Windows 11: requirements, features, news, tricks and more

Windows 11 was announced by Microsoft in the summer of 2021, the date on which users signed up for the Insider program could download the first (and chaotic) versions of this system. It was not until October 5 of that same year that this new operating system finally began to reach users as an update through Windows Update. Although, since then, the system has not been free of all kinds of problems and controversies.

 

What do I need to install Windows 11?

Although it is an update to Windows 10, the new Microsoft operating system has included many, and controversial, changes in the minimum requirements to be able to update and install this new OS. Broadly speaking, the basics that we are going to need to be able to install it will be:

• CPU : a 1 GHz 2-core processor . This CPU must be 64-bit, or it can also be a SoC chip.
• RAM memory : the minimum to be able to install it is 4 GB . A 100% increase over the 2GB of memory required by Windows 10.
• Storage : A hard drive, SSD, or NVMe with at least 64 GB free . The system does not occupy that much, but with this space it guarantees that both the installation and an update can be carried out without problems.
• Graphics Card – Must support DirectX 12 and have a WDDM 2.0 driver.
• Screen : The screen must be a minimum size of 9 inches, with an 8-bit color channel. In addition, it must have a resolution of 720p.
• Internet – The “Home” edition requires an Internet connection in order to complete the installation, while the Pro and other professional editions can be completed without this requirement.

 

UEFI, Secure Boot and TPM 2.0

In addition to the above requirements, which are more or less understandable, the new operating system will need three other, much more specific requirements that, unfortunately, many computers do not have.

• UEFI . These new BIOS allow much more control over the hardware components of the PC at startup and, in addition, allow the use of new security measures necessary to be able to install Windows 11.
• Secure Boot . The safe boot of the computer guarantees us that only signed code can be started in the system boot, protecting us from different computer attacks.
• TPM 2.0 . The most controversial requirement. Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 will allow the operating system to boot securely, make use of encryption features (such as Bitlocker) and authentication systems such as Windows Hello. Any computer less than 5 years old should have this feature.

What happens if I do not meet these requirements? Initially, our computer will not be compatible with Windows 11 and we will not be able to upgrade from Windows 10 or install this new system from scratch. However, all is not lost. There are ways to be able to skip these requirements and be able to install the new system without problems on the PC. Of course, Microsoft is not responsible for possible problems and errors that may appear when updating the OS or while we use it normally.

 

special requirements

Some features of Windows 11 will need, in addition to all of the above, some special requirements to be able to use them. If our computer does not comply with them, we will be able to continue using the operating system without problems, although we will not be able to activate, and use, these optional features.

• Windows Subsystem for Android . The novelty that will allow us to run Android apps in Windows 11. To use it we will need to have a latest generation CPU, in addition to using Hyper-V.
• 5G compatibility . If we want to connect to these high-speed networks, we will also need a 5G modem.
• Auto HDR . One of the improvements for the players. We will need to have an HDR screen.
• Hyper-V client . We need a processor that supports SLAT instructions, as well as using a Pro edition of the system.
• Cortana . We need a microphone and speakers or headphones.
• Direct Storage. Another of the improvements for players, ported from the Xbox. We will need to have an NVMe SSD that works with the “Standard NVM Express Controller” driver and a GPU that supports DirectX 12 and Shader Model 6.0.
• DirectX 12 Ultimate . A graphics chip compatible with this technology.
• Presence . We need a sensor that can detect human presence.
• Smart video conferencing . We need a camcorder, a microphone and some speakers or headphones.
• Multiple Voice Assistant (MVA) . Requires a microphone and speaker.
• Flatten in three columns . Have a screen width of 1920px or more.
• Disable and enable sound from the taskbar . A camcorder, microphone and speaker, as well as using a program that supports this function.
• Spatial sound . Compatible speakers or headphones, as well as software that supports it.
• Microsoft Teams . A camcorder, a microphone, and speakers or headphones.
• Touch function . A screen or monitor that supports multi-touch.
• Two-step authentication . PIN, biometric equipment, or a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth compatible smartphone.
• Voice dictation . A microphone connected to the PC.
• Voice activation . It requires a modern power supply model, and a microphone.
• Wi-Fi 6E . A compatible network card and router, as well as a WLAN IHV controller.
• WindowsHello . A camera configured for near infrared (IR) imaging or a fingerprint reader for biometric authentication.
• projection . A display adapter that supports WDDM 2.0 and a Wi-Fi Direct adapter.
• Xbox apps . A Microsoft or Xbox Live account.

