Microsoft Copilot has been there in the latest version of Windows 11 for quite some time now, and if you have just started using it, you should know a few things to get the best out of this AI tool. Here are some of the best Microsoft Copilot tips and tricks that you should know to get the best possible result.

Some of the best Microsoft Copilot tips and tricks are:

1. Choose a conversation style
2. Add Copilot to context menu
3. Use Copilot to open apps
4. Use Copilot to turn on/off settings
5. Voice search
6. Image search
7. Generate AI image
8. Summarize long paragraphs
9. Ask definite question
10. Use Copilot in Office apps.

1] Choose a conversation style

When you open Microsoft Copilot for the very first time, it asks only one question to get started – conversation style. Conversation style is nothing but a way to get your answers. There are three styles – More Creative, More Balanced, and More Precise. If you are looking for a high-end job, it is recommended to go with the More Balanced option since it creates human-like answers.

On the other hand, the More Precise style is for those who want to use some specific things such as mathematical calculations, lists of something that is too specific, writing something on a specific topic, etc.

Read: Windows 11 Copilot Download, Install, Features, Settings, Remove

2] Add Copilot to context menu

By default, Microsoft Copilot appears on the right-hand side of your screen when you press Win+C or click on the respective Taskbar icon. However, if you want to use it right from the context menu, that is possible too. For that, you need the help of Registry Editor. You can go through this guide to learn how you can add Copilot to the context menu.

3] Use Copilot to open apps

Not only just finding answers, but Copilot can also be used to open apps as well. For example, you want to open a browser or an Office app such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. In such situations, you can ask your AI companion to open it for you. All you need is a simple command such as open Microsoft Word or open Google Chrome. Start the command with “open” to open an app.

However, you cannot close an open app using Copilot. If you enter a command starting with “close,” it returns an incorrect answer.

Read: How to use Copilot in Windows 11

4] Use Copilot to turn on/off settings

Apart from opening apps, you can use Copilot to turn on or off system settings. As Windows Settings comes with tons of things here and there, it might be difficult for you to remember the location of a specific option. If so, you do not need to open the Windows Settings panel to enable or disable a specific option.

Instead, you can use Copilot to get the job done. For example, if you want to enable dark mode, you can simply give a command like this – turn on dark mode. On the other hand, if you want to disable dark mode, you can use the term “turn off.”

Note: After testing several settings with this command, we can say that you would get the best result when you add turn on/off instead of enable/disable or activate/deactivate. Also, not all the options can be turned on or off. As of today, it works best with an option that comes with a toggle button.

5] Voice search

If you are tired of typing, you can always use the voice search option. For that, you must enable the microphone to be used by Copilot. Once done, you can click on the microphone icon and start giving your command. No matter what you want to get, you can ask it using your microphone.

6] Image search

It is one of the best things that Copilot has housed so far. At times, you might want to know what an image is all about. For example, you have got an image of a fruit on Facebook, but you do not know the name of it. In such situations, you upload the image or provide the direct link to it and ask Copilot to find the name. Alternatively, if you have an image of text, you can extract it as well.

To use this option, you need to click on the image search icon and upload the image or share the link. Then, you can ask your question manually.

7] Generate AI image

It is another way of using Copilot. Let’s say you want to get an image of something and are not happy with readily available online images. In those moments, you can generate an AI image. For that, you must provide precise information that you want to include in an image. That said, instead of saying, “create an image of tom and jerry,” say, “create an image of tom and jerry sitting on a bench looking at a bird.”

It may take a while, but the result will be amazing. Once you see the images, you can click on them to obtain the photo to your computer.

8] Summarize long paragraphs

We often do not want to read long paragraphs – especially when it is not an interesting topic. No worries! Copilot can be used to summarize your boring paragraphs as well. All you need to do is to enter the text you want to shorten and give a command like “summarize this paragraph in N words.”

The result is instant. Most importantly, you would learn what the paragraph is saying in your desired word count.

9] Ask a definite question

It is the most important thing you should remember while using Copilot. This AI tool shows answers based on the questions you ask. Therefore, you need to remember a few things:

• Make a platform first. That said, instead of saying write a medical leave application, ask it to write something like this – write a medical leave application from 12th December to 20th December describing [your medical issue].
• Edit your result. Once you get the result, but you are not happy with it, you can give it more information about what you want, how you want, etc.

