Windows 11

Users Guide
A Quick Reference Guide to the New
Windows 11 Operating System

Christopher Brewer
 Copyright
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced
or used in any manner without the prior writer permission
of the copyright owner, except for the use of the brief
quotations in a book review

While the advice and information in this book are believed

to be true and accurate at the date of publication, neither
the authors nor the editors nor the publisher can accept any
legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be
made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or
implied, with respect to the material contained herein
Printed in the United States of America
©2021 by Christopher Brewer
TABLE OF CONTENT
Copyright
TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER ONE
HOW DO WE BEGIN?
System Requirements for Windows 11
Windows 11: What is in it for me?
Windows has been unboxed with a new Microsoft Store
Windows now has only one major update per year
You can upgrade to Windows 11 for free
CHAPTER TWO
How to download and install Windows 11 Insider Preview
CHAPTER THREE
How to customize the Start Menu in Windows 11
How to pin apps in start
How to unpin apps in the start
How to organize the pinned apps
How to show the recent files, folders in the start
How to remove your important document in recommended
Managing Disk and Drive storage settings in Windows 11
EXPLORING THE STORAGE DEVICES
How to change the label of your drive
How to increase/decrease the partition size
Viewing the usage of the drive
How to delete or format the partition
How to use the new touch keyboard feature in Windows 11
Enable the touch keyboard from Settings
Transparency effect with a new dedicated docking button
Using various keyboard layouts
How to use the search and new emojis
New quick shortcut for voice typing
Clipboard Paste as text
CHAPTER FOUR
How to open Folder options in Window 11
How to open the Folder option in Windows 11
Use the Ribbon in the File Explore
Remove a Setting from Quick Settings in Windows 11
Starting or Booting Windows 11 in Safe mode
Boot Windows 11 in to Safe Mode using Shift + Restart
How to change administrator in Windows 11
How to change Administrator on Windows 11 using the
Control Panel
How to fix the “Desktop keeps crashing issue” in Windows
11
Storage Devices
How to fix software keeps crashing in Windows 11
Reinstall the software
How to set up VPN on Windows 11
How to connect to a Wi-Fi network on Windows 11
ABOUT AUTHOR
CHAPTER ONE
HOW DO WE BEGIN?
At one of her events on June 21st 2021, the Microsoft
Company announced support for Windows 11 Operating
system which is expected to be available by fall this year,
2021. Many Windows enthusiasts have thought that
Windows 10 was probably the end of Windows, but it turns
out not to be so. If you have been using Windows 10, not to
worry as Microsoft has made a promise to make the new
Windows 11 available to all legitimate users of Windows
10 free of charge. Windows 11 has come with a whole lot of
improvements and new features over the last edition of
Windows. If you are sceptical about upgrading to Windows
11, it is okay as you can still be using Windows 10 until
2025 when Microsoft will eventually cease support for
Windows 10.

System Requirements for Windows 11

To use the new Windows 11, the system specification in the
screenshot below must be met;

There are cons to these system specifications as most

people have one or two reservations concerning these
system requirements;
One of the most significant disadvantages to the Windows
community is that the Windows 11 operating system will
only be available on computers with 64-bit architecture.
There is no 32-bit version of the Windows 11 operating
system. Do not be nervous. If you have apps that are 32
bits, they will still work nicely on the new OS.
- In addition, Microsoft is not ready to release the official
Windows 11 to users older than the Intel 8th
generation. What this means is that if your computer
has a CPU that is older than the Intel 8th generation,
you will not be able to launch Windows 11 operating
system comfortably. Microsoft, however, made an
exception of the Intel 7th-generation and the AMD
Ryzen 1000 series CPUs, adding that they can run the
Windows 11 operating system with ease.

- The new Windows 11 also needs a display size of at

least 9-inches. What this means is that your mini 8-
inch tablets or phones will not be able to run Windows
11 due to limiting screen size. In addition, Microsoft
has increased the minimum drive storage to about
 64GB, up from the former 16GB with Windows 10. RAM
was not left out, as it has been raised from 2GB to
4GB.

Windows 11: What is in it for me?

