Are you making the most of your upgrade to Windows 11? With support for Windows 10 ending on October 14, 2025, maximizing your efficiency now is crucial. Many users upgrade only to stick with old habits, missing powerful tools hidden in plain sight. In fact, surveys show that underutilizing features like Snap layouts and virtual desktops can slow workflows by up to 60%.
Here, we’ve distilled the seven most impactful tips to get the most out of Windows 11, including customizing the Start menu, mastering Snap layouts, creating virtual desktops, and more. Plus, explore our Windows 11 troubleshooting guide to quickly resolve any issues that arise.
—————Recommendations; Please continue reading below————— Space-saving Furniture Shop Now
If you want to maximise space in your home, office or home-office with flexible furniture that collapses, folds, and stacks to fit every room, you can click here to see the wide range of space-saving furniture. Click here to learn more >>>
3 VPNs That Pass All Tests (2025)
NordVPN: Zero leaks in tests, RAM-only servers, and Threat Protection to block malware.
Surfshark: Unlimited devices, Camouflage Mode for bypassing VPN blocks, and CleanWeb ad-blocker.
ExpressVPN: Trusted Server tech (data wiped on reboot) and consistent streaming access.
Tip 1: Customize Your Start Menu for Efficiency
Windows 11’s redesigned Start menu puts you in control of your app organization with a clean, centered interface. You can pin your most-used apps by right‑clicking and selecting “Pin to Start,” then rearrange or resize tiles to match your workflow. To dive deeper into layout options and theming, use Settings > Personalization > Start, where you can toggle recent items and recommended content. For an in-depth look at the redesign, check out our Windows 11 Start Menu Redesign deep dive.
Tip 2: Master Snap Layouts for Seamless Multitasking
Snap layouts let you organize multiple windows with ease by hovering over the maximize button and selecting one of the predefined grid options. This feature makes juggling a browser, document editor, and chat app simultaneously effortless, boosting productivity by up to 20% according to user surveys. You can also use Snap groups, which remember your layout when you reconnect external monitors—perfect for hybrid work setups.
Tip 3: Create and Organize Multiple Virtual Desktops
Virtual desktops help you segment your tasks into dedicated workspaces, reducing clutter and cognitive load. Press Windows key + Tab to view, add, or switch between desktops, and assign unique wallpapers for visual cues. For more ways to boost multitasking performance, read our How to Get Help in Windows 11 Step by Step.
(Ad)
Tip 4: Leverage Widgets for Quick Insights
Widgets provide instant access to personalized information like weather, calendar events, and news without opening separate apps. Access them with Windows key + W or by clicking the widgets icon on the taskbar, then customize which cards appear and in what order. Widgets can sync across your Microsoft account, ensuring your feed follows you to any Windows 11 PC.
Tip 5: Use Focus Sessions to Stay on Task
Focus sessions in the Clock app let you set work and break intervals using the Pomodoro technique, helping you maintain momentum on complex tasks. You can sync your to‑do list from Microsoft To‑Do and earn Microsoft Rewards as you complete sessions. Use this feature to chunk large projects into manageable time blocks and track your progress over weeks.
Tip 6: Secure Your PC with Windows Hello
Windows Hello lets you sign in with your face or fingerprint, eliminating the need for passwords and reducing login time by up to 50%. To set it up, navigate to Settings > Accounts > Sign‑in options and follow the prompts to configure facial recognition or biometric authentication. This feature strengthens security by using hardware-based encryption to store your credentials locally.
Tip 7: Enable Dark Mode for Comfortable Viewing
Dark mode in Windows 11 reduces eye strain in low-light environments and may extend battery life on laptops by decreasing display power usage. To activate it, go to Settings > Personalization > Colors and select Dark in the Choose your color dropdown. Pair dark mode with a lower refresh rate to optimize both comfort and energy efficiency during late-night work sessions.
Bonus Tips: PowerToys & Copilot
PowerToys is an open‑source utility suite that adds advanced features like FancyZones for custom window layouts, a keyboard shortcut guide overlay, and Quick Accent for accented character typing. Install it from GitHub and enable the tools that match your workflow, such as Always on Top for pinning windows and PowerRename for batch file renaming.
Windows Copilot brings AI to the OS, letting you ask questions, adjust settings, and get summaries directly from a sidebar by pressing Win + C. Copilot can draft emails in Outlook, analyze images in Edge, and perform system diagnostics, making it a versatile assistant for both personal and professional tasks.
Conclusion
As you’ve seen, these tips to get the most out of Windows 11 can transform your daily workflow, turning a generic OS experience into a tailored productivity powerhouse. By customizing the Start menu, mastering Snap layouts, organizing your desktops, and tapping into Windows Hello and dark mode, you’ll work faster and more comfortably. Don’t forget to experiment with PowerToys and Copilot for even deeper customization and AI‑driven assistance. Now it’s your turn: which tip will you try first? Explore more Windows 11 tutorials and guides to keep improving your skills.
Now loading...
