MakeUseOf - Windows 11

Microsoft's Phone Link App: What Is It and How Do You Use It?

Jason Currie — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 14:30:20 GMT

The days of complicated apps to mirror your mobile with Windows are behind us. With Microsoft's Phone Link, you can easily connect an Android or iOS device to Windows 11 or 10 and efficiently manage photos, reply to texts, and much more. But what is the Phone Link app, and what can it do for you?

How to Test Your Webcam and Microphone Before a Meeting (Windows)

Shan Abdul — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 16:00:20 GMT

Testing your microphone and webcam before an online meeting can help you identify potential issues before they become a waste of time or embarrassing. Here's how to check whether your microphone and webcam are configured and functioning correctly in Windows 11.

How to Cascade All Open Windows in Windows 11 and 10

Razvan Mihaila — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 16:30:22 GMT

Navigating through too many open windows on your PC? One of the easiest ways to sort them out is to have Windows cascade them for you. You can use this feature on Windows 10. But does the function still work on Windows 11, or is there an alternative?

What Is the "$Windows.~BT" Folder, and Can You Delete It?

Pankil Shah — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 17:31:19 GMT

Deleting the hidden "$Windows.~BT" folder and recovering gigabytes of space on your hard drive is tempting. But what is this cryptically named folder for, and how critical is it to your Windows installation?

What Is "Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation" and Is It a Problem?

Shan Abdul — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 17:00:21 GMT

Have you noticed a "Windows Audio Device Graph Isolation" process consuming substantial system resources in the Windows Task Manager? It's a genuine Windows process responsible for providing a stable audio experience. This guide explains what this process does, why you shouldn't turn it off, and how you can reduce its resource consumption.

How (and When) to Use the Ping Command in Windows

Shan Abdul — Mon, 25 Dec 2023 16:00:20 GMT

The ping command is commonly used to troubleshoot network problems and assess the health of a network connection. Learn how the ping command works, how to use it on Windows, and examples of a few scenarios you can use it for.

How to Remove the Background of an Image Using Paint or Paint 3D

Tashreef Shareef — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 17:31:19 GMT

You don't have to use a third-party background-removing tool anymore, as the Microsoft Paint app on Windows can remove a background with just a single click. Similarly, in Paint 3D, you can use the Magic select feature to remove the background of an image.

How to Scan QR Codes on Windows

Pankil Shah — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 13:00:21 GMT

You're probably used to scanning QR codes with your smartphone to access email addresses, phone numbers, and website links. But how do you scan them on a Windows PC without your phone? Let's see.

Why Is My Printer Offline? How to Get It Back Online in Windows

Joe Keeley — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 13:30:20 GMT

Printers are sometimes troublesome, but one of the most annoying errors is when your printer says it's offline and refuses to print. We will show you how to get your printer back online if you see this error on Windows 10 or 11.

Windows Terminal vs. PowerShell: What Makes Them Different?

Chifundo Kasiya — Sat, 16 Dec 2023 17:00:21 GMT

If you're using Windows 11 or Windows 10, you'll find PowerShell and Windows Terminal pre-installed. Both are command-line interfaces that allow you to enter text commands to perform various tasks, but what makes them different?