PowerToys can feel like a secret power-up for Windows — a compact, official toolbox from Microsoft that fills the small but persistent productivity gaps the OS leaves alone, and in 2026 there’s no better way to tune Windows 11 to your workflow than selectively installing and configuring the...
Rotating a monitor to portrait mode is one of the cheapest, fastest productivity upgrades most Windows users never try — and once you test it, the payoff for certain tasks can be immediate and surprisingly large.
Background / Overview
Switching a monitor from the familiar landscape orientation...
Mastering a compact set of Windows keyboard shortcuts is one of the quickest, lowest‑cost productivity wins available to anyone who uses a PC every day — and a well‑curated cheat sheet that focuses on high‑ROI keystrokes will repay hours of time and mental energy over the course of weeks and...
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Source: Microsoft Support KB5072638: Image Processing AI component update (1.2511.1196.0) for Qualcomm-powered systems - Microsoft Support
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Source: Storyboard18 ASCI’s ‘Commitment Seal’ to signal members’ commitment to building consumer trust
If your PC’s text looks faint, fuzzy, or otherwise off-kilter, spending a couple of minutes running the built‑in ClearType tuner can make a dramatic, immediate difference — and it’s one of the easiest fixes for reducing eye strain on Windows machines.
Background
ClearType is Microsoft's...
I began using Windows 11 in beta in 2021 and, over several major releases, learned a handful of practical, time‑saving adjustments that turned the upgrade from “annoying compatibility shuffle” into a smoother daily driver — and those same five fixes are the heart of Tom’s Guide’s quick primer...
Using Windows Snipping Tool for Fast Annotated Screenshots
Difficulty: Beginner | Time Required: 10 minutes
Windows has a built-in, ready-to-use tool for capturing quick screenshots and marking them up. The Snipping Tool (and its companion Snip & Sketch heritage) makes it easy to grab exactly...
I stopped treating my Windows 11 PC like a personal to-do list and let five small automations do the boring, repetitive work — the result felt like a genuine speed boost in my daily flow.
Overview
Windows 11 is fast when it’s doing the heavy lifting, but it’s the tiny, repeated tasks — opening...
Microsoft is slipping keyboard backlight controls into Windows 11’s Settings app, putting hardware lighting adjustments a few clicks away and folding legacy keyboard options into the modern configuration surface.
Background / Overview
Microsoft’s Settings app has been steadily absorbing features...
Windows 11 quietly packs a toolbox of under-the-radar features that reward a little curiosity — everything from ultra-handy window management to productivity timers, built‑in screen capture, and modern passwordless sign‑in options. Many of these “hidden” tools aren’t new to power users but are...
Windows already does most of what “optimizer” and “cleaner” apps promise — and in many cases it does it more safely.
Background / Overview
For decades a cottage industry of “PC optimizers,” “tune‑up suites,” and “registry cleaners” has promised faster boot times, reduced RAM usage, and a...
Windows users who skimmed last week’s roundup of “48 keyboard shortcuts” got more than a list — they received a practical nudge to stop clicking and start typing their way to faster work. The Technology For You / ZDNet piece collects more than 40 essential Windows 11 key combos and groups them...
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...
Windows 11’s so-called “God Mode” is not a magic key to the operating system’s internals — it’s a pragmatic, little-known shortcut that collects hundreds of Control Panel and administrative tasks into a single folder, and for many power users it has become a daily productivity tool that beats...
admin tools
all tasks
clsid
control panel
explorer
god mode
it admin
master control panel
productivity
registry
settings vs control panel
shell namespace
shortcuts
system utilities
troubleshooting
uac
windows 11
windowstips
Windows 11’s dark mode is supposed to be easy on the eyes — yet for years many users have been greeted with a jarring white flash every time File Explorer opens a new window or tab, turning a momentary UX glitch into a recurring irritation and, for a minority, a genuine health hazard. That flash...
Windhawk turns Windows 11 from a locked-down, opinionated UI into a modular playground you can tailor back toward productivity—and the four modules I reach for first (Classic Context Menu, Classic Navigation Bar, Vertical Taskbar, and Windows 11 Start Menu Styler) are small installs that deliver...
context menu
customization
explorerpatcher
file explorer
mod manager
modular
navigation bar
open source
portrait mode
productivity
start menu styler
start11
taskbar
tweaks
vertical taskbar
windhawk
windows 11
windowstips
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...
accessibility
casual
desktop customization
personalization
productivity
system performance
theme settings
troubleshooting
update
user experience
widgets
windows 11
windows settings
windowstips