Windows sometimes feels like it's lacking advanced features when compared to other operating systems, but the truth is that Windows has a lot of fancy power tools at its disposal.
The problem, however, is that they're often buried in menus or just not immediately obvious—you have to know they're there, or you'll never use them. So, here are a few such features that you'll probably want to start using immediately and wish you'd known about years ago.
A virtual clipboard is a place that stores all the stuff you've recently copied. It's something you've likely seen and used before within your phone's keyboard, but what many don't realize is that Windows has this feature as well, and it's easier to access than you might think.
To access Clipboard History, simply press Windows+V. It's disabled by default, but Windows will ask you if you'd like to enable the feature, which you definitely should.
Alternatively, enable it in Settings > System > Clipboard. There's an option in there to sync Clipboard History across your devices if you wish.
Once it's active, the clipboard will save the 25 most recently copied items. If you have certain templates that you copy and paste from a document all the time, you can pin your most-used ones in the clipboard so they always stay there, even after restarting your PC.
I have several such items, and this trick has saved me hours of needless copy-pasting over the past couple of years.
Have you always wished you had more than one monitor but just didn't have the space for it?
With Virtual Desktops, you can create multiple workspaces on the same monitor, allowing you to seamlessly switch between different layouts on a single machine. In fact, it can be useful for multi-monitor users as well because all connected screens switch to a fresh workspace with Virtual Desktops.
To create a new virtual desktop, press Windows+Ctrl+D, which immediately takes you to the new desktop. You can close it by pressing Windows+Ctrl+F4. And to switch between virtual desktops, simply press Windows+Ctrl+Left Arrow/Right Arrow or, alternatively, hit Windows+Tab and pick between the desktops at the bottom.
This feature is a must-have for multitasking if you've got a lot of different apps open at the same time and want something that feels faster and more organized than just Alt-tabbing between them.
To get the most out of Virtual Desktops, I recommend binding easy-to-use macros to your keyboard or a separate macro pad instead of relying on Windows' native hotkeys. Also, note that, just like the regular desktop, all apps will shut down when you turn off the PC. To keep your layout intact, consider leaving your PC in hibernation instead.
Lots of people who work in Windows find relying on Pomodoro timers helpful for staying focused while also taking care of their mental and physical health. In case you haven't heard of it, it essentially involves working for 25 minutes, followed by taking a short 5-minute break to take a breather, walk, stretch, and get some water.
People who use the Pomodoro Technique often rely on third-party Pomodoro apps on their phone or PC or browser extensions to keep track of time, but you don't actually have to look past Windows' own built-in Clock app.
The Clock app has a Focus session timer set to 25 minutes by default. It also keeps track of your progress, and you can even add tasks to complete for the day.