The new Windows 11 is here with some big new changes
and features that differentiate it from the old Windows 10.
To start with, the new Windows 11 has a redesigned user
interface (UI) design, where Microsoft has prioritized
simplicity. The user interface has been modified to have a
fluid, clean space for your work and play.
Microsoft hints that the new User Interface will help users to
stay productive in their creative flow, as the operating
system does its best to give you a distraction less
experience. There are several features that will help
improve your productivity and keep you in your workflow.
Features such as; - A new functionality called the "Snap
Navigator" menu will allow you to snap any app to a set of
grid layouts without having to drag the window to the edge
of the display. The “Snap Navigator” is available from the
app’s window maximize button.
- A new Chat app has been made available for you in the
Taskbar. This chat app will allow users to share texts,
files and video with colleagues, family and friends via
the Microsoft Teams for consumers. The Microsoft
Team in Windows 11 has come with a new package as
you can now share an app window inside a Teams call
right from your Taskbar, and you can mute the
microphone from your System Tray area.
- Microsoft has designed a new Taskbar experience and
Start menu, which are now centered by default. Live
tiles are nowhere to be found, and now you have a grid
of app icons entirely replacing the live tile. Running
apps and pinned apps are centered, and now you can
 see some little animations anytime you move things
around on your machine. The Action Center and the
System Tray have been modified to match this, with
the Quick Actions and Notifications now split into two
(2) different menus.
- Quick Actions have been renamed as Quick Settings
and they now appear when you tap on the System
icons just on the far right of your Taskbar. From this
place, you can use your Wi-Fi, configure the focus
mode, allow night light, enable the Bluetooth and lots
more. Tapping on the date and time will launch your
notifications and calendar view.
- There is also a new out of box experience, modern File
Explorer User Interface and lock screen. Microsoft will
also be introducing a new “Widgets” panel that will
house some features such as Photos, Calendar, To Do
and MSN news. Generally, Windows 11 seems to be a
much more open system when you compared it with
Windows 10 and all of its predecessors.
- Finally, Microsoft hinted about how Windows 11 has
been designed for gamers using some features such as
Direct Storage, Auto HDR and the DirectX 12 Ultimate.
- A new experience with touch: The hitboxes around
the app window now get bigger in size so that it
becomes easier to resize them with touch. In addition,
you now have some animations when you are
manipulating your window. This is an effort from
Microsoft to get the touch thing to feel more native and
fluid to the OS.
Users can now deploy three or four finger gestures to
swipe the app away and access the Task View.
Microsoft has equally added a new Touch Keyboard
with SwiftKey-like theming support, and a beautiful
emoji panel with full support for stuff like gifs. For
 users of pen, the Pen Workspace comes with an update
of a new User Interface, and you can now pin your app
to the Pen quick-launch bar.
In addition, you will be able to choose what a single
click, double tap, and the tap and hold will do on the
surface pen. You can assign it to launch any app of
your choice.

Windows has been unboxed with a new Microsoft

Store One very important announcement that came
with the Windows 11 was that the company is
developing a brand new app store. The new Microsoft
Store app has a new fluid User Interface that
complies with the rest of Windows 11. In addition,
the company is modifying some of its policies that
govern what kinds of applications are actually
allowed in the storefront.
Developers of various apps can now submit unpackaged
Win32 apps in .MSI form or .exe form with the new
Microsoft Store. App developers can equally use their own
commerce platform and their own content delivery
networks, and Microsoft will not demand a dime from the
revenue. This development will open the door to just about
any app on the Windows platform to be hosted and found in
the Store by the consumers.
Microsoft says it is going to be adding its own native apps,
like the Microsoft Teams, Visual Studio and Microsoft Office
to the new Microsoft Store to let the world know that the
company is ready to take communication to a completely
new level.
Microsoft has also hinted that Android applications like
TikTok will be supported on the new Windows 11 and on the
new Microsoft Store.
Windows now has only one major update per year
During the announcement in June, Microsoft has
hinted that Windows 11 will see the return of
Windows update to only one update per year. What
this means is that you will not be disturbed with
unnecessary requests to update your Windows to the
latest version. When Windows 10 was released,
Microsoft was only able to ship two (2) major updates
to the operating system, but this didn’t come without
bugs which often cause issues for end-users.
By going back to a single update per year, Microsoft will
align Windows 11 with the rest of the serious competition,
and this will offer the company enough time to churn out
improved features for each yearly release. The world is
waiting for Windows 11 to be shipped this fall, and a new
feature update is expected to be released every year.
 You can upgrade to Windows 11 for free As
previously discussed, Windows 11 will enter the
market later this year, and Windows 10 users will be
able to upgrade for free. For users that still want their
Windows 10, there is no time limit to upgrade to
Windows 11 as you can still be using Windows 10
until you have the need to upgrade to the latest
version of Windows.
However, OEMs will still need to buy a Windows 11 license.
It is not free, but if you are upgrading from Windows 10,
you will be able to retain your license and hence remain
activated. You can remember this was the same plan with
the upgrade from Windows 7 and Windows 8 to Windows
10. It is also expected that Windows 11 will be available for
standalone purchase to interested customers.
CHAPTER TWO
How to download and install Windows 11 Insider
Preview The various requirements that your
computer has to meet before you are able to install
the Windows 11 preview has been discussed in the
previous chapter. This section will focus on how you
can get the Windows 11 beta version.
The thing is that what you can only get for now is just the
first preview build of Windows 11 that can allow you to test
the operating system before it is eventually released later
this year. Windows 11 is still an unfinished operating
system, and downloading it will mean you are taking a peep
into the future. Microsoft released the beta version in the
Windows Insider Program, and that is the only legitimate
source to get this update for now.
Follow the steps highlighted below; - Check out your system
specification to see if your computer has the required
specifications - Endeavor to backup your computer to an
external server as you cannot afford to lose all of your
personal data if anything goes wrong with the beta build
you are about to install.
Now, follow these steps to obtain the Windows 11
Join the Windows Insider Program: to get Windows
11 by joining the Windows Insider Program from your
computer running Windows 10, follow these steps;
From the Windows start icon on the bottom left, click on
Settings, select Update & Security and then choose the
Windows Insider Program from your Windows device.
You will need to be a Windows admin on your computer to
access this setting.
- Click on the Get Started icon. Under the Pick an
account to get started, tap the + icon to connect
your registered Microsoft account and then continue.
- Proceed with the directions that will be shown on your
screen to select the experience and the channel that
you plan to get Insider Preview through.
- Go through the Privacy Statement and program terms,
confirm, and click Restart Now or Restart Later to
complete setting up your computer.
- Once your computer restarts, ensure that you set the
settings for your data to the right level, so that you will
be able to get the preview build.
- Once your data settings has been checked, navigate to
Settings, click Windows & Security, select
Windows Update and click on the Check for
updates button to download the latest Insider Preview
build according to the settings you selected. Your
computer will then update just as it normally would
with any random Windows update.
CHAPTER THREE
How to customize the Start Menu in Windows 11
There is a little difference between the Start menu in
Windows 10 and the one in Window 11. The new Start
menu seems to be less bulky and fluid when compared with
the one in Windows 10.
How to pin apps in start Follow the steps below to
have your apps pinned on the very first page of Start;
- Click on the Windows key or tap on the Windows
icon from the Taskbar.
- You will be shown the ‘Pinned Apps’ page. Click on the
“All apps>” at the top-left corner.
- Now, move down and find the app that you wish to pin.
- Once you see the app, simply right-click on the app and
click “Pin to Start“. Doing this will pin that app to your
Computer’s Start menu and you can always access the
file right there.
How to unpin apps in the start When you noticed that
there are now too many apps on the Start menu, you
can unpin some of them; - Launch the Start menu.
- You will see all the apps that you have pinned in the
‘Pinned’ sections.
- If you wish to unpin any app, simply right-click on the
app and click “Unpin from Start“.
How to organize the pinned apps The new ‘Pinned’
section will be at the front page of your Start Menu.
However, pinning your app might have taken the app
to the second page, and you will only have to move
down once you open your pinned apps. Nevertheless,
you can arrange these pinned apps by using the steps
below; - Launch the Start menu.
 - Then, move up or down through your pinned apps to
locate the particular app that you wish to move -
Right-click on the app, and choose “Move to top“.

