Recent Discussions
WinFix Toolkit (All Windows 10 & 11 Repair Tools in One Excel)
After I published this small information tool (Excel (365 & 2016) with network information), several people contacted me and asked if I had a tool with Excel for general service tasks that, while available in Windows, are a bit scattered and confusing. So, I've prepared this small tool for Service Level 1, with most of the service options included. Hardware Repair Tools Repair Action Label Description Reset Windows Update Components UpdateReset Stops related services, renames cache folders, restarts services. Check System File Integrity (sfc /scannow) SFC Scans and repairs corrupted system files. Check Disk for Errors (chkdsk /f /r) CHKDSK Scans hard drive sectors and attempts repair. DISM Health Restore (dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth) DISM Repairs Windows image and component store. Network Reset (netsh int ip reset, netsh winsock reset) NetReset Resets TCP/IP and Winsock catalog. Flush DNS Cache (ipconfig /flushdns) DNSFlush Clears DNS resolver cache. Device Manager (open) DevMgr Opens Device Manager for hardware inspection. Software Repair Tools (examples) Repair Action Label Description Microsoft Office Quick Repair OfficeRepair Launches Office repair tool (Quick or Online). Reset Microsoft Store StoreReset Runs wsreset.exe to reset Store cache. Repair OneDrive OneDriveReset Resets OneDrive client (onedrive.exe /reset). Windows Defender Full Scan DefenderScan Triggers Windows Defender antivirus scan. Reset Windows Firewall FirewallReset Restores default firewall rules. Reset Windows Search Index SearchReset Rebuilds Windows search index. Clear Temp Files TempClean Deletes temporary files and folders. Reinstall UWP Apps (if broken) AppsReinstall Re-registers all built-in Store apps. I hope it might be helpful to some people. The tool has been tested, but it could still use some improvements, so I'd like to ask everyone who has looked at or used this tool for feedback. I would appreciate any constructive feedback or additional suggestions. Happy Excel-ing! *My tool are voluntary and without guarantee! NikolinoDE I know I don't know anything (Socrates)How to Create Reusable Templates in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Templates are time-savers. Instead of recreating the same document, spreadsheet, or presentation layout every time, you can design it once and reuse it whenever you need. Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint all support custom templates, helping you streamline your work and keep your materials consistent. In this post, we’ll walk through how to create and save reusable templates in each application. https://dellenny.com/how-to-create-reusable-templates-in-word-excel-and-powerpoint/Beginner’s Guide to Microsoft Teams: Chat, Meetings, and Channels
If you’re new to Microsoft Teams, the platform might feel a little overwhelming at first. It’s packed with tools for messaging, video calls, collaboration, and file sharing—all in one place. But once you get the hang of the basics, it becomes an incredibly powerful tool for work, school, or personal projects. In this beginner-friendly guide, we’ll cover the core features: chat, meetings, and channels. These three areas form the foundation of how Teams works. https://dellenny.com/beginners-guide-to-microsoft-teams-chat-meetings-and-channels/Mastering Keyboard Shortcuts Across the Microsoft 365 Suite
In today’s fast-paced digital workplace, efficiency is everything. Whether you’re crunching numbers in Excel, drafting a report in Word, analyzing emails in Outlook, or delivering a presentation in PowerPoint, every second counts. That’s where keyboard shortcuts come in. Instead of reaching for your mouse, memorizing a few key combinations can help you navigate Microsoft 365 with ease. Here’s a breakdown of the most useful keyboard shortcuts across the suite. https://dellenny.com/mastering-keyboard-shortcuts-across-the-microsoft-365-suite/Moving from Office 2016/2019 to Microsoft 365: What Changes?
