📺 Smart TVs and your PC: A Montreal woman experienced issues with her Windows PC like vanishing taskbars and unresponsive display settings. The culprit? Her Hisense 50Q8G TV was overloading the “Device Association Framework.” Have the same TV? Take it off your PC’s network. Or get yourself a nice Samsung.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Get off my PC: The latest Windows 11 update crams ads for apps into the “recommended” section of the Start Menu. Yes, it’s on by default. I’ve got the fix: Go into Settings and select Personalization > Start. Then, toggle off “Show recommendations for tips, app promotions and more.”
Hidden Windows features live in the Accessibility menu. We’re talking about the magnifier tool, text size settings, color contrast levels, voice-typing and narration features, caption settings, voice recognition and more. In Windows 10, go to Settings > Ease of Access. In Windows 11, go to Settings > Accessibility. So handy!
So long, farewell: Anyone who upgraded to Windows 11 on an old PC that technically doesn’t meet the latest operating system requirements is out of luck. Folks are reporting their tech dinos are stuck in a reboot loop. If you’re in the market, our IT genius, John, recommends this solid PC for under $650 that’ll last for years. If you edit video or need more power, here’s his pick for well under $1,000.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Microsoft will start nagging you to sign up for an online account. While it’s handy for backing up data and managing subscriptions, remember — you’re also letting them peek at your data. Switch off the prompts by going to Settings > Privacy & security > General and deselecting everything.
Get a little space: Virtual desktops on Windows let you keep work, play, vacation planning and whatever else separate. Hit the Windows key + Ctrl + D to create a new virtual desktop. Use the Windows key + Ctrl + the left or right arrows to move between your desktops. When you’re done, hit the Windows key + Ctrl + F4 to close your current virtual desktop.
Windows key + . (period) or Windows key + ; (semicolon): This opens the Emoji Panel, allowing you to insert emojis into any text field.
Don’t just hold down the power button: There’s a better way to reboot your grumpy PC that shuts down all the background processes. Before you click to restart, hold down the Shift key. Keep holding until the machine powers up, then click Continue.
If you got a blue screen when you tried to upgrade to Windows 11, good news — you can finally update. After two years of complaints, Microsoft removed the “compatibility hold” that kept Windows 10 users with Intel Smart Sound Technology audio drivers and Intel 11th-Gen Core processors from getting Windows 11. First, update your drivers under Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > Check for updates. You should see the Windows 11 upgrade within 48 hours after updating.
Window(s) blinds: Windows 11 allows you to redact text in your screenshots in a snap. Take a screenshot using the Snipping Tool, click the Text Actions button, and then Quick Redact sensitive info, like email addresses. It’s faster than using Paint!
Microsoft excels at stuffing ads into Windows 11: Look for them in the Start menu and lock screen once testing is over. Don’t want to see them? Turn off ads under Settings > Personalization. During the last quarter of 2023, Microsoft’s net income was $21.87 billion, up from $16.43 billion during the same time in 2022. Yup, they need the money.
Pair your smartphone via Bluetooth to your PC: Be sure to enable Dynamic Lock in Windows under Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Your PC will automatically lock itself if your phone moves out of Bluetooth range, increasing security when you step away. Nice one!
PC power-user tip: You can use the Windows key + arrows to move a window. Windows key + → moves a window to the right, ← moves it to the left, ↑ moves it up or expands the window, and ↓ minimizes or moves down your window.
🖥️ Take your Windows PC to the next level: Microsoft PowerToys is a free toolkit that makes Windows 10 and 11 less cluttered. Some tools? Personalized window layouts, mass file renaming and a way to find your lost cursor.
Windows winddown: Open your Windows Settings, then choose System and Display. You’ll come across a Night light feature. Turn this on, and you’ll get warmer screen colors in the evening — better for sleep!
Microsoft Quick Assist: Bet you don’t know it’s built into Windows 10 and 11. It makes it easy to share your screen with someone remotely. No install needed (love that), in case you ever need to help someone — or get help from someone — on your PC. Instructions here!
Snip it: I take screenshots on my computer, well, every day. On Windows, press the Windows key + Shift + s. On a Mac, hit Cmd + Shift + 4 and you’ll get a handy little box you can adjust to snap a pic of whatever’s inside its borders.
Now you see it, now you don’t: Give your apps and webpages a little more elbow room by hiding the Windows taskbar. You can set it to auto-hide by right-clicking on it and selecting Taskbar settings > Taskbar behaviors > Automatically hide the taskbar.
Add an emoji faster with a Windows keyboard shortcut. Just hold down the Windows key + . (period) and voila! 👏
