Hands-On Windows (Video)
Episodes
HOW 187: What Microsoft Isn't Fixing in Windows 11 - Forced Telemetry, Edge, and More
30 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Despite Microsoft's promises, real Windows 11 annoyances like forced telemetry, aggressive Edge defaults, and stubborn online account requirements re...
HOW 186: Microsoft's Promises for 2026 - Microsoft's Vision for Windows 11
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Microsoft has finally pledged to tackle the biggest Windows 11 pain points in 2026, from letting you move the Start menu to eliminating those endless...
HOW 185: Windows 11's new Features 4/2026 - Inside Windows 11's Latest Tweaks
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Windows 11 is quietly rolling out subtle but genuinely useful features this year, favoring reliability and long-term usability over flashy gimmicks. ...
HOW 184: Power Toys Update 4/2026 - The Best Windows Utilities Just Got Smarter
09 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
PowerToys just leveled up with a feature-packed update, transforming Command Palette into a slick, customizable toolbar that could replace your Start...
HOW 183: You Can't Spell Windows With AI - How to Strip AI From Windows 11
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Windows 11 is doubling down on AI, but what if you want out? This episode breaks down the messy truth about stripping AI from your system and why Mic...
HOW 182: Win11Debloat Gets a GUI - Take Command of Windows 11 With an Updated, User-Friendly Tool
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Win11 Debloat just got a major upgrade with a slick new GUI, making it easier than ever to clean up your Windows 11 without wrestling with command li...
HOW 181: A First Look at Store CLI - Why Did Microsoft Introduce Another Command Line?
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Just when you thought you knew Windows command lines, Microsoft drops Store CLI—a surprising new tool that could shake up how you discover and inst...
HOW 180: The Return of Microsoft Edit - Notepad, Move Over
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Microsoft Edit is stepping into the spotlight as Notepad faces backlash for its new AI-heavy features. Find out why this lightweight, command-line te...
HOW 179: Surviving OneDrive Sync - The Hidden Drama of Windows Folder Sync
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
OneDrive's automatic folder backup in Windows 11 has frustrated millions, but this episode reveals new changes that finally let users opt out—if yo...
HOW 178: Microsoft's Password Manager - Why Edge Isn't Enough for True Security
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Think Microsoft's password manager in Windows 11 is enough? Paul Thurrott breaks down why even devoted Edge users might want to look elsewhere for tr...
HOW 177: Password Managers and Windows 11 - The Key to Your Online Security
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
From generating passkeys and payment autofill to dark web monitoring, today's password managers aren't what you remember. Paul Thurrott breaks down t...
HOW 176: A Practical Guide to Secure, Passwordless Logins - A Smarter Passkey Setup
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Forget the built-in Windows tools—Paul shares why third-party password managers are the secret to making passkeys smarter, more powerful, and truly...
HOW 175: Passkeys in 25h2 - Moving Beyond Passwords
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Curious about the reality behind Microsoft's passkey promise? Find out how Windows 11's latest update makes your logins both safer and simpler across...
HOW 174: 2026 Security Checkup - Master Your Microsoft Account Security
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ready to purge old passwords and shore up your Microsoft account? Paul Thurrott breaks down the tactics hackers hope you'll ignore—and the must-hav...
HOW 174: 2026 Security Checkup - Master Your Microsoft Account Security
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ready to purge old passwords and shore up your Microsoft account? Paul Thurrott breaks down the tactics hackers hope you'll ignore—and the must-hav...
HOW 173: Keyboard Shortcuts in 2026 - Hotkeys Power Users Swear By Every Day
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Think you know Windows shortcuts? Paul digs up the most efficient keys almost nobody uses, uncovering tricks Microsoft added—and quietly changed—...
HOW 172: Native Apps to Keep or Delete - Which Windows 11 Apps Deserve a Spot on Your PC
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Is Windows 11 full of apps you never use—or ones you shouldn't ignore? Paul Thurrott sorts the must-haves from the major annoyances, sharing candid...
HOW 171: 5 New Features Coming This Year - What's New in Windows 11 for Power Users This Year
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Windows is gearing up for a transformational year, with smarter Copilot actions, streamlined widgets, and the groundwork for running background AI ag...
HOW 170: Best Windows 11 Features of 2025 - What Changed For Power Users This Year?
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Windows 11 quietly shifted the way we manage apps, protect data, and interact with our devices in 2025. This episode reveals the must-try upgrades te...
HOW 169: Windows 11's New Start Menu - The Windows 11 Changes You'll Actually Notice
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Windows 11 just got a fresh Start menu, and it's not just a pretty face. Find out what Microsoft is quietly changing, how it affects everyone (not ju...
