Microsoft is making Windows 11 even easier to get for both desktop PCs and laptops, offering its latest version that focuses on performance while offering a cleaner look.
To install and use the new OS, a stable internet connection and Microsoft account are both required for initial setup. If your machine doesn’t meet these specifications, a clean install may be required instead.
What’s new?
Microsoft’s Windows 11 release is a major refresh that brings with it new features as well as changes to its overall look and feel. Microsoft hopes that casual PC users who may be more used to modern OS experiences such as those found on iOS or Android may appreciate how easy the user experience has become compared to classic Windows functionality that older Windows die-hards may struggle with initially.
There’s an assortment of new settings and options to explore, beginning with the prettier, better-organized Settings app that better categorizes the most frequently-accessed features. Microsoft has also introduced detailed power usage statistics so you can gain insight into where your battery usage lies.
Visually, all system icons have been revised with designs consistent with Windows 11 design; while pinned and running apps now feature subtle pulse animations when clicked upon. Microsoft has also increased hitbox sizes around app windows so they are easier to grab with touch devices and resize with finger gestures.
There have also been some key feature updates, including a sleek Task View that replaces the Timeline and allows you to quickly switch between desktops. When moving windows around on different screen edges, Windows Desktop now automatically resizes them; and sets of window groups can now be easily pinged together on Task View so they are easily accessible – providing an impressive multitasking toolkit that elevates Windows Shell.
Performance
Microsoft has introduced many improvements into Windows 11 to enhance PC experiences and speed them up, such as memory management, disk usage optimization and app prioritization. Unfortunately, all these features still depend on your computer’s hardware – for optimal results you should perform a hardware optimization to maximize its potential.
Your desktop or laptop will run faster by clearing away temporary files and freeing up space, and defragmenting will improve performance further by reorganizing data so related files are closer together and decreasing read/write times.
Use the Power Mode settings on your laptop or PC to easily tailor its power consumption based on performance and battery life needs. Choose between different modes that offer more performance, better battery life or a balance between both aspects; additionally you can configure CPU cores either to run at full speed or reduce their speeds according to your requirements.
Another effective way to speed up a Windows 11 laptop or PC is to disable apps that automatically relaunch at startup. While this feature may help newer machines, older systems may find themselves struggling due to this resource-consuming practice that results in an extended start time.
Gamer can take advantage of Windows 11’s gaming optimizations to their fullest. By setting your computer to run at maximum speed without compromising graphics quality or framerate, these optimizations can increase gaming experiences when used on limited processing power laptops while increasing battery life by extending gaming sessions for longer.
Security
Microsoft is taking multiple steps to enhance security for hybrid workplaces with Windows 11, including providing multiple layers of protection that span from hardware and software working together.
Windows 11 includes Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity (HVCI) and VBS to reduce attack surface by only executing validated kernel mode code, protecting against malware attacks that utilize drivers to gain entry to system secrets or compromise your kernel. This also protects you against drivers trying to gain access through malware exploits that try to gain entry.
Passwordless Authentication is another crucial improvement. It reduces password use while at the same time helping eliminate weak or incorrect ones that often form part of security breaches, as well as reduce help desk requests from users for password resets and frees up resources for other tasks.
Other improvements include an enhanced SMM (System Management Mode), Kernel DMA Protection for Thunderbolt, and improved hardware-based security with the Trusted Platform Module 2.0 (TPM), to prevent data tampering. The TPM acts like a chip that stores encryption keys, passwords and digital certificates – providing hardware-level protection from unauthorized access to the system.
Credential Guard, one of the key new features for businesses, combines hardware-backed virtualization-based security with a secure kernel to provide protection from attacks using stolen or leaked credentials, while also helping prevent them from bypassing TPMs and accessing sensitive information.
Individuals and enterprises alike should take proactive steps against threats that threaten them, such as taking advantage of Windows 11 security upgrades and backing up data with EaseUS Todo Backup for secure recovery of their information.
Apps
Windows 11 marks the first operating system that offers an extensive suite of Microsoft apps designed specifically to be run as stand-alone programs, much like other Windows applications. Installation is similar, while most provide features not found elsewhere.
Are You Looking to Simplify Your Setup? Those seeking a simpler setup experience will love the out-of-the-box experience that offers a refreshing alternative to older Windows experiences. The new experience takes you step by step through setup, even offering you the ability to assign an alternative keyboard shortcut that opens Apps & Features Page instantly with just one keystroke.
Windows 11 provides a wealth of useful applications to assist productivity and personalization, from those found on Microsoft Store to standalone installations like LibreOffice – offering powerful options for those unable to afford its price tag.
Compression tools such as 7-Zip are another useful feature of Windows 11. Users can quickly zip/unzip files and folders while also protecting sensitive data with encryption technology for added protection. A custom shortcut can also be created to easily launch this program.
eReader app for Windows devices is one of the premier solutions for reading books on a device, featuring an easy 2-column layout and support for various ebook formats. Furthermore, this tool comes equipped with text-to-speech technology to read out loud books aloud as well as an effective search function.
TrafficMonitor is an ideal way to monitor internet speed. This small utility sits in your taskbar and displays download and upload speeds as well as mainboard components like CPU, GPU and memory to show current usage levels – an extremely helpful tool that should be in every user’s arsenal.
Desktops
Windows 10 introduced multiple desktops for your convenience; in Windows 11, this feature has been further refined. Now, each virtual desktop can have its own name, customized background image and applications moved between desktops – making it easier than ever to organize and separate tasks and projects effectively within one workspace.
To create a new desktop, hover your mouse over the task view icon in your task bar (it looks like two squares superimposed upon each other) and you’ll see “New desktop”. This option will instantly open a second desktop; any apps currently open on one will switch seamlessly over to it when opening another app on it. Or use Win+Ctrl+D to quickly switch desktops.
Once you’ve installed several desktops, use the Task View button in the taskbar to access thumbnails of all active desktops and reorganize apps by dragging them between desktops. Furthermore, this gives you an easy way to personalize each desktop’s wallpaper for maximum visual impact and differentiation.
If you decide that it is time to close a desktop, simply hover your cursor back over the task view icon and click on the X button in the upper right corner. Alternatively, use the arrows in your task bar as navigation tools between desktops.
Add a shortcut to Task View on your taskbar so you can access it from anywhere on your PC quickly, or assign a keyboard shortcut for quicker accessing of this feature. It is an invaluable feature for anyone using their PC for work, school, or play wishing to be more productive!
