This week's top tips

A keyboard shortcut I wish everyone knew  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Windows Intelligence](#) [Windows Intelligence](#) I don't know about you, but I had the Ctrl+Alt+Delete keyboard shortcut drilled into me long ago. It was the way to end a misbehaving application and recover your Windows system without rebooting. All these years later, people are still using Ctrl+Alt+Delete to pull up the Task Manager on their PCs. But that’s too bad, because there’s an even better keyboard shortcut that I wish all Windows users knew. If you're still using Ctrl+Alt+Delete, you need to know this one. ⌚ 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 ⌨️ It's been drilled into everyone's head over the past few decades: Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to find the Task Manager. But there's a better, faster way. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. ➜ Windows Intelligence reader Ray shared a shortcut he uses to open the Task Manager every day. It's something I've mentioned before — nearly every time we talk about the Task Manager — but something that deserves a closer look, because I wish more people knew it! To quickly open the Task Manager on a Windows PC, just press Ctrl+Shift+Esc. That's it! It'll pop right up. [The Task Manager on Windows 11.] ​ You can open the Task Manager in other ways, too, including: - Right-clicking an empty spot on your taskbar and selecting "Task Manager." - Pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete and then clicking "Task Manager." - Opening the Start menu, searching for "Task," and then launching the "Task Manager" shortcut. But, for my money, Ctrl+Shift+Esc is the best way to launch the Task Manager. Once you've opened the Task Manager, of course, you can do a lot of useful things, including: - See what's using system resources on your PC — and forcibly close any misbehaving apps you can't close normally. - Manage the startup programs Windows launches when you sign in. - View system performance details and hardware information, like the model of your CPU or how much RAM you have in your PC. You may still have to use Ctrl+Alt+Delete sometimes — if a full-screen application has taken over and Ctrl+Shift+Escape doesn't open the Task Manager, it's time to press Ctrl+Alt+Delete. But, otherwise, I always find myself reaching for Ctrl+Shift+Escape, too. 🗺️ Looking for this week's Android Intelligence reader tip? It's all about [a more advanced location-sharing tool for your Android phone](. This one could save you some time! ​ 🎁 Share your knowledge, get a free gift in return Hey — let's feature your advice next! If you've got a useful shortcut you rely on, an off-the-beaten path application that makes your life easier, or any other Windows-related suggestion you'd like to share with your fellow Windows Intelligence readers, [share it with me here](=). If I end up using your tip in a future issue, I'll send you a [free month of ​Intelligence Insider membership]() as a special thank you gift for your submission! --------------------------------------------------------------- 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! ❄️ Add weather (or other info) to your lock screen: Windows is getting a more detailed weather experience on the lock screen. Here's [how to add weather to your Windows lock screen](). You can also choose to see emails or calendar events on the lock screen instead — or remove all this info from the lock screen. 🛑 Get rid of lock screen ads: Don't want Microsoft-provided messages on your lock screen? Head to Settings > Personalization > Lock Screen. You'll have to select either "Picture" or "Slideshow" if you're currently using Windows Spotlight to automatically download new lock screen backgrounds. But, after you do, you can uncheck the "Get fun facts, tips, tricks, and more on your lock screen" checkbox. 🔒 Lock your PC when you walk away from it: Windows can lock your PC when you walk away from it. This feature is called Dynamic Lock, and it relies on your smartphone. To set it up, head to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Dynamic Lock. Check "Allow Windows to automatically lock your device when you're away." You'll be prompted to pair your phone with your PC over Bluetooth if you haven't already. This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11, and it works with both Android phones and iPhones. 💪 Build professional-grade apps — without code: Want to create the next AirBnB or Slack? [Toddle is the no-code builder](=) used by 1,000s of developers to create modern web apps. Toddle’s dynamic components and JavaScript frameworks let you ship apps 10x faster, and they have tons of courses and tutorials, so even newbies can build like the pros. [Use code THEINTELLIGENCE10 to score 10% off Toddle today!](=) [SPONSORED] 💫 Try out a free AI image toolbox: Microsoft has a useful collection of AI-powered image tools called [Microsoft Designer](=). It includes some convenient and powerful tools both for generating new images and editing your existing images. It's free to use with a Microsoft account, and it runs right in your web browser of choice. (Microsoft says Android and iPhone apps are on the way soon.) 🌍 Power up your Android browser privacy: With about a minute of effort, you can give yourself some helpful new tools for boosting your web-browsing privacy on Android. [Here's a trio of easy-to-implement tips](=), including steps for activating a hidden new Chrome privacy power-up and a couple of even more advanced options. 🗃️ Beef up your mobile backup plan: Android backups have come a long way over the years, but the onus is still on you to do at least a teensy bit of preparation. The good news, though, is that five minutes now will save you from hours of headaches later — if you [think through all the right stuff]() before the need arises. 🫣 Is your data in harm’s way? Last year did *not* bode well for data security. Darkbeam misconfigured an interface, exposing 3.8 billion records, T-Mobile’s data breach impacted 37 million customers, and the list goes on. [That’s why you need ESET.]( With 24/7 monitoring against malware, trojan horses, and spyware, ESET protects all your home devices. [Download ESET for FREE and protect your family’s data.]( [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.