This week's top tips

Have you tried these apps yet?  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Windows Intelligence](#) [Windows Intelligence](#) Microsoft's [Phone Link]() is undoubtedly very cool. Finally, you can text from your phone on your PC — with a nice interface, and without installing any extra software. (I remember installing AirDroid to do this on my Android phone a decade ago! You really had to go out of your way to get this feature — and it didn't work with iPhones at all.) But while Phone Link is great, it doesn't seem to work perfectly with everyone's phones — at least, that's what I've heard from some readers. This week's reader-submitted tips include some other highly recommended options from texting on your PC, whether you have a Android phone or an iPhone. ⌚ 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 📲 This week, I've got two suggestions: One for Android users, and one that works for both iPhone and Android users. Whatever your phone platform of choice, we're all Windows PC users here! ➜ The alternate texting-from-your-PC tools here give you another way to connect your phone to your PC for texting if the built-in Windows Phone Link tool doesn't work well for you. 💻 Google's solution works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11, while Intel Unison is only for Windows 11. 🤖 First, the Android solution: Windows Intelligence reader Chris H. (no relation!) recommended Google Messages for Web as his preferred alternative to Phone Link. As he put it: "It only does messages, but it is quick and efficient." You'll need to make sure you're using the actual [Google Messages app](=) on your Android phone — it's built-in on Google Pixel phones, for example, but you may have to go out of your way to install it on other Android phones. With the app installed, you can just head to [the Google Messages for Web website](), sign in with the same Google account you use on your phone, and complete the pairing process. You'll then get a convenient web interface for reading and responding to texts — think of it as a web-based version of the Google Messages app on your phone. Because Google is only syncing messages and it's happening between your phone and Google's servers, this won't have the syncing issues you might see with Microsoft Phone Link, which requires your phone connect wirelessly to your PC. [Google Messages for Web showing a text conversation.] ​ 🍎 Now, the iPhone (and Android!) solution: Windows Intelligence reader Harvey H. recommended Intel Unison, saying it's his favorite solution for texting (and other useful features) on an iPhone from Windows — and it works with Android phones, too. The name is deceptive: While Intel made this app, Henry says he uses it on an AMD PC! You can [grab Intel Unison from the Microsoft Store](=). (I successfully installed it on an AMD PC, too!) Go through the setup process, which will involve installing the Intel Unison app for your phone from [Apple's App Store](=) or from [Google Play](). Pair it with your PC and you can access a lot of phone-link-style features — including texting, photos, calls, notifications, and file transfers — in the Intel Unison app. [The Intel Unison app connected to an iPhone.] ​ ⏰ Looking for this week's Android Intelligence reader tip? It's all about [an upgraded alarm clock app for your phone](. ​ 🎁 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! 🎨 Upgrade dark mode on your PC: Dark mode needs some help on Windows. To get extra features like automatic dark mode at sunset, dark mode on any website in your browser, and more, check out my list of [5 dark mode upgrades for your PC](=). ⚠️ Recover from a black screen with this shortcut: If Windows ever shows you a black screen and Ctrl+Alt+Delete doesn't do anything, you don't have to reboot your PC. First, try pressing Windows+Ctrl+Shift+B. Windows will attempt to reset its graphical subsystem and can offer recover from system issues that produce a black screen. When you press this shortcut, you'll hear a beep and your screen will flicker black for a moment as Windows resets some low-level things. 📁 Batch rename files without extra software: I love Microsoft's free PowerRename tool in [PowerToys](=), but you don't have to install anything to rename lots of files at once. Just select multiple files in File Explorer, press F2, type a new name like "Name" and press Enter. The files will be named "Name (1)", "Name (2)", and so on. You can also press Ctrl+Z to undo the rename and get your old file names back. 📨 How to easily manage 1,500+ emails/day: Not only does email cause major anxiety (“536 unread emails?!”), it sucks up to 8.8 hours per week from our lives! [Take back your day with SaneBox.]( This tool intelligently organizes your inbox, easily saving you 3-4 hours per week. And The Intelligence readers can get started with a [14-day free trial of SaneBox and $25 off any subscription!]( [SPONSORED] 🔎 Find a cached copy of any website, anytime: In this week's "Oh, Google..." news, the Big G has confirmed it's killing its long-standing system for letting you access a cached copy of any website that isn't currently available — or maybe just recently underwent some substantial changes. But fear not, for you've got other options. The next time a site you need is offline or unavailable, [use these simple tools]() to see a cached copy without having to rely on Google’s not-long-for-this-world resource. 🤹 Give yourself a magnificent new multitasking shortcut: Ready to transform Android's screen-splitting system from a rarely-used afterthought into an indispensable productivity treasure? Try out [this supremely simple enhancement]() — and get ready to think about multitasking on Android in a whole new way. 👋 Find a handy new way to summon your Android Assistant: Google's going through some awkward transitions with its Android Assistant right now, and that includes removing one of the most obvious ways to access it. But no matter what kind of device you're carrying, you've still got plenty of easy ways to interact with Assistant — [if you know where to look](. 💰 Which platform delivered millions to investors in 2023? [Masterworks](=) just wrapped up a banner year, selling over $21.9M of paintings and delivering the proceeds to investors. Now, they want to do the same thing for you. This award-winning platform is unlocking an asset class previously only available to billionaires, and readers of The Intelligence newsletters can [open a free, no-obligation account today](=)! [SPONSORED] * Past performance is not indicative of future returns, investing involves risk. See disclosures masterworks.com/cd --------------------------------------------------------------- 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.