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Getting a new Windows computer is cool, but setting it up right matters too. One of the first questions many users ask is, “What should I install first after buying a new computer?” Windows has stuff built-in, but adding the right programs makes you more productive, safer, and just makes things easier.
You should get the apps you absolutely need first. Think internet browsers, security software, something to play music and videos, a password manager, a better file finder, screen recorder, note app, cloud storage, and things to help you get stuff done. Students, workers, gamers, video creators: these twelve apps give any new PC a solid start.
Before Installing Any Software
Windows Update
Run Windows Update first. Microsoft pushes out updates regularly: security, bug fixes, and drivers.Installing updates first prevents later software issues.
Security
Make sure Defender’s on, or get your own antivirus. Real-time protection is smart, even for safe downloads.
Create a Restore Point
Making a System Restore Point lets you bring back your computer if software breaks things. It’s quick, just a minute to set up, but saves you hours fixing stuff later.
The 12 Essential Applications
1. Browser Software — Google Chrome
Chrome’s still a top browser. It’s fast, reliable, and has so many extensions. Your bookmarks, passwords, history, all syncs across devices with your Google account
Strength Compared with Others
Compared to Edge and Firefox, Chrome just works better with websites and has way more extensions. Most web apps are built for Chrome, so it’s a solid choice as your main browser.
Pricing
Free
Our Testing Experience
When I first used it, Chrome loaded pages fast, handled lots of tabs okay, and synced my Windows and Android stuff instantly.
Final Verdict
Chrome continues to be one of the best browsers for users who value speed, compatibility, and a rich extension library.
2. Compression Software — 7-Zip
Zip is a light file compressor. It handles tons of archive formats, like ZIP, RAR, ISO, TAR, plus its own 7z.
Strength Compared with Others
Unlike many commercial archive utilities, 7-Zip offers great free compression and integrates into the Windows context menu.
Pricing
- Free
- Open source
Our Testing Experience
Extracting and compressing large archives was consistently fast, and support for multiple archive formats eliminated the need for additional utilities.
Final Verdict
Every Windows PC should have 7-Zip installed for convenient file management.
3. Media Software — VLC Media Player
VLC Media Player is a versatile multimedia player capable of opening almost every audio and video format without requiring additional codec installations.
Strength Compared with Others
Compared with the default Windows media player, VLC plays way more files than Windows Media Player. It also has better subtitle support, streaming, and controls.
Pricing
- Free
- Open source
Our Testing Experience
VLC played 4K videos, old AVIs, and MKVs perfectly. It handled audio files too, no extra codecs needed.
Final Verdict
VLC remains one of the most dependable media players available for Windows users.
4. Password Software — Bitwarden
Bitwarden stores passwords, login info, payment details, and notes, then fills them later automatically.
Strength Compared with Others
Compared with many paid password managers, Bitwarden offers strong encryption, open-source transparency, unlimited password storage, and cross-platform synchronization at little or no cost.
Pricing
- Free plan available
- Affordable premium subscription
Our Testing Experience
Password syncing worked smoothly across browsers and mobile devices, while password generation made creating secure accounts effortless.
Final Verdict
Bitwarden is an excellent password manager for both personal and professional use.
5. Search Software — Everything
Everything instantly indexes Windows file names, making file searches almost instantaneous.
Strength Compared with Others
Windows Search often struggles with speed, while Everything delivers search results almost instantly—even on drives containing millions of files.
Pricing
Free.
Our Testing Experience
Finding documents, images, videos, and folders took less than a second during testing.
Final Verdict
If you frequently work with files, Everything can save countless hours over time.
6. Recording Software — Eassiy Screen Recorder Ultimate
Eassiy Screen Recorder Ultimate is a comprehensive screen recording solution designed for professionals, educators, gamers, customer support teams, and content creators. It enables users to capture their entire screen, selected windows, webcams, system audio, microphones, and gameplay with high-quality output. Beyond recording, it also includes screenshot tools, annotation features, scheduled recording, and basic editing capabilities, making it a versatile all-in-one recording solution.Unlike many recording applications that focus only on screen capture, Eassiy Screen Recorder Ultimate also includes a collection of practical multimedia tools to streamline your workflow. These include a Video Trimmer, Video Compressor, Video & Audio Converter, Video Merger, Media Metadata Editor, Sound Extractor, and Sound Booster. With these built-in utilities, you can record, edit, optimize, convert, and manage your media files without relying on additional software.
Strength Compared with Others
Compared with many free screen recorders, Eassiy Screen Recorder Ultimate provides a more complete recording experience. Key advantages include:
- High-quality recording up to 4K resolution.
- Simultaneous screen, webcam, and audio recording.
- Real-time annotation tools during recording.
- Scheduled recording tasks.
- Noise reduction and microphone enhancement.
- Built-in screenshot and editing features.
- Multiple export formats.
- User-friendly interface suitable for all experience levels.
- Video Trimmer
- Video Compressor
- Video & Audio Converter
These features make it a more versatile solution than many basic recording applications that only capture the screen.
Pricing
Free trial available; an annual plan for $39.99.
Our Testing Experience
Eassiy Screen Recorder Ultimate made recordings smooth, good quality, with audio in sync. I recorded online meetings, tutorials, games, and webinars. It was easy to get started. The annotation tools were great for educational stuff, and scheduled recording caught live events fine. CPU use was okay even recording high-res, so it’s practical.
