Dell, for example, added on some of its laptops' toggling power of the Bluetooth radio, overriding the hardware Wi-Fi switch, Fn Key Behavior and switching the Touchpad on or off. Nevertheless, customization is allowed and there is room in WDC for up to an additional eight tiles. Third-party customization expands tile choices: Microsoft was quite strict in its rules governing how OEMs could customize the Windows Mobility Center with their own tiles. Those who own a Windows Phone may see some value with this tile. Sync center: This rarely used tile is a remnant of past Microsoft mobile devices such as the long forgotten Windows CE and Windows Mobile, the early OS for Windows cellphones.

As far as a second monitor, you can use a variety of sources. A good number of modern desktops can handle this setup, as long as the Graphical Processing Unit has two separate outputs for video, as shown below. Again, this optional button appears only when it has been added by your computer’s manufacturer. These instructions are geared towards Windows 8.1 but the process is the same for Windows 7 and XP as well. Click the tile’s icon to launch the Network and Sharing Center otherwise reached via the Control Panel. However, if your particular computer had a dedicated hardware switch to power the wireless radio, the button may be grayed out. Wireless network: For a quick status check on your laptop’s wireless radio setting, the WDC way is better than foraging for a network icon in your System Tray. This tile is currently not featured in the Windows 8.1 beta version, but is still available on some Windows 8.0 systems. Clicking the tile’s icon takes you to the Presentation Settings window otherwise reached from the Control Panel. For those computers with this tile present, you are able to disable the screensaver, screen blanking and standby/sleep timer, all essential during presentations. Presentation settings: This optional tile appears only when a laptop has been configured by the OEM for presentation settings. You’ll probably want to simply extend your screen so you get more display real estate to multi-task. A sidebar should pop up so you can choose a new display mode. Clicking the tile’s icon takes you to the Display/Screen Resolution window otherwise accessed through a right mouse click on the Desktop and a series of additional clicks to drill down to the Resolution menu. If you’re using Windows 8 or Windows 10, press Windows and the P key at the same time.

The button toggles which screen(s) are active - the laptop’s, the external, or both. External display: If you have an external monitor attached to your laptop, this tile displays its current status and resolution.

Windows 8 external monitor