If you open a lot of browser tabs, this hidden ability can save you a tonne of time.

Even though I’ve been using a desktop computer for a long time, I’m constantly learning new efficiency tips and hidden capabilities. There are numerous methods for preserving keystrokes and mouse clicks. Over a week, those few milliseconds can add up to significant savings (or at the very least, reduced frustration), particularly if the majority of your work is done online.

Although both MacOS and Windows 11 have some excellent features to test, there are more ways to improve your working day than the endless options menus of your operating system. The mouse and keyboard on your computer are also loaded with capabilities that can make work go more quickly and easily. There are several tips you may use to increase your computer efficiency, such as accessing a closed tab again or permanently removing a file without using the recycle bin.

But from my experience, the computer technology that continually surprises people involves using the scroll wheel.

The secret use of the scroll wheel

The internet is a terrific resource for gathering unrelated facts, but occasionally you come across something that interests you. Because it would lead you to stop reading what you are currently reading, you don’t want to click the link and then have to return to the previous page. However, you should leave the path open for later.

How do you behave? There are a lot of options available here, but this one is the slickest and most effective: Simply click the link with your mouse’s scroll wheel if you’re using one. Although it’s not the most natural action, if you push your scroll wheel downward while you’re lingering over the link, it will instantly open in a new tab.

When reading something that links to other intriguing tales, use the scroll wheel to open other tabs so you may check them out after you’ve finished reading the current story.

We’ll show you how to open new tabs in various ways if you desire. We also offer advice on using Windows screenshots and keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl + Shift + T. (which you can open in new tabs with a scroll-wheel click).

Creating new tabs to open links

There are several different ways to open pages in new tabs, which is a useful browsing approach.

• To instantly open the link in a new tab, use your scroll wheel to click.
• The option to “open in a new tab” is also available when you right-click a link.
• The link will also open in a new tab if you click it while holding down Ctrl (or Command on a Mac).

Opening things in a new tab prevents you from having to stop reading what you’re now reading and from waiting for pages to load while you navigate between them. I frequently use it for comparison shopping; all I have to do is quickly open many tabs with the items I’m investigating. Tab through my browser to compare. It’s helpful when a story you’re reading makes a reference to one that you want to check out without stopping what you’re reading right now. When you’re finished reading this story, simply click the link using your scroll wheel to check it out.

Bonus hint: You may navigate through your open tabs by pressing Ctrl + Tab to go forward and Ctrl + Shift + Tab to go backward.

Check out how to factory reset a laptop before gifting it or the key settings for your MacBook for additional computing advice.