New features in Windows 11

 

Start menu

There is a new look for the Start menu, but it still behaves in much the same way as the Start menu from Windows 10

Comprehensive list of installed programs

1. Click the Start button in the task bar at the bottom of your screen
   
2. Select the All button
   
   

 

Pin to Start menu

1. Select All to see the full list of programs
2. From the program list, right-click on the program to be pinned
   
   

3. Select Pin to Start to have the app button shown on the Start menu
4. Select More and then Pin to Taskbar to have the app button shown on the taskbar

 

Group icons on Start menu

1. Open the Start Menu
2. Right-click on the first app to be added to a group
3. Select Create a new app folder
   
   

4. Right-click on the next app to be added to the group
5. Select Move to app folder
6. Choose the destination folder from the menu
   
   

7. To change the folder name select the folder on the Start menu
8. Click in the Edit Name field to enter the new folder name

 

Taskbar

Your taskbar is left-justified as in Windows 10 but you can change the location if you would like.

Center taskbar

1. Right-click on an empty space in the taskbar to open the taskbar menu
   
   

2. Choose Taskbar settings from the menu
3. Scroll to the Taskbar behaviors section on the Personalization page that opens
4. The first option is Taskbar alignment, select the arrow to open the dropdown menu
   
   
    
5. Choose Center from the menu
6. Close the Personalization page

 

Snap layouts

When moving an app window, if you touch the top of the screen you will now get a snap layout template

If you drag your window to one of these options, the app you are rearranging will be put into a part of the screen, and you will be given the option to move other open applications into the remaining windows.

 

Multiple Desktops

It is possible to create more than one desktop, with it’s own group of open windows

 

Add desktop icon to taskbar

1. Right-click the task bar to open the taskbar menu
2. Choose Taskbar Settings from the menu
3. In the Taskbar Items section, slide the toggle to ‘on’ for Task View
4. Close the Personalization window

 

Open a new desktop

1. Hover over the New Desktop icon on your taskbar
2. Click the plus sign in the New Desktop area
   
   

Move between desktops

To move from one desktop to another use the keystrokes Windows key + CTRL + arrow

 

New keystroke commands

It has always been possible to move between open windows in Windows using the keystroke ALT + Tab

Now you can move from tab to tab in a browser using the CTRL + Shift + Tab

In each of these cases holding the first key(s) and repeatedly pressing Tab will enable you to cycle through the windows/tabs.

 

CoPilot

Microsoft CoPilot is an integrated part of Windows 11. It can be pinned to your taskbar:

And it is found on the ribbons of online and installed Microsoft apps


 

 

Snipping Tool

The Snipping Tool is now more powerful with ‘Capture and Notes’ feature as well as screen recording capabilities.

 

Using the Snipping Tool

1. The Snipping Tool can be opened from the Start menu or using the keystroke command SHIFT + Win + S
   
   
2. If opening from the Start menu select New (A) to start a snip, if using the keystroke the tool will open immediately to the menu below
   
   
3. Before selecting New choose whether the capture will be a picture or a recording (B)
4. The capture will always be a rectangle unless the shape is changed using option C to choose an alternate capture option
   
   
    
5. To set a delay in the capture time choose option D
6. To capture text, choose option E
   - Captured text will be added to the clipboard

 

Capture and Notes feature

After opening the Snipping Tool and starting a snip, either by selecting New or clicking and dragging the Capture and Notes menu will open

Select the arrow on the Capture button to choose a capture (screenshot), to save to a particular file, or to save only to the clipboard (Copy Only)

The Share button will allow you to share the clip in various ways

The CoPilot button will send the clip to be analyzed using Microsoft CoPilot.

The Ballpoint pen button will allow annotation of the clip before saving. Both the color and the size of the pen can be adjusted.

The Highlighter feature will allow highlighting of features in the clips. The color and size of the highlighting are both adjustable

The Shapes button opens another menu which will allow the addition of emojis, shapes, and lines, including the ability to adjust the color and fill of shapes

 

 

Clock App

 

Focus Sessions

The Focus Sessions feature helps you minimize distractions and boost productivity by using timed work intervals (like Pomodoro), silencing notifications, and integrating with Microsoft To Do and Spotify to manage tasks and play background music. It turns on Do Not Disturb, hides app flashing, and provides a visible timer and daily progress tracking to keep you on task without overwhelming you.  

 

 

Microsoft Clipchamp

Clipchamp is an app that allows users to create videos from pictures and videos with additional text, music, and graphics.

 

File Explorer features

 

Duplicate tab

With Windows 10 adding a new tab in the File Explorer window opened a new File Explorer window. In Windows 11 right-clicking on the open tab you can choose Duplicate Tab from the menu

 

Drag and drop files to the breadcrumb to move files

In Windows 11 you can drag and drop files to the breadcrumbs at the top of the File Explorer window in order to move files

 

Simplification of right-click menu in File Explorer

In Windows 11 the File Explorer right-click menu has been simplified. Icons have been added for the common functions Cut, Copy, Rename, Share and Delete.

Show More Options will open a more comprehensive menu of commands.

 

Updated file compression options

Windows 11 offers built-in, seamless file compression via the native ZIP format, plus advanced, integrated options allowing for 7z, TAR, Xz, BZip2, and adjustable compression levels (like Deflate) directly in File Explorer for better space savings on many newer builds.