Beginner’s Guide To Windows 11: 20 Essential Tips For New Users
Windows 11 is Microsoft’s current operating system that runs your PC, featuring a centered taskbar, a redesigned Start menu , and built-in tools to help you manage your daily tasks. Learning twenty essential tips helps you speed up your computer, clean up your desktop, and find hidden settings without the usual frustration.
Factory default settings often slow down your PC and clutter your screen with apps you never use. Changing a few simple options lets you make your computer run faster, protect your personal information, and feel completely comfortable using your new system.
A beginner’s guide to Windows 11 provides twenty essential tips for new users to customize their computer, speed up startup times, and use built-in features like clipboard history and Microsoft Copilot. These steps help you set up your taskbar , organize open windows, and link your smartphone.
1Move the Start Button Back to the Left Corner
Moving the Start button back to the left corner in Windows 11 takes just a few clicks for users who miss the classic layout. Right-click any empty space on the taskbar , open taskbar settings, and expand the taskbar behaviors menu to shift the icons back to the bottom-left corner of your screen where they used to be.
Right-click on any empty space on the taskbar located at the bottom of the screen.
Click on Taskbar settings.
Click on Taskbar behaviors to expand that menu section.
Locate the option that says Taskbar alignment and change it from Center to Left.
The Start button and taskbar icons will instantly jump over to the left side of the screen.
2Speed Up Your Computer by Turning Off Unneeded Startup Apps
Turning off unneeded startup apps in Windows 11 speeds up your computer and stops programs from running in the background the moment your PC turns on. Open the settings app, go to the apps menu, click on startup, and turn off any unwanted programs to help your computer boot up much faster.
Open the Start menu and click on the Settings app (represented by the gear icon).
Click on Apps in the menu on the left side of the window.
Click on Startup.
Look through the list of applications and find anything that does not need to launch immediately when the computer boots up.
Click the toggle switch next to an app to turn it Off.
3Never Lose Copied Text With Clipboard History
Press the Windows Key + V keys on the keyboard.
When a small prompt pops up asking you to turn on Windows 11 clipboard history, you should click the button to turn the feature on. This handy tool lets you copy and save multiple items, such as text and pictures, so you can paste them later by pressing the Windows logo key plus the V key. Enabling clipboard history also lets you sync your copied items across different devices linked to your Microsoft account, which saves you time when working on multiple computers.
The Windows clipboard history feature opens in a small window showing up to 25 recently copied items, including text and images. You can press the Windows logo key plus V to open the clipboard history panel, and then click any item in that list to paste that copied item directly into your current document or message.
4Use AI Assistance With Microsoft Copilot
Click the colorful, swirly Copilot icon located right on the taskbar, or press the Windows Key + C keys on the keyboard.
Type a question or request into the chat box, and the AI will respond immediately.
5Organize Open Windows Easily With Snap Layouts
Organizing open windows with Snap Layouts in Windows 11 lets you neatly arrange apps side by side or tuck them into screen corners with a couple of clicks. Hover your mouse cursor over the maximize button in the top right corner of any open window, and click a specific section of the layout menu to snap your app into place.
Hover the mouse cursor over the Maximize button (the square icon in the upper-right corner of any open window).
A tiny menu pops up showing different layout options for screen space.
Click the specific section of the layout where the current window should sit, and then pick which app fills the remaining slots.
6Connect Your Smartphone to Your PC
Connecting your smartphone to a Windows 11 PC lets you view text messages, make phone calls, and check mobile notifications right from your computer display. Open the Start menu, go to settings, click on Bluetooth and devices, choose Phone Link, and follow the simple on-screen instructions to pair your Android phone or iPhone.
Open the Start menu and click on Settings.
Click on Bluetooth & devices, and then choose Phone Link.
Follow the step-by-step instructions shown on screen to pair an Android phone or iPhone.