 

Check if my PC can run Windows 11

Given the controversial requirements of this new operating system, Microsoft has created an application thanks to which we can check if our PC is compatible with Windows 11 or, if not, we won’t be able to update. This program, called Windows PC Health Check , will let us know if our PC can run Microsoft’s new OS and, if not, let us know what’s wrong.

In addition, we can also see a notice in Windows Update from where we can check if our computer is compatible with this new operating system without having to download anything.

 

Editions and price of Windows 11

In the case of not having a key yet, just like in 10, Windows 11 has several different editions:

• ” Home “, the edition designed for all users who make use of this system at home. This edition is priced at 145 euros.
• ” Pro “, which has a price of 259 euros and provides the same as the Home and, in addition, a series of additional features such as:
  • Device encryption with BitLocker.
  • Windows Information Protection (WIP).
  • Assigned access.
  • Dynamic provisioning.
  • Enterprise State Roaming with Azure.
  • Group Policy.
  • Full screen settings.
  • Microsoft Store for Business.
  • Mobile device management.
  • Active Directory compatibility.
  • Azure Active Directory support.
  • Windows Update for Business.
• ” Enterprise “, for companies with a price adapted to the project
• ” Education ” designed mainly for educational environments and also with a personalized price.

 

Windows 11 LTSC?

LTSC editions are a type of special editions of the operating system that have a longer than normal support. Instead of receiving updates and new features every few months, Microsoft offers 5 years (60 months) of support for each of these versions instead of 18 months (in the case of Windows 10) or 24 months (in the case of Windows 10). 11) that each normal version has.

In addition to the extended support, we can also find other advantages when using this special edition, such as:

• They do not integrate Microsoft bloatware (neither Edge, nor Cortana, nor modern apps, nor games).
• Compatible with all software.
• They are “lighter and more stable” over time. Although, rather, this is a placebo effect for its users.

At the moment, Windows 11 does not have an LTSC edition available. We will have to wait for it to continue to evolve, and Microsoft considers it finished enough, to be able to enjoy these extended support editions.

 

What is Windows 11 SE?

In the Windows 98 era we first saw the term “SE” referring to the “Second Edition” of the operating system. Since then, this term has not been used again, until now.

Taking advantage of the presentation of the new low-end Surfaces (with Intel Celeron N4120 processors) designed, above all, for students, Microsoft has missed the “Laptop SE” concept when referring to the operating system it was going to use. And it hasn’t taken long to start talking about the new edition of the operating system: Windows 11 SE .

It is not very well known if this “SE” refers to ” Student Edition “, “School Edition”, “Surface Edition” or is another identifier by which we will be facing a less demanding version of Windows 11. A version that users who do not have a compatible PC can download and install without problems.

This new system will offer users a much more limited experience of the operating system. It would be, for example, a simpler edition than “Home” . And, in exchange for turning our backs on some of these features, we may finally be able to install this system on any computer, regardless of CPU generation or TPM 2.0.

At the moment, this new Windows continues to have Microsoft silent. Hopefully soon we will have more clues about it.

 

How to install Windows 11 or upgrade from Windows 10

All users who already have a Windows 10 key, regardless of whether it is Home, Pro, or any business edition, both OEM and Retail, will be able to upgrade to the new Windows 11 completely free of charge:

• If they are on Windows 10, the update will be done through Windows Update, keeping all data, settings, and the license.
• If we are going to install Windows 11 from scratch, we can activate it using the Windows 10 key during installation, after installing it, or automatically if we have it linked to our Microsoft Account.

 

Windows 11 updates

As in all versions of the operating system, updates to this OS are made through Windows Update. We can find this tool in the configuration menu of the operating system, and thanks to it we can keep our system up to date with the latest security patches and quality updates to correct all kinds of errors that may appear and are not related to security .

The update model of this new operating system is practically the same as that of Windows 10. That is, an optional update is released at the end of each month (which will not be installed automatically on the PC), which focuses on correcting errors and performance problems detected in the system. New cumulative security patches arrive on the second Tuesday of every month. These patches are mandatory and include, on the one hand, the relevant security fixes, and on the other hand, the cumulative patches released at the end of last month. Now yes, all these updates are mandatory.

