Hidden Windows features live in the Accessibility menu. We’re talking about the magnifier tool, text size settings, color contrast levels, voice-typing and narration features, caption settings, voice recognition and more. In Windows 10, go to Settings > Ease of Access. In Windows 11, go to Settings > Accessibility. So handy!
7 tips and tricks to make Windows 11 more useful
You may want to check out a few changes in Windows 11. They can help you maintain focus or provide faster ways to get things done. You can even play around with some settings to make the new Windows feel like past versions. We’ll go through some of them to help you get started.
This tip is brought to you by our sponsor, Dell. Read to the end to see how Dell can help you find the right tech to get the job done.
1. Customize quick settings
The notification center in Windows 11 contains quick settings, which gives you easy access to commonly used settings and apps. You can add or remove quick settings to your liking:
- Press Win + A to open quick settings.
- Select the Edit quick settings icon.
- Select the Add button to add a quick setting or press the pin icon on the quick setting you want to remove.
- Select Done.
Third-party developers are adding features to Windows 11. We’ve compiled a list of applications that should interest Windows power users. Tap or click here to check out these five utilities.
2. Focus assist
Focus assist lets you choose which notifications you want to see or hear and when. The ones you don’t choose go to the notification center, where you can view them whenever you want:
- Select Start > Settings > System > Focus assist.
- To see and hear fewer notifications, select either Priority only or Alarms only.
3. Title bar window shake
You can grab a title bar and shake it to minimize all but that one window, helping to improve focus. It comes disabled by default, but you can enable it.
Go to Settings > Multitasking and toggle on Title bar window shake.
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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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Windows 11: 5 best tips, tricks and features to try now
Windows 11 is out and like any updated operating system, it packs some new features and capabilities. It also sports a new look, and like Windows 10, it’s free to upgrade to Windows 11.
Windows 11 launched for newer eligible PCs first. Others may have to wait to get it sometime between now and mid-2022. If you have a Windows 10 PC, you’ll get a notification of when you can upgrade. Want to skip the line? Tap or click here for instructions on how to get Microsoft’s newest OS right now.
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Everybody loves a cool trick. No matter how well we know an app or program, there’s almost always some shortcut we never learned. The same goes for hardware: We may use gadgets every day without knowing their helpful quirks.
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Every once in a while, we will see a new tech trick that astounds us. These can be time savers, efficiency boosters and downright impressive. We guarantee at least one of these will make you say, I. Did. Not. Know. That.