Free Beginners Computer Course - Learn At Home

35 Lessons

Completely Free

No Sign-Up Required

Windows 10 & Windows 11

Suitable for Beginners, Seniors and Upwards

Welcome to this free beginner computer course – a friendly, step-by-step guide to using a Windows PC at home. Whether you’ve never touched a computer before, you’re a senior getting started, or you’re simply brushing up after a long break, this course will walk you through everything you need to know.

I’ve tried to make the course as easy to use as possible, there aren’t any confusing tech terms, no rushing, and no cost. Work through the lessons at your own pace, in your own time, and come back to any section whenever you like.

By the end of this free course you’ll be able to:

Set up and personalise your Windows PC

Browse the web safely

Keep your computer safe from viruses

Use a mouse and keyboard with confidence

Send and receive email

Back up your important files

Find, open, move and organise your files

Install and uninstall programs

Part 1: Setting Up and Personalising Your Windows PC

The best place to start any beginner computer course is at the very beginning – making sure your PC feels comfortable and easy to use. In this section you’ll set up your mouse, rearrange the Start menu and taskbar, and tidy up your desktop. It only takes a few minutes and makes a real difference.

Lesson 1

Mouse and Keyboard

Setup your mouse to work for you, change pointer size and double click speed. Find important keys on your keyboard

Mouse and Keyboard Basics

Lesson 2

Setup the Start Menu

Get the Start Menu working for you by removing the apps you don’t use and adding the ones you do.

Windows Start Menu

Lesson 3

The Windows Taskbar

The Taskbar is the best place to keep your most used applications. But it gets full quickly. Manage the taskbar easily.

Organise Your Taskbar

Lesson 4

Arranging Your Desktop Icons

Your Desktop can be a great place to keep items that you need. They’re readily available, but a messy desktop doesn’t work.

Sort Your Desktop

Lesson 5

Make It Bigger

How to make icons and text bigger on Windows 10 and 11. Change the screen resolution and scaling to make using a PC easier on your eyes.

Hi-Def computer screens make everything appear small. Change the size of icons and text to easily.

Icon and Text Size

Part 2: Essential Windows Skills for Beginners

These are the core skills you’ll use every single day on a Windows PC. Once you’ve worked through this section, you’ll feel genuinely comfortable using your computer – opening programs, finding files, creating folders, and moving things around.

Lesson 6

Move and Resize Windows

How to use Maximise, Minimise and Restore Down. Move program windows around your screen.

Resizing Windows

Lesson 7

Windows File Explorer

File Explorer is the way in which you store and then retrieve your files. Master File Explorer and never lose a file again.

File Explorer

Lesson 8

All About Folders

How to create, name, rename and delete folders on a Windows PC. This guide will show you how to use folders on your computer to keep all your files organised and easy to find.

Folders are containers for your files. All your pictures, documents, videos etc are stored in a folder. Create, name and rename them.

Folders

Lesson 9

Saving a File

How to save a file on a Windows PC. Save your documents, pictures etc to any folder so that you can find it later.

Saving Files

Lesson 10

How to Open Files

How to open a file in Windows. At Home Basic Computer Course.

Files of any sort aren’t really much use if you can’t open them when you want them. Open files in any program/app.

Opening Files

Working with Files and Folders

Learning to navigate your computer’s filing system is one of the most important basic computer skills you can have. We’ll cover File Explorer, creating and naming folders, and how to save and open files properly.

Lesson 11

Copy and Paste

How to copy and paste files and folders.

Copy and Paste

Lesson 12

Cut and Paste

Use Cut and Paste to move files quickly.

Cut and Paste

Lesson 13

Copy and Paste Text

Copy text from one document to another.

Copy and paste Text

Lesson 14

Select Multiple Files

Select more than 1 file at a time

Select multiple files

Part 3: How to Use a Web Browser – Edge and Chrome

A web browser is the program you use to go online and visit websites. In this part of the course we’ll look at the two most popular browsers for Windows beginners – Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome – and get them set up just the way you like them.

Simply click on the one that you use regularly.

Lesson 15

Microsoft Edge

Edge ships with every Windows PC. It’s there and it works.

Setup Microsoft Edge

Lesson 16

Google Chrome

Chrome is the most popular browser on the internet.

Setup Chrome

Lesson 17

Favourites in Edge

How to manage Favourites in Microsoft Edge.

Favourites are saved web pages. Learn how to use them effectively.

