Windows 11: End-User Guide

> DIVISION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS & TELECOMMUNICATIONS (DIST)

Dec 2022
Version 1.1

PREPARED BY:
Solution Engineering Section

Document Review

Date
Version Description of Changes Prepared by Approved by Date Approved
Effective

1 Drafted Walid Ellahouny

Walid Ellahouny
1.1 Edited IT Communications 9 Dec 2022
Thanavelan Rajagopal
WINDOWS 11 END-USER GUIDE

Table of Contents
1 What is Windows 11? ...................................................................................................................................................... 3

2 What’s different? .............................................................................................................................................................. 3

2.1 The Windows 11 Desktop and Start Menu.................................................................................................................... 3

3 Finding Functionalities ..................................................................................................................................................... 8

3.1 Searching for Apps, Files, and More ................................................................................................................................ 8
3.2 Finding Your Files and Documents .................................................................................................................................. 8
3.3 Switching Between and Closing Apps ............................................................................................................................. 9
3.4 Connecting to Wi-Fi Networks ......................................................................................................................................... 9

4 Customization Features ................................................................................................................................................. 10

4.1 Desktop Widgets ...............................................................................................................................................................10
4.2 Introducing Microsoft Edge .............................................................................................................................................11
4.3 Managing Files, Documents, and OneDrive .................................................................................................................12
Personalizing File Explorer ............................................................................................................................................ 12

5 Accessibility in Windows 11......................................................................................................................................... 13

5.1 Make Windows 11 Easier to Use ...................................................................................................................................13
5.2 Using Voice Typing in Windows 11 ...............................................................................................................................14
5.3 Make Windows 11 Easier to See ....................................................................................................................................15
5.4 Making Text Easier to Read.............................................................................................................................................15
5.5 Using Keyboard Shortcuts with Windows 11 ..............................................................................................................15

6 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ............................................................................................................................ 17

6.1 1-How to change Taskbar Alignment to the left.........................................................................................................17

Division of Information Systems and Telecommunications (DIST) Page 2 of 18

WINDOWS 11 END-USER GUIDE

1 What is Windows 11?

Windows 11 is the evolution of Windows 10, presenting us with a new look and feel. All apps that worked in
Windows 10 are still available with the software upgrade, with the addition of new features meant to improve
the user experience. Now with more options for accessibility and customization, you can personalize your device
to meet your needs.

2 What’s different?
Lock Screen of Windows 11

Start Menu - Windows 10 Start Menu - Windows 11

Taskbar - Windows 10 Taskbar - Windows 11

2.1 The Windows 11 Desktop and Start Menu

The first thing you’ll notice is that the Start button is no longer in the far-left corner of the Taskbar (the coloured
bar that runs along the bottom of the screen). Clicking the Start button opens the new Start Menu (as shown
below).

Division of Information Systems and Telecommunications (DIST) Page 3 of 18

WINDOWS 11 END-USER GUIDE

The desktop and Start Menu have changed slightly in Windows 11

The Start button and your icons for pinned and open apps can now be found in the centre of the Taskbar. Any
app that is open will have a blue dot underneath it, and the app that’s currently in use (sometimes called in
focus) on the desktop, will have a blue line as shown below:

Taskbar icons and the Start button now sit in the center of your screen

The right side of the Taskbar has two areas. One is called the System Tray, and it displays icons you might
need for running apps (like OneDrive or your antivirus software) and for Windows features, such as connecting
to a Wi-Fi network or changing the volume as shown below:

The System Tray sits on the right side of the Taskbar

To their left is a small up arrow (^) which you can click to display hidden icons. Any hidden icons that are
important to you can be dragged back to the Taskbar to be displayed, and any you don’t need can be dragged
onto the arrow to hide them.
At the right end of the Taskbar is the clock, date, and notification icon. If you have any notifications, as seen
below, there will be a small circle with a number in it.

