Apps that enhance your device experience

From to-do lists to VPN tech, discover apps designed for you

Let’s face it. We live in a “get it done” world, whether it’s work, school, or just personal tasks and errands that need to be completed. In doing so, we all can use a helping hand. Well, help is right at your fingertips.

We’ve captured a series of productivity apps found on the Microsoft Store on Windows. From building a task-oriented to-do list to simplifying captured game play, we have something for nearly every user who’s trying to “get it done.”

Microsoft To Do

Okay, so you’re a busy individual. We get it. Remember when you could check all your items off your to do list, then kick your feet up to relax? Yeah, we don’t either. However, with Microsoft To Do, your moving target of a checklist is now more manageable, accessible, and controllable. Set yourself up for success with My Day, intelligent and personalized suggestions to update your daily or weekly to do list. With both a Microsoft To Do desktop app and mobile app available, it is easy to stay on task all day long.

Xbox Game Bar

Did you know the power to record your epic game play – plus some cool gaming widgets – are already right at your fingertips on your Windows 11 device? Check out Xbox Game Bar, which works with most PC games and allows you to develop content (i.e., videos, screenshots) right from your game. The beauty of the app? You don’t need any external software to get the job done. You can even configure your settings to use background recording for games, so when your awesome game play moment happens, you can easily capture the last few minutes.

Scrivener

Writers, rejoice. Scrivener places a massive creative toolbelt at your fingertips, helping you tackle every writing challenge. Whether you’re planning a new novel, drafting a screenplay, or working on a dissertation, this is the app that helps you start writing—and keep writing. Scrivener’s flexible interface accommodates a variety of writing projects and offers a handy, rich feature set, including a corkboard for mapping out ideas, side-by-side document viewing, outlining features, and much more. Feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of scribbled ideas flowing from your noggin? Simply write each scene, chapter, or section as inspiration strikes, then apply “Scrivenings” mode to pull the pieces together into one awesome read. The power of the pen, er, keyboard is yours!

Glass

If you’re a photography enthusiast who misses the simplicity and positivity of early photo-sharing communities, Glass might be the new home you seek. Unlike other image sharing social media apps, Glass is free of ads, data tracking, algorithmic feeds, or the dreaded “suggested videos.” Instead, this member-supported app is all about sharing photos to your followers in the best possible light, featuring a clean, simple design that uses minimal JPG compression and allows you to admire every detail. Community features help you appreciate, engage, and learn from other photographers while avoiding unhelpful distractions like public “like counts.”

Lively Wallpaper

Lively Wallpaper is a free, open-source app developed to give your desktop wallpaper and screensaver that added punch. In your quest to make your device feel like home, give your laptop or tablet a personalized touch by setting gifs, videos, and webpages in your background.

Drawboard PDF

All morning, you’ve been waiting for that PDF to review, sign-off on, or to simply give your final blessing. But, without fail, you’ve got to make changes. Unfortunately, you’ve got a lot of updates to make. Why play phone tag and start yet another email thread when you can apply the magic of Drawboard PDF. For fast, collaborative markups to help streamline workflows, all while reducing the usage of paper, this app allows you to annotate and make your changes with ease.

Hotspot Shield Free VPN

You need to feel safe when you’re on- and offline. And while you need to access all of your data and information securely, you also need to get to it fast. Hotspot Shield Free VPN boasts privacy protection over a secure VPN connection with a simple tap of the screen. Secure browsing, privacy, and connections to the speediest VPN servers in over 70 locations are all simple to access, allowing you to rest easy on your device.