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How to Use Cortana Notebook and Settings Features

Access the Cortana commands that personalize it for your needs

By Joli Ballew Joli Ballew Writer University of Texas Joli Ballew is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and Microsoft MVP, Lynda.com trainer, Microsoft Press author, and college professor. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on August 26, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Windows The Ultimate Laptop Buying Guide

What to Know

Activate Cortana: Open Cortana and select Open Menu > Settings > Voice Activation. Next, turn on Allow apps to use voice activation and Let Cortana respond to 'Cortana' keyword.Cortana can schedule appointments, track calendar items, open apps, create reminders, check weather, and more.
This article explains how to personalize Cortana, Microsoft’s personal productivity assistant in Microsoft 365. Cortana can find what you need, help you stay informed and on track, and simplify collaboration. Instructions cover Microsoft 365 on Windows 10. Although Cortana's Notebook feature is gone, you can still use the tool to achieve more with less effort. Cortana can find what you need, help you stay informed and on track, and simplify collaboration.

Activate Cortana Mode

Once you enable the wake word, you can use your voice to work with Cortana. Go to the Search bar in the Windows taskbar, type Cortana, and select Open. Sign in with your Windows username and password, if prompted. Select Open Menu in the upper-left corner of the screen, which is represented by three dots. Select Settings. Select Voice activation. If prompted, select Open Voice activation privacy settings. Turn on Allow apps to use voice activation and Let Cortana respond to 'Cortana' keyword. Exit the settings menu and begin using voice activation. When you say, "Cortana," a small window opens with a blue circle, indicating that Cortana is listening for a command. Alternatively, you can open Cortana and type into the Ask Cortana box. Whichever way you choose to interact with Cortana, you can use the assistant in numerous ways.

Manage Your Calendar

Cortana can help you schedule appointments and keep track of the items on your calendar. Ask questions or give commands related to your schedule, such as: Cortana, what's on my calendar today?Cortana, what's my next reminder?Cortana, add a new event to my calendar. You can find out the details of your next meeting in Microsoft Teams or join an online meeting. If you sign in with your work account, you can also ask Cortana about people in your organization. Other things you can do with Cortana include: Open Windows 10 apps.Create reminders.Check the weather, traffic, or get directions.Look up definitions and answer math calculations. You can quickly find out more by asking. For instance, say, "Cortana, can you connect with Alexa?" or "Cortana, can you open Windows settings?" Or, say Cortana, what can you do? The assistant offers some ideas and tips that you might find useful. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Disable Cortana in Windows 10 Cortana: Microsoft's Virtual Assistant The 9 Best Cortana Windows 10 Features to Try How to Install Cortana in Windows 11 How to Use Cortana in the Microsoft Edge Web Browser How to Share Your Google Calendar How to Use Alexa and Cortana Together How to Get Google Assistant for PC Use Speech Recognition to Control Windows How to Share Your Google Calendar How to Use Problem Steps Recorder in Windows How to Use the iPad Calendar How to Use Voice Control on iPhone and iPod Touch How to Use Google Home With Your iPhone How to Set up and Use Google Assistant on Your Chromebook How to Sync Your Calendar to Google Assistant Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies