Wait WHAT? 7 things you didn't know your computer mouse can do

No matter how long you’ve been using computers, it feels great to discover a new shortcut that makes life easier.

The Windows key is a relative newcomer to keyboards, where many standard keys date back to typewriters. Here are seven Windows key shortcuts you’ll use daily.

It’s hard to imagine a desktop computer without a mouse. Like keyboards, these little peripherals have shortcuts. They’re universal and work on various applications, such as word processors, email and social media.

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1. Zoom in or out

You can zoom in or out while you work without missing a step by hitting CTRL and spinning your scroll wheel up to zoom in and down to zoom out.

Some websites and apps, such as Google Maps, let you zoom in and out by scrolling up and down. Nice.

2. Change the size of icons

Maybe your icons are too small — or you have too many and want to shrink them all. You can do that with your mouse, too.

Click your desktop background, hold CTRL on the keyboard and scroll your mouse wheel up or down to increase or decrease the size of your icons. All your icons will change at once and stay the same size as each other.

Need to show someone how to do something on a PC? Use this hidden steps recorder. It’s awesome.

3. Select a word or paragraph

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Tech trick: Pin important messages on your iPhone so you don’t forget about them

Social media platforms let you pin a post to the top of your page so your audience always sees it first. You don’t have to be an influencer to unleash the power of pinning.

Now you can do the same thing on your iPhone and computer. Go ahead and save entire conversations or pin just important links and computer programs.

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Cut through legal jargon: AI can translate complicated legal docs into something you’ll actually understand. Say you’re signing a lease and the contract is confusing. Copy and paste the text into ChatGPT and ask for a simpler explanation. When in doubt, check with a lawyer since AI is far from perfect.

You have my Word: Now, any text you copy and paste in Microsoft Word will automatically match the font, size and color of your existing document. Nice! Prefer the old way? Go to File > Options > Advanced > Cut, copy, and paste > Pasting from other programs, and choose Keep Source Formatting.

Here are 7 mouse shortcuts you'll use again and again

No matter how long you’ve been using computers, there’s still a special feeling when you discover a new shortcut that makes life easier.

The Windows key is a relative newcomer to keyboards, where many standard keys date back to typewriters. Tap or click here for seven Windows key shortcuts you’ll use daily.

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Android tip: Copy and paste text from your phone to your PC

We all love Universal Clipboard, an Apple-exclusive feature that allows you to share a copied chunk of text between your iPhone and Mac.

Did you know that Windows 10 and 11 users can do the same on Android? It’s true. You should give it a shot if you’re not already doing it. Tap or click here for seven things you didn’t know your Android could do.

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Use AI to prep for interviews: Open your favorite AI chatbot, then copy and paste the job description. Ask it to break down the key details and responsibilities. Next, have the chatbot act as your interviewer.

Copy that: Google Lens can transcribe words in the real world (think a billboard or sign, menu, handwritten note, book page) to digital. Super useful. To try it, open the Google Lens app, point it at the text in question, then select it with your finger. Bam, now you can copy and paste anywhere.

Copy and copy and copy and paste and paste and paste: Don’t get stuck with just one item on the Windows clipboard. Open Settings, then pick System > Clipboard to enable clipboard history. To get to the history, hit Windows key + V on your keyboard.

Hidden features to try now on your Windows PC or Mac

I’m often asked if the latest Mac or Windows update is ready for prime time. Unfortunately, most of us have dealt with enough buggy software that we’re hesitant to hit “install” on a significant upgrade.

If you haven’t jumped up to macOS Monterey or Windows 11, I can safely say it’s time. Before you update, take one important step and make sure you have enough space for it. Tap or click here to see how much storage is available on your computer.

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Google Sheets shortcuts to double your productivity

You open up Google Sheets for work, only to find thousands of lines and a seemingly endless array of columns. There’s so much information to organize and input. How are you going to get through it all?

The solution is shortcuts. You can double productivity even with a full page if you know the proper time-saving methods. Keep reading for everything you need to know. Oh, and having a desktop calculator will help speed things up, too.

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Windows quick tip: Use the Cloud Clipboard to see the last 25 items you copied

Your everyday devices are packed with features and functions no one tells you are there.

Take Google, for instance. You can use a quick shortcut to open a new document, calendar invite or spreadsheet without clicking through menus. Tap or click for the time-saving secret.

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This genius iPhone trick will save you time texting

It is hard to imagine that the world record for typing the alphabet on a mobile phone is only 3.5 seconds. Taking that one step further, a Brazilian teen set a new Guinness World Record for fastest texter in 2014 when he typed a 25-word message in under 19 seconds.

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Here's how to fix the most annoying problem using copy and paste on Mac

Among the many improvements that came with computers, typing was a big one. Tap or click for five pro tips to get more out of your Mac. Gone were the days of Wite-Out and retyping an entire document. Programs like Microsoft Word allowed you to modify, delete, and edit any needed document easily.

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10 smart tech tricks you’ll wish you knew sooner

Developers put all kinds of secrets, shortcuts and hidden tricks into the gadgets you use every day. Here’s one I bet you didn’t know before now. 

Grab any USB cable sitting around your house. That symbol on one side isn’t just branding or decoration. It will point up if you’re plugging in horizontally; if you’re plugging a cable vertically, the USB symbol will face right. Nice.

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10 tech tricks you're not using now but you should

How well do you know the phone in your pocket? How about the computer you’re using or the browser you’re reading this article with? Despite the best efforts, many people don’t know the gadgets and software they use half as well as they should.

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This simple iPhone task could expose your personal data

Modern phones often come with built-in features we all take for granted. Things like voicemail, caller ID and notifications are so commonplace it can be hard to imagine phones without them.

But one unsung feature found on every phone, tablet and even computers has had a huge impact on users: copy and paste.

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Elf Yourself for the holidays

Don’t you just love the holiday season? People seem to be in better spirits this time of year. If you’re having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit, this download might help. It’s a relatively new holiday tradition that people all over the globe are doing.

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How to block potentially harmful programs with Windows Defender Antivirus