If you’re a Windows user, you either have Windows 11 or have been fighting against updating. Some people don’t want to move away from the beloved Windows 10, but Microsoft is pushing that issue, as it cut security updates for Windows 10 last month. If you’re one of the people trying to get used to Windows 11, there are several changes that have been made from the previous operating system that take some getting used to.
While the changes, like the new user interface and the addition of widgets, have been written about extensively, you might still be getting comfortable with the system. If that’s the case, you probably have your own list of features that you either miss or want changed. Some of these features are noticeable right away, while others become apparent after you use Windows 11 extensively.
Move the taskbar to the left
Make it like it used to be
It was so perfectly aligned where it was. Why did Windows move it? The Windows Start menu button should be all the way to the left of the bottom of your screen. In Windows 11, the Taskbar is centered by default. The reason for that is Microsoft’s wanting to use the space at the bottom for widgets and updates.
Mine gives me the weather and stock market tips, which are fine, but I’d rather have it like it used to be. The good news is that I can move it whenever I see fit. If you go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, you can change the alignment to left. This will bring you back to what you were used to in Windows 10. But having it centered feels like a weird setting to be enabled, rather than just keeping it the way it was. It almost feels like Microsoft is just trying to throw people off and show a new side of its operating system.
You can customize it for yourself
In Windows 11, the Start menu is overly simplified and may not be right for you. It now has icons for apps at the top, which you can customize and change depending on which programs you use the most. Below that, there are now recommended options, as Windows 11 learns what you have opened recently or opened frequently and will recommend them. If you find the recommendations helpful, you can toggle on more of them. If you aren’t a fan of them, you can minimize the amount that comes up.
You cannot eliminate the Recommended options in the Start menu.
Back in the Personalization menu, you can click on Start and choose which version of Start you like. It is automatically set to about half icons and half recommendations. Also included are the folders, which let you add folders to the Start Menu. This is a helpful feature because you don’t have to rely on the recommendations of your OS to have files easily accessible. It also eliminates the need to use the Taskbar to search for ones that you use often.
If you use the Pictures or Documents folder frequently, you can toggle those on and have them show up on your Start menu. It makes opening and revisiting them much simpler. The suggestions that are available in this menu are similar to what was left of the Start menu in Windows 10.
Make sure System Protection is enabled
Why wouldn’t you want to save your settings?
Recovery and backing up your system are important parts of keeping your files safe. While computers have come a long way in terms of adding fail-safes and safety backups to their systems, there are other steps you can take to ensure your settings are saved and stored. One of them is using System Protection.
While some people think they need to back up files manually, System Protection backs up files, settings, apps, and more by creating restore points. Think about when you’re using Microsoft Word, and you can go back to previous versions of your document if you want to see what edits you or someone else made in an older version. Restore points are similar to that, as they look at how your computer is set up at a specific time and take a mental log of the settings.
You’re able to restore your points to bring your system back to exactly what it was like when they were captured. To set them up, you need to search for Create a restore point in the taskbar or on the Start menu. The System Properties menu will show up, and you can click System in the Protection Settings part of the menu. After you click Configure, you’ll be able to select Turn on System Protection.
There’s a sliding scale that lets you choose the maximum amount of space your system will reserve. If you click Apply and OK, you’re all set based on your preferences. This enables your points to be restored.
Enable Developer Mode
Have this on in case you need it
You may not consider yourself a computer genius, but that shouldn’t put you off from having the option to act like one. Yes, you probably don’t want to go and screw around inside the inner workings of your computer if you aren’t someone who knows what they’re doing. But, if you do feel so inclined to try some of the advanced tool options on your Windows laptop, you should enable Developer Mode.
By going to Start -> System -> Advanced and turning on Developer Mode, it provides you with access to the most up-to-date apps and features on your computer. However, Developer Mode isn’t necessary for people to use every day unless they’re testing out some new features.
But, if you’re just using your computer like you normally would, you probably don’t need to go into Developer Mode. But having it enabled, on the off chance you do need it, is a good idea. It’s not like you’re going to just be stumbling into that menu, making it fine to have it enabled.
Show the file extensions when you’re looking for files
This should be added to File Explorer
File Explorer is a feature on Windows that lets you search for different files on your computer. File Explorer isn’t always the best way to look for files on your computer, but you can either click through a number of folders and menus, or you can type in and search for something by name. You can look at the names of files in each folder and menu. But it might not give you more information than that.
The files will have an icon with them, so you can have an idea of what the file is. But if you save something as a JPG rather than a PNG, you won’t know that unless you turn on the file extensions within File Explorer.
To do that, you need to open File Explorer and click View. At the bottom is the Show menu, and within the Show menu is the option to select the File name extensions. Once you do that, the names of the files will be followed by the shorthand for what the file is. This makes it simpler to identify each file.
Windows 11 can still make changes
While there’s a lot to like about Windows 11, it can take some getting used to. Some great features just need some help to populate, as you can enable them with some simple settings changes. Personalizing Windows 11 makes it more conducive to being the right operating system for you.