In case you adopted the Home windows 11 launch in 2021 or have just lately began utilizing Microsoft’s newest working system, you’ll be aware of its principal options.
A redesigned Begin menu and taskbar, new multitasking performance and Android app help are among the many most well-known, however there are heaps extra you won’t pay attention to.
On this article, we’ll run by way of 12 of the perfect Home windows 11 options which aren’t apparent or simple to search out. Some are buried deep in Settings, whereas others are simply a few clicks away. A number of are additionally obtainable in Home windows 10, however you won’t have been utilizing them there, both.
Clipboard historical past
Copying and pasting is one thing many people do daily, however there’s no must be restricted to 1 factor at a time. Home windows 11’s Clipboard historical past characteristic enables you to entry every part you’ve just lately copied in a single place, together with each textual content and pictures, however it must be enabled first:
- Head to Settings > System > Clipboard
- Be certain the toggle subsequent to ‘Clipboard historical past’ is turned on
Now, simply use the Home windows Key + V shortcut at any time to open Clipboard historical past, then click on any just lately copied merchandise to stick it into your new location.
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You may take this to the subsequent stage by turning on ‘Share throughout gadgets’, which helps you to entry all copied objects from all of your Home windows 10 or 11 gadgets:
- Head again into Settings > System > Clipboard
- Subsequent to ‘Sync throughout your gadgets’, both activate the toggle or click on ‘Get Began’. Within the case of the latter, you’ll be prompted to confirm the e-mail linked to your Microsoft account
- As soon as enabled, click on the drop-down subsequent to the toggle and select both automated syncing (every part you copy is shared) or handbook syncing (you select particular textual content to share)
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Focus periods
Do you know that Home windows 11 might help you keep on job? The Focus periods characteristic activates don’t disturb and hides flashing taskbar apps to scale back distractions.
Customisation is obtainable at Settings > System > Focus, however beginning a session through the Clock app is less complicated. Focus periods is the display you’ll see as quickly because the app opens, with choices to specify length, breaks and a day by day objective. There’s additionally integration with the Microsoft To-Do app and Spotify for music.
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Don’t disturb turns off all notifications by default, however you may set ‘precedence notifications’ to nonetheless be delivered through Settings > System > Notifications.
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Taskbar keyboard shortcuts
You’ve in all probability pinned apps to the taskbar to make it simple to entry them. Why not make the method even sooner?
For any home windows you may have open, Home windows Key + 1 opens the primary one, Home windows Key + 2 opens the second and so forth. However when you’ve got nothing already open, the identical shortcuts will open pinned apps within the corresponding place from left to proper.
It’s price noting that this solely applies to apps that you simply’ve manually pinned. It received’t open the Widgets panel, Begin menu, search bar, Activity View or Microsoft Groups chat.
File Historical past
File Historical past was launched on Home windows 8 to permit for automated again up of particular information and folders – offered you at all times have a USB storage system linked.
The choice has been faraway from the Settings app in Home windows 11, however it’s nonetheless obtainable:
- Seek for ‘Management Panel’ and choose the related app to open it
- Below ‘System and Safety’, click on ‘Save backup copies of your information with File Historical past’
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- Select the place you’d like information to be backed as much as when you’ve got the choice, then click on ‘Activate’
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It’s price noting that the BitLocker warning above will solely seem when you’ve got Home windows 11 Professional. It’s not obtainable on Home windows 11 House, so can safely be ignored right here.
Voice typing
Voice-to-text know-how has been round for some time, however do you know there’s a model constructed into Home windows 11? It’s typically correct and works in all places that may allow you to sort, though you’ll want to remain linked to the web.
To get began, merely use the Home windows Key + H shortcut and click on the microphone icon if recording doesn’t start robotically. Cease at any time by clicking the microphone icon once more. It was used to sort this sentence, and no edits had been required.
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Dwell Captions
Dwell Captions is a good accessibility characteristic which supplies real-time textual content transcription of any audio or video that you simply play. It’s not excellent, however you normally get the gist of what’s being stated.
To get began, simply seek for ‘reside captions’ and open the related app or use the Home windows Key + Ctrl + L shortcut. Conform to the phrases and situations and click on ‘Obtain’ if you happen to’ve by no means used it earlier than. When you see the message ‘Able to caption’, head to the audio and begin taking part in it.
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Evening mild
Identical to most smartphones and tablets, Home windows 11 has a built-in Evening mild, which shifts your show to hotter tones that will help you sleep.
To show it on, head to Settings > System > Show > Evening mild and click on ‘Activate now’. However you would possibly want to set a schedule – both particular hours or sundown to dawn (when you’ve got location turned on).
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From the identical display, you’ll additionally discover the choice to decide on the energy of the evening mild.
Dynamic Refresh Price
In case your show can output at the next refresh price than the default 60Hz, it’s price checking if it could dynamically regulate based on what you’re doing. This implies you get the additional smoothness and fluidity of a 90Hz or 120Hz display with out such successful to battery life.
To test, head to Settings > System > Show > Superior show and select your show from the drop-down subsequent to ‘Choose a show to view or change its settings’.
Subsequent the drop-down subsequent to ‘Select a refresh price’ and see which choices can be found. You could have just one or a number of, however the ‘Dynamic’ mode is the one which can robotically regulate.
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Display recording
Microsoft has its personal display recorder instrument pre-installed on Home windows 11, however you won’t be capable of discover it. It’s constructed into the Xbox Recreation Bar, however gives all of the performance you’d count on.
To begin utilizing it, navigate to the app or web page you’d prefer to file, then use the Home windows Key + G shortcut. Click on the ‘Seize’ icon (it appears like a small webcam) to start recording, then the microphone icon at any time to start out speaking.
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All information are saved inside File Explorer > Movies > Captures by default, however this may be modified through Settings > Gaming > Captures.
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Shake to minimise
In case you’ve acquired a number of home windows open without delay, shaking the title bar of 1 can be utilized to minimise all of the others. However the characteristic isn’t turned on by default.
To allow it, head to Settings > System > Multitasking and activate the toggle subsequent to ‘Title bar window shake’.
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Time stamp in Notepad
The pre-installed Notepad isn’t probably the most superior note-taking app, however it may be helpful to shortly jot issues down. One worthwhile characteristic is a shortcut for including the present date and time at any second.
Merely press F5 in your keyboard and it’ll appear as if beneath. You too can add this through Edit > Time/Date if you happen to’d want.
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{Hardware} and Gadgets Troubleshooter
Microsoft nonetheless makes use of troubleshooters to resolve points in Home windows 11, however the older ‘{Hardware} and Gadgets’ one has been faraway from Settings. Happily, there’s nonetheless a technique to entry it:
- Within the search bar on the taskbar, sort ‘Command Immediate’, then select ‘Run as Administrator’ adopted by ‘Sure’
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- From the window that seems, sort ‘msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic’ and hit enter
- The {Hardware} and Gadgets troubleshooter will now seem. Click on ‘Subsequent’ to get began, then comply with the directions
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