20 tips and tricks to improve Windows 11

Whether you've just bought a new computer with Windows 11 or decided update windows, you will notice some changes that provide a different design and special features.

O showmetech prepared a list of 20 tips and tricks from Windows 11 for you to enjoy and get maximum performance on your device, or to ease the transition between the old operating system and the latest one.

Use keyboard shortcuts

Shortcuts are very useful in everyday life to save time and effort. They exist for the most diverse tasks. In fact, there are so many that it is difficult to memorize them, so here are the main ones:

• Windows+W opens the Widgets panel;
• Windows + C opens the Teams Chat app;
• Windows+Z opens Snap Layouts;
• Windows+N opens the Notifications Panel;
• Windows+A opens quick settings such as Wi-Fi and brightness.

Take video capture

The Xbox Game Bar is advantageous for many reasons, and not just for computer gamers. One of the features is the uncomplicated capture of the screen in motion.

By pressing the key of Windows logo and then the G, the application will launch. Once there, you can make captures in an instant. In addition, it is possible to monitor the system's performance and join chats with Xbox friends.

Take a screenshot

There are a few ways to get the famous Print Screen on the new Windows. The easiest of these is through the Snip & Sketch app. That's because, with it, you can annotate the captures and quickly crop them.

To activate it, press Windows + Shift + S. The tool will appear at the top of your screen. There you can select the area, window or monitor you want to capture. Then a thumbnail will be visible in the lower right corner, click on it to draw.

Activate Dark Mode

Among the tips for Windows 11, is customizing various visual settings — including turning on transparency, adjusting colors, and selecting dark mode. To do this, just click on Settings No. Start menu, then in Personalisation and then in Colors. in option choose your mode, select Dark and ready!

Adjust the Night Light

For an even more pleasant experience, there's the Night Light mode, which relieves the strain on your eyes by providing a display with warm colors. In this setting, blue light is filtered and you will be able to sleep better.

To do this, go to Settings > System > Display > Night Light. You can also adjust the intensity of this option or schedule it for specific times.

choose a theme

Themes are a feature that are again part of the new version of the Windows system. Access is the same as in Dark Mode (Settings > Personalization). In this window, you can change the background image, sounds, cursor, theme colors, etc. Open the Themes tab and you will be able to edit current themes, download new ones from Microsoft Store and even create your own!

Access your clipboard history

If you are one of those people who is always copying and pasting texts and files, you must have already replaced an important copy with a new one without having saved the previous one. However, there is an almost unknown setting that allows you to see your clipboard history — also allowing you to pick and choose frequently used items.

To access it, just use the Windows + V, and there will be your last 25 copies, including emojis and GIFs. Remember to clear this history frequently if you are used to copying passwords or confidential information.

Move the taskbar to the left

A difference between the Windows 10 and the new version of the operating system — which many users found strange — is the location of the Taskbar and the Start menu. The center spacing was quite a change for those who have always accessed these features on the left side of the screen. The good news is that you can move them.

pressing the key Windows + I, you will access the Settings. From there, select Personalisation e taskbar. So just go to Taskbar behaviors and choose where you want it to be.

Customize the Start Menu

Another change that can be annoying is the fact that you can't pin folders to the Start menu. This can actually be changed, but with one limitation: only system folders (Settings, File Explorer, Documents, Downloads, Images, etc.) can be next to the On/Off button.

If you specifically need these folders, click Windows + I, then in Personalisation > Pasta, and then select which icons will be on your main menu.

Do voice typing

You may already know this function on smartphones, but now you can enjoy voice typing on your computer as well. With Windows 11, just press the key Windows+H when typing, click the microphone icon and start talking.

Among the settings are automatic startup whenever the cursor is in a text box and automatic punctuation, which works according to the rhythm of your voice.

Communicate using Teams

O Microsoft Teams is integrated into Windows 11 and is the system's official messaging, calling and video conferencing app. It is possible to access several features without necessarily having to open the program and, by synchronizing your contacts, you can video chat even with those who are not registered on the platform. This is possible because they can access the chat through a link that opens in their browser.

Quickly minimize your windows

When you have many windows open, this function can serve to reduce distractions. To activate it, go to Settings > Multitasking > Shaky Title Bar Window.

