Explore Hidden Windows Easter Eggs for Ultimate User Experience Discover.
Discovering Hidden Gems: The Best Windows 10 and 11 Easter Eggs
Windows operating systems have long been known for their hidden Easter eggs and secret features, adding a touch of fun and personality to the user experience. Here are some of the most intriguing Easter eggs in Windows 10 and 11 that you might not know about.
1. Microsoft Edge Surf Game
One of the most exciting Easter eggs in recent versions of Windows is the surfing game hidden in Microsoft Edge. To access this game, open the Edge browser and type edge://surf in the address bar. This will launch a surfing game with three different modes: Zig Zag, Time Trial, and Let’s Surf. You can also create four collections and name them “S.U.R.F.” to enable the game.
2. God Mode
This Easter egg allows you to access all Control Panel settings in one place. To activate God Mode, create a new folder and rename it to GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}. This will open a special control panel with all settings available in one folder.
3. Doom's Dedicated Port
A nostalgic Easter egg for gamers is the assignment of port 666 to the classic game Doom. To find this, go to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc, open the file “services” in Notepad, and scroll down until you find the entry for Doom. This is a nod to the game's history and its impact on the gaming community.
4. Hobbit's House
In Windows 10, there is a hidden image of Frodo’s house from the Lord of the Rings. To find it, go to Settings -> Ease of Access, then select Closed captions in the pane on the left. In the preview box, you will see an idyllic green hill with a hobbit hole built into it. Note that this Easter egg is not available in Windows 11.
5. Cortana Games
Cortana, Microsoft's AI assistant, has several hidden games and features. You can play games like “Flip a coin,” “Rock, Paper, Scissors,” and a movie trivia game by using voice commands. For example, say “Flip a coin” or “Play the movie game” to engage with these fun activities.
6. Star Wars CMD Movie
For fans of Star Wars, there is a hidden ASCII movie that can be played in the Command Prompt. To access it, enable the Telnet Client in the Windows features, then open Command Prompt and type telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl. This will start an ASCII version of Star Wars.
7. Shake to Minimize
This feature allows you to quickly minimize all windows except the one you are currently holding. Simply grab the top tab of an open window and give your mouse a slight shake. All other windows will minimize, and another shake will restore them to their previous state.
8. Show Desktop Button
Located in the bottom right corner of the screen, there is a thin white line that serves as a hidden button. Clicking this line will minimize all open windows, giving you a quick way to show your desktop.
9. Emoji Picker
Windows 10 and 11 have a quick and easy way to access emojis. Press the Windows key + Period to open the emoji picker, allowing you to insert emojis into any text field.
10. Exit Explorer
For advanced users, there is a way to exit the Windows Explorer process and relaunch it. Hold down Ctrl + Shift and right-click on the taskbar, then select “Exit Explorer.” To relaunch, open Task Manager, go to File -> Run new task, and type explorer.exe.
These Easter eggs and hidden features add a layer of fun and customization to your Windows experience, making your daily interactions with the operating system more enjoyable and engaging.