Even seasoned Windows users miss powerful built‑in tools until a single moment of discovery changes how they work—this MakeUseOf roundup highlights eight such features that are easy to overlook but which repay the time spent learning them with measurable productivity gains.
Background
Windows...
Apple’s macOS 26 “Tahoe” and Microsoft’s Windows 11 no longer compete on the same flat plane — Tahoe doubles down on a design‑led, privacy‑first desktop infused with on‑device intelligence, while Windows 11 pushes AI into a broadly compatible, enterprise‑ready platform that still owns gaming and...
ai in os
ai privacy
apple intelligence
apple silicon
copilot
cross-platform workflows
directstorage
dynamic spaces
enterprise it
enterprise management
fluent design
gaming
liquid glass
macos tahoe
on-device ai
parallels desktop 26
privacy
snaplayouts
tpm 2.0
virtualization
windows 11
windows on mac
Windows 11 hides a surprising number of high-impact productivity tools beneath its clean new interface — features that can shave minutes off repetitive tasks, reduce interruptions, and make multi-app workflows feel effortless once you know where to look. This piece walks through the most useful...
Windows 11’s keyboard shortcuts are not just a convenience—they’re the backbone of a faster, less distracted daily workflow for power users and knowledge workers alike, and a recent roundup that distilled “73+” essential combinations crystallizes why learning a compact set of keystrokes pays...
Windows 11’s keyboard shortcuts are the single easiest way to turn everyday tasks into near‑instant actions — and learning them now matters more than ever as Windows 10 approaches its end of support and organizations and consumers prepare to migrate.
Background
Windows 11 ships with a broad set...
alt tab
clipboard history
clipboard-history
emoji panel
emoji-panel
end of support windows 10
keyboard shortcuts
keyboard-shortcuts
migration to windows 11
powertoys
productivity
snaplayoutssnap-layouts
snip tool
taskbar shortcuts
virtual desktops
window management
windows 11
windows key
windows-11
Windows 11 hides a surprising number of productivity tools and convenience shortcuts under its polished surface — features that are easy to miss but powerful once discovered. From window management that finally stops the dragging-and-resizing circus to clipboard vaults that remember what you...
built-in features
clipboard history
desktop workflows
dynamic refresh rate
emoji picker
focus sessions
keyboard shortcuts
multitasking
productivity tools
snaplayouts
snipping tool
virtual desktops
window management
windows 11
xbox game bar
Microsoft has set the long-awaited public rollout of Windows 11 in motion: the OS began its phased public release on October 5, 2021, as a free upgrade for eligible Windows 10 PCs and as the factory-installed operating system on new devices shipping with Windows 11.
Background
Microsoft framed...
amazon appstore
android apps windows
app ecosystem
auto hdr
directstorage
eligibility check
enterprise migration
extended security updates
hardware requirements
microsoft store
pc health check
secure boot
snap groups
snaplayouts
tpm 2.0
widgets
windows 10 end of support
windows 11
windows rollout
windows subsystem for android
KDE Plasma’s window manager added a built-in, FancyZones-like layout editor and snapping workflow long before the same combination of features landed as a first-class, fully integrated experience in Windows — and the comparison exposes both the strengths of modern Linux desktop development and...
Master Window Management: Snap Layouts, FancyZones & Virtual Desktops for Multi-Monitor Workflows
Difficulty: Intermediate | Time Required: 20 minutes
Managing lots of windows across two or more monitors can quickly become chaotic. Using Windows' built‑in Snap features together with Microsoft...
elevated windows
export layouts
fancyzones
keyboard shortcuts
move windows between desktops
multi monitor setup
new desktop
per monitor layouts
powertoys
snap assist
snaplayouts
start at login
task view
taskbar on all displays
virtual desktops
windows 10
windows 11
Apple’s macOS Sequoia finally brings a built‑in window tiling system that mirrors many of the conveniences Windows users have enjoyed for years — a native, simple way to snap windows into side‑by‑side, stacked, three‑panel, or four‑corner layouts without installing third‑party tools. The...
Modern Windows laptops hide a tiny productivity powerhouse under your thumb: the Precision Touchpad and its rich set of gestures — many of which people only discover years into ownership. These gestures let you scroll, zoom, switch apps, show the desktop, and much more without touching a...
