With tweaking tools such as WingetUI or Microsoft PC Manager, you can not only improve settings in Windows 10/11, but also fix problems. This often works faster and more effectively than with manual changes to the registry or other system files.

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Windows 11 Pro

In this article, we will show you some of the best tweaking tools currently available for Windows, which are also available free of charge. Some of the tools are portable, i.e. you do not need to install them, but can simply start them, even from USB sticks.

Further reading: Supercharge Windows with Microsoft’s free PowerToys

NetAdapter Repair – fix network problems

If Windows can no longer communicate properly with the network or the internet, the open source tool NetAdapter Repair is an ideal tool. Once started, various buttons are available to repair individual areas in Windows that are causing problems with the network.

Inexperienced users in particular can use it to fix problems that otherwise only experienced users would dare to tackle. In addition to simpler problems, such as deleting the DNS cache, retrieving a new IP address, or cleaning up the hosts file, you can also repair VPN settings, reset the Windows firewall, and much more.

The routing table can also be repaired in this area. It’s also possible to select and start several tasks at once at this point. The “Run All Selected” button is available for this purpose. To be able to perform all actions, you should start NetAdapter Repair with admin rights. On the right-hand side, you can also see the external IP address of the internet access and the IP settings of the computer.

Thomas Joos

Thomas Joos

Thomas Joos

The tool therefore provides information on the network settings and the option to rectify errors at the same time.

Microsoft PC Manager helps to clean up Windows

With the free Microsoft PC Manager tool, users can very easily clean up and optimize their PC and search for errors.

The tool can perform a health check and a deep cleanup. Autostart programs can also be cleaned up. The tool also helps to block pop-ups and much more.

Thomas Joos

Thomas Joos

Thomas Joos

PC Manager helps to clean up the system and can delete files that are no longer needed.

AutoPowerOptionsOK and saving energy

The small AutoPowerOptionsOK tool helps with the management and use of power options. The tool extends the standard options and integrates itself directly into the tray area of the taskbar. The tool can be used to access the Windows energy settings and further options are available via the context menu.

AutoPowerOptionsOK

AutoPowerOptionsOK

AutoPowerOptionsOK

AutoPowerOptionsOK is therefore an ideal tool for notebooks or for computers where optimum power settings are important.

Winaero Tweaker is the top dog

WinaeroTweaker is one of the best-known tweaking tools on the market and can change a whole host of settings in Windows. Winaero Tweaker can also be extracted as a portable version during installation. The tool supports numerous settings that can be implemented with just a few clicks. In addition to Windows 10 and Windows 11, Winaero Tweaker can also customize settings in Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.

Winaero Tweaker enables the activation of complete context menus without the entry “Show more options” and the restoration of the classic taskbar and ribbon design in File Explorer. In addition, the position and size of the taskbar can be changed, all background apps can be deactivated simultaneously, and there are shortcut tools to start applications as an administrator without UAC confirmation or to open system folders and settings directly.

Users can create shortcuts to the classic shutdown dialogue and remove unwanted overlay icons from shortcuts. The tool makes it possible to restore the classic search in File Explorer, use the classic Windows photo indicator and the classic volume control, and permanently deactivate Windows telemetry, Windows Defender, and Windows Update.

Thomas Joos

Thomas Joos

Thomas Joos

Adverts and unwanted apps can be blocked, the integrated administrator account can be activated, and automatic registry backups can be set up. Further adjustments relate to drag-and-drop sensitivity, deactivating notifications, and the Action Center as well as resetting the icon cache and all Group Policy options. Network options, such as changing the RDP port and making network drives accessible to elevated applications, are also available.

Customization of the Windows interface includes personalizing folders in Explorer, increasing taskbar transparency, displaying seconds in the taskbar clock, and disabling blurring on the logon screen. Winaero Tweaker also allows you to add useful context menus, hide unwanted entries, and customize default apps for image editing contexts.

These comprehensive functions make Winaero Tweaker an indispensable tool for in-depth customization and optimization of Windows systems.

TweakPower – The Windows Cleaner

Another tweaking tool for Windows is TweakPower. After installation, numerous setting options are also available here. The tool primarily helps with cleaning up Windows and optimizing the operating system.

TweakPower

TweakPower

TweakPower

TweakPower can be used to replace system and desktop icons, optimize network properties and memory, and adjust drive and security settings. The program allows you to clean the hard drive, split and encrypt files, and delete data irrevocably. Users can customize Windows to their liking by changing settings for the system, input devices, drives, and applications.

They can also customize the appearance of Windows by changing colors, icons, the Start menu, and other visual elements. TweakPower tidies up your PC by removing unnecessary files, cleaning the registry, and deleting internet traces. The security features protect the PC by managing firewall settings, automatic updates, and user account control.

Data can be securely deleted and encrypted to protect privacy. Economy Mode reduces power consumption and extends battery life, while Game Mode disables unnecessary processes to improve performance when gaming and streaming.

System maintenance includes managing autostart programs, fixing hard drive errors and typical Windows problems, and creating restore points and backups. Add-ons such as the file splitter and the defragmentation function improve file management and system performance, while the Task Manager provides control over active programs. The performance index evaluates the computer’s hardware components and displays the overall performance.

TweakPower supports multiple languages and is compatible with different versions of Windows, making it a valuable tool for system optimization.

Improve data protection in Windows 10/11

Windows 10 and Windows 11 are data octopuses when it comes to data protection. The small, free tool W10Privacy puts an end to snooping with just one click. The tool can also be used as a portable version during installation. Some virus scanners report a false-positive malware infection of the tool, mainly Microsoft Defender. However, if you download W10Privacy from the developer’s website, you will not catch a virus.

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Windows 11 Pro

After installing Windows 11, you should check some settings and adapt them to your needs and streamline its use. Here, we’ll show you the 13 most important Windows 11 settings to adjust that maximize security and improve the operating system with just a few clicks.

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Windows 11 Pro

This article is based on Windows 11 version 23H2, the most recent major version of the operating system. Most of the settings can also be implemented in Windows 10 and older Windows 11 versions and work in the same way in Windows 11 version 24H2, this year’s upcoming update.

Further reading: Microsoft’s latest Windows update breaks VPNs, and there’s no fix

Customize Explorer – show file extensions and drives

Windows has been hiding known file extensions for years by default. This is initially annoying because it means that the correct file name is not displayed in full. There is also the security risk. For example, the file “important-document.doc.exe” is displayed as “important-document.doc”, in this case because Windows simply hides the file extension “exe”.

