How to Get Help in Windows 10 & 11: 10 Solutions to Common Issues
Computer problems can be incredibly frustrating. That’s when you need to know how to get help in Windows 11 and 10.
By using Windows’ built-in features, you can either connect with a support agent or troubleshoot the issue yourself. Let’s look at how you can do this.
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Windows offers many ways to get help. You can find quick answers, step-by-step instructions, or direct support from Microsoft. Here are your main options:
- Get Help app: The main support tool built into Windows 10 and 11.
- F1 Key Shortcut: Opens help resources in many Windows applications.
- Tips app: Gives you advice and tutorials for using Windows features.
- Microsoft Support website: A place to search for articles, FAQs, and contact information.
- Troubleshooters: Automatic tools that resolve common issues.
- Community Forums: Ask questions and get answers from other users.
- Contact Microsoft: Chat, call, or schedule a callback with a support agent.
Solve Issues Faster: Chat with Windows 11 and 10 Support Agents
You have two easy ways to chat with a support agent about issues you have on your Windows 11 or 10 PC.
Step 1: The Get Help App
Windows 11 and 10 have the Get Help app. It lets you access a huge library of documents to help with many issues. If the documents don’t help, the app also connects you to Microsoft agents.
- Click the Start menu.
- Type in your question or problem in the search box and press Enter.
- If your Windows is not updated, it will prompt you to update. Under that, you will see a “Recommended solution” that you should follow.
- If you didn’t find the article helpful or the issue persists, make sure you’re logged in to your Microsoft account.
- Then click on “Contact Support” on the Get Help app. If asked for more details, provide the necessary information.
Tip: You can also open the Get Help app by pressing Windows + S to open Search, then typing “Get Help.”
Step 2: Microsoft Contact Us Page
You can also ask for help using the Microsoft website. Here’s how:
- Visit the Microsoft Contact page.
- Log in to your Microsoft account if you haven’t already.
- Select the product you need help with.
- Select your Plan: Home or Business.
- Type in your issue.
- Find the article about your problem. If none of the articles were helpful, click the “Contact Support” button at the bottom.
- Select service.
- Finally, choose a support option.
Get Help on Windows 11 and 10 Now: 8 Steps
If you have a problem and want to find a solution without an agent (or with a human from Microsoft), follow these steps.
Step 1: Use the Get Started App
For those new to the Windows operating system, Microsoft has incorporated a helpful onboarding app called the Get Started app.
- Click on the Start menu, type “get started,” and press Enter or select the first result.
- On the welcome screen, click on the “Get started” option.
- This section provides useful tips on using your computer and encourages you to update the operating system. Click on the arrow at the bottom to move to the next tip.
Step 2: Run the Troubleshooter Tool
The Troubleshooter is one of Windows’ most helpful tools. This built-in utility finds problems with your computer, finds solutions, and fixes them automatically.
It can resolve many common issues. These include network issues, sound issues, printer errors, and Windows update failures. It saves you from taking your computer to a technician.
The troubleshooter also provides feedback and suggests more steps if it can’t fully resolve the issue. Here’s how to use it:
- Right-click on the “Start menu” and choose “Settings.”
- Scroll down to “Troubleshoot” and click it.
- Then, go to “Other troubleshooter.”
- Select “Run” next to the category you’re having a problem with.
You can also run various troubleshooters in the Get Help App.
Step 3: Check Out the Tips App
Microsoft’s built-in Tips app is your guide to improving your Windows skills. This tool has a library of tips on topics like security, gaming, organization, productivity, and more.
- Go to the “Start menu,” type “Tips,” and press Enter.
- After opening the “Tips” window, you can search for tips using the top search bar. You can also click the “Discover tips online” button to learn how to use your Windows PC on the Microsoft website.
Step 4: Enable Tips & Suggestions
You can get tips as you work on your PC by turning on the “Tips & Suggestions” option. Here’s how:
- Right-click on the “Start menu” and select “Settings.”
- On the left menu, choose “System,” then on the right menu, click “ Notifications.”
- Enable Get tips and suggestions when using Windows.
- Then, ensure notification is enabled for all the apps listed above.
Step 5: Visit Microsoft Support
Checking out articles on the Microsoft’s Windows Help & Learning page is another way to get help for your Windows 11 and 10 PC.
- Go to the Microsoft Support Windows Help & Learning page.
- Type in your problem or anything that you want to learn about Windows and press Enter.
- Select the article that matches your search and technical issue.
Microsoft Support has many valuable resources. This is especially true if you are looking for Windows tutorials or fixes. They offer categories to help you find what you need and provide instructions for complex issues. Specific categories include
- Windows
- Microsoft Copilot
- Gaming
- Microsoft Teams
- OneDrive
- Outlook
- Microsoft 365
- Surface Devices
- Trending topics (like activating Windows, warranties, etc.)
