Latest news with #FileExplorer
The Star
06-07-2025
- The Star
How to remove the 'recommended' section in the Windows 11 start menu
It all looks nice now, but just wait until Windows starts 'recommending' stuff to you in the start menu. — Photo: Zacharie Scheurer/dpa BERLIN: In Windows 11, the trusty Start menu features a selection of program shortcuts in the upper section under "Pinned". Additionally, there is a button labelled "All apps" in the top right corner, which allows users to browse through all installed programs. However, to the annoyance of many users, there's now also a lower section of the Start menu called "Recommended" showing list of random files and recently opened apps. The good news you can remove this somewhat peculiar selection of suggestions. To do this, right-click in the empty area between "Pinned" and "All app" in the upper section. A context menu with a single entry - "Start settings" - should appear. Select this with a left click to open the settings page for the Start menu. You should then be able to select "More pins" at the top and then toggle the sliders for the following three entries to the "Off" position: "Show recently added apps" "Show the most used apps" "Show recommended files in Start, recent files in File Explorer and items in Jump Lists" Afterwards, the "Recommended" section should be empty, and there will also be a bit more space available for program shortcuts. – dpa
Hindustan Times
02-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
How to clear out ‘Recommended' section in your Windows 11 Start menu for a cleaner look
Jul 02, 2025 02:15 PM IST Windows 11's Start menu has a mostly clean, modern look, but not everyone is a fan of the 'Recommended' section that sits at the bottom. This area is meant to help you jump back into recently opened files or apps, but for many, it just feels like unnecessary clutter. If you'd rather keep your Start menu focused on the apps you actually use, you can hide most of what shows up in 'Recommended' with a few quick tweaks. Turning off recommendations in Windows 11's Start menu gives you more space for pinned apps and a tidier desktop experience.(Unsplash) Microsoft added the 'Recommended' section to make it easier to find files and apps you've used recently. In theory, it's a shortcut to your workflow. In practice, it often ends up displaying files you don't want front and centre, or suggesting apps you never asked for. For those who value a tidy workspace or share their computer with others, this can be more annoying than helpful. As of now, Windows 11 doesn't let you completely remove the 'Recommended' section from the Start menu. The section itself will remain, but you can empty it out so it doesn't show any files or apps. This is the best way to reclaim space for your pinned apps and keep things looking neat. Step-by-step: How to hide recommendations Open Start settings Click your Start button. In the menu that appears, right-click the empty space between your pinned apps and the 'All apps' button. Choose Start settings from the pop-up menu. You can also get there by opening Settings, selecting Personalisation, and then Start. Turn off recent and recommended items In the Start settings, you'll see three options you can toggle off: Show recently added apps Show most used apps Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer Switch all three to Off. This stops Windows from displaying recent apps and files in the Start menu and elsewhere. Switch to 'More pins' layout At the top of the Start settings, you'll see layout choices: 'Default,' 'More pins,' and 'More recommendations.' Select More pins. This gives you extra space for your pinned apps and shrinks the 'Recommended' area as much as possible. What happens next? With these settings changed, your 'Recommended' section will be empty. The space won't disappear entirely, but you'll see more of your pinned apps and far fewer distractions. If you ever want to bring back the recommendations, just revisit the same settings and turn the toggles back on. Extra tips and considerations Privacy: This adjustment is especially useful if you share your PC, since it keeps your recent activity private. No permanent removal: There's no official way to collapse or remove the 'Recommended' section completely, and third-party tools or registry hacks aren't recommended as they can cause issues with future updates. Easy to change back: If you miss seeing your recent files, you can always switch the toggles back on.
Tom's Guide
24-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
New FileFix attack brings ClickFix social engineering to Windows File Explorer — how to stay safe
Developed by cybersecurity researcher, mr. d0x, a FileFix attack is a new version of the ever popular ClickFix social engineering tool. For those unfamiliar with ClickFix, it tricks users into executing malicious commands by convincing them that they need to 'fix' something in order to complete a task on their machines. As reported by BleepingComputer, this new FileFix method uses the Windows File Explorer address bar instead. Mr.d0x not only discovered the new method but has demonstrated that it can be used in attacks to target company employees via the same social engineering techniques that have proven highly successful with ClickFix. ClickFix attacks, which have surged in popularity recently, are browser-based and use a variety of tactics to get victims to click on a button in their browser that will copy a command to their Windows clipboard. The victim is then told to paste the command into PowerShell or prompted to perform an additional command in order to 'fix' the issue. This is frequently seen as a reCAPTCHA or an error that needs to be corrected via the Win+R Run Dialog. It has proven to be an extremely effective malware tool, used to spread dangerous infostealers and launch ransomware attacks. The FileFix update created by mr.d0x is similar to a typical ClickFix attack but pastes the command into Windows File Explorer, which many users are more comfortable using. File Explorer can also execute operating system commands which means it has a functional upload feature; the 'trick' portion of the attack is that it no longer requires an error or an issue as a lure and may simply appear as a notification for a shared file that the user needs to locate through File Explorer. FileFix is a phishing page that includes an 'Open Fixe Explorer' button that will launch File Explorer through the file upload functionality and copy the PowerShell command to the clipboard. The fake path is initially seen in the Fixe Explorer address bar, which hides the malicious command and then executes it. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The ClickFix tactic that's currently being used in more and more in attacks is working due to the fact that it's able to bypass the best antivirus software and many other security tools. The reason for this is that victims end up doing most of the heavy lifting themselves as the hackers behind this and similar campaigns use social engineering to coerce them into taking action. The hackers behind this and similar campaigns use your preexisting knowledge and online habits to get you to do something you otherwise normally wouldn't. They might also use a sense of urgency to get you to visit one of the malicious sites used in this campaign. If you do see a verification pop-up with instructions, close the website immediately and whatever you do, don't interact with it or follow its instructions. Being asked to open a Terminal or Command Prompt window on your computer is a major red flag. However, not everyone is as tech savvy which is why you should share what you've learned with both older and younger family members, friends and colleagues to help keep them safe, too.
