This week's top tips

A better way to use your PC's desktop  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Windows Intelligence](#) [Windows Intelligence](#) Hello again! It's a big week for Windows, but this afternoon is for top tips. So let's talk about something even more pressing than new laptop hardware and AI. I'm talking about storing files on the desktop. That was a controversial reader-submitted tip I discussed a few weeks ago. One reader offered up an even better idea that will give you easy access to the files you're using on the desktop — without actually storing them there. ⌚ This entire email will take you two minutes to read. ☝️ One quick thing: I'd like to thank the nearly 130 people who chipped in to support Windows Intelligence. Support from awesome individuals like yourselves will help keep Windows Intelligence sustainable so I can continue writing it for many years to come. Based on your feedback, I've also added the option to contribute via [PayPal]( in addition to [contributing directly](=). Thanks for being part of this journey with me — I couldn't do it without you. Now, let's get back to Windows. 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](=)​ This week's reader suggestion 📂 While storing files on the Windows desktop may work for some people, there's no denying that can quickly lead to chaos. There's a best-of-both-worlds solution that will give you access to files on the desktop without creating a big mess. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. ➜ This tip comes from Windows Intelligence reader Lynn G., who recommends a much less chaotic way to easily access files from the desktop. Instead of storing the files on the desktop, store them wherever you want them — and then create shortcuts to the files on your desktop instead. There's another convenient trick to create shortcuts on the desktop in Windows, too: A right-click drag-and-drop. 🖱️ Just locate a file or folder in File Explorer, right-click it, and keep holding down the mouse button. Drag the file or folder to the Desktop (or wherever else you want to put it,) and then release the mouse button. Then, select "Create shortcuts here." [Creating a desktop shortcut with right-click drag-and-drop.] Boom! You can easily access a shortcut to the file or folder on the desktop. When you're done working with it, you can delete the shortcut from your desktop without losing the original file. (You can use right-click drag-and-drop with multiple files or folders at once, too, for quick and easy bulk shortcut creation.) ⌨️ You can do this with copy-paste, too. Select one or more files or folders in File Explorer and press Ctrl+C or right-click them and select "Copy" to copy them. Then, right-click the desktop and select "Paste Shortcut." Done! (The menu looks a little different on Windows 10, but you'll see the same "Paste shortcut" option in there.) [The "Paste shortcut" option on the Windows 11 desktop context menu.] By the way, if you've previously hid your desktop icons, you can reveal them by right-clicking your desktop and selecting View > Show desktop icons. 📲 Looking for this week's Android Intelligence reader tip? It's all about [an easy way to get an on-demand summary of any web page, straight from Google](. Check it out! ​ 💡 Got a useful tip you'd like to share with other Windows enthusiasts? [Submit it here](=) — or just reply to this email and share it with me! I'd love to feature your useful advice 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! 🤖 Install and run private AI chatbots on your PC: Want to run a chatbot on your PC's hardware — a private one that works offline and with you in full control? You can do it in just a few minutes — all you have to do is download an installer and type three words. Here's [how to install your own private chatbots](. 📈 Remove stock prices and sports from your lock screen: Windows PCs now show stock prices and sports scores on the lock screen. Thanks, Microsoft! Want to remove these new widgets? Here's [how you can get rid of them and declutter your login experience](=). 📂 Create folders on your Start menu: The Start menu offers easy-to-create folders for organizing your shortcuts. On Windows 11, open the Start menu and look at the Pinned section — you can drag and drop a shortcut onto another shortcut to create a folder. On Windows 10, look at the pinned tiles on the right — you can drag them around to organize them and drag one to the bottom of the list of pinned tiles to create a new folder. (To add a shortcut to the pinned section, locate it in the list of all apps in the Start menu, right-click it, and select "Pin to Start.") 🗓️ Save time with hassle-free scheduling: Do you feel like scheduling a meeting takes longer than the actual meeting itself?! Skip the headaches and [automate your meeting scheduling with Boomerang](). Boomerang’s Magic Live Calendar embeds your calendar *directly into your email*, so guests can book time with you right from their inbox with one click. [Streamline your scheduling for FREE]() with Boomerang. [SPONSORED] 🗺️ Try out a killer new map-making tool: A web-based app called [PamPam]( lets you [create custom maps in all sorts of easy ways]( and then share 'em with anyone you want. It's an awesome supplement to Google Maps or any other standard mapping app you might be using, and it's completely free for most casual purposes. 📲 Find a smart new use for an old Android device: You'd never know it, but those dated old devices you've got collecting dust around your house are actually virtual gold mines. JR just finished updating and expanding [his collection of clever uses for old Android phones and tablets](. It has a whopping 25 smart suggestions just waiting to be put into action! ⏰ Give your next alarm some extra pizazz: Speaking of simple upgrades for your existing stuff, [this trio of Android alarm treasures](=) will inject some extra oomph into your wakey-time setup — no cost or complex configuration required. 🗳️ [Which AI chatbot do you use — if any?](=) Vote in this week's Windows Intelligence poll1 ((Poll)) ☎️ Unlimited phone plans for $25/month: Get this: You can cut your phone bill in half when you [switch to Tello — home of the $25/month unlimited phone plan]()! Tello provides the same reliable 4G LTE/5G nationwide network you're used to, plus customizable phone plans and freebies like Wi-Fi calling, eSIM, unlimited international calls, and more. [Ready to save tons of cash and customize your perfect phone plan?]() [SPONSORED] * Available for U.S. phone owners only. --------------------------------------------------------------- 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! Too much email? No worries: You can [opt out of receiving these roundups or unsubscribe entirely here](=). Hungry for even more? [Learn about becoming an Intelligence Insider]( to gain access to our one-of-a-kind community, power-packed advanced resources, our on-demand help desk, and tons of free apps and services.