Microsoft is once again finding ways to make life easier for your business with Windows 11.

If you ever work on your phone as well as your PC, you’re going to love the new “Hand Off” feature that’s being tested right now.

The idea is this: Let’s say you’re in a meeting or on the move. And you start working on something in Microsoft Word or another app on your phone. Once you get back to your PC, a notification will pop up asking if you want to keep working on the document – allowing you to switch between devices seamlessly.

This feature is made possible through OneDrive’s syncing function. It’s already compatible with Android phones, and it’s likely to work for iPhones too, although that’s not yet been confirmed.

Being able to jump between devices without losing track of work could be a great benefit, especially if your team works remotely.

Although it hasn’t been rolled out just yet, “Hand Off” has clear potential to be a valuable tool for businesses.

Ready to find out more ways Windows 11 could boost productivity in your business? We can help, get in touch.

Microsoft recently made changes to the Windows Start menu – and it caused a bit of an uproar.

Here’s what happened: Microsoft tried to streamline the Start menu by grouping related settings together. But they tucked the sign out option behind a three-dot menu, creating confusion for people trying to log out of their accounts.

Thankfully, Microsoft has listened to feedback and is now testing an update to put the sign out button back to where it was before.

This is good news for teams that have multiple profiles set up on one computer, making it easier to switch between accounts again.

These changes are part of a broader update to Windows 11 that’s currently being tested. The update will also bring in new features like media controls on the lock screen for when you’re playing music or videos, as well as the ability to share files directly from your search results.

These updates are great examples of small changes that can have a really positive impact on how your team works.

Is it time for you to move your business to Windows 11? We can help get you started, get in touch.

How cautious are you and your team with online security? You know about phishing scams, dodgy downloads, and not clicking suspicious links, right?

But an even sneakier new malware (that’s malicious software) wants to frustrate you into giving up your Google login details.

The malware doesn’t have a catchy name yet, but it’s part of a larger threat known as “Amadey”, and it’s been on the rise since August.

It forces your PC into something called “kiosk mode” (a setting often used on public computers that only lets you access one window). This allows it to lock your browser in full screen mode, hiding all your usual navigation buttons like the address bar and menus. Then you get sent to a fake Google password reset page.

Normally, you’d just hit the Esc or F11 keys to get out of full screen mode, right? Well, not this time. It won’t work if the malware has infected your PC. It wants to confuse you into thinking you must enter your password to solve the problem.

The password reset page will look like a real Google page. But the second you type in your details, they’ll be stolen by a second piece of malware hiding in the background, falling right into the hands of cyber criminals.

Pretty scary stuff.

But here’s the good news: You can break free without giving up your details.

If your browser gets stuck in full screen mode, try hitting ALT+TAB to switch tasks, or ALT+F4 to force the window to close. Otherwise, try closing it through your task manager (CTRL+ALT+DELETE).

If all else fails, just restart your PC by holding down the power button or unplugging it, then get an expert (like us) to look at the malware.

Prevention is always the best approach, though. Be wary if your computer starts behaving strangely, especially if your browser suddenly goes into full screen mode and won’t let you navigate away.

Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments you aren’t sure about. And as tempting as it might be to get past an annoying screen, never enter your password unless you’re 100% sure the website is legit.

If you’d like us to teach your team how to avoid the latest scams, we can help. Get in touch.

If you’ve ever tried to tweak a setting in Microsoft Edge and found yourself lost in all the options, this one’s for you.

Microsoft is cleaning up the Settings page, so you’ll no longer need to dig around in endless menus to find the setting you need.

What’s changing?

You’ll see a new quick access panel under the main Settings menu, giving you shortcuts to the features you’re likely to use the most.

Settings will also be split into smaller submenus, like “System and Performance” and “Appearance”, making it easier to find exactly what you want.

Better yet? The submenus will have their own quick access shortcuts too.

The improvements will give Google Chrome (which has been praised for its well-organised settings) a run for its money. So if your team doesn’t already use Edge as their default browser, it’s a great time to give it another try.

Microsoft is currently testing the update, and it should start rolling out soon. Once it does, you can expect much smoother navigation.

If you need help making the most of the new features in your business, we can help. Get in touch.

Losing access to your business’s data – even temporarily – is a nightmare worthy of a horror movie.

Data backup tools create copies of your data and store them in a safe place. If something goes wrong, recovery tools will use these copies to restore your lost files.

So, if your business already uses backup and recovery tools, you’d think your data is safe… but this isn’t necessarily true.

A new report shows that some backup tools aren’t always as reliable as they should be. In fact, a third of all data losses are caused by backup-related issues. When people try to recover data, they discover it’s been lost or corrupted.

It’s not just corrupted backups that you should be aware of.

One of the biggest threats to businesses right now is ransomware. This is a type of malicious software (or “malware”) that locks you out of your files unless you pay a ransom to regain access.

