6 underrated Home windows 11 options I discovered that make my PC so significantly better

I have been utilizing Windows 11 day-after-day on each my laptop computer and desktop for over 4 years, and I nonetheless discover new features and tools to discover nearly every day. Though Home windows 11 presents many various options and settings that may be fairly helpful, not all of them are instantly apparent, and typically it’s a must to dig by way of the settings menu to seek out them.

Whether or not it is saving battery life, integrating your telephone along with your PC, or staying on process with Focus Mode, listed below are six underrated Home windows 11 options that may transform how you use your PC day-after-day. They’re fast to seek out and allow, and when you’re utilizing them, you may want you had discovered them sooner.

1

Title bar window shake

Clear your desktop in seconds

I’ve a nasty behavior of opening too many applications and browser tabs directly, making my monitor look cluttered on a regular basis. That is why this Home windows 11 function, known as Title Bar Window Shake, is so helpful. When you flip it on, you possibly can seize a window and shake it along with your mouse to reduce all different home windows behind it in your display screen. So, in case you’re attempting to lock in and give attention to one factor, it might clear your desktop in seconds. And if you wish to deliver every little thing again, simply shake the window once more.

This function is not new to Home windows 11 and was first launched with Home windows 7. Nonetheless, with Home windows 11, it is not enabled by default. To make use of it your self, simply go to Settings > System > Multitasking > Title bar window shake and toggle it on. Alternatively, you possibly can press the Home windows Key + Dwelling to get the identical impact, however I discover shaking my energetic window to be extra enjoyable.

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2

Save battery with Dynamic Refresh Fee

You may solely allow this you probably have a laptop computer show with a 120Hz refresh charge or larger

Many Home windows laptops these days include excessive refresh charge shows. For instance, the Asus gaming laptop I am utilizing helps a refresh charge of as much as 180Hz. These kinds of shows are nice, and visually, they make your expertise smoother and extra responsive. Nonetheless, one of many drawbacks of utilizing the next refresh charge show on Home windows is that it consumes extra energy, thereby impacting battery life.

Fortunately, Microsoft offers a function akin to the iPhone’s ProMotion and Android’s Adaptive Refresh Fee. This function, known as Dynamic Refresh Fee (DRR), robotically modifications your laptop computer’s refresh charge relying in your exercise. Whether or not you are shopping, watching movies, or gaming, DRR ensures the next refresh charge for easy visuals. Conversely, when the gadget is idle or exhibiting a static picture, DRR lowers the refresh charge to avoid wasting battery life.

To allow DRR in Home windows 11, your laptop computer show should assist a refresh charge of as much as 120Hz and VRR. You’ll find this function underneath Settings > System > Show > Superior Show > Select refresh charge > Dynamic Refresh Fee to toggle it on.

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The Begin menu in Home windows 11 helps you rapidly entry your most-used apps or really helpful recordsdata. Nonetheless, by default, it would not embody a function that might make it extra helpful: your file folders.

In order for you a quick option to entry your Paperwork, Downloads, or Photos, you possibly can add shortcuts for them on to the Begin menu, permitting you to open them in seconds each time wanted. These shortcuts seem to the left of the Energy choices when you add them.

So as to add your folders to the Begin menu, go to Settings > Personalization > Begin > Folders. You may see 9 choices you possibly can add, together with: Settings, File Explorer, Paperwork, Downloads, Music, Photos, Movies, Community, and Private Folder. Sadly, you possibly can’t add a customized folder shortcut to the Begin menu’s Folders, however hopefully, Microsoft will add this function sooner or later. Moreover, underneath Personalization > Begin, I like to recommend adjusting the structure of your Begin menu to show extra Pins, permitting you to view extra of the apps you’ve got pinned somewhat than file or app suggestions.

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4

Lock in with Focus Mode

Briefly halt notifications for a set interval

If it’s good to escape from all of the distractions round you and get some work performed, Home windows 11’s Focus Mode is ideal for that. By beginning a Focus Session, your PC will enter Do Not Disturb Mode, that means you will not obtain any notifications, hear any sounds, or see any alerts in your PC. That is all designed that can assist you keep centered and keep away from distractions.

If you wish to begin a Focus Session, you possibly can go to Settings > System > Focus and choose Begin Focus Session. On the identical display screen, you can even regulate the length of your Focus Classes. Alternatively, you can begin a Focus Session from the Clock app or by deciding on Focus within the Calendar, situated on the backside proper of your display screen. I like to recommend utilizing Focus Mode from the default Home windows 11 Clock app, because it encompasses a dashboard with a number of helpful choices, together with the power to create duties on your focus periods and hyperlink to Spotify.

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5

Home windows Telephone Hyperlink

Make telephone calls and ship texts out of your PC

I began utilizing Windows Phone Link only a month in the past and remorse not attempting it earlier. This handy app connects your smartphone to your PC, supporting each Android and iOS gadgets. After establishing the Telephone Hyperlink app in your PC, you possibly can handle your telephone’s notifications, ship and obtain textual content messages, and deal with calls fully out of your PC.

Moreover, Telephone Hyperlink makes it straightforward to switch recordsdata out of your telephone to your PC rapidly. I typically edit pictures on my PC, and with Telephone Hyperlink, I can switch them in seconds as a substitute of utilizing a cable or cloud providers like Google Drive. Telephone Hyperlink is included with Home windows 11, so it is pre-installed in your PC. Simply obtain the Hyperlink to Home windows app in your telephone from the App Store or Google Play Store to get began.

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6

Unlock extra Home windows 11 options with PowerToys

It is free and formally from Microsoft

In the event you’ve by no means tried Microsoft PowerToys earlier than, I extremely suggest giving it a shot. It isn’t included by default on Home windows 11, however you possibly can obtain it without cost from the Home windows Retailer. PowerToys provides many additional options to Home windows 11, comparable to the power to preview recordsdata with out opening them with Peek or discover any shade in your display screen with Coloration Picker.

My favourite function is the Command Palette, which provides a search operate just like macOS Highlight. If it’s good to find a file or app in your PC, Command Palette can assist discover it. For extra particulars about PowerToys, take a look at my different Pocket-lint story, the place I discover a few of its most useful features.

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