Windows 13 New Functions and Tricks 2021 Windows 13 is full of surprises, even for the most seasoned users. The Microsoft operating system releases in 2020 contains many more or less hidden features, often unknown to users, but which once tamed, greatly facilitate its daily use.
From trackpad gestures to keyboard shortcuts, through window management or activation of the clipboard history, we have selected some twenty hidden functions for you to help you better use Windows 10.
Table of Contents
Windows 13 Hidden Functions 2021
1. Access an advanced Start menu
You no doubt know the classic Start menu, but do you know the advanced Start menu?
With a simple right click on the Start menu button , it is possible to access certain advanced options without having to navigate through endless menus: System settings, task manager, device manager, many menus related to System, etc.
2. Minimize all windows except the active window
Few people know, but Windows offers many possibilities for managing the display of windows. It is possible, for example, to minimize all open windows except the active window, in a rather singular way.
Keep clicking on the title bar of the window you want to keep, and shake it. All other windows should automatically be minimized in the taskbar.
3. Quick access to the office
In the same way, it is possible to quickly display the desktop in several ways. The first, using the Windows + D keyboard shortcut .
The second by clicking on the thin line displayed at the far right of the taskbar, just next to the time and the notification counter. One click displays the desktop, a second click displays all your windows again.
It is also possible to display a quick overview of the desktop by hovering over this thin line.
To activate this option, open Windows 13 Settings , and go to Personalization then in Taskbar to activate the Use Aero Peek function to preview the Desktop
4. Use the trackpad gestures
Mac users are used to using gestures on their trackpad to perform certain operations (zoom, rotate content, etc.), or display certain elements of the system (desktop, open windows, etc.).
The same is also possible on Windows:
- pinch two fingers on the trackpad to zoom in / out on the content
- swipe two fingers to scroll through the content of the pages.
- swipe up three fingers to display all windows
- slide three fingers to the right or left to switch between applications (as with the Alt + Tab shortcut)
- swipe down three fingers to view the desktop
- tap with three fingers to display the Windows search engine
- tap four fingers to open the notifications area.
5. Automatically resize your windows on half the screen
If you are one of the users who likes the order of the window display, you can display two windows side by side on each half of the screen very easily.
Click on the top bar of a window, and bring the mouse pointer to the right or left edge of the screen.
The window should automatically stick to the side of the screen where you brought it and resize to take up half of the display. Then you just have to select the second window that you want to keep active so that it comes to settle in the remaining space.
6. Quickly open a new application window
It is possible to quickly open a new window of an application (file explorer, web browser, word processor, etc.) by simply clicking the mouse button on the application icon displayed in the task bar.
7. Activate background scrolling
Do you happen to try to scroll through content with the mouse wheel, on a window displayed in the background without succeeding? It can be remedied very easily.
Open Windows Settings , go to Devices , then in the section dedicated to the Mouse , activate the option Scroll through inactive windows when I point them with my mouse .
Thus, to scroll the content of a page displayed on an inactive window, you will only have to roll over the window with the mouse pointer, and use the wheel as usual to scroll the content.
8. Customize the Windows theme
The most seasoned users are undoubtedly already aware, but Windows offers two different themes for its interface: a clear theme and a dark theme, the famous “Dark Mode” which has been very successful in recent times.
To customize the theme of your Windows, open the Settings , then in Personalization , enter the Color menu , and pull down the Choose your color menu .
You can opt for the light theme, the dark theme, or choose custom settings to, for example, use a Light Windows mode, while keeping a Dark application mode.
9. Rotate screen orientation
Need to display a long page or a portrait image on your screen? Start by physically rotating your screen. To reorient the display correctly, no need to go to the parameters, simply use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Alt + D + arrow according to the desired orientation.
10. Use the Concentration Assistant
If your level of concentration drops at the slightest distraction, perhaps it is better to configure the Concentration Wizard in Windows 10. Thanks to it, all the notifications that you usually receive on your machine will be silenced.
To find it, go to Settings , then from the System menu , enter Concentration wizard .
You can then choose to hide certain notifications, but also activate the option during a defined time slot, or when you use your computer for a specific task (screen duplication, games, etc.).
11. Easily find an application
Rather than clicking on the Start menu to scroll through the programs installed on your machine in alphabetical order to open the correct application, enter the first letters of its name in the search field displayed in the taskbar. The application you are looking for should automatically appear at the top of the list.
12. Limit background applications
To limit the use of your laptop’s battery, but also to save some mobile data if you work in connection sharing, it is possible to prevent certain applications from running in the background.
To do this, open Settings , enter the Privacy menu , scroll through the options displayed in the side column and access the Applications menu in the background .
You will only have to deactivate the apps that you do not want to allow to run without you opening them.
13. “Print” PDF documents
What is the best way to share a document than to freeze it within a PDF file. Windows 10 includes in its print settings, an option to generate a PDF file.
Open the print module from a document using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + P , then from the drop-down menu to choose the printer to use, select Microsoft Print to PDF .
Then click on the Print button . In the dialog box that opens, enter the name of your document, select a backup directory and validate by clicking on Save .
14. Make the most of keyboard shortcuts
Most Windows users know basic keyboard shortcuts, which allow them, for example, to copy and paste an element (Ctrl + C / Ctrl + V), or even to save a file (Ctrl + S).
Memorizing dozens of keyboard shortcuts by heart may seem tedious, but knowing the keyboard shortcuts you need for Windows 10 can save you precious time every day.
15. Activate voice dictation
Entering text on the keyboard is a real pain for some. But there is a much faster way to enter text in Windows 10: voice dictation.
Go to Settings , then in the Confidentiality section, access the Voice menu to activate online voice recognition. Then simply use the Windows + H keyboard shortcut from a program where you must enter text to trigger voice dictation.
16. Use clipboard history
However, the module is disabled by default. Once configured, it allows you to store in memory several elements that you copy using the shortcut Ctrl + C (text, photos, etc.), access to the history of elements copied then being done with the Windows shortcut + V .
17. Display the Emoji and Kaomoji window
If you are the type to brighten up your conversations with smileys and other emojis, know that this is not only reserved for mobiles. Windows 10 has a library of emoji and other kaomoji that you can use to illustrate your emails or conversations in your instant messenger.
To access it, use the Windows + shortcut ; .
18. Declutter the disk of your PC
As on iOS and Android, Windows 10 integrates a module allowing to quickly visualize the distribution of the occupation of the hard disk.
Open the Settings then in System , enter the Storage menu .
You can also take advantage of this to activate the Storage Assistant, which will take care from time to time to automatically delete files that you no longer need, such as items in the trash or temporary files.
19. Use the built-in screenshot tool
No, you do not need to paste a screenshot into Paint to save it. Windows 10 includes a screen capture tool capable of saving screenshots directly to your hard drive. Disabled by default, you have to go to Windows Settings to configure it .
Another solution for those in a hurry, use the Windows keyboard shortcut + ImpEcr which will take a complete screenshot of the screen and save the image in a directory called Screenshots in the Windows Pictures folder .
20. Activate God Mode
For slightly advanced Windows 10 users, it is possible to activate a “God Mode” which groups together in a single window, a large number of advanced Windows 10 parameters.