7Send Files Wirelessly Between Nearby Devices
Sending files wirelessly between nearby devices in Windows 11 does not require a USB thumb drive or cloud storage thanks to Nearby Sharing. Open your settings, go to system, turn on nearby sharing, and right-click any file in File Explorer to send it instantly to computers near you.
Open the Start menu and go to Settings > System > Nearby sharing.
Turn the feature On and choose whether to share files with anyone nearby or strictly with personal devices.
Right-click the file to send inside File Explorer, select Share, and choose the name of the nearby computer from the available list.
8Stay Focused and Avoid Distractions With Focus Sessions
Using Focus Sessions in Windows 11 helps you block out chunks of uninterrupted work time by automatically silencing notifications and tracking your progress. Open the Start menu, type the word clock to open the clock app, click on focus sessions, choose your working minutes, and click start to get to work without distractions.
Open the Start menu, type the word Clock, and open the Clock app.
Click on Focus sessions in the menu.
Choose the number of working minutes and click Start focus session. Windows automatically silences notifications and tracks progress.
9Open Multiple Folders in Tabs Using File Explorer
Opening multiple folders in tabs using File Explorer in Windows 11 lets you view different directories inside a single window just like a web browser. Open File Explorer, right-click any folder, and select open in new tab to keep your desktop organized and switch between folders smoothly.
Open File Explorer.
Right-click any folder and select Open in new tab.
Files can also be clicked and dragged right onto the tabs at the top to move them between folders smoothly.
10Customize Your Start Menu Pinned Apps
Customizing your Start menu pinned apps in Windows 11 makes your computer cleaner by removing unused programs and keeping your absolute favorites right at the front. Open the Start menu, click all apps to see your full installed list, and right-click any app icon to choose pin to start.
Open the Start menu and click the All button to see a full list of installed apps.
Right-click any app icon and choose Pin to start.
You can easily clean up your Windows 11 Start menu by right-clicking an unnecessary app icon in the Pinned area and selecting Unpin from start. To organize your apps better, you can also drag one app icon directly on top of another app icon to bundle the icons into a custom folder.
11Change Your Default Apps for Photos, Browsing, and More
Changing your default apps for photos, web browsing, and music in Windows 11 lets you switch built-in programs to your preferred choices rapidly. Open your settings, go to apps, select default apps, type the name of the app or file type into the search box, and pick your preferred program from the list.
Open the Start menu and go to Settings > Apps > Default apps.
Type the name of the app or file type to change into the search box at the top.
Click on the app and pick the preferred program from the list to handle that specific file type.
12Make Your Mouse Cursor Easier to See
Making your mouse cursor easier to see in Windows 11 helps you spot the pointer on a bright computer screen by changing its size and color. Open your settings, go to accessibility, select mouse pointer and touch, and choose the style displaying a half-black and half-white cursor that changes colors automatically.
Open the Start menu and go to Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch.
You can make your mouse pointer easier to see by choosing the half-black and half-white cursor style in Windows 11. This special cursor style switches colors automatically depending on what lies underneath the pointer, making the mouse pointer clearly visible anywhere on your computer screen.
13Clear Your Desktop Instantly With Title Bar Shake
Clearing your desktop instantly with title bar shake in Windows 11 hides all open background windows when you give your active window a quick mouse shake. Go to settings, system, multitasking, turn on title bar window shake, and click and hold the top title bar of your active window to shake away clutter.
Open the Start menu and go to Settings > System > Multitasking.
Find the setting named Title bar window shake and turn it On.
You can use a feature called Title Bar Shake in Windows 11 to hide all open windows except the one you want to focus on. To use this feature, click and hold the top title bar of your active window, and then quickly shake your mouse back and forth. All other open windows minimize down to the taskbar instantly. If you change your mind, another quick shake of your mouse brings all the hidden windows right back to your desktop.
14Back Up Your Important Files and Settings Automatically
Backing up your important files and settings automatically in Windows 11 protects personal data from accidental loss using the built-in Windows Backup tool. Open the Start menu, type windows backup to open the app, select your important folders and settings, and click back up to sync your data to the cloud.
