Free lessons
SafePC: learn your computer, step by step
160 short lessons, written in plain words. Read the steps here, then practice them on SafePC, a pretend Windows-style computer where nothing can break. The first 5 lessons are free to practice.
First steps
- The Start menu 1 min · free
- Find an app 2 min · free
- Create a desktop shortcut 2 min · free
- See all apps 2 min · free
The mouse and the desktop
- Open with a double-click 1 min · free
- Discover the right-click 1 min
- Make the desktop icons bigger 2 min
- The middle-click 2 min
App windows
- Move and resize 2 min
- Maximize, minimize, restore 3 min
- Snap a window (layouts) 2 min
- Work with several windows 3 min
The taskbar
- Pin an app 3 min
- Close from the taskbar 2 min
- Close an app with Task Manager 3 min
- Show the desktop in one click 2 min
- Task view 3 min
Quick settings
- Check the calendar 1 min
- Adjust the sound 2 min
- Connect to a Wi-Fi network 3 min
- Connect Bluetooth headphones 2 min
Files and folders
- Explore File Explorer 2 min
- Create a folder on the desktop 2 min
- Tidy up: create a folder 3 min
- Rename a folder or a file 3 min
- Delete an item 2 min
- Get an item back from the Recycle Bin 3 min
- Look at your photos 2 min
- Open a file 2 min
- Copy a file to another folder 3 min
Writing with Notepad
- Write in Notepad 2 min
- Save your text 3 min
- Reopen a saved text 2 min
The keyboard
- Capital letters 2 min
- Symbols and numbers 2 min
- Type an email address 2 min
- Copy and paste with the keyboard 3 min
- Undo a mistake: Ctrl + Z 2 min
Calculate and draw
- Do a calculation 2 min
- Make a drawing 2 min
- A multiplication 1 min
- Split a bill 2 min
- Fix a typing mistake 1 min
- Draw a rectangle 2 min
- Save your drawing 3 min
Internet
- Do a search 2 min
- Open a result and go back 3 min
- Go straight to a website 2 min
- Download a file 2 min
- Widgets: weather and news 2 min
- Check the weather 2 min
- Scroll through a page 2 min
- Refresh a page 1 min
- Download, then open a file 3 min
- Tabs and favorites 3 min
Personalize
- Explore Settings 2 min
- Change the wallpaper 2 min
- Turn on airplane mode 1 min
- Light or dark mode 2 min
- Move the taskbar icons 2 min
- A solid color wallpaper 2 min
- Rest your eyes: night light 2 min
- Accessibility: color filters 2 min
- Check for updates 2 min
- Search for a setting 2 min
Online services
- Read an email and save a photo you received 3 min
- Send an email 4 min
- Spot a scam email 3 min
- Write a document online (Practice Docs) 4 min
- Do your budget with an online spreadsheet (Practice Sheets) 5 min
- Organize your documents online (Practice Drive) 3 min
- Search for a picture and save it 3 min
- Watch a video 2 min
- Find an address and directions 3 min
- Make a slideshow (Practice Slides) 4 min
- Put an appointment in the calendar 3 min
Screen reader
- Turn on the screen reader 3 min
- The on/off keyboard shortcut 2 min
- Move with Tab and Shift + Tab 3 min
- Open an app without the mouse 3 min
- Read a whole window, then stop 3 min
- Make it speak slower or faster 3 min
- Read line by line with the arrows 3 min
- Jump from heading to heading on a web page 4 min
- Read an email with the screen reader 4 min
- Fill in a form by listening 5 min
- Write and save a file by listening 4 min
- Browse the Start menu by listening 3 min
Low vision
- Make the text bigger 2 min
- Make the mouse pointer bigger 2 min
- High contrast theme 2 min
- Turn on the Magnifier 2 min
- Read small things with the Magnifier 3 min
- Zoom in more or less 2 min
Health online
- Sign in to your doctor's website 3 min
- Check in online before a visit 4 min
- Join a video visit with your doctor 4 min
- Read and answer a message from your doctor 4 min
- Look at your test results 3 min
- Ask for a prescription refill 3 min
Documents and printing
- Open a document you received by email 3 min
- Keep a document in your Documents folder 4 min
- Print an email 3 min
- Print two copies of a note 3 min
- Save a web page as a PDF 3 min
- Scan a paper document 3 min
Online forms
- Fill in the first page of a form 5 min
- Lists, round buttons and check boxes 4 min
- Upload a photo of an ID card 5 min
- Check your answers and send the form 5 min
- Keep your confirmation number 3 min
- Check the status of an application 3 min
Video calls
- Make a video call 3 min
- Answer a video call 2 min
- Mute your microphone during a call 2 min
- Turn your camera off and on 2 min
- Send a written message during a call 3 min
- Decline a call and call back later 3 min
Keeping safe
- Install the updates 4 min
- Choose which apps can use the camera 3 min
- Check the padlock before typing anything 3 min
- Say "Block" when a site wants to send notifications 2 min
- Close a fake virus warning 3 min
- Don't download a "player update" 3 min
Codes and passwords
- Sign in with a code 4 min
- Let the Browser remember a password 3 min
- Sign in with a saved password 3 min
- Reset a forgotten password 5 min
- Someone asks for your code 3 min
- See and delete a saved password 3 min
Pharmacy and medicines
- Refill a prescription online 4 min
- Turn on automatic refills 3 min
- Ask the pharmacist a question 4 min
- A daily reminder to take a medicine 5 min
Online banking
- Sign in to your bank 5 min
- Check your account 4 min
- Download a bank statement 4 min
- Send money to someone you saved 5 min
- A fake message from "your bank" 3 min
Back up your photos
- Copy a photo to a USB drive 4 min
- Remove a USB drive safely 2 min
- Get a photo back from a USB drive 4 min
- Save a photo online 4 min
Shopping online
- Find a product and compare 5 min
- Use the shopping cart 4 min
- Pay on a secure page 6 min
- Return an item 4 min
- Spot a fake store 3 min
Share photos with family
- Email a photo to someone 5 min
- Send several photos in one email 5 min
- Send a photo to two people 5 min
- A video too big for email 4 min
- Share a big video with a link 7 min
- Find a photo you were sent 5 min