a private or public network in your workgroup or domain.
You can set the permissions of a shared file or folder to allow groups or users to have a read only, change (modify), or full control access rights.
Starting with Windows 10 version 1803, some features of file sharing over a network have changed, including the removal of HomeGroup. However, even though HomeGroup has been removed, you can still share printers and files by using features that are built into Windows 10.
This tutorial will show you how to setup and share files and folders over a network in Windows 10.
A wireless (Wi-Fi) network profile contains the SSID (network name), password key, and security information to be able to connect to a wireless network.
When you connect to a new wireless network, Windows will automatically create and add a profile for the wireless network.
Sometimes you may need or want to add a wireless network profile without connecting to it right now so you can connect to the wireless network later when able.
This tutorial will show you how to manually add a wireless network profile to be able to connect to later in Windows 10.
You can download and install the free Microsoft Remote Desktop app and use it to connect to a remote PC or virtual apps and desktops made available by your admin. The app helps you be productive no matter where you are.
If you use the Remote Desktop app in Windows 10, you can manually backup your settings, connections, credentials, and groups to manually restore as needed to any account on any Windows 10 PC that has the app installed.
When you restore items from a backup, the following will happen:
This tutorial will show you how to manually backup and restore all or specific items of the Microsoft Remote Desktop app in Windows 10.
You can download and install the free Microsoft Remote Desktop app and use it to connect to a remote PC or virtual apps and desktops made available by your admin. The app helps you be productive no matter where you are.
You can organize your added Remote Desktop connections into groups named anything you like to make it easier to find your connections later.
You will always be able to add, remove, and rename groups at anytime in the Remote Desktop app, and be able to move your connections to any group.
This tutorial will show you how to add, remove, and rename groups and move Remote Desktop connections to any group in the Microsoft Remote Desktop app for your account in Windows 10.
You can download and install the free Microsoft Remote Desktop app and use it to connect to a remote PC or virtual apps and desktops made available by your admin. The app helps you be productive no matter where you are.
You can change session and app settings in the Microsoft Remote Desktop app that get applied globally to all added Remote Desktop connections.
This tutorial will show you how to change the session and app global settings in the Microsoft Remote Desktop app for your account in Windows 10.
You can download and install the free Microsoft Remote Desktop app and use it to connect to a remote PC or virtual apps and desktops made available by your admin. The app helps you be productive no matter where you are.
If you added a Remote Desktop connection in the Remote Desktop app, it can easily be deleted if wanted.
This tutorial will show you how to remove a Remote Desktop connection in the Microsoft Remote Desktop app for your account in Windows 10.
You can download and install the free Microsoft Remote Desktop app and use it to connect to a remote PC or virtual apps and desktops made available by your admin. The app helps you be productive no matter where you are.
This tutorial will show you how to add a Remote Desktop connection in the Microsoft Remote Desktop app for your account in Windows 10.
The performance of a wireless network connection depends greatly on its signal strength.
This tutorial will show you different ways to view the signal strength of wireless networks in Windows 10.