Computeractive — Issue 745 (23 September–6 October 2026)

Keeping a PC in good shape does not have to mean paying for another utility—or guessing which one is worth installing. In Computeractive Issue 745, the cover feature puts seven free PC programs to the test, looking at how they tackle clutter, Windows problems and privacy. It is the kind of practical comparison that helps make the next fix feel less like a shot in the dark.

Seven free tools, compared on the jobs that matter

The issue’s lead feature considers what PC-optimisation programs actually do, from reclaiming storage to helping resolve Windows issues and strengthen privacy settings. Rather than treating every “clean-up” app as interchangeable, it examines their different strengths and ease of use.

Useful fixes for phones and PCs

Step-by-step workshops show how to stop people snooping on a phone, move beyond Windows Media Player, and use Phone Link to control a phone through a PC. Elsewhere, readers will find tips for Windows, Office, browsers, AI tools, VPNs and Google services.

Technology news, reviews and buying advice

Issue 745 also covers current technology news and consumer questions, alongside reviews of computers, phones, printers, routers, earbuds and other devices. A feature on Fire TV Stick alternatives adds a timely buying-angle to the issue’s broader mix of hands-on advice.

For curious everyday tech users

With plain-English explanations, practical workshops and product coverage in one issue, Computeractive offers approachable reading for people who want to make better use of their PC, phone and connected tech—without needing to be an expert first.