Microsoft’s cloud-era strategy has made Microsoft 365 more than just “Office in the cloud” — it introduces a shift in licensing, update cadence, collaborative features, and more. Below are the key differences you’ll notice, the benefits, and also possible trade-offs to consider. https://dellenny.com/moving-from-office-2016-2019-to-microsoft-365-what-changes/
Tab is not visible for single member in shared channel
Hello everyone, Another day, another M365 mystery. I have a client who added a website tab to a shared channel that is linked to a Planner plan. Technically, this “plan” isn’t a standard plan, as it was created via a Loop component in the channel conversation. Very confusing, I know. So far, so good—this tab is visible to all members of the shared channel except one person. I’ve checked, and everyone has the same licenses. Any ideas on how to solve this mystery? Best regards, HishamPractical Graph: Analyzing External Meeting Participants for Teams Meetings
A reader asked if it's possible to analyze the external meeting participants for Teams online events. The information is available through the Events Graph API, and some PowerShell code written using the Graph PowerShell SDK quickly extracts events to analyze and determine the set of external domains meeting participants come from. https://practical365.com/external-meeting-participants-analysis/
Switch my License in Excel
Hello Community, I need some help with an issue I’m facing. I am currently using the second account license for my Microsoft 365 apps, but I’d like to switch back to the first account. I have tried using the “Switch License” option under the second account, but it hasn’t worked. I would appreciate any alternative steps or solutions you can suggest. Thank you.
Captions for images, including sub-captions
Good morning, I’m using Office 365 (Office 2019 at home). I wanted to ask if it’s possible in Word to create captions for images, including sub-captions, with all the corresponding indexes reflecting the hierarchy. I mean something similar to the photo below.
Profile photo component adds unwanted overlay
Component https://myaccount.microsoft.com Run command: ms-settings:yourinfo Environment Profile picture uploaded through https://myaccount.microsoft.com Profile picture uploaded through Run command (WIN+R): ms-settings:yourinfo Retrieved via Microsoft Graph SDK / Graph REST API endpoint /v1.0/me/photos/$value Steps to Reproduce Go to https://myaccount.microsoft.com. Upload a new profile picture (no presence, badge, or branding requested). Retrieve the profile picture using Microsoft Graph endpoint: GET https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/me/photos/$value Render the image in the client application. Expected Result The raw profile photo is shown exactly as stored—no overlays, rings, badges, or branding. Actual Result The component renders an overlay (e.g., presence badge/ring/branding) on top of the photo, altering the image. Impact Users see altered profile photos, leading to inconsistencies with expectations. Breaks brand/UX design guidelines that rely on unmodified profile images. Severity Medium–High (affects identity consistency across apps using Graph). Notes This happens even though no overlay option was requested in either the upload or retrieval flow. Alternative: Steps to Reproduce and working as expected Run command (WIN+R): ms-settings:yourinfo Upload a new profile picture (no presence, badge, or branding requested). Retrieve the profile picture using Microsoft Graph endpoint: GET https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/me/photos/$value Render the image in the client application. Expected Result The raw profile photo is shown exactly as stored—no overlays, rings, badges, or branding. Actual Result The raw profile photo is shown exactly as stored—no overlays, rings, badges, or branding.Microsoft to do list app on iPhone
Hi all. Can someone please help me. I created a task in the app and then created subtasks but on one of the subtasks I had written over it today (so annoyed at myself). Does anyone how to undo or get it back. The lists help me carry out my daily stuff so really important for me to get it back. The to do list app is on my iPhone. Would really appreciated the help
Best 360 feedback software for Microsoft Teams?
We've been looking for a 360-degree feedback software that will work inside Microsoft Teams for a while now. We have found some decent options like Teamflect, Zensai, and SurveyMonkey, but I would love some suggestions. Any experience with these tools or others?
