Windows 7 Laptop Tip – Using Mobility Center in Windows 7

If you use a laptop running Windows 7, you can quickly access a number of enhanced features and settings that make mobile computing much easier. You can easily control various settings such as wireless network connections, volume, display brightness, and more in the Windows Mobility Center. With all these settings in one location, you will save time, plus you don’t need to remember where each individual setting is located.

To open Windows Mobility Center click Windows Key + X

Using Windows Mobility Center

Windows Mobility Center displays many of the most commonly used laptop settings, such as brightness, volume, battery status, and wireless network status. Since some settings are dependent on your laptop manufacturer, there may be some variations on what options you will have access to, but the basics should be available on most laptops. Click an icon to quickly open options for that setting. For example, click the Battery Status icon to open Power Options to select a power plan.

Brightness – Move the slider to temporarily adjust display / LCD brightness.

Volume – Select Mute check box, or move the slider to adjust the speaker volume.

Battery Status – View how much charge remains on your battery (or select a power plan from the list).

Wireless Network – View the status of your wireless network connection and/or turn your wireless network adapter on or off. If the on/off button is not available you may need to rely on the hardware switch on your laptop. You can check documentation provided with your laptop if needed.

Screen Rotation – (Available on Tablet PCs) Change the screen orientation from portrait to landscape, or vice versa.

External Display – Connect an additional monitor to your laptop, or customize the display settings.

Sync Center – View the status of an in-progress file sync, start a new sync, set up a sync partnership, or change your settings in Sync Center. Sync Center lets you manage data synchronization with devices such as PDAs, Smart Phones, Mobile Phones, etc. You can initiate a manual sync, stop an in-progress sync, view the status of all current sync activities, and receive notification of the need for conflict resolution.