This turns an executable file, such as malware/ransomware, into an unsuspicious Word document at first glance. You can quickly work around the problem by activating View > Show > File name extensions in Explorer.

Foundry

Foundry

Foundry

You can also find the setting in other Windows versions in the Folder Options > View under “Hide extensions for known file types.” In this case, you must deactivate the option.

In the folder options, you can also select the option “This PC” within the “General” tab under “Open File Explorer for.” In this case, Explorer starts with the view of the drives, not with the rarely desired “Start view.” You can also open the Start view with a single click on “Start” in the top left-hand corner.

Further reading: Windows includes built-in ransomware protections. Here’s how to turn it on

Customize Windows update: Get updates faster

After updating to Windows 11 or installing the operating system, you should first go to “Windows Update” in the settings. You should first make sure that the message “You are up to date” appears in the upper area. Click on “Check for updates” and make sure that all updates are installed. Windows also updates the malware protection definition files in this way.

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Foundry

Foundry

It can also be useful to activate the option “Get the latest updates as soon as they are available.” This ensures that your Windows system receives updates faster than other users. Microsoft distributes many updates in waves. If you activate this option, you can get ahead of the waves, but be warned that riding the bleeding-edge of updates leaves you more open to potential bugs.

In addition, click on “Advanced options” and activate “Receive updates for other Microsoft products.” This will ensure that the other Microsoft software on your PC (like Office, Edge, and the Xbox app) are always up to date.

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Foundry

Foundry

At this point, it may also be useful to specify when you work on the PC under “Active hours.” This ensures that Windows does not start within this time after installing updates.

Important: Optimize malware protection settings for drivers

After installing Windows 11, open the Windows Security app from the Start menu. You should see a green icon with a tick next to all settings. If this is not the case, check the area by clicking on the relevant icon.

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Foundry

Foundry

For “Device security,” you should ensure that the “Memory integrity” option is activated in Core isolation > Core isolation details. This prevents successful attacks by malware. If this option cannot be deactivated, this is due to an outdated and therefore insecure driver.

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Foundry

Foundry

You should also ensure that “Microsoft blacklist of vulnerable drivers” is activated. This allows you to block insecure drivers that attackers can use to introduce malware onto the system.

Important: Adjust virus and threat protection

In the Windows Security app, you should switch to “Virus and threat protection” after installation. Click on “Manage settings” under “Virus and threat protection settings” and make sure that all options are switched on here, primarily “Real-time protection,” “Cloud-based protection,” and “Automatic transmission of samples.”

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Foundry

Foundry

Download protection updates for the malware scanner

It is also important that you ensure that the security information for “Virus and threat protection updates” is up-to-date. Use “Protection updates” and then “Check for updates” to update them directly.

If you are using external virus protection, these adjustments are not necessary as this deactivates the internal virus protection in Windows.

Check Windows activation

In the settings, you will find the option to check whether Windows is activated via System > Activation. Without activation, the operating system will stop working after a while and many settings will not be available. Here you can see whether the activation is working and, if necessary, you can use “Change” to re-enter your product key for Windows 10 or Windows 11.

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Foundry

Foundry

Are all drivers installed?

Use the command “devmgmt.msc”, which you enter in the search field of the taskbar, to see whether all drivers are installed for all existing devices on the PC. If unknown or other devices are still displayed here, you should obtain the latest driver from the manufacturer and install it.

Professionals still activate drive encryption

On notebooks in particular, you should ensure that you use Bitlocker for drive encryption. To do this, enter “bitlocker” in the search field of the taskbar and activate the protection.

Bitlocker is available in Windows 11 Pro and Enterprise. Bitlocker isn’t available in Windows 11 Home, alas, but you can use device encryption instead. This can be found in the Windows 11 settings.

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Windows 11 Pro

This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.

Although it was already possible in the past to use smartphones as a webcam on a Windows PC, this was cumbersome, not very stable and hardly useful.

Get windows 11 pro for cheap

Windows 11 Pro

Now Windows 11 has been updated to allow Android smartphones to be used as a webcam wirelessly via Bluetooth much more easily and effectively. The Windows Smartphone Link app is used for this purpose. No third-party app or cable connection is required.

This does not yet work with iPhones. However, iPhone owners can use the iOS app EpocCam in this case. This also turns iPhones into webcams under Windows and macOS. To use it, you need the app on your smartphone and a client under Windows or macOS. Here, the user also has the option of extensively customizing the image.

Connecting Android to the Smartphone Link app included in Windows 11 is easier and offers even more functions. This includes displaying messages, starting phone calls, and close collaboration between the PC and Android smartphone. In principle, the connection also works with iPhones, but you cannot use the Apple devices as a webcam, as described above.

Advantages of using smartphones as a webcam

The advantages are that the smartphone can also be used when using several computers and the quality of the smartphone camera is in many cases higher than that of the webcams built into notebooks or monitors.

If you are working with a laptop connected to a monitor, you can even leave the notebook closed as you do not need the built-in webcam.

Of course, it makes sense to use the smartphone in an upright position, for example on a charging station. However, there are also special holders that can be used to attach smartphones to a monitor or table, for example.

High-quality webcam completely free of charge with Windows 11

As a result, users receive a high-quality webcam for their Windows 11 computer free of charge. If you would still prefer to use an external webcam, you can find a list of high-quality webcams in our comparison: “The best webcams“

The Windows 11 Moment 5 update 5 is required so that you can use Android smartphones as a webcam. The Windows app Smartphone Link must be version 1.24012 or newer. This can be seen in the app settings. On the Android smartphone, you also need the “Link to Windows” app.

After this update, Windows 11 can work better with Android and transfer the camera image to Windows 11 via Bluetooth. Microsoft presents the possibilities in more detail in a blog post.

New features include the ability to switch between the front and rear camera in the app, pause the stream and use smartphone effects. You can also make calls via the Smartphone Link app, display notifications and even read text messages from your smartphone. The current battery charge status is also displayed in the app.

Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft

Once the smartphone has been successfully connected to Windows 11, the notifications and text messages from the smartphone are also available in Windows.
At least Android 9 is required to use the app, which should not be a problem with current devices. If you still have an older Android smartphone, you can also connect it.

Use the Windows smartphone link for the connection

For a successful connection, you must activate the option “Allow this PC to access your mobile devices” under Bluetooth and devices > Mobile devices. Via Manage devices > Add device, Windows 11 creates a QR code with which Android devices can be connected in order to be able to use the camera in future.

