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This Fourth of July weekend, you can bet on the fact that grills will be sparking up from sea to shining sea. At least twice you’ll look down the street and ask, “is that a fire?” only to realize it’s just your industrious neighbor’s offset smoker. (Again.) You might even see me out there this weekend, setting up a chimney at one of the charcoal grills at the public park, gearing up to cook my favorite grill food: skewers.

Lately I’ve been experimenting with ingredient combinations from the classic to the adventurous (and a few not worth repeating). Here are my top three favorites so far. And electric grill users, you’re included too: Electric grills are a huge boon for apartment dwellers (like me), and even folks who grill outdoors but prefer less smoke and a cleaner taste. All of these skewers work wonderfully on an indoor grill too. (Read here for electric grill options if you’ve been looking.) 

How to experiment with skewer flavor combinations

I’ve noticed some patterns in my skewer research. The best ones balance savory, sweet, and herbal or earthy elements. That’s all you really need for success. So if you have a main protein, like marinated chicken or tofu, you’ve already nailed the savory element. Think of adding a sliced peach or fig section for some sweetness. For an earthy element—an ingredient that borders on bitter but not overwhelmingly so—you can add a halved shallot or a hunk of jalepeño. For extra pizzazz, you can always drizzle on vinaigrettes after grilling, sprinkle on seasonings, or add crumbled cheeses. 

When grilling over charcoal or gas, always practice good grilling technique and safety. Don’t skewer your hands—skewer your food, and oil the food, not the grill grate. I use a non-aerosol spritz bottle of cooking oil to get an even coating on skewers.

If you’re using an electric grill, like I did today, you have the added benefit of being able to oil the grill plates if you’d like. All of these skewers were grilled for three to four minutes in a ChefMan Panini Press Grill, an appliance I’ve grown rather fond of. The hinged upper plate is key for evenly pressing taller items.

Without further ado, here are three excellent skewers that I keep coming back to.

Pesto chicken and ravioli skewer

Clearly I have not grilled enough ravioli in my life, and I’m guessing you haven’t either. You’ll want to buy the “fresh” style pasta that you can find in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. The pasta won’t be dry, but soft and pliable, so all you have to do is unpack and skewer it. Personally, I went on a Trader Joe’s bender and picked up some cacio e pepe ravioli. No regrets.

You can also purchase chicken breasts and cuts of meat that are packaged in a marinade to make your life easier. The chicken I used was slathered in a pesto sauce marinade. Rather than cube the meat, I prefer to slice it thinly and skewer it in a rippling ribbon. Among the chicken and ravioli, I nestled a thick wedge of portobello mushroom. You might say, “Allie, there is no sweet element here.” You’re correct. In this case, I made an executive decision to leave savory, herbal, and earthy alone.

This skewer smells particularly incredible while grilling. After enjoying the portobello perfume, I love the way the charred ravioli comes out. The pasta’s exterior is tender with delicate crispy sections, and the filling is warm, but you’” be in no danger of burning the roof of your mouth.

Al pastor-inspired skewer

One of my favorite tacos is the al pastor. It’s filled with marinated, spit-roasted pork and paired with a slice of pineapple. The pork is deeply flavorful, with irresistible crispy edges, and the warm, sweet pineapple compliments the savory element while also providing a burst of acidity to brighten things up. A skewer with these components is like getting straight to the heart of the al pastor. 

To make these al pastor skewers, I thinly sliced some garlic and herb marinated pork loin and ribboned it onto the skewer. (This is how my family makes grilled satay, so I prefer the meat sliced versus cubing it. But cube if you must.) Add the pork, a hunk of pineapple, and a wedge of shallot. Repeat until you’re out of room on your skewers.

The pork almost plays second fiddle to the sweetness of the fruit and the caramelized shallot. (You could swap out the pork for some firm marinated tofu and the results would be delightful.) This one is a definitely crowd favorite.

Sweet chicken and shishito skewer

I grabbed a pre-marinated Pollo Asado Autentico packet from Trader Joe’s for this one, and I have no regrets. The flavors include paprika, garlic, cayenne pepper, dehydrated onion, and lime juice powder, but you can whip up your own spicy chicken marinade instead if you like. I skewered thin slices of the chicken with slices of a slightly unripe nectarine. (I find nectarines don’t turn to mush as quickly on the grill.) A couple shishito peppers were the perfect earthy partner for this skewer. 

