Two Dozen Windows Tips — Almost!

22 Windows Tips

Everyone likes short, quick Windows tips. The following 22 tips work in all versions of Windows, unless otherwise noted. We hope you find these tips useful!

You might find these 22 tips very useful, useful enough you might like to print them. If so, just click the CleanPrint button on this page.

1. To change computer time: Right mouse click on the clock in your system tray (lower far right) or right-click in system tray and choose “adjust date and time”.
2. To  save a picture/image from a web page, right mouse click and choose “Save Picture As” or “Same image as” (depending on your browser). You can rename it – if you wish – when you save it to your hard drive. You can rename it – but you cannot change its extension. If you want to change image formats – you can open the image in your favorite photo editor and re-save it in the format of your choice.
3. To see how much hard drive/hard disk space you have left, do this: Double click My Computer. right mouse click on your C drive (or any hard drive) and chose properties.
4. Most common image formats are JPG, GIF, BMP and PNG. Most common image format exported from a digital camera is a JPG.
5. If you accidentally delete a file, click Control key + Z to bring it back instantly. You can also look in your recycle bin if you don’t realize it until later, then just right-click on the file and choose “restore” and it will go back to where it came from.
6. If you hold the shift key down when deleting a file, it bypasses the recycle bin. Control Z will still bring it back.
7. If you occasionally see a red X instead of an image on a web page, it is not a setting problem with your browser. It usually means the webmaster who made the page put in a bad link.
8. F1 key opens Windows Help quickly!
9. You can quickly maximize a window by double clicking the title bar of the window… this is the areas with the program’s name at the top of your window. Double click again to bring it back to the size it was prior to maximizing.
10. Alphabetize the items in your start menu by clicking Start, Programs, and while hovering over any program, right mouse click and choose Sort by Name. (Windows XP). In all versions of Windows you can click on the column header “Name” and sort alphabetically by name.
11. Quick View of your System: If you hold the Alt key down while double clicking My Computer, it will open the System Properties Window. This is where you can find your computer’s name, system restore, auto updates, hardware, and more. The first screen will show you a lot of information about your system such as what version of Windows you are using, who the computer is registered to, how fast your CPU is and how much RAM you have.
12. To open a “Run” command, just press the Windows Key + R.
13. To open Windows Explorer press the Windows Key + E.
14. To close any window that is in focus (on top of the rest) click ALT + F4
15. Use the ALT key + the Tab key to move between open programs.
16. Press the Windows key plus the “D” key to instantly return to your desktop
17. When browsing the Web using your favorite browser, tapping the F11 key will maximize the browser window and give you the maximum amount of viewing area (no address bars or toolbars in your way). Tapping the F11 key again, returns your browser window to its normal state.
18. Click F4 while your browser is open and the last 25 addresses you have typed out in your address bar will show. Here’ how to do it: Place your cursor in the address bar and tap the F4 key.
19. Press the Windows Key plus the L key to lock your computer. (Works only if your Windows user account is password protected.)
20. While in Windows Explorer, Press ALT + P and a preview should appear on the right.
21. To view properties menu of a file, folder, etc., highlight it and click Alt + Enter. Highlight My Computer and click Alt + Enter to view System Properties.
22. In your favorite browser, you can view recent downloads by pressing CTRL + J . (Works in Chrome, IE, and Firefox.)