PCWorld

PCWorld

PCWorld

For this to work, a “Cross Device Experience Host Update” is required, which Windows 11 receives via the Store. You can then use the cameras of the Android smartphone under Windows 11.

Thomas Joos (Bild:Microsoft)

Thomas Joos (Bild:Microsoft)

Thomas Joos (Bild:Microsoft)

The smartphone can then be used as a webcam in the same way as other webcams. You can also make further settings in the smartphone camera control window. With the right settings, the image quality is often higher than with conventional webcams, especially when using modern smartphones.

This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.

Windows 11 Moment 5 is currently the latest version of Windows 11, released on April’s Patch Tuesday. The update prepares for the update to Windows 11 version 24H2, which will be released later this year, and adds some new features intended to simplify and streamline everyday tasks in Windows.

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Windows 11 Pro

This is accompanied by the new update KB5036893, which activates the new features from Windows 11’s Moment 5 on compatible computers.

In addition to the new features listed below, Microsoft also made some improvements under the hood with this new Windows 11 update. USB ports can now deliver up to 80Gbps, but the hardwired connections in your laptop or desktop must be technically capable of handling the higher specification.

How to get Windows 11 Moment 5 faster

If Windows 11 Moment 5 is not yet installed on your PC and is not offered in Windows Update, activate the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” function in Settings > Windows Update.

If you then check for updates again, there is a good chance that new features will be available more quickly. If this does not work, you can also use the Windows 11 installation wizard.

Now let’s dive into the good stuff!

Users can uninstall system apps

With Windows 11 Moment 5, users can uninstall a larger number of pre-installed apps than was previously possible. For example, Microsoft Edge can be completely removed from Windows 11. Other apps, such as Camera or Photos, can also be removed from the system.

Better arrangement of windows

By dragging a window to the edge of the screen, Windows 11 now suggests an intelligent arrangement of all windows. If you move the mouse over the icon to maximize the window, Windows 11 will display the new, intelligent functions without you having to hold and drag windows. Windows also displays the icons of the programs that are arranged in the various windows on the screen.

Thomas Joos

Thomas Joos

Thomas Joos

This feature is called “Snap Layout.” With Windows 11 Moment 5, Microsoft is expanding these functions and offering more options for the automatic arrangement of windows. It takes some getting used to, but if you often work with several applications at the same time, you’ll quickly learn how to use it and it makes it much easier to arrange windows.

Windows Airdrop is being expanded

With the Windows feature “Nearby,” also known as “Nearby Sharing,” users can share files between Windows PCs more easily. This function is based on Airdrop in macOS. With the new Moment 5 update, users can control more sharing details — for example, the name of the PC when using “Nearby.” This makes sharing easier.

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Foundry

Foundry

Microsoft has improved sharing in Windows 11 Moment 5 in general. In many places, including in Windows Explorer, files can now be shared more easily. Environment sharing appears more frequently here. In addition, you will now find more apps in the quick menu for sharing, such as Teams, Whatsapp, or Facebook.

Fix problems more easily

In the future, the option “Fix problems using Windows Update” will be available in the Windows 11 settings under System > Recovery. If Microsoft is aware of your problem and an update is available to help fix it, it can be installed here.

During the process, Windows 11 is reinstalled using the current version. All settings and data on the system are retained. Basically, the procedure is similar to the cloud installation. This function has been part of Windows 11 for a while, but is easier and more directly accessible as of Moment 5.

What’s next: After Moment 5 comes Windows 11 24H2

The next Windows update for Windows 11 is the 24H2 update, which is already available as a preview for Insiders. However, the update to 24H2 also increases the demands on the CPU.

Windows 11 24H2 also blocks various third-party apps so that users can no longer customize the taskbar and Start menu, for example. This is the case with the well-known ExplorerPatcher tool and StartAllBack. It seems as if Microsoft wants to block various programs.

Older PCs that are currently still compatible with Windows 11 may not be able to be updated to Windows 11 24H2. Intel Core 2 Duo T6500 CPUs and AMD Turion II P650 processors are apparently affected. However, other processors may be added.

This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.

Microsoft not only introduces new features or programs with Windows updates, it also removes obsolete functions.

Many people don’t notice this until they need a specific feature or the outdated program. One example is WordPad, which will soon be removed from Windows, or Windows-to-Go and the Homegroup.

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Windows 11 Pro

If you use WordPad, you should look for a replacement in good time. In most cases, however, Microsoft does not remove features immediately, but instead marks them as “obsolete.”

This means that no more improvements are being developed for these features or tools and that Microsoft will remove them from Windows in a future version. Here’s a list of the Windows features destined to get the axe soon.

Further reading: How to fight the new Windows Outlook app and keep Mail…for now

WordPad will no longer be part of Windows

Microsoft has announced that WordPad will be completely removed from Windows. Although the limited word processor is still included in Windows 11 23H2, this may change with the update to Windows 11 24H2 later this year. Microsoft is already no longer updating the program.

Thomas Joos

Thomas Joos

Thomas Joos

Anyone who relies on WordPad should therefore look for a replacement. Microsoft recommends using Word Online on the Internet at this point. Google Docs, OpenOffice, and LibreOffice are also useful.

Cortana no longer exists

The stand-alone Cortana application in Windows is also outdated and is being replaced by Microsoft’s new Copilot AI. If you use Cortana for certain areas, you should familiarize yourself with the possibilities of Copilot.

VBScript is being removed from Windows

Anyone who uses their own scripts with VBScript will also have to find a replacement: Microsoft will completely remove VBScript in the next Windows versions, presumably in Windows 11 24H2.

WebDAV will no longer be part of Windows

With the removal of the WebClient, Microsoft is removing WebDAV from Windows. This means that the protocol cannot be used to connect network drives with WebDAV. Users often use the protocol to integrate cloud storage directly as a drive in Windows, for example.

This won’t be so easy in future. Microsoft no longer wants to start the service at bootup, and one of the next steps will probably be to remove it, perhaps even in Windows 11 24H2.

TLS certificates under 2,408 bits will be removed

Microsoft is removing support for TLS certificates with an RSA key of less than 2,048 bits from Windows 10 and Windows 11. If you are therefore still using older certificates for applications, there is a risk that these will no longer work after an update in the future.

You should therefore replace them as soon as possible if you become aware of this. However, this mostly affects companies that operate their own web applications.

