A trio of Mac quick tips: If you don’t know, now you do! 1.) Click a file and press the spacebar to preview it, 2.) Click an open spot on your desktop to pull all your open windows to the sides, and 3.) Hit the Option key any time you have a menu open to see hidden options.
Smart idea: Android 15 is going to include Desktop mode. In this demo video, you can see multiple apps running side by side with some clunky window snapping (hey, it’s in beta). Sounds snazzy, and Apple will probably copy it within five years.
Switch to the web: You can access lots of phone apps on the web, like on your laptop or desktop, instead of directly on your device. It’s nice to have a bigger screen to look at stuff and a bigger keyboard to type out posts and comments. Try it with Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
So fresh and so clean: Windows allows you to create multiple virtual desktops for better organization. Hold down the Windows key + Tab to open Task View, then click New Desktop at the top left. You can switch between your desktops using the Windows key + Ctrl + ← or →.
Better Google searches: Use the Verbatim option! After you do a search, tap Tools (desktop) or Search tools (mobile) at the top of your results. Tap the dropdown menu for All Results, then choose Verbatim. Now you’ll get results for what you actually searched for, not what Google thinks you want.
Trust me, it’s dusty: Your laptop and desktop gather dust just like everything else. Do yourself (and your wallet) a favor and blow out all the junk. Compressed air (whoa, 47% off) gets the job done, but I prefer a reusable air duster (54% off!).
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Nice change on Reddit: You can now opt out of political and religious ads. Log in from the app or your desktop, then head to this preferences page.
Use a Windows PC? Create a folder with your favorite wallpapers or pics. Right-click on your desktop, choose Personalize and set the background to a Slideshow with the folder you created.
Get a little space: Virtual desktops on Windows let you keep work, play, vacation planning and whatever else separate. Hit Windows key + Ctrl + D to create a new virtual desktop. Use Windows key + Ctrl + the left or right arrows to move between your desktops. When you’re done, hit Windows key + Ctrl + F4 to close your current virtual desktop.
Show the desktop on a Mac: Shift all your open windows to the side and get to the shortcuts on your desktop by holding down Cmd and pressing F3. Pressing F3 on its own shows you all the windows you have open. Easy-peasy!
Windows user? Use “God Mode” to access all your Control Panel settings in one place. Just create a new folder anywhere, like on your desktop, and rename it to this exact string: GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} Hit “Enter,” and the folder icon will change to a Control Panel icon. Opening this new folder will give you a powerful, centralized view of virtually all settings and configuration options in Windows.
Hot tip: Hot corners on Mac are neat. Hover your mouse over a certain spot to make something happen, like showing your desktop or opening a note. Hit the Apple logo > System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Hot Corners. Set as you please, then hit Done.
- For Chrome on a PC, drag the icon from your Start menu to the desktop to create a shortcut. Then right-click and select Show more options > Properties. There, you’ll see the URL string under “Target.” Add -incognito to the end.
- On Safari for Mac, click Settings > General > Safari opens with a private window.
- For Android phones, tap and hold the browser’s icon, then select Open in Private tab.
- On iPhone, press and hold your browser’s icon and choose New Private Tab (for Safari) or Incognito Search (for Chrome).
Mickey and Minnie, take note: Here’s a cool mouse shortcut for your desktop: Hit Shift on your keyboard, then use your mouse wheel. Instead of scrolling up and down, your mouse wheel will scroll left and right.
When you just need space to think: Press Windows key + D on a PC to close all your open windows to the taskbar and see only your desktop. On a Mac, press Cmd + M to minimize your open windows.
Looking for a specific part in a YouTube video? Frustration no more! In the phone app, swipe up to see the vid frame by frame. You can look for exactly what you want. Lift your finger to play from there. On a desktop, hover your mouse over the video timeline to see each frame.
Iconic: It’s easy to adjust the icon size on your computer. On Windows, right-click on your desktop, select View, and choose from Large icons, Medium icons or Small icons. On a Mac, click on your desktop to ensure you’re in the Finder. From the menu bar, go to View and choose Show View Options. A window will pop up where you can adjust the icon size using a slider.
Move over, New York Times: LinkedIn added puzzle games to its app and desktop site. You can pick from three options: Pinpoint (word association), Crossclimb (trivia and wordplay) and Queens (sudoku without the numbers). Give ‘em a whirl — they’re free.
Your desktop is a mess: Create a new folder with a name like “Clean up” or the date. Drop everything in there. When you have 5 minutes to spare, go through that folder. It’s kind of like that junk drawer in your kitchen.
Boost your Mac: Widgets put reminders, appointments, birthdays, the weather, top headlines, notes and more right on your desktop. Scroll to the bottom of the Notification Center and click Edit Widgets. Click the add button in the corner of any widget, and drag it around to reorder.