Even if you happen to’ve been utilizing Windows for many years, it’s so sprawling and complicated that there is perhaps really useful, but extra obscure options that may nonetheless shock you. We’ve tracked down ten little-known Windows options which may simply enhance your effectivity, your consolation, or presumably even your enjoyable whereas utilizing your PC. 

All of them ought to work on each Windows 10 and 11 alike, and every solely takes a couple of seconds to check out. Here we go, in no specific order: 

If you’re seeking to go even additional down this rabbit gap, try our roundup of 10 truly helpful Windows tools you might not know about, how to tune Windows for laser-focused productivity, and how to fix Windows 11’s worst annoyances. Meanwhile, if you happen to’re on Windows 11, a giant new annual replace simply landed in your PC. Here are the 5 features you’ll want to check out first.

Mouse hover window activation

Michael Crider/IDG

Whenever I take advantage of a brand new PC, that is the very first characteristic I allow. Technically it’s a part of the accessibility instruments, however many customers may discover it helpful it doesn’t matter what their degree of mobility. This setting permits you to activate a window just by shifting your mouse cursor over it, as a substitute of requiring an additional click on earlier than interacting with this system. It’s a tiny change, however one which makes an enormous distinction, particularly on a laptop computer trackpad. 

To change this setting, go to Control Panel, then click on the Ease of Access Center. Click “Make the mouse easier to use.” Under “Make it easier to manage windows,” choose “Activate a window by hovering over it with the mouse.” Click Okay to allow the setting. 

Easy window association 

Michael Crider/IDG

With newer variations of Windows, it’s simple to maneuver home windows (sorry) round your display screen. Hold down the Windows key in your keyboard, then press the arrow keys. Pressing left or proper will immediately transfer the window to the corresponding half of the display screen. Pressing up or down will alternate between halving the window within the higher or decrease portion of the display screen, maximizing it, or minimizing it to the toolbar. 

These shortcuts even work throughout a number of screens. It’s an effective way to rapidly organize your home windows throughout screens and screens with minimal effort. 

Quick taskbar launching 

Michael Crider/IDG

If you wish to rapidly handle home windows, you in all probability pin your most-used applications and instruments to the taskbar. If you wish to get at them even quicker, merely maintain down the Windows button and press the quantity in your keyboard that corresponds to their spot on the taskbar. On mine, opening Chrome is Win + 1, opening Photoshop is Win + 5, et cetera. 

Rearrange your system tray 

Michael Crider/IDG

Speaking of the taskbar, the system tray (the little mini-icons on the correct facet) can usually get crowded if you happen to’re utilizing lots of software program. That’s doubly true if you happen to run lots of applications at startup. But if it’s cluttered, you don’t must preserve it that manner. Click and drag any of the icons round to re-arrange them. You can put them within the drop-down menu to cover them (simply click on the arrow to point out them once more), or set them to the correct to make them completely seen. 

Night mild 

Michael Crider/IDG

Those of us who’ve less-than-healthy computing habits have a tendency to make use of our PCs late into the night. You ought to in all probability lower it out, but when not, utilizing the built-in evening mild characteristic couldn’t harm. Simply search the Start menu for “Night light” to search out the setting that may dim your laptop’s display screen and decrease its blue mild output. Once it’s arrange, you may toggle this anytime within the fast settings menu (Win + A) or have it activate and off mechanically at particular occasions of the night and morning. 

Instantly carry up the Task Manager

Michael Crider/IDG

This is an outdated trick, however with the expanded features of the Task Manager in Windows 10 and 11, it’s change into extra helpful. From any display screen in any program, press Ctrl+Shift+Escape to open the Task Manager. From right here you may manually shut applications, rapidly entry the Run command, or click on the Startup tab to trace down applications which are sneakily beginning with Windows. 

