If you’ve been following the launch of Windows 11 in 2021 or just started using Microsoft’s latest operating system, you’ll be familiar with its key features.
A redesigned Start menu and taskbar, new multitasking functionality, and support for Android apps are some of the most popular, but there’s a lot you might not know about.
In this article, we take a look at 12 of the best Windows 11 features that aren’t obvious or easy to find. Some are buried deep in the settings, while others are just a few clicks away. Windows 10 also has several versions, but you may not have used them there either.
Clipboard history
Copying and pasting is something most of us do every day, but it doesn’t have to be one thing at a time. Windows 11’s Clipboard History feature lets you access everything you’ve copied recently, including text and images, in one place, but you need to enable it first:
- Go to Settings > System > Clipboard
- Make sure the switch next to Clipboard history is turned on
Now, at any time, use Windows key + V to open the clipboard history, and then click on any recently copied item to put it in a new location.
You can take it to the next level by enabling Device Sharing, which lets you access copied items from all your Windows 10 or 11 devices:
- Go back to Settings > System > Clipboard
- Turn on the switch next to “Sync across your devices” or click the “Start” button. In the latter case, you will be asked to verify the email associated with your Microsoft account
- Once connected, click the drop-down menu next to the toggle and choose auto sync (everything that’s copied is shared) or manual sync (you choose the exact text to share).
Anyron Copeman / The Foundry
Tuning sessions
Did you know that Windows 11 can help you focus on your tasks? The Focus Sessions feature activates Do Not Disturb and hides flashing apps from the taskbar to reduce distractions.
Personalization is available in Settings > System > Focus, but it’s easier to start a session with the Clock app. Focus Sessions is a screen that appears as soon as you open the app, with options for duration, breaks, and daily goals. There’s also integration with Microsoft To-Do and Spotify for music.
Anyron Copeman / The Foundry
Do Not Disturb disables all notifications by default, but you can always set “priority notifications” delivered via Settings > System > Notifications.
Anyron Copeman / The Foundry
Taskbar keyboard shortcuts
You may have pinned applications to the taskbar for easy access. Why not speed up the process?
For all the windows you have open, Windows key + 1 will open the first one, Windows key + 2 will open the second one, and so on. But if you don’t already have anything open, those shortcuts will open pinned apps in the corresponding position from left to right.
It should be noted that this only applies to manually approved applications. It does not open the widgets panel, start menu, search bar, task view, or Microsoft Teams chat.
File history
File History was introduced in Windows 8 to allow automatic backup of certain files and folders when a USB storage device is connected.
The option has been removed from the Settings app in Windows 11, but is still available:
- Search for “Control Panel” and select the appropriate application to open it
- In the “System and Security” section, click “Back up files with file history”.
Anyron Copeman / The Foundry
- If there is an option, select where to save the files and click Add.
Anyron Copeman / The Foundry
It’s worth noting that the BitLocker warning above only appears if you have Windows 11 Pro. It’s not available on Windows 11 Home, so it’s safe to skip here.
Voice input
Voice-to-text technology has been around for a while, but did you know that Windows 11 has a built-in version? It’s generally accurate and works anywhere you can type, although you do need to be connected to the internet.
Use the Windows key + H key combination to start, and if the recording does not start automatically, click the microphone icon. Stop at any time by clicking the microphone icon again. This sentence is used for typing and no changes are required.
Anyron Copeman / The Foundry
Live subtitles
Live Captions is a great accessibility feature that provides real-time text transcription of any audio or video file being played. It’s not perfect, but you usually get the gist of what’s being said.
To get started, simply search for “live captions” and open the appropriate application or use the Windows key + Ctrl + L. Accept the terms and conditions and click “Download” if you have never used it before. After you see the “Title ready to record” message, go to the audio and start playing it.
Anyron Copeman / The Foundry
Night light
Like most smartphones and tablets, Windows 11 has a built-in night light that changes the screen to warm tones to help you sleep.
To turn it on, go to Settings > System > Display > Night Light and click Turn On Now. But you may want to set a schedule – specific times or until sunset (if the location is enabled).
Anyron Copeman / The Foundry
On that screen, you’ll find an option to select the power of the night light.
Dynamic refresh rate
If the display can output at a higher refresh rate than the default 60Hz, it’s worth checking if it can dynamically adjust based on what you’re doing. This means you get the extra smoothness and fluidity of a 90Hz or 120Hz display without affecting battery life.
To check, go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced display and select your display from the drop-down menu next to “Select a display to view or change its settings.”
Then pull down the menu next to “Choose refresh rate” and see what options are available. You can have one or more, but the “Dynamic” mode is the auto-adjust mode.
Anyron Copeman / The Foundry
Screen recording
Microsoft has a pre-installed screen recorder in Windows 11, but you may not be able to find it. It’s built into the Xbox Game Bar, but has all the features you’d expect.
To start using it, go to the app or page you want to type and use Windows key + G. Click the Capture icon (it looks like a little webcam) to start recording. Tap the microphone icon at any time to record and then start speaking.
Anyron Copeman / The Foundry
All files are stored in File Explorer > Videos > Captures by default, but you can change this in Settings > Games > Captures.
Anyron Copeman / The Foundry
Shake to reduce
If you have a lot of windows open at once, you can use shaking the title bar of one to minimize all the others. But this feature is not enabled by default.
To enable it, go to Settings > System > Multitasking and turn on the switch next to “Title Bar Window Shake”.
Anyron Copeman / The Foundry
Time stamp in notepad
Notepad Preset isn’t the most advanced note-taking app out there, but it can be useful for jotting things down quickly. A nice feature is a shortcut to add the current date and time at any time.
Press F5 key on your keyboard, it will appear as below. You can also add it via Edit > Time/Date if you want.
Anyron Copeman / The Foundry
Hardware and Peripheral Troubleshooter
Microsoft still uses troubleshooting tools to fix Windows 11 issues, but the old “Hardware and peripherals” has been removed from Settings. Fortunately, there is still a way to achieve it:
- Type “Command Prompt” in the search box on the taskbar, then select “Run as administrator” and then “Yes.”
Anyron Copeman / The Foundry
- In the window that appears, type “msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic” and press Enter.
- The Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter will now appear. Click Next to get started, then follow the instructions
Anyron Copeman / The Foundry
Related articles
All news on the site does not represent the views of the site, but we automatically submit this news and translate it through software technology on the site rather than a human editor.
