11 Tips and Hidden Functions for Windows 11

Starting October 5, Windows 11 will be officially available to all users with a compatible engine. Microsoft’s new operating system, which benefits from a real facelift, includes many new features. But in addition to the big news officially released by Redmond, Windows 11 has several minor changes that may not seem obvious at first glance.

You can see more clearly, guide yourself through your first steps with Windows 11, find and implement our eleven tips.

1. Use Dark Theme

When starting for the first time, Windows 11 naturally uses a clear theme. However, you can change this setting and choose a less aggressive dark theme for your eyes.

To do this, click the menu To get started, Enter Settings And click Customization In the side column.

Then enter the menu Themes And select the Dark theme you like.

If you do not like Windows’ own recommended themes, you can download new ones from the Microsoft Store by clicking the button. Browse themes.

2. Turn left on the Start menu

Windows 11 introduces a major interface change: Start menu And the taskbar is now centered by default. In addition to the aesthetic aspect, this choice was carefully considered by Microsoft, who wanted to improve and simplify its OS so that its application was as ergonomic as possible regardless of the device installed.

If this change does not suit you, you can change it completely to show it in the lower left, as in this bold Windows 10.

To do this, click the menu To get started, Enter SettingsAnd go to the section Customization.

Then enter the menu Taskbar Then, at the bottom of the window, click Behavior of the taskbar.

Find the option Alignment From the taskbar And click the corresponding drop-down menu. Change the layout Center By Left.

3. Minimize the taskbar

In Windows 11, the taskbar gets new functions, some of which you will not use. So you do not need to pretend that you are using widgets or calling with dialogs to open Microsoft groups.

Fortunately, you can disconnect the taskbar by disabling functions that take up unnecessary space. To do this, open the menu To get started And meet in Settings Windows 11. Select Customization In the left column and enter the menu Taskbar.

Select items you no longer use and no longer want to appear in the taskbar Widgets Where Conversation.

4. Use multitasking to easily clean your windows

The new Microsoft OS has a new functionality Window management. Known as Snap Layout In English, “instant page layout”, this functionality attached to multitasking allows you to automatically rearrange the layout and size of open windows according to several pre-defined formats.

To enable it, move the maximum button of the window with your mouse and select one of the pre-defined shapes.

The active window is placed in the selected zone and resizes automatically. For each remaining zone, select the window you want to place there.

You can resize your windows to their original size by dragging them around the screen.

Note that this functionality, which can be disabled, offers many customization options. To find them, open them Settings Windows 11, select Organization In the side column, enter the menu Multitasking.

And then click Anchor windows Deploy all options related to trimming open windows.

5. Master the Alt + Tab shortcut behavior

If you use the main combination Alt + Tab To switch from one window to another, you have done a clean install of Windows 11 and its implementation will no longer proceed in the same way. Under Windows 10, Microsoft decided to change the way it works. Quickly switch from one application to another, Alt + Tab Edge integrates web browser tabs and can navigate to open tabs in the browser.

To return to the initial function of this essential shortcut, open it Settings Windows 11, select Organization In the side column, enter the menu Multitasking.

In order Alt + Tab, Open the drop-down menu and select the behavior you want to use for it (most practical is obvious Open windows only)

6. Quickly lower all windows except the active window.

Again this option was already in Windows 10, but a booster shot would never hurt. If you have multiple windows open, you can press the window title bar, except for the active window, and shake it all at once.

To enable this option, open it Settings, Enter the section Organization Execute the function from the left column Title Bar Window Shake.

7. Take screen shots easily

Windows 11 comes with a new screen capture tool. Although it can be opened from the Start menu, it can be started quickly using the keyboard shortcut: Windows + Maze + S.

You only need to select the type of capture you want to make, and then select the zone or window to register. Screen shots that you use in another application are automatically saved on the Windows clipboard.

You can click on the pop-up displayed in the lower right before opening and disappearing to open your screen shotScreen capture tool Save it in an image format in the directory of your choice for reference but above all if needed.

And if shortcut Victory + Major + S The more complex it is to remember, the more likely it is to configure the key Printed screen Automatically activate the new one on your keyboard Screen capture tool.

To do this, click the Start menu and open it Settings Windows, and select Access In the left column. Scroll through the options and enter the menu Keyboard.

Finally activate the option Use the Print Screen button to open the screenshot. You only need to use the keys Printed screen To accessScreen capture tool.

8. Open multiple instances of the terminal in the tabs

If you are an advanced Windows user, you may occasionally use the command line or other command line tools. Instead of unlocking multiple instances of different tools, Windows 11 groupes them all Terminal Windows.

To access it, right-click on the menu To get started, And select Terminal Windows.

By default, the Windows Terminal PowerShell tab opens. Click the drop-down menu in the status bar and select the command line tool you want to open in additional tabs.

9. Save the location of your windows in outdoor views

If you happen to connect your laptop PC to one or more external screens, undoubtedly organize your workspace, for example, specific windows or applications on each screen. The only problem is that when disconnecting the screens from your machine, in principle you have to repeat your installation process manually.

With Windows 11, Microsoft has integrated the more practical option of thinking about you, because it allows you to save the location of each window on the attached external screens.

To find it, click the menu To get started, Open them Settings Windows 11, then select Organization In the left column, enter the menu Display.

Make sure the option Memorize the position of the windows according to the connection of the monitor Activated on each of your screens.

Now, when you disconnect and reconnect the external display on your computer, all the open windows will return to the space you specified.

10. Divide your workspaces

Under Windows 10, Microsoft has already provided a virtual desktop system. In Windows 11, virtual desktops were completely redesigned. Can be accessed by clicking on the icon Viewing tasks From the taskbar, the function allows you to divide your different workspace into several separate offices, each with their own independent tasks.

When you clickViewing tasks, The function displays all open windows of the active desktop. You can easily move a window from one virtual desktop to another.

You can quickly create a new desktop by clicking the button + New office When the task view is open, press the taskbar button directly or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Windows + D..

To quickly switch from one virtual desktop to another, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Windows + left or right navigation arrow.

11. Customize the directories fitted in the Start menu

The start menu is naturally provided so you should undoubtedly focus on following the directories and applications that you use most often.

You can customize its default view by attaching some features below it next to the shutdown button.

To do this, click the menu To get started, Enter Settings, Select Customization Navigate to the side column and area To get started.

Then enter the menu Files. Activate each item you want to view in the Start menu.

Now open the menu To get started. New icons should appear next to the on / off button.

Unlike the items fitted above, these icons are not easily attached. To remove them or add new ones, it is mandatory to return to the operating system settings. You can customize this list by right-clicking on these icons and accessing the relevant parameters directly.