If there’s one thing guaranteed to test your patience during a busy workday, it’s a messaging app that doesn’t behave the way you expect it to. 

For a tool that millions of us rely on every day, Microsoft Teams does an impressive job of keeping businesses connected and conversations flowing.

But for many fans, a couple of small-but-maddening quirks have been causing frustration for a little too long.

Microsoft has finally heard our cries of despair.

It’s continuing to refine and improve Teams based on real user feedback, and some long-awaited fixes are finally on the way.

One of the biggest updates is a simple but powerful change. You’ll soon be able to choose what the Enter key does. 

We’ve all sent a half-formed message by hitting Enter to start a new paragraph. It’s a reflex.

But now instead of automatically sending your message, you’ll have the option to use Enter for a new line. 

Another welcome improvement is arriving too. Forwarding multiple messages at once. 

Teams traditionally only lets you forward one message at a time, which makes sharing context clunky and time-consuming. 

But now you’ll be able to select up to five messages from a chat or channel and forward them together in one go.

Both features are rolling out now. 

For businesses that rely on Teams every day, these may sound like small fixes, but they remove friction from hundreds of tiny moments. 

And when messaging is a core part of how your team communicates, those small moments matter.

If you want help getting more from Teams, or making sure your Microsoft 365 setup works the way you want it to, we can help. Get in touch.

The post Microsoft finally fixes these Teams issues appeared first on Sussex Tech Support.

Have you noticed that some changes don’t feel like improvements?

Microsoft has announced that it’s retiring PowerPoint’s much loved Reuse Slides feature. 

For anyone who builds presentations regularly, that’s a real blow.

If you’ve never used it, Reuse Slides was one of those quiet, behind-the-scenes features that made life a lot easier. 

It let you open a small panel within PowerPoint, browse through another presentation, and pick out the exact slides you wanted to reuse. You could even choose whether to keep the original formatting. 

It was perfect for keeping your company’s logo, colours, and layout looking consistent. And it was a huge time saver. 

Instead of rebuilding every deck from scratch, teams could pull in existing slides from previous proposals, reports, or training materials. It kept things looking professional and saved hours of fiddling with design templates.

But earlier this year, that convenience disappeared. 

Microsoft says it removed Reuse Slides because there are duplicate ways to do the same thing. It no longer makes sense to maintain overlapping features. 

While that might be technically true, it’s not much comfort for people who liked the simplicity of clicking one button and getting straight to work.

You can still reuse slides. It just takes an extra step or two. 

One simple method is to open both PowerPoint files at once and drag and drop slides between them. This usually keeps most of your formatting, animations, and media in place. 

Another option is to go to View > New Window, which opens a duplicate of your current deck. That’s helpful if you want to work on a new version while keeping the original untouched.

These alternatives do the job, but they don’t feel quite as seamless. 

Reuse Slides gave you more control, especially when you only needed a few slides from a larger deck. 

The drag and drop method can work, but it’s less precise and can sometimes cause small formatting quirks that need tidying up afterwards.

Still, change is inevitable. Microsoft wants fewer overlapping features and a more streamlined experience, even if that means saying goodbye to a few long-standing favourites.

If your business relies on PowerPoint for client presentations, sales decks, or internal training, make sure your team knows about this change. Get them comfortable with the drag and drop method or the “New Window” trick to save time and confusion later.

And if you need help getting to grips with this, or any other change in Microsoft, get in touch.

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Ever found yourself juggling between Gmail, Outlook, and a dozen browser tabs just to find one email or check a meeting time?

It’s the kind of digital chaos most of us have learned to live with… until now.

Microsoft’s AI assistant, Copilot, is about to make life a lot easier. Thanks to a new Windows update, Copilot can now connect directly to your Gmail and Google Calendar, as well as your Microsoft accounts like Outlook and OneDrive.

That means, if you choose to turn it on, Copilot can search across both ecosystems to help you get things done faster.

Can’t remember when you last emailed a client? Just ask, “When did I last speak to Sarah?” Copilot will find it. Even if that message was buried in Gmail.

Need to plan next week’s schedule? It can check both your Outlook and Google calendars so you don’t double-book yourself.

Of course, you’re always in control. Copilot only accesses what you give it permission to. If you’d rather keep your accounts separate, that’s perfectly fine. It’ll keep working just as it always has within the Microsoft tools you already use.

