10 Life Hacks Every Experienced Windows User Should Know
For many students and working people, Windows is simply the default way to use a computer. All applications run as expected, all Microsoft Office documents sync seamlessly, and you can play all your games. But if you look behind the scenes, Windows can be much more than that. Experienced users can take advantage of hidden features and utilities from Microsoft and third-party developers to not only speed up their workflow but also improve productivity and eliminate some of the most annoying issues that plague a Windows PC.
Control everything with the command palette.
For decades, Mac users have boasted about Spotlight search, while Windows never offered a true alternative. Windows search is fast, but it never came close to replicating Spotlight’s full capabilities, especially after the latest macOS Tahoe update . Finally, after years of anticipation, Microsoft has introduced its own keyboard for launching apps, called Command Palette.
However, this feature isn’t available by default. To access it, you’ll need to install PowerToys , a suite of handy utilities from Microsoft. After launching PowerToys, find the Command Palette app in the sidebar and enable it. You can then access it using the standard keyboard shortcut: Windows + Alt + Space (you can customize it).
Once configured, you can use the Command Palette to launch apps, search for files, open folders, switch between apps, open bookmarked websites or folders, and search the web. You can even run Terminal commands from here, as well as use extensions to add additional functionality. Here’s a detailed guide to the Command Palette to help you get started .
Replace File Explorer with something much better.
File Explorer in Windows 11 is a nightmare. It’s slower than in Windows 10 and harder to navigate. If this annoys you as much as it does me, try installing the Files app . It costs $8 in the Microsoft Store, but you can download it for free from the developer’s website .
The Files app has a beautiful design and supports color themes. The interface is simple, with a convenient sidebar, tabs, a two-pane view, and a really nice dark mode. There’s also a column view, similar to macOS, and the ability to preview files without opening them.
Replace the Windows 11 taskbar and start menu.
The Windows 11 update radically changed the taskbar and Start menu. If you don’t like the new updates, there’s a way to revert to the old design. You can install the free ExplorerPatcher app to return to the Windows 10 taskbar with full app names, as well as the old Start menu. If you only want to change the existing Start menu (I hear you), try the Start 11 app , which costs $9.99 for a single license and a year of updates. Start11 is an incredibly customizable Start menu replacement, allowing you to customize everything from placement, icon spacing, color, size, and more. You can even revert to the Windows 10-style design, but with the look of the Windows 11 icons.
Transform the look of Windows 11 with Seelen UI.
If you’ve switched from Mac to Windows and miss the Mac Dock and menu bar, you can get them on Windows using the free , open-source app Seelen UI . This app uses web technologies to add a menu bar and floating Dock to your screen. It also hides the Windows taskbar by default.
Seelen is fully customizable with community themes and plugins. You can choose the taskbar’s position and make it transparent if desired (something not available in Windows 11). You can add community themes to completely change the appearance and functionality. You can also add more features with plugins.
Restore dark mode functionality.
Dark mode in Windows is extremely limited, especially compared to macOS. An experienced user might prefer to spend most of their time in dark mode or want it to switch automatically at nightfall. By default, Windows doesn’t offer these features. To enable or disable dark mode, you need to delve deep into the settings, and that’s it.
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Microsoft offers a Light Switch utility from its PowerToys suite that can solve some of these issues. With Light Switch, you can automatically turn on dark theme at sunset or on a custom schedule. It also provides a global shortcut to instantly enable dark theme.
Check out the new Snap layout features.
Snap to Screen is a powerful, hidden feature in Windows 11 that few people use. You may be accustomed to dragging the left edge of a window to snap it to the left half of the screen. This is just one part of the Snap to Screen feature. The next time you want to arrange windows on your screen, drag a window to the top edge, and you’ll see a new preview of all the possible arrangements. You can easily split a large monitor screen into three or four windows without much effort. You can also access this feature by hovering over the “Maximize” button, or use the Windows key + Z keyboard shortcut to bring up the Snap to Screen menu.
Install and manage apps without thousands of clicks.
Installing apps on Windows can sometimes be a real nightmare. You have to navigate through dozens of installation wizards, some of which haven’t been updated since Windows XP. Like Linux and macOS, Windows also has a hidden package manager called Winget , a repository of apps you can download with a single command. Yes, it requires opening the Terminal, but it’s not that difficult. Let’s say you want to install Chrome: you type this in the Terminal, and in a couple of seconds, the Chrome browser will be installed and ready to use without a single click.
winget install Google.Chrome
Don’t like using the command line? Then a graphical application is for you. With UniGetUI, you can find all applications or packages listed in the Windows Package Manager and download them with one click. There’s also an option to update all WinGet applications with one click.
View your clipboard history.
Windows has a built-in clipboard manager that’s definitely worth using. Press Windows + V to open the clipboard history (you’ll need to enable this feature the first time you use it). Now, every time you copy something in Windows, it’ll be saved to this list. You can return to the clipboard manager at any time to copy one or more items from this list. You can even pin something to the top of the list or quickly clear the entire history. If you need something more, try Ditto. It lets you customize the number of items saved to the clipboard at a time and has a built-in quick search feature.
Use concentration sessions to better focus on your tasks.
The Clock app has a feature called “Focus Session,” which is essentially a built-in Pomodoro timer with features to help you avoid distractions. You can start a Focus Timer for, say, 30 minutes, and during that time, Windows will stop all unnecessary notifications and app alerts so you can focus on your task. After a longer session, you’ll also be prompted to take a break.
Create your own custom shortcuts for anything.
Experienced users rely on keyboard shortcuts not only to speed up work but also to reduce mental strain. Once you develop muscle memory, using keyboard shortcuts to perform frequently used tasks will make your work significantly easier (especially compared to searching for mouse buttons). When you first start using an app, spend some time learning the keyboard shortcuts for the most frequently used actions, such as archiving emails, exporting documents, and so on.
But things get interesting when you start remapping keys and shortcuts using the Keyboard Manager utility in PowerToys. To get started, click the “Remap Key” button. Now you can remap any unused key, such as Caps Lock or the Copilot key, to anything else (for example, a shortcut for opening the Command palette). Or you can remap the Copy shortcut from Control + C to Windows + C. Time to get creative!