The report found that half of businesses using backup tools still ended up paying ransoms to retrieve their files, because it was faster than trying to use their own recovery tools. Even worse? Only a small number of businesses that paid ransoms were able to fully recover their data.

Backup tools are supposed to keep your data safe, so why are they unreliable for so many businesses?

Often, it’s because they haven’t been set up properly. And even when they are, they still need to be verified regularly to make sure they are still backing up your files.

Also, older backup and recovery tools can’t always keep up with today’s sophisticated cyber attacks.

Setting up and maintaining a reliable backup system can be complicated. IT experts (like us) can make sure your tools are running correctly every day.

We can also put in place extra safeguards such as continuous data protection (CDP). This constantly saves changes to your files, allowing you to go back in time and restore your data as it was just before an attack or loss.

This is something we do for businesses like yours every day. If you’d like us to help you too, get in touch.

You might think of the Windows Photos app as a basic tool for viewing and managing images. But with an upcoming update to Windows 11, there’s a new feature that could be very useful for your business: Visual Search with Bing.

With the update, you’ll be able to do a reverse image search straight from the app, showing you similar images and related information.

How can this benefit your business?

Let’s say you’re looking at a photo and you want to know more about a product, place or person in the image. Reverse image search is a faster way to get the information you need.

It’s a great tool for eCommerce store owners – you can use it to find out who else is selling a product, compare pricing, or track down new suppliers.

Marketing teams can also use it to easily find similar visuals to use in campaigns, or to make sure images aren’t being used elsewhere. It also helps you check the origin of an image to make sure you have permission to use it.

If your business is in property or research, you can save time by using reverse image search to quickly identify the locations or objects you see in photos.

Microsoft has also made it easier to flick through your photos and edit images by improving navigation and introducing a quick access editing tool right in the app.

Another big bonus: You’ll now be able to sync Photos with iCloud – great for teams that use Apple devices alongside their Windows PCs.

These features should be rolling out soon in a future Windows 11 update.

If you haven’t already upgraded your business to Windows 11, it’s time to start thinking about it. We can help make it easy – get in touch.

Whether you’re drafting emails, writing reports, or creating presentations, spelling mistakes and typos can easily be missed. This means you run the risk of looking unprofessional, especially when communicating with clients or business partners.

Here’s the good news: Windows 11 comes with built-in spell check and autocorrect tools that can put an end to embarrassing spelling mistakes.

These tools are easy to set up. And once that’s done, you won’t need any extra software to make sure your text always looks clear and professional.

Want to know how to use them?

First, open Windows Settings. Then select Time & Language and click on the Typing page. From there, you can turn on options like ‘Autocorrect misspelled words’ and ‘Highlight misspelled words’.

These features will work across most apps, fixing errors and flagging possible spelling mistakes.

You can even get word predictions as you type by enabling text suggestions.

Does your business run in multiple languages? Be sure to switch on the ‘Multilingual text suggestions’ feature. This will bring up word suggestions in whatever language you are using.

While the spelling tools built into Windows 11 will work across most apps once enabled, some apps (like Notepad and Outlook) need a little extra set up.

For example, in Notepad, you’ll need to click the gear icon for settings to switch on the spell check feature.

Your team probably spends a lot of time in Outlook sending emails, so it’s well worth switching on grammar tools here. Go to Editor Settings under the Options tab. From there, you can turn on features like autocorrect, text predictions, and even tone adjustment.

And if your team uses Microsoft Edge for browsing, you can set up spell check and grammar tools there as well. Just head to Settings, click on Languages, and turn on the grammar and spell check options.

By setting up spell check and autocorrect in Windows 11, you’re not just avoiding small mistakes – you’re helping your business run more smoothly.

If you need a hand with this or want more advice on how to save time in your business, we can help. Get in touch.

Imagine having an assistant by your side that never gets tired, never misses a detail, and can help with everything from drafting emails to organising meetings.

Sounds great, right?

Well, that’s what Microsoft Copilot is. It’s a smart, AI-driven tool built into the Microsoft apps you already use, like Word, Excel, and Teams. It’s designed to handle time-consuming tasks that slow your team down.

But how exactly does it work, and why should you care?

In simple terms, Copilot is AI embedded into the Microsoft Office suite. It’s always there to assist you, whether you’re typing up a report, analysing data in Excel, or even planning your next big meeting. And the best part is, you don’t need to be tech-savvy to use it. If you can use Word, you can use Copilot.

So, how can it make a difference in your business?

First off, one of the most exciting things about Copilot is that it’s seamlessly integrated into the software you already know. There’s no need for complicated installations or training sessions. And because it’s built into Microsoft 365, your team can jump right in with minimal disruption. It works across devices too, so whether you’re in the office or travelling, Copilot is always there.

One area where Copilot really shines is how it simplifies your daily grind. Think about how much time gets wasted on things like sorting through emails or organising meetings. We’ve all been there, spending way too long combing through endless email chains or trying to figure out who said what in a meeting.

