Top 5 Tips & Tricks on Windows 11

It’s arrived, the latest incarnation of the world’s most popular operating system. Windows 10 had a respectable lifespan and will likely remain in use for a few years, but Windows 11 is now fully released and people are already falling in love with it. 

A new version of Windows means more than an updated UI, there are plenty of other updates that might change the way you work and play. 

Our line of refurbished Windows 11 desktops & laptops is ready to help you embrace the new OS. We’ve reconditioned and thoroughly tested each machine to make sure they’re Windows 11-ready. 

Ready to learn new tips and tricks to help you make the most of Windows 11? Read on to make the most of your new OS.

1. Change the Start Button Alignment

The first thing most users notice upon firing up Windows 11 for the first time is the centred Start button. Somewhat controversially, Microsoft decided to ditch the time-honoured left alignment and put it right in the middle of the taskbar. 

Even though some people enjoy it, long-time Windows users might not. If you’re not wild about its placement, here’s how to change it:

1. Right-click the Taskbar and select Taskbar Settings, or go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar
2. Navigate to Taskbar behaviours, and locate Taskbar alignment
3. Change it to ‘Left’

Now, you’ve got your Start button back to where it was in every previous version of Windows.

2. Embrace Focus Sessions to Boost Productivity

Focus Sessions is a new feature of the Clock app that is designed to help you develop healthy digital habits. This feature prompts you to create a countdown and your goal is to focus on work for its duration. Integration with Spotify and Microsoft To Do enhances the functionality by providing audio and your task list. 

This feature helps you use your Dell refurbished desktop to focus on the task at hand, rather than jumping around throughout your workday. 

It’s not a one-and-done countdown, either. You’ll see a daily progress report that encourages you to set goals for yourself. 

Follow these steps to start focusing:

1. Press Win + S to bring up the Search bar
2. Type clock and open the Clock app from the search results
3. Within the Clock app, locate the Focus Sessions tab
4. Set your daily goal in hours, note that the app will include a 5-minute break every 30-minutes
5. Click Start Focus Session and start working until the app tells you to take a break

Something missing from Focus Sessions is integration with Focus Assist. This Windows 10 feature allows you to pause notifications and seems like it should be accessible within Focus Sessions, but it’s not. 

Perhaps Microsoft will add integration in a future update, but in the meantime, you can access Focus Assist by going to Settings > System > Focus Assist. Select the right option for your needs and get to work. 

3. Get Your Right-Click Menu Back

Much like the Start button tip, this tip is focused on regaining functionality that we had in Windows 10. 

A running theme with Windows 11 is an increased focus on usability and aesthetic design. Part of that includes a less-cluttered right-click menu that only displays frequently used options. That might be perfectly fine for some users, but others may not be able to find the option they need. 

If you’d rather have the robust right-click menu from Windows 10, here’s how to access it:

1. Right-click within File Explorer to bring up the menu
2. Look for ‘Show more options’ at the bottom
3. You’ll be shown a spill-over menu with the rest of the options not displayed by default

Alternatively, you can use the hotkey Shift + F10 to bring up the full menu. 

Now you’ve got every option available, rather than the limited selection that’s presented by default. 

4. Create and Manage Multiple Desktops

Did you use Task View in Windows 10? If so, you’ll likely appreciate the new incarnation found in Windows 11. 

A new icon replaces the Task View button and allows you to create and manage multiple desktops. Hover over the icon to see all of your current desktops or create a new one. 

Simply select a desktop to switch over to it, or create a new one. 

You can also rearrange your desktops to suit your needs, and apps within one desktop can be dragged over to another one. 

5. Explore the New Snap Layouts

Windows 7 introduced the world to a new way to have multiple windows visible at the same time with its snap feature. Rather than painstakingly resizing them, users could drag a window to the side and then select another window to display alongside it. 

Microsoft knows this multi-tasking feature is widely used, so it was improved. The previous functionality still exists, but a new menu allows you to pick pre-made layouts. 

Hover over the Maximize button on any window that supports it and you’ll see a new menu of supported apps. Pick the right one for you and arrange your windows as needed. 

Need to Upgrade? The Right Refurbished PC will Support Windows 11

Not every computer with Windows 10 will be able to support Windows 11. You may discover that your current computer isn’t compatible with the new OS and that you’ll need to upgrade to put these tips and tricks to use. 

Fortunately, REFURB.io has a selection of desktops and laptops that are Windows 11-ready. We are a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher and our thoroughly tested PCs are equipped to handle the latest version of Windows. Browse our line of refurbished desktops and laptops today to get started using Windows 11.