From 7-Zip to Everything, these are the (free!) apps I install first on every Windows laptop and desktop I review because ...

If you want to keep Widgets enabled but clean it up a bit, open the Widgets menu, click the Settings gear in the top-right ...

This is important because: Microsoft is closing the side doors to offline setup. As familiar workarounds disappear, most people are guided toward a Microsoft account on day one, which narrows choice ...