10 Hidden Modes in Windows and How to Use Them

Did you know that Windows has lots of extra modes that enable extra
functionality, help you troubleshoot, or enhance performance for certain
tasks? Some of these are hidden, while you may have heard about others
but never tried them yourself.
Let’s take a look at some of the hidden modes in Windows, including what
they offer and how to access them.
1. God Mode

God Mode has a commanding name, but it isn’t an actual “mode” so much
as a collection of shortcuts. It groups together every Control Panel option,
as well as several commands that aren’t easily accessible on the Control
Panel, into one list.
It’s easy to set up. Simply right-click on your desktop (or anywhere else
you’d like) and choose New > folder. When prompted to give it a name,
enter this:
GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
If you want, you can change the GodMode text to another name of your
choosing. Once you hit Enter to save the name, the folder icon will
change to a Control Panel icon.
While you probably won’t use this all the time, it’s nice to have so many
commands available in one place.
2. Safe Mode
You’ve probably heard of Safe Mode if you’ve had to do any Windows
troubleshooting. This mode loads Windows with only the necessary
drivers and programs to boot, and nothing else. That way, you can rule
out a third-party driver or misconfigured setting causing your problem.
Follow our guide to booting in Safe Mode on Windows 10 to learn how it
works.
How to Boot in Safe Mode on Windows 10 Facing Windows booting
problems? Safe Mode is a built-in Windows 10 troubleshooting feature
you should try first. Read More
3. Game Mode
Windows 10 has more gaming features than any version before it. In fact,
there’s an entire panel in the Settings app dedicated to gaming features.
One of them is Game Mode, which optimizes your system for better
performance in games.
To find it, head to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode. It’s just a simple
toggle titled Game Mode; flip it, and Windows will “optimize your PC for
play.”
Microsoft’s support page says that this prevents Windows Update from
installing drivers and notifying you about restarts. It also “helps achieve a
more stable frame rate depending on the specific game and system,”
which is quite vague. We’ve put Game Mode to the test if you’re interested
in learning more.
Can Windows 10 Game Mode Boost Performance? We Tested It!  Can
Windows 10 increase the performance of your games? Microsoft promises
to increase gaming speeds and boost FPS with its new Game Mode. We
tested how well it works. Read More
4. Battery Saver Mode
If you have a laptop, you’ve probably experienced the anxiety of having
your battery drain at a critical moment. To help prevent those situations,
Windows 10 has a mode designed to conserve battery.
This disables power-hungry tasks, like syncing emails and background
app refresh. The feature also lowers your brightness, which is an
important way to save battery.
To change Battery Saver options, head to Settings > System > Battery.
Check the Turn battery saver on automatically if my battery falls
below and set a percentage. If you like, you can also enable Battery
saver status until next charge to turn it on immediately.
To more quickly toggle Battery Saver in the future, press Win + A to
open the Action Center and use its shortcut in the group of icons at the
bottom of the screen.
We’ve looked at the Battery Saver mode in more detail if you’re curious
about how well it works.
Can You Extend Battery Life with Windows 10 Battery Saver?  Working
with Windows 10 and want to conserve your laptop's battery life? Check
out Battery Saver to make sure you're getting the most out of every
charge. Read More
5. Dark Mode
Most operating systems now have a native dark mode, and Windows 10 is
no exception. Enabling it turns most default Store apps dark, as well as
Windows elements like the Settings app and File Explorer.
To use Dark Mode, head to Settings > Personalization > Colors and
select Dark under Choose your color. If you like, you can also
select Custom to set different modes for Windows elements and apps.
If this isn’t enough for you, check out the best Windows 10 dark themes.
The Best Windows 10 Dark Themes for Your Eyes  Windows 10 has its own
dark theme now. But try these other Windows dark theme customizations
too and prevent eye strain. Read More
6. Compatibility Mode
Windows generally does well with backward compatibility, but especially
old software that was never updated for modern versions of Windows
might not run properly. That’s why the OS includes a compatibility mode,
which can help old programs run on current Windows versions, even if
they aren’t officially supported.
How to Run Old Games and Software on Windows 10  Old PC games and
software can struggle on Windows 10. Try these tips to get your old
Windows games and programs running on Windows 10. Read More
This has been around for some time, including in Windows 10. To use
Compatibility Mode, you’ll need to right-click on a program’s executable
file and choose Properties. From there, go to the Compatibility tab
and you can run it in a mode designed for older versions of Windows. This
section also lets you toggle other compatibility options, such as forcing a
low resolution.
7. Airplane Mode
Another simple but useful mode, airplane mode works as it does on your
smartphone. Enabling this mode shuts off all wireless communication, so
your computer won’t use Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular data, and similar.
While this obviously makes sense while a Windows laptop or tablet on a
plane, it also comes in handy as a battery-saving option. If you’re working
offline and want to squeeze extra battery life from your device, activating
airplane mode can help.
You’ll find it under Settings > Network & Internet > Airplane
mode, but it’s more convenient to use the panel in the Action Center.
Press Win + A or click the icon at the bottom-right of your taskbar to
show it.
8. Tablet Mode
If you use Windows 10 on a tablet or laptop, you should know about tablet
mode. This makes the interface easier to use on a touchscreen device
when you don’t have a mouse and keyboard connected. For instance, all
apps open at full-screen and some elements have more padding to
accommodate using your fingers to select them.
To change its options, visit Settings > System > Tablet mode. Here
you can choose which mode to use at startup, whether Windows should
switch modes without asking you, and a few taskbar options that affect
tablet mode.
9. Focus Mode
While this feature is called Focus assist and not Focus mode, we include it
because it functions like a unique mode. Focus assist allows you to
suppress notifications to prevent distractions while you’re working.
To configure it, head to Settings > System > Focus assist. There, you
can choose from Off, Priority only, or Alarms only. Click Customize
your priority list to choose what shows in that mode.
Below, you can change when Focus assist activates automatically. These
include during certain times, when duplicating your display (like for a
presentation), or when playing a game.
See our guide to Windows 10 Focus assist for more help.
How to Use Windows Focus Assist (Formerly Quiet Hours)  Tired of
Windows notifications distracting you? Focus Assist can help you tame
those notifications in an easy way. Read More
10. S Mode
Here’s a mode that you probably don’t want to use, but may have
encountered. Some Windows machines come with Windows 10 in S mode,
which is more locked down than a standard installation of Windows. S
mode only allows app installs from the Microsoft Store, and prevents you
from using all browsers except Microsoft Edge.
Because it’s so restrictive, chances are that you don’t want to use this. If
you accidentally bought a PC that came with S mode, it’s thankfully easy
to leave.
Head to Settings > Update & Security > Activation. Click the Go to
the Store link under the Switch to Windows 10 Home/Pro section.
This will open a Microsoft Store page titled Switch out of S mode.
Click Get and confirm your choice to leave S mode. This is a one-way
process, so you can’t go back to S mode later.
Try All Windows Modes for More Features
While this isn’t an exhaustive collection of modes on offer in Windows, it
gives you an idea of what’s available. Keep these modes in mind, and
they’ll hopefully come in handy at the right time.
To learn more like this, check out the best new features in the latest
version of Windows 10.