How to customize your laptop for school

Are you gearing up for school or next semester with your trusty laptop or 2-in-1? Consider Surface Copilot+ PCs from Microsoft – the fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs ever. You can take your Surface Copilot+ PC to the next level by customizing it to suit your school needs. We'll walk you through some practical tips and tricks to personalize and optimize your laptop or 2-in-1 for a productive and enjoyable academic experience.

Tips to personalize your laptop

Customizing your laptop for school is just as important as buying new school supplies. Your laptop becomes both an essential tool and a medium for self-expression. Read through pro tips on how to customize a laptop.

Personalize your desktop

Start by making your Surface Copilot+ PC feel like your unique device. Set your favorite wallpaper, color theme, and personalize your Start menu for quick access to your most-used apps.

Use AI to save time and stay organized

Quick access to AI helps you save time and stay organized. From Microsoft Copilot (your AI companion) to Cocreator and more, you can take a Surface Copilot+ PC almost anywhere while elevating your studies and fueling creative ideas with next-level AI experiences.

The keyboard on a Surface Laptop and the Surface keyboards¹ that you can attach to a Surface Pro 2-in-1 include a dedicated Copilot key² for instant access to your AI companion. Whether you're prepping for class or collaborating on a group project, Copilot can help you:

• Summarize long email chains
• Generate quick study notes
• Translate content in 40+ languages

Protect your investment

Invest in a high-quality laptop sleeve or case to keep your laptop or 2-in-1 safe from scratches and bumps as you move it from class to class. A protective skin can also add a personal touch.

Enhance your keyboard

Since you'll be typing a lot for school assignments, consider customizing your keyboard settings. Surface Copilot+ PCs, for instance, allow you to adjust keyboard backlighting, key repeat rate, and key sound to match your preferences.

Connectivity is key

With Wi-Fi 7 and optional 5G⁵,⁶ built into Surface Copilot+ PCs, you can connect from almost anywhere.  Additionally, include a Surface USB-C® Travel Hub¹ to expand connectivity with a compact multi-port solution. Surface Copilot+ PCs are designed with portability, all-day battery life, and AI-powered productivity in mind—so you can stay connected, creative, and efficient on the go.

Power up and go – all day

With all-day battery life⁴, Surface Copilot+ PCs offer the ultimate laptop and 2-in-1 PC for students who want the freedom to go from class to the library to the music lab, and into late-night existential chats with friends without requiring you to plug in and recharge. All-day battery life⁴ of Surface Copilot+ PCs means less time searching for outlets and more time focusing on what matters.

Optimize display settings

Customize your display settings to reduce eye strain during long study, research, or writing sessions. Adjust the screen brightness, contrast, and color temperature to your comfort level.

Organize your files

Create a system for organizing your digital files. Use folders and labels to keep your documents, notes, and assignments neatly categorized.

The industry-leading AI experiences available on a Surface Copilot+ PC can also help you stay organized. For example, save time finding files by using Recall (preview)⁵ to search for a document, email, or web page on your laptop. Just describe how you remember something, and Recall will find it, instantly.

Embrace cloud storage

School life can be unpredictable—make sure your files are backed up automatically. Surface devices come with Microsoft OneDrive built in, which offers secure cloud storage and access to your files from anywhere. Take advantage of cloud storage to back up your important files and access them from any device. This ensures your work is safe and accessible, even if you accidentally spill coffee on your laptop during a late-night study session.

Install useful apps

Customize your laptop with essential apps for school. Surface is optimized for Microsoft 365⁶, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote—all tools helpful for school success. With built-in AI from Copilot, these apps work even harder for you. For example:

• Copilot in OneNote helps organize class notes and sync across devices.
• Copilot in Word can help generate outlines and summarize research.
• Copilot in Outlook can help simplify scheduling and email communication.
• Copilot Microsoft Teams supports video conferencing and virtual collaboration.

Boost productivity with shortcuts

Learn keyboard shortcuts for your favorite apps and functions. From copying, pasting, opening new windows, or locating a specific citation, these time-saving tricks can help you work more efficiently and stay on task.

Protect your privacy

Customize your privacy settings to control what information and data your laptop shares with apps and other services. Your privacy matters, so take the time to understand and adjust these settings.

Surface is secure to the core, too, because it’s built with a Microsoft Pluton security processor--the highest security level available for a Windows device. You also have the advantage of the most advanced security capabilities built into Windows 11.

Keep your system updated

Regularly update your laptop's operating system and software—or enable automatic updates. Updates ensure you have the latest features, performance improvements, and security patches:

• Check for Windows updates in Settings > Windows Update.
• Install the latest Surface firmware and drivers to keep your device running smoothly.
• Enabled by default, verify that Microsoft Defender Antivirus (built into Windows 11) is turned on for real-time protection.

Personalize your sound

Adjust the audio settings to your liking. Customize the sound profile, volume levels, and audio presets for a better listening experience during online lectures or when watching educational videos.

Stay organized with calendars

Sync your school and personal calendars to your laptop and set up reminders for assignments, exams, and important dates. Staying organized can be a big contributor to consistent academic success and lower stress.

Customize your laptop, your study companion

Surface Copilot+ PCs combine incredible speed and battery life⁴ with next-level AI experiences and signature Surface design. Thanks to the lightning-fast performance powered by Snapdragon® X Elite Plus processors, Surface Copilot+ PCs are built to handle everything from writing research papers to running AI-intensive processes like real time translations during video study calls.

Adding a few Surface accessories and optimizing settings can help you maximize your productivity and make your school experience more enjoyable. When you customize your laptop, you create an efficient and comfortable digital workspace that supports your academic goals.

Explore the Surface Copilot+ PC lineup today and discover how it can become your trusted companion throughout your educational journey.