Word can now write documents for you

Plus a little-known Alt+Tab alternative  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Windows Intelligence](#) [Windows Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [Google Sheets Tips logo]()​ Happy Friday! I've been experimenting with Microsoft's Copilot Pro lately: I spent the $20 so you don't have to. Want to see exactly what it's like to have Word write a document for you? I've got all the details. But this isn't just about the latest AI tools — I've got some great tips for overlooked features anyone can use on a modern Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC. One quick thing: I was excited to share an awesome new option in Windows 11's Widgets last week. While I heard from a lot of people who it worked for, I also heard from some people who don't have the option just yet. I confirmed this worked on multiple Windows 11 PCs before I wrote about it. But here's the reality: Whether it's Windows, Android, Chrome, Edge, or almost anything else, tech companies are slowly rolling out features these days. Even if most PCs have a new feature, your PC may not have it yet. It makes it really difficult to write tips that will work for everyone. The good news is that, if you don't have the option to hide the Microsoft Start feed in Widgets, you likely will soon. It should pop up in the next few weeks. I'll be sure to note when a feature may be in the process of rolling out in the future, too. Thanks for bearing with me! Now, on to the newsletter! [Chris Hoffman, AUthor] Chris Today's read: ⌚ 3 Things to Know: 2 minutes ⌚ 3 Things to Try: 2 minutes ⌚ Top Thurrott Thoughts: 30 seconds ⌚ Just for Fun: 20 seconds ​ [] [3 Things to Know This Week] ​ 1. For $20 a month, Word can write documents for you ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Microsoft's Copilot Pro is a $20-per-month subscription that adds an AI assistant to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. You can use it today. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Microsoft's Copilot Pro was released a month ago, and I've been putting it through its paces. - Copilot Pro can write documents and emails for you, summarize text, answer questions about the contents of a file, and change formatting. The Copilot integration in Office is much more sophisticated than the Copilot integration in Windows. - This is still the same old Copilot, which uses the same underlying model as ChatGPT. If you find Copilot or ChatGPT useful and find yourself copy-pasting things back and forth between it and Office apps, it's worth it. If you don't find Copilot or ChatGPT helpful, this probably won't convince you. - Meanwhile, Google just launched a free "Help Me Write" tool for Chrome. 📌 READ MORE: Learn all about it in [my hands-on review of Copilot Pro](), or check out [Google's Help Me Write tool](=). --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. A "better version of Windows" for Europe is nearly here ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: Windows is about to get some huge changes for the European Economic Area. Microsoft says they'll arrive by March 6 at the latest. 🔎 KNOW MORE: The changes will affect both Windows 10 and Windows 11. They include many things even us Windows fans outside of Europe want — and you may be able to get them in the U.S. and elsewhere by changing a setting or two. - Windows will respect your default browser choice rather than forcing links from certain system components — like the Start menu — to open in Edge. - You'll also be able to change the default search engine used in the Start menu — no more mandatory Bing. - Microsoft says "Windows uses the region chosen by the customer during device setup to identify if the PC is in the [European Economic Area.]" It sounds like anyone can get these options by choosing a different region while setting up a PC — or after resetting it. 📌 READ MORE: Learn more about all the upcoming, legally mandated changes in [this Microsoft blog post from back in November](). --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Microsoft is making Copilot more capable on Windows ➜ THE SHORT VERSION: The Copilot AI sidebar on Windows can't do much to control your PC yet, but Microsoft is making it much more capable. 🔎 KNOW MORE: Despite all the hype about Copilot integration, Copilot can't do too much with Windows and largely functions like a bolted-on chatbot sidebar. - A new Windows Insider build adds a long list of capabilities to Copilot: Finding your IP address, showing startup apps, emptying the Recycle Bin, and more. - Microsoft is also adding a Power Automate Desktop plug-in, letting Copilot tap into this automation tool on your PC. This is an existing tool you can use to automate workflows and other tasks, but Copilot integration could make it more widely useful. - These features will likely launch for everyone in Windows 11's big 2024 update sometime in the fall, although they may arrive before then. 📌 READ MORE: Check out the list of new Copilot actions in [this Windows Insider blog post](=). (Microsoft published it last week, but quietly updated it with the Copilot information this week.) SPONSORED MESSAGE Don’t miss these Google Sheets shortcuts 🛠️ [Bus driver saying "Better take a shortcut."]()​ Whether you’re a Google Sheets pro, or don’t even know what a ‘shortcut’ is, the [Google Sheets Tips]() newsletter will skyrocket your skills with handy tips ‘n’ tricks! Each week, the experts at Google Sheets Tips drop highly-useful and *gasp* user-friendly tips directly into your inbox — for free! “These Google Sheet Tips are fantastic!!! Every week, I try to use the new tip / idea / code in one of my projects. Great stuff!” says reader Chip D. Why else you'll dig Google Sheets Tips: 🧠Useful for both novices and experts 📈 Grab ‘n’ go templates 💰 Costs you nothin’ and only takes a few minutes to digest Plus, they’ll even toss in the invaluable Spice Up Your Sheet Life ebook! ➜ [Join 50,000k others and subscribe with 1-click today!]