Problem logging is coming to an end – psr.exe

With problem recording, users can create step-based screenshots to create documentation or recreate errors so that a support employee can help.

Microsoft wants to remove the recording completely from Windows. Here too, you should obtain a replacement if you use the problem recordings. Microsoft recommends using the snipping tool in Windows for this purpose.

Windows Mail and Outlook Express will be removed and replaced by Outlook

Microsoft is removing the Windows Mail app in Windows 10 and Windows 11 and replacing it with the new, free Outlook app. This is currently being criticized not only due to Outlook’s lackluster feature set compared to the original Mail app, but because it routes all emails via Microsoft servers. This also applies to mail accounts that are not hosted by Microsoft. Many users are already swapping Windows Mail for Mozilla Thunderbird.

Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft

Wmic.exe to be discontinued: Use WMI queries in Windows

With “wmic.exe”, users and administrators can use Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) for queries – for example, for information about a computer’s hardware. Microsoft has marked “wmic.exe” as obsolete and will permanently remove this command line program from Windows 10 and Windows 11. However, there is the option of using PowerShell and the Get-WmiObject cmdlet in future.

Windows-to-Go no longer part of Windows

With Windows-to-Go, it was previously possible to save Windows on an external hard drive and start it on different computers. This option will be removed from Windows. Microsoft is already no longer providing support for this feature.

No more HomeGroup in Windows

Microsoft has discontinued support for HomeGroups/home network groups. If you have created shares based on HomeGroups, these will be retained, but the HomeGroup view will be completely removed from the operating system. Resources can still be shared via workgroups and Active Directory domains.

This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.

Microsoft is making the new Outlook available free of charge, regardless of the Office package. You do not need a Microsoft 365 subscription or a Microsoft Office licence. It can be installed on Windows 10 and Windows 11 as well as in macOS.

Anyone using Outlook 2021 from the Office package can switch to the new version via the slider “Test the new Outlook.” However, classic Outlook will remain on the system and can continue to be used in parallel. If you do not use Office, you can install the new Outlook free of charge. Although this is publicly available, it is still undergoing major development as many functions are still missing. New functions are therefore constantly being added.

Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft

The term “The new Outlook” is therefore somewhat misleading. Although Outlook is new, it will not replace the classic Outlook from the Office package in the near future. The initial aim is to replace the classic UWP apps Contacts, Mail, and Calendar in Windows 10 and Windows 11. In the future, however, it is not unlikely that the desktop version from the Office suite will also be replaced. However, this is not yet clear.

Many functions that professionals use are still missing and in various places the operation is not as skilfully solved as in desktop Outlook. Examples of this are categories, search folders, and flags for emails. There is also currently no offline support, no POP3 support, and no option to integrate PST files.

This is set to change in the coming months. Microsoft 365 accounts from Exchange Online can be connected to the new Outlook, but this does not work with all subscriptions. In our tests, Microsoft 365 accounts with their own domains could not be connected, but test accounts could.

Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft

It can therefore happen from time to time that an account cannot be connected. However, there are usually no problems with IMAP accounts, iCloud, Gmail, and Microsoft accounts.

The new Outlook replaces apps in Windows 10 and Windows 11

The new Outlook allows you to manage emails, calendars, and contacts in a centralized interface. These three apps will therefore be removed from Windows and merged in Windows 10/11. Outlook will no longer be used for task management, where Microsoft has long offered the To-Do app, which is also available for iOS and Android.

The To-Do app is also able to integrate tasks from Exchange and Exchange Online. The new Outlook is based on WebView2, i.e. a browser-like view. Put simply, the new Outlook is a web app.

New Windows 11 devices will automatically receive the new Outlook from 2024. Windows 11 computers that are already installed will receive the product via Windows Update or via the Microsoft Store. The UWP apps Contacts, Calendar and Mail have not (yet) been removed.

As soon as the new Outlook is installed on a PC with Windows 10 or Windows 11, the icon “Outlook (new)” appears in the Start menu. The new Outlook app can also be downloaded as “Outlook for Windows” from the Microsoft App Store.

There are discussions about data protection in the new Outlook

The new Outlook synchronises all email accounts in Outlook with Microsoft servers. This also applies to email accounts that are not hosted by Microsoft. This is not only about the content of the messages, but also about the user name and password for all accounts. Of course, this raises some discussion and anyone who doesn’t want this should stay away from the new Outlook.

Setting up the new Outlook

After installation and startup, you can enter the first email account that you want to connect to Outlook. Gmail, iCloud, Yahoo, Microsoft 365 (Exchange Online), and IMAP accounts are no problem.

It doesn’t take long to set up a new account and requires you to confirm a few windows on data protection. You will then receive a summary and tips on the options you have with the new Outlook.

The interface is easy to understand and much clearer and simpler than the desktop Outlook. You can access the Outlook settings via the cogwheel icon at the top right.

Under “Accounts” you can see the accounts already connected. Use “Accounts -> Email accounts -> Add account” to add further email accounts to the new Outlook. You can customize existing accounts with the “Manage” button for the respective account. Here you can remove the account or set an account as the primary account. You can use the primary account to send emails if you have not selected any other account.

You can also make changes to the calendar and contacts here. Microsoft has renamed the contacts in the new Outlook to “People.” After setting up Outlook, it makes sense to work through all the settings one after the other and adapt them to your own requirements.

Working with Outlook: Emails, calendar, and contacts

Outlook creates a separate area in the inbox for each email account, which you can expand and collapse. Favorites can be found at the top. Here you can pin folders, such as the inbox of the individual mailboxes. This means you don’t always have to scroll through the entire window if you use several mailboxes.

The context menu is supported throughout. Here you will find various actions for managing emails. Examples of this are categories and flags. Although these do not work as comprehensively as in desktop Outlook, they still offer an important option for managing emails.

Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft

You can use the icons “Calendar” and “People” to display and manage the appointments and contacts of the currently open email account in Outlook. You can also use the Office apps icons on the left-hand side to switch directly to the web-based Office applications. These are available if you have logged in with a Microsoft account or use a Microsoft account as your email account.

You can also customize the view of the ribbon using the small arrow on the right-hand side. If you select “Classic ribbon,” you will see more commands and have access to the commands available for the selected folder or calendar.

This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.

Microsoft is providing a new backup app for Windows 11 and Windows 10 that you can use to back up your data. The app is available free of charge in Windows 10 and Windows 11, but does not offer much flexibility.

