18 tips and tricks to make the most of Cortana

Microsoft's virtual assistant, Cortana, is one of the best features introduced in Windows 10. This artificial intelligence tool provides many features for more efficient use of computers and improved productivity. yours.

However, most of us don't know much about Cortana's features. Tips and tricks for using Cortana can make our lives easier. That's why, this article will summarize a list of tips and tricks to help you make the most of Cortana on desktops and mobile phones using Windows 10.

Note : Cortana commands, when spoken, should begin with " Hey Cortana, . "

1. Perform specific searches

Cortana is smart enough to show you the most relevant results at the top of the results list, but that's not entirely true in every situation. That is why, it provides options for you to control your search.

To get the most relevant and relevant results, narrow your search query by using specific information like:

Operators

Search using file names, wildcards ( ? And * ), extensions (eg .doc, .exe, etc.) and standard arithmetic operators.

Location

Search in a specific location including OneDrive, Internet, Windows Store or local storage drive (like C drive :)

Categories

Search in a specific category by writing that category name with a colon ( :) and your query to get search results based on categories. Below is a list of categories (with examples) to get suggestions from:

1. Apps: Edge (showing different applications in Windows Store)
2. Documents: Report (shows all documents with similar names)
3. Folders: Blog (displays all folders named 'blog')
4. Music: Bob Dylan (displays all related songs and albums)
5. Photos: Birds (display images with similar names)
6. Settings: Region and Language (display required settings)
7. Videos: Vacation in Venezuela (show all videos with similar names)
8. Web: Windows 10 (displays information related to this query from the web)

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2. Track delivery packages and flights

As a smart assistant, Cortana also tracks flight numbers and courier packages through their tracking numbers.

It automatically tracks flights and delivery packages with details found in your configured email. You can also track the information manually, if the relevant information is not found in your email.

This tool allows tracking delivery packages from services such as DHL, UPS, FedEx, etc., retailers such as Amazon, eBay, Walmart, etc. . and supports different airlines.

Follow these steps to manually track flight information or courier packages:

1. Enter the flight number or courier package number in Cortana's search box.
2. After Cortana authenticates the information, click Track your package (this step is for courier packages only).
3. You can see the search results in the Best match section.

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3. Set 3 types of reminders

You can set up time-based, location-based or human-based reminders using Cortana on PC and receive reminders on your mobile device.

The reminder is based on the time that appears at the predefined timelines, and the location-based reminder will be based on the location on your mobile device. If it is a human-based prompt, it will appear when you receive a call or message from that person.

Follow these steps to set a reminder:

1. Click on Cortana's search box, then enter or say the prompt query.
2. Click Set a reminder , then Cortana will ask you if you want the reminder based on the person, location or time.
3. After setting the required information, click the Remind button.

Here are a few sample queries to set reminders:

1. "Remind me to pick up the dry cleaning at 8PM day after tomorrow" - "Remind me to dry clean at 8pm the other day".
2. "Remind me to buy the watch for John on 25 December this year" - "Remind me to buy watches for John on December 25 this year"
3. "Remind me when I call Sandhya calls or messages" - "Remind me to congratulate me when Sandhya calls or texts me"

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4. Technical support questions

Cortana helps you get technical support for specific queries and provides the information requested in its application window. Your query can also be redirected to Windows Help & Support, Microsoft Bing (search engines) or Microsoft support pages on Microsoft Edge.

Here are a few sample queries to get technical support:

1. "How do I connect to Wi-Fi?" - "How to connect to Wi-Fi?"
2. "How do I create a backup?" - "How do I create a backup?"
3. "How do I change my background?" - "How do I change my wallpaper?"

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5. Translate words and phrases

Cortana can translate phrases and sentences with 50 different languages. You are asked to enter or speak the phrase (as a query) in Cortana's search box and this artificial intelligence tool will translate the language you want.

