Welcome to Windows 11
Audience
Team members at Michigan State University in the divisions of Residential Hospitality Services or Student Affairs.
Overview and Environment
This is for team members using devices running Windows 11 operating system. If you have a divisional device and are still running Windows 10, you can upgrade to Windows 11 per the steps in the "related article" on this page for Upgrading to Windows 11.
For a printable version of this guide, see the PDF in the "attachments" area of this article's page.
For the guide below, click any image to enlarge.
Windows 11 Features
Welcome! This guide will orient you to the latest Microsoft operating system, Windows 11. If you are used to Windows 10, you will notice a modern design in Windows 11 (rounded window corners) and that the Taskbar, Start icon, and Search feature are centered on your screen instead of aligned to the left. You’ll also find updates to common functions and refreshed apps. The numbers below correspond to the parts of Windows 11 labeled in the image above.
- Widgets (weather, news, traffic, etc.)
- Taskbar (It runs along the bottom of the desktop. You can pin apps to it.)
- Start icon (click it to open Start Menu)
- Username (in Start Menu)
- Search field
- Pinned applications
- Task View (switch between open windows)
- File Explorer (can be pinned to taskbar)
- Settings (in Start Menu)
- All Apps (click for more apps you can pin to Start Menu)
- Power menu
- System tray overflow
- OneDrive app (Not showing? Click System tray overflow)
- Actions center and notifications
Microsoft tutorials: For an official Microsoft Introduction to Windows 11, check out their Meet Windows 11 support area (support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/meet-windows11). Note: Some features shown in the tutorials may be turned off for security reasons on MSU devices (e.g., Phone Link App).
Tutorial language support: If English is not your preferred language, scroll all the way to the bottom of the above webpage to find the Globe icon and click the word English next to it. Then, select from any of the listed languages. If videos are in English, select the video’s subtitle button and select the appropriate language.
Sign In: As always, when you sign in to your device, you are agreeing to the MSU Acceptable Use policy. For the full policy, visit tech.msu.edu/about/guidelines-policies/aup/.
Sign out or Switch user: If you share a computer with others and are stepping away for a bit, simply lock your computer (Windows key + L) or Ctrl + Alt + Delete, then select Lock, Sign out or Switch user. You can also sign out by selecting Start > your username > Sign Out (or … Switch user).
Shut down or Restart: For these commands, select the Start (Windows panel) icon to open the Start menu. Then click the power icon (circle) at the bottom, right. Select either Shut down or Restart. You can also put your device into Sleep or Hibernate mode here (which saves laptop battery life). Power commands are also available from the Ctrl + Alt + Del menu.
Search: In Windows 11, use the Search (magnifying glass) for EVERYTHING. Search results will include applications, websites, files and people (contacts).
Task bar: This is centralized by default. Give this new layout a chance to become a habit. Still prefer it to the left like Windows 10? Right-click an empty space on the taskbar, select Taskbar settings > under Taskbar behaviors > Taskbar alignment > change from Center to Left.
Start Menu: To pin items to your Start Menu or desktop, search for them (or select Start > All Apps and find them) > right-click any application > select Pin to Start or Pin to Taskbar.
All Apps and pinning apps: To see apps in Windows 10, you would select Start then navigate the alphabetical menu. In Windows 11, select Start then All Apps to see the menu of apps. Right-click one to pin it to either the Start Menu or taskbar.
System tray and overflow: The System Tray is the area where the speaker, network, battery and OneDrive icons are located along with the date and time. Additional icons (not showing) are available in the “overflow” menu which can be accessed by selecting the up arrow in this area.
Personalization: Change your desktop background images, select a slideshow for your wallpaper or choose from different Colors and Themes. To do so, go to Start > Settings > Personalization.
Dark Mode: Change to this mode to reduce eye strain by following these steps: Start > Settings > Personalization > Select Colors > Choose your mode > change the button from Light to Dark.
