Windows 11 and Windows 10 are packed with features that make using multiple monitors better than ever! Most of the tools have a fairly low learning curve, so we strongly encourage traders to become familiar with these features. Doing so can significantly boost your productivity on your trading computer.
This article will explore the assortment of Windows tools available, including PowerToys, Snap, and Virtual Desktops.
Using Windows 11 snap layouts is very easy. You can use keyboard shortcuts or your mouse, this feature is fully baked into Windows 11, so you don’t need to install anything extra. We’ve written a really good article that will help you learn all about using Windows 11 Snap layouts for trading.
Snap layouts is a powerful, yet simple tool for the Windows 11 operating system, which brings with it a whole new level of convenience when it comes to window snapping. With just a few clicks or keystrokes, users can take advantage of this nifty tool to quickly and easily snap windows to a variety of preset zones. In fact, accessing snap layouts is a breeze, thanks to the ability to simply hover the mouse cursor over a window’s maximize button or by pressing the “Windows Key + Z”. From there, users can view all the available layouts, select a particular zone, and snap a window to that zone with ease.
Moreover, users can also take advantage of Snap Assist to create a complete layout of windows, thus streamlining their workflow and maximizing their productivity. Snap layouts are designed to be fully responsive to the current screen size (resolution) and orientation of the monitor, ensuring that users can always achieve the perfect layout, no matter what type of device they are using. So, if you’re looking for a powerful tool to help you manage multiple windows with ease, Snap layouts are definitely worth exploring.
Once you’ve mastered moving your application windows around and snapping them, it’s time to expand your arsenal of tools with Virtual Desktops.
Virtual desktops are an innovative solution designed to help computer users manage multiple tasks and applications simultaneously. They provide a convenient and efficient way to organize your workspace, helping you stay focused on the task at hand.
With virtual desktops, you can easily create separate workspaces for different types of tasks or activities. This means you can have a dedicated desktop for trading, another one for leisure activities like gaming, and yet other additional desktops for anything else you’d like to organize. This enables you to keep your work and personal life separate, improving your overall productivity.
Using virtual desktops also makes it easier to switch between tasks and applications without cluttering your screen. You can simply switch to a different desktop to access the specific app you need for the task at hand, rather than having to navigate through multiple windows and tabs.
Moreover, virtual desktops are particularly useful for traders and investors who need to monitor multiple market data feeds, news sources, and trading platforms simultaneously. With multiple virtual desktops on your trading computer, you can easily separate your apps based on the tasks you’re working on..
Overall, virtual desktops offer a flexible and customizable approach to computing that can greatly improve your productivity, organization, and focus. With this tool at your disposal, you can take control of your digital workspace and create a personalized computing experience that suits your needs and preferences. Read our full article on how to use Windows 11 virtual desktops for trading.
Connecting your phone to your computer is an intriguing feature that offers a range of benefits. While it may not directly impact your productivity when trading, the convenience it provides is remarkable and can greatly enhance your overall computing experience. The ability to link your phone to your computer is a technology that is constantly evolving. Therefore, any thoughts or opinions we share on this feature may change over time as new advancements and updates become available. Nonetheless, the current convenience of phone linking is undeniable, allowing you to seamlessly transfer files, images and control certain apps.
Incorporating phone linking into your daily routine may take some time to get used to, but once you do, it becomes a valuable tool in your arsenal. It can streamline your workflow, help you stay organized, and enable you to access important information and apps with ease. As technology continues to advance, we can expect even more exciting developments in phone linking and its integration with trading and productivity tools. The possibilities are endless, and it’s exciting to see where this technology will take us in the future.
To setup phone link, click on the Windows Start Button, then go to Settings -> Bluetooth & devices -> Phone link. Go through the setup process and just like that you’ll have access to your phone from Windows 11!
The Link to Windows app is preinstalled on select Android and Samsung smartphones (the newest phones should already have it installed), or you can download from the Google Play or Samsung Galaxy Store, then you can connect your device to your PC.