Screenshot tips 

Michael Crider/IDG

If you haven’t achieved so but, you actually need to start out utilizing the official (however obscure) Windows Snipping Tool, which expands the working system’s reasonably fundamental screenshot device (tied to the Print Screen button) with all types of latest goodies. Press Win + Shift + S concurrently to see choices to immediately screenshot your total workspace, only one window, or a freeform choice drawn together with your mouse. Your screenshot is then copied and able to be pasted into an internet type or picture editor. 

In a rush? You can nonetheless entry the outdated screenshot performance (which saves a full picture file in your Pictures>Screenshots folder) by urgent Win + Print Screen. Alternately, you may copy the total screenshot as a substitute with Ctrl + Print Screen, or copy a number of simply your at present energetic program with Alt + Print Screen. 

Search by most lately put in applications

Michael Crider/IDG

One of the smallest adjustments in Windows that I’ve gotten probably the most use out of is that this tweak to the way in which you search by applications for uninstallation. It makes it simple to search out the newest program you put in, and do away with it if you wish to. Press the Windows key, seek for “Add or remove programs,” and click on it to open the Settings menu. You’ll be offered with a listing of each program put in in your laptop. 

In earlier variations of Windows, you’d must hunt by this lengthy listing alphabetically. Now you may seek for it, however what if it’s not listed beneath the identical identify? Just click on “Name,” then “Install date.” The listing is now in reverse chronological order, displaying your most recently-installed applications. Click the three-dot menu on the correct to do away with any entry. Super simple! 

Quickly connect with new screens 

Michael Crider/IDG

Most of the time Windows will mechanically allow a brand new monitor or display screen while you plug it in. But if it doesn’t, there’s a fast option to modify your show setup. Just press Win + P to open the “Project” menu. From this pop-out you may choose Duplicate (mirror your main display screen to your secondary), Extend (use a couple of display screen directly), or Second display screen solely (useful for utilizing only a monitor and never your laptop computer display screen). 

This menu is nice if you happen to’re utilizing a multi-monitor setup and also you wish to rapidly disable secondary screens, comparable to for watching a film or enjoying a recreation, then allow them once more while you’re achieved with out diving into menus. 

Adjust textual content and aspect sizes 

Michael Crider/IDG

You in all probability know you can modify the scale of what you see in Windows by altering your decision. But in contrast to the times of CRTs, your laptop computer display screen or monitor has a really particular decision it’s meant to run at. Changing that worth isn’t an amazing thought; it may end up in a stretched or pixelated picture, and video gained’t look its finest. 

Instead of adjusting the decision, go to Display Settings, scroll down a bit, and alter the Scale setting. This could make textual content and pictures look greater or smaller in your display screen with out altering the decision of the picture itself. Pre-set values are available 25 p.c increments, however you may set a customized worth if you happen to desire (with a system reset). There’s additionally an choice that may modify simply the textual content measurement. 

Many applications include their very own scaling and textual content settings, particularly text-heavy apps like browsers and textual content editors. Tweak them to your liking to search out probably the most snug mixture. 

Quickly modify icon sizes in Explorer 

Michael Crider/IDG

If you want to see icons higher in an Explorer window particularly, do this fast trick. Hold down the Ctrl button and scroll your mouse wheel up and down. Thumbnail photographs will get greater or smaller in response. Scroll far sufficient and the view will really change from thumbnails to lists with mini-icons. This works even on the Windows desktop, with no Explorer window in use. 

Explorer isn’t the one program to make use of the Ctrl+mouse wheel shortcut to vary the view. Browsers, electronic mail purchasers, picture editors, and textual content editors usually use it to zoom in or out or rapidly change textual content scaling. It’s a standard device value studying.

That nearly does it for this roundup of suggestions and tips! Once once more, if you happen to’re seeking to go even additional down this rabbit gap, try our roundup of 10 truly helpful Windows tools you might not know about, how to tune Windows for laser-focused productivity, and how to fix Windows 11’s worst annoyances.