Most Popular Windows 11 Cool Tips of 2025

Most Popular Windows 11 Cool Tips of 2025

Windows 11 gained plenty of flashy AI headlines in 2025, but the real productivity boosts came from small, practical features. These are the underrated tricks that quietly save you time, battery, and frustration every single day.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor  

December 31, 2025

Subscribe - Read the Newsletter Version.

How often do you think, “I know that file exists, but where did I put it?” 

Or stare at a spinning cursor while one misbehaving app hogs your CPU during a meeting? Meanwhile, your laptop battery drains faster than your patience.

The most popular Windows 11 Cool Tips of 2025 are not gimmicks. 

Editing file metadata for instant search, taming apps with Task Manager’s Efficiency Mode, and mastering Airplane Mode for battery and network sanity are simple habits that pay off all year long.

Feature Explanation

For this 2025 roundup, we are focusing on three power moves that fit both business and home users:

• Edit file metadata in File Explorer to tag and describe your documents, photos, and media so they surface instantly when you search.

• Use Task Manager’s Efficiency Mode to throttle noisy background apps and reclaim performance without buying new hardware.

• Control Airplane Mode intelligently to save battery, reset fussy Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and control when your PC is actually online.

Each feature is already in Windows 11. 

No extra downloads, no subscriptions, just better habits built on tools you probably ignored until now.

What You’ll Gain

Faster search: Find the right file in seconds by searching your own tags and titles.

Smoother performance: Stop one app from slowing your entire system with a couple of clicks.

Longer battery life: Cut wireless power drain and greedy background processes when you are on the go.

Calmer workday: Fewer stalls, fewer “where did that file go” moments, less network drama.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Edit File Metadata in Windows 11

Editing file metadata in Windows 11 is a straightforward process that enhances file organization and accessibility. This article walks you through the steps, benefits, and practical use cases for mastering metadata management.

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the file you want to edit.
2. Right-click on the file and select "Properties."
3. In the "Details" tab, you'll find editable metadata fields such as Title, Tags, and Comments.
4. Click on a field, type in your desired value, and click "Apply" or "OK" to save changes.

Read the Full Cool Tip.

2. Use Task Manager’s Efficiency Mode

Discover how Windows 11's Efficiency Mode in Task Manager can enhance your computer’s performance by optimizing resource usage, resulting in smoother multitasking and prolonged battery life.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc (keyboard shortcut) to open the Task Manager.
2. Navigate to the “Processes” tab.
3. Select the process you want to enable Efficiency Mode for.
4. Right-click on the selected process and click “Efficiency mode”.

Read the Full Cool Tip.

3. Control Airplane Mode for sanity and battery

Airplane Mode on Windows is more than just a travel feature. It’s a quick toggle that can save battery, fix connectivity issues, and help you control wireless radios. Learn how to use it efficiently in both Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Windows 11

1. Click the network/volume icon in the lower-right taskbar or press Windows key + A.
2. Select the Airplane Mode (airplane icon) to toggle it on or off.
3. Optional: Re-enable Wi-Fi or Bluetooth individually while Airplane Mode is active.

Windows 10

1. Press Windows Key + A to open the Action Center.
2. Click the Airplane Mode tile.
3. Toggle again to turn it off.

Read the Full Cool Tip.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Search superpower: Metadata turns vague filenames into rich, searchable context, ideal for shared drives and long running projects.
• Performance control: Efficiency Mode gives you a safety valve for misbehaving apps without closing them entirely.
• Battery and noise reduction: Airplane Mode plus app throttling can extend battery life and cut notification overload on travel days.

Cons

• Manual effort: Metadata only helps if you actually tag files as you go, which takes discipline.
• Potential misfires: Enabling Efficiency Mode on the wrong process might slow down something you actively need, such as a video call.
• Connectivity surprises: Toggling Airplane Mode in a meeting can kill your Wi Fi and disconnect you from a live session if you forget.

Feature Access

• Windows 11 metadata editing: Available to all Windows 11 editions with File Explorer. No subscription required.

• Task Manager Efficiency Mode: Available in current Windows 11 builds that include the modern Task Manager interface. If you do not see the option on right click, your system may not yet be updated or it may be limited on certain critical processes.

• Airplane Mode: Available on Windows 11 and Windows 10 devices with wireless radios, including laptops, tablets, and 2-in-1 systems.

These features are broadly available worldwide as part of regular Windows updates and are not limited to a specific paid tier.

Score

Criterion  |  Score (0–10)  |  Justification

Value 9

Strong gains in organization, stability, and battery life for both business and home users.

Usability 8

All three features live in familiar places, though metadata does require a bit of habit building.

Wow Factor 7

Quiet upgrades rather than flashy AI, but the before and after experience feels transformative.

Total: 24/30 👍 18–24 Good 

These Windows 11 fundamentals rival many newer features in practical impact and pair nicely with showier tools like Copilot or AI Notepad by keeping your system stable and your files findable.

Key Takeaways

These three Windows 11 habits turn your PC from “just functioning” into a calm, predictable workspace. 

You will search less, wait less, and charge less often. 

The best part is that you can start in minutes, with tools already on your machine.

Cool Tip Snapshot

• Feature Name: Windows 11 Power Trio - Metadata, Efficiency Mode, Airplane Mode.
• Platform(s): Windows 11 desktop and laptop.
• Quick Benefit: Instantly find files, tame noisy apps, and squeeze more life out of your battery.
• Access Type (Free, Subscription, Beta): Free, included with Windows 11.

Try It Yourself

Pick one folder you actually use this week and add real tags to ten files, enable Efficiency Mode on one background hog, and use Airplane Mode for your next focused work block, then share what changed for you in the comments.

Subscribe to the One Cool Tip newsletter, and pass this article to your team, family, and friends.

READ MORE

• New Windows 11 Themes Bring Personal Style to the Microsoft Store
  
• “Hey Copilot” on Windows 11: Hands-Free Help That Actually Saves Time
  
• How to Delete Windows Clipboard Contents
  
• MORE Windows 11 Cool Tips

Stay Connected with One Cool Tip

👍 Like and Share: Help others discover OneCoolTip.com!

📬 Subscribe: Get the FREE OneCoolTip Newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.

💡 Support the Site: Chip in through TIPJAR to keep the Cool Tips coming.

Explore More

YouTube: One Cool Tip Channel

X (Twitter): @OneCoolTip

Threads: @onecooltip

Have a great tip or tech question?

📧 Email: onecooltip.com@gmail.com

Rodger Mansfield, a seasoned technology expert and editor of OneCoolTip.com, transforms complex tech into practical advice for everyday users. His Cool Tips empower readers to stay productive, secure, and one step ahead in the digital world.

One Cool Tip

http://www.onecooltip.com

Cool Tech Tips for a Cooler Life!

#Windows11 #Productivity #WindowsHacks #PCPerformance #DigitalOrganization

@Microsoft @Windows @Microsoft365

#TechTips #OneCoolTip @onecooltip 

Copyright © 2008-2025 | www.OneCoolTip.com | All Rights Reserved