In 2019, there were about 204 billion apps downloaded from the App Store, but there were many more downloaded from other avenues as well.
If you just got a new laptop, there are plenty of essential apps out there that you need to make sure you download to get the most out of your laptop.
But how do you sift through the hundreds of apps that are on the stores? We’ll help break down everything that you should have, so keep reading!
Password Manager
First off, you should make sure that you have some kind of password manager installed. There are plenty of them out there, but some of the best ones include:
- Lastpass
- 1Password
- Dashlane
- KeePass
With how frequent cyberattacks are happening, having unique and different passwords for each site is important. That’s why you’ll need to have a secure place to store them all.
Some of these apps are also special because they can autofill the password into your websites so that you don’t have to click “Forgot Password” and reset it every time. Storing your passwords here is also more secure than storing it in your web browser.
Some of these password managers will also suggest what password you should use to make it even harder for hackers to get into your accounts.
However, in order to make sure these apps are secure, you’ll need to have a safe laptop. Make sure that you click this link and see here to discover some of the best and secure laptops.
Google Chrome
Depending on your operating software, your laptop may already come with a browsing app already downloaded on it. However, Google Chrome is one of the best browsers out there. You can download it as an app from the Google Store, making it easier to launch from your laptop.
This browser is one of the fastest out there, and it gives you easy access to search Google quickly. Chrome also works across platforms. You can make an account and download the app on your phone, and everything will sync up for all your accounts.
However, there are still a lot of issues with Chrome. Many people don’t use it because of how much Google tracks, but if you know how to set up your privacy settings, you can minimize that.
You will also have to check your computer’s specifications before downloading Chrome. It does tend to use a lot of RAM, so if you don’t have a lot of that, you might want to find a different browser.
TreeSize
While installing apps on your computer, make sure that you install this storage-saver.
This app goes through your computer and figures out what apps or documents are taking up the most space on your drive. Sometimes, it’ll tell you that all your photos are taking up the most space, but other times it will let you know when that hidden app on your computer is prohibiting you from downloading the ones you really want.
Once you realize which ones are taking up the most space, you can delete them to make room for others.
VLC Media Player
The VLC Media Player is the best media player that you could use, even when you compare it to Windows Media Player or anything you can get from iTunes.
This program can play anything that you click on. The developers are proud of being able to make software that can handle all kinds of codecs and work on any kind of operating system. This app also barely takes up any space, so you can still have plenty of room to download other apps.
Google Drive
Speaking of saving storage, Google Drive is one of the best cloud storage systems that you could download. You can get 15GB of free storage, but you can always purchase more at low costs.
If you have a Google account, it will be easy to sync everything across devices. You can even get access to Google Photos through here, which is the perfect place to keep them all to make sure you don’t lose them.
Regardless of what operating system you have, Google Drive will be able to work on it. It will also regularly back up and store your files automatically too.
Notepad ++
Most computers already come with Notepad installed, but you should make sure that you install Notepad ++ as well. Notepad ++ is like Notepad, but it comes with a lot of great features that you could get with Microsoft Word.
Except that this program is a lot easier to use across platforms, and it also works well if you’re coding as it can highlight and color-code syntax.
LibreOffice Writer
If you want something a little bit fancier than Notepad ++, this local client application is a cheaper option than Microsoft Word, but it’s also a great word processor for writing.
This is an open-source application, so it’s not as secure as Microsoft Word would be. However, if you’re not going to be typing classified or secret information on there, you should be okay.
XMBC
If you want your media all in one place, you should check out XBMC. This is another app that works well on all kinds of platforms, and you can also use it with an Xbox or PlayStation controller if you want to.
The developers are still working on fun updates to this app, so you can always look out for new improvements.
You can use this to organize all of your movies by whatever category you want, including the actors, genres, or even the year it came out.
This app will also take a movie you found online and add subtitles to it if it’s in a different language. This addition and other ones are what make this app a must-need if you’re going to store all kinds of movies on your computer.
SpaceSniffer
Just like TreeSize, SpaceSniffer is a great way to figure out what files are taking up space on your computer. It will figure out when the last date you used the app was and let you know.
It will make a list of all of them and then let you know how much free space you’d have if you deleted it. This is a great app to have in the background to help keep your laptop up to date and organized.
Spotify
If you want to listen to music, Spotify might be one of the most essential apps to do it on. iTunes works well on Macs, but it can run slowly on a Windows computer.
You can create an account for free on Spotify, or you can pay for their premium account. On the free account, you’ll have to listen to ads, and you’ll only get a dedicated number of skips. If you pay for it; however, you’ll unlock all of these options.
On the app, you’ll be able to make your own playlists, listen to others’ playlist, or discover some of the newest songs out there. You can also sync it to your phone and have the music play on your laptop while controlling it from your phone.
Malwarebytes
Another important app you need to have on your computer is some type of antivirus software.
Malwarebytes is one of the best things to have on your hard drive, especially if you accidentally get a virus. This one isn’t like your typical antivirus software because it’s free and designed for personal use.
If something happens to your computer, it will automatically work in the background to try and get rid of the virus before it destroys your laptop.
Wox
If you love certain parts of the Mac Operating System but want a Windows set up, this app will let you enjoy the file launcher that would be on a Mac.
This lets you search the web or your files and apps so that you can find them easily and quickly.
Learn More About Essential Apps to Download for Your PC
These are only a few of the essential apps to download for your PC, but there are many more of them out there!
We know that it can be overwhelming to try and keep up with all of the new and great apps that come out, especially when you’re busy working or completing other chores. Thankfully, we keep up on it for you!
If you enjoyed this article, make sure that you explore our website to find more articles just like this one to help you stay up to date on the newest tech out there.