At the moment we only have the RTM version of Windows 11 available, released on October 5, 2021. Therefore, there are no different versions of this new operating system.

 

How to download and try the betas

The Microsoft Insider Program plays a very important role in the development of the operating system. Thanks to it, Microsoft can detect all kinds of bugs and problems in the operating system and, in return, users can test the new features and improvements that are going to come to this new system ahead of time.

The only requirement to be able to download and install the Windows 11 betas is to be signed in with a Microsoft Account.

Within the configuration, we must go to the “Windows Insider Program” section and enter it in order to start receiving these beta versions of the system. Inside we can see a summary of what this system is about. Click on the “Start” button to sign up for this program.

Once we link our Microsoft Account to the Windows 11 Insider program, we will have to choose which channel we want to join. The three available options are as follows:

• Development channel : the most advanced, it receives updates almost every week, and it is the most unstable and the one with the most problems.
• Beta channel : ideal for users who want to try what’s new without taking too many risks. It is more stable than the development one, but not as advanced as it.
• Release Preview – Receive fixes and new features a little earlier than other users. Not as advanced and with as many new features as the previous ones, and much more stable. It could almost be considered the RTM.

Once inside the program, in the channel that we want, we must restart the computer. When it restarts, we will be able to receive these new versions of the operating system through Windows Update as if they were normal updates. Of course, we must bear in mind that the installation process can be quite long, so we must be patient and wait for the download, installation and start-up of the new Windows 11 beta to finish.

 

New features and added features

The new Windows 11 is much more than a Windows 10 with a facelift as many users claim. This new OS comes with a good amount of news, new features, functions and optimizations under the hood with which it will try to become the modern and updated operating system that users deserve. We are going to see in detail everything that the new Microsoft system offers us.

 

new wallpaper

As it could not be less, Microsoft has decided to change the wallpaper that has been accompanying us for years with Windows 10 to use, by default, a background where curved shapes and 3D effects are the protagonists.

But this is not the only fund that the company has included in its operating system. Without going any further, we are also going to find other very interesting backgrounds that will allow us to give a special touch to the appearance of our computer. For example, we are going to find the same background that comes by default, but with dark blue tones, and other default backgrounds ideal for those who configure dark themes in the operating system. It should also be noted in this section that Windows 11 launches a new dark theme for all those who prefer to have a relaxed view when sitting in front of the computer.

Start menu and taskbar

These two elements are probably two of the most characteristic aspects of this new operating system. The first thing that will catch our attention as soon as we install the operating system on the PC is its new taskbar. Although it looks similar to Windows 10 outwardly, it has the icons centered instead of left-aligned.

In addition, there is also the new Windows start menu. Already tired of experiments (eliminating it in Windows 8, bringing the tiles to Windows 10, etc), users became serious with the company and made it clear what they wanted: a simple and quick menu to use where to find the programs. And so it has been.

As we can see, this new start menu (inherited, by the way, from a project called Windows 10X) focuses mainly on three aspects. The first of these is to allow us to anchor all the programs that we want to have close at hand so that we don’t have to fill our desktop with icons. Second, at the bottom, show us recent documents and recommendations of what may interest us. And, finally, thirdly, we will have a section where we can see the list of all installed applications.

Of course, finally, the list of applications includes, only, applications and programs. We will no longer have uninstallers, text files or folders as some programs create.

Although Cortana is no longer available by default in Windows 11, the browser remains the same (and probably with the same problems) as in Windows 10.

 

Windows with rounded corners

Of course, we couldn’t forget about the other long-awaited feature of Windows 11: new windows. The WinUI interface has been completely renewed in this operating system, making all windows, instead of having square corners, as the operating system has always had, now have rounded corners in the purest Linux or macOS style.

These round corners apply to all the programs you run on your PC, regardless of whether they are old, out-of-date programs or programs downloaded from the Microsoft Store. Of course, when you maximize a window, the corners will snap to the corners of the screen.

Windows, too, have new effects when maximized, minimized, or closed.

 

Changes in the notification center and floating menus

Another of the aesthetic changes that we find in this new Windows is found in the floating panels, the system tray, and the notification center (or notification area) of the operating system. In this way, for example, we can see that now a complete panel no longer appears on the side, but that each of the entries that appears in this section is in the form of a “card”.