Only OneDrive is generally suitable as a backup destination. Anyone who relies on cloud storage can therefore benefit from the new app. Anyone who does not use a Microsoft account or does not want to back up data to OneDrive will not benefit from this app.

Basically, Microsoft is expanding the backup and synchronization options of Windows 10/11 with the app, similar to Apple in macOS and iOS/iPadOS. Users can also use the new app to protect themselves against data loss due to ransomware. You can also use the app to keep multiple PCs and their data and settings synchronized.

Further reading: Best Windows backup software

Windows backup runs in parallel with the OneDrive client

To use the new backup app, open the app “Windows Backup” from the Start menu. Various options are available here that you can use to back up a Windows computer. The settings here are independent of the OneDrive client.

You can therefore continue to synchronize a directory on the local computer with OneDrive in the future. If the app does not appear in the list, you should update your Windows system; integration takes place via a Windows update.

The new Windows Backup can back up various folders on the local computer to OneDrive. Incidentally, this works in parallel with other backup options and also in parallel with the Windows 7 backup that is still available in Windows 10 and Windows 11. The new Windows Backup app can only use OneDrive as the backup destination, while you can also use the classic app to back up data to external drives or the network.

The OneDrive client in Windows 10 and Windows 11 can still be controlled via its icon in the system tray area of the taskbar. In the future, you will therefore be able to synchronize individual files in OneDrive using various tools, back up various folders, and back up data locally or to the network using the classic backup. These three options are not mutually exclusive, but run in parallel.

Thomas Joos

Thomas Joos

Thomas Joos

All three apps therefore have their justification and enable very flexible backup methods for Windows workstations with Windows 10 and Windows 11. The Windows Backup app is also ideal if you want to migrate from Windows 10 to Windows 11 or to a new PC with Windows 10 or Windows 11.

First steps with the Windows backup

After starting Windows Backup, you will first see the name and type of your PC at the top and when the last backup was performed. Under “Folders” you can see which folders on the computer were covered by the Windows backup and whether they are currently backed up. You can also see how much storage space the backup of this folder currently requires in the cloud. You can see the available storage space in OneDrive at the bottom of the window.

Thomas Joos

Thomas Joos

Thomas Joos

Under “Apps” you can see whether settings and the app list of the PC are synchronized with the cloud. You can also check under “Settings” whether the Windows backup also synchronizes options such as customizations. If you log in to another PC with the same Microsoft account, the data is also immediately available here.

The same applies to data from Wi-Fi networks or login data, including passwords. The Windows backup can also save this data to the cloud so that it is available on other PCs. Start the backup with the “Backup” button.

Configure the Windows backup

You cannot customize the Windows backup directly in the Windows Backup app. You can only monitor and start the backup here. To make adjustments, open the settings in Windows 10 or Windows 11 and go to Accounts > Windows Backup.

Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft

Use “Manage synchronization settings” to specify which local folders you want to back up to OneDrive. Here you can also see the required storage space. You only need to activate the slider for the respective folder at this point.

You can also specify whether you want to back up your settings and the app by activating the respective option under Accounts > Windows backup.

Windows backup protects against ransomware

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Foundry

Foundry

By synchronizing your important data with OneDrive, you can also protect yourself against ransomware with the new app. Open the Windows Security app and go to Virus and threat protection > Ransomware protection > Manage ransomware protection, you can use “Show files” to go directly to the files in OneDrive to restore them if a computer has been attacked by ransomware.

Additional settings are not necessary as the Windows Backup app takes over the ransomware protection options of the Windows Security app.

The app is very simple and can be set up quickly. If you use a Microsoft account and are prepared to back up your data to the cloud, the Windows Backup app is a useful backup and synchronization app with on-board tools.

This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.

Microsoft is significantly expanding the functions of Paint in Windows 11. The app is also getting a new version. The outdated program is to become a modern image editor that also contains AI functions. In the future, you will be able to use the OpenAI-LLM Dall-E directly in Windows 11 and in Paint.

The new functions are also available after installing the Microsoft Paint app from the App Store. Updating the Paint app usually also works via the Store app in Windows 11 and selecting Library > Get updates. If the Paint update can be found in the window, you can install it here.

Microsoft is also constantly expanding the functions of Paint. If you already have the new version, you may receive additional new functions through an update.

However, you shouldn’t expect too much from the new Paint. Even in the new version, Paint will certainly not be a comprehensive competitor for other image editing tools. If you want to edit images comprehensively, there is no getting round solutions such as Adobe Photoshop or the open source Gimp.

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

If you start Paint in Windows 11, you can quickly see whether the new version is already installed. In addition to the new interface, the two new buttons “Cocreator” and “Layers” can be found at the top right.

Working with Paint is a lot of fun, and simple image editing as well as the layers, transparency, and especially the Cocreator are interesting and offer many possibilities.

Cocreator creates AI images with OpenAI Dall-E

The Microsoft Cocreator in Paint allows you to create an AI image directly in Paint, which is then generated via OpenAI Dall-E. This means that in the future Paint can also be used as a tool for creating AI images directly in Windows 11.

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

The creation is done by entering a prompt, which Paint supports with a wizard. For this to work, however, it is necessary to log in with a Microsoft account, as image processing takes place in the Microsoft cloud.

After creating the image with the wizard, Paint displays various alternatives of the image as a preview. If you click on an image, Paint displays it in the main window and you can edit it. The Cocreator is available via the “Cocreator” button at the top right. Users initially receive a free credit of 50 images (Cocreator Credits). The number of credits still available can be seen at the bottom of the window.

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

You can create a new version of the image at any time using the “Create” button. But make sure you have enough Cocreator Credits. Once these have been used up, you can no longer create new images with Cocreator during the test phase. In the future, it should be possible to top up your credits. It is not yet clear how this can be done.

Layers in Microsoft Paint work like in Adobe Photoshop

Layers are commonplace in image editing. Until now, Paint could not handle them. In the new version, layers are available via the “Layers” button at the top right. After clicking on “Layers,” Paint displays another area on the right-hand side. Here you can divide the image into layers and add further layers. To do this, click on the plus sign.

Layers can be stacked in Paint, just like in Photoshop or other image editing tools. Superordinate layers hide subordinate layers. To make areas of the lower layer visible, work with transparency in the parent layer. You can edit layers via the context menu. For example, you can merge layers, change the order, or delete layers.

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

It is also to be expected at this point that Microsoft will continue to expand the functions of layers so that even more functions are available when you work with layers.

