This week's top tips

Taming Windows 11 + Task Manager tips  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ​ Windows 11 is a big change from Windows 10 in a lot of ways, and I've been getting quite a few [questions about it](). The new context menu in Windows 11's File Explorer is a common source of complaints. Luckily, if it doesn't work for you, Microsoft left the classic context menu in there as an option. That's great, but it means you have to click twice to open a menu that used to take a single click to open. That doesn't seem very efficient. This week, I'll show you some faster ways of finding that classic menu — and where to find some hidden context menu secrets on Windows 10, too. ⌚ This entire email will take you two minutes to read. Remember: If you'd rather not receive these Monday tip roundups, [you can easily opt out of them](=) without affecting the rest of your subscription. ✅ [Got it — don't show this again](=)​ #top This week's reader suggestion 🖱️ Windows 11's File Explorer has a brand new context menu, but the old Windows 10 context menu is still there if you need it — it just takes an extra click to open it. That's a lot of extra clicks if you use that menu all the time. 💻 This is only necessary on Windows 11, but Windows 10 has a similar hidden trick. ➜ Windows Intelligence reader Simeon B. recently shared how to access the classic context menu in a single click. To get to it quickly, just press and hold the Shift key and before you right-click a file or folder in File Explorer. Done: You'll see the classic Windows 10-style context menu rather than the Windows 11-style context menu. [The Windows 10 context menu on Windows 11.] 🔟 On Windows 10, you can also hold the Shift key while right-clicking a file or folder to find a few extra options, too. For example, if you right-click an EXE file while holding Shift, you'll see a "Run as different user" option in addition to Run as Administrator. It's nothing life-changing, but you will find a few more normally hidden options. 📌 Do you always use the classic menu? [This quick registry hack]() will banish Windows 11's new context menu and make Windows always open the old menu. (I just tested the downloadable registry hack, and it worked for me on the latest version of Windows 11.) ❓ Still, I'm going to defend the new Windows 11 context menu: I know it doesn't have as many options. But it's faster. Programs you install can cause the old context menu to hang and take forever to load. If the new context menu works for you, I recommend sticking with it. I hope Microsoft improves it so it works well for everyone. 🤩 Looking for this week's Android Intelligence reader tip? JR has a great idea for enhancing your calendar with the the power of emoji. [Read it here](=)! 💡 Got an exceptional tip you'd like to share with other Windows enthusiasts? [Submit it here]( — or just reply to this email and share it with me! Your advice may be featured in a future newsletter. --------------------------------------------------------------- Some tips you don't want to miss Now, a rapid-fire summary of the best useful tips from our most recent issues — just in case you overlooked something or haven't explored it yet! ⏸️ Pause the Task Manager: This tip blew my mind. In the Windows Task Manager, just press and hold the Ctrl key to freeze the list and pause it from refreshing. You can then click anything you like. (Bonus tip: Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to quickly open the Task Manager from anywhere!) 🌐 Turn any website into an app: You can turn any website into a Windows app with its own dedicated window and taskbar icon. This works in Chrome, Edge, or any other Chromium-based browser. All it takes is a few quick clicks in your web browser's menu. [Here's how to install any website as an app](). 🖊️ Sign PDFs without extra software: Windows lets you sign a PDF without installing anything extra. No printing, signing, and scanning necessary. To start signing, you'll just need to open a PDF in Microsoft Edge — Google Chrome doesn't have this option. Take a look at [where to find the PDF-signing option in Windows](=). 🐷 Your domain names deserve better: Dealing with a .com-style domain name is typically about as pleasant as dealing with a dentist. But, news flash: It doesn't have to be that way. Enter [Porkbun](=), a trusted, independent domain seller with super-low prices, a no-nonsense interface, and exceptional support — from actual humans! — whenever you need it. And with Google in the midst of selling its Google Domains service to Squarespace, now is the perfect time to move somewhere better. What's more, Porkbun will even give you an [extra dollar off each of the first three domains you move](=) with coupon code EXODUS. [SPONSORED] 📨 Set reminders for any email, anywhere: Ever forget to follow up on something important in your inbox after you've sent it? An especially useful service called [FollowUpThen]() lets you create an on-the-fly reminder that will fly right back to you exactly when you need it. This tool works in any email client, and you don't have to install an app or make an account. [Here's how to take advantage of it](). (It's free, too!) 👉 Summon your secret Android shortcut genie: A clever new app called [Touch the Notch](=) lets you perform all sorts of useful tasks simply by touching, swiping, or holding the otherwise useless camera cutout on your phone's screen. It's an absolutely awesome step-saver, and it's both free to use and perfectly safe for your privacy. (JR has a more detailed look at [how it works and how it might help you](=), if you want to dive deeper.) 🎨 Give your Keep notes some extra pizazz: Google's been thinking about adding text formatting into its Keep note-taking service for ages now, but rather than wait, you can bring varied visuals into your notes this instant with a nifty little website called [Bold Text Generator](). Just type or paste any text into the box on the site, then copy the fancily formatted versions it gives you and paste 'em back into Keep. Easy peasy! 🙌 Check out the Google Pixel Tablet: If you’ve been depriving yourself of the digital heaven that is the [Google Pixel Tablet](, why not end the summer by scoring one of the best Android tablets out there. With an 11-inch screen that is perfect for surfing the web, catching the latest flicks, multitasking (hello, split screen mode!), or cranking out emails from hopefully the beach, the Google Pixel Tablet is a cutting-edge tablet that punches above its weight. Are you still here? [Smash this link to order a new Google Pixel Tablet]( today! [SPONSORED] --------------------------------------------------------------- What did you think? Was this email worth your time? Did you enjoy reading it? [Thumbs Up]( [Thumbs Down]() Hit the thumbs-up or thumbs-down above to let me know what you think. Thanks as always for reading, and I hope you have an awesome week! You received this email because your address was signed up for the Windows Intelligence early preview. If you didn't mean to sign up or no longer wish to be subscribed, you can [unsubscribe or update your preferences here](=).