Favourites

Lesson 18

Bookmarks in Chrome

How To Manage Bookmarks In Google Chrome. Add, edit, move, rename and use folders.

Virtually every browser calls saved web pages bookmarks. Learn how to use them.

Bookmarks

Part 4: Email Basics for Beginners – Gmail, Outlook and More

Email is one of the most useful things you can do on a computer, and it’s easier than you might think. We’ll start with the absolute basics — what an email address is, how to send and reply – and then move on to handy skills like printing emails and opening attachments safely.

Lesson 19

Basics of using Email

Get to grips with emails. Sending, addressing, forwarding, replying and CC, BCC.

Email Basics

Lesson 20

Printing Emails

How to print emails in Gmail Yahoo and Outlook webmail.

How to print emails. You can’t just use CTRL + P. It’ll print everything.

Print Email

Lesson 21

Email Attachments

Email attachments are files added to an email, often some sort of form.

Attachments

Part 5: Managing Your Windows PC – Accounts and Programs

Programs are the apps you use to actually do things on your PC — from writing documents to watching videos. Here we cover what comes built in to Windows, how to add new programs safely, and how to remove ones you no longer need.

Lesson 22

Windows User Accounts

Windows computers have 4 main account types, Administrator, Standard, Microsoft and Local.

Explain User Accounts

Lesson 23

Adding a New Account

How to create a new user account in Windows 10 and 11.

Add someone new to your computer with their own account. Better on shared PCs when everyone has their own account.

Add a New Account

Lesson 24

Deleting an Account

How to delete an old user account from your computer. Even if you don’t have their account password.

Delete an Account

Installing and Uninstalling Windows Programs

Lesson 25

Windows Programs

What programs are included with Windows?

What programs and apps come with Windows?

Preinstalled with Windows

Lesson 26

How to Install Programs

How to install programs from the internet without the junkware.

Install New Programs

Lesson 27

How to Uninstall Programs

Uninstall programs and apps that you’re no longer using.

Uninstall Old Programs

Part 6: Beginner’s Guide to PC Security and Antivirus

Keeping your computer safe has never been more important. Viruses, scams and ransomware are a real threat — but a few simple habits will protect you. These lessons explain what you need (and don’t need) and how Windows Security works.

Lesson 28

Anti Virus

Which antivirus should you use?

About Antivirus

Lesson 29

Windows Security

What is Windows Security?

Windows Security

Part 7: How to Back Up Your Windows Computer – A Beginner’s Guide

Backing up your files is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself. Whether it’s a virus, accidental deletion, or a hardware failure, a recent backup means you’ll never lose your photos, documents or anything else that matters to you.

Lesson 30

What Are Backups?

What are the different types of computer backup

Learn the different types of backup that you could use and choose the one for you.

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Lesson 31

What is OneDrive?

OneDrive is built into Windows, but is it a viable backup solution?

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Lesson 32

Windows 10 Backup

How To Create A Windows System Image Backup

Windows 10 has it’s own built in system image tool.

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Lesson 33

Restore Windows 10

How to recover your Windows 10 computer from a system image backup.

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Lesson 34

Windows 11 Backup

Windows 11 doesn’t have a reliable backup tool so you’ll need to use something else.

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Lesson 35

Restore Windows 11

Recover your Windows 11 computer from a backup after a disaster.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Computer Course

Is this computer course really free?

Yes, completely. There is no charge, no sign-up and no hidden fees of any kind. Every single lesson is available to read on this website for free.

Do I need any experience to start?

Not at all. The course begins at the very beginning — including how to use a mouse — and builds up gently. If you’ve never used a computer before, this is the right place to start.

Is this course suitable for seniors and older adults?

Absolutely. The whole course was written with non-techies in mind, including seniors and older adults who are new to computers or who haven’t used one for a while. Everything is written in plain English — no jargon, no rushing.

Does this course work for Windows 10 and Windows 11?

Yes. The lessons cover both Windows 10 and Windows 11, with screenshots and step-by-step instructions for both versions wherever they differ.

How long does the course take to complete?

There are 35 lessons in total. Most people work through a few at a time, so it typically takes a few hours spread over several sessions. There are no deadlines — you can go at whatever pace suits you and return to any lesson at any time.

Do I need to sign up or create an account?

No. You can start Lesson 1 right now without signing up for anything. The newsletter is optional — it’s just a way to hear about new guides as they’re published.