Final Verdict
For anyone who regularly records tutorials, online meetings, gameplay, training videos, or presentations, Eassiy Screen Recorder Ultimate is one of the best paid applications to install on a new Windows PC. Its combination of ease of use, professional features, and reliable performance makes it a worthwhile investment.Software also include many useful tools: Video Trimmer, Video Comprossor, Video/Audio Converter, Video Merger, Media Metadata Editor, Sound extractor, and Sound Booster.
7. Note Software — Obsidian
Obsidian is a powerful knowledge management application that stores notes locally using Markdown files.
Strength Compared with Others
Its bidirectional linking and graph visualization help users build interconnected knowledge bases far beyond traditional note-taking apps.
Pricing
Free for personal use.
Our Testing Experience
Large note collections remained responsive, and organizing research became significantly easier through internal links.
Final Verdict
Obsidian is ideal for students, researchers, writers, and professionals managing extensive information.
8. PDF Software — Adobe Acrobat Reader
Adobe Acrobat Reader remains the industry standard for viewing, printing, signing, and commenting on PDF documents.
Strength Compared with Others
Its compatibility with virtually every PDF file makes it more reliable than many lightweight readers.
Pricing
Free reader version available.
Our Testing Experience
PDF rendering was accurate, digital signatures worked smoothly, and form filling was straightforward.
Final Verdict
Adobe Reader remains a dependable choice for everyday PDF tasks.
9. Cloud Software — Google Drive
Google Drive provides secure cloud storage and automatic file synchronization across multiple devices.
Strength Compared with Others
Its integration with Google Workspace makes collaboration effortless while maintaining generous free storage.
Pricing
Free storage available with optional paid upgrades.
Our Testing Experience
File synchronization remained fast and reliable, making backups effortless.
Final Verdict
Google Drive is an excellent solution for backing up important documents and sharing files.
10. Launcher Software — Flow Launcher
Flow Launcher helps users quickly launch applications, search files, perform calculations, and execute commands using keyboard shortcuts.
Strength Compared with Others
Compared with the Windows Start menu, Flow Launcher is significantly faster and highly customizable.
Pricing
Free and open source.
Our Testing Experience
Launching applications became almost instantaneous, greatly reducing time spent navigating menus.
Final Verdict
Power users will appreciate Flow Launcher’s speed and flexibility.
11. Clipboard Software — Ditto
Ditto extends Windows Clipboard by saving clipboard history for easy reuse.
Strength Compared with Others
Unlike the default clipboard, Ditto stores hundreds of copied items, supports searching, and synchronizes across devices.
Pricing
Free.
Our Testing Experience
Copying and reusing text snippets dramatically improved workflow during document editing.
Final Verdict
Ditto is an excellent productivity tool for users who frequently copy and paste information.
12. Power Tools Software — Microsoft PowerToys
Microsoft PowerToys adds advanced productivity utilities to Windows, including FancyZones, PowerRename, Image Resizer, Text Extractor, and Keyboard Manager.
Strength Compared with Others
Instead of installing multiple small utilities, PowerToys combines numerous productivity enhancements into one package.
Pricing
Free.
Our Testing Experience
FancyZones significantly improved multitasking, while Text Extractor proved invaluable when copying text from images
Final Verdict
PowerToys is one of the most useful free applications Microsoft offers for Windows users.
Installation Order
Installing software in a logical order ensures your new PC is ready for daily use as quickly as possible. We recommend the following sequence:
- Run Windows Update.
- Verify Windows Security and create a Restore Point.
- Install Google Chrome.
- Install Bitwarden for secure password management.
- Install 7-Zip for archive support.
- Install VLC Media Player.
- Install Google Drive for backups and file synchronization.
- Install Everything for faster file searching.
- Install Eassiy Screen Recorder Ultimate if you record tutorials, meetings, or gameplay.
- Install Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Install Obsidian.
- Install Flow Launcher, Ditto, and Microsoft PowerToys to maximize productivity.
This order prioritizes security, essential browsing, file management, and productivity while ensuring your system is prepared for everyday tasks.
Free vs Paid: Which Software Is Worth Paying For?
Most of the apps here are great freebies for most people. Chrome, VLC, 7-Zip, Everything, Flow Launcher, Ditto, Obsidian, and PowerToys all do a solid job without costing anything.
But for serious screen recording, you really want dedicated software. It just makes things way faster and better quality. Free recorders are fine now and then, but they’re missing stuff like scheduled recordings, drawing as you record, super high resolution, webcam options, and good audio control.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What should I install first on a new Windows PC?
Do Windows Update, check security, make a restore point, then get Chrome, Bitwarden, 7-Zip, and VLC. Add productivity stuff after that.
2. Are free Windows applications good enough?
Yes, lots of great apps like VLC, 7-Zip, Everything, Obsidian, Ditto, and PowerToys give you strong features for free but for meeting profession or student level needs paid softwares are recommended.
3. Why do I need a dedicated screen recorder?
A better screen recorder is way better than built-in Windows tools. It has higher quality, more advanced audio, webcam, and editing.
4. Is Eassiy Screen Recorder Ultimate suitable for beginners?
Yes. Its intuitive interface makes it easy for beginners to start recording immediately, while its advanced features also meet the needs of professionals and content creators.
5. Which application offers the biggest productivity improvement?
While every application serves a different purpose, Everything, PowerToys, Eassiy Screen Recorder Ultimate really boost productivity. They help you find files fast, speed up Windows tasks, and make slick recordings easily.
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