Microsoft’s digital assistant Cortana was one of many main additions to Windows 10 when it first got here out. But it was launched again in December 2015, and it’s modified fairly a bit since then. Over the years, it’s had new options added, after which others taken away. Depending on which model of Windows you’re utilizing, it might be built-in instantly into the Windows Search field, or run as a wholly separate app.No matter which model you utilize, although, it’s a really useful gizmo and might do lots for you, together with alerting you to imminent conferences; looking out your PC and the net; telling you in regards to the climate, information, and sports activities; and much more.To make it easier to get probably the most out of Cortana, I’ve put collectively a few of my favourite ideas for utilizing it — together with utilizing Cortana to handle your Google Calendar, ship you reminders, and observe packages and flights.But as a result of Cortana works very otherwise relying on what model of Windows 10 you utilize, I’ve separated this text into two elements — one which covers ideas for Cortana utilizing the newest model, the Windows 10 May 2020 Update (model 2004), and the opposite with ideas for the earlier two variations, the Windows 10 November 2019 Update (model 1909) and the Windows 10 May 2019 Update (model 1903). Use the desk of contents within the left margin or under to leap to the suitable part for you.(Note: This article assumes that you just’re already acquainted with the fundamentals of Cortana. If you’ve got Windows 10 model 1903 or 1909 and wish assist getting began, see the “Cortana and search” part of Computerworld’s “Windows 10 cheat sheet.” If you’ve got Windows 10 model 2004, see the Cortana part of our Windows 10 May 2020 Update assessment.Tips for Cortana in Windows 10 model 2004Earlier than we head into the information for the Windows 10 model 2004, we should always cowl a little bit of background. Cortana was once built-in within the Windows search field: Whether you carried out a search by talking or typing, the outcomes had been delivered within the Cortana pane. But with final 12 months’s Windows 10 May 2019 Update, Microsoft separated Cortana from the Windows search field. And within the new Windows 10 May 2020 Update, Microsoft went ever additional and turned Cortana into its personal app that works like another Windows 10 app, together with operating in a resizable window that may be moved across the display screen.So when you’ve got model 2004 of Windows, the one method to make use of Cortana is to run the app. You can begin it by clicking the Cortana icon within the taskbar simply to the left of the search field, urgent the Windows key + C, or saying “Cortana.”Once you begin the app, to carry out a Cortana search, you say “Hey Cortana” and converse your search, or click on the Cortana icon to the best of the search field and converse, or press the Windows key + C and converse or sort.When you ask Cortana a simple query or subject a simple command, Cortana shows the consequence onscreen and reads it to you. However, when you ask a extra difficult query that requires a show of internet hyperlinks, Cortana will present the hyperlinks within the Edge browser.IDG
Cortana shows the outcomes of your request and reads them to you.
In the earlier model of Cortana, you usually needed to fill out on-screen types to create reminders. However, the Cortana app now presents a chat-like expertise, so that you as a substitute converse or sort utilizing plain English phrases. Cortana might ask inquiries to make clear what you need accomplished, inform you it’s created the reminder, or say it may’t create the reminder. As with chat or texting, it shows your earlier interactions, so you’ll be able to scroll again and see your questions and Cortana’s solutions.When you first set up the May 2020 replace, you might must customise Cortana so you’ll be able to activate it by voice or by urgent the Windows key + C. To do it, click on the Cortana button to the best of the search field to launch Cortana, then click on the three horizontal dots on the prime left of the display screen after which click on the “Settings” button (it’s within the form of a gear) and choose “Talk to Cortana.” From right here you’ll be able to inform Cortana to reply once you say “Cortana” or press the Windows key + C. And you too can select whether or not you’d prefer to work together with Cortana by way of typing or talking and typing.You may take away the Cortana button to the best of the search field. Right-click the taskbar and uncheck “Show Cortana button” from the menu that seems. (You may even flip off the search field on this method. Right-click the taskbar, choose Search, and click on Hidden.)One remaining notice earlier than we start: Cortana’s capabilities had been considerably scaled again within the Windows 10 May 2020 Update. It can now not play music, management streaming video companies like Netflix or Hulu, management sensible residence home equipment, or do different consumer-oriented duties. And it may’t do many smaller duties both, corresponding to creating location-based reminders — for instance, having it inform you to purchase Cherry Garcia ice cream once you’re at a Whole Foods retailer.Those acquainted with earlier variations of Cortana will doubtless discover that it has been stripped down in one other method as nicely. There’s now not a pocket book that allows you to do issues such view and edit your reminders. In many instances, you merely can’t do the issues with Cortana that you just used to arrange via the pocket book — the assorted shopper duties, notably.We’re watching Cortana carefully, although. So test again often in case Microsoft decides to provide it some extra energy sooner or later.Set and use remindersOne of Cortana’s most helpful options is the best way through which it may remind you about duties or upcoming occasions. It’s quite simple to set a reminder — simply say or sort in plain English what you wish to be reminded about — for instance, “Create a reminder for my weekly Wednesday 1 pm Zoom meeting.”IDG
To create a reminder in Cortana, simply converse or sort in plain English.
