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

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

Whether or not it is saving battery life, integrating your cellphone together 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 daily. They’re fast to search 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 foul behavior of opening too many packages and browser tabs without delay, making my monitor look cluttered on a regular basis. That is why this Home windows 11 function, referred to as Title Bar Window Shake, is so helpful. When you flip it on, you possibly can seize a window and shake it together with your mouse to attenuate all different home windows behind it in your display. So, should you’re attempting to lock in and give attention to one factor, it could possibly clear your desktop in seconds. And if you wish to carry 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. Nevertheless, 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 + House 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 Charge

You’ll be able to solely allow this when you’ve got a laptop computer show with a 120Hz refresh charge or greater

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. A lot of these shows are nice, and visually, they make your expertise smoother and extra responsive. Nevertheless, one of many drawbacks of utilizing a better refresh charge show on Home windows is that it consumes extra energy, thereby impacting battery life.

Fortunately, Microsoft gives a function akin to the iPhone’s ProMotion and Android’s Adaptive Refresh Charge. This function, referred to as Dynamic Refresh Charge (DRR), routinely adjustments your laptop computer’s refresh charge relying in your exercise. Whether or not you are looking, watching movies, or gaming, DRR ensures a better refresh charge for clean visuals. Conversely, when the system is idle or displaying a static picture, DRR lowers the refresh charge to save lots of battery life.

To allow DRR in Home windows 11, your laptop computer show should help 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 Charge to toggle it on.

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The Begin menu in Home windows 11 helps you shortly entry your most-used apps or really helpful information. Nevertheless, by default, it does not embody a function that may make it extra helpful: your file folders.

If you need a quick solution 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 have pinned slightly than file or app suggestions.

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4

Lock in with Focus Mode

Briefly halt notifications for a set interval

If you could 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, it’s also possible to alter the period 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. I like to recommend utilizing Focus Mode from the default Home windows 11 Clock app, because it incorporates a dashboard with a number of helpful choices, together with the flexibility to create duties to your focus classes and hyperlink to Spotify.

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5

Home windows Cellphone Hyperlink

Make cellphone 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 convenient app connects your smartphone to your PC, supporting each Android and iOS gadgets. After organising the Cellphone Hyperlink app in your PC, you possibly can handle your cellphone’s notifications, ship and obtain textual content messages, and deal with calls fully out of your PC.

Moreover, Cellphone Hyperlink makes it straightforward to switch information out of your cellphone to your PC shortly. I typically edit pictures on my PC, and with Cellphone Hyperlink, I can switch them in seconds as an alternative of utilizing a cable or cloud providers like Google Drive. Cellphone 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 cellphone 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

For those who’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 free of charge from the Home windows Retailer. PowerToys provides many further options to Home windows 11, corresponding to the flexibility to preview information with out opening them with Peek or discover any shade in your display with Coloration Picker.

My favourite function is the Command Palette, which provides a search perform much like macOS Highlight. If you could find a file or app in your PC, Command Palette may also help discover it. For extra particulars about PowerToys, try my different Pocket-lint story, the place I discover a few of its most useful features.

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