How to show the recent files, folders in the start

Another very important change in the Windows 11
Start menu is that you get to see your recent files
from the Start. However, this setting needs to be
enabled for you to enjoy it; - Click on the Windows
key+ I keys at the same time.
- Tap on the “Personalization” settings.
- Click on the “Start” settings from the right-hand side.
- Then, from that same page, proceed to toggle “On”
settings for the “Show recently opened items in
Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer” settings.
- Launch the Start menu by clicking on the Windows key
just once. Moreover, you can see the recent files in the
‘Recommended’ section.
- Now, move down and tap on the “Folders“
 - Next, tap the “ON” button beside the specific items
that you want in the Start menu.
- In the same vein, toggle ‘Off’ the folders that you do
not plan to see on the Start menu.
- Dismiss the Settings panel.
How to remove your important document in
recommended The Start menu in the new Windows 11
displays the file folders in the recommended settings
that you have recently opened. However, you can
remove some private tabs from the Start menu by
following the instructions below; - Click on the
Windows Start icon or click on the Windows icon from
your Taskbar.
- Then, proceed to click on the “More>” from the
“Recommended” tab on your left-hand side.
- Here, you will have access to a list of your documents
from the local files and OneDrive on your computer.
- Now, simply right-click on the specific file and tap on
the “Remove from list” to dismiss the item from the
list.
Doing this will remove this specific file from your Start
menu.
Managing Disk and Drive storage settings in Windows
11
One specific setting lacking in the old Windows 10 is the
absence of an efficient disk management tool in the
Windows settings. Windows 11 is here now to fill this gap
with an efficient disk management tool incorporated into the
Windows settings. Now, you will be able to analyze how
much storage you have left, and manage the drive without
having to leave the storage window.
Follow the steps below to manage the disk and drive
storage settings in Windows 11; EXPLORING THE STORAGE
DEVICES
- Click on the Windows key+ I keys at the same time
to launch the Settings page.
- From the Settings page, select “System” settings.
- From your left-hand side, click on the “Storage”
settings.
- Then, tap on the “Advanced storage settings”.
- Now, from your right-hand pane, move down and tap
on the “Disk & volumes” to analyze your storage
devices.
- You will then see all the available drives on your
computer.
- Click on the drop down symbol of the specific drive that
you wish to explore.
- Then choose the drive that you wish to access.
- Select Explore.
How to change the label of your drive Use the steps
below to change the drive name for a particular drive;
- Navigate to Settings - Then, click on the “System”
settings.
- From the System Settings, tap on the “Storage” on
your left-hand pane.
- Then, click on the “Advanced storage settings” from
your right pane.
- On your right-hand side, simply click on the “Disk &
volumes“
- Then, tap the drop-down icon of the specific drive that
you wish to rename.
- You will see all the different partitions of your drives.
Click on the partition that has the maximum size.
- Once the partition has been highlighted, tap on the
“Properties“
- Next, the “Data Volume” section will be displayed.
- Tap on “Change label“
 - Input a new letter for the drive inside the space.
- Then, tap on “OK” to use the drive letter for the drive.
Note: You will have to enter a unique letter for the drive
that no other drive is using that letter currently. If you still
want to confirm which letter is available, you can take a
peep; - Click on the Windows key+ E keys at the same
time. This will take you to the File section where you can
see which name has been used for a drive before so that
you can avoid using this name or letter.
- Now, tap on “This PC“.
You will see all of the drives that have been connected to
your PC here.
How to increase/decrease the partition size The
partition size of your disk can be increased or reduce
with similar settings as below; ✔ 1. Navigate to the
Settings page.
✔ Then, click on the “Manage disks and Volumes
settings,” by using the same steps highlighted above.
✔ Now, choose the drive that you wish to increase the
size. You will be able to see the drive’s partition.
✔ Again, select the partition that you wish to increase
and click on “Properties“.
✔ Then, click “Change size“.
✔ The ‘Change size’ window will be prompted. You can
then set the new disk size in megabytes.
✔ Assuming that the older partition has just about 30 GB
storage. If you wish that the new partition has 60 GB
of storage, you will need to enter 60*1024 = 61,440
MB. The partition will then have 60 gigabyte.
✔ Then, click “OK“.
Viewing the usage of the drive How much of the drive
space you have utilized can be accessed so that you
can know which folder has more space. To access the
usage of your drive, follow the steps below; ✔
Navigate to the Settings page.
✔ Then, click on the “Manage disks and Volumes
settings,” by using the same steps highlighted above.
✔ Again, tap on the “Properties” to see what is there.
✔ Then, move down the settings page, and tap on “View
usage“.
✔ Now, the list of all of the folders in the drive will be
accessible, together with the amount of storage your
folders are using currently.
✔ Further, you may tap on the specific folders and
confirm which file or app are saved in that folder.
How to delete or format the partition Partitions can
be deleted or formatted right within the settings. It is
important that you backup your files and data before
you even think of formatting the disk partition. Follow
the steps below to delete or format disk partition; -
Navigate to the Settings page.
- Then, go to the ‘Manage disks and Volumes’ settings,
and apply the same steps that were mentioned
previously.
- Again, click on “Properties.”
- Now, move down to the lower end of the settings, click
on “Delete” to delete your partition.
- Clicking on delete will begin to delete the drive from
your PC. Proceed with the instructions on the screen
and finish the delete process.
- However, if you only wish to format the drive, simply
click on “Format” to initiate the formatting process.
- The whole process takes a decent amount of time, and
that even depends on the partition size that you want
 to format.
How to use the new touch keyboard feature in
Windows 11
Virtually all the system apps in Windows 11 have been
redesigned. The new touch keyboard has an option to use
emoji, transparency effect, use animated GIF search bar
and lots more.
Enable the touch keyboard from Settings Use the
Taskbar to enable the touch keyboard feature.
- Click on the Windows icon and the letter “I” on your
keyboard at about the same time.
- The settings page will be displayed where you can click
on “Personalization” settings.
- From the windows of the Personalization settings, click
on “Taskbar” settings.
- From the ‘Touch corner icons’ section, switch the
“Touch keyboard” settings to “On“. This will bring the
touch keyboard button to the taskbar.
- Simply click on the “touch keyboard” button from the
Taskbar.
Transparency effect with a new dedicated docking
button The touch keyboard in Windows 11 has come
with a somewhat transparent effect that has a
defined aesthetic look. It is only when your keyboard
is in dock view that the transparency effect can work.
There is a complete user interface overhaul with the new
touch keyboard that has a dedicated docking icon. Simply
tap on the “undocking button” from the right-hand edge
of your touch keyboard. You will have access to a smaller
and simpler version of this keyboard. Doing this will undock
the keyboard and you can then start moving around with a
simple touch.
Now, if you plan to dock your keyboard again, simply click
on the same icon on your touch keyboard. Doing this will
dock your default keyboard at the lower end of your screen.
Using various keyboard layouts
One of the features that is common between Window
10 and Windows 11 is the keyboard layout feature.
The only difference is that the user interface of the
touch keyboard in Windows 11 makes the keyboard
layout very easy to use. Use the instructions below to
use the keyboard layouts;
✔ Click on the touch keyboard button from your keyboard
on the taskbar.

✔ From the touch-keyboard screen, tap on the setting

icon that looks like gear from the left hand corner.

✔ Then, tap on the “Keyboard layout>“.

✔ Then you will have access to the various categories of

keyboard layouts such as;

Default – This default keyboard layout covers

the completely lower side of the screen that
comes up when you open the touch keyboard
first.

Small – This is a small touch keyboard.

Split – The keyboard will be divided into two

half of your screen so that you will be able to
type with your two hands.

✔ At the same place, the “Handwriting Tool” can also be

accessed.
 From the touch-keyboard screen, tap on the
setting icon that looks like gear from the left
hand corner.

Then, tap on “Handwriting“.