Remove backgrounds in Microsoft Paint

Microsoft is constantly expanding the functions of Paint. New functions can therefore be integrated at any time. Removing backgrounds with Microsoft Paint is also available. Backgrounds can be removed via the “Image” tab and the button for removing backgrounds.

Will the new Paint functions also be available for Windows 10?

It is possible that Windows 10 will also get the new Paint functions. Although Microsoft does not intend to release a new version of Windows 10 after Windows 10 version 22H2 , it has already announced a number of new features.

Windows Copilot, the AI assistant from Windows 11, will also be included in Windows 10, and there are already petitions to postpone the end of support for Windows 10 in October 2025. It is therefore possible that the new Paint version will also come to Windows 10, but this is not certain. Windows 11 is currently required for use.

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

Brad Chacos/IDG

According to various sources, almost three quarters of all Windows users still use Windows 10 and only just under a quarter rely on Windows 11. The rest still use Windows 7/8.1 or even Windows XP and Vista.

For these reasons, Microsoft has many reasons to integrate new functions into Windows 10, especially in order to make its AI functions available to a wider public. However, few users will switch from Windows 10 to Windows 11 just because of the new Paint program.

This article was translasted from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.

Planning projects requires the support of tools, even in smaller companies. This ensures that the project participants know their tasks, schedules can be adhered to, and it’s clear which tasks there are within a project. In addition, there is the exchange of knowledge and information between the employees in the project and also with the project managers.

In this article, we introduce you to Monday.com, Microsoft Project, Wrike, Asana, Jira, Teamwork and SmartSuite, seven prominent planning tools with which you can plan and manage even complex business processes.

5 reasons: Why planning tools make sense for businesses

Project management is a complex task that encompasses many different aspects: from resource planning to scheduling to quality control. Without appropriate planning tools, projects can quickly become confusing, deadlines missed, and resources used inefficiently. Here are some reasons why companies should use planning tools for projects:

1. Increased efficiency: Planning tools allow companies to prioritize tasks, allocate resources effectively, and monitor deadlines closely. This leads to an optimized way of working and higher productivity.
2. Transparency and control: With planning tools, project managers and team members have an overview of the current project status at all times. This makes it possible to react in time to delays or problems and ensure that a project stays on track.
3. Communication and collaboration: Planning tools promote team collaboration by providing a central place where all important information and documents can be stored and shared. This improves communication and ensures effective and synchronized work in the team.
4. Risk management: With the help of planning tools, risks can be identified at an early stage and appropriate measures can be taken. This minimizes the likelihood of unexpected complications and helps to bring the project to a successful conclusion.
5. Time and cost savings: Planning tools can help not only to meet deadlines but also to stay within budget. They offer the ability to track the progress of the project in real time and thus react quickly to changes, which can lead to significant time and cost savings.

Companies that rely on project planning tools therefore benefit from improved efficiency, control, and communication, as well as gaining effective risk mitigation and saving time and costs.

Monday.com: Effective project planning in the cloud

Monday.com is a powerful project management and team collaboration tool that is characterized by a variety of useful features. Features include an intuitive user interface that provides a clear view of tasks, deadlines, and progress.

Monday.com makes it easy to create, assign, and track tasks, allowing users to set deadlines and adjust priorities as needed. Compared to other popular project management tools such as Asana, Trello or Jira, Monday.com stands out precisely because of its customizability.

One of the most important factors of Monday.com is the comprehensive support for the Kanban system. This is a visual task management system that promotes transparency and helps identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in the project.

Each phase represents a state in the work process when using Kanban, and work is represented by tasks from one phase to the next. This allows for a high degree of transparency and facilitates understanding of the current state of work.

Monday.com

Monday.com

Monday.com

Another important feature is the integrated communication function. Instead of relying on external email services or messaging apps, Monday.com enables the direct exchange of comments and files within tasks. This improves the efficiency of team communication and minimizes the risk of information loss or misunderstandings.

Furthermore, Monday.com offers extensive automation features. Routine tasks can be automated, resulting in significant time savings. Automatic notifications ensure that no team member misses a deadline or task.

Monday.com’s adaptability is another key benefit. The platform integrates seamlessly with a number of third-party tools, including Google Drive, Slack, and Zoom. In addition, Monday.com offers numerous templates and options to customize it to the specific needs of a company or project.

Microsoft Project: The classic in project planning

Microsoft Project is a widely used project management tool that offers various features to support project planning, tracking, and management. It is often chosen for its sophisticated features and seamless integration with other Microsoft products.

A core feature of Microsoft Project is its detailed scheduling functionality. The solution allows users to create project tasks, link them together to show dependencies, and then display them in a Gantt chart. This visual representation makes it easier to understand the progress of the project and the relationships between tasks.

Microsoft Project also offers a resource management function. Project thus allows users to manage different types of resources (such as personnel, equipment, and materials) and assign tasks to them. It can also track resource consumption and availability, which supports effective resource allocation and planning.

In addition, Microsoft Project has built-in reporting capabilities. The solution can generate a variety of predefined reports, such as project overview, workload, pending tasks, and more. These reports provide important insights into the progress of the project and help in decision-making.

Another aspect of Microsoft Project is its tight integration with other Microsoft products such as Microsoft Teams or Sharepoint. This allows for efficient collaboration and information sharing within the team and improved coordination of project tasks.

Finally, Microsoft Project also offers a function for tracking project progress and controlling budgets. Users can use it to track the progress of tasks and compare actual costs with budgeted costs.

Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft

Wrike: Automate project management

Wrike is a widely used project management and collaboration tool. With its adaptability and flexibility, Wrike offers features to support a wide range of work processes and project activities. Users can create and delegate tasks and track their progress in real time. Priorities and deadlines can be easily set and adjusted.

With integrated communication tools, Wrike promotes team collaboration. By integrating comments and files directly into tasks, users can share information efficiently, reducing the risk of information loss or misunderstandings.

In terms of automation, Wrike offers features to automate routine tasks, resulting in significant time savings. Automatic notifications inform users of tasks and deadlines that are due.

Another key benefit of Wrike is its high compatibility with other tools and services. This platform integrates seamlessly with a number of third-party tools such as Slack and Salesforce. In addition, users can tailor Wrike to the specific needs of their project or business thanks to numerous templates and customisation options.

Finally, Wrike provides reporting capabilities that offer detailed insight into project progress and performance data. This feature helps decision makers make informed decisions based on data.