HOW 168: Windows 11 Meets Xbox - The Portable Gaming Revolution Begins
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is the future of Xbox really a PC you can hold in your hands? Paul Thurrott puts the new full-screen Xbox app for handheld gaming PCs to the test and...
HOW 167: Tiny 11 Builder - De-enshittifying Windows 11
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Imagine Windows 11 without Edge, OneDrive, or Copilot. This episode dives into Tiny11Builder, the tool that strips Windows down to just what you want...
HOW 166: Power Toys 2025 Update - Windows Tweaks You Didn't Know You Needed
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Windows keeps improving behind the scenes, but sometimes the most useful updates come from PowerToys. Get the inside scoop on which PowerToys utiliti...
HOW 165: The New OneDrive App - OneDrive's Secret Upgrade
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
OneDrive isn't just for cloud storage anymore. Paul Thurrott breaks down how Microsoft is quietly building it into an intelligent, all-in-one hub for...
HOW 164: Every PC Is Now an AI PC - The Secret New Features Hiding in Copilot for Windows
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Microsoft is redefining the "AI PC" to include almost every machine running Windows 11, putting futuristic Copilot features in the hands of millions ...
HOW 163: Gaming on ARM PCs - Which Titles Actually Work and How Well Do They Run?
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is Windows 11 on ARM finally ready for gaming? Paul Thurrott puts new Snapdragon-powered laptops to the test with both classics and demanding titles,...
HOW 162: Get Windows 11 25H2 Today - Skip The Wait With Paul Thurrott's Insider Tips
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Windows 11's 25H2 release isn't hitting every device right away—find out how to jump the line and enable hidden new features before the official ro...
HOW 161: Google Wants To Be Your Co-Pilot - Google's Surprise Desktop App for Windows
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Google is bringing Gemini into Windows territory, taking on Microsoft Copilot right from your desktop. Is the world's most popular browser about to c...
HOW 160: Smarter Search and AI in Notepad - Inside Microsoft's Newest AI Upgrades
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are Windows 11's evolving context menus about to become useful or just cluttered chaos? This episode unpacks Microsoft's bold new interface tweaks an...
HOW 157: Administrator Protection - Say Goodbye to Annoying Admin Prompts
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Windows 11's latest update finally tackles a 30-year-old security flaw with a new feature called Administrator Protection. Find out how this major ch...
HOW 156: Copilot Mode Arrives in Edge - A Glimpse Into Microsoft's AI-Powered Browsing
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Microsoft's new Copilot mode in Edge takes its shot at the AI browser craze, but is it ready to rival more daring upstarts like Neo or Perplexity? Di...
HOW 155: A Cure for Mac Envy - Making Windows 11 Feel Like a Mac
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling a pang of Mac envy? Paul Thurrott dives into how Windows 11 stacks up against Apple's latest visual enhancements and reveals clever ways Wind...
HOW 154: Link iPhone with Windows 11 - More Than Just iTunes 2.0?
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Curious how well your iPhone actually works with Windows 11? Paul Thurrott tests every integration, from texting to photo sync, and reveals where the...
HOW 153: Windows 11 25H2 is Here - What's Real, What's Hype, and What You'll Actually Get
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Windows 11's next big update, 25H2, is finally official—but Microsoft quietly revealed it in a way only Microsoft would. This week, Paul breaks dow...
HOW 152: Microsoft Edge Pt. 3 - How to Not Use Edge
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Unlock the secrets to a seamless browsing experience on Windows 11 without ever touching Microsoft Edge again! This week on Hands-On Windows, Paul pr...
HOW 151: Microsoft Edge Pt. 2 - How to Configure Edge
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Microsoft Edge is the default web browser and PDF reader in Windows 11, and a modern and capable successor to the Internet Explorer browser of yester...
HOW 150: Microsoft Edge Pt. 1 - Why Use Microsoft Edge?
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can Microsoft Edge really change your mind about web browsing? After years of skepticism and critique, I've taken a fresh look at Edge, and you might...
HOW 149: Enhancing Windows 11 Security - Windows 11 Safety: Tips and Tricks
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gain a comprehensive understanding of how the Windows Resiliency Initiative is transforming the operating system to stand resilient against potential...
Hands-On Windows Ad-Free Video Is Club TWiT Exclusive
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wondering why this feed says "Video" when everything in it (except for this video) is audio? Well, the video is a Club TWiT exclusive, but we've gon...
HOW 148: Upgrades to Legacy Apps - New Features in Notepad, Paint, and Snipping Tool
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Unlock the future of Windows apps as we uncover the updates to Notepad, Paint, and Snipping Tool in Windows 11 24H2. Host: Paul Thurrott Download o...