After grilling, the nectarine becomes honey-sweet, balancing the spices from the chicken and the potentially spicy pepper. (If you can’t find shishito peppers, try slices of poblano or jalapeño before you reach for the green bell pepper.)

Beyond these three skewers, I encourage you to try other combinations as you grill this summer. There’s something inexplicably fun about eating grilled morsels off of a stick, and they’re always popular with family and friends. 

If you thought Strava’s privacy issues were bad, strap in: Coros has confirmed some major security issues with its watches. During an analysis of Coros Pace 3 Bluetooth security, German IT security researchers identified at least eight distinct security flaws that affect every Coros device on the market—not just the Pace 3 model, as was first believed. After an initially lackluster response, Coros has since entered damage control mode, and is promising fixes by the end of summer.

How Bluetooth makes Coros watches vulnerable

The vulnerabilities stem from fundamental issues in the Bluetooth connectivity code shared across all Coros watches and their bike computer, creating a security nightmare that impacts the company’s entire product lineup.

By exploiting these security flaws, an unauthenticated attacker within Bluetooth range can perform the following actions:

• Hijack user accounts and access all stored fitness data on COROS.com

• Eavesdrop on sensitive information including text messages and notifications

• Manipulate device settings remotely without user knowledge

• Factory reset devices from a distance, wiping all user data

• Crash devices during critical moments

• Interrupt active workouts and force the loss of recorded fitness data

If you’re interested in diving into the specific coding and architectural issues at play here, I highly recommend taking a look at the original blog post outlining the problem. Perhaps most concerning is the ability for attackers to inject false information, such as fake text notifications, while simultaneously monitoring all genuine messages and notifications sent to the watch.

When alerted to these massive security holes, Coros initially seemed less than alarmed. The security researchers followed standard industry protocol, privately disclosing the vulnerabilities with the company and providing a 90-day window for it to provide fixes before going public. At first, the company indicated that fixes wouldn’t arrive until the end of 2025—a less than urgent response. Only after the vulnerabilities were publicly disclosed on June 17th, 2025, complete with detailed reproduction steps and exploit code, did Coros begin taking the situation seriously.

What Coros users need to do

The company has now accelerated its timeline, promising partial fixes by the end of July and complete resolution by August.

The initial response from Coros appears to have treated these critical security flaws as routine bugs, which might be chalked up to inexperience: Though the issues are concerning, this does appear to be the company’s first major security incident,. Gadget reviewer DC Rainmaker—the same reporter responsible for escalating this issue to Coros in the first place—posits that after this, Coros will likely have better public channels and internal processes in place for tackling future security issues.

But that issue aside, what do you need to do if you own an affected device?

In a Reddit comment, Coros says if your watch is up to date, there’s nothing you need to do right now. But when their next software updates are available in July and August, you should update your watch immediately to fix these vulnerabilities. Unfortunately, there are no effective workarounds to mitigate the vulnerabilities in the meantime, as they’re embedded in the devices’ Bluetooth communication protocols.

The bottom line

Even if you aren’t a Coros user, it’s important to remember that all fitness wearables, despite their seemingly benign nature, can become significant security liabilities. These devices often have access to highly personal information—from health data and location tracking to text messages and notifications—making them attractive targets for hackers. As our wearables become increasingly sophisticated and connected, it’s more important than ever to stay on top of best security practices.

And if you are a Coros user, make sure you install any and all July and August updates as soon as they are released.

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With Prime Day looming on the horizon and Target, Walmart, and Best Buy jumping on the early holiday sale bandwagon, it can be a little overwhelming to commit to where to spend your money. However, something that has stayed consistent over the many sales has been Amazon device prices during the early sales. One of those Amazon devices with a record-low price (only for Prime members) is the 75-inch Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED, currently $569.99 (originally $1,099.99), the lowest price it has been according to price-checking tools.

The Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED launched in 2022, and it’s much better than the older Amazon Fire TV 4-Series. The main difference is that it’s a QLED display, which provides better backlight and colors than an LED (it’s also one of the best budget QLEDs TV of 2025). It also has Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive, which adjusts picture quality based on ambient lighting, and HDR10+ Gaming, which gives a smoother and more responsive gameplay while maintaining picture quality.

When you’re not using this TV to watch your media, you can use its Fire TV Ambient Experience to do many other things, like keep track of security cameras, control lights, adjust thermostats, and view your reminders or calendar. You can read about these and other useful features in PCMag’s “excellent” review.

This TV works great for a room that won’t get too bright, since it only has 474 nits of brightness. You’ll still be able to see it fine with windows open on a sunny day, but it won’t get as bright as other TVs. If you’re in the Alexa ecosystem, you’d be able to get the best value out of this Fire TV.

Everyone’s vision of what retirement looks like is different. Some dream of traveling the world, while others look forward to an afternoon nap that lasts decades. The one thing an increasing number of people agree on? It’s a challenge to afford retirement in the United States.

Only half of Americans have retirement savings at all, and most who do don’t have nearly enough stashed away in them to actually live on. In fact, more than 17 million Americans over the age of 65 are financially insecure. Meanwhile, the cost of living in the U.S. keeps going up, even as safety nets like Medicaid are having their strings cut. Put that all together and it’s no surprise that a rising number of folks are looking into retiring abroad, to countries where their dollars will stretch a lot further.

Just because the cost of living is low doesn’t mean a country is a great choice for retirement, however. You need to find a balance between cheap living and other factors, like healthcare and security. Plus, you have to find countries where the income requirements for residency are low enough for your small nest egg to qualify you to move there—and if you’re going to rely solely on Social Security payments in your retirement, you need countries where the cost of living falls below the average payment, which is currently $1,976.

After considering all those factors—and recognizing that every person’s needs are different—here are eight countries where you can retire on the cheap and still live well.

Costa Rica

A single person can live on about $900 per month (not counting rent) in Costa Rica, which is considered a modern, stable country with an excellent healthcare system. There’s already a robust expatriate community of Americans living in there, which can make for a softer transition if you don’t speak Spanish well and/or haven’t lived abroad before. Of course, all those expats are also pushing the cost of living up, so don’t assume your budget will work indefinitely, but it’s still going to be significantly cheaper than almost anywhere in the U.S.

Income requirement: $1,000 per month

Panama

You can get by in Panama for around $800 per month (excluding rent), and the U.S. dollar is an official currency in the country so you don’t have to worry about converting your cash. Panama openly courts American retirees, and offers tons of discounts and benefits to lure them there. You’ll need to apply for a Visa in Panama, you’ll need a Panamanian attorney, and you’ll probably need to learn Spanish, but once you’re there, you’ll enjoy a stable, thriving culture and a relatively easy trip back to the States if you want to visit family and friends.

Income requirement: $1,000 per month plus $250.00 per month for each dependent

France

Believe it or not, one of the world’s top tourist destinations is also a terrific spot to retire. The cost of living (not including rent) is a little higher at about $1,100 per month, but you’ll get access to one of the best healthcare systems in the world for a fraction of what it would cost here. The U.S. also has a tax treaty with France, so your retirement accounts will be taxed at U.S. rates instead of the much higher French rates. France is a complex country, though, so you’ll probably need to hire a French attorney to go through the process of retiring there—and you definitely have to learn some French.

Income requirement: Three times the monthly minimum wage (currently about $2,100)

Malaysia

Malaysia is incredibly affordable—though income requirements are higher, the cost of living for a single person is only around $550 per month (not including rent), and the rents aren’t very high, either. The country boasts a top-notch healthcare system, and English is well-supported there. But be careful: Getting to and from Malaysia isn’t always easy, so you won’t be flitting back and forth between the U.S. and your retirement home. And it’s a pretty hot, humid place all the time, so don’t choose it if you’re looking to avoid sweating.

Income requirement: $2,370 per month, plus about $83,000 in assets

Spain

Like France, Spain isn’t usually discussed as a retirement option—but it should be. Although the income requirement is relatively high, the cost of living (without rent) is a comfortable $850 or so, which gets you access to a beautiful country with a rich culture that also offers very low crime rates, excellent healthcare, and (it probably goes without saying) incredible food and lifestyle.