Asana: Comprehensive project management in the cloud

Asana is a well-known project management tool that offers a variety of features to support workflows. Asana enables the creation and assignment of tasks within projects. Users can set priorities and deadlines, which improves clarity. In addition, project managers can track the progress of tasks in real time.

The platform includes communication tools to promote teamwork. Comments and files can be integrated directly into tasks, which simplifies the exchange of information. In addition, Asana offers functions to automate routine tasks. Automatic notifications keep users informed about tasks and deadlines that are due. Asana is also compatible with various third-party tools such as Google Drive, Slack and Salesforce. In addition, users can tailor Asana to specific project or business needs through templates and customisation options.

The platform includes reporting capabilities for detailed insight into project progress and performance data. Decision makers can thus make data-based decisions.

Asana

Asana

Asana

Jira: Project management from Atlassian

Jira, developed by Atlassian, is a leading tool for managing software development projects. It is known for its functions that are specifically geared towards agile development methods such as Scrum and Kanban.

The solution enables the creation, assignment and tracking of tasks, called “issues” within projects. These issues can be user stories, bugs, epics, or other types of tasks, depending on the requirements of the project. They can be prioritized, linked to specific versions or components, and tracked across development phases.

One of the core features of Jira is the Board, a visual tool for showing the progress of issues. In a Scrum project, there could be a division into columns such as “Backlog,” “In Work,” and “Done.” In a Kanban project, the columns could correspond to the different phases of the workflow.

Another feature of Jira is resource management. Jira allows you to manage team members and their workload. Assigning issues to specific people and monitoring their workload is easy and transparent, making it easier to plan and execute the project.

Jira also offers extensive reporting capabilities. With reports such as the Burndown Chart, Sprint Report or Velocity Chart, teams can track and analyse the progress and performance of the project in detail.

Integration is another important aspect of Jira. It can be seamlessly integrated with other Atlassian products such as Confluence or Bitbucket, but also with a variety of third-party tools, for example Slack, Teams, GitHub, GitLab, Zendesk, Google Sheets, CicrcleCI, Sentry or Jenkins.

Teamwork: Project management with communication functions

Teamwork is a versatile project management tool. A key feature of Teamwork is its adaptability. The tool offers options for personalizing projects and workflows. Users have the freedom to tailor the design of their tasks, user roles, and even the user interface to the needs of their project. This flexibility can significantly increase efficiency and acceptance within the team.

Teamwork

Teamwork

Teamwork

Another advantage of Teamwork is the integration of efficient tools for team communication. While some other solutions only provide basic functions such as task management and scheduling, Teamwork enables direct communication and collaboration within the context of tasks and projects. This can lead to improved information flow and stronger collaboration within the team. Teamwork also supports the integration of various business apps.

This is complemented by comprehensive reporting and analysis functions. Users can create customized reports and dashboards that provide detailed insights into projects and processes. The “task management” feature allows users to create, delegate, and track the status of tasks. These tasks can be given deadlines, divided into subtasks, and made dependent on each other, providing a clear view of the work flow.

The “Milestone” function helps define and track important project goals, promoting clarity and goal orientation of the project. The “Time Tracking” feature allows users to track time spent on specific tasks, which supports accurate project and budget planning. The “File Management” feature in Teamwork supports team collaboration by allowing uploading, sharing, and commenting on files.

Finally, the “Reporting” feature enables the creation of detailed, customised reports that provide valuable insights into project progress and performance. These diverse features help Teamwork meet a wide range of project management needs.

SmartSuite: All project management tools under one roof

SmartSuite allows you to manage projects in one central solution. You manage tasks of different priority as well as milestones, assigned project members, schedules, or reports.

SmartSuite

SmartSuite

SmartSuite

Smartsuite also offers risk- and change-management functions: These are two crucial aspects of project management. They help teams identify potential risks and take appropriate action to mitigate them. This can include both internal and external risks, such as budget overruns, technological challenges, or market changes. Once risks have been identified, Smartsuite enables them to be analyzed and assessed to understand their potential impact and likelihood. So with Smartsuite’s tools, teams can develop strategies to minimize or even completely eliminate risks. This can be done by allocating resources, changing project strategies, or implementing control measures.

Change management refers to the process of handling changes to a project, including identifying, documenting, approving, and implementing changes. Smartsuite allows team members to submit and document change requests. This ensures that all changes are properly recorded and tracked.

The software provides a structured approval process where changes can be reviewed and approved (or rejected) by the appropriate stakeholders. Once approved, Smartsuite supports the implementation of changes by ensuring that all relevant information is shared with affected team members and that changes are properly implemented.

Smartsuite also provides tools for monitoring and reporting changes to ensure that they are implemented as planned and that all potential impacts on the project are monitored.

This article was translated from German to English and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.

If you have to work in Microsoft Outlook, you might at well do it smart. Here are several tips to help you work more efficiently in all available versions of Outlook. All of our tips were tested using Outlook 2021, but some tips also work in a similar form with Outlook 2019 and 2016.

This article was translated from German to English, and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.

Tip 1: Backup and restore profile settings, signatures, and email accounts

Outlook 2016/2019 and Outlook 2021 save their profile settings—including email accounts, favorite folders, settings, and information about the required servers—in the Windows registry. If you export the corresponding keys, you can transfer a large part of Outlook’s settings to a new computer or restore them in the case of new installations.

To restore, you only need to double-click on the exported registry file and all email settings will be integrated into Windows again. The steps are as follows:

1. Open the registry editor with regedit.
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SoftwareMicrosoft\Office16.0\Outlook\Profiles
3. You will see each profile as a separate key below the Profiles key. Right-click on the profile you want to export and select Export from the context menu. There’s your backup!

To restore your backup, double-click on the exported registry file and have it imported into Windows.

Want to back up your Outlook signatures too? Outlook saves signatures in the directory ” C:\Users\<username>AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Signatures”. You can also easily save these by copying them and restoring them at any time.

Tip 2: Address people directly in emails

If you send an email to several recipients, you can address the individual recipients directly within the email text using the @ sign. If you press the @ sign in the text, you can select a person from the address book and write text to that specific person. This person is then automatically entered as a recipient of the email if he or she is not already one.

Tip 3: Move appointments across months and weeks in the calendar view using drag & drop

If you click and hold an appointment in Outlook’s calendar, you can drag it from the current view to the calendar on the left and release it. Outlook moves the appointment to then and shows the new day on the right side of the calendar view. This allows you to fine-tune appointment details. This is useful for quickly moving an appointment over several months or weeks, but also for shuffling an appointment between days in the same week.