Accessibility: To enlarge text, mouse pointer or icons (and more) for ease of use, select Start > Settings > Accessibility.
Widgets: Select the weather or widgets icon (lower left of Taskbar) to open widgets panes. You can add or remove a widget or manage widget settings (gear icon).
File Explorer: If File Explorer does not appear on your taskbar, search for it and pin it there. Select the yellow folder icon in the Taskbar to open this and navigate files. You will notice a new toolbar above your files with picture icons for New, Copy, Paste, etc. Use keyboard shortcuts for copy (Ctrl-C) or paste (Ctrl-V), but if you use the right-click menu, you will not find the words Copy or Paste. Instead, select their icons (two pages for copy or a clipboard for paste).
System settings: Control your display, sound, notifications, focus and power settings by going to Start > Settings > System.
Display settings: Need to configure monitor settings? Right-click an open space on your desktop and select Display settings or go to Start > Settings > System > Display. If you have two monitors, use the Identify button to see which is number 1 (main display) and number 2. Need to change it? Drag the number tiles around to rearrange them left to right, then select Apply. Need to set your primary monitor, select its number, then check the box below it for Make this my main display.
You can also use a button to either Extend these displays or Duplicate these displays (and more).
Need to change more monitor settings? Under Scale & layout, select Scale (to change how large things appear) or expand Multiple displays for advanced settings.
Web browsers: Like Windows 10, Windows 11 lets you set your default browser. Go to Start > Settings > Apps > find and expand (right arrow) the app you wish to choose (Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox), then select Set default.
Screen capture and video editing: SnagIt and Camtasia — per MSU agreement with TechSmith — are currently available for installation in the Software Center. (Start > All Apps > search for Software Center > launch it > Applications > select SnagIt or Camtasia > select Install). These are excellent, full feature applications. For more info., see techsmith.com/learn/tutorials.
Context menus: When you right-click an object, the menu that appears is related to or in “context” to the item you clicked. The context menus in Windows 11 are different from Windows 10. When working with files in File Explorer, you may notice copy or paste icons (instead of the words copy or paste) and the lists are condensed. However, if you select “Show more options” from the menu, you see more items to choose from.
Jump lists: When an app (like Word or Excel) is open, right-click its icon in your Taskbar to see its Jump List. This is a menu of app-related recently opened items, commands, configuration settings or options to open a new instance of the app.
Snap Windows: Want to use two windows side by side? Select (click the top of) the open window, then press Windows key + left arrow to snap it to the left. Or you can click and drag the window to the far left of your monitor. Then, select from the other offered/open windows tiles and the one you select will snap to the right of the first window. Want four windows on the same screen? Click and drag a window to the top-left corner of your monitor, then select other windows for the other three locations.
Snap Layouts: Maybe you want to see multiple windows in a unique arrangement on your screen? Make sure all the Windows are open. Then you can either click and drag a window toward the top of your monitor or point and hover on the Restore or Maximize button of one of the windows to display and select from any of 6 different Snap Layout options. Click any layout and the active window will snap to the top-left area. Then, continue to select from available windows to fill in all positions in the layout.
Snap Groups: Work with two or more windows and use the “Snap Windows” or “Snap Layouts” to group them. The system remembers them together as a “Snap Group.” In your Taskbar, hover over any open application that you have grouped, and it will offer you the open windows/groups so you can quickly select and switch to them.
For example, say you have Word and Excel open, and you snap them side by side. Then, you open a third window to browse the Web. Now, if you want to return to your Word and Excel grouping, just hover over one of those applications in your taskbar and select the grouping to bring those Windows back to the front of your view.
Want to learn more about snapping windows? Visit Microsoft’s website.
Task View and multiple desktops: Select Task View (gray and white squares icon) in your task bar to switch between open windows or add and access additional desktops. For example, have one desktop with email open, another with a spreadsheet project.
Task Manager: Did an app stop responding? Right-click the task bar or press Ctrl-Alt-Del > select Task Manager > select the application > End Task.
Snipping Tool: Want to take a screen shot or short screen recording? Windows Snipping Tool is totally new and improved. Search for Snipping Tool and launch the app.
Click New + to start a capture. Alternately, press the Prt Sc (print screen) key on your keyboard. Your mouse pointer becomes a crosshair +. Click and drag to select/outline an image, then use any of the tools along the top of the app to mark up, erase, highlight, draw or crop. You can Save (disk icon) or Copy (two pages icon) your image. Note: There is now an option to edit in the Microsoft Paint application where you can add text to your image. To do so select the More Options (…) icon > Open with > a window opens asking you to Pick an app > select Paint or any other program.
Microsoft Edge Collections: If you like Microsoft’s default browser, Edge, you’ll be excited to learn you can now group your favorites into “Collections.” Collections let you keep all your related resources under a group for future reference.
Let’s say you’re working on a project for professional development. Open Edge, click the More Options menu (…) > Collections > Start a new collection > name it “Professional Development” > add the current page and additional pages to it. Then, reference it any time.
Microsoft 365: Each time your device updates, it will have the latest versions of the Microsoft (Office) 365 suite of programs like Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc., along with newer programs like Sway, Forms, Teams and more. The apps can be used in their online (fewer features) or desktop (full features) versions. Find the online versions at spartan365.msu.edu. If you are editing a document online, just select Editing > Open in Desktop to work on it in the desktop app.
MSU IT has great resources for getting familiar with these apps. For a full list of Office 365 applications, visit spartanslearn.msu.edu and select either Course Recordings to view videos, or Live Course Listing to enroll in a class. Overviews of Office 365 are available at tech.msu.edu/technology/collaborative-tools/spartan365/. For free training from Microsoft, see: support.office.com/en-us/office-training-center and select any app’s icon for brief tutorials (available in many languages).
One drive/Spartan Drive: OneDrive is a cloud solution for storing files (up to 5 TB) so you can access them from any computer, tablet or mobile device. It is great for sharing files with others at MSU or with specific people outside of MSU whom you indicate by email address.
You can access your OneDrive online at spartan365.msu.edu > log in > select the application launcher (9-dot grid) > OneDrive. Additionally, sync your computer to your OneDrive using the OneDrive app on your computer. Just search for the app and follow the prompts, setting up which folders you wish to sync, so you can edit them even if you lose network connection.
MSU has a security agreement with Microsoft, so sensitive data may be stored in OneDrive, but confidential data like Social Security or credit card numbers are prohibited. Be aware, if you leave the division or MSU, it is your responsibility to copy these documents to a location on a shared drive or Team to properly transfer them to your supervisor or teammates.
Learn more about OneDrive at spartanslearn.msu.edu and select either Course Recordings or Live Course Listing.
Keyboard shortcuts: Windows 11 has a host of keyboard shortcuts that can save you time and improve efficiency. Challenge yourself to learn a few each week. See Keyboard shortcuts in Windows - Microsoft Support for a full list of great shortcuts.
A few common shortcuts:
- Windows Key + L - Locks computer
- Windows Key - Open Start menu
- Windows Key + S (or Q) - Open Search
- Windows Key + A - Open Action center
- Windows Key + D - Minimize all windows and show the desktop
- Windows Key + Tab - Open Task View
- Windows Key + P - If using multiple monitors, switch between extending or duplicating, etc.
- Alt + Tab - Hold Alt and tap Tab (multiple times) to switch between open apps
- Windows Key + left, right, up or down arrow – Snap active window to a position on the screen
- Windows Key + E - Open File Explorer
- Windows Key + H - Open dictation feature (while editing)
- Windows Key + I - Open settings
Best Wishes – Hopefully this guide has provided all the tools and insights you need to confidently navigate Windows 11. If you have questions or run into technical difficulty, please call, chat with or log a ticket with Digital Strategies and Services at dss.sle.msu.edu or 517-353-1691 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.). Be sure to mention you are using Windows 11 when you contact support.