Also, if we click on the network or audio icon, we can see slight changes in the options in order to better adapt to the new appearance of the system and make configuration easier for users.

 

New icons and new fonts

Microsoft has taken the opportunity to update most of the system icons. For example, the folders have new icons and now they do not show a summary of the content that is inside them to have a much more minimalist look. The system icons (Computer, Trash, Hard drives, etc) have also been updated, and all of them stand out for having a front view instead of an angled view as in previous versions of the system.

The folders, in addition, can be of different colors, not only yellow. And we will not need to resort to third-party software to achieve it.

Microsoft has also taken advantage of the launch of its new operating system to change the default font used in the Microsoft Office suite.

 

Vista Gadgets are back (sort of)

Do you remember the Widgets, or Gadgets, of Windows Vista and Windows 7? With the arrival of Windows 8 they were eliminated, but now they are going to return thanks to Windows 11. Or, at least, in a certain way.

Windows 10 users have already tried the “News and Interests” section, a panel where you can see news, weather and other relevant information. With the arrival of Windows 11, this new panel has evolved and has become a new panel where you can display all kinds of gadgets. At the moment, we will only be able to see the add-ons that Microsoft allows us, but in the future we will be able to add new gadgets developed by third parties in the purest Vista style.

 

Revamped floating menus

When we click with the right mouse button on a file, or on the desktop itself, we can see the context menu from which we access a series of options and parameters. However, as we install programs, this menu fills up with unnecessary entries and, in the end, instead of being practical, it becomes chaotic.

With the arrival of Windows 11, Microsoft has addressed this problem, at least in part. Instead of displaying a menu full of unnecessary options and entries, we can now see a new context menu with only the entries we really need.

This menu, by the way, maintains its aesthetics in the purest 11 style, and has rounded corners, as expected. If the option we want is not among those that appear, we can also show the full context menu from it.

 

Snaps: the new way to snap windows

Do you usually work with several windows at the same time? This new functionality is, of course, one of the best novelties that we can find in Windows 11. Thanks to Snaps we will be able to position the windows the way we want on the screen, just as we can do with FancyZones from PowerToys, but without resorting to other programs.

We simply have to place the mouse over the maximize icon to see the different possibilities to place the windows.

Improvements when using two monitors

Another novelty that Microsoft insisted a lot on is the use of several screens connected to the PC. Now working with two, or more, monitors is much faster and easier, and will give us much less problems. We can even save the location of the windows on the second screen, disconnect the monitor from the PC and, when reconnecting it, they will be placed back where they were. A great functionality that, of course, will greatly help users who work with the PC.

 

Teams chats, a new Messenger?

Teams has become one of the most used messaging programs for companies, at the level of Zoom or Slack. But where Microsoft could never compete was against WhatsApp. For this reason, the company wants to take Teams out of work environments and turn it, at the same time, into an alternative to WhatsApp fully integrated into Windows.

As we can see, Teams is now a mix between WhatsApp and MSN Messenger, a chat program through which we can communicate with any contact in the most native way possible. A function that has not started off on the right foot but that over time can succeed.

 

Android app compatibility

With the arrival of Windows 10, the Windows Subsystem for Linux debuted. This subsystem is a virtualization layer, through Hyper-V, thanks to which we can install one, or several, Linux on top of Windows so that we can execute commands, install programs, and, in general, use it as if it were be a full Linux without having to reboot or give up Windows. Both Linux and Windows run at the same time.

Given the success of this platform, Microsoft has wanted to go further. Using Hyper-V again, Windows 11 now features a new Windows Subsystem for Android. As its name suggests, this subsystem seeks to allow us to install and run Android programs directly from Windows as if they were natively installed apps on the PC. Of course, we must bear in mind that we will not be able to access (for now) Google Play Services, so to download these programs we will need to use an alternative store, such as the Amazon App Store.

 

new app store

Windows 11 also launches a new store that is much more orderly and organized so that users are much more encouraged to use it. This new store has a more powerful search engine and new sections depending on whether we are looking for applications, games or multimedia content. It also makes it easy to access our library to see all the programs we have purchased, installed on other devices, and update all apps.

This store has also reached Windows 10.

 

New native apps

Native applications have also undergone changes in this new operating system. Instead of including a large number of programs installed by default, many of which we don’t even need, Microsoft has decided to remove many of these programs from the system installation and bring them (for free, of course) to the Store.