Tip 4: Change the subject lines of emails for more effective searching

In the reading area of Outlook as well as the window of an open email, the subject is visible at the very top. If you click in the subject area, you can edit it. This has several advantages. For example, you can adjust the subject directly in the mail window when replying or forwarding, or integrate important information such as customer numbers or order numbers. Since Outlook also indexes this area, you can find e-mails with effective subject lines more easily via search.

Tip 5: Use text modules in Outlook

If you use certain text passages frequently, you can save them as text modules in Outlook. To do this, select the text in an email and choose “Insert -> Quick parts -> Save selection in quick parts catalog” in the editor window. This allows you to easily recall the text at any time. (If “Quick parts” doesn’t appear, you’ll find the command on the far right of the toolbar by the … ellipsis.)

Inserting text modules into e-mails is done via the same menu by clicking on the saved text module or by writing the name of the text module in the e-mail. Outlook then recognizes the saved text modules and you can insert them quickly and easily.

Tip 6: Automate your inbox with Quicksteps

Outlook’s “Quicksteps” lets you assign several actions to emails to sort them, such as categorizing an e-mail, marking it as read, and moving it to a specific folder. Better yet, all this can be done with a mouse click once you’ve set up Quicksteps.

If you open an email and right-click within it to open the context menu, you’ll find “Quicksteps -> Manage Quicksteps“. That’s where the magic lies. Select “New” to create a new Quickstep, then select “Edit” and enter a name at the top of the window to save it for quick and easy future use in the Quicksteps menu. The “Add action” option lets you fine-tune the exact steps to be performed when you select this Quickstep in an email, such as assigning it a category or moving it to a specific folder. You can delete Quicksteps by clicking on the trash icon.

Tip 7: Create contacts more quickly from e-mails

If you drag an e-mail onto the contacts icon at the bottom left while holding down the right mouse button, you can create contacts from e-mails. Outlook reads out relevant contact information and fills in the corresponding fields automatically. You can, of course, edit the fields later if needed. To help with future contact info editing, Outlook displays the content of the email as text within the contact. Any information you don’t need, you can simply delete.

MoCA is the abbreviation for “Multimedia over Coax Alliance.” This is a network standard that makes it possible to connect several devices to your home network via a coaxial cable—the same wire that is normally used to connect cable TV systems.

In households with this wiring available, MoCA offers much more performance and advantages than Powerline. Unlike MoCA, Powerline uses the electrical wiring in your house to pass the network signals, so its susceptibility to failures and performance drops is accordingly a problem. MoCA, on the other hand, requires special adapters for setting up networks, such as these:

• Axing EOC 1-32 Ethernet Over Coax Modem Adapter 1800 Mbps 5-204 MHz
• ScreenBeam Bonded MoCA 2.5 Network Adapter – Starter Kit
• goCoax MoCA 2.5 adapter with 2.5 GbE Ethernet port, MoCA 2.5, 1 x 2.5 GbE port

This article was translated from German to English, and originally appeared on pcwelt.de.

asharkyu / Shutterstock.com

asharkyu / Shutterstock.com

asharkyu / Shutterstock.com

MoCA can be used flexibly for different signals

MoCA allows data, audio and video to be transmitted over a single coaxial cable, rather than requiring a separate cable for each device. This means you can build your network more easily and cost-effectively because you can transmit different data over a single cable – and the cables are often already installed in homes.

To use MoCA, all devices on the network must be equipped with a MOCA adapter. These adapters can be connected to a router, set-top box, PC or other device to establish a connection. Once connected, the devices can communicate with each other and transmit data, audio and video. In addition to the adapters listed above, there are many others that can be used to create networks:

• TRENDnet Ethernet Over Coax MoCa 2.5 Adapter (2-pack)
• Actiontec Ethernet adapter set for houses without MoCA router

MoCA is also a practical and easy solution for building a home network for these reasons, especially if you already have coaxial cabling in your home. The technology also offers a higher transmission speed and better transmission quality than powerline and Wi-Fi.

Devolo

Devolo

Devolo

MoCA in combination with Powerline and Wi-Fi

Powerline can be used in parallel with MoCA if MoCA is not available at various points in the house. Of course, MoCA, Powerline, and Wi-Fi can be combined with each other. However, you cannot connect the network output of a Powerline adapter directly to a MoCA adapter. But you can connect the network output of MoCA adapters and Powerline adapters to the network output of a Wi-Fi router. This allows you to link all three technologies together in a common network. Powerline adapters are connected directly to the power socket.

• TP-Link Powerline Adapter Set TL-PA4010 KIT 600Mbit/s Homeplug AV2, 2 LAN ports
• Devolo Magic 2 Powerline WiFi mini Starter Kit

Powerline versus MoCA

The difference between Powerline and MoCA lies in how the data is transmitted. Powerline is a network standard in which data is transmitted via the power supply network in a building. To set up a powerline network, you need powerline adapters that are connected to the power sockets. The data is then transmitted from one adapter to another via the power cable. This does not always work without problems, mainly across lines that are connected to different fuses. But the advantage is: power lines are laid almost everywhere.

MoCA, on the other hand, uses a coaxial cable that is normally used for the antenna connection for cable TV. So if you don’t have coaxial cables in your house, you can’t use MoCA. Another disadvantage of MoCA is that the range is not as great as with Powerline. Powerline signals can usually be transmitted over long distances, whereas MoCA signals can usually only transmit a limited distance. The distance depends on the quality of the cable and of course on the number of devices used. Another disadvantage of MoCA is that the devices are usually more expensive than Powerline.

AVM

AVM

AVM

In terms of transmission speed, however, MoCA is usually faster than Powerline. MoCA can transmit data at speeds of up to 2 Gbit/s, while Powerline usually offers speeds of up to 500 Mbps. In summary, MoCA is a good option if you have a coaxial cable network and need high transmission speed, but the technology is more expensive and has a shorter range than Powerline.

Powerline has several disadvantages compared to MoCA

Powerline offers the aforementioned advantages of easy installation and long range, but it also has some disadvantages compared to MoCA:

1. Transmission speeds can vary depending on distance, power line quality and interference, which can lead to speed degradation.
2. Powerline is susceptible to interference from other electrical devices operating on the same power line.
3. Powerline adapters can be expensive and must be installed at each endpoint, which can increase overall costs.