In order for Cortana to pop up alerts in regards to the reminders you’ve set, that you must activate Windows 10’s notification function. To do it, go to Settings > System > Notifications & actions after which flip the slider on within the “Get notifications from apps and other senders” part.Note that when you don’t give Cortana sufficient info to create the reminder, it would ask you a follow-up query. So when you say “Create a reminder for my weekly meeting” however don’t specify at what time you wish to be reminded, Cortana will ask “When should I remind you?” Speak or sort the reply, and your reminder will probably be created.You can set reminders in the identical method for time and contacts. If you wish to be reminded to fill your automobile with gasoline tomorrow morning, for instance, say or sort “Remind me to get gas tomorrow morning.” A display screen will pop up asking for extra particulars, corresponding to the precise time and whether or not it ought to be a recurring reminder.IDG
You can ask Cortana to create reminders based mostly on the time of day.
You may inform Cortana to remind you to do one thing once you work together with somebody in your contact ebook. So if you wish to remind your self to ask your buddy Lydia a couple of dinner invitation, say “Remind me to ask Lydia about a dinner invitation.” A display screen pops up asking for the contact’s title if Cortana didn’t acknowledge it. Then the subsequent time you ship or obtain an electronic mail with that particular person, you’ll get the reminder.When you’ve set a reminder, and it’s time for the reminder to provide you with a warning to do one thing, the alert doesn’t come by way of Cortana. Instead, it’s despatched as a Windows notification.In earlier variations of Cortana you may simply view, handle and edit your reminders by way of Cortana’s pocket book. But Cortana now not has a pocket book, and so it’s not straightforward to do anymore. However, you are able to do it utilizing a little-known Microsoft software referred to as To-Do. Head to https://to-do.dwell.com/ and log in utilizing your Microsoft account info. (You can set up the Microsoft To Do app from the Microsoft Store when you desire to make use of an app relatively than do it on the net.)Click Tasks and also you’ll see a listing of your whole reminders. Click any reminder and you may edit it, for instance by having it repeat, altering the day and time, including it to your calendar, dismissing it and so forth.IDG
If you wish to edit your reminders, you’ll should do it utilizing Microsoft To Do.
Manage your Google Calendar with CortanaWindows 10 features a built-in calendar app that works with Cortana. However, when you’re a Google Calendar person, you may get Cortana to combine with that as nicely, so you should utilize Cortana to create and edit appointments, and present you your schedule with Google Calendar in the identical method as you do with the built-in Windows 10 Calendar app.To do it, you first must combine your Google Calendar with the Windows 10 Calendar. First, launch the Calendar app by typing “calendar” into the Windows 10 search field, then clicking the Calendar app icon that seems.Next, click on the Settings icon on the decrease left of the Calendar display screen — the icon is within the form of a gear. When the Settings pane seems, choose Manage Accounts > Add account. From the display screen that seems, choose Google. You’ll be requested to register along with your Google account info. Follow the prompts to create the account.IDG
You can create an appointment in your Google Calendar utilizing Cortana when you add your Google account info.