They also have fixes for business-level issues and other specific problems. You can contact support, use the training center, or search for detailed subjects. It is a huge resource that many users should use more often.
There is even a Microsoft Support Community where you can ask questions for free. You can also check to see if other users have already found a solution.
Step 6: Use App Help Buttons
If you need help with software on your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer, look for a Help button. Most software includes this button. Clicking it will take you to the software publisher’s support page. There, you can use guides, FAQs, and troubleshooting tips to resolve your problem.
Step 7: Ask an Online Tech Service or a Friend
Using remote access software is another way to get help in Windows 11 and 10. This software allows another user to access your computer online. This tool is great for letting an online tech service or a smart friend enter your PC to solve problems.
Be careful! Never provide access to unknown tech services. They might try to steal your data. When you grant someone remote access to your computer, make security your top priority.
Step 8: Reach Out to the Microsoft Support Team on X
Microsoft support has a special page on X (formerly Twitter) called MicrosoftHelps. You can reach out by sending a direct message or tweeting your issue and mentioning their account. While not always the fastest, it can be useful every so often.
Step 9: Schedule an In-Person Appointment
Scheduling an in-person appointment for Microsoft help is… tricky. They do not have many physical stores left, and those are far apart. Still, here are a few things you could try:
- Microsoft has two Experience Centers (one in New York and one in Redmond, Washington). If you live close by, you might be able to schedule an in-person appointment for help, but these spots are limited.
- Microsoft service centers are more common. They may offer system recovery, fixes, and hardware checks. Be sure to find a provider that Microsoft officially authorizes. This will ensure you don’t void any warranties on your devices or laptops.
- Enterprise solutions for business-level Microsoft issues are usually set up through the Microsoft Account Manager. Most Windows support is online, but there are customer engagement facilities worldwide. Many of these offer hands-on Windows education and other resources.
Step 10: Find Community Forums in the Get Help App
We already looked at the basics of the Get Help app. However, you can also use it to reach Microsoft’s community forums. There, you can ask questions, see if other users had similar issues, and get advice from experts.
A better way to get this kind of help now is through Microsoft Q&A. This is the official platform for all questions on Microsoft products, including Windows. Here are a few other helpful communities:
Keyboard Shortcuts and Help Options
- F1 Key: In most Windows apps, pressing F1 opens the help document or support page for that app. In Windows 10/11, pressing F1 on the desktop or in File Explorer may open a browser window with Microsoft support articles.
- Windows + F: In some versions, this opens the Feedback Hub. Here, you can report problems or search for solutions.
How to Get Help on Windows Command Line
- Command Prompt: Type help and press Enter to see a list of available commands. For details on a command, type command /?. (Replace command with the actual command name).
- PowerShell: Type Get-Help followed by the command name, e.g., Get-Help Get-Process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Windows offers a help desk, also known as a support team, to assist users with any issues they might encounter with their Windows computers. To reach out to Windows support, you can use the “Get Help” option we discussed in the first method of this article.
HelpPane.exe task is to pop up the Microsoft Help and Support. To disable this feature, you should run this script: First, right-click on your desktop and create a new Text document (Notepad), then copy the script below and paste it to the file:
@echo off
taskkill /f /im HelpPane.exe
takeown /f %WinDir%\HelpPane.exe
icacls %WinDir%\HelpPane.exe /deny Everyone:(X)
Now go to the File and select Save As, then change the file name to script.cmd. Select where you want to save the file and click the Save option. Run the file, and it will block the “How to Get Help in Windows” page.
To get help from a human at Microsoft, you can use the built-in Windows Get Help app or visit the Microsoft Contact Us page.
You can get help on Windows by using the Get Help app, pressing the F1 key in most apps, searching for help in the taskbar, or visiting support.microsoft.com/windows for official articles and support options.
The most common shortcut is pressing F1 in many Windows applications, which opens the help documentation or support page. You can also type “Get Help” in the Start menu search bar to open the Get Help app.
You can activate help in Windows by pressing F1 in most apps, using the Get Help app from the Start menu, or selecting the “Get help” link in the Settings app. For more detailed support, visit the Microsoft Support website.
In Command Prompt, type help for a list of commands, or command /? for help on a specific command. In PowerShell, use Get-Help followed by the command name.
What’s new in this update
- Added sections: Ways to Get Help in Windows, Step 2: Run the Troubleshooter Tool, Step 3: Check Out the Tips App, Step 4: Enable Tips & Suggestions, Step 5: Visit Microsoft Support…
Last updated: 2025-09-17