But if you do choose to connect your Google account, it could be a real time saver. It’s one of the first times we’ve seen Microsoft’s technology work with Google’s instead of competing against it. If you mix and match apps from both sides, you’ll know that’s a big deal.

Away from searching and scheduling, Copilot is becoming a powerful creation tool. You can ask it to turn a few notes into a Word document, build a PowerPoint presentation, or even generate a polished PDF, all without opening a single extra app.

Longer responses from Copilot now include an “export” button so you can instantly send its output into the format you need.

The update has rolled out to Windows Insiders (Microsoft’s group of early testers) via the Microsoft Store, but it won’t stay there for long. This is clearly the direction Microsoft’s heading: Fewer apps, fewer steps, and more time to focus on actual work.

There is, however, one big question hanging over all of this. How much do you trust your AI assistant?

Linking Copilot to Gmail and your calendar means giving it access to some very personal data. Microsoft stresses that you stay in charge and your data isn’t used to train its AI, but it’s still worth thinking about before you click connect.

For many, the convenience outweighs the worry. It’s great to see we’re heading towards a world where your tools finally work together, not against each other.

The post Copilot brings Microsoft and Google together appeared first on Sussex Tech Support.

When was the last time you finished a busy workday and still had plenty of battery left on your laptop?

Feels like wishful thinking, right?

Microsoft knows this, because it’s testing out a new feature for Windows 11 that could give your laptop a noticeably better battery life.

As someone who works with business tech every day, I think this could be a big step forward for businesses everywhere.

The feature is called adaptive energy saver.

Normally, Windows only switches on its energy‑saving mode when your battery level gets low. And you can set what “low” means in your settings. But adaptive energy saver takes a much smarter approach.

Instead of waiting for the battery to run down, your laptop will watch what you’re doing. And if you’re only carrying out light tasks like browsing the web, reading emails, or working in Word, it quietly switches on energy saver in the background.

From what Microsoft has shared so far, this doesn’t affect your screen brightness. Which is good news, because nobody wants their screen dimming and brightening all day.

Instead, it seems to focus on gently slowing down components like your processor and graphics chip when they’re not working hard. Those are two of the biggest power drains in a laptop. Easing off on them could mean you get a lot more time before you need to hunt for a charger.

It’s not switched on by default. You’d need to turn it on yourself in your laptop’s settings. And of course, not every test feature makes it to the final version of Windows 11, but this one feels like a no‑brainer to me.

The benefits for businesses are obvious. Your people can work for longer between charges, whether they’re in meetings, out visiting clients, or working from a coffee shop for the afternoon.

Fewer frantic dashes for a plug socket means fewer interruptions and less stress.

And over time, better battery efficiency could even help you extend the lifespan of your laptops by reducing how often they’re run down and charged up again.

Right now, adaptive energy saver is being tested in the Canary channel, which is where Microsoft tries out ideas before releasing them more widely.

I spend a lot of time looking for small changes that add up to a big difference for productivity. This is exactly the sort of improvement that does just that. It’s early days, but if Microsoft rolls this out, Windows 11 laptops could soon feel like they’ve had a major upgrade without you having to buy a thing.

If it’s time to upgrade your devices and you need expert guidance, get in touch.  

The post Better battery life for Windows 11 laptops appeared first on Sussex Tech Support.

When was the last time you opened Notepad and thought, “I wish I could make this text bold or add a heading”?

Probably never, right?

But Microsoft is quietly giving Notepad a little upgrade that could make a surprising difference. Especially for those of us who use it to jot down quick notes, meeting minutes, or even team checklists.

Notepad has always been the simplest of simple tools. It opens instantly, saves fast, and doesn’t get in your way. That’s exactly why so many people love it.

Now, Microsoft is testing a light touch of formatting features. Things like bold and italic text, hyperlinks, headings, and even basic bullet points.

The idea is to give us just enough control to make our notes clearer, without turning Notepad into a full-blown word processor.

The formatting is based on something called markdown. That’s a widely used, no-fuss way to add structure to plain text using simple symbols. For example, putting a couple of asterisks around a word makes it bold.

It’s neat, clean, and doesn’t add any of the heaviness you’d associate with Word or other big editing tools. And if formatting isn’t your thing? No problem. It can be turned off completely.

Some people worry that adding features like this risks bloating the app and making it slower. But in this case, the changes are minimal and optional. It’s more like giving your notebook a nicer pen. Not turning it into a printing press.

And with WordPad now officially retired, there’s definitely a gap for a tool that sits somewhere between “plain text” and “full document.”

