31 Windows 11 Tricks You Probably Didn’t Know Exist

Many performance complaints around Windows 11 are not caused by weak hardware. In many cases, the operating system is simply being used well below what it’s actually capable. Over the last few update cycles, Microsoft has added a range of productivity, security, and automation features that remain undiscovered on most systems.

They aren’t “power user” extras. They are built-in shortcuts and settings that reduce friction and speed up your work: fewer clicks, less window juggling, fewer password prompts, and fewer distractions.

Below is a practical list of 31 Windows 11 features and tweaks that are easy to miss, with the exact places to find them.

1. Move The Start Button Back To The Left

Right-click the taskbar > Taskbar settings > Taskbar behaviors > Taskbar alignment > Left.

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2. Get AI Assistance With Copilot

Open Copilot from the taskbar icon (if present) or use Win + C on systems where the shortcut is enabled. Copilot capabilities vary by region, account, and device class (Copilot+ vs standard).

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3. Customize The Quick Settings Panel

Click the Wi-Fi/speaker/battery area on the taskbar to open Quick Settings. In newer builds, you can reorder tiles by dragging, and the panel scrolls to show more options. Adding/removing tiles may be restricted depending on the build.

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4. Create And Manage Multiple Desktops

Hover over the Task View icon on the taskbar to view desktops, or click it to manage them. Use New desktop to create more. Drag app thumbnails between desktops in Task View.

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5. See Information At A Glance With Widgets

Open Widgets from its taskbar icon. Pin the widgets you actually use and adjust the feed preferences. Widgets and feed behavior depend on region and Microsoft account settings.

(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

6. Learn New Ways To Snap Your Window Layouts

Hover over a window’s Maximize button to open Snap Layouts and pick a layout. You can also snap with Win + Left/Right and follow the prompts to place other windows.

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7. Connect Your Phone For Texts, Calls, And More

Open Phone Link and follow the pairing steps. Once linked, you can usually handle notifications, messages, and (where supported) calls. Some features depend on phone model and permissions.

(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

8. Increase Security By Using Passkeys

Where supported by sites and apps, use passkeys tied to Windows Hello (PIN, face, fingerprint). Manage sign-in methods in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.

(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

9. Get Things Done With Focus Sessions

Open the Clock app > Focus sessions. Set a duration and start a session to reduce distractions and schedule breaks. Notification behavior depends on Focus Assist/Do Not Disturb settings.

(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

10. Get The Most Out Of The Updated File Explorer

Use tabs to avoid window sprawl. Right-click a folder > Open in new tab. You can drag files between tabs and rearrange tabs by dragging.

(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

11. View The Full App List

Open Start and click All (or All apps, depending on build) to see installed apps. Use search if you already know the app name.

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12. Pin Apps To The Start Menu

From the full app list, right-click an app > Pin to Start. Drag pinned apps to reorder. You can also drag one app onto another to create a folder.

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13. Use AI To Edit And Create Images

Windows includes AI-capable image tools depending on what’s installed/updated. Look for features in Photos, Paint, and apps like Designer where available (availability varies by region and account).

(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

14. Customize Your Interface With A Theme

Go to Settings > Personalization > Themes. Picking a theme changes backgrounds, accent colors, and related UI elements. You can edit or create themes from there.

(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

15. Customize The Start Menu

Go to Settings > Personalization > Start to control what appears in Start and which folders show next to the power button (Settings, File Explorer, Downloads, etc.).

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16. Get Better App And File Recommendations

Still in Settings > Personalization > Start, adjust what appears in Recommended. If you don’t want Windows to surface recent items, turn those toggles off.

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17. Change The Default Apps

Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps. Pick an app and set defaults per file type/protocol. This is still more granular than many people expect.

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18. Visualize Your Battery Better

On laptops/tablets: Settings > System > Power & battery > Battery usage. Review usage over time and per-app consumption.

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19. Quickly Pair Input/Output Devices

Go to Settings > System > Sound. Use Add device under Output or Input to pair speakers/headsets/mics. Check All sound devices for a full list.

(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

20. Chat With Teams

Teams is an app now, not a fixed Windows component. If it’s pinned, you can unpin it; if you use it, sign in and configure notifications so it doesn’t become background noise.

(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

21. Listen With New Sound Modes

Go to Settings > System > Sound. Enable Mono audio if needed. For enhancements, open All sound devices, choose the device, and look for enhancement toggles (depends on hardware/drivers).

(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

22. Get Used To The New Touch Gestures

On touch devices, Windows 11 gestures differ from Windows 10. Widgets and Task View are mapped differently, and multi-finger swipes handle switching and minimizing.

23. Learn New Keyboard Shortcuts

Useful ones from the article’s set include:

• Win + W (Widgets, where enabled)
• Win + A (Quick Settings)
• Win + Z (Snap Layouts)
• Win + K (Cast)
  Also still useful: Win + V (clipboard history) and Win + Shift + S (snipping).

24. Access Gaming Features

Press Win + G to open the Game Bar. Even non-gamers may use it for screen capture and quick system overlays.

(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

25. Record Audio With The New Sound Recorder App

Open Sound Recorder for basic recordings. Export format options depend on the current app version. It’s simple, but it’s built-in.

26. Listen And Watch With The New Media Player

Use Media Player for local music/video playback. It replaces older defaults for a lot of common usage, but the capabilities depend on codecs installed.

(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

27. Back Up Your PC With Windows Backup

Open Windows Backup to sync settings and certain data to OneDrive for easier restore on a new PC. What gets backed up depends on account type and configuration.

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28. Clear Your Desktop With Title Bar Shake

Enable it in Settings > System > Multitasking (or search for “shake” in Settings). Once enabled, shake a window’s title bar to minimize other windows.

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29. Compress Files To 7z, TAR, Or Zip Formats In File Explorer

In File Explorer, right-click files/folders and look for compression options. Support and exact menu layout may depend on the Windows 11 version/build.

(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

30. Project To Your PC Screen From Another Device

Install Wireless Display: Settings > System > Optional features. Then go to Settings > System > Projecting to this PC and enable it. You can project from another PC and (in some setups) from an Android device.

(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

31. Find Your Mouse Cursor More Easily

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch. Increase pointer size, change color, or use high-contrast pointer styles to make it easier to track.

(Credit: Microsoft/PCMag)

How many of these 31 features did you not know existed?