This week's top tips

A long-lost browser option returns  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Windows Intelligence](#) [Windows Intelligence](#) Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and other modern web browsers have a built-in "New Tab Page" that pops up when you open a new browser tab. You can customize it, but your options are limited. Years ago, you could make new browser tabs open with your home page. Browsers no longer offer a built-in option for that. Here's the good news: You can still get any page you want as your new tab page. You just need the right browser extension. 🧠Speaking of clever reader tips, I'd love to hear your favorite Windows PC tips, tricks, apps, and other useful discoveries so I can share them here and spread the knowledge to your fellow PC enthusiasts. 🎁 With that in mind... - For the next few weeks, every tip [you submit]() that I'm able to feature in future Monday newsletters will grant you one entry to win a $50 Amazon gift card. - Submit up to five excellent useful tips, and trust me — your odds of winning will be high! - You can [submit your favorite PC tips, tricks, and anything else you find useful here](). I'll select the ones I'm able to use and then randomly draw the winner after next Friday, August 2. - Be sure to provide you email address when you submit the tip. I'll need it to reach you if you win the prize! ⌚ 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](=)​ This week's reader suggestion 🌐 Modern web browsers have built-in new tab pages, and they don't let you select a different new tab page in their settings. However, you can choose any page you want as a new tab page: Any website, a blank page, your browser bookmarks, or even an HTML file on your computer. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. (And also on Chromebooks, Macs, Linux PCs, and anywhere else with Chrome, Edge, or another Chromium-based browser.) ➜ Cool Tools subscriber Charlie M. wrote in and recommended using a browser extension to change your browser's new tab page. It's a convenient way to [see some customizable sticky notes]() every time you open a new tab, but it's more than that. To do this, you'll just have to install the right browser extension. I've tried a few, and these work well: - Chrome: [Custom New Tab URL]() - Edge: [Custom New Tab URL]()​ - Firefox: [Custom New Tab Page](=)​ All you need to do is install the extension, activate it, and choose an address. So, after installing the Chrome extension, you could plug in "" to go to Google's home page every time you open a new tab, or enter "chrome://bookmarks" to use Chrome's bookmark manager as your new tab page. You can even enter "about:blank" as the URL to open a blank page whenever you open a new tab. Choose whatever you like. [The Custom New Tab URL extension options page in Google Chrome.] 🚗 Looking for this week's Android Intelligence reader tip? It's all about an extremely convenient way to see nearby traffic at a glance. [Read it here!](=)​ ​ 💡 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! 🔧 Use these 10 PowerToys to upgrade your PC experience: Microsoft is talking up exclusive new AI features in its new Copilot+ laptops, but those AI features aren't too useful. The PowerToys package delivers a useful bundle of new features any PC user can use — for free. This week, I've rounded up [my favorite, most useful PowerToys](. Check them out! ⚙️ Get to Quick Settings (with the keyboard, too): The Quick Settings panel is an excellent place to quickly change settings like your Wi-Fi, brightness, and sound volume. Press Windows+A to access it. Or, use the mouse: On Windows 11, click the status icons in the system tray. On Windows 10, click the notification bubble at the right side of the taskbar. 📅 Hide the date and time on your taskbar (if you want): Did you know Windows lets you hide the clock from your taskbar? On Windows 11, right-click the clock on your taskbar and select "Adjust date and time." Scroll down and toggle off "Show time and date in the System tray." On Windows 10, right-click an empty spot on the taskbar and select "Taskbar settings." Scroll down to the Notification area section and select "Turn system icons on or off." Then, toggle off "Clock." 📈 You totally are a Numbers Person™: Does the mere sight of a pie chart or data set send you cowering in the corner? No more! Everyone can uncover insights from their data, and use that info to streamline workflows and inform decision making. Just download HubSpot’s free guide, [How to Use AI for Data Analysis](=). Sharpen your brain (and level up your career) today! [SPONSORED] 📝 Bring a simple sticky note surface into any browser: No matter what device you're using at any given moment, a free web app called [Manifest](=) is an awesome addition that's worth checking out. Manifest gives you a flexible pinboard for virtual Post-It Note-like memos right within your browser — in a completely privacy-respecting way. It [makes a brilliant replacement for your browser's default home page](), too. 🧰 Find fast fixes for common Android problems: The next time your favorite Android device is acting up, don't panic. Instead, [check out this handy new guide JR put together]() with fast fixes for common Android problems​. You might be surprised how simple the solution is once you have the right steps in front of you! 💪 Meet the perfect browser power-up: Speaking of cross-platform enhancements, JR has really been diggin' a smart desktop browser add-on called [Dashy](=). It’s kind of like giving yourself an Android-style home screen on your computer, with easy access to all the same services you use on your phone. [Here's an up-close look at how he's making the most of it](. 🗳️ [Which Windows release had the best Start menu?]() Vote in this week's Windows Intelligence poll! 🗞️ Want a byte-sized version of Hacker News? Try TLDR’s free daily newsletter. [TLDR](=)covers the most interesting tech, science, and coding news in just 5 minutes in a fun and easy to read format — no wonder it is loved by 1,250,000+ software engineers, founders, and tech workers! [Subscribe for free!](=) [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! 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. Finally, if you enjoyed this issue, please consider supporting my work directly with [one-time contribution](=), or make a contribution via [PayPal]( or [Venmo](=)!