workflow Archives

Winsage

June 17, 2025

5 registry tweaks I made to instantly speed up my Windows PC

Disabling animations and visual effects can improve the responsiveness of Windows 11. To disable visual effects, navigate to HKEYCURRENTUSERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorerVisualEffects, create a DWORD value named VisualFXSettings, and set its value to 2. To allocate fewer resources to background apps, go to ComputerHKEYLOCALMACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionMultimediaSystemProfile, double-click on SystemResponsiveness, and change the Base Decimal value from 20 to 10. To speed up shutdown, navigate to ComputerHKEYLOCALMACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControl, double-click on WaitToKillServiceTimeout, and set the value from 5,000 milliseconds to 2,000 milliseconds. To reduce startup delays, go to HKEYCURRENTUSERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExplorer, create a new key named Serialize, then create a DWORD (32-bit) Value named StartupDelayInMSec and set its value to 0. To prioritize applications and enhance system responsiveness, navigate to HKEYLOCALMACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionMultimediaSystemProfile, double-click on SystemResponsiveness, and adjust it from 14 to 10.

Winsage

June 16, 2025

Goverments are ditching Windows and Microsoft Office — new letter reveals the “real costs of switching to Windows 11”

Windows 10 support will end on October 14, 2025, prompting users to consider upgrading to Windows 11, which has higher hardware requirements that may render many existing PCs obsolete. The Document Foundation criticizes Microsoft's push for Windows 11, suggesting it increases reliance on Microsoft services and raises costs due to subscription models. Users express frustration over the mandatory Microsoft account for Windows 11, and a petition warns that the end of Windows 10 support could lead to many discarded computers. Alternatives like Linux and LibreOffice are presented as viable options, with Linux being compatible with older PCs that ran Windows 10. Users are advised to test Linux on a secondary partition to evaluate compatibility and workflow needs.

Winsage

June 15, 2025

I’ve used a lot of Windows launchers, but this is the best one by far

Flow Launcher is a desktop productivity tool for Windows 11 that excels in speed, opening instantly with a keyboard shortcut and providing audio cues. It features an extensive library of plugins, allowing users to enhance functionality with ease, including pre-installed plugins for searching bookmarks, managing files, and executing system commands. The plugin store offers a variety of extensions, catering to diverse needs, including tools for OneNote, Spotify, and gaming. Flow Launcher is highly customizable, enabling users to adjust extension functions, search result priorities, and activation shortcuts. It also allows the creation of custom hotkeys for quick access to frequently used tools, such as an enhanced clipboard history.

Winsage

June 15, 2025

It’s been four years, and I still don’t have a strong enough reason to upgrade to Windows 11

Windows 11 was released in October 2021 and initially received a score of 6.5/10 due to its focus on aesthetics over functionality. The author currently uses both Windows 10 and Windows 11, with Windows 10 on their personal laptop and Windows 11 on their work laptop. They have been using Windows 11 for six months but still prefer Windows 10 for its familiarity. While Windows 11 has introduced features like enhanced virtual desktops, improved Microsoft Teams integration, a refined taskbar, and new widgets, these changes do not significantly impact the author's daily tasks. The author would consider switching to Windows 11 if it offered enhancements that directly improve their workflow, particularly with meaningful integration of Teams or AI-driven productivity features. The end of life for Windows 10 is approaching, prompting users to decide whether to upgrade to Windows 11 or explore alternatives. Microsoft is trying to encourage upgrades, but many users remain on Windows 10, which is still the most widely used operating system.

Winsage

June 14, 2025

6 registry tweaks every tech-savvy user must apply on Windows 11

Windows 11 provides customization tools such as the Settings app, Control Panel, and Group Policy Editor, but advanced users often utilize the Registry Editor for deeper control. Key Registry tweaks include: 1. Disable the Home page in Settings: Modify the Registry to revert the Settings app to open directly to the "System" section instead of the "Home" page by creating a string value named SettingsPageVisibility and setting it to hide:home. 2. Disable automatic Windows Update: Prevent automatic downloads and installations by creating a key named WindowsUpdate under Policies, then a subkey AU, and a DWORD value NoAutoUpdate set to 1. 3. Disable the Lock Screen experience: Expedite the sign-in process by creating a key named Personalization and a DWORD value Nolockscreen set to 1. 4. Enable automatic Registry backup: Restore automatic Registry backups by creating a DWORD value EnablePeriodicBackup set to 1 and scheduling a task to run daily for backup. Editing the Registry carries risks, and it is advised to back up the PC before making changes.

