Windows 11: Desktop and Shortcuts

Know your: Main Desktop

 

1-Desktop Icons

2-Start Button

3-Desktop Search Bar

4-Task View Button

5-Windows Explorer

6-Browsers

7-System Tray w/ arrow toggle

8-Internet, Volume Mