5 powerful PC voice control tricks

And my #1 Recycle Bin tip  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Windows Intelligence](#) [Windows Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [Esper logo](=)​ As PC users, we use mice and keyboards — and perhaps touch screens and gamepads, too. But there's another input device that goes unsung: The microphone. Voice input didn't start with the smartphone. Decades earlier, PC-using professionals were using expensive applications like Dragon NaturallySpeaking to control their computers. Well, good news: You don't have to spend $699 on PC speech recognition tools these days. Everything you need is built right into Windows. Scroll down to this week's Things to Try section for all the details. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🎆 We randomly drew winners for the Intelligence Insider scholarship this week, and we've contacted the lucky individuals. Once again, thank you to our amazing supporters who sponsored this! 👋 And one last thing: We're headed into Labor Day weekend here in the U.S.A., so I'll be off on vacation next week. There will be no Friday newsletter next week, but I'll be back after that. We'll talk more soon! [Chris Hoffman, AUthor] Chris Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 1 minute ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 1 minute 30 seconds ⌚ Top Thurrott Thoughts: 30 seconds ⌚ Just for Fun: 20 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] ​ 1. Reboots for Windows Update may be a thing of the past ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Microsoft is working on a "hotpatching" feature for Windows that will let you install a monthly security update without rebooting. That would fix one of the most annoying things about using Windows. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The company accidentally published — and then pulled — a document about this feature coming to Windows 11's almost-here 24H2 update. It's unclear if hotpatching will arrive, but Microsoft could be about to announce it. 📌 READ MORE: Here's [a look at what we know](=). --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Microsoft is calling a Windows security summit ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Microsoft is hosting a "security summit" on September 10, bringing together third-party security companies to discuss changes to Windows that will make it more resilient. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The big CrowdStrike meltdown wasn't exactly Microsoft's fault, but it did give Microsoft a black eye. Microsoft wants to change Windows to make third-party security solutions less likely to bring down everything. 📌 READ MORE: Here's [what's going on](). --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Microsoft admits it isn't axing the Control Panel soon ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: The Control Panel drama continues. Now, Microsoft has rephrased its website to say that it isn't phasing out the Control Panel any time soon, although more settings are moving to the Settings app. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The classic Control Panel still has lots of options that may never be moved to the new Settings app. It isn't about to vanish. Still, many options have been removed from the Control Panel in recent years. The Control Panel isn't what it used to be. 📌 READ MORE: Check out [Microsoft's wording change](. SPONSORED MESSAGE When was your last audit? 🤔 IT audit, that is! [Flinstones audit](=)​ It may not sound especially glamorous, but regular audits ensure you have repeatable, efficient processes in place, so you can scale your device fleet effectively. So whether your last audit was this year, or *gasp* eons ago, [Esper’s IT Audit Checklist](=) contains 10 critical questions for you to consider. This free guide covers… - Vulnerability and change management - Disaster recovery, physical security, and backups - Process documentation …and more. Don’t let your device fleet become obsolete or compromised! ➜ [Download the free audit guide today and maximize your scalability.](=) [AUDIT YOUR DEVICE FLEET TODAY​ ➜](=) ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Control your PC with your voice (and speak to type, too) Windows is packed with voice control tools. You can use your voice to type in nearly any application. Beyond that, you can also use your voice to control your PC without touching your mouse. ➜ It's a whole different type of input that some PC-using professionals have loved for decades. And it's built right into Windows. ⌚ You can get started with these tools in about 10 seconds. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. (But Windows 11 has some newer and more-polished tools.) 