✔ With this feature, you will be able to use your

handwriting to enter texts and Windows will recognize
it, and then convert your handwriting to words.
How to use the search and new emojis
The touch keyboard in Windows 11 has come with a
new dedicated emoji and gifs. The keyboard emoji
has been available since Windows 10, but it was
lacking in the touch keyboards of Windows 10.
- Click on the touchpad icon from the Taskbar.
- As soon as the touchpad shows on your screen, tap the
“emoji icon” from the left-hand side, just beside the
“gear-shaped” icon.
- You will have access to an array of emojis and gifs.
- You can search for gifs and emojis from the search bar.
All that you need to do is to tap on the search bar from
the left-hand side of your keyboard.
- Enter the type of gif that you want inside the search
bar, and you will see related gifs together with the
emojis. You can then choose the gif that you want to
use.
- You can as well make use of the clipboard history from
the touch keyboard.
- Once you have clicked on the emoji symbol on your
left-hand side, you can then click on the “clipboard”
icon at the left-hand corner. Doing this will open the
clipboard history. Tap the text/image to make use of it.
New quick shortcut for voice typing The new
Windows 11 touch keyboard features a new and
improved voice typing functionality. You will have to
use a new shortcut key to access the voice-typing
feature.
- Click on the Windows key+ H keys at the same time.
- This shortcut will open a voice-typing window.
- The voice-typing window equally has transparency
effects on it and the window is actually much smaller
when compared with the one obtained in Windows 10.
Clipboard Paste as text One very important change
noticeable in the new Windows 11 is the clipboard.
Although, Windows 10 also has a clipboard but it
does not come without a problem, and the problem is
that you cannot paste the items that you copied as a
plain text. This means that you can only paste the
copied items in its original form, and then modify it to
plain text if you care so much about plain text. With
the introduction of Windows 11, you can now paste
copied items as plain text. To do this, follow the steps
below; - Open any file that is in text format.
- Then, click on the Windows key+V keys together on
the keypad to launch the history tab of the Clipboard.
- Next, tap on the icon that looks like three-dots just
beside the copied text, and click “Paste as text“.
- Clicking on this option will enable you to paste the text
that you have copied as a plain and default-formatted
one .
CHAPTER FOUR
How to open Folder options in Window 11
The Windows Folder Options is a dialog box that can allow
you to configure various settings and change the preference
for the File Explorer on Windows computer. The Windows
Folder option was introduced in Windows 8, and it is still
very much around until now.
There are three (3) tabs here: General, View, and the
Search.

In the Folder Options, you will be able to adjust the related

changes to every folder or just to the folders you recently
opened.
For instance, let’s say, you plan to show all hidden files on
your PC, you can navigate to the Folder Options, click on
View to choose Show hidden files, folder, and drives
under the Hidden files and folders .

How to open the Folder option in Windows 11

Use the Ribbon in the File Explore - Click on Win+ E
key to launch the File Explorer in Windows 11.
- Tap on the 3-dot icon at the top ribbon and choose
Options.
- The Folder Options screen will then be on display.
Use the search icon - From the bottom left side of the
screen, click on the search icon - Enter “Folder
option” inside the search bar The three tabs in the
Windows Folder option can be used for the following;
- In the General tab, you can decide to open the File
Explorer to either “This PC” or the “Quick Access,”
choose the way you want to browse your folders, the
way to open item, and also set privacy in the File
Explorer. You can as well clear the File Explorer
history and restore all the settings to the default.
- Under the View tab, you can carry out some advanced
settings. For instance, you can set the File Explorer to
show thumbnails of all the files in the File Explorer,
reveal or conceal empty drives, reveal or conceal drive
letters, show or hide the status bar, and so on. There
are many options to try out here.
- In the Search tab, you will be able to change the
method your PC uses to search when you are looking
for an item using the search menu in the File Explorer.
The Quick Settings in Windows 11
In the new Windows 11, the Microsoft Company has
dismissed the Action Center from the Windows taskbar.
Another section has been added instead, and that is the
Quick Settings. This means that the Action Center has been
replaced with the Quick Settings. The Quick Settings is just
like the control center in Apple computers.
When you plan to redesign some settings on Windows 11
computer, the Quick Settings will offer you quick access to
those settings. The Quick Settings is just a set of status
icons on your taskbar. For instance, if you have a laptop
and you are using a Wi-Fi network, the Quick Settings area
is the area of the Wi-Fi icon, the volume icon, and the
battery icon located on the right section of the taskbar in
Windows 11. If you have a desktop computer together with
a cable connection, the Quick Settings is the area of the
volume icon and the internet access icon.
How to open the Quick Settings in Windows 11
There are two ways of accessing the Quick Settings in
Windows 11: - Click on the set of Status icons from the
Taskbar: You can just click on one of the status icons from
the taskbar to launch the Quick Settings.
- Use keyboard shortcut: Press the Windows key together
with the letter “A.”
How to edit the Quick Settings in Windows 11
By default, the Quick Settings only have few settings. The
aim of the Quick Settings is to give you quick access to the
settings they need. Thus, the quick settings can be edited
according to your need. For instance, you will be able to
add or dismiss an option from the Quick Settings.
How to Add or Remove an Option from Quick
Settings?
Add a Setting to Quick Settings in Windows 11
✔ Click on Win + A key to launch the Quick Settings.
✔ Click on the pen icon at the lower end to continue.