Division of Information Systems and Telecommunications (DIST) Page 4 of 18

WINDOWS 11 END-USER GUIDE

Clicking this icon or the clock will pop up a panel on the right of your screen with notifications at the top and
your calendar below:

The Start Menu has four main sections. At the very top of the Start Menu is a search box. You can type in here
to search for everything from your installed apps to files, documents, pictures, and any music or video files you
have on your PC. You can even search the Internet from here.

You can search for anything from the Start Menu

Division of Information Systems and Telecommunications (DIST) Page 5 of 18

WINDOWS 11 END-USER GUIDE

Below is the list of your pinned apps, which you can reorganize. In the top right of this section is an “All apps”
button that you can click to display a scrollable list of all the apps installed on your PC.

You access your pinned and installed apps from the Start Menu

Below the apps list is a section called Recommended and this is where you’ll see a list of all your most recently
used and accessed files and documents. This feature makes it easy to find that document you were working on
yesterday.

Your most recently used documents will appear in the Start Menu

In the bottom-right corner of the Start Menu is a power button. Clicking this will display options to shut down
and restart the PC, as well as putting it into a sleep state.

Division of Information Systems and Telecommunications (DIST) Page 6 of 18

WINDOWS 11 END-USER GUIDE

You can move apps around in the Start Menu by dragging their icon with your mouse or finger (if your PC has
a touch screen) to arrange them how you’d like. Right-clicking (touching and holding with your finger) an icon
will display a menu of options. These include unpinning the app from the Start Menu and pinning it to the
Taskbar instead.

When you’re in the “All apps” view, you can also right-click (touch and hold) an app to display a menu of options
which include pinning it to the Start Menu or Taskbar.

The “All apps” view allows you to pin apps to the Start Menu or Taskbar

Division of Information Systems and Telecommunications (DIST) Page 7 of 18

WINDOWS 11 END-USER GUIDE

3 Finding Functionalities
3.1 Searching for Apps, Files, and More
You can search in Windows 11 direct from the Start Menu. You can either click in the search box at the top of
the Start Menu and type or press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start Menu. There is also a
Search icon on the Taskbar to the right of the Start button you can select.
When you type, the search will begin automatically. You will see under the search box the words All, Apps,
Documents, Web, and More. You can click these to narrow your search to specific items. By default, Windows
will display results with the most relevant listed first.

Search is easy to use in Windows 11

3.2 Finding Your Files and Documents

The File Explorer icon is already pinned to your Taskbar and clicking it will display the main File Explorer panel:

File Explorer is where you can access files and documents

Division of Information Systems and Telecommunications (DIST) Page 8 of 18

WINDOWS 11 END-USER GUIDE

3.3 Switching Between and Closing Apps

When you have several apps open at a time, you will want to switch between them. There are different ways to
do this, the first being clicking the icon on the Taskbar for the running app you want to use. Additionally, you
can use the Task View icon, which are the black and grey overlapping squares that sit to the right of the Start
button.
This will display images of all your running apps, and you can click one to switch to it (see below).

Task View can be used to switch between running apps

3.4 Connecting to Wi-Fi Networks

The best and easiest way to connect to a Wi-Fi network is through the Quick Settings panel. Open this and
one of the first things you will see is a Wi-Fi icon as shown below

connect to a Wi-Fi network in the Quick Settings panel

Division of Information Systems and Telecommunications (DIST) Page 9 of 18

WINDOWS 11 END-USER GUIDE

There are two buttons here. The one on the left turns Wi-Fi on and off on your PC, while the arrow on the right
will display a list of available networks that you can connect to.

4 Customization Features
4.1 Desktop Widgets
One of the Internet features of Windows 11 is desktop widgets. Widgets are launched by clicking the white and
blue icon on the Taskbar, and they pop out from the left side of your screen as a panel,

Widgets fly out from the left side of your desktop screen

Windows 11’s widgets do much as you might expect them to and display information such as news headlines
and weather forecasts, financial markets information, and your Microsoft To-Do list.
Clicking your avatar in the top-right corner of the widgets panel displays the widget options, including the ability
to add and remove widgets from the feed.