Despite the unintuitive name, what this tweak does is leave only one window open and minimize the others. To do this, select the tab you want to keep open while moving the cursor from side to side. If you repeat the process, it will bring everything back.

Use Snap Layouts

Speaking of multiple windows, the snap layouts is a feature that makes it possible to organize what is open on the desktop in a simple way and with a greater level of adjustments. 

The feature present in Windows 11 can be accessed by Windows+Z or by placing the mouse cursor over the minimize/maximize button. So, just choose one of the available layouts to automatically reposition the different windows and applications on the screen.

Create multiple workspaces

Like Snap Layouts, the ability to generate virtual desktops promises to increase your productivity. The update on Windows 11 allows you to manage the set of programs you use in different workspaces, transfer them between spaces, apply different backgrounds, among other customizations.

through the shortcut Windows+TAB or in Task View, from the taskbar, you can organize projects or divide the computer into personal and professional use, for example.

Customize your Widgets

Widgets are interesting devices for daily information about the weather, stock exchange, traffic, sports scores, news, among others. However, there are several options available and not all of them are for everyone, so customization is important.

To customize a feature, open the menu and click on the three dots next to the icon. So you can choose the size of each one, drag and remove them. If you want to add something new, scroll down and press the Add Widgets.

Get a better view of the battery

The user can view the battery usage data well in the current operating system. In Settings > System Settings > Power & Battery, you'll see a graph that shows a list of apps with their power consumption, an analysis of usage over the last few days or hours, and suggestions for greater device autonomy — such as sleep mode.

Adjust sound settings

With the new volume mixer, now more than just an intensity controller, you can make per-application sound adjustment via the Settings menu. In this way, individual calibration allows you to keep the volume of a single program on to avoid interruptions.

More advanced features include sound format adjustments, bass boost, equalization and audio quality improvement.

Be more productive with focus sessions

Focusing on work can be difficult with so many notifications popping up all the time, but there is a solution: focus sessions. The tool is integrated into the application Clock and allows you to set intervals from 15 minutes to four hours at which all warnings will be silenced.

With distraction-free times starting at 45 minutes, there are pre-set five-minute breaks halfway through the session. In addition, there is the possibility to control the duration of specific tasks and hide programs from the main interface of Windows 11.

Easily access settings

A simple command can make it much easier to search through various menus for basic functions. By clicking with the right click on start, you will find a list of essential buttons like Shutdown, System, Task Manager, Settings, Search, File Explorer, etc. This tool already existed in other versions of the operating system, however, due to the repositioning of several icons, it gains greater importance.

Customize keyboard appearance

in appliances touch, this is an interesting feature because it allows keyboard customization — well beyond the white or black alternatives. when pressing Windows + I, go to Personalization > Virtual Keyboard. From there, there are 16 predefined themes, which vary in key size and background type.

Hide recommended files

A controversial change in Windows 11 that has divided opinion is the Recommended in the Start menu, which shows recent and frequently opened files and folders. In case it's something you don't like because it takes up a lot of screen space or for any other reason, know that you can disable it by typing Windows + I > Personalization > Start > Show Recently Opened Items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer. However, by switching the option to Off, you will also end up eliminating it from the File Explorer, since you cannot set preferences for each one.

Find more options in the right-click menu

The right-click menu is simpler. In it, you will only find the most important settings. If you are looking for other options, such as printing or setting a background, select from the show more options (Shift + F10).

Pin for quick access

One more interesting customization is the possibility to pin applications to the Start Menu. That way, you'll have easy access to the tools you use most often. To do this, open the Application List, right-click a program and select pin to start. Then go to the Pinned section and choose the position you want by dragging the icon.

Set the default app

Choosing the default app for each file type got a little more complicated in Windows 11. Open the Settings, Click Apps, select Standard apps and tap the program you want to set as the default for a certain file.

Run apps in beta

Os Windows Insiders will be able to get an early preview of Android apps on Microsoft Store. With this trial version, it is possible to run mobile apps without the need to install emulators and with fluidity. But the novelty has not yet arrived in Brazil, being available only for users in the United States with AMD, Intel or Qualcomm processors.

Did you like our tips on how to improve your use of Windows 11? So, you might also like to read about how to increase laptop battery life.

Sources: Digital Trends, Microsoft, Pcmag, SlashGear.