Your Productivity Will Explode After Trying These Windows 11 Hacks

Discover hidden Windows 11 features to boost productivity and save time. Learn essential hacks to supercharge your workflow.

Priya Bhadaurja July 23, 2024

0 172 5 minutes read

Your Productivity Will Explode After Trying These Windows 11 Hacks

Are you ready to improve your workday? Try these Windows 11 hacks to change the way you use your computer.

Since the release of Windows 11 more than a year ago, Microsoft has continuously improved it. I used it for a review in 2024 and after a few weeks, my findings were largely favorable.

When Windows 11 launched three years ago, Microsoft introduced new features to make computer work easier:

Task View: Create virtual desktops.
Multitasking: Share your screen.
Focus Sessions: Work more efficiently.
Enhanced Cut-and-Paste: Collect text and images in a powerful library.

Many of these features are easy to miss. This guide gathers best tips to help you work more efficiently in Windows 11.

So goodbye to boring tasks & welcome to a more productive version of yourself!

Productivity Boosts with Windows 11 Hacks

Feature 1: Task View

Use Multiple Desktops

Windows 11’s Task View lets you create virtual desktops. For example, you can have a work desktop with Word and Excel and a leisure desktop with Netflix and Spotify.

How to Use Task View:

Open Task View: Click the icon with two squares at the bottom left of the Taskbar.
Create a New Desktop: You’ll see Desktop 1. Click on “New Desktop” to create Desktop 2.
Switch Desktops: Click on the desktop you want or hover over the Task View icon to see thumbnails and choose.

Customize Your Desktops

You can choose which programs appear on each desktop.

How to Customize:

Open Programs: Open the programs you want to use.
Open Task View: Click the Task View icon.
Move Programs: Right-click on a program at the top. Choose “Show this window on all desktops” or “Move to > Desktop 1.”
Manage Desktops: Right-click on your desktops to rename, move or close them.

Remove the Task View Icon

If you don’t use virtual desktops, you can remove the Task View icon from the Taskbar.

How to Remove:

Right-Click Taskbar: Right-click on the Taskbar.
Open Settings: Select “Taskbar settings.”
Turn Off Task View: Use the slider to switch off Task View.

Feature 2: Multitasking

Split the Screen

If you have a large screen, Multitasking lets you split it to run several programs or folders simultaneously.

How to Split the Screen:

Drag to Edge: Drag an application to the left or right edge of the screen to fill half the screen. Then, choose another app to fill the other half.
Keyboard Shortcut: Press the Windows key + right or left arrow to snap windows. Dragging to a corner will divide the screen into four parts.
Adjust Size: Move the thick line between programs to resize them.

Speed Up Multitasking:

Hover for Options: Hover your mouse over the icon next to the cross at the top right to see screen sharing options. Choose the one that suits you best.

Window Groups

Window Groups let you manage groups of programs or windows together.

How to Use Window Groups:

Create Groups: Split the screen as described above.
Manage Groups: Hover over any icon at the bottom of the Taskbar. Right-click to minimize or close the entire group.

Remove Window Sharing

How to Turn Off Window Sharing:

Open Settings: Go to Settings > System > Multitasking.
Disable Snap Windows: Use the slider next to “Snap windows” to turn off window sharing.
Customize Features: Press the down arrow to disable specific multitasking features.

Feature 3: Clipping

Use Multiple Clipboards

Windows 11 has a smart clipboard history that allows you to access and use multiple clipboards, making cut and paste easier.

How to Use Clipboard History:

Open Clipboard History: Press Windows + V to see a list of your recent clipboards.
Activate the Function: The first time you do this, you’ll need to activate the function.
Select Clipboard: Click on the clipboard you want to paste.

Save Clipboards

You can save frequently used clipboards, like your address or phone number, in the clipboard history.

How to Save Clipboards:

Pin Clipboard: Use the pin icon next to a clipboard to save it.
Unpin Clipboard: Press the pin icon again to stop saving.
Delete Clipboard: Click the three dots next to a clipboard and select the trash icon to delete it.
Clear All: Use the Clear All button to empty the list, except for saved clipboards.

Emoji and Special Characters

The clipboard history also includes shortcuts to emoji symbols, GIF animations, and special characters.

How to Use Emojis and Special Characters:

Open Clipboard History: Press Windows + V to see icons for emoji, GIFs, and special characters.
Shortcut for Emojis: Press Windows + . (dot) to open the emoji menu directly.

Sync Clipboard

You can synchronize your clipboard history between devices or disable the feature if you prefer.

How to Sync or Disable Clipboard:

Open Settings: Go to Settings > System > Clipboard.
Enable/Disable: Use the slider to enable or disable Clipboard history.
Sync Options: Choose whether to synchronize the clipboard history between different devices.

Feature 4: Focus Sessions

Focus Sessions help you work more efficiently by setting a timer for focused work periods with breaks.

How to Use Focus Sessions:

Open Focus Sessions: Go to the Clock app and select Focus Sessions from the menu on the left.
Set Time: Click “Get started,” enter the time you want to focus (e.g., 2 hours), and click “Start the focus session.”
Work: Minimize the Clock app and focus on your tasks. A message and beep will notify you when it’s time to take a break or finish.

Set Daily Goals

You can set daily work goals.

How to Set Goals:

View Progress: Check your daily progress at the top right of the Focus Sessions page.
Set Goal: Click the pencil icon to set a daily goal, like 6 hours of focused work.

Use the To-Do List

Pair Focus Sessions with Microsoft To Do for task management.

How to Use To-Do List:

Find Tasks: Go to the “Tasks” section in Focus Sessions.
Manage Tasks: Click a task to use it in your session. Right-click for more options, like marking it as complete. Use the plus icon to add new tasks.

Add Music

Connect Focus Sessions to Spotify if you want background music.

How to Connect Music:

Install Spotify: Choose “Install Spotify” and follow the instructions.

Explore the Clock App

Windows Clock app has more features than just showing time.

How to Explore:

Open Clock App: You’ll see five tools in the menu on the left:

Timer: A digital timer.
Focus Sessions: Helps you stay on task.
Stopwatch: A digital timer clock.
Alarm: A digital alarm clock.
World Clock: Shows the time in other countries.

Quick Start

Launch Focus Sessions quickly from the Taskbar.

How to Quick Start:

Click Clock Icon: Tap the clock at the bottom right of the screen.
Select Focus: This opens a small window to start your focus session.

Conclusion

Windows 11 has powerful features to make your workday easier and more productive. You can create virtual desktops with Task View, multitask with split screens, and use smart clipboard history for easier cut-and-paste tasks. Focus Sessions help you stay on track and reach your goals. Using these Windows 11 hacks can make your tasks smoother and boost your efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can older versions of Windows be used with these hacks?

Some tips might work on older Windows versions, but Windows 11 has unique features for maximum productivity. Upgrading to Windows 11 is recommended for the best results.

Do these hacks have any system requirements?

Most hacks need a standard Windows 11 installation. Advanced features might need higher system specifications for best performance.

After using these techniques, when can I expect to see results?

Results vary based on individual usage and hacks implemented. Some offer immediate benefits, while others may require workflow adjustments. Consistent use will gradually enhance your efficiency.