In a world filled with distractions, sometimes you just want to put your earphones in, and get some words written down with unwavering focus. When you’re in a programme like Microsoft Word though, it can be tempting to stray from your writing resolve and start formatting your document with all of the different options available. To avoid this temptation, Microsoft have created Focus Mode.
Focus Mode allows you to simplify your screen and focus on the words you’re writing. It makes your Word document full-screen, while also removing all of the buttons and clutter that you don’t need while you’re writing. Whether that’s for essays or work reports – it’s a great feature.
How to access Focus Mode in Microsoft Word
You can find the Focus button at the bottom of your Microsoft Word window next to Display Settings. Click on this, and you’ll be amazed at how much you can get written in a short space of time!
How to exit Focus Mode
To exit Focus Mode, tap the Escape key (Esc) on your keyboard, and your screen will return to normal with all of the toolbars and features appearing once more.
Why don’t I have Focus Mode?
Focus Mode requires that the user be working on Microsoft Word with a Microsoft 365 license. If you can’t find it, it’s likely that you don’t have an MS365 subscription. One of the benefits of that is that your Microsoft apps are always kept up-to-date, and you get the benefit of new features like Focus Mode. With that in mind, if you would like to have a chat about a Microsoft 365 subscription, then please do get in touch – we’d love to help.

Find and replace: How to edit lots of text all at once
Here’s how you can use Microsoft’s find and replace tool to speed up your process and reduce the risk of losing your marbles.

Are we your perfect IT supplier?
Sometimes it can be hard to know where to start when choosing an IT supplier, so here’s a bit more about Crosstek, and what we’re like.

Turn off the Microsoft Word welcome screen
Save time in the work day, and get rid of the Microsoft Word welcome screen.

Create your own Quick Access shortcut in Microsoft Word
Access your favourite Microsoft Word features with one click, by adding your own buttons to the Quick Access toolbar.

Save time with AutoText and short-codes in Microsoft Word
Find time in your work day by using these completely underrated features of Microsoft Word: AutoText and Shortcodes.

What is Focus Mode in Microsoft Word
Keeping your focus on Word documents is an absolute breeze with Microsoft Word’s Focus Mode.

Why should I upgrade to Windows 11?
Want to know whether upgrading to Windows 11 is worth it? Here are some reasons we think it is!

Online hackers don’t stop for the holidays
Hackers don’t snooze on bank holidays. Here are two ways you can protect your business from attempts to steal data.

Cybersecurity training is your last line of defence
It’s easy to spend a lot of money on security systems, but if you think about it, they’re only as good as the people they’re meant to protect. If your team aren’t sure how something works, or a process they should be following to prevent fraud caused by phishing emails, then any security software or system is pointless.

7 layers of cyber security
Here are 7 things we think you should be looking at to give you and your business the best possible chance when it comes to cyber security.

Automated hackers, not just the lone criminal
As technology moves on in our normal lives, you best believe it’s moving on in the world of cybercrime too, with automated hackers looking to steal your data while the minds behind them leave them to it.

Stop changing your password
For years, one of the more common pieces of password advice has been to ensure that you’re regularly changing it, but that’s no longer the case. Stop changing your password!

How to tell if migrating to the cloud has been a success
So you’ve decided you want to utilise the cloud for your business, you’re confident it’s going to make a positive difference, and now all you need to do is implement the changes and evaluate them. How do you go about it and how can you tell if migrating to the cloud has provided you with everything you wanted from it?

A cloud migration strategy explained
We’ve recently written about the value cloud computing offers businesses in our post titled “Why do you need the cloud?” and we mentioned the need for having a really good strategy when first looking to move to the cloud. But what does a good cloud migration strategy look like?

Why do you need the Cloud?
By now, everybody has heard of “The Cloud”, but if someone were to ask you what it is, would you be able to explain it? When you understand a bit more about what the cloud is and does, it’s so much easier to see the value of utilising cloud technology for your business.

Bad back? Shake up your desk setup!
Although we usually write about the technology you’re looking at and working with, we thought we’d take a step back and have a look at the best practices for desk setup, to help you save your back and eyes.

How will the BT switch off affect businesses?
The BT switch off will require every single business in the UK to make changes, but you don’t need to do anything just yet. We’ve written about what we know so far.

When to upgrade business computers to avoid staff mutiny
We’ve written this as a very tongue-in-cheek title, but honestly, isn’t it frustrating when you’re trying to get work done but your desktop or laptop regularly freezes, runs slowly, and is generally a pain in the proverbial backside?

Why IT security is about more than just tech
Why expensive tech on its own doesn’t make for good IT security.

How Microsoft 365 can help business communications – a customer case study
Here is the why, how, and end result of moving one of our clients to using Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) to get away from relying on legacy servers.

What’s in our IT security package
The best way to approach IT security is like Mary Berry approaches cake – lots of layers! We’ve developed our IT security package to maintain good value while protecting the businesses we work with.

Make project work a joy with Microsoft Teams
Are you struggling to keep on top of multiple projects? Are colleagues getting frustrated when they’re like ships in the night, unable to get quick responses to questions? There is a solution: Microsoft Teams.

Microsoft’s increasing the cost of 365 in March. Here’s how to freeze your price
In case you haven’t heard, Microsoft’s increasing its subscription prices for Microsoft 365 in March.

5 reasons VoIP is better than traditional phone setups
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, and even if you’ve never heard of it, you’re probably using it on a regular basis without even realising. If you use services like Zoom, or Facetime then you’ve used VoIP! But what’s the advantage of switching to a VoIP system? Here are our 5 reasons.

Everything you need to know about leased lines
We’re all about demystifying the world of IT for business owners to make the whole thing less daunting. In this article, we’re taking a dive into the world of leased lines.

Can employees use their own mobile phones for work?
Avoid disaster with these security tips for business mobile devices.

Ring ring merrily on high – don’t skip mobile security this festive season
If you were to lose your phone, how confident are you that the business data on it is safe? And, to expand on that, how confident are you that if a member of your team were to do the same thing, that your business data would be safe?

The evolution of ransomware attacks: why everyone is at risk
First developed in the 1980s, Ransomware is software used by hackers to block users from their data until they pay a ransom. Unfortunately, as technology evolves, so does ransomware.

Microsoft 365 user? Make the most of your free resources!
Most people now use Microsoft 365 (previously called Office 365) and yet have very little idea of the capability…

Does my business really need backups?
It might sometimes feel like the IT industry are nagging at you for this, but there’s very good reason for this! If you think this article isn’t…

How much does IT Support cost?
When it comes to looking for managed IT services for your business, one of the biggest things to consider is the…

Moving between office and home working?
Whatever your situation, moving offices requires a huge amount of work, and if you miss something important it could lead to…

Oh no! What to do when you’ve been hacked
We hope you’ll never need this one, but what should you do if you think your business has been hacked? Read on to learn more.