Follow these steps to translate with Cortana:

1. Click on Cortana's search box
2. Enter " Translate ", then enter the phrase and " to French " (in case you want to translate the phrase into French)

Here are a few phrases or example queries to create translations:

1. "How do I say good morning in French?" - "How to say good morning in French?"
2. "Translate hello there to Spanish" - "Translate hello to Spanish"

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6. Send text messages from PC

Cortana is a great solution if you want to send a message without being close to the phone or too busy to pick up your cell phone. You can still use this tool to send text messages from your computer (like sending from your phone).

Follow these steps to send a message:

1. Open Cortana and in its search box, enter " Send text to ".
2. Enter the recipient's name from your contact list and press Enter .
3. Then, type your message in the message box and click the Send button.

In case it is a new contact (not listed in your directory), you first need to add that number to the previous contact list. To do this, you can install the People app in Windows 10 and save the contact there (it syncs with your phone).

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7. Search in natural language

Cortana is interactive and user-friendly, as well as enabling natural language queries like Apple's Siri and Google Now. This means you can talk to Cortana just like when you talk to a real person and it will answer you back.

1. Why is Cortana different from Siri and Google Now?

You can follow these steps to search in natural language:

1. Enter or speak your query inside Cortana's search box.
2. Cortana automatically understands context and answers your query.

Some examples of natural language search:

1. "Find documents for yesterday" - "Search documents yesterday"
2. "What's the weather today?" - "How is the weather today?"

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8. Identify music genres and songs

Cortana has a lot of interesting features. Identifying music and song genres is one of them. It not only can listen to and identify music genres, but it can also search the web to give you more details and description of the type of music or song being played.

To use this feature, follow these steps:

1. Click inside Cortana's search box.
2. Click the music note icon in the top right corner (see More , if it is not displayed or available).

Or you can use query questions like:

1. "What song is playing?" - "What song is the song playing?"
2. "What's the name of this song?" - "What is the name of this song?"

Cortana will display song title or track, album name and other details. You can click on the song to buy only it or its album from the Windows Store.

Note that there are some regional restrictions on this feature and Cortana may not be able to identify music genres in unsupported areas. When I encounter this situation, it will reply "I'm sorry, I don't recognize this song, Try again." - "I'm sorry, I didn't recognize this song. Please try again."

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9. Calculate and convert numbers

Cortana, in addition to the features mentioned above, can help you perform basic arithmetic operations and simple conversions.

The tool can switch between different units such as currency, temperature, length, weight and amount of liquid, etc.

You can take the following steps to calculate or convert:

1. Click on Cortana's search box.
2. Say or enter " Calculate " or " Convert ", followed by your query.

Here are some sample queries for reference:

1. "Calculate 8 + 2 - 10/10" - "Calculate 8 + 2 - 10/10 "
2. "Tell 30000 * 60 * 60 * 30" - "Calculate 30000 * 60 * 60 * 30"
3. "Convert 10 USD to EUR" - "Convert 10 USD to EUR"
4. "What's 90 meters in inches?" - "How many inches is 90 meters?"

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10. Find events and get answers

Cortana can even become your tutor and help you find information faster than ever. This virtual assistant can provide you with basic information on a number of topics, not limited to metrics, definitions, holidays, movie information, travel destinations, currencies, time zones, etc. . important.

Here are some sample queries that Cortana can answer:

1. "Who is Bill Gates?" - "Who is Bill Gates?"
2. "When is Labor Day?" - "When is the American Labor Day?"
3. "Define superfluous" - "What is 'unnecessary' definition"

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11. Find places and directions

Cortana can help you locate and navigate to it with its companion app, Maps. Note that this feature requires you to pre-install Maps in Windows 10 and if not, you can search from the Windows Store.

Here's what you can do to get directions with Cortana:

1. Enter or say " Directions to " followed by the location you want to go, in Cortana's search box.

Here are a few sample queries:

1. "Directions to Bloomington" - "Directions to Bloomington"
2. "Directions to Central Park, New York City" - "Directions to Central Park, New York City "

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12. Send email directly

Cortana allows you to send email directly without opening the email application or browser. Using this feature, you can simply say your requests and this personal assistant will send that email to help you.

