Trends in Technology

6 Simple Microsoft Tricks that Can Make You More Productive

April 25, 2022 by Brian Covell
Read similar articles in: Business Technology, Cool Technology

It’s no secret that modern employees have a lot on their plates, especially if they’re working in remote or hybrid work environments. Even while working at top speeds, getting things done properly and on time can be incredibly challenging. According to research, nearly 20% of employees work overtime to complete their daily tasks. Moreover, 17% of employees fail to complete daily tasks even after working excessive hours.

If you’re one of these people and looking for ways to boost productivity, you’d be surprised by the number of solutions you have at your disposal, especially if you use Microsoft’s Windows OS and applications. Several Microsoft productivity tricks, tweaks, and tools can transform how you work, play, and communicate. However, many such tricks are often buried deep inside a maze of settings and menu options.

Therefore, in this post, we’ll share six simple Microsoft tricks that can make you more productive at work and improve your overall performance.

6 Great Microsoft Productivity Tricks for Professionals

1. Use GodMode

GodMode is one of Microsoft’s best-kept secrets of the Windows 10 operating system. This feature is nothing but a hidden folder that allows users to quickly customize almost anything without searching for that option in Settings or Control Panel. Simply put, it allows users to access multiple window commands in one single window. On the surface, it looks like a simple or even pointless tool.

However, it can come in pretty handy for IT professionals who depend on their system’s performance for productivity. To activate GodMode, right-click on the Desktop, create a new folder, and rename the folder to “GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}” without the quotes. You should then see a Control Panel-like icon. Click on it to find all your settings under one roof.

2. Use Cortana

Windows 10 and 11 come with Microsoft’s dedicated virtual assistant called Cortana. It can help you perform several tasks, such as setting a reminder, sending personal alerts, searching the internet, locating items on your computer, and finding answers to your questions.

By automating and simplifying task management, you can drastically improve productivity. To activate Cortana, click the Settings Icon and toggle on the option “Let Cortana respond” to “Hey Cortana.”

3. Download Microsoft 365 Across Devices

Microsoft 365 is the world’s most popular productivity suite that allows users to access apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint via the cloud from any location and device. If you’re working remotely, downloading the app on all your devices (office workstation, personal laptop, smartphone, etc.) can help you sync tasks and data in real-time.

This way, you can save valuable time in transferring data through physical storage devices or emails. Depending on your nature of work, you can also perform tasks on the move and stay connected with your workplace and colleagues at all times. Microsoft 365 also includes a feature called “Tell Me,” which helps users find answers to a problem through a simple command instead of a help screen.

4. Use Tablet Mode On Your PC

Windows 10 and 11 operating systems are intelligent enough to adapt their display and feel according to your device. For instance, if you’re using a tablet, you can see a full-screen dynamic interface that works in touch mode. On traditional (non-touch) devices like computers, it appears in its desktop interface.

To boost your productivity, you can enable the tablet mode on your PC to experience the full-screen interface and reap several benefits, such as quicker access to apps due to larger menu tiles and icons and simpler app closure by dragging from the top. Open the Action Center from the Taskbar and click on it to enable Tablet Mode.

5. Use Mouse to Hover Over Inactive Windows

In multitasking work environments, employees usually have multiple apps opened side by side wherein they complete their tasks on one and look up information on the other. For instance, writers usually switch between Google Chrome and Microsoft Word when working on blog posts.

In situations like these, you can use Microsoft’s “Scroll Inactive Windows” feature to view inactive apps without clicking on them. To use this feature, open Settings and click on Devices. Next, click on Mouse & Touchpad and toggle on the option “Scroll Inactive Windows when I hover over them.”

6. Use Snap for Multi-Tasking

Snap is one of the best multitasking features in Windows 10 and 11 that allows users to take full advantage of their screens on any device. Simply put, it offers a smart alternative to juggling between multiple apps and lets users access up to four different apps simultaneously in different quadrants.

Whether you’re looking to compare information or copy data from one app to another, this feature can make a huge difference to your productivity. You can also snap open two, three, or four applications using the following keyboard shortcuts:

• Windows Command + Left = Snaps app to the left half
• Windows Command + Right = Snaps app to the right half
• Windows Command + Left + Up = Snaps app to the top-left edge
• Windows Command + Right + Up = Snaps app to the top-right edge
• Windows Command + Left + Down = Snaps app to the bottom-left edge
• Windows Command + Right + Down = Snaps app to the bottom-right edge

Conclusion

And there you have it – 6 simple yet highly effective Microsoft productivity tricks you can use to get things done faster and better. Of course, you can use many other tweaks and tools to boost productivity. However, we believe users can quickly shake up their work routines using the methods in our list as they don’t require making any drastic changes or employing any productivity apps.

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