This link between your Android device and PC provides a seamless integration between the two devices. You can easily access everything you love on your Android device directly from your PC, including reading and responding to text messages, viewing recent photos, using your favorite mobile apps, making and receiving calls, and managing your Android device’s notifications.
By utilizing the Link to Windows app, you can stay connected and productive while on-the-go, without having to constantly switch between devices. The convenience and ease-of-use provided by this feature makes it an indispensable tool for traders, business professionals, and anyone looking to streamline their workflow.
Microsoft has recently announced an exciting update to its Phone Link app, which now includes support for iOS devices. This new update enables iPhone users to connect their devices to a Windows 11 PC, providing a seamless integration between their mobile and desktop devices.
With the Phone Link app, iPhone owners can now send and receive messages via iMessage, make and receive calls, and view their notifications directly on their PC or laptop. This enhanced functionality allows users to stay connected and productive while working on their desktop, without having to constantly switch back and forth between devices. This latest update is part of Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to provide a more seamless and integrated experience between its products and services. By extending Phone Link’s functionality to include iOS devices, Microsoft is further enhancing its commitment to making technology work for everyone, regardless of the devices they use.
The inclusion of iOS support in the Phone Link app is a significant milestone, and we can expect even more exciting updates and advancements in the future. As technology continues to evolve, Microsoft will undoubtedly continue to innovate and improve its products and services to provide a better experience for its users.
We’ve saved the best for last! While Windows Snap, Windows Virtual Desktops, and smartphone linking are great ways to increase your productivity and streamline your workflow, PowerToys takes things even further. Microsoft PowerToys is a suite of powerful tools designed specifically for advanced users who want to optimize and customize their Windows experience.
While there are many features in Microsoft PowerToys that can benefit traders, we’ll provide a brief overview of some of the most useful ones. However, we want to emphasize that this topic deserves a more in-depth exploration, which we plan to do in a future article. For now, we’ll just highlight some of the most important features.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into some of the most essential PowerToys features for traders.
PowerToys is not integrated into the operating system by default unfortunately. With Windows 11 and Windows 10 it has to be installed.
To install PowerToys, click here.
Why isn’t PowerToys already installed with Windows 11? You’d think PowerToys would be a baked in feature of Windows 11, but as of right now, it isn’t. PowerToys is a bunch of niche utilities that have a relatively small subset of users that will take advantage of them, we think traders fall into that category. The biggest takeaway we get from Windows 11 is that Microsoft is very intent on decluttering the Windows default installation. Microsoft wants a fresh installation of Windows as clean and minimal as possible. In that sense, it doesn’t make sense to toss in a bunch of these features pre-installed. We use PowerToys and find it useful but don’t use every one of its features, you’ll probably only find yourself using a small handful of the available tools.
There is a lot of information on FancyZones, much more then we plan on covering in this article. If you want to learn everything you’ll ever need to know about FancyZones, head over to the Microsoft’s FancyZone page.
FancyZones is a sophisticated utility for managing windows. With its advanced features and intuitive interface, FancyZones makes it easy to arrange and snap windows into efficient layouts, allowing you to quickly and easily restore your favorite configurations and get back to work.
One of the key benefits of FancyZones is its ability to define a set of zone locations that can be used as targets for windows on your computer’s desktop. These zones can be customized to suit your specific needs and preferences, giving you complete control over how your windows are organized.
Whether you’re dragging a window into a zone or using the associated keyboard shortcut, FancyZones will automatically resize and reposition your windows to fit perfectly within the designated zone. This ensures that your windows are always arranged in the most efficient and optimal way possible, helping you work faster and more effectively.
With FancyZones, you’ll never have to waste time manually resizing and repositioning your windows again. Instead, you can focus on your work and let this powerful utility do the heavy lifting for you. Whether you’re a busy professional, a creative designer, or simply someone who wants to make the most of their time, FancyZones is the perfect solution.
Always On Top, simply put, is a PowerToys Windows utility that enables you to effortlessly keep windows on top of all others, regardless of the applications running.
Think about when you click on an app, even of different sized Windows. That app is immediately the focus of Windows and displays on top of all others. With the Always on Top tool, you can designate that an app window is always displayed on top of everything else, no matter what.
