Take me back: Windows 11 places the Start button and taskbar icons in the center of the screen by default, but you can move them back to the left. Go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors. From there, switch the Taskbar alignment to Left.
7 tips and tricks to make Windows 11 more useful
You may want to check out a few changes in Windows 11. They can help you maintain focus or provide faster ways to get things done. You can even play around with some settings to make the new Windows feel like past versions. We’ll go through some of them to help you get started.
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1. Customize quick settings
The notification center in Windows 11 contains quick settings, which gives you easy access to commonly used settings and apps. You can add or remove quick settings to your liking:
- Press Win + A to open quick settings.
- Select the Edit quick settings icon.
- Select the Add button to add a quick setting or press the pin icon on the quick setting you want to remove.
- Select Done.
Third-party developers are adding features to Windows 11. We’ve compiled a list of applications that should interest Windows power users. Tap or click here to check out these five utilities.
2. Focus assist
Focus assist lets you choose which notifications you want to see or hear and when. The ones you don’t choose go to the notification center, where you can view them whenever you want:
- Select Start > Settings > System > Focus assist.
- To see and hear fewer notifications, select either Priority only or Alarms only.
3. Title bar window shake
You can grab a title bar and shake it to minimize all but that one window, helping to improve focus. It comes disabled by default, but you can enable it.
Go to Settings > Multitasking and toggle on Title bar window shake.
Hidden features to try now on your Windows PC or Mac
I’m often asked if the latest Mac or Windows update is ready for prime time. Unfortunately, most of us have dealt with enough buggy software that we’re hesitant to hit “install” on a significant upgrade.
If you haven’t jumped up to macOS Monterey or Windows 11, I can safely say it’s time. Before you update, take one important step and make sure you have enough space for it. Tap or click here to see how much storage is available on your computer.
6 ways to simplify using Windows 11
Windows 11 launched last October as a free upgrade for eligible users with rollouts continuing into this year. People with newer machines had priority but there were ways to skip ahead in the line. The transition from Windows 10 to 11 hasn’t exactly been seamless, from hardware requirements to various bugs.
Can’t find the Start menu after the latest Windows update? You’re not alone
Microsoft’s Windows 11 might be the company’s latest operating system, but some users aren’t sure if it’s the greatest. Since its launch late last year, it has been plagued with flaws and vulnerabilities. Tap or click here for why your Windows 11 PC could be suffering from a nasty slowdown bug.