25 Windows 11 Tips and Tricks You Should Know
Practical Windows 11 tips that save time: keyboard shortcuts, hidden settings, productivity features, and customizations most users don't know about.
Windows 11 has a lot of useful features buried under menus and settings most people never find. Here are 25 that are actually worth knowing.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Win + Z — opens Snap Layouts for the current window. Faster than dragging to screen edges.
Win + V — clipboard history. Shows last 25 copied items. Enable it the first time you press it.
Win + . (period) — emoji and symbol picker. Works in any text field.
Win + Shift + S — screenshot tool (Snipping Tool). Capture region, window, or full screen, then annotate.
Win + Ctrl + D — create new virtual desktop instantly.
Win + Ctrl + →/← — switch between virtual desktops.
Win + Alt + R — start/stop screen recording (Xbox Game Bar). No third-party software needed.
Ctrl + Shift + T — reopen last closed browser tab. Works in Chrome, Edge, Firefox.
File Explorer Tricks
Tabs in File Explorer — Windows 11 22H2+. Open multiple folders in one window: Ctrl + T for new tab, Ctrl + W to close.
Compact view — Explorer looks spacious but wastes space. View → Compact view to show more files.
Pin folders to Quick Access — drag any folder to the left panel. Or right-click → Pin to Quick Access.
Show file extensions — View → Show → File name extensions. Always enable this — it helps identify suspicious files.
Checkboxes for selection — View → Show → Item check boxes. Select files without holding Ctrl.
Settings and Customization
Move taskbar icons left — Win + I → Personalization → Taskbar → Taskbar behaviors → Alignment → Left. Feels more like Windows 10.
Focus sessions — Win + I → System → Focus. Blocks notifications for a set time. Integrates with Clock app timer.
Quick Settings customization — click Wi-Fi/battery area → click pencil icon → add/remove tiles. Put the ones you use most front and center.
Night light — Win + I → System → Display → Night light. Reduces blue light after sunset. Schedule it to automatic.
Snap groups — when you hover over a taskbar app that's part of a snap layout, Windows shows the whole group. Click to restore all windows at once.
Productivity Features
Dictation — Win + H. Speak to type anywhere. Surprisingly accurate. Works offline in Windows 11.
Phone Link — Win + S → search "Phone Link". Mirror Android notifications, calls, and messages on your PC. Requires the Link to Windows app on your phone.
Clipboard sync across devices — Win + I → System → Clipboard → enable Sync across devices. Copies on one Windows PC appear on others logged into same Microsoft account.
Virtual desktops with custom backgrounds — right-click the desktop on each virtual desktop to set different wallpapers. Helps visually distinguish work vs personal.
God Mode folder — create a folder named:
GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
Opens a single panel with every Windows setting. Useful for IT administrators.
Performance and System
Efficiency mode for apps — in Task Manager, right-click any process → Efficiency mode. Lowers its priority and limits power use. Good for background apps you need but don't want competing with foreground tasks.
Dynamic Refresh Rate — Win + I → System → Display → Advanced display → Dynamic Refresh Rate. Automatically switches between 60 Hz and the max rate based on what's on screen. Saves battery on laptops.
Storage Sense — Win + I → System → Storage → turn on Storage Sense. Automatically clears temp files and empties Recycle Bin periodically.
Startup app impact — Task Manager → Startup apps. Sort by Startup impact — disable anything High that you don't need immediately at login.
Security Quick Wins
App permissions audit — Win + I → Privacy & Security → review Camera, Microphone, Location. Revoke access for apps that don't need it.
Find My Device — Win + I → Privacy & Security → Find my device → enable. Lets you locate and lock a lost PC from account.microsoft.com.
Secure DNS (DoH) — Settings → Network → your connection → DNS server assignment → Edit → Manual → add 1.1.1.1 and enable DNS over HTTPS.
Summary
Most useful quick wins: enable clipboard history (Win + V), show file extensions, use Snap Layouts (Win + Z), and set up virtual desktops for work separation. For daily use: dictation (Win + H) and Focus sessions save significant time.