AppWizard

June 14, 2025

I tried Canva’s photo editor to see if it could replace my favorite free app

Megan Ellis explored Canva's new photo editing tool, comparing it to her preferred app, Snapseed. In a poll, 60% of users favored generative AI tools in photo editors, while 20% valued desktop and mobile availability and sliders for adjusting contrast and saturation. Ellis highlighted Canva's automatic background selection and removal feature, which Snapseed lacks, as a significant advantage. She noted that while Canva offers various image adjustments, it does not have advanced features like color curve adjustments but includes a brush editor for selective fine-tuning. However, she identified usability issues with the mobile app, including bugs and unnecessary steps in the editing process. Ultimately, she plans to use Canva for PC editing while continuing to rely on Snapseed for mobile photo editing.

Winsage

June 14, 2025

Windows 11 Pro for 95% Off Brings the Price Down to Almost $0, This Limited Deal Expires Soon

Windows 11 Pro is available for a limited time at a price of just , representing a 95% discount from its typical price of 0. To access this deal, use the code ‘MSO5’ at checkout. Key features of Windows 11 Pro include a Universal Search tool on the taskbar, OneDrive for easy access to files across devices, the ability to create multiple customized desktops, and productivity shortcuts like the Win + V shortcut for clipboard history.

Tech Optimizer

June 13, 2025

Microsoft Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Tips to Protect Your Business Following the Latest Outage

Microsoft attributed a recent global outage affecting various digital infrastructures to a "CrowdStrike update," which disrupted multiple applications including OneDrive, OneNote, Outlook, PowerBI, Microsoft Teams, and others. Users experienced issues such as synchronization failures and access difficulties. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in supply chains that organizations rely on for managing sensitive data, which can be targeted by cyber threats. Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is a feature within Microsoft Purview designed to protect sensitive information from unauthorized disclosure. DLP policies can monitor user activity and take protective actions like alerting users about inappropriate sharing, blocking sharing attempts, or relocating data to secure locations. DLP can be applied across various platforms, including Office 365 applications and Windows endpoints. The DLP lifecycle includes planning and deployment phases, where organizations assess data to be monitored and ensure policies do not disrupt workflows. Monitoring and reporting tools provide insights into policy matches and incidents, helping organizations refine their DLP efforts. However, DLP has limitations, including false positives, user resistance, and challenges in detecting data leakages through new communication channels.

Winsage

June 13, 2025

Make the most of Windows 11: Tips and tools to improve focus, multitasking, and daily productivity

Windows 11 is the most widely used desktop operating system globally, offering features to enhance productivity. Focus Sessions allow users to work in intervals, with session lengths ranging from 30 minutes to four hours, including breaks. Users can access this feature through the Clock app and can quickly start a 30-minute focus block using Win + N. The Do Not Disturb (DND) feature silences alerts from apps and notifications, helping users concentrate. DND can be activated by clicking the clock in the taskbar or using Win + N, and users can customize which notifications are allowed through the settings. Windows 11 provides three power modes: Best Performance, Balanced, and Best Power Efficiency. Users can modify these settings in the Power & Battery section of the settings, and Energy Saver can be activated quickly from the Quick Settings panel when the battery is low.

Winsage

June 13, 2025

Copilot Vision on Windows with Highlights is now available in the U.S.

Copilot Vision has launched in the United States for Windows 10 and Windows 11 users. It provides real-time assistance and insights to enhance productivity by analyzing content and engaging in conversation. Users can share two apps simultaneously, allowing Copilot to offer context and guidance across platforms. The feature includes Highlights for specific guidance and is initiated through the Copilot app. It is part of Copilot Labs, which also includes Deep Research and file search capabilities. Copilot Vision will soon expand to additional non-European countries.