📌 See all the goods in [my latest Computerworld column](=). --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Use Phone Link for PC-to-phone file sharing Windows now offers another way to share files, links, and more between your PC and phone. This new feature is part of the Phone Link app. ➜ The Phone Link app is now part of the "Share" sheet on both Windows PCs and Android devices. ⌚ You can try this in about 5 seconds. (If you have Phone Link set up.) 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. Here's how to do it: - On Windows, open the Share sheet. For example, in File Explorer , you can right-click a file and choose "Share." (Unfortunately, this won't work if a file is stored in OneDrive — you'll just see the OneDrive sharing options instead.) Select the "Phone Link" app to send it to your phone. - On Android, open the Share sheet by tapping the Share button in an app. Select the "Link to Windows" app in the share sheet. 📌 Want more details? Check out [Microsoft's guide to this new feature](=). 💡 A Windows patch in testing will make this easier to find, offering a "My Phone" icon at the top of the share list, above the list of apps. [The Phone Link application shortcut in Windows 11's share sheet.] --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Get easy access to your Recycle Bin in File Explorer I like having a nice icon-free desktop. But the Recycle Bin normally lives on the desktop. That's why I perform this quick tweak on any PC I set up — it's one of the first things I do. ➜ With a quick drag and drop, your Recycle Bin becomes much easier to access right in File Explorer. (It belongs with files, doesn't it?) ⌚ You can do this in about 5 seconds. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. It's simple: Just open a File Explorer window. Then, drag and drop the Recycle Bin icon from the desktop to the Quick Access area near the top-left of the File Explorer window. You can now hide your desktop icons in peace. (To hide or unhide desktop icons, right-click an empty spot on your desktop and toggle View > Show Desktop Icons.) [Dragging the Recycle Bin shortcut to Quick Access.] Cast your vote... ​[Do you hide your PC's desktop icons?](=)​ [Chris Hoffman, AUthor] ​ ​ [] [Top Thurrott Thoughts] Some standout links and expert analysis from our friends at Thurrott, who have been covering Windows since 1994: - ​[Microsoft is Testing New Design for Media Controls on the Windows 11 Lock Screen]( - They're moving.​ - ​[Hands-On with Win11Debloat]()​ - Many convenient tweaks in one tool. - ​[Why Apple, When Apple (Premium)](=) - Paul Thurrott discusses using Apple products. - ​[HP Returns to Growth on Slim PC Rebound]()​ - PC sales are up. - ​[Windows 11 Version 24H2 Gets a Week D Preview Update Too]()​ - Next month's will be more interesting. - ​[Windows 11’s August Optional Update Adds Linked Android Devices to Windows Share]() - Various new features. ​ SPONSORED MESSAGE [Cartoon dog reading newspaper](=) Say goodbye to jet lag Jet lag? Nah — not with [FlyKitt](=). Trusted by pro athletes and special forces, the FlyKitt app is your personal travel guru so you can arrive at your destination ready to go. Save 10% with code NOJETLAG! [CLAIM YOUR DISCOUNT](=) ​ [And Just for Funsies...] Back in the day, running the Disk Defragmenter on a Windows PC was essential to boost performance. It moved bits and pieces of files around on your hard drive to ensure they were all together. But that's no longer important on a modern solid-state drive. Modern versions of Windows still have a Disk Defragmenter. But even if you do have a mechanical hard drive, it looks very different from the classic DEFRAG.EXE experience on Windows 98. An awesome Intelligence Insider recently shared [this web-based Windows 98 Disk Defragmenter simulator]( in our community. Of course, it's not actually doing anything — but it plays just the right animation with just the right simulated hard disk sounds. If you remember defragmenting your PC's hard drive back in the '90s, it's surprisingly cozy. I highly recommend checking it out! Until next time... It's almost Labor Day weekend here in the U.S.A. I hope you have a good one, wherever you may be! --------------------------------------------------------------- 📊 Last week's poll results: Microsoft PowerToys is pretty popular! 41% of respondents use PowerToys regularly, while 24% use it sometimes. 12% have it installed but don't use it, while 22% have never installed it. 🗳️ Be sure to vote in this week's Windows Intelligence poll if you haven't already done so: [Do you hide your PC's desktop icons?](=)​ 🤚 Wait! Before you go: What'd you think of this issue? [Thumbs Up]( [Thumbs Down]() Hit the thumbs-up or thumbs-down to cast your vote and let me know. Want less email? [Update your reading preferences](=) to opt out of any individual publications or unsubscribe entirely. New here and not yet subscribed? 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