Thomas wants to modify the Windows 11 clock so that it shows the day of the week.
Hi. Can you tell me if it's possible to show the day of the week along with the time and date on the taskbar? Thanks in advance.

Our answer
Hi Thomas. Windows 11 does not show the day of the week by default. That capability will be added with the next version update (coming out soon), along with the ability to move the taskbar to the sides of the screen.

You can modify the current Windows 11 clock so it displays the name of the week by using this workaround:

Open the Control Panel's Region settings:

Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.

Type intl.cpl and press Enter.

The Region window will open.

Access Date format settings:

On the Formats tab, click the Additional settings... button.

In the Customize Format window, click the Date tab.

Edit the Short date format:

In the Date formats section, find the Short date field.

Add the necessary characters for the day of the week to the beginning of the current format.

Code Result (e.g., for Monday)
ddd Mon
dddd Monday

For example, if your current format is M/d/yyyy, you could change it to:

ddd M/d/yyyy (for an abbreviated day, e.g., Mon 1/12/2026)

dddd M/d/yyyy (for the full day name, e.g., Monday 1/12/2026)

Apply and Save:

Click Apply, then OK on the Customize Format window.

Click Apply, then OK on the Region window.

The taskbar clock should immediately update to display the day of the week.

I don't know of any calendar that works with Windows 11 that would display the name of the week in or near the clock.

Hope this helps you get the day of the week on your Windows clock.

Randy learned this trick in a computer class...but...
Hi Darcy & TC. I was told this in a PC course I was taking.  If you live in an area where you get a lot of lightning, tie a loose knot in the power cord before you plug it into the outlet. The instructor actually saw a power cord that was burned off at the knot after a lightning strike. It's better to replace the cord and not the PC!

 

Our answer
Hi Randy. Thanks for sharing that. It’s really interesting to hear the different tips that come up in those courses. Unfortunately, it's not very good advice.

While I'm sure the instructor did see a cord snap at the knot, it’s actually a bit of a "tech myth" that the knot protects the computer. Think of it like a high-pressure fire hose: if you put a sharp kink in the hose and then blast water through it at 10,000 PSI, the hose will likely burst right at that kink. However, the water still reaches the nozzle at the end of the line; at the same time, the hose explodes.

The same thing happens with electricity. The knot creates a "weak point" or bottleneck. When a massive surge hits, that point melts or blows out—which makes it look like it caught the lightning—but the surge has usually already reached the PC's power supply. In fact, tying knots can be a fire hazard during normal use because it damages the internal copper strands.

A quick tip for staying safe during a storm: If you’re using a laptop, simply unplug it from the wall and run it on battery power. As long as it isn't physically connected to the house's electrical grid, it’s 100% safe from a power surge. For a desktop PC, use a certified surge protector. But a surge protector - even the best ones won't protect your devices from a direct lightning strike. Keep in mind that for any computer that is plugged in during a storm, the only 100% certain way to keep it safe is to pull the plug until the storm passes.

I hope this helps you keep your equipment safe.

Get a Free Second Phone Number with Google Voice
Anyone with a Gmail account

Google Voice gives you a free second phone number (with some caveats) for calls, texts, and voicemail. It works over the internet (VoIP) and forwards calls to your existing phones (mobile or landline). It’s not entirely free in all aspects (e.g., international calls cost money), and availability is limited to certain countries. Google Voice provides a separate number managed through Google that you can use as a second phone number.

Google Voice is easy to set up, it works great, and allows you to make and receive phone calls without revealing your real phone number to the person or company you’re calling and without having to use the old *67 trick. I’ve been using Google Voice for almost two years now, and I like it… It works great.

Using a Google Voice number is a great idea when calling people you don’t know well and when calling companies you’re not familiar with. It’s also a great idea if you have a small business or side hustle, but don’t have a business phone number.