✔ Tap Add.
 ✔ Choose the option that you need to add such option to
the Quick Settings. If you are using a PC, you can also
see more available options such as Nearby sharing
and Mobile hotspot just after you click on “Add.”
✔ Tap Done to save these changes.
Remove a Setting from Quick Settings in Windows 11
✔ Click on the Windows key together with the A key to
launch the Quick Settings.
✔ Tap the icon that looks like a pen.
✔ The settings here will turn grey and you will see a
unpin icon at the top-right corner of each setting.
Click on the unpin icon to dismiss a setting from the
Quick Settings in Windows 11.
✔ Tap Done to save these changes.
Starting or Booting Windows 11 in Safe mode ✔ Click
on the Start icon from your Taskbar and then select
Settings.
✔ From the System interface, navigate to the right
pane; move down a little bit, and then tap Recovery.
✔ From the prompted widow, you will be shown some
recovery options. Click on the Restart now button just
next to the Advanced startup.
✔ Tap Restart now once gain and your Windows will go
into the recovery environment.
✔ Then, navigate to Troubleshoot, click on Advanced
options, select Startup Settings and click on
Restart.
✔ You will see three (3) options to enter the Safe Mode.
Just click F4, F5, or F6 according to what you want.
Boot Windows 11 in to Safe Mode using Shift +
Restart - Click on the Windows symbol and then tap
on the Power button.
 - Press and then hold the Shift key from your keyboard,
and then select Restart.
- After some time, Windows 11 will enter the recovery
mode.

New Keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11

The four newly added keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11
are; - Windows + A: Launch the Quick Settings menu in
the Windows 11
- Windows + N: Access the Notification Center -
Windows + W: Launch the Widgets panel - Windows
+ Z: Launch the Snap Layouts panel Here is a brief
discussion of what each shortcut is doing; - Windows
+ A For Windows 11, the Action Center has been
separated from your Notification Center. This means
that there are two areas now; the Quick Settings and
the Notification Center.
To open the Action Center, you can just click on a set of
status areas on your taskbar. You can as well use a
keyboard shortcut to open the Action Center (just click on
Windows and the A keys at about the same time to bring
the Quick Settings) on your taskbar to access it.
- Windows + N
As previously discussed, the Notification Center in Windows
11 is different from the one in Windows 10. For Windows
11, you can click on the Windows and the N keys at about
the same time to launch the Notification Center.
- Windows + W
Another great addition to Windows 11 is the Widgets. There
is also a Windows shortcut for the Widgets, and that is
Windows + W. You can click on the Windows and the W
keys about the same time to access the Widgets. W is the
widget’s first letter.
- Windows + Z
The Snap Layouts is a new addition to Windows 11. With
the Snap Layout, it is very easy to customize where your
apps are located on the screen especially if you want to
show multiple app interfaces without necessarily overlaying
them. There is a new keyboard shortcut to access this
feature, and it is called Windows + Z. Additionally, you can
click on the Windows icon together with the Z keys about
the same time to access the Snap layouts. The next thing is
to select the position that you wish to use from the needed
layout.
How to change administrator in Windows 11
On your computer, various apps and games will need admin
permission to function effectively. To have total control over
your computer and to let these apps run well, you will need
to have an admin account.
Windows 11 has two (2) types of account –administrator
account and standard user account. The former offers
complete control over the system while the latter is limited,
for example, you can only use existing applications &
perform basic tasks, cannot remove/install apps, etc.
Change Account to Administrator through the Windows
Settings ✔ Click on the Win + I keys on your keyboard to
launch the Windows 11 Settings. There are many ways to
launch the Settings app in Windows 11. Another method is
to use the search bar at the bottom of the screen.
✔ Go to the Accounts section and choose Family &
other users.
 ✔ You will be able to see all of the user accounts on your
windows under the Other users section. Click on the
account that you want administrator permission for
and select Change account type.
✔ Click on Administrator and select OK to save these
changes. If you want to change the Administrator
account to a Standard User account, select Standard
User.
Change Administrator on Windows 11 through the
User Accounts - Click on the Win + R to open the Run
dialog, enter the word netplwiz inside the textbox,
and select OK.
- All of the user account on your PC can be accessed from
here under the Users, Click on the target account and
then select Properties.
- Navigate to the Group Membership tab, select
Administrator and save these changes by selecting
Apply and OK.
 How to change Administrator on Windows 11 using
the Control Panel Do you want to use the Control
Panel to change users in Windows 11? Then follow
the guides below; - Launch the Control Panel to view
all of the items by Category. To access the Control
Panel, simply type “Control Panel” on the search
space at the bottom of the screen.
- Click on the Change account type link from the User
Accounts.
- You will be prompted with a new window where you can
click on the particular user account that you wish to
change to an administrator, and then tap “Change the
account type.”
- Check the Administrator box and tap Change
Account Type. The account can also be changed back
to Standard in this same way.
 How to fix the “Desktop keeps crashing issue” in
Windows 11
If the RAM you installed and your storage devices conflict
with Windows 11, the issue of Windows 11 keeps crashing
can occur.
RAM
The function of the RAM on your computer is to save the
temporary files of all of the installed programs on your and
the various processes running on your PC. If the system
refuses to read them, the desktop can crash quite easily.
This problem usually happens after the installation of an
additional RAM on your computer. Compatibility for
Windows 11 cannot be relied on at this moment, so it is
advised not to install an additional RAM.
Storage Devices If you recently installed a new SSD
but it is damaged, the SSD can be the main cause of
your Windows 11 keeps crashing and restarting. Try
removing the SSD and check whether this problem
persists or not. If the problem persists, then consider
using some other alternatives that will be discussed
below.
Second solution: Fix computer overheating Computer
overheating can cause a lot of issues for your
computer. It can damage the hard drive or even crash
your system. The Desktop keeps crashing issue in
Windows 11 is also a very common challenge.
If your PC doesn’t have a RAM and storage device issues
but your desktop keeps crashing, try to shut down the
system and let the computer rest.
Solution number three: Remove virus and malwares
Malware and viruses can equally cause the Windows
crashing issue. Windows defender can be used to