Income requirement: $2,700 per month.

Ecuador

Ecuador is super cheap, costing about $535 per month not including rent. Plus, its official currency is the U.S. dollar, so you don’t have to worry about exchange rates. If you’re looking for a lifestyle that focuses on natural beauty, this is the place you want to be. The healthcare system is surprisingly great (and affordable, even if you have to pay for private insurance).

Income requirement: Three times the unified basic salary ($470 per month), so about $1,410

Portugal

Portugal is a gorgeous country with excellent infrastructure, terrific healthcare, and plenty of beautiful spots to call home. Not including rent, its cost of living is a slender $805 per month—but note that you won’t qualify for the free national healthcare until you’ve lived in the country for at least five years, so be prepared to pay for private health insurance as well. On the other hand, Portugal revamped its tax system a few years ago to offer 10 years of tax breaks and exemptions to qualifying expats, which might help offset those costs. English is also very commonly spoken, making it an easy place to transition to.

Income requirement: $1,025 per month

Thailand

If you’re pinching every penny, Thailand might be ideal: The cost of living is a super-low $621 per month (without rent), while the healthcare system is excellent (and affordable), and the country is beautiful. Americans will likely be in for a bit of culture shock, however, so it’s likely a good idea to visit the country first to make sure you’ll be able to adjust and actually enjoy your very cheap retirement.

Income requirement: $2,000 per month

I do not run. Well, I try, like, twice a year, but I’m not good at it. My colleagues Meredith and Beth are stellar athletes who are extremely capable runners. I am a cycling instructor who prefers low-impact cardio that does not jolt my entire body around or give me a pain in my side. Whenever I do get the wild idea to run, I sort of take off up Manhattan’s FDR Drive with no clear goal or idea of how fast I should be attempting to go. I then burn out, get annoyed, and stop. A marathon is not in my future. Not even a 5K is in my future—or so I thought, until I tried Peloton’s Pace Target workouts.

What are Peloton’s pace target workouts?

Pace Target workouts are customized additions to running, walking, hiking, and bootcamp classes on Peloton’s Tread and Tread+ treadmills (though in some cases, you can use them without one of the company’s proprietary devices). Basically, instead of being told by your virtual instructor to run at, say, a pace of 6.2, you’re told to run at a “moderate” pace, which will differ from person to person. My moderate is, like, a 4.1, but if you’re a hardcore runner, yours might be higher than that. For us to get the same benefit from a moderate run, we’d be moving at totally different paces—and that’s what Pace Target workouts are for: “Speed ranges tailored to you.”

First, you take an introductory class, “20 min Intro to Pace Targets.” You are asked to estimate the fastest mile you think you could run, then set a target level between 1-10. Based on the estimate you give for how fast you could run a mile, Peloton creates a breakdown of what your speed ranges should be for the following seven categories:

• Recovery

• Easy

• Moderate

• Challenging

• Hard

• Very Hard

• Max

When you start a workout that uses Pace Targets (which will be shown on the preview screen with a small icon that says “Pace Targets”), your screen will tell you what incline to be at and give you a range estimate. The instructor will announce when it’s time for, say, a “moderate” or “hard” pace, but they won’t tell you a number to set your treadmill to or a specific pace to hit if you’re outdoors. Instead, the screen will tell you what range you should target for your moderate or hard run.

My experience with Pace Targets

This feature rolled out about a year ago and, ever since, Peloton has been working to broaden and improve it. It used to only be for runs on the Tread or Tread+, but now you can use it for outdoor workouts, runs on a non-Peloton treadmill, bootcamps, and more.

This week, Peloton fans were talking about its newest uses for walking workouts and, since I love the walking workouts on the app, I wanted to try it out on the treadmill—but without a Tread or Tread+, the functionality wasn’t there yet. I couldn’t see my Pace Targets on the screen when completing a walking workout on a regular treadmill and using my phone app.

Now, I had already dragged myself out into the hot summer air to get to the gym. Not wanting that effort to go to waste, I decided to try out the Pace Target workouts in the running section of the app, since I was already on the treadmill and all. How bad could it be?