Copilot tackles this for you. It can summarise long email threads and even suggest responses, so you can get back to what really matters. It’s like having someone do all the heavy lifting while you focus on the more important tasks.

Speaking of meetings, Copilot is a big help when it comes to collaboration. Let’s say you’re wrapping up a Teams call. Instead of manually taking notes or worrying about missing key action items, Copilot will summarise the entire meeting for you, highlighting decisions and tasks. It listens in, captures the key points, and even helps you plan the next steps.

But Copilot isn’t just about cutting down on admin work, it’s also a creativity booster. You know that moment where you stare at a blank document, unsure how to start? Whether it’s drafting a client proposal or putting together a presentation, sometimes the hardest part is getting the ball rolling.

That’s where Copilot comes in. Give it a few prompts, and it’ll generate a first draft or outline to get you started. You don’t have to be a creative genius to produce something great. Copilot takes care of that early-stage work, freeing you up to fine-tune and add your personal touch.

All this leads to a more productive, efficient, and creative workplace. That’s what makes Microsoft Copilot such a powerful tool. It not only takes care of the little things but also helps you unlock your team’s full potential.

Want to find out what Copilot could do for your business? We can help, get in touch.

With the end of support for Windows 10 just over a year away, many business owners are starting to wonder why they haven’t upgraded to Windows 11 yet. Are you one of them?

Research shows that most businesses could make the switch, but a surprising number are still holding back. This despite the upgrade being free and easy.

A recent survey of more than 750,000 Windows 10 systems found that 88% are on hardware that’s fully capable of moving to Windows 11.

Yet, 82% of businesses haven’t taken the plunge.

This is worrying, especially with the clock ticking down to the deadline in October 2025. After then, Windows 10 won’t get any more free updates, including all-important security patches. That could leave your business exposed to risks.

So, what’s the hold-up? For many, it’s the fear of disrupting business operations. Upgrading an entire business’s operating system might sound like a hassle, with concerns about downtime or technical headaches.

But the truth is, upgrading to Windows 11 can be a lot easier than you think, especially with expert assistance (contact us if we can help you with this).

And there’s more to it than just avoiding the risks of sticking with an outdated system. Windows 11 comes with so many benefits:

• Better security to keep your business safe from modern threats
• Improved performance to boost productivity
• And a sleek, intuitive interface that makes work easier for your team

Plus, if you are using newer hardware, Windows 11 will let you make the most of it.

The upgrade from Windows 10 to 11 is free if your devices meet the requirements.

With so many advantages and the deadline fast approaching, there’s no reason to wait.

We help make all upgrades as easy as possible. Let’s jump on a call and we’ll tell you about our extensive preparation, when we schedule upgrades, how we train your team – and answer all your questions.

Our goal is to get you up and running on Windows 11 without disrupting your daily operations. Let’s talk.

If you’ve ever had the misfortune of seeing the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) on your computer, you know just how frustrating it can be. It’s that moment when your screen turns an ominous shade of blue, and you’re left wondering what went wrong and how much work you’ve just lost.

For businesses, these crashes are more than just annoying – they can be disruptive and cost money.

Recent research highlights just how common BSODs have become, with one in 200 devices crashing under normal use. And it gets worse. During the recent CrowdStrike outage, that number shot up to one in ten devices.

While the tech industry seems to be hit the hardest, with more than 15% of devices affected monthly, even sectors like healthcare and retail, which are less prone to these crashes, still get about 8-10% of devices displaying the dreaded blue screen.

So, what’s causing all these crashes? And more importantly, how can you reduce the risk of them happening in your business?

The good news is that about half of these incidents are avoidable.

The bad news is that many businesses simply don’t have the tools or strategies in place to prevent them.

One of the key takeaways from the study is that many BSODs are linked to a few common issues. Problematic hardware, poorly managed Windows updates, and misconfigured drivers for things like graphics cards, networks, and audio systems are among the top culprits.

When these aren’t working properly, it can lead to system instability, which often manifests as a BSOD.

For business owners, this means taking a proactive approach to IT management is crucial.

Instead of waiting for something to go wrong and then scrambling to fix it, businesses should focus on identifying potential problem areas before they lead to a crash. By monitoring the health of your devices and making sure that updates and drivers are properly managed, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of BSODs disrupting your operations.

The research suggests that with the right preventative measures, businesses could cut the number of BSOD incidents in half, reducing the occurrence to about one in 400 devices. This not only minimises downtime but also frees up your IT team to focus on more strategic tasks rather than constantly putting out fires.

Unfortunately, many businesses lack the necessary tools to identify these risks early on. In fact, most companies don’t even know which of their devices are at risk right now, let alone which ones might crash in the future.

To move from a reactive approach to a proactive one, invest in tools that can provide insights into your IT systems. These tools allow you to make data-driven decisions, which can reduce costs, relieve employee stress, and ultimately increase productivity.

Better still, get experts to do it for you. Our approach is proactive IT management. This prevents problems before they can interrupt your work.

Let us keep your business crash-free. Get in touch.