scan your computer for malwares and viruses. In
addition, you can try anti-virus software from third
parties to scan and remove malware and viruses.
Solution number four (4): Update Device driver
Another common cause of Windows crashing is an
outdated driver. This problem can simply be fixed
when you update all devices’ drivers. To do this;
navigate to the Settings, select Windows Update and
choose Check for updates to see whether drivers
updates are available. If yes, they can be installed
automatically.
Solution number 5: Carry out an SFC scan When your
system files are missing or they are corrupted, this
can make the Windows 11 explorer.exe to keep
crashing and restarting. You can repair them by
carrying out an SFC scan. Use the steps below to
carry out an SFC scan in Windows 11; ✔ With the
search space on the search bar, enter cmd to search.
✔ Select Run as administrator.
✔ You will be prompted with the User Account Control
interface, select Yes to continue.
✔ Type scan /scannow and click Enter. This tool will
begin to run to search for corrupted or missing system
files. The tool can repair them automatically, and you
are expected to wait patiently.
✔ Restart your PC when the scanning ends.
Solution number 6: Fix the power issue If it is your
laptop you are using for Windows 11, the crashing
desktop problem might be a result of power issue.
You can solve this problem by disabling Microsoft
ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery. To do this,
follow the methods below; - Right-click Start.
- Navigate to the Device Manager, click on Batteries
and then right-click on Microsoft ACPI-Compliant
 Control Method Battery, and then choose Disable.
- Restart your system.
And lastly: Roll back to Windows 10
If no solutions discussed above work, it looks like the beta
version of Windows 11 is not meant for your computer. You
can consider going back to Windows 10. The official version
of Windows 11 will come on board by October this year, and
you can then install a more stable version of Windows 11.
How to fix software keeps crashing in Windows 11
Many users all over the internet have been complaining
about software on their PC that keeps crashing after
installing Windows 11. Well, the thing is this problem will be
solved when Microsoft releases the official version by the
end of the year. But for now, this problem can be fixed by
following the methods that will be discussed below;
Update driver
Another common cause of Windows crashing is an outdated
driver. This problem can simply be fixed when you update
your devices’ drivers. More often than not, the Realtek
audio drivers give rise to issues like this. You can try
updating it, and then check if this solves it.
- Click on Win+R to launch Run.
- Enter device manager and then choose the first result
to access the Device Manager.
- Expand the Sound, video and the game controllers.
- Right-click on Realtek(R) Audio and then choose
Uninstall device.
- Tap Uninstall from the pop-up interface to complete
the process.
- The driver will then be uninstalled from your computer.
After that, you can then restart your computer. Then,
the latest driver will be installed automatically on your
computer.
Reinstall the software
In case the solution discussed above fails to solve
your problem, you can consider reinstalling the
software for a start. To do this, follow the prompts
below ;
- Right-click on the Start icon and then navigate to
Settings, click on Apps, and then select Apps &
features.
- Locate the specific program that keeps crashing, and
tap the three (3) dots menu beside it.
- Click Uninstall.
- Tap the Uninstall button from another interface that
will be displayed.
- Select Yes and proceed with the on-screen instruction
to uninstall the software from your PC.
After you have uninstalled the software successfully, you
can then proceed to download the setup file and install the
software again. Then check whether the problem persists or
not.
How to set up VPN on Windows 11
The VPN is an acronym for Virtual Private Network and it
delivers a private network across various public networks
like the internet. With VPN, many computers will be able to
send data and receive data across a public network or
shared network.
Most Virtual Private Network services actually have their
own application that can allow users to create a virtual
private network by themselves. However, if you plan to set
up a VPN by yourself, you can follow the steps below;
Setting up Windows 11 VPN Setup from Settings ✔ Right-
click on the network symbol found at the lower right of the
screen on the taskbar and then click on Network and
Internet settings. In addition, you will be taken to the
Network & Internet tab in the Settings.
✔ Select VPN from the sections on the right.
✔ Click on the Add VPN button found right behind the
VPN connections.
✔ You will be prompted with a popup where you can
indicate the settings below;

VPN provider: Here, set the default selection

to Windows (built-in).
Connection name: This is the name that you
will be using to recognize the VPN. You can
enter whatever name you desire here.
Server name or address: The VPN Company
provides the name of the server and the
address, and there can be multiple locations.
You are expected to enter one location here.
VPN type: If you have an idea of the VPN
type, you can indicate it here to have a faster
speed. Otherwise, you can just leave it as
Automatic, which is the default.
Type of sign-in info: You may leave the
information here as blank if you are using a
free connection that has no username or
password. If the connection has a username or
password, you can enter them inside their
appropriate boxes. You can as well use a smart
card here.