It wasn’t, I discovered, bad at all!

A major issue I have with guided running workouts is that at some point, the instructor says a number that is simply not happening for me. With Pace Targets, though, I was able to set reasonable expectations upfront by indicating I could do one single 9:30-minute mile if I had to. (I can be fast, but I do not enjoy even one second of it.) As the class began, I was not told what to set my treadmill to at all. Rather, I was given a range of “moderate” settings that aligned with my indicated fitness level and encouraged to stay within it, though I was also told I could go lower (or higher) if I wanted to.

It was easy to follow along with on my phone and, because I have my Apple Watch synced to my Peloton app, I could see my heart rate and “Strive Score,” too, so I knew I really was in my “moderate” zone. Strive Scores are calculated based on how long you spend in certain heart rates during a workout and your heart rate is shown to you on a color-coordinated graph. The colors of the heart rate graph match up with the colors on the Pace Target graph shown on-screen, so it was simple to grasp. When they were the same color—for instance, teal when I was supposed to be in a moderate range or “Zone 2″—I knew I was doing what I was supposed to be doing.

Unlike when I try to follow a guided run or head out to jog on my own, at no point was I going way too fast and in danger of burning out. I finished my first workout and my subsequent workouts feeling great: a little winded, but energized.

Why Pace Target workouts are useful

Even more shockingly, I wanted to keep doing it: I wanted to keep following Pace Target runs, identifying my perfect paces, and running smoothly. But I had to collect all my data and start drafting this story. While I was doing that, I set out to find out more about Pace Targets—and I realized this feature is especially helpful for outdoor runners who want to get a better understanding of their own pacing when they’re not relying on treadmills to figure it out for them.

That’s where I always screw up when I’m hauling up and down the FDR—I take off and hope for the best. But now, having discovered through Pace Targets that my “moderate” speed should be around 4.1 mph, I feel confident I could control myself, focus on the heart rate data on my wearable, and actually run for a longer amount of time, staying in the most manageable and effective cardio zone for my goals.

Pace Target workouts can be found all over the Peloton app and include walking and running intervals, tempo-based runs, recovery runs, and more. Instructors provide clear cues about which intensity you should be exercising at, not which number you should be targeting, and you can change your pace target at any time by tapping the speed displayed on your screen during a workout. As someone with no previous understanding of my personal pacing, heart rate zones, or ideal running intervals, I think this feature is extremely useful and—I can’t believe I’m saying this—I can’t wait to keep using it.

If you use Microsoft Authenticator as your password manager, it’s time to find an alternative. Previously, Microsoft announced it is ending password storage and autofill in its Authenticator app, and gave users have until this month to export saved data before it becomes unavailable, but there’s now a more precise deadline: The company make your data inaccessible on Aug. 1, 2025.

This comes amidst Microsoft’s transition to a “passwordless by default” approach to its own accounts. Microsoft Authenticator is a mobile app that supports secure sign-on via various multi-factor authentication methods like time-based one-time passwords and biometrics, though users could also set it up as a password manager.

What’s happening to Microsoft Authenticator

As Bleeping Computer reports, Authenticator’s autofill feature is being deprecated, and Microsoft is now notifying users of the impending deadlines to transition either to Microsoft Edge or another password storage option. Starting in June, users became unable to save passwords in Authenticator. Microsoft announced plans to shut down autofill this month, and saved passwords and stored payment information will no longer be accessible in the app starting Aug. 1.

After that date, Authenticator will continue to support passkeys.

According to a Microsoft support page detailing the change, saved passwords are synced to your Microsoft account and can be autofilled with Microsoft Edge, so users who have Edge enabled as their autofill provider on mobile will have easy access to their data.

To do this, you’ll have to download the Microsoft Edge browser on your device and then select it as the default autofill option (Settings > General > Autofill & Passwords > Autofill from > Edge on iOS or Settings > Autofill > Preferred Service > Change > Edge on Android). You can access passwords when you’re signed into Edge by tapping the three vertical lines to open Settings > Passwords.

