Whether you have just got a new PC or are thinking about reinstalling Windows, the first thing you’ll want to think about is installing apps. This might seem like a daunting task, as the more technology progresses, the more variety of apps that come. Whilst there are lots of great Windows programs and other popular software on the market, knowing which ones are the must-have for your PC will make general set-up and installation that much easier.
The Software You Need
1. Internet Browser: Google Chrome
Google Chrome has always been a top browser pick for people with new devices. The reason is that it offers fast searching, is easy to navigate, and has a wide variety of Chrome extensions that come with it. Also, you can cross-platform syncing that allows you to open tabs from your desktop onto your phone, meaning that you can have a browser that is utilized for all purposes.
It is not to say that Chrome isn’t without fault. People dislike the idea of Google’s tracking in Chrome, and it requires a lot of RAM. However, for what you need from a strong browser – it is the top choice.
2. Storage: Google Drive
If you are already using Google Chrome, Google Drive couples perfectly for storage. Offering 15GB of free storage, it can be used across your Google account and also for Gmail
With Google Drive, you can have apps with every major platform, meaning you can take your files and images anywhere. The desktop app makes it easy to back up all kinds of folders onto your computer and external devices as well.
3. Music Streaming: Spotify
Back in the old days, listening to music on a desktop meant importing music into a collection of MP3 files. Thankfully this is no longer the case because you don’t need to buy individual songs or albums with your music streaming services. With lots to choose from with a new PC, Spotify supports this kind of setup. There are many different plans, and this platform boasts millions of songs and podcasts, allowing creativity with sharing and creating playlists all in one place.
4. Office Suite Set Up: LibreOffice
You will need a suite that gives you access to documents, presentations, and spreadsheets. Many stumble on the belief that the only option is to pay for Microsoft Office – but that isn’t the case. If you are a Windows user, download LibreOffice. It’s a free and powerful tool that offers alternatives incredibly similar to Microsoft.
5. Image Editor: Paint.NET
This app is a must-have for all image editing desires. Unbeknownst to many, it is much easier to use and more powerful than Microsoft Paint. It is great for editing images, blurring sections, levelling up photos to make them look of higher quality, as well as adding texts and shapes with a few simple clicks.
6. Media Player: VLC
For the task of watching videos on a desktop, VLC Player is the way to go. It has lots of features and is able to play videos and audio in most formats. It is an app that you won’t use often but is worth having on your PC. It will save you time in the future from navigating applications like QuickTime etc, one that hasn’t been supported on Windows and PC formats for years.
7. Security Settings: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
For top-quality security for your PC, you need to download Malwarebytes. There is a free version available that is useful for scanning your system for any kind of malware, or if you want an updated version, Malwarebytes Premium is worth the money for spotting things your antivirus might miss.
8. File Compression and Extraction: 7-Zip
Usually, you will find on a windows computer that the narrative support can help with zipped files, but anything beyond this usually requires a more powerful tool. Although this might not be an exciting venture into software, a file extractor is totally necessary for a PC and helps to keep files organized. 7-Zip is perfect for file compression and extracting apps. It’s small in size and has a quick installation which makes use simple.
9. Screenshots: ShareX
Similar to your smartphone, taking a screenshot on your computer is a useful tool. Needed for recording copies of important information, to capturing something funny you saw, it is something you don’t realize you will need but you will. With lots of capturing methods, a built-in editor, and the ability to edit the screenshot – it is a great feature at no cost.
10. Password Protection and Back-Up: Back Blaze
Backing up everything on your PC is essential, as you don’t know when some kind of disaster could strike and wipe all your PC contents. You would hate to lose photos, files, and documents. Backblaze is an essential service for PC and Windows users. For a small price, it backs up all your contents as well as any sort of external drives you connect to your PC, all being stored away in its own cloud. There is no limit or size barrier to what you can back up either.
11. Clipboard Manager: ClipClip
For those of you who spend a lot of time working on your PC, you need good organization and management of your files. ClipClip is an excellent tool for managing this use. You can log all that you copy and pin relevant snippets on your desktop for easy access to your files. It is simple to create folders for quick copying and pasting… and is free!