Download Must-Have Apps for New Windows Laptop or PC For Everyone

Google Chrome is still the default pick for most people: fast page loads, the largest extension library, and sync across phones and tablets. Passwords, bookmarks, and open tabs follow your Google account. If you live in Google's ecosystem, start here.

Microsoft Edge is Chromium-based, so it runs the same sites and extensions as Chrome, but adds vertical tabs, Collections, Sleeping Tabs, and built-in Copilot. Tracking prevention and Password Monitor are on by default. A strong choice if you want tight Windows integration without giving up compatibility.

Firefox blocks third-party trackers, warns about breached passwords, and resists browser fingerprinting. It is fully customizable with themes and extensions, and recent releases closed the speed gap with Chrome on mid-range hardware.

Brave ships with a built-in ad blocker, HTTPS upgrade, and optional Brave Rewards. Fewer extensions needed out of the box means less overhead. Good if you want privacy defaults without configuring everything yourself.

Google Drive gives every Google account 15 GB free and syncs Docs, Sheets, and Photos. Install the desktop app to mirror folders to your PC and free local space for games and large projects.

OneDrive comes with every Microsoft account (5 GB free, 1 TB with Microsoft 365). Files on Demand keeps cloud files visible in Explorer without filling your SSD. Best if you already use Outlook, Word, or Teams.

Dropbox pioneered simple folder sync and still excels at sharing large files with clients or teammates. The free tier is small (2 GB), but paid plans are reliable for cross-platform collaboration.

Microsoft PC Manager is Microsoft's own cleanup and tune-up tool: junk file removal, startup management, storage sense, and a one-click health scan. It is no longer beta and runs on Windows 10 (19042+) and Windows 11. Install from the Microsoft Store or the official site.

TreeSize Free shows which folders eat your drive space in an Explorer-style tree. Right-click any folder and scan it. Essential when a 512 GB SSD fills up and you cannot tell why.

Ninite installs dozens of popular apps in one unattended run: check the boxes, download the installer, and walk away. No toolbars, no bundled junk. Perfect for setting up a fresh PC or a family member's laptop.

Ditto extends the Windows clipboard with searchable history for text, images, and custom formats. Pin important clips, set a max history size, and sync clipboards across PCs on the same network.

Windows Defender (Microsoft Defender Antivirus) is built into Windows 10 and 11. It handles real-time protection, ransomware defense, and firewall without a separate install. For most home users it is enough on its own. Open it from Settings, then Privacy and security, then Windows Security.

Malwarebytes is a lightweight on-demand scanner that catches adware and pups Windows Defender sometimes misses. The free version runs manual scans; paid adds real-time protection and Browser Guard. Run it monthly alongside Defender, not instead of it.

VLC plays virtually every video and audio format without extra codec packs. It streams network files, converts formats, and runs from a USB stick. The one media player you need on any Windows PC.

PotPlayer handles obscure codecs, HDR, and fine-grained audio and video tuning that VLC does not expose. Install it alongside VLC if you watch a lot of local files or need subtitle and renderer controls.

Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) is still the default in most workplaces. Desktop apps plus 1 TB OneDrive and Teams. Subscribe if you need full offline editing and .docx compatibility without surprises.

LibreOffice is a free, open-source office suite (Writer, Calc, Impress) that opens .docx and .xlsx files. Actively maintained, cross-platform, and enough for students and home users who do not want a subscription.

GIMP is the free alternative to Photoshop: layers, masks, filters, and broad format support. The interface takes a weekend to learn, but it handles photo retouching and graphic design without a subscription.

Adobe Photoshop remains the industry standard for professional photo editing and digital art. Creative Cloud subscription required. Install only if you need its specific tools or work in a field that expects PSD files.

Sumatra PDF opens PDFs, ePub, and comic archives instantly with almost no RAM use. No installer needed: run the portable .exe from a USB drive. Best default reader for most people.

Adobe Acrobat Reader handles fillable PDF forms, digital signatures, and comments. Heavier than Sumatra, but required when a government or employer form only works in Acrobat.

Foxit PDF Reader sits between Sumatra and Acrobat: fast, tabbed interface, highlight and comment tools, and optional encryption. Good for students and office workers who annotate PDFs regularly.

7-Zip compresses and extracts ZIP, RAR, TAR, and its own 7z format with better ratios than Windows built-in zip. Free, open source, and the archiver to install on every PC.

WinRAR created the RAR format and still handles split archives and repair better than most alternatives. The trial nag is famous, but the app works indefinitely. Install if you regularly receive .rar files from colleagues.

WhatsApp Desktop mirrors your phone chats with end-to-end encryption. Essential in countries where WhatsApp replaced SMS. Link your phone once and messages sync both ways.

Telegram Desktop supports massive group chats, public channels, bots, and cloud-synced messages across devices. Cloud-based, so messages are not end-to-end encrypted by default unless you use Secret Chats.

Discord started for gamers but now hosts study groups, hobby servers, and remote teams. Text channels, voice rooms, screen sharing, and bots in one app. Free for most uses.

Notion combines notes, databases, wikis, and project boards in one workspace. Flexible enough for personal journaling or team documentation. Free for individuals; paid plans add more collaboration features.

OneNote is free with a Microsoft account. Notebooks, sections, and pages mirror a physical binder. Supports handwriting on tablets, audio notes, and real-time collaboration. Syncs across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.

Todoist organizes tasks into projects with due dates, priorities, and natural-language input ("every Friday at 9am"). Cross-platform sync and a clean free tier. For alternatives, see best Todoist alternatives.

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Microsoft To Do syncs with Outlook and Teams tasks. The My Day view surfaces what matters today. Free, lightweight, and enough if you already live in Microsoft 365.

Bitwarden is open source, free for personal use, and syncs passwords across browsers and phones. Generates strong passwords, stores cards and secure notes, and supports two-factor authentication. The first app to install on any new PC.

NordVPN encrypts traffic on public Wi-Fi and bypasses geo-blocks on streaming services. No-logs policy, kill switch, and thousands of servers. Paid, but the most tested name in consumer VPNs.

Windows Snipping Tool (Win + Shift + S) captures regions, windows, or the full screen with basic annotation. Built into Windows 10 and 11. Good enough for quick screenshots without installing anything.

ShareX is an open-source screenshot and screen-recording tool with scrolling capture, OCR, GIF recording, and upload to Imgur, Dropbox, or 80+ destinations. Customizable hotkeys for every capture mode.

OBS Studio records and live-streams your screen to Twitch, YouTube, or a local file. Scene-based layout, multiple audio sources, and free forever. The standard tool for tutorials, gameplay, and webinars.