Three time saving tricks in Windows 11

Windows 11 is packed with time-saving tricks, but let’s be honest - most of us only scratch the surface of what it can do. If you’re still using it the same way you used Windows 10, you’re missing out on some seriously cool (and useful) features.

Here are three hidden gems 💎 that can make your workday smoother, whether you’re tackling invoices, dealing with a frozen app, or just looking to speed things up… 💨

1. Copy text from images (no extra software needed)

Ever had to copy text from an image or a PDF but wished you didn’t have to type it all out manually? Windows 11’s built-in OCR (Optical Character Recognition) feature can do it for you.

  • Just open Snipping Tool, take a screenshot, and extract text from it instantly - you don’t even need to be online.

  • Need to scan a QR code on your screen? You can do that too; no need to pull out your phone.

  • The Phone Link and Photos apps also have OCR support, so you can grab text from images synced from your phone.

This is SO helpful for handling invoices, receipts, and documents that won’t let you copy and paste.

2. Instantly quit a frozen app from the Taskbar

We’ve all been there: You’re using an app, it freezes up… and you find yourself faffing around with Task Manager. But what if I told you there’s now a faster way to kill unresponsive apps?

  • First, enable the "End Task" option for the Taskbar in Developer Mode (we can help with this if you’re not sure how to use it).

  • Then, the next time an app locks up, just right-click the app on the Taskbar and select “End Task”.

That’s it.

No need to dig through Task Manager or use Ctrl+Alt+Delete. Just a one-click fix and you can get back to work.

3. Manage apps faster with your keyboard

Ever wished for an easier way to open or switch between apps, without having to use your mouse? Try these shortcuts:

  • Win + Any Number - Instantly launch or switch to the app pinned in that position on your Taskbar (e.g., Win + 1 opens your first pinned app).

  • Win + T - Activate Taskbar Focus mode, letting you select pinned apps using just your keyboard. Press the first letter of an app’s name to highlight it, then hit Enter to launch.

If you’re juggling multiple apps all day, this can save you a ton of clicks and wasted time. Little time-savers add up, and these features can make Windows 11 feel much faster and more intuitive. If you’re still using Windows 10 in your business, these are just some of the many reasons it could be smart to make the switch now.

Which of these Windows 11 tricks were you already aware of? And which will be the most useful for you and your team?