✔ Once the VPN has been added successfully, you will

find it listed under the VPN connections. Click on the
Connect button if you want to connect your PC to this
Virtual Private Network.
How to connect to a Wi-Fi network on Windows 11
Use the method below to connect to a Wi-Fi network in
Windows 11; - Tap on the Network icon from the taskbar
side.

- From the pop up box, tap on the right angle bracket

symbol “>” found just beside the icon of the Wi-Fi.

- You will see a list of Wi-Fi nearby to you. Click on the

Wi-Fi network that you wish to connect to, and then
tap Connect.
- When asked for password (network security key),
input the Wi-Fi network’s password and then tap Next.
If the password you entered is correct, your computer will
establish a connection with the Wi-Fi network. If this
connection is successful, you will see a “Connected,
secured” status under the particular Wi-Fi network that
your computer has established a connection with.
Note: As it was with many Windows version in time
past, you can access the Network icon through the
right corner of your taskbar – also refer to as
“Taskbar corner” in the Windows 11.
The network icon shows the active status of your network
connection and enables you to manage network connectivity
for your computer. For example, Wi-Fi connection, if there
is a wireless adapter on your computer.
Another thing worth taking note is that the Network icon in
Windows 11 has now been fused together with the Volume
icon, and can be accessed as a single clickable setting by
default. By clicking on it, you will have access to a simple
pop up box that features some settings such as Airplane
mode, Mobile hotspot, Night light, volume control bar and
Wi-Fi connection. These settings are referred to collectively
as the Quick settings.
“Connect automatically” option For easy access to Wi-
Fi network, you can allow Windows to connect
automatically to the Wi-Fi network anytime the
network is in range. Just enable the “connect
automatically” option before you click on the Connect
button.
“WiFi icon” vs “Right angle bracket symbol”
The Wi-Fi icon is the button to tap to turn on/off the Wi-Fi
network of your PC. If you have enabled the Wi-Fi, the
button will be blue in color.
The symbol that looks like a right angle bracket just
beside the Wi-Fi icon is what you should tap to show you
the list of detected Wi-Fi networks. From here, you can then
go ahead and connect to the specific Wi-Fi that you want to
connect with.
Many people will confound the Wi-Fi icon with the button
meant for connecting to a Wi-Fi network the very first time
they attempt to connect to Wi-Fi on Windows 11. If you find
yourself in this category, and you have unknowingly clicked
the Wi-Fi icon instead, and make the Wi-Fi to be disabled,
you can enable the Wi-Fi by clicking on the Wi-Fi icon again
to turn it on.
Wi-Fi is off or “No Internet” in Windows 11
If you see that, the Wi-Fi’s button is not blue in color or you
even receive an error prompt that says that “Wi-Fi is off”, it
implies that the Wi-Fi is currently disabled.
To turn on the Wi-Fi, tap on the Wi-Fi icon from the quick
settings box. If your Wi-Fi is activated, you will see the Wi-
Fi icon and the symbol that looks like a right angle bracket
changing to blue.
Disconnect from a Wi-Fi network If you want to
disconnect from a previously connected Wi-Fi
network in Windows, you can just repeat steps one to
step three in “How to connect to Wi-Fi network in
Windows 11” that has been discussed above. When
you get to the third step, right-click the Wi-Fi
network that you want to disconnect from, and then
select Disconnect.
Forget a Wi-Fi network To forget a Wi-Fi network you
have previously saved, you can just repeat the steps
one to step three in “How to connect to Wi-Fi network
in Windows 11” that has been discussed above.
During step three, right-click on the Wi-Fi network
you wish to forget, and then choose Forget.
No Wi-Fi icon in Windows 11 – Install driver for Wi-Fi
adapter If you could not find a Wi-Fi icon or an icon
that looks like a network connection in the Quick
settings section after tapping on the network, it is
possible that Windows 11 is unable to detect your
wireless adapter, and likely due to its driver not being
installed yet.
If this is the issue, you can try installing the driver by using
the CD that accompanied the Wi-Fi dongle or the wireless
adapter. If you don’t have any installation disc that can help
you install the driver for your Wi-Fi adapter, you can use
the Windows Update or the Device Manager to
automatically update the driver of the device in Windows 11
.
 ABOUT AUTHOR
Christopher Brewer is a certified Microsoft Solution Architect
with many years of experience testing and using Microsoft
products. He has been a member of the Windows Insider
Program for many years. Christopher has access to test a
lot of Microsoft products even before such a product gets
released officially.