Windows 11 Quick Guide

Windows 11 is the latest operating system from Microsoft. Key features include:

 Updated design and start menu.

 Improved performance - foreground applications are prioritised.
 Fewer default background processes consume resources.
 Task view and multiple desktops.
 Snap layout feature allowing easier side by side access to open applications.
 Focus Assist for staying organised and minimising distractions.
This guide aims to help you with Windows 11’s most common features:
The Start Menu
The Windows 11 Start menu is now located just above the bottom centre of the screen,
instead of on the left as in Windows 10.

Signing Out and Account Settings

To sign out from your Windows account click on your name in the start menu and choose
Sign out. You can also lock or change your account settings from your name.
To shut down or restart, select the power button at the bottom right of the Start menu.
Organising your applications
Your application icons can be reorganised by dragging and dropping an icon to a new
location on the Start menu.
To see and add more applications to taskbar, click the search box on the taskbar. Then right
click on an icon and choose from the menu that appears to Run as administrator, Open file
location, Pin/Unpin from taskbar or Pin/Unpin to Start.
Using Search
The search facility is very similar to Windows 10. To search, type what you are searching in
the search button on the taskbar. A search window will appear containing search options at
the top.
The search window also shows you best match, and recent documents relevant to your
search if you are looking for an application.
Task View and Multiple Desktops
The Task View feature for creating multiple desktops has been redesigned.
Click on the Task View icon (two overlapping squares) in the taskbar just to the
right of the Search button, or press the Windows key + Tab.
Task View is divided into two sections. Applications currently running are visible in the top
section. Click on your chosen thumbnail to switch to the application. To close an application
hover your mouse over your chosen thumbnail and click the X that appears in the upper-
right corner.
The bottom section of the screen contains thumbnails of your desktops and a new desktop
button. To switch desktops, click the task view icon of the desktop you require.
Press the Esc key to exit Task View.
Snap Layouts
Snap Layouts enables you to view your applications side by side or in a grid. You can group
your open windows into a choice of screen layouts.
To use Snap Layouts, with your open application on screen, hover your mouse over
the maximise icon at the top right of the screen. A choice of layouts will appear. Choose the
layout and position of application that you require and the application window will snap into
that position. You can add further open applications to the rest of the positions in the layout.
Once all the areas in a Snap Layout are filled, the app grouping is
saved as a Snap Group that you can return to later. Hover your
mouse over the taskbar icon of any of the applications in a Snap
Group, and two small pop-ups will appear — one is a thumbnail of
the contents of the application, and the other shows the Snap
Group. When you choose the Snap Group icon, you will switch to
the previous group layout.
Quick Settings and Notifications
The Windows 10 Action Center has been replaced with two separate taskbar panels, a
notifications panel and a quick settings systems panel.
Notifications
The notifications panel appears together with a calendar.
To check your notifications, click the date and time on right of the taskbar or press
the Windows key + N. A taskbar panel appears containing notifications (email, security
messages etc) and a calendar. When new notifications are received a small blue icon appears
in the date and time area of the taskbar.
Managing Notifications
To turn off notifications go to Settings > Notifications and turn the slider to Off in the
Notifications section at the top of the screen.
To further customise notifications click the right arrow to the right of your chosen
notification setting and set the available options to your choice.
Quick Settings
Quick Settings gives you access to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, VPN, Airplane mode, Night light, Focus
assist (to stop notifications), and Accessibility (includes Magnifier and Narrator). Options
may vary depending on your setup.
To open Quick Settings, click the volume icon on right of the taskbar or press Windows key +
A.
As well as turning features on or off some of them can be customised by clicking the arrow
to the right of the feature
Sound Output Device
The change the sound output device, select the icon to the right
of the volume control bar and choose the sound output device
you wish to use.
Further Settings
Further settings including Storage and Clipboard history can be
accessed via the All Settings button which can be found at the
bottom right of the Quick Settings panel.

Focus
Focus is a new feature in Windows 11 that integrates with the clock to help minimise
distractions.
During a focus session, a focus timer will appear on your screen, do not disturb will turn on
and you won’t be distracted by alerts.
You will only receive a notification when your focus session has ended. To access Focus go to
Settings, System.

Snip Tool
To take a screenshot (snip) in Windows 11:

 Press Windows logo key + Shift + S.

 The screen will darken, and a small bar will appear at the top.
 Choose a selection tool from a drop-down menu to the right of the rectangle and use
this to capture a snip of the screen.
You can also press the Print Screen Key (PrtScn) for a static image snip.
You can then paste (Ctrl+V) the snip into an application of your choice.
Handy Keyboard Shortcuts
Windows 11 supports a variety of keyboard shortcuts which can be found Microsoft’s
Keyboard shortcuts webpage.