That’s all it takes. From now on, your Google calendar will sync with the Windows 10’s Calendar app. So, for instance, when you ask Cortana to “create appointment,” you’ll be capable of inform Cortana the small print, together with the date, time, and goal. If any info Cortana wants is lacking, it would ask you, and also you merely want to offer the reply. Cortana will add the occasion to your Calendar. Regardless of which calendar you add an occasion to, each Google and Windows 10 Calendar will stay in sync.Also, once you ask to see your schedule — corresponding to by asking “What’s my schedule today?” — Cortana will present you the occasions from your whole calendars, together with Google.One draw back is you can’t add occasions to sub-calendars on Google Calendar (like “home” or “work”) with any common success. Sometimes it really works, and typically it doesn’t.Use alternate search engines like google and browsers with CortanaThe newest model of Cortana is designed solely for duties corresponding to setting reminders, interacting along with your calendar, and related duties, however in no way for normal queries you may ask a search engine. So when you ask Cortana an open-ended query that requires that it search the net after which show the ends in a browser — for instance “Why are deepfakes dangerous?” — it makes use of Microsoft’s Bing search engine to do the search. And it then makes use of the Microsoft Edge browser to show the outcomes. To do this, it first shows the textual content of your query again to you, for instance, “Search for ‘Why are deepfakes dangerous.’” You then click on that textual content, and Edge launches and shows the search outcomes.However, when you’d desire, you’ll be able to have a special browser show the outcomes. It’s straightforward to do. Just change your default internet browser. To do it, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps and scroll all the way down to “Web browser.” Click the Microsoft Edge icon. It will show the browsers you’ve put in. Click the browser you wish to use, and from then on, Cortana will use that browser to show outcomes of searches. And it would even be your default browser for utilizing Windows usually.Even once you do this, although, Cortana will nonetheless use Bing to carry out the search. You can, although, as a substitute have Cortana use Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo or Baidu to carry out the search. To do this, you’ll additionally should make your default internet browser both Chrome or Firefox.If you wish to change from Bing to an alternate search engine and use Chrome as your default internet browser, first comply with the above steps to inform Windows to person Chrome as your default browser. Then go set up the Chrometana Pro extension. Ignore the directions about having to obtain and use a program referred to as Edge Deflector — you solely want to try this when you’ve got a Windows 10 model earlier to the May 2020 Update.Click the Chrometana Pro extension on the upper-right of the display screen in Chrome, then select your new default search engine for Cortana. From now on, your internet searches launched from Cortana will use no matter search engine you select and can show the ends in Chrome.IDG
The Chrometana Pro Chrome extension redirects your Cortana searches to Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo or Baidu relatively than Bing.
Note that there’s additionally a model of Chrometana Pro for Firefox. To use it, first make Firefox your default internet browser, then set up Foxtana Pro, and use the identical directions outlined for Chrometana Pro for Chrome.Use natural-language queriesCortana is lots smarter than you suppose: It permits you to use natural-language queries — in different phrases, make requests of it utilizing plain English (or no matter your language is), relatively than having to make use of particular phrases.For instance, to ship an electronic mail to a contact, you’ll be able to say, “Send an email to Jane Doe.” Cortana will look via your contacts, discover the particular person to whom you wish to ship the e-mail, after which allow you to fill out a type onscreen to create and ship the e-mail with out having to enter a mail app. If you’ve linked your Outlook account to a different account, corresponding to a Gmail account, it would look via that as nicely. And if it finds a number of matches for the particular person’s title, it would ask you which of them deal with you wish to ship the mail to.Check your calendar for Cortana-created infoCortana can routinely add occasions to your calendar based mostly on emails you obtain — for instance, it would add airline flight data to your calendar when you obtain a flight affirmation by way of electronic mail. Keep in thoughts, although, that it solely does this with mail despatched to an Outlook.com account or to company Outlook customers. If the data goes to a special service, corresponding to Gmail, it gained’t work.Miscellaneous cool stuffThere are a wide range of different helpful and/or enjoyable issues that Cortana can do for you. A couple of of my favorites:You can observe flights by saying the flight quantity, together with the image for the airline (for instance, B6 for Jet Blue or AA for American Airlines).
You can ask Cortana to carry out easy calculations: Just say, “Hey Cortana, what’s five hundred twenty-one times twelve minus twenty-six divided by three?”
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There are a wide range of helpful companies Cortana can carry out, corresponding to monitoring flights.
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