Fast Company
27-05-2025
- Fast Company
These 10 Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts will boost your productivity
Keyboard shortcuts are efficiency's greatest secret weapon. Yes, they can take a bit to learn and yes, sometimes you've got to—gasp!—take your hand off your mouse to reach all the keys. But man, oh man, once you've mastered the best ones, you'll wonder how you ever lived without them. If you want to navigate Windows 11 faster, work smarter, and minimize unnecessary clicks, these are the 10 shortcuts worth memorizing. Alt + Tab: Switch Between Open Apps As far as most shortcut experts are concerned, this is the Windows shortcut to rule all shortcuts. This venerable classic lets you cycle through open applications with ease. Hold Alt and tap Tab to jump between the windows you've got open. It's perfect for multitasking without losing momentum. Win + E: Open File Explorer Instantly No more hunting for the File Explorer icon: just press Win + E, and all your files are right there. Whether you're accessing documents, downloads, or external drives, this shortcut is a must-learn. Win + D: Show the Desktop I'm not ashamed to admit that sometimes I have so many projects going at once that I get overwhelmed by my own mess of windows, apps, and settings. Sometimes you just need a clean slate, you know? Press Win + D, and all your open windows will minimize, revealing the desktop instantly. Take a breath, and then tap it again to restore everything right where you left it. Win + V: Access Clipboard History Something of a dark horse in the handy shortcuts competition: Ever copied something only to lose it moments later? Win + V saves the day by opening the Clipboard history, allowing you to retrieve text or images you've copied earlier. Alt + Spacebar: Open Copilot Now for a relative newcomer. For quick assistance, answers, and creative ideas, Alt + Spacebar launches a little Copilot search box, making it easy to get help directly within Windows. Use it to look stuff up on the web, launch programs, or open folders, all with a quick keyboard combo. Win + I: Open Settings Tired of digging through menus just to get to Settings? Why did they bury it so deep?! Press Win + I to open Settings instantly, letting you tweak stuff much more quickly than navigating there by mouse. Win + Shift + S: Take a Screenshot When you need to capture something on your screen, the excellent Snipping Tool is your best friend. Win + Shift + S opens it, letting you select and save any part of your display. Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open Task Manager Slow? Laggy? Chugging along? Keep tabs on your system performance by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc. This shortcut opens Task Manager immediately, letting you manage RAM-hogging apps and CPU-taxing processes with ease. Win + L: Lock Your Computer This one's especially handy for those of you who've been summoned back to the office. When you step away from your desk, pressing Win + L locks your screen instantly, securing your work and keeping prying eyes out. Win + Period (.) or Win + Semicolon (;): Open Emoji Panel Here's one for the youths out there. Spice up your messages with emojis and GIFs. Press Win + . or Win + ; to open the emoji panel and add some flair to your messages.
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Business Standard
21-05-2025
- Business Standard
Windows 11 dev build brings AI tools for Photos, Docs, and more: Details
Microsoft released Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5603 to the Dev Channel on May 19. The new 'under-testing' update brings a host of artificial intelligence (AI) powered upgrades such as AI actions to File Explorer, Bing visual search, background blur, object eraser for editing pictures, and background removal. It is also introducing some AI-powered features for Office documents. Here are the details of what Microsoft is rolling out. Windows 11 dev build update: AI actions for File Explorer and Office Microsoft is introducing artificial intelligence (AI)-powered shortcuts, called AI actions, into File Explorer in Windows 11. These context menu options will enable quick access to tools like Bing visual search, background blur, object removal (from the Photos app), and background removal (from Paint), directly from the right-click menu. The company is also developing similar AI functions for Office documents, allowing tasks such as summarising content from OneDrive or SharePoint and generating AI-driven lists. These Office-related features will initially be limited to Microsoft 365 commercial users with a Copilot licence, while broader consumer access is said to be 'coming later.' These updates build on the recent inclusion of the 'Ask Copilot' option in File Explorer, though it remains unclear whether the AI options can be turned off manually. Windows 11 dev build update: Widget redesign Beyond File Explorer, Windows 11 is also seeing improvements to the Widgets feature. The redesigned feed is described as 'more organised, personalised, and engaging' and will now include 'Copilot-curated stories' to tailor content delivery. The latest Dev Channel build also introduces a system-level feature called 'User Interaction-Aware CPU Power Management.' This update is intended to reduce energy usage on laptops and tablets by automatically applying power-saving measures during periods of inactivity, with performance resuming instantly when activity is detected.
