No working system is with out its deserves, and that features Windows 11, at the same time as a lot as I complain about Microsoft’s newest working system. Its handful of helpful options continues to develop as time goes on, with increasingly being teased for future launch (like native RGB lighting controls).

But with useful utilities and settings trickling out slowly, it’s straightforward to overlook just a few right here and there, particularly when the flashier options hog the information headlines. We’ve pulled out 10 options that we don’t suppose get sufficient love—should you’ve heard of them and haven’t tried them but, now’s the time.

Further studying: Add Windows 11 features to Windows 10 with these helpful tools

Notepad tabs

PCWorld

Notepad truly predates Windows, but it surely’s nonetheless totally related (and helpful!) as we speak. The streamlined app enables you to open a window to make fast notes. And in Windows 11, now you can handle and navigate between open information in a single window, due to the addition of tabs. It’s far tidier than opening a brand new occasion of Notepad for every file—and mixed with the brand new darkish mode, it makes the app appear and feel trendy.

PCWorld

Windows 11 makes a wealth of information obtainable with only one mouse click on (or fast faucet of Win + W). Right now you will get climate, inventory costs, sports activities updates, and leisure information, and people playing cards are slowly being joined by new additions, like for Xbox Game Pass. It’s a a lot simpler solution to keep updated than totally shifting to a browser and poking round in your tabs. And if we’re fortunate, playing cards obtainable in preview builds of Windows 11—like Messenger, Phone Link, and PC performance monitoring—will make it to normal launch.

Screen recording

PCWorld

Previous variations of Windows had a Snipping Tool app, however you can solely take screenshots. In Windows 11, display screen recording lastly will get added—and in contrast to Windows’ Xbox Game Bar’s recording function, you need to use it to seize particular components of your display screen. If you function casual tech help for household and buddies, this function could make your life so much simpler when explaining the best way to tinker with an app or in Windows. (Note: You’ll must open the complete Snipping Tool app for display screen recording—it doesn’t seem within the Win + Shift + S keyboard shortcut overlay.)

Quick Assist

PCWorld

If your family members can handle unfamiliar however fundamental interactions with a PC, a Windows Pro license isn’t essential to supply them distant help. You can have them fireplace up Quick Assist as an alternative. (Remember this app from Windows 10? It’s nonetheless round in Windows 11.) Once in this system, they’ll log in to their Microsoft account, after which generate a six-digit code to ship to you. You’ll enter that code into Quick Assist in your PC, at which level you possibly can then see what’s occurring on their finish, and even request full management of their PC.

Clock data

PCWorld

If you’ve wanted extra precision in your clock readout on the Windows 11 taskbar, you’re in luck. You can now add seconds to the show—however you’ll have to move to taskbar settings to flip it on, quite than your date and time settings. Under Taskbar behaviors, scroll to the underside of the checklist and test the field for Show seconds in system tray clock.

File Explorer tabs

PCWorld

Microsoft didn’t simply add tabs to Notepad. File Explorer got the upgrade, too. You now not want third-party software program to allow the function (like Stardock’s glorious Groupy). All your quite a few Explorer home windows can now be grouped as tabs in a single container. Just click on the “+” button within the top-most menu bar (or hit Ctrl + T in your keyboard)—every new tab will seem alongside the highest of the window, similar to an internet browser.

Fast Snap Bar entry

PCWorld

Snap is certainly one of our favourite options in Windows—having the ability to robotically resize and align home windows saves time and makes working so much simpler. And not solely do you get extra layouts to select from in Windows 11, however you possibly can entry them sooner, too. Just hover your mouse over the maximize button within the higher right-hand nook of any window. A small pop-up menu will seem exhibiting six completely different template choices. Roll your cursor over any of the grids, and your present window will get despatched to that place. Keyboard customers can as an alternative faucet Win + Z, then the variety of the format they need.

Further studying: 12 handy Windows shortcuts you probably don’t know

Power financial savings

PCWorld

Energy prices preserve climbing—and in some components of the world, they’re nonetheless at file costs. While you possibly can in fact change your energy plan in Windows to one thing lighter, Windows 11 has just a few particular settings you possibly can activate to scale back idle energy consumption. (After all, why pay for the upper electrical energy use once you’re not energetic on the PC?) You’ll discover these below Settings > System > Power & battery > Energy suggestions. You can then activate a number of of the ideas. These extra stringent settings will assist lengthen battery life on laptops, too.

Virtual desktops

PCWorld

This function could be probably the most underrated in Windows. Virtual desktops, which first launched in Windows 10, allow you to unfold your energetic apps and home windows amongst completely different dwelling screens—it reduces muddle and makes your major desktop much less overwhelming. Some individuals use their digital desktops to separate out work from play (or analysis from every day duties), whereas others separate applications by class or operate. Navigating between your desktops is as quick as clicking on the Virtual Desktop taskbar icon or tapping Win + Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow.

Clipchamp

PCWorld

Davinci Resolve is nice should you want deep video enhancing capabilities, however Microsoft has an alternate free possibility that’s simpler to leap into. Clipchamp can deal with fast cuts, fades, and media insertions with ease, and the interface is much much less intimidating. It additionally handles direct uploads to providers like YouTube and TikTok, in addition to cloud saves for OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox. Combine this program with the built-in recording options in Windows (i.e., Xbox Game Bar or Snipping Tool) and you may be in your solution to web fame shortly.