Microsoft’s glossy marketing often highlights the big, headline features of Windows 11, but a recent explainer that rounds up “13 features you probably didn’t know about” is a useful reminder: the OS is full of practical, time‑saving tools that rarely make the launch‑pad demo. The original list...
android webcam
clipboard history
focus sessions
link to windows
ocr
phone link
photos app
powertoys
productivity
rollback
snaplayouts
snipping tool
tips
tricks
windows 11
winget
Windows shortcuts aren’t a gimmick—they’re the difference between fumbling through menus and moving at the speed of thought, and ZDNET’s “Master these 48 Windows keyboard shortcuts and finish work early” is a concise reminder that a measured investment in muscle memory returns daily time...
Microsoft’s Windows 11 reveal marked a clear stylistic and strategic pivot: a softer, more mobile‑friendly desktop that folds touch, cloud, and cross‑platform access into the classic PC ecosystem, anchored by a redesigned, centered taskbar and an app store renewed with developer‑friendly...
android on windows
auto hdr
centered taskbar
cross‑platform
directstorage
enterprise migration
fluent design
game pass
hybrid devices
microsoft store
os upgrade
pc gaming
secure boot
snaplayouts
start menu
tpm 2.0
widgets
windows 11
windows on arm
windows subsystem for android
Windows 11 hides a surprising amount of useful functionality behind simple toggles and keyboard combos — the kind of small discoveries that turn a pleasant OS into a genuinely efficient workspace.
Background / Overview
Windows 11’s design refresh brought a centered Taskbar, rounded corners, and...
Windows 11 hides a surprising number of practical, time-saving features behind ordinary keystrokes and system apps — and five of the most useful tricks are deceptively simple to learn. The short list widely shared in recent coverage (keyboard shortcuts, Focus/Focus Sessions, keyboard-driven...
auto punctuation
clipboard history
focus
focus sessions
keyboard navigation
keyboard shortcuts
multi-monitor
os tips
power user
productivity
productivity tips
screenshot
snaplayouts
snipping tool
virtual desktops
voice typing
window management
windows 11
windows 11 tips
windows tips
Windows 11 ships with more productivity horsepower than it gets credit for — and many of the best time-savers are hidden behind simple keystrokes, underused system apps, and quiet defaults you can tweak in minutes. The five features below — essential keyboard shortcuts, Focus Sessions in the...
backup strategies
data recovery
do not disturb
file history
focus sessions
keyboard shortcuts
multitasking
onedrive
privacy settings
productivity
recycle bin
screenshot shortcuts
snaplayouts
snipping tool
speech recognition
ssd trim
voice typing
window management
windows 11
Mastering Windows 11 means more than just knowing your way around the interface; it’s about efficiency, speed, and unlocking the platform’s full potential through keyboard shortcuts. As Microsoft continues to refine its flagship operating system into 2025, certain shortcuts stand out as...
The August 2025 Security Update for Windows 11 marks a major inflection point for the operating system, introducing a suite of eight new features and several subtle—yet consequential—refinements across its interface, AI capabilities, and recovery tools. As Microsoft continues its measured...
ai agent
ai integration
august 2025
black screen of death
click to do
data export
device resilience
gamepad keyboard
microsoft copilot
quick machine recovery
reset features
search settings
security update
snaplayouts
user interface
windows 11
windows privacy
windows productivity
windows recall
windows update
Navigating Windows efficiently is a skill that transforms the user experience from a sluggish, point-and-click routine into a seamless, almost instinctive flow. Power users and IT professionals have long sung the praises of keyboard shortcuts, and for good reason: with the right combinations...
accessibility
accessibility features
ai shortcuts
autohotkey
automation tools
clipboard management
custom shortcuts
efficiency tips
ergonomic computing
file explorer shortcuts
flow state
hybrid input methods
inclusive computing
it professional tips
keyboard automation
keyboard navigation
keyboard shortcuts
microsoft office shortcuts
multitasking
multitasking in windows
office keyboard shortcuts
power automate
power user tools
powertoys
productivity
productivity tips
remote work
repetitive strain injury
shortcut customization
shortcut keys
shortcuts guide
snaplayouts
system navigation
tech efficiency
user productivity
user training
virtual desktops
window management
windows
windows 10
windows 10 tips
windows 11
windows 11 tips
windows command line
windows power users
windows productivity tips
windows shortcuts
windows tips
windows workflow
workflow optimization