How To Open, Use, & Customize The Windows 10 Action Center (Quick Guide)

Home » How-To

4 min. read

Published on September 17, 2025

Fix Windows errors with Fortect:
Fortect can repair common computer errors by scanning your entire system for damaged or missing OS files and replacing them with the original, working versions. Optimize your PC in 3 simple steps:

Download and Install Fortect on your PC
Use the PC Scan feature to look up any Windows issues (including drivers)
Right-click on Repair, and fix it within a few minutes.

Besides that, it helps you clean up junk files, fix stability problems, and get rid of annoying programs and malware traces.

Windows 10’s Action Center is your central hub for notifications, quick actions, and system settings. It’s a convenient way to manage various aspects of your system without digging through menus. This guide will walk you through opening, using, and customizing the Action Center to maximize its potential and streamline your Windows experience. Understanding its features can significantly improve your daily workflow.

How Can I Access and Use the Windows 10 Action Center Effectively?

Opening the Action Center

Click the Action Center icon: Locate the speech bubble icon in the system tray (located at the far right of your taskbar). Clicking this icon will open the Action Center.
Using the keyboard shortcut: Press Windows key + A simultaneously to instantly open the Action Center. This is a quick and efficient method, especially if your mouse is unavailable.

Understanding the Action Center Interface

The Action Center displays notifications and quick actions. Notifications are messages from apps and system events. Quick actions are toggles for frequently used settings. You can expand notifications to see more details or dismiss them individually or all at once.

Using Quick Actions

Quick actions provide one-touch access to features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, and more. You can customize these based on your preferences.

Customizing Quick Actions

Open the Action Center: Follow the steps above to open the Action Center.
Expand the Quick Actions: Click the "Expand" button (usually three dots) to see all available quick actions.
Add or Remove Quick Actions: Click the "Edit" button (usually a pencil icon). Drag and drop to rearrange or remove quick actions, and add others as needed.

Viewing Notification History

The Action Center keeps a history of your notifications. This is useful if you missed something important. Scroll down in the Action Center to see your notification history.

Tips for Action Center Mastery

Clear Notifications Regularly: Keep your Action Center clutter-free by regularly dismissing notifications.
Customize Quick Actions Strategically: Prioritize the quick actions you use most frequently for easy access.
Check Notification History Periodically: Ensure you haven’t missed any crucial notifications.

Mastering Your Windows 10 Action Center

This guide provided a comprehensive overview of the Windows 10 Action Center, covering its access methods, functionalities, and customization options. By mastering these techniques, you can significantly enhance your Windows 10 experience, making it more efficient and personalized.

FAQs

How do I turn off notifications for specific apps?

To manage app notifications, go to Settings > System > Notifications & actions. Here, you can customize notification settings for individual apps, choosing to turn them off entirely or adjust their notification behavior.

What if my Action Center isn’t working?

If your Action Center is unresponsive, try restarting your computer. If the problem persists, check for Windows updates and ensure your system is running smoothly. You may also need to troubleshoot potential conflicts with your installed applications.

How can I change the Action Center’s appearance?

The Action Center’s appearance is largely determined by your overall Windows theme. You can change the theme in Settings > Personalization > Themes to alter the visual style of the Action Center and other system elements.

Can I add more quick actions than are initially available?

While the initial set of quick actions is pre-defined, you can rearrange and remove them to suit your preferences. However, the total number of quick actions you can display simultaneously is limited.