I spend a good portion of my time speaking with customers. Many times, they just recently took delivery of their new computer, and they are getting acquainted with it. For some, this is their first experience with Windows 10 because they came from the Mac or an older version of Windows.
One question I get asked often is: Where can I find good training on Windows 10?
So today, I want to share a few of the best Windows 10 training resources I've found. This article is geared towards those who are new to Windows 10 or who need a refresher course because they are coming to Windows 10 from an earlier version. Those of you who are looking for advanced Windows 10 training geared towards IT and certifications, I recommend checking out the Microsoft Learning site. I should also mention that our support team publishes Support Guides, some of which cover Windows 10.
Free Windows 10 Training
One challenge with free training is making sure it's not out-of-date. Microsoft released Windows 10 back in July of 2015, and although they haven't changed the name, they have released a lot of updates which added new features.
Another challenge is the sheer amount of training one can find online. TechGumbo has some excellent technology coverage on its channel including these two Windows 10 videos:
Windows 10 Beginner Guide – This guide shows you how to use the basic features of Windows including the new Start Menu and Task Bar. One of the best segments provides an overview of each Windows Setting. This is a great place to start if you are new to Windows 10.
Windows 10 Features You Should Be Using – This video is aimed at people who know the basics of Windows 10, but are looking to get more out of the operating system. This video covers ten features you may not have heard about such as Quick Assist, Sticky Notes and converting any document to PDF.
If I'm looking for a specific Windows 10 feature, such as printer sharing, I'll search for it on YouTube to see if anyone has created a how-to video. You will often find what you're after, but you might have to watch a lot of junk before that.
You might wonder why I don't include any first-party training from Microsoft. Honestly, they just don't offer a lot of free training. Microsoft partners with other companies to provide professional training focused on passing certification exams such as the MCSE, MCSD and MCSA.
Paid Windows 10 Training
As you move from free to paid Windows 10 training you should expect higher quality training. The training you pay for should be up-to-date, well organized and professionally produced. You will find a lot of options depending on your budget. Before you pay for training, I recommend checking with your local library or university to see if they offer any low cost training.
For this article, I'll focus on paid online Windows 10 training. Here are two of the best options:
Udemy – What I like most about the courses here are the quality and approachability of the instructors. Many courses cost under $20 and take less than two hours to complete. Before you purchase, check out the course preview and read a few reviews. And if you don't like your course, Udemy will refund your money within 30 days. Ulrika Hedlund covers the Windows 10 basics in a quick 33 minutes.
Lynda.com – Courses found here tend to be current and geared more towards the small business user. That means you'll find a lot of training on specific Windows features and issues such as networking, troubleshooting, and deployment. But you'll also find some good beginner and intermediate courses as well. I especially like a course taught by Nick Brazzi called Windows 10 May 2018 Update Essential Training. Lynda.com is offered by monthly or annual subscription.
I evaluated a several courses at Skillshare as well, but I found their quality to be all over the map. This is disappointing because I've had a few friends recommend Skillshare to me. I'm sure good quality courses exist there, but the amount of work to find them was too time-consuming. Skillshare needs better quality monitoring in place before I can recommend it.
Books on Windows 10
Some people like myself still learn best from books. They are great if you like to take notes or highlight sections. They also make excellent reference manuals if you need to look up a specific feature. With that said, I have two books to recommend:
Windows 10: The Missing Manual – This book is written by David Pogue who is the former technology columnist for the New York Times. He's written numerous "missing manual" books over the years, and his work on Windows 10 is one of his best. What I like most about Pogue's writing style is his clarity and avoidance of tech jargon. I bought this book when I was having problems settings up file sharing between my Windows 10 desktop and MacBook Pro. At nearly 600 pages, he covers nearly every feature and setting of the operating system in this book.
Windows 10 Simplified – This book is for those who learn best by following along with a lot of illustrations. This is the book I bought my sister when she was making the switch from Mac to Windows. She found the chapters covering the applications included with Windows 10 to be especially helpful. It doesn't cover as much ground as the Missing Manual but many will find it easier to follow along because of its plentiful illustrations.
Have you found a course or book that helped you learn Windows 10? If so, leave a comment below.