( [​UPGRADE YOUR TOOLKIT HERE ➜]( ​ [] [3 Things to Try This Week] 1. Use (and customize) your touchpad's hidden gestures Laptop touchpads are highly underrated. It took many years for the typical Windows laptop to get a decent touchpad, but a modern PC's touchpad offers a great experience. And touchpads have some hidden tricks, too. ➜ A laptop's touchpad is packed with customizable three- and four-finger gestures, giving you a way to switch between windows and navigate your desktop with convenient swipes. ⌚ You can play with these gestures in 10 seconds or so. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. (But some older laptops may have touchpads that don't support these gestures.) Try it out: - Place three fingers on the touchpad and move them left or right to choose a window — just like Alt+Tabbing. - Swipe up with three or four fingers to see all your open windows. - Swipe down with three or four fingers to see your desktop. - Swipe left or right with four fingers to move between multiple desktops. Want to see all the taps and gestures — and configure which swipe does what? You can do it from Settings. For example, you could make swiping with three or four fingers control the audio volume. To find these settings: - On Windows 11: Open the Settings app and select Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. - On Windows 10: Open the Settings app and select Devices > Touchpad. [Touchpad settings on Windows 11.] --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Try Alt+Esc, the polar opposite of Alt+Tab Most PC users know about Alt+Tab for switching applications. But have you ever heard of Alt+Esc? ➜ The Alt+Esc shortcut is the polar opposite of Alt+Tab. When you press it, your current window will instantly be pushed behind all the other windows you have open. ⌚ Trying this shortcut will take you 2 seconds. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. To try it, just press Alt+Esc! It will only work if you have at least two windows open — it will push the window you have in focus to the back of all your other open windows. Hold down the Alt key and keep tapping Esc to flip through windows, pushing them to the back one by one. It's almost a built-in "boss key" — a convenient way to instantly hide whatever you have open, without even a minimize animation. But it's also a convenient way to push a window you're using to the bottom of the pile so you can deal with other windows first. --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Hide your taskbar for extra screen space Okay, this is one of those classic settings that's been around for decades. I feel like it's widespread knowledge — but I've also noticed I don't see many people using it these days. ➜ By hiding your taskbar, you'll unlock more precious vertical screen real estate for whatever you do. If you spend a lot of time in your browser, that taskbar may just be wasting space a web page could use, anyway. ⌚ Trying out this setting will take 10 seconds. 💻 This works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. To find this setting, right-click an empty spot on your taskbar and select "Taskbar settings." Then: - On Windows 11: Expand the "Taskbar behaviors" section and check "Automatically hide the taskbar." - On Windows 10: Turn on the "Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode" option. Your taskbar will now automatically slide out of the way, giving you more screen space. Move your mouse cursor to the bottom of your screen to find it. [The "Automatically hide the taskbar" option on Windows 11.] ​ [] [Top Thurrott Thoughts] Some standout links and expert analysis from our friends at Thurrott, who have been covering Windows since 1994: - ​[Microsoft Petitions EU to Reject Apple’s DMA Non-Compliance Compliance]() - Apple's contortions are fascinating to watch. - ​[Adobe’s Acrobat PDF Reader is Getting its Own AI Assistant](=)​ - Soon, nearly every app will have AI built in. - ​[What I Use: Dashlane (Premium)]( - Paul Thurrott shares his preferred password manager. - ​[Firefox 123 Adds Firefox View Search and a Web Compatibility Reporting Tool](=) - Always nice to see Firefox getting updates. - ​[Microsoft to Use Intel for In-House Custom AI Chip]() - Interesting! - ​[Problems Persist in the Pixel Ecosystem (Premium)](=) - Paul's take on the Pixel ecosystem. ​ [And Just for Funsies...] Remember Microsoft's Ninja Cat? It was once the mascot of the Windows Insider Program and an example of Microsoft doing something more "fun." Windows 10 even had a collection of Ninja Cat emoji built in. They're still part of Windows 10, but they're no longer available on Windows 11. (Are you using Windows 10? You can still find them: Press the Windows key and the period key at the same time to open the emoji picker, type "cat," and you'll see a variety of ninja cat emoji.) [NInja Cat emoji in Windows 10's emoji picker.] Microsoft blog The Old New Thing has a good piece recounting [the story of where Ninja Cat came from](, if you're interested in learning more. Anyway, Ninja Cat is gone now in Windows 11 — replaced with a much more "boring" Insider Program logo. The Register [wrote](=) that the new Windows Insider Program imagery looks like it's associated with a "corporate healthcare plan." But, for a time there, Windows had a more fun and engaging mascot for Insiders — Microsoft even [shared animations and wallpapers featuring Ninja Cat](=). Personally, I do miss Ninja Cat — the images were fun to share and added some personality to Windows. [A Ninja Cat wallpaper released by Microsoft.] Farewell, Ninja Cat. That's it for this week Take care! Tune in next week — same Cat-time, same Cat-channel. 🤚 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? Take two seconds to [sign up for our newsletters](): Windows Intelligence, Android Intelligence, or Cool Tools (or all three!). Hungry for even more? 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