Dibbling Microsoft AutoUpdate - macOS
I have a customer with a Mac mini M4 with multiple user accounts. Each user has an access to Office 365 apps, Outlook, Excel and Word. The issue I am having is with Microsoft AutoUpdate. I have turned off "Automatically keep Microsoft apps up to date" on all of the users. This has not stopped update application from opening and showing on each of the users there are updates available. If one of the users tries to run the update while an application is open by another user, it cause all kinds of problems. My questions is, "Is there another way to prevent AutoUpdate from indicating there are updates available? Thanks Len Levin BSCUsing Microsoft 365 Effectively in Education Without Overloading Teachers
Technology has become a cornerstone of modern education. Platforms like Microsoft 365 (M365) offer powerful tools to enhance teaching, streamline workflows, and foster collaboration. But with so many apps and features, the risk is real: teachers can feel overwhelmed rather than supported. The key lies in using M365 intentionally—focusing on what makes teaching easier, not harder. https://dellenny.com/using-microsoft-365-effectively-in-education-without-overloading-teachers/Naming Conventions People Actually Use in Microsoft 365
If you’ve ever worked in a Microsoft 365 environment, you know how messy things can get: Teams called “Project”, SharePoint sites named after random acronyms, and files scattered across libraries with names like “Final_v3_Updated_ReallyFinal.docx”. The root problem? Naming conventions that look good in policy documents but fall apart in day-to-day use. The good news: you can design conventions that are practical, simple, and easy for people to actually follow. Here are some steps to make it work. https://dellenny.com/naming-conventions-people-actually-use-in-microsoft-365/Overcoming “Microsoft Teams Fatigue” and Keeping Communication Effective
he rise of hybrid and remote work has made Microsoft Teams an essential tool for collaboration. But with constant pings, endless meetings, and a stream of notifications, many employees are experiencing what’s often called “Teams fatigue.” While Teams (or any collaboration platform) is meant to increase productivity, without mindful practices, it can lead to burnout, reduced engagement, and even miscommunication. The good news? With the right strategies, you can overcome Teams fatigue and keep communication effective. https://dellenny.com/overcoming-microsoft-teams-fatigue-and-keeping-communication-effective/Microsoft’s Push to Save Office Files in the Cloud
A new policy setting is available to force Microsoft 365 enterprise (Office subscription) applications to save to cloud locations and ignore the local disk. The idea is to increase cloud usage and improve compliance by storing all Office files in OneDrive for Business or SharePoint Online. Like a network PC, creating a dependency on a network connection only makes sense when a network connection is dependable, which might not always be the case. https://office365itpros.com/2025/09/09/save-to-cloud-locations/Streamlining Legal Workflows with Microsoft 365 A Guide for Compliance-Heavy Industries
Legal teams and compliance-focused industries face constant pressure: strict regulations, high stakes, and endless documentation. Efficiency isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential. Microsoft 365 (M365) provides a powerful ecosystem for streamlining workflows, ensuring compliance, and enabling secure collaboration without sacrificing productivity. In this post, we’ll explore how legal teams and compliance-driven organizations can harness Microsoft 365 workflows to reduce risks, save time, and stay audit-ready. https://dellenny.com/streamlining-legal-workflows-with-microsoft-365-a-guide-for-compliance-heavy-industries/Preparing Employees for Moving from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365
Migrating from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 (M365) can be a major step in improving productivity, collaboration, and security within your organization. However, a successful transition doesn’t just depend on the technical migration—it also requires preparing employees for the change. People are at the heart of your workplace tools, and ensuring they are informed, supported, and confident in using M365 is the key to unlocking its full potential. Below are some best practices to prepare your employees for a smooth and positive migration journey. https://dellenny.com/preparing-employees-for-moving-from-google-workspace-to-microsoft-365/Microsoft Bolts on Copilot License Check onto ExRCA
Microsoft announced a new Copilot license check diagnostic for the Exchange Connectivity Analyzer. Sounds good, but the test is very simple, and its results don’t tell you anything more than a few lines of PowerShell can deliver. To prove the point, we wrote a quick script to show how to perform a Copilot license check with the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK. https://office365itpros.com/2025/09/08/copilot-license-check-exrca/
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