Division of Information Systems and Telecommunications (DIST) Page 10 of 18

WINDOWS 11 END-USER GUIDE

You can add and remove widgets from Windows 11

Widgets pull all their data from Microsoft’s MSN news and information service.
Note: If you do not want to use Widgets in Windows 11, you can remove its icon from the Taskbar (as well as
the Search, Task View and Teams Chat icons) in Settings by clicking Personalization and then Taskbar,
where you will see switches to turn these icons on and off.

4.2 Introducing Microsoft Edge

Edge is Microsoft’s web browser; it is built on the same engine that powers the Google Chrome browser, so it
is just as powerful, flexible, and compatible as Chrome.

The controls for the Edge web browser are along the top of the window

Note: if you are switching to Microsoft Edge from another web browser such as Google Chrome open Settings
➤ Profiles and click the Import browser data to bring your saved favourites, usernames, passwords, and
more from that browser into Edge.

Division of Information Systems and Telecommunications (DIST) Page 11 of 18

WINDOWS 11 END-USER GUIDE

4.3 Managing Files, Documents, and OneDrive

Personalizing File Explorer
You can personalize File Explorer in more ways. When you first open File Explorer, it will display the Quick
Access view, which shows your user folders (Desktop, Downloads, Documents, Pictures, Music, and Video)
below which is a list of recently accessed files and documents.

If you need to switch between “Quick view” and “This PC” view, from the File Explorer toolbar click the three
dots icon to display a menu, and then click Options. A new dialog window will appear in which you will see
various useful options presented:

At the top of this dialog is a drop-down menu to choose if you want File Explorer to open with the Quick Access
view or the This PC view as shown below:

You can further personalize File Explorer

Division of Information Systems and Telecommunications (DIST) Page 12 of 18

WINDOWS 11 END-USER GUIDE

5 Accessibility in Windows 11
5.1 Make Windows 11 Easier to Use
If you want quick access to all of Windows 11’s Accessibility settings and features, open Settings from the
Start Menu, and you will see an Accessibility link on the left side of the window. Clicking this will display all the
options available to you.

Division of Information Systems and Telecommunications (DIST) Page 13 of 18

WINDOWS 11 END-USER GUIDE

5.2 Using Voice Typing in Windows 11

Windows 11 offers a Voice typing feature. This can be turned on in Settings or can be activated at any time by
pressing the Windows key + H on your keyboard. You will see a control bar appear at the bottom center of
your screen in which you can click the microphone icon to start dictation, and the settings icon to turn on features
such as auto-punctuation.

You can dictate text and commands to Windows 11

Division of Information Systems and Telecommunications (DIST) Page 14 of 18

WINDOWS 11 END-USER GUIDE

5.3 Make Windows 11 Easier to See

In Settings, select System and then Display, and you will see a Scale option. This is a drop-down menu that
will allow you to change the scale of the text, icons, Start Menu, Taskbar and buttons on your desktop from
100% (the full resolution of the monitor) all the way up to 250% or the maximum your screen size will support.

5.4 Making Text Easier to Read

To make text easier to read, in the Accessibility settings, click “Text size”, and you will find an easy-to-use
slider control that will let you change the standard text size as it appears on the desktop and in your apps. You
will see a preview of how the text will appear above the slider to help you choose the correct setting.

5.5 Using Keyboard Shortcuts with Windows 11

Division of Information Systems and Telecommunications (DIST) Page 15 of 18

WINDOWS 11 END-USER GUIDE

Division of Information Systems and Telecommunications (DIST) Page 16 of 18

WINDOWS 11 END-USER GUIDE

6 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

6.1 1-How to change Taskbar Alignment to the left
1.1-Select “Start”

1.2-Select “Settings” as shown below:

1.3-Select “Personalization” then “Taskbar” as shown below:

1.4-Select “Toolbar Alignment” and change “Center” to “Left” as shown below:

Division of Information Systems and Telecommunications (DIST) Page 17 of 18

WINDOWS 11 END-USER GUIDE

CONTACT

In HQ:

Global Service Desk

Email: [email protected]
Phone: +41-22-739-8888
In Bureaux and operations:

Your local IT focal point

Division of Information Systems and Telecommunications (DIST) Page 18 of 18