For businesses, especially smaller ones without complex systems for documentation, this could be a handy middle ground. Being able to better structure your notes can save time and make your messages clearer.

It’s not flashy, but it’s thoughtful.

And it’s another small sign that Microsoft is modernising even the most basic tools in Windows 11 without losing what made them useful in the first place.

Keep an eye out for the update if you’re using Windows 11. And maybe give those bold headings a try next time you’re scribbling a to-do list.  

The post Exciting new formatting tools for Notepad appeared first on Sussex Tech Support.

Have you ever found yourself staring at a blank PowerPoint slide? Trying to figure out how to turn a pile of notes into something that looks half decent?

Maybe you’ve got a well-written Word document but no idea how to turn it into a presentation that’s clear, professional, and visually engaging?

It can take hours to get it right. Especially if you’re juggling other work at the same time.

Well, here’s some very good news: Microsoft has just made that problem a lot easier to solve.

A new update to Microsoft Copilot means it can now create individual PowerPoint slides directly from a Word file. Yes, what used to take you ages can now be done in seconds.

I can’t be the only one who’s thrilled about this.

Copilot is Microsoft’s AI assistant, built into tools like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Think of it as a smart helper that understands what you’re trying to do and takes care of the heavy lifting.

With this new feature, you can ask Copilot to create a slide based on a section of your Word doc. Or even the whole thing. And it will generate a ready to edit slide with your content already there.

No more copy-pasting text. No more fiddling with layouts or wondering if your fonts match. Amazing.

It won’t yet handle things like custom colours or background images. But it will give you a solid, professional looking starting point to work from. That means your team can focus on fine tuning the message, not wrestling with formatting.

This is a big win for businesses.

Presentation slides are still a huge part of how we share information. Whether it’s pitching to clients, reporting to the team, or planning your next move. But creating them takes time, attention to detail, and let’s face it… some days you’d rather be doing anything else.

Now, you can start with a well written Word doc and have Copilot turn it into slides in just a few clicks. You still get full control to make tweaks and add your personal touch, but the most time-consuming part is done for you.

If your business already uses Microsoft 365 and you’ve got a Copilot license, you can try this now. Just make sure you’re on the latest version of the apps.

In PowerPoint, look for the “New Slide with Copilot” option under the Home tab, or just click the Copilot button and choose “Add a slide.”

This isn’t just about saving time (although it will do that). It’s about freeing your team to focus on communicating ideas clearly and confidently, without getting stuck fiddling with bullet points and box sizes.

So, if PowerPoint presentations are part of your day-to-day, it might be time to give Copilot a go. If you need help getting started, get in touch.  

The post Say goodbye to hours wasted on PowerPoint slides appeared first on Sussex Tech Support.

Have you ever sat in a Teams meeting and found yourself gritting your teeth every time someone said, “next slide, please”?

Me too.

And if your business runs a lot of online meetings or webinars, you’ll know the frustration of clunky handovers and awkward pauses when switching between presenters.

Well, there’s good news. And it’s about time.

Microsoft is rolling out a small but mighty update to Teams that’s going to make a surprisingly big difference to how your meetings run.

First, if you’re not too familiar with Teams, let’s quickly cover the basics. It’s Microsoft’s all-in-one communication platform. Video calls, chat, file sharing, and collaboration tools are all combined in one place.

Whether your team is remote, hybrid, or all under one roof, it helps everyone stay connected and productive without needing to jump between lots of different apps.

Back to the update. Microsoft’s introducing a feature that will let multiple people control the presentation slides during a Teams meeting or webinar.

Right now, if you’ve ever tried to co-present in Teams, you’ll know that only one person has control of the slides. Everyone else is stuck asking the presenter to move things along. That’s not only frustrating, but it also breaks the flow of the meeting.

This new feature will let the meeting host hand over slide control to more than one person.

That means if you’ve got a few people presenting different parts of a deck, each of them can take control of the slides when it’s their turn, without stopping the meeting or awkwardly calling out instructions. It sounds like a small thing, but in practice, it’ll make meetings feel much more natural and professional.

This feature has started to roll out already, beginning with the Windows desktop version of Teams. It’ll likely involve the host selecting co-presenters when setting up the meeting. Hopefully, the setup will be as smooth as the presentations will be.

To me, this is one of those updates that should have been added years ago. But hey, better late than never, right?

Alongside other recent improvements like real-time text messaging during calls (great for those who prefer typing over talking), it’s clear Microsoft’s working hard to make Teams more flexible and intuitive.

