PowerToys
Many of you have probably heard of PowerToys, as it’s a revival of the app of the same name that existed in the 90s and early 2000s, and it’s a suite of various tools that power up your Windows experience. It’s actually developed by Microsoft itself, with significant contributions from the open-source community. It’s not included in Windows, but for how useful it is, it probably should be.
Vivaldi (or another browser)
Microsoft’s own Edge browser gets a little more hate than it really deserves, but it’s still a browser that isn’t really for everyone. As time has gone on, Microsoft has loaded it with all kinds of bloat and features many don’t really need, so an alternative is very much necessary for some people.
Beeper
A list of essential apps has to include a messaging app of your choice, and very often you’ll see Discord recommended. But why not get the app that brings all your messaging services together instead? That’s Beeper, and it’s one of the easiest apps to recommend, in my opinion.
Microsoft 365
Depending on who you bought your PC from, it’s possible that it already comes with the Microsoft 365 suite of apps installed, but if it doesn’t, then it’s probably one of the first things to do once you have a new PC. The Microsoft 365 suite includes the Office apps you’re already familiar with, like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, plus a few others that are useful for plenty of things.
MalwareBytes
Windows has gotten better at protecting you from most threats on the internet, but extra protection is never a bad thing. So if you don’t want to rely on Microsoft Defender, you’ll want a different antivirus, and one of the easiest options to recommend is MalwareBytes.
Spotify
Checking off another one of those obvious options, you’ll probably want a music streaming service, too, and Spotify has generally been the go-to for most people on Windows. Apple Music is also available, and so are a few other options, but Spotify is still the more reliable option if you’re not on an Apple device.
Bitwarden
Everyone knows they should use an antivirus like MalwareBytes, but what many people fail to realize is how much of their security starts with the user. There’s a good chance you’ve been overlooking the importance of a password manager, which can help you remember all the passwords for your different services and keep them stored in a secure location that’s much safer than having a bunch of sticky notes around your screen.
Steam
Another one of those obvious ones that have to be on any list, Steam is the go-to platform for game distribution on PC. Almost any game you’d want to play is available on Steam, especially with the huge indie scene that Steam has been fostering for years.
Epic Games Store
Steam may be the best platform for gaming on PC, but Epic Games has been trying its absolute best to take that spotlight away. And while it hasn’t really succeeded, there is one big thing in Epic Games’ favor here — every week, you can download a new game for free, which makes it easy to build up a large library without spending a dime.
Ninite
We’ve got a pretty good collection of apps here already, but if anything is still missing from your PC, that’s a job for Ninite. This lightweight app has two main features. First, it lets you easily download a wide range of popular apps, including many of the ones we’ve mentioned above, like Steam and MalwareBytes.
Enjoy your new PC
With these apps on your PC, you’re now fully ready to make full use of it. If you’re looking for a few more apps that may have flown under your radar during your initial set up, we’ve also compiled a list of must-have third-party apps. Some of them overlap with this list, but there’s a good bit more to be found on that list, including some more obscure picks.