10] Use Copilot in Office apps

It is possible to use Copilot in other apps as well. For example, you can use Copilot in most of the Office apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, OneNote, Outlook, etc.

That’s all! I hope these tips will help you use Copilot.

Also read: How to use Copilot in Microsoft Edge

What is the best way to use Microsoft Copilot?

Microsoft Copilot can be used in many ways on your computer. However, if you want to get the best results, you must follow some parameters. For example, you should always ask definite questions instead of random ones to get what you are looking for exactly. Apart from that, you can also follow the aforementioned tips and tricks to use Microsoft Copilot in the best possible way.

Read: How to enable and use Copilot in Loop

How do I experience Microsoft Copilot?

To use or experience Microsoft Copilot on Windows 11, you need to update your computer to the latest version. As it comes as an in-built functionality, there is no option to obtain the app. Once you are with the latest version, you can press Win+C to open Copilot.

OVER a dozen teatime mistakes are costing households up to £205 extra on their energy bills each year, according to new research.

Nearly every UK household (93%) admits to having at least one bad energy habit, Uswitch reports.

1

This includes anything from overfilling the kettle to leaving lights on - but doing so could unnecessarily add hundreds of pounds more to our energy bills.

Two-thirds of households (66%) set their washing machine at more than 40 degrees celsius, potentially costing nearly £20 a year more than washing at 30 degrees celsius.

Almost half (48%) run it when it’s not full, adding another £8 to bills, according to the survey of 2,000 participants.

With washing machines costing households £32 a year on average in electricity, an extra weekly wash could add an extra £8 to annual bills.

Running the dishwasher when it's not full adds an average of almost £10 a year to energy bills – and not using the appliance's eco mode could also increase costs by £20 a year.

Another costly habit is leaving the hot tap running while doing the washing up.

A running hot tap can waste 100 litres in just ten minutes, wasting 26p in energy costs.

Households that do this one a week could run up an additional £12 a year.

Tea-making is an area where bad habits can quickly increase energy costs.

Three-fifths of households (61%) say they fill the kettle with more water than they need, potentially adding nearly £40 to the average £84-a-year cost of tea-making if they overfill by half every time.

Nearly 15 million households admit leaving the TV on when no one is watching, potentially adding £1.90 a year to bills, while half (52%) leave the lights on when no one is in the room, which could add £9 to annual bills.

Leaving devices on standby is the most common bad habit, with 72% of households saying they do this. 

Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: "Most New Year Resolutions don’t last a long time, but getting into good energy habits could save you a significant amount of money over the year.

"We've all been guilty at times of leaving the lights on or overfilling the kettle, but it's important to remember that these habits can all add hundreds of pounds a year to our bills.

"Bills are higher this winter than they were last year, but there are a lot of ways households can cut their energy use.

"Saving money might be as simple as using the eco mode on your white goods and making sure you only run them when full."

If you don't have a smart meter and haven't sent your supplier latest meter readings - it's worth submitting one now.

An updated meter reading will mean your supplier has a more accurate idea of your usage to bill you accurately.

There are several cheap and easy ways to heat your home and reduce electricity costs.

Every degree you increase the temperature of your thermostat is estimated to hike your heating bill by about 10% - so get the balance right.

The Energy Saving Trust recommends that your thermostat should be set to the lowest comfortable temperature, which for most is between 18°C and 21°C.

You can also turn your boiler's flow temperature down as well as any thermostatic radiator valves in some rooms - you could save around £180 annually on your energy bills.

A couple managed to cut £400 off their EDF Energy bill by turning off their immersion heater.

Topping up loft insulation and switching to a smart meter can bring a household a further £230 worth of annual savings, according to Nesta.

It is also important to ensure that when your boiler's running, there's no draught.

Ventilation is good for health and air quality but is the first place heat will escape.

If there's a draught, grab a draught excluder and plug the gap.

You should also ensure your windows are closed before the sun sets.

Consider what rooms in your home need heating.

You won't be using each one 24/7, so make sure the heating is off in any rooms that aren't occupied.