Here are some of the many advantages of having a Google Voice phone number:

• It’s Free:  If you are in the USA, Canada, or another country where Google Voice is available and have a Google Account, you can get a Google Voice number for free. You can use it as a second number, a business phone number, etc. Google Voice. For a list of countries where Google Voice is available and additional info, see this page.
• Link your Google Voice number to your phone. You can link your Google Voice number to your cell phone or your landline number.
• You can make and receive free calls and send and receive free texts to the US and Canada. Google Voice users can make and receive free calls and texts to the US and Canada. Note: Most International calls are not free.
• Flexible call forwarding. Google Voice allows you to forward your calls to any phone number. This is great for managing multiple phone numbers or taking calls while you’re traveling.
• Voicemail transcription. Google Voice transcribes your voicemails into text. This is a great way to quickly and easily read your voicemails, especially if you are on the go. You can have the transcribed voicemails sent to your Gmail address.
• Call blocking and filtering. Google Voice allows you to block and filter unwanted calls. This can help you to reduce spam and telemarketing calls.
• Call recording. Google Voice allows you to record your calls (where legal). This can be useful for business meetings or personal protection.
• Call screening. Google Voice can screen your calls and let you know who is calling before you answer.
• Group messaging. Google Voice allows you to create group messaging threads with multiple people.
• Simultaneous ring. Google Voice can ring multiple phone numbers at the same time. This is great for when you are expecting an important call and want to ensure you don’t miss it.
• Call routing. Google Voice allows you to route your calls to different phone numbers based on the time of day or the caller’s identity.
• Use your Google Voice number as your business phone number. If you have a small business, you could use your Google Voice number for your business number. Publish your new business number with confidence that your real number and identity will remain hidden.

How to get your free Google Voice number

If you have a Gmail Account (and if you have a Gmail address, you do), you can create a Google Voice phone number in just a couple of minutes.

Click this link to go to Google Voice

If not already signed into your Gmail account, sign in.

Review the terms and proceed to the next step.

You’ll see a list of phone numbers you can choose from. Or, if you like, you can search by city or area code.

Verify the number and enter the phone number you want to link to your Voice account. You can link a landline phone or a cell phone number.

Google will then send you a six-digit code to enter to continue setting up your Google Voice account.

Once you’ve signed in, you can set up your Google Voice number and enable some of its features by clicking on the Settings icon (the gear icon) at the top of the Google Voice page.

If you have an Android or Apple smartphone, download the Google Voice app. The Google Voice app makes it easy to use your Google Voice number and all its features on your smartphone. It’s like getting a second phone number free!

Managing the Task Manager
Windows 11

If you’ve been using a Windows computer for a while, you know that Windows can sometimes get a little glitchy. Sometimes it seems to get stuck, frozen, or just plain misbehaves! When that happens, your best friend is a tool that’s been around since 1995: the Task Manager.

Over the years, Microsoft has given the Task Manager several facelifts. In the latest versions of Windows 11, they’ve given this old workhorse a modern design and even a “Dark Mode” for those of you who, like me, find the bright white screens a bit hard on the eyes. At first glance, it might look a little intimidating with all those moving numbers, but it’s actually quite easy to use once you know where to click.

Here are three simple tips to help you master the Task Manager and keep your PC running smoothly.

1. Customize Your View (Expand and Contract)

When you first open Task Manager, you’ll see columns for things like CPU, Memory, and Disk. But did you know you can see even more?

Right-click on any column header (like where it says “Name”). A list will appear, and you can checkmark items like “Power usage” or “GPU” to see what’s consuming your battery or graphics power.

You can arrange the columns in any order you want. Click and drag those columns to move them around. You can also grab the little lines between the columns with your mouse to make them wider or narrower so you can more easily read what’s there!

2. The “Mini” Monitor (Graph Summary View)

Sometimes you want to keep an eye on your computer’s “vital signs” without having a window full of info and numbers taking up the screen.

Go to the Performance tab (it looks like a little heartbeat monitor on the left). Now, double-click on any of the graphs (like CPU or Memory).

The whole window shrinks down into a tiny, tidy little box that floats on top of your other programs. It stays right where you can see it, so you’ll know exactly when your computer is working too hard. To get back to the big view, just double-click it again!

3.  The “Magic Elixir” (Restarting Windows Explorer)

This is one of our favorite tricks for fixing a “glitchy” computer without having to reboot or shut down. Windows Explorer is the heart of Windows. If your icons disappear or the Taskbar freezes up, or the start menu doesn’t work, or if things seem glitchy, restarting Explorer usually fixes the problem.

Find Windows Explorer in the list of processes. Right-click it and choose Restart. Your screen might flicker for a second, and your taskbar will disappear and come right back.

Don’t worry—this won’t close your Word documents, lose anything you were working on, and you won’t lose any data; it just “refreshes” Windows.