How to export your passwords from Authenticator

If you don’t want to continue with Edge, you can export your data and transition it to a secure third-party password manager, such as Bitwarden or 1Password. Open Authenticator and go to Settings > Export Passwords (under the Autofill section) and select Export. Choose a folder and hit Save. This creates a CSV for upload into a different password management tool. Note that your data is no longer encrypted in this format, and you should delete the export file as soon as you’ve uploaded it elsewhere.

You can also copy and paste addresses by tapping and holding, but you cannot copy or export saved payment information—that will have to be recreated manually for security reasons.

Microsoft’s dates for each step of deprecation are vague, so your best bet is to export your passwords as soon as possible, and definitely by Aug. 1.

This article was previously published and has been updated with additional information on Microsoft’s deadlines for accessing your data.

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Robot vacuums are incredibly useful, but tend to be expensive. Fortunately, I found some deep discounts leading up to Prime Day, coming up July 8-11 this year.

A budget robot goes on deeper discount

Yeedi, as a brand, tends to garner good ratings on Amazon and Reddit, and the C12 Pro Plus has two robot features I like: a vibrating mop pad, and a bagless dust container. It’s usually a good buy at $499.99, and right now it’s going for $299.97.

A Roborock under $300

Roborocks are consistently high performers when I test them. The Roborock Q7 M5+ is going to give you a self-emptying tower and 10,000Pa suction power—even at the normal price point of $429.99, that’s impressive. This 35% off sale makes this Roborock well worth the (much smaller) investment.

This Dreame with premium features is half off

When I tested the Dreame L10S, I found that it felt premium, despite the mid-range price. In particular, I appreciated its high-performing vacuum—I was less hot on the mop, though. The L10S Pro Ultra is the next generation of that model, and ratings suggest that the mop is greatly improved. Normally $899.99, it’s now almost half off.

A flagship robot vacuum on deep discount

The Dreame X40 Ultra actually is a premium model, which means you’re getting a self-emptying tower, with a mop that cleans itself (it even auto dispenses detergent) and improved robot performance on both vacuuming and mopping. The app will also include some more flexible features around scheduling and obstacle avoidance. That usually comes at a premium price of $1499, but with the listed discount and a coupon available on the listing page, the price comes down to $949.99.

One of my favorite robot vacuums is $300 off

I think the Roborock Curv is, simply put, a fabulous robot vacuum and mop (here’s my review). It has spectacular suction, mopping and vacuum power, and the tower is gorgeously designed. I recommend this model over and over again. It’s well worth the full price of $1599.99, but on sale, I’d grab it.

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You can get thousands of free e-books over the course of 2025 if you know where—and when—to look. All year long, Amazon is offering free Kindle e-books to readers, with new opportunities popping up every month. In July, Prime members can get two free Kindle e-books from Amazon’s First Reads program.

What is Amazon’s First Reads?

Amazon First Reads is a program aimed at Prime members that offers early access to new e-books across many genres, as curated by First Reads editors (one of many Prime Member benefits). Prime members can choose to download one free e-book every month from a rotating list—though some months that number is bumped up to two, usually with a free short novel—and non-members get them for a discounted price. These e-books can be read on any compatible Kindle device or via the free Kindle app.

How to get your free Amazon Kindle e-books in July

Go to the First Reads landing page to see the full list of e-books available this month. Once you find a book that seems interesting, click the “Shop Now” button from the First Reads landing page. Make sure you’re not being redirected to the Kindle or Amazon mobile application, because you won’t see the free book option there; instead, use your internet browser on your phone or computer.

Make sure you’re not clicking the ”Pre-order for…” button, as that will direct you to pay; instead, click the “Read for Free” or the “Buy Now with 1-Click” button under the “First Reads” banner on the book’s Amazon page (don’t worry, you won’t be charged). This will send the e-book directly to the Kindle linked to your Amazon account.

You can see what it should look like from the screenshot below.

You’ll know you did it right when you see a “Thanks, [your name]!” order summary indicating the e-book is being auto-delivered to the Kindle Cloud Reader.

Free Amazon Kindle e-books available in July 2025

This month, you can choose two from 10 new Kindle e-books. Amazon notes the genre for each of the books above the title, offering a quick way to narrow down your options. (If you hover over the “See Editor Notes” under the “Shop Now” button, you’ll be able to read a short description from the First Reads editor who picked the book.)

