If you switch from Mac to Windows, you will miss some great features such as Spotlight, Preview and Airdrop. Fortunately, you can use these applications to bring the common features of MacOS to PC Windows.
1. Search as Spotlight with PowerToys Run
Spotlight in macOS can help you find files, open settings and even perform fast calculations. By default, searching on Windows does not perform some of these functions. However, you can search with similar functions with PowerToys Run in Windows.
To set up, download and install Microsoft PowerToys from Microsoft Store. Next, start the application and open the tab Dashboard. Here, locate and turn on the option PowerToys Run.
Click PowerToys Run To view additional settings that allow you to activate the shortcut and convert additional functions, such as the ability to perform calculations, navigate folders, open Windows Terminal, etc.
Press Alt + insertion keys to run Tremble. Now you can search for applications, folders and files. You will also have more options to launch applications with admin rights, other users or open the file position.
Like Spotlight, you can use Run to perform fast calculations, execute system commands or search for system settings.
You can refine your search with identification codes or keywords. For example, if you enter $ audioit will only display audio settings. If you enter the symbol you can browse through the application windows that are open directly from the search bar.
2.
MacOS has excellent fast viewing feature that allows users to preview file content – such as PDF files, images, audio or videos – without opening them first in the link program. Windows Explorer also has preview, but supports limited formats.
Although you can switch to a popular third -party application like Quick Look for Windows, a better alternative than PowerToys's PeekToys. This application allows you to quickly view files in the Explorer file and support almost all file formats, including images, videos and text documents. You can even copy text from the document directly from the preview window.
To use Peek, launch PowerToOYs, open the tab Peek In the left compartment, then convert the switch Enable Peek To turn on the option.
Now, you can choose any item in the Explorer file and click Ctrl + Inner keys To open the preview quickly. You can also use the right or left arrow keys to browse through other files in the same folder.
3. Share files immediately like airdrop with snapdrop
Airdrop allows you to transfer files between Apple devices immediately. While Windows, with the phone link application, supports file sharing immediately, you need to set up each device before you can start sharing.
Snapdrop.net simplifies this process. This is a web application that allows you to share files between devices on the same network. Moreover, you can even send a quick text message to devices connected to the local network.
To share files from your computer to another device, make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Then visit Snapdrop.net On PC and on your tablet or smartphone to make sure both are detected.
Next, click the second device name, select the files you want to send and click Open. On the second device, click on Save To download the file.
You can install Snapdrop in the form of a web application and pin into the taskbar for easier access. To do this, click Install Snapdrop (mobile icon) in the top left corner, select Install And wait for the installation process to complete. Now, you can open Snapdrop from Windows search as an independent application.
Although Snapdrop works well to share files between devices, this application requires an internet connection to operate. Those who like the original application can use Localsend to send files between devices without an internet connection.
4. Send a message and call from PC by phone link
You can text and call Mac easily. Windows provides similar functions to the phone link application, allowing you to manage notifications, send and receive text messages with feedbacks that are suggested and even call.
To get started, you first need to set the link on your Windows computer and your smartphone. This is a quick process, so just follow the instructions to be linked to complete the setup.
Phone Link pre -installed on your Windows computer, but you will need to download from Play Store on Android and App Store on iOS.
After the setup is completed, start the phone link and open the tab Calls. Then click Get Started. A pop-up window will appear on your smartphone. Select Allow To activate the call rights.
That's it! Now you can make a call and reply to text messages seamlessly from your Windows PC.
5. Screenshot as on macOS by sharex
You can use Snipping Tool in Windows to record and take screenshots. However, this tool does not have additional shortcuts provided by MacOS for screenshots.
For example, on Mac, you can use Shift + Command + 3 To take full screenshots, Shift + Command + 4 To capture a part of the screen or Shift + Command + 4 + Space keys To capture a specific window or menu.
Sharex is an open -source screenshot tool, rich in feature that allows you to have a screenshot function like Mac on Windows. Sharex allows you to specify custom shortcuts to capture the area, the entire screen, the operating window, etc.
To create a custom shortcut, start Sharex and click Hotkey Settings In the left compartment. Select Add And select the function you want to specify (such as shooting an area, full screen or window in operation). Set a shortcut by pressing the keys you want to use.
You can also edit, delete or copy existing shortcuts to customize your work process for many different applications.
6. Windynamicdesktop provides Mac dynamic wallpapers
MacOS has some beautiful wallpapers that vary depending on the time of the day. Although Windows Spotlight can automatically change the background and lock screen every day, it is not able to switch seamlessly throughout the day like Mac.
Windynamicwallappers is a third party application with Dynamic Desktop feature to Windows. This application uses your location to determine the time and change the computer wallpaper accordingly.
You can put the theme from the existing collection of dynamic wallpapers from many different versions of macOS, including Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura and Sonoma.
After selecting the theme, click Download To save the file to your local drive. Then click Apply To set that theme as a computer wallpaper. In addition, you can download additional online themes or enter customized themes from the file.
MacOS has some handy features to help experience the computer better. While we hope MacOS has more quality features to officially integrate with Windows operating system, third -party applications and Microsoft's PowerToys can help put some of these features into your Windows machine. right now.
