Getting Started: Personalize Your Windows

Let us help you customize Windows on your Dell PC. Learn how to set a wallpaper, customize display settings, change the font, or color scheme, add new users, add a PIN or enable fingerprint for account security, and more.

After customizing Windows, let us see which Dell apps come preinstalled on your new Dell PC.

Helpful links: 
If you need help to check if you already have a Microsoft Account, go to the Microsoft account help page. 
If you are having trouble adding an account in Windows, go to the Microsoft Account FAQ page for help

Make your computer your own by customizing things like font, color scheme, desktop background, and more!

Chapter 01: Custom Wallpaper

To set your desktop background, click the Windows start button and navigate to Settings. Click on the ‘Personalization’ tab and then select ‘Background’. You can choose a picture, a solid color, or a slideshow of multiple photos.

Chapter 02: Display Settings

Windows allows you to customize display settings such as screen resolution, size of text and apps, brightness, and more. Navigate to ‘Settings’ and in the ‘System’ tab, click on ‘Display’. You can adjust the brightness, turn on ‘Night Light’, change the size of text and apps next to ‘Scale’ and adjust the ‘Display resolution’ all from this page.

Chapter 03: Microsoft Account

Your Microsoft account is the account you use to sign in to Skype, Outlook, OneDrive, Windows Phone, and Xbox LIVE. Before you create a new account, check to see if you already have one using the link in the description.

Chapter 04: Add Additional Users

Having multiple accounts on a shared device allows each user to have their own sign-in information, access to their own files, browser favorites, and desktop settings. To add a new user, click on the Windows start button and go to settings. Click on the ‘Accounts’ menu and then select ‘Other users. Next to ‘Add other user’, click the ‘Add account’ button. If you’re having trouble adding another account, check out the Microsoft account FAQ on Microsoft’s website, linked in the description.

Chapter 05: Account Security

Secure your device by logging in with a password or Windows Hello features such as facial recognition, fingerprint, or a PIN. To set up these options, navigate to settings, and in the ‘Accounts’ section, click on ‘sign in options’.

Select ‘Password’ and then click on ‘Add’. Type in your password, confirm it, and then type in a password hint to help you in case you forget it later. Click ‘Next’ and then click ‘Finish’.

To set up a PIN, go back to the ‘Sign-in options’ page and select ‘PIN (Windows Hello)’. Click on ‘Set up’. Verify your account password and click ‘OK’. Type in your PIN and confirm it. Click OK to set up your PIN.

To turn on Windows Hello, select the method you would like to use and choose ‘Set up’. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

Chapter 06: Lock Your Device

If you’re stepping away from your device for a few minutes, prevent others from seeing what’s on your screen by locking your computer. Press the Windows logo key and L to keep your information secure.

Chapter 07: Language and Time

To manage the display language, click on the Windows start button and go to settings. Select ‘Time and Language’ and then click on ‘Language and region’. Choose a language from the dropdown next to ‘Windows display language’ You can also add a language as well.

Windows can set your time and time zone automatically or you can do it manually in the Time and Language section in settings under ‘Date and Time’. Turn on ‘Set Time automatically’ or manually choose your time zone.

Chapter 08: Change Default Apps

Did you know you can change your default browser or other default apps? Click on the Windows start button and navigate to settings. Click on the ‘Apps’ tab and then ‘Default Apps’ to set your preferences. You can either set a default for the file type or link type or set defaults for applications.