The best part about all these changes is that they won't cost you a penny as they are free.

When temperatures fell below freezing one December, a Reddit user shared that they were struggling to stay warm. Thankfully, commenters came to their aid with suggestions for insulating their home.

As the world gets warmer in general, the weather is getting less predictable, which can result in unusual cold spells in many locations. Sometimes, this means residents are trying to stay warm in homes that simply weren’t built for this kind of freeze.

Many have turned to their online communities for tips and tricks, like the Redditor who was trying to survive winter in a poorly insulated home.

In this thread, the original poster says they live in a 100-year-old building full of drafts.

“We lined all the windows with towels/blankets, replaced draft stoppers, applied weatherizing tape to every nook and cranny, and I even taped one of our exterior doors shut (we don’t use it) and it’s still drafty,” they say.

Concerned about both the uncomfortable temperature inside the home and the skyrocketing heating bill, they ask, “What else can we do in the meantime to fix the draftiness?”

The top comment offers several helpful suggestions such as window insulation film, checking for drafts in fireplaces, and taking advantage of sunlight through south-facing windows to warm the home during the day.

“Rugs can also help depending on where you’re losing heat from, as well as thick curtains,” they add. “I like the velvet ones from Ikea for insulation and light blocking.”

Other commenters suggested sealing the front door mail slot while some listed their favorite weather stripping.

Improving insulation in a home is a smart step for combatting both winter and summer temperatures. It helps maintain a comfortable indoor climate, while also lowering heating and cooling bills, since the home’s HVAC system doesn’t have to work so hard. Finally, it’s good for the environment, because less HVAC use means less electricity and fuel used, reducing the amount of heat-trapping gas released into the air.

The OP of this Reddit thread was glad to receive so many suggestions.

“Thank you!” they say in response to a comment. “I’ll check out the velvet curtains and window plastic for sure.”

Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more, waste less, and help yourself while helping the planet.

You just replaced your PC's hard drive, but now you have to reinstall and reactivate Windows or Office on your new system. Can you do it without the product keys for your software? There are some tricks, but you'll have to use them while your current hard drive is still alive and well.

With Windows 10 and 11, the OS should automatically activate as the license is usually digital and doesn't require a product key. But with older versions of Windows and with Microsoft Office, a product key is required. For the latter, you can use a third-party utility to display the keys on your PC before a crash occurs, save those key numbers, and squirrel them away just in case.

First, let's go through the scenarios in which you would or would not need a product key to reinstall and reactivate certain Microsoft software. Even though Windows 10 and 11 typically don’t require a product key, there are exceptions, as described in this Microsoft support document. If you purchased Windows 10 or 11 from a retail store or on a new device as opposed to upgrading from a previous version, then you have a product key and would need that to reactivate the OS.

Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 both require a product key for activation, as detailed in another Microsoft support document.

And what of Microsoft Office? If you have a subscription to Office 365, you don't need a product key. You just install Office 365 on your new hard drive as part of your subscription (though you might have to contact Microsoft to activate it). If you have a digital or physical copy of any version of Office, then you’re given a product key that would need to be entered.

In general, having the product keys for your Microsoft products is a good idea. The easiest way to grab those product keys is from the product box, or in the case of Windows, from a sticker on your PC itself. But if those avenues aren't accessible, here are three products that can reveal your product keys so you can keep them handy.

Belarc Advisor

(Credit: Lance Whitney)

The free and robust Belarc Advisor provides a wealth of information about your PC and software. You'll find details on the different hardware components that make up your computer, information on attached accessories such as printers and your monitor, and a list of networked devices. For our purposes, Belarc displays the software installed on your PC along with their products keys. You'll see the keys for Windows and Office as well as non-Microsoft software.

Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder

(Credit: Lance Whitney)

Another free utility, Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder serves up product keys for Windows and Office 2010 (it doesn't support more latest versions of Office) as well as non-Microsoft software. You can print the product key information or save it as a text file or a CSV file. A more advanced program called Recover Keys offers additional options for $29.99, but Jelly Bean Keyfinder should suffice if you just need the product keys for Windows and Office 2010.