Need help getting the most out of Microsoft Teams or other tools in Microsoft 365? That’s what my team and I are here for. Get in touch.

The post This tiny tweak to Teams will make meetings smoother appeared first on Sussex Tech Support.

Spreadsheets have been a go-to business tool for decades now. They’re familiar and easy to use (and if we’re being honest, we can all feel like a bit of a genius when we get that one formula to work, right?).

The problem is, 90% of businesses are still relying on outdated spreadsheets to manage important data, even though they’re slowing things down and increasing the risk of errors.

Think about it: How often do you get stuck manually entering data, fixing mistakes, or trying to figure out if you’re looking at the latest version of that important spreadsheet? It’s so frustrating – and you’re not alone.

Research shows that although 82% of businesses have automation on their roadmap, only 43% plan to implement it in the next year. This means that many businesses are still dealing with the same spreadsheet-related headaches, when they could be working much more efficiently.

So, how could automation help your business?

Instead of spending hours plugging in numbers and double-checking calculations, automation tools can handle data collection, processing, and reporting for you. That means fewer mistakes, less time wasted, and real-time updates that keep everything running smoothly.

Automation tools also come with built-in security features, so you don’t have to worry about who has access to what.

Despite all these benefits, a lot of businesses are hesitant to make the switch. Spreadsheets feel safe and familiar, and change can be intimidating. But sticking with outdated tools is holding you back.

The good news is you don’t have to overhaul everything overnight. Start small. Look at the areas where automation could save you the most time and hassle, like payment tracking, customer data, or reporting.

Once you see how much easier things get, you’ll wonder why you didn’t switch sooner.

If you’re ready to see how automating some of your business processes could improve productivity, we can help. Get in touch.

The post Could automation save you from spreadsheet headaches? appeared first on Sussex Tech Support.

Windows 11 has brought some great features to the table for businesses. And Microsoft’s working to make it even better.

One thing I know many of us struggle with is the Recommendations feature in the Start menu. If you’ve ever clicked on it expecting to see something helpful, only to find suggestions that don’t make sense, you’re not alone. The good news is a fix is on the way.

First, let’s break down what the Recommendations feature is meant to do.

Essentially, it’s supposed to show you apps, files, or websites that Windows thinks you’ll want to open next, based on what you’ve used before. For example, any apps or websites you use regularly are supposed to pop up in your Recommendations for easy access.

Sounds useful, right? If it worked well, it could become a favourite time-saving feature for busy teams. But with suggestions often feeling random and unhelpful, many of us have been ignoring this part of the Start menu altogether.

So, what’s changing?

Microsoft’s started rolling out updates (currently in testing) to make Recommendations a lot smarter.

They’ve fine-tuned the way Windows understands what’s relevant to you. And early feedback suggests the updated feature is much better at showing things you actually need – like that file you were working on yesterday, or the app you use most during work hours.

If you’ve been frustrated by the Start menu in the past, keep an eye out for these improvements. They’re a step in the right direction.

Are you and your team taking advantage of all the other productivity-boosting features in Windows 11? If not, let us help you get started. Get in touch.

The post Microsoft’s fixing this annoying Windows 11 fault appeared first on Sussex Tech Support.

It feels like we have a gadget for everything these days, doesn’t it?

The average office worker now carries around three devices to get through the day. Think laptops, tablets, headphones… and even multiple phones.

Technology keeps teams connected and helps us work smarter – but there’s a downside: Managing so many devices can get a little overwhelming.

What happens every time we add a new device to our daily work routine? There’s something else to charge. Another thing to carry. One more item to keep track of.

In fact, carrying around all this tech adds up to an average 4.1 kg of extra weight. That’s like carrying an air fryer to work every day!

Another issue is the mental load. Many professionals say they feel bogged down by the notifications they get across all their devices. It’s common to get dozens of notifications every day, and the constant flow of alerts can be such a distraction.

One way to get around gadget overload is to try out devices that handle many functions, like foldable phones, or hybrid laptops. This way, one device could do the same thing two or three of your devices are doing.

Another great strategy is to upgrade to a smarter system, like Windows 11.

Windows 11 makes it easier to switch between tasks, reducing the need for extra devices. With a smoother, more integrated experience, your team might not feel they need as many gadgets to stay productive.

Need help streamlining your setup? We can help walk you through the options. Get in touch.

The post How many devices do you use every workday? appeared first on Sussex Tech Support.