Most of the programs that come installed in Windows have been updated and streamlined to match the overall aesthetics of the system, and some redundant programs, such as Snipping Tool and Snip & Annotate, have been merged into one for ease of use by users.

 

Windows Terminal: CMD and PowerShell in one

Historically, the Microsoft operating system has allowed us to communicate with MS-DOS. In the first versions (until XP), the communication was native, since the system ran on top of MS-DOS as if it were a program. Until today we have a legacy console known as a command prompt, or CMD, which allows us to execute commands to control and configure the system. And more advanced users have an improved console known as PowerShell, ideal for administrative tasks.

CMD, PowerShell, Azure, Bash… the number of terminals in Windows is increasing worryingly. And, to avoid these problems, Microsoft has put a solution. By default, Windows 11 installs Windows Terminal, an all-in-one console from which we will be able to run (in tabs) both CMD and PowerShell or any other terminal that we need.

 

New concentration sessions

The “Alarms and clock” app has taken a leap in usability. Now it will not only be used to see the time or set alarms, but it will also allow us to set up complete concentration sessions, very useful if, for example, we usually work for a long time sitting in front of the computer.

In addition, this app is now fully integrated with Spotify, so we can set up our own concentration sessions with the right music.

 

Direct Storage and Auto HDR

The new Xbox Series have arrived with a series of improvements and new functions with which to optimize the games to the maximum. On the one hand we have DirectStorage, a technology to reduce loading times to a minimum by allowing the GPU to communicate directly with the NVMe SSD, and on the other Auto HDR, to automatically activate high dynamic range in games without having to configure anything.

With Windows 11, these technologies are no longer exclusive to XBOX consoles, and any PC game will be able to use them, as long as the developers update it and make the titles compatible, and our PC meets the necessary requirements.

 

Virtual desktop enhancements

If we are one of those who use virtual desktops to have our programs organized and avoid getting confused, Windows 11 launches several very interesting new features. In addition to being able to change their names, as we could do in Windows 10, the new Microsoft OS now allows us to order them as we want, move the applications from one to another manually and, most interestingly, to be able to configure a different wallpaper for each one of them. they.

 

New task manager

Still in development, Windows 11 will also include a new task manager in future updates. This panel is very useful to check that everything works as it should on the PC, but it is true that its appearance began to be obsolete. In future versions of Windows 11 we will be able to find a new task manager like the following one, which will have a much more modern interface, according to the rest of the system, with effects, transparencies and new functions.

 

Settings Dashboard

Another section that has been completely renewed in the new Windows 11 has been the Settings panel. This new panel appeared for the first time, at a very early stage, with the arrival of Windows 8, but it was not until Windows 10 that it finally became the definitive alternative to Control Panel for configuring the operating system.

With the arrival of Windows 11, this settings panel has been completely revamped. Without losing its usability, its appearance has been changed again to adapt it more to the aesthetic aspect of this new system and, at the same time, many of the options that we could find within it have been reorganized.

Now, all the operating system settings are organized into 11 categories.

System. It is the main category. Inside it we can find everything related to the system configuration options, such as the screen, sound, notifications, startup and shutdown options, storage, clipboard, remote desktop and much more.

Bluetooth and devices . From here we can configure everything related to the devices connected to our computer. We will be able to connect new devices through Bluetooth or see and configure everything that we have connected, such as peripherals, printers, webcams and more.

Network and Internet . Everything related to the Internet connection. We will be able to see the Wi-Fi and Ethernet configuration options, connect to a VPN, configure a proxy and more.

Personalization . Probably the first stop for most. We can change the background, theme, colors, set the lock screen, toolbar and more.

Applications . From here we can see all the applications that we have installed, change the default programs to open certain files, add optional features to the operating system, configure the programs that run at startup and more.

Accounts. From this section we can see all the information of our user account, configure security, manage the family and more options.

Time and language . The date and time options, the system language and region, the writing options and everything related to voice recognition.

Games . From this section we can configure the Xbox Game Bar, manage the screenshots while we play and activate the “game mode” to gain more FPS.

Accessibility . Here we are going to find all the accessibility options to facilitate the use of the PC for those who have problems. We can find the options sorted into categories, such as vision, hearing or interaction problems.

Privacy and security . Here we will have the main security options of the operating system, as well as everything related to our privacy and program permissions.

Windows Update . The last option available, but one of the most important. From it we can search, download and install the new updates of this operating system to make it work as well as possible and, most importantly, not expose ourselves to security flaws.

 

Features removed from Windows 10

Unfortunately, not everything that has come to us with Windows 11 is new. Microsoft has taken the opportunity to do a major cleaning of its operating system, eliminating a large number of functions and features that were either obsolete or do not fit well with the new ecosystem that Microsoft has prepared for us.

The functions and features that we will not be able to use once we update are:

• Cortana . Microsoft Personal Assistant will no longer be in the initial boot experience or on the taskbar.
• Wallpaper . Wallpaper will no longer automatically sync between devices when using a Microsoft account.
• Internet Explorer . Finally, Microsoft has killed Internet Explorer, leaving Edge as the only browser. “IE mode” will allow you to open websites that are only compatible with Internet Explorer.
• Administration capabilities . Organizations will be able to override the start menu layout, but not prevent the user from changing it. And these will also be able to control the applications pinned to the taskbar and the order of them.
• Math Input Panel . The math panel will now install on demand (when we need it) and will include the math input control and recognition system.
• Kiosk mode for multiple apps . Windows 11 only supports one app in kiosk mode.
• News and Interests . This panel has evolved, becoming a complete panel of widgets and gadgets for the desktop.
• Quick lock screen status . It disappears, along with its associated settings.
• S mode . It will only be available in the Home edition.
• Internet search . We will not be able to disable the return of Internet search results through a registry key, but we can from group policies.
• Snipping Tool and Snipping & Annotation : The two applications have been merged into one: Snipping Tool.
• Start menu . A new much simpler menu in which deprecated features have been removed, such as groups or folders, pinned apps and websites, and dynamic icons.
• Tablet mode . It has disappeared.
• Taskbar . Many changes, such as the deletion of contacts, blocking of some program-generated icons, inability to move it to the side or to the top, and apps not being able to customize areas of this bar.
• Time Scale . It is gone, and some of its functionality is moved to Edge.
• Touch keyboard . Does not fit on screens 18 inches or larger.
• Portfolio . disappear.
• Windows Deployment Services . It is partially deprecated.
• Microsoft Store for Business and Education . They no longer include the Private Store tab.

 

Windows 11 problems

As it could not be less, the new Microsoft operating system has also come with a significant number of problems. Some of them, even quite serious and annoying, have made many users, after installing this new OS, return to Windows 10, at least for a while longer.

Regardless of the many internal errors that can cause crashes or blue screens, and performance errors, some of the main problems that we will have to face if we decide to make the leap to this new operating system are:

• Inconsistencies of the new interface. Some items aren’t well debugged, menus don’t work well, Windows Explorer slows down, and menus can appear in parts of the system where they shouldn’t.
• The taskbar is incomplete? Microsoft assures that they are limitations that have been introduced on purpose, but basic functions that allowed us, for example, to drag files directly to the programs anchored in it, have been eliminated.
• The context menu sometimes takes a long time to appear after right-clicking on any item.
• Some programs have performance issues. Without going any further, Photoshop itself slows down when working on this new Microsoft operating system. Better to wait for both Microsoft and Adobe to make it 100% compatible.
• The games don’t work well. Despite being a gaming operating system, the performance of many games is lower than Windows 10. And that’s not counting crashes and sudden closures.

 

Tips and tricks after installing Windows 11

Windows 11 is not a bad operating system, although it is true that it has not started very well. Users, as a general rule, find it difficult to adapt to changes, and in this sense, Windows 11 changes quite a few things compared to its predecessor, Windows 10.

For this reason, if you have already made the leap to this new operating system, but you have not finished getting used to it, we leave you with a series of recommendations to be able to survive the changes that Microsoft has implemented.

 

Bring Windows, and your drivers, up to date

If we have just installed Windows 11, we are surely amazed (or not) by all the changes that suddenly appear to us. However, one aspect that we must not forget is to update our PC. We must open the System Configuration menu (Windows + I), and go to the Windows Update section.

There we will perform a manual update search to search for all the updates that may be available, both for the antivirus (Windows Defender), and for the system. And we can also download the new drivers that are available so that our PC can work in the best possible way.