Note: For this feature to work, your email account must be configured with Cortana.

Here are the steps to send email using Cortana:

1. Click inside Cortana's search box.
2. Enter or say " Send an email to " followed by the recipient.
3. And, enter or say " saying ", followed by the content of the email.
4. After composing the email, you can edit it by saying " make changes ".
5. Finally if all information is ok, just say " send " to send the email.

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13. Create an event on the Calendar application

Cortana can help manage your calendar, allowing you to create meetings and events without opening the Calendar application. It will create an event with the information you provide (and even ask for more, if it thinks the information is incomplete).

It will also remind you of a scheduled meeting or event.

Here's how you can use this feature:

1. Click on Cortana's search box.
2. Enter or say " Add a meeting " followed by the date and now " to calendar ".

Some sample queries to create events are:

1. "Add a meeting for Monday at 4PM to calendar" - "Add a meeting on Monday at 4 pm"
2. "Add an event for tomorrow at noon" - "Add events for tomorrow at noon"

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14. Use Cortana inside Edge

Cortana integrates with Microsoft Edge, the default browser on Windows 10, for easy use and personalization of the user's browsing experience.

While using the browser, you'll see Cortana's icon appear in the address bar, clicking that you can interact with your virtual assistant. Cortana can appear when you search for a place to eat, shop online, listen to music, watch videos, etc.

To use this feature, you need to activate the same as in Edge browser:

1. Click the Options button (three dots) and click Settings .
2. Scroll to the right sidebar and click the View advanced button.
3. Scroll down again there until you see the Privacy and Services section .
4. Enable the Have Cortana assist me option in Microsoft Edge .

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15. Set alarms and reminders

Cortana can even let you set alarms and reminders. Using this feature, you can simply talk to Cortana to install, edit or cancel alarms and reminders without opening any application manually.

Follow these steps to set an alarm or reminder:

1. Click the Cortana search box.
2. Say or enter " Set alarm for " or " Set reminder for ", followed by the date and time to set the corresponding alarm or reminder.
3. To edit / change an alarm or configured reminder, say or enter " Edit alarm for " with the date and time and to turn off the alarm or set reminder, say or enter " Turn off alarm for " , followed by the date and time.

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16. Display the lyrics

Cortana can help you, whenever you watch some music videos or remember some past songs that you want to see the lyrics of. This task is as easy as asking or querying anything else from Cortana.

Here's how you can see the lyrics of a song:

1. Click on Cortana's search box.
2. Enter or say " Lyrics of " followed by the title of the song and artist name.

Here are a few examples of queries to get lyrics:

1. "Lyrics of Numb by Linkin Park" - "Linkin Park's Numb lyrics"
2. "Show me lyrics of Same Old Love by Selena Gomez" - "Let me see Selena Gomez's Same Old Love song"

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17. Control your computer

Cortana can also help control your computer and change the basic configuration. You can provide simple commands to control your computer including things like launching applications, controlling hardware, etc.

Here's how you can use this feature:

1. Click on Cortana's search box.
2. Enter or say words (also known as commands).

Here are some examples:

1. "Turn off Wi-Fi" - "Turn off Wi-Fi"
2. "Open Control Panel" - "Open Control Panel"
3. "Change the wallpaper" - "Change wallpaper"

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18. Update news

Cortana also provides you with the latest or random news and updates based on its analysis. You can set your preferences for Cortana to display news and updates that suit you.

Follow these steps to receive news and updates:

1. Click inside Cortana's search box, then enter " News ".
2. Open Cortana and click the Notebook icon on the left.
3. Among the displayed cards, select News option.
4. Turn on or off the settings to your liking.

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See more:

1. Completely disabling virtual assistant Cortana on Windows 10
2. 18 useful commands you should try with Cortana
3. How to use Cortana to turn off or restart Windows 10?