Here are your options for July 2025. You can choose two of these 10 e-books:

In an ideal world, nothing would ever go wrong with your Windows laptop or desktop—but as you know, the sun doesn’t always shine, your favorite sports team doesn’t always win, and you might occasionally run into problems with your PC. If that happens, Microsoft has provided a suite of troubleshooting tools called the Windows Recovery Environment (or WinRE for short) to help you solve the issue yourself.

You might not be too familiar with WinRE, which is a positive sign—it probably means your computing has largely been trouble-free in recent times. However, it’s worth knowing about the options that these utilities offer, whether you’re experiencing problems right now or want to be well prepared in the future.

What is the Windows Recovery Environment?

First and foremost, WinRE is a way to solve issues stopping your PC from starting up normally. It may even appear automatically if your computer doesn’t boot properly—it’s built right into Windows systems, so there’s nothing to download or install. You can also use WinRE to reset Windows and return it to its original state, in addition to the reset option in Windows Settings.

If you can get into Windows normally, you can launch the Windows Recovery Environment by opening Settings and choosing System > Recovery > Restart now. If not, you might see WinRE appear automatically—most systems should be configured to launch the utility after two or three failed boot attempts.

Alternatively, there will be a key you can press during boot up to launch WinRE rather than Windows: If you’re not sure what it is, check the documentation that came with your PC, or search online for your make and model of computer. For some Asus computers it’s F12, for example, and for some Dell computers, it’s the Windows key.

All the Windows Recovery Environment options (and how they work)

Use a device

The first option you’ll see lets you boot from a USB drive or a DVD rather than your hard drive, which you might need to do if you can’t start up your PC normally. From there, you can carry out further troubleshooting or reinstall Windows. If you need to create a USB drive or DVD to boot from, check out Microsoft’s guide.

Alongside Use a device, and options to turn off your PC or carry on to Windows, there’s a Troubleshoot entry on the menu. Select this for more options.

Reset this PC

This is the first option under Troubleshoot. Choosing a reset will do just that: reset Windows to its original settings, hopefully clearing up any issues you’ve been having. Along the way, you’ll be asked if you want to wipe all your personal files and programs too—the reset is more comprehensive if you do, but you’ll need to move all of your data back again afterwards, so make sure it’s safely backed up somewhere first.

If Use a device or Reset this PC aren’t the solutions you’re after, you can dig deeper into the Windows Recovery Environment by choosing Advanced options.

Startup Repair

With this option, Windows will attempt to fix some of the more common issues relating to startup, with no further input required from you. It’ll look at the key files controlling the boot up process, registry files, and drivers. Fingers crossed, you’ll be back into the normal Windows environment in just a few minutes.

Startup Settings

This gives you some alternatives to booting Windows in the usual way, including the classic Safe Mode, which loads the operating system with as few configuration files and drivers as possible. By starting a stripped-down version of Windows rather than full-fat Windows, you may be able to bypass any issues and troubleshoot your problems further—by removing malware, for example.

Command Prompt

This opens up a text-based command prompt window, a throwback to the days of MS-DOS. As its so bare bones, you may be able to get command prompts working even if you can’t get into Windows—so file commands, for example, or further diagnostic checks. For more details on command prompts, see Microsoft’s guide.

Uninstall Updates

Sometimes a Windows update will cause problems for your system (and maybe many others, too). This option lets you view updates that have recently been applied to the operating system, and remove them if needed—which may then enable you to get into Windows as normal.

UEFI Firmware Settings

This is where you can make changes to the fundamental UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) software that works underneath Windows (and which has now replaced the BIOS). You’re able to check on the status of hard drives and peripherals, and make sure your computer is working at the most basic level—we’ve written a more detailed UEFI guide here.

System Restore

Essentially, System Restore rolls Windows back to an earlier point in time, ideally undoing whatever change is causing your current PC woes (it’ll uninstall apps that have recently been added, for example). These restore points should have been automatically created by Windows, and you’ll be prompted to pick one from the list, depending on how far you want to go back.