This can be as simple as having the Windows calculator always showing on top, maybe you use the calculator so frequently throughout the day it’s easier if it just shows on top on one of your screens.
For traders, it can be helpful to have certain chart windows consistently displayed on top of all others, especially when they contain critical information that requires continuous access. By designating these specific windows as “always on top,” traders can ensure that the relevant data remains readily accessible and visible at all times, facilitating efficient decision-making and analysis.
Unlocking enhanced functionality within File Explorer, the PowerToys add-ons provide the ability to preview files and render thumbnails for a wide range of file types. By enabling the Preview pane, users can access a visual preview of files directly within File Explorer. To activate this feature, simply navigate to the “View” tab in File Explorer and select the option labeled “Preview Pane” (you might need to click on the “Show” sub-menu under the view tab). This empowers users with a more immersive and efficient file browsing experience, enabling quick file identification and streamlined file management.
The PowerToys Keyboard Manager is a really awesome tool that empowers you to tailor your keyboard to your specific needs. By utilizing this feature-rich functionality, you can effortlessly remap keys and craft personalized keyboard shortcuts. The PowerToys Keyboard Manager takes customization to the next level, allowing you to redefine any key on your keyboard. As an illustration, you have the freedom to swap the functionality of the letter “A” key with that of the letter “B” key. Consequently, whenever you press the “A” key, it will seamlessly insert the letter B instead. This level of keyboard customization fosters a truly personalized computing experience.
It often can be frustrating when traders have a massive array of monitors, and you are struggling to quickly find the mouse. Within “Mouse Utilities” in the PowerToys settings you can enable 4 really cool mouse features. Find My Mouse – unleash a super useful spotlighting feature by either double-pressing the left Ctrl key or shaking your mouse (must be changed to mouse shaking in the settings), which instantly directs attention to the cursor’s precise location. With a simple click of the mouse or a press of any keyboard key, the spotlight seamlessly dissipates. Moreover, if you happen to move the mouse while the spotlight is active, it will automatically vanish shortly after the mouse comes to rest.
The Mouse Highlighter feature provides visual indicators each time you click the left or right mouse buttons. By default, mouse highlighting can be effortlessly toggled on and off using the “Windows Key + Shift + H” shortcut. There is also a Mouse Jump and Mouse Pointer Crosshairs feature.
PowerToys Run is a quick launcher designed for power users. This open-source and modular tool supports the integration of extra plugins, allowing for further customization. To quickly access PowerToys Run, simply press “Alt + Space” and begin typing, it’s as simple as that. (note that you have the flexibility to modify this shortcut in the settings window to something other than Alt + Space). Like all the PowerToys tools, it’s important to ensure that PowerToys is actively running in the background and that the Run feature is enabled for this utility to operate. Explore more information about PowerToys Run here.
This is a simple yet powerful tool. PowerToys Paste as Plain Text allows you to quickly paste text from your clipboard without any text-formatting, thanks to a convenient keyboard shortcut. By utilizing this feature, any formatting associated with the copied text is automatically substituted with an unformatted version of the text. So, for example, if you are grabbing a bunch of text out of an heavily formatted Word document or PDF, you can simple copy the text as usual with “Ctrl + C”, then use the paste as plain text tool to paste it anywhere you want without worrying about copying the formatting.
By default, the activation shortcut is the keyboard combination “Windows Key + Ctrl + Alt + V”. This shortcut is a little bit lengthy with 4 different keys involved so we encourage you to change it to something simpler within the PowerToys settings.
PowerToys Awake is a powerful tool for Windows that eliminates the need to manually adjust power and sleep settings to keep your computer awake. With this tool, you can effortlessly prevent your computer from entering sleep mode or turning off its screens, particularly during time-consuming tasks. It’s a convenient solution for ensuring uninterrupted productivity.
We hope that you’ve learned some valuable new skills and got great new tips from this article. Embracing the latest operating system features is crucial to fully leveraging the capabilities of your trading computer from Blue Aura. If you have any inquiries about purchasing a new multiple monitor computer trading computer, please do not hesitate to contact us anytime.