Five Secret Tools That Can Boost Productivity

Windows 11 Hides Serious Power Features

Five Secret Tools That Can Boost Productivity and Reduce Risk

Windows 11 has been out for years, but most users only scratch the surface of what it can do. Beyond the centered Start Menu and Snap layouts, Microsoft quietly added a series of hidden features that can dramatically improve productivity — and for SMBs, healthcare organizations, law firms, and schools, some of these tools even reduce cybersecurity exposure by eliminating third-party apps.

Here are five Windows 11 secret features every user should be taking advantage of by now.

1. AI Object & Background Removal Built Directly Into Photos

Most people assume you need Photoshop to clean up photos, remove objects, or cut out backgrounds.

Not anymore.

Windows 11’s built-in Photos app includes AI-powered editing tools that:

• Erase people, objects, and backgrounds

• Cleanly reconstruct images after removal

• Require no manual masking or paid software

• Reduce reliance on unknown third-party apps

For organizations, fewer external tools = fewer data leaks, fewer permissions, and less risk.

2. Hidden Calculator Modes You’ve Probably Never Used

The Windows Calculator is secretly several apps in one:

• Scientific Mode — advanced functions, trigonometry

• Graphing Mode — visualize equations

• Programmer Mode — binary, hex, bitwise operations

• Date Calculator — find differences between dates

• Converters — temperature, area, pressure, currency, and more

It even has a “Always on Top” mode — perfect when tracking expenses, comparing pricing, or performing quick conversions without switching windows.

3. Built-In OCR: Copy Text From Screenshots With Snipping Tool

Need to extract text from:

• Images

• Videos

• System error boxes

• Websites that block copying

• PDFs

• Apps with non-selectable text

Windows 11 now includes built-in Optical Character Recognition (OCR) via the Snipping Tool.

Just screenshot, click Text Actions, and copy whatever you need.

This replaces insecure third-party OCR apps and reduces data-sharing risk.

4. Add Multiple Time Zones Directly to Your Notification Center

For anyone coordinating with:

• Remote teams

• Clients in other countries

• Vendors abroad

• Family overseas

Windows 11 lets you add two additional time zones directly to the Notification Center. No more searching “time in Tel Aviv” ten times a day.

These clocks show up instantly when you open Notifications or hover over your taskbar time — ideal for modern hybrid and international workforces.

5. Notepad Now Includes Lightweight Text Formatting

Notepad — the simplest app in Windows — has quietly evolved.

It now supports:

• Headings (H1, H2, Body)

• Bold + Italics

• Bulleted & numbered lists

• Hyperlinks

• Markdown view

• “Save as .MD” for formatted documents

This turns Notepad into a fast, distraction-free editor for notes, documentation, and drafts — all without the weight of large apps like Word or Evernote.

Small features. Big productivity. Zero extra risk.

Windows 11 hides tools that eliminate the need for risky third-party apps, streamline workflows, and reduce friction across your entire organization.

70% of all cyber attacks target small businesses, I can help protect yours.

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