Some of these updates may be “optional” and may not be installed automatically. Therefore, we need to make sure to check for these optional updates within the advanced settings of Windows Update.

 

Check your license key

Once Windows 11 is installed, or upgraded from Windows 10, we must make sure that the operating system is correctly activated to avoid problems. Generally we won’t have to do anything, but to be calmer we must go to the “System > Activation” section to check the license status of our operating system.

If everything is correct, we will not have to do anything else. And, if there is a problem with the license, we can always solve it from these same sections.

And, if you want to save your Windows 11 license (for example, to install the OS on another PC), you can easily retrieve it by opening a CMD window inside Windows Terminal and running the following command:

wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey  

Disable Cortana in Windows 11

Although it has lost a lot of prominence, Microsoft is still determined that we use Cortana, its personal assistant. Therefore, this is still activated by default in the operating system, consuming resources that we will surely need for any other program that we are going to run.

If we don’t want to use this wizard, there are several ways to deactivate it to prevent it from working. It is not necessary to delete it by force as it happened, for example, in Windows 10, but it is enough to remove it from the system startup. To do this, we open the task manager (Control + Shift + Esc), and we move to the Start box. There, we locate Cortana and disable it by clicking the right mouse button.

Now, Cortana will already be disabled in Windows 11.

 

Set up and change the start and taskbar

Don’t like the new Windows taskbar? No problem. Although we will not be able to have the Windows 10 bar again, we can make it look as much like it as possible. Thus, the first thing we will do is open the system configuration menu (with Windows + I), and we will go to the Personalization > Taskbar section. Here we will find the icons that we want, or do not want, to show.

In this way, for example, we can hide the Teams icon, if we do not use it, or the desktop widgets.

In addition, we can also align the taskbar to the left just like it was in previous versions of the operating system. To do this, we will simply go to the “Behavior of the taskbar” section, in this same section of the menu, and we will choose that we want it to be aligned to the left.

 

Change the sound output device

Do you have headphones, speakers, and other audio output devices connected to your PC at the same time? Know that Windows 11 makes it very easy for you to switch from one to the other without having to enter the computer settings. To do this, all we have to do is click on the sound icon that appears next to the clock, and then click on the small arrow that appears to the right of the volume bar.

Here all the sound devices that we have connected to the computer will appear. We select the one we want to use, and that’s it. We will automatically switch to this new device d

 

check your privacy

Every time Windows collects more data from users. This data is usually analytical and anonymous, but it is becoming more intrusive and is always linked to our Microsoft Account. Although in the initial system configuration wizard we have been able to configure many of the OS privacy options, we must also review all the options manually within the “Privacy and security” section of the system configuration.

We recommend reviewing all the sections that we can find within it to adjust each of the options according to our tastes, whether we want to share the data with Microsoft or not.

 

Change default programs in Windows 11

There is nothing more annoying than Windows trying to force us to use its own programs. Especially Edge as the main browser. For this reason, normally one of the first things we usually do on the computer is to change the default programs to be able to use our own software. To do this, the first thing we must do is access the operating system’s Configuration window (remember, using the keyboard shortcut Win + I) and, within it, we must click on the “Applications” section, to locate within he the “Default Applications” subsection.

Here we will look for the program that we want to use (for example, Google Chrome), and, when entering its section, we will be able to see a button called “Set as default”. We click and automatically Chrome (or whatever program) will become the default program to open certain files.

Finally, if this method does not work, we can also change extension by extension by clicking on each one of them to make the program we want as the default to open all those types of files.

 

Problems? Leave your PC as fresh from the store

Over time, your computer may start to malfunction, slow down, and have errors. In this case, what we must do is reset it completely. But it is not necessary to format and reinstall Windows 11 from scratch to return the PC to its factory settings, just open the Windows 11 Settings menu, go to System> Recovery, and use the option “Reset this PC” that appears there.

The wizard, very simple, will give us the possibility to download the latest version of Windows before reinstalling it, or use the system’s own files to carry out this task. In addition, we can also choose the possibility of keeping our data and programs, and reinstalling only Windows, or performing a complete erase to start from scratch with the PC. There, we will choose the option that best suits what we want.

Once the process is finished, we will have our computer ready with a Windows 11 like it just left the factory, with all the default values and, if we choose the cloud option, updated to its latest version.