Gadgets

5 lesser-known Windows 11 features I can’t live without

Published

16 hours ago

May 7, 2025

Empowerment

5 lesser-known Windows 11 features I can't live without

Summary

The Windows 11 Phone Link app allows you to manage messages, calls, and notifications from your smartphone on your PC conveniently.

The Snipping Tool allows users to capture customizable screenshots and recordings. If you need to take a quick screenshot while gaming, Snipping Tool is your best friend.

Virtual Desktops help declutter and separate work from entertainment apps on Windows 11, and Snap Layouts help you multitask like a pro.

Windows 11
boasts a variety of

useful tools and tricks
that users can easily access without needing to install additional apps or software. If you’re new to Windows 11 or eager to explore fresh ways to utilize Microsoft’s latest operating system, you’re in the right place.

If you’re looking to interact seamlessly with your

phone on your PC
, capture screenshots or recordings, and manage multiple windows more efficiently, Windows 11 offers a range of tools designed to accomplish all that and more. Below are five lesser-known (and underrated) tools that I rely on daily to enhance my Windows 11 experience and workflow.

5 useful Windows 11 features I always enable first on a new PC

Windows 11 has many different settings, but these are the ones I always enable first to enhance my experience.

5

Phone Link

Send texts and make calls from your PC

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

If you’re coming from macOS, the Windows Phone Link tool is a similar experience to using iMessage on your Mac. If you want to access your phone’s messages and notifications on your PC, make calls, or share files,

Windows 11 Phone Link
can do that and much more.

To begin using Phone Link, simply search for it in the Windows search bar. From there, open the app and start the setup process with either an Android device or an iPhone. Then, scan the QR code on the app and follow the setup instructions. You can then connect your smartphone to your PC via Bluetooth and customize the notification settings accordingly.

Phone Link automatically connects to your smartphone whenever you boot up your Windows PC. I find Phone Link convenient for making phone calls on my PC and responding to text messages on the fly without pulling my phone out of my pocket.