Open the Start menu, type Windows Backup, and then open the app.
Select the folders, apps, and settings to save.
Click Back up to sync data to a cloud account so the exact setup restores on a new computer later.
15Master Essential Keyboard Shortcuts
Mastering essential keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11 saves you time and reduces clicking throughout your daily computer tasks. Memorize helpful key combinations like the Windows Key plus A for quick settings, W for widgets, Z for snap layouts, and Shift plus S to open the built-in screenshot tool.
Windows Key + A: Opens the Quick Settings panel for Wi-Fi, volume, and brightness controls.
Windows Key + W: Opens the Widgets panel.
Windows Key + Z: Opens Snap Layouts for organizing windows.
Windows Key + Shift + S: Opens the built-in screenshot tool to capture all or part of the screen.
16View Detailed Battery Usage and Save Power
If you use a Windows 11 laptop, you can check which apps drain your battery the most and put those power-hungry programs to sleep. To find this information, open the Windows 11 Settings app, go to System and then Power & battery, and view the battery usage by app list for the past 24 hours. Putting power-hungry programs to sleep prevents background apps from using unnecessary power, which helps your laptop battery last significantly longer on a single charge.
Open the Start menu and go to Settings > System > Power & battery.
Click on Battery usage to view graphs and a detailed breakdown of power consumption by individual apps.
17Enhance Your Audio With Special Sound Modes
Windows 11 lets users adjust audio settings to boost bass, balance sound channels, or turn stereo sound into mono for a better listening experience. Open the Start menu, go to settings, system, and sound, then turn on mono audio or explore speaker enhancements to adjust your sound output easily.
Open the Start menu and go to Settings > System > Sound.
Turn on Mono audio to combine the left and right audio channels into a single speaker or headphone.
Scroll down, click All sound devices, select speakers or headphones, and turn on Enhance audio for extra features like loudness equalization.
18Record Your Screen or Play Games Using the Xbox Game Bar
Recording your screen or checking system performance in Windows 11 is easy using the built-in Xbox Game Bar tool. Press the Windows Key and G keys together on your keyboard to open the overlay, where you can monitor computer resources, record video clips, or adjust audio volumes instantly.
Press the Windows Key + G keys on the keyboard to open the Game Bar overlay.
From here, check processor and memory usage, record video clips of the screen, or adjust audio volumes.
19Compress Files Into ZIP, TAR, or 7z Formats
Downloading extra software to create compressed archive files is unnecessary because Windows 11 lets users create advanced file formats right inside File Explorer. Right-click one or more files or folders, select compress to, and choose your desired format such as a standard ZIP file or advanced formats like TAR and 7z.
Right-click one or more files or folders in File Explorer.
Select Compress to and choose a desired format, such as a standard ZIP file or advanced formats like TAR and 7z.
20Personalize Your Desktop With Custom Themes
Applying ready-made themes updates desktop backgrounds, accent colors, and sound effects all at once, changing your overall computer look and feel. Open the Start menu, go to settings, personalization, and themes, then click on any default theme to apply a fresh look or browse the Microsoft Store for new options.
Open the Start menu and go to Settings > Personalization > Themes.
Click on any default theme to apply a fresh look, or browse the Microsoft Store to download brand-new options.
Conclusion
Mastering Windows 11 requires no prior technical background. Exploring twenty essential tips and customizing a computer to match everyday habits makes working faster, staying organized, and enjoying a smoother computing experience possible. Putting a few of these features into practice today demonstrates how productive a PC can become.
Summary
The Beginner's Guide To Windows 11: 20 Essential Tips For New Users provides twenty helpful tips for customizing and improving the Windows 11 operating system experience. The beginner guide covers moving taskbar icons, speeding up startup times, using clipboard history, organizing windows with Snap Layouts, connecting phones, and much more. Each tip uses clear steps to help you take full control of your computer.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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