Posted by One of the things that we pride ourselves on is keeping up to date with new technologies and systems that help us do our jobs better… ultimately providing better service and support for our clients. Over the past 18 months, we’ve been updating our Windows 10 PCs to Windows 11. Why? Because support for Windows 10 stops in October this year!
With all the malware and viruses and hacking out there, you will definitely want to use an operating system that is getting constant bug fixes and security updates. So if you haven’t already, it’s probably time to consider updating to Windows 11 on your PC or laptop. (We can’t help you with that, so if you need help, you will need to work with an IT company or other IT support provider.)
If you are brave when it comes to computer things, here is how to get started doing the upgrade. Open your Settings, go to Update & Security > Windows Update, and click Check for updates; if your PC is compatible, the Windows 11 upgrade option will appear, allowing you to download and install it directly through the Windows Update feature. (Again, do your research on upgrading to Windows 11 and make sure you have someone in mind to help you if you have problems during the upgrade.)
We were a bit surprised how smoothly the upgrade to Windows 11 has gone. For the most part, all of our software continues to work properly and we’ve only had to make a few adjustments in our workflows due to the interface changes. We have also tried to get used to some of the new features instead of forcing them to work more like Windows 10… but it’s all about your own preferences. Here are some tips and tricks that you might appreciate after you upgrade to Windows 11.
Windows 11 Tips and Tricks After Upgrading
Moving the Task Bar from Centered to Left Aligned
By default, Windows 11 changes the task bar in the bottom of your screen to be centered. Some people prefer the left alignment of Windows 10. And you can change it back to left aligned!
Instructions: From the Windows 11 desktop, right-click any blank space in the taskbar and then select Taskbar settings. In the right pane, click Taskbar behaviors. Select the Taskbar alignment drop-down and then change it from Center to Left. The taskbar is now left-aligned.
Consider using Widgets
While Windows 10 had some widgets, this has been expanded in Windows 11. Weather, sports scores, stock prices, upcoming calendar items, to do lists and more… the new Widgets icon on the task bar has a ton of options. You can customize the widgets, rearrange them, and manage your preferences through Microsoft Start. You can also add third-party widgets to the panel, including widgets from Spotify and Facebook Messenger.
Instructions: Here is a support document from Microsoft about Widgets in Windows 11
New Ways to Snap Window Layouts
Windows 11 has really enhanced how quickly you can position various applications on your desktop. Sure, you can still use the WINDOWS key + Arrow Keys to snap windows left, right, maximize, minimize, etc. But Snap Layouts give you more control and options.
Instructions: Here is a support document with a video from Microsoft about Snap Layouts
New Windows Keyboard Shortcuts!
Windows 11 has some new keyboard shortcuts. It’s worth taking the time to try these out.
- Windows Key-W to open the Widgets panel
- Windows Key-A to access the Quick Settings
- Windows Key-Z to access Snap Layouts
- Windows Key-K to cast media
A couple of the best keyboard shortcuts are still in place from Windows 10, including WINDOWS Key + V to show clipboard history and WINDOWS Key + Shift + S for the screenshot tool.
You might not have expected a Windows 11 article from a property management company. We wanted to share this as a public service announcement about support for Windows 10 ending in October as well as a little bit of our personal experience upgrading to Windows 11. We hope your upgrade goes smoothly and that you quickly adapt to the new things in Windows 11!
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