Product Key Scanner

(Credit: Lance Whitney)

NirSoft’s free Product Key Scanner will scan your installed versions of Windows, Office, and other programs via the BIOS, the Registry, or a Registry file saved on an external drive. The software works with any version of Windows from XP to Windows 10, both 32-bit and 64-bit flavors.

Email stinks. OK, it’s not that bad, but I’d much rather get things done in person, in a video meeting or over chat. My rule of thumb: If we get into an email back and forth, I’m calling you instead.

That said, email has its place and you might as well make your inbox as useful as it can be. For me, that starts with my annual ritual: Clearing out all the old mail from the year before. give it a try.

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The trick is simple: Archive your inbox

You’ll be surprised at how effective this is at giving you back some digital headspace.

So, what is email archiving? Basically, this keeps a record of everything you’ve sent and received — so you’ll always have a copy of any of your messages and attachments — but they won’t be sitting in your inbox.

Sure, you can file all your emails away into carefully sorted folders, but what are the chances you’re actually going to keep up with that level of organization? Archiving is a great gift to give yourself going into the new year. Plus, it’s an easy New Year’s Resolution to keep. Just click a few buttons, and your life is already easier!

Follow these steps to archive in Gmail

First, open your Gmail account on a computer and click the Inbox folder on the left.Above your emails, there’s an empty checkbox. Click the small arrow next to it, and choose All. This selects only the conversations visible on the screen.To select all your emails, click Select all (number) conversations in Inbox. Then, hit the Archive icon (folder with a downward pointing arrow).

Gmail will take some time to process your request. Be patient. You may have to do this step a few times to get everything.

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Once you’ve archived a message, you can hit All Mail to the left, right under Inbox and your other email folders to find it. Your best bet is to search by a term you know was in the email or by the sender.

Using Apple Mail? Here’s what to do

Open the Mail app on your Mac. Look through your inbox or other folders and find those emails you want to stash away. Click on an email to select it, or if you’ve got a bunch, hold down the Command key and click on each one you want to archive.Got an ‘Archive’ button (looks like a little box) on the toolbar? Just click that, and you’re golden. No button? No problem. Click ‘Message’ at the top, then choose ‘Archive’ from the dropdown. If you’re all about shortcuts, just hit Control + Command + A and those emails will zip right into your archive.Where did they go? Head over to the ‘Archive’ folder. It’s in the sidebar under ‘Mailboxes.’ Got more than one email account? Each one has its own Archive folder.

When you need to find those emails again, just click on that ‘Archive’ folder anytime. All your archived emails are there, ready when you are.

How to archive emails in Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook doesn’t put archived messages into a separate folder. Instead, they’ll go straight to a data file you can access whenever you want.

Select File > Cleanup Tools > Archive, then hit Archive this folder and all subfolders. Choose the folder you want to archive. In this case, your inbox.Under Archive items older than, enter your date. For example, you may want to archive everything before 2012. Then, check the box that says Include items with “Do not AutoArchive.” Click OK, and you’re good to go.

You’ll see emails disappear from your inbox and subfolders. Now they’ll be under the Archives heading.

2023: A YEAR OF INNOVATION AND DISRUPTION IN TECH

Your inbox should be clean as a whistle

Now that you know my secret, your inbox is sure to look a whole lot cleaner to start the new year. thinking you missed something? Here’s my tip: If it’s really important, that person will email you again.

As a side note, remember that even if you archive emails, they can be subpoenaed for legal cases. We don’t give legal advice, so it’s best to consult a lawyer if you have any questions about this. 

Use Yahoo? I have steps for archiving here on the website.

Keep your tech-know going 

My popular podcast is called “Kim Komando Today.” It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips, and callers with tech questions like you from all over the country. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts. For your convenience, hit the link below for a latest episode.

PODCAST PICK: Billionaire doomsday preppers, p*rn copyright trolls & nasty Amazon scam

Plus, my 2024 tech resolutions and ways to have AI help you craft yours. California bans this ultra-weird product from Amazon — and yes, it involves donkeys. Peloton tablet goes obsolete, and I’ve got five tech holiday road trip tips.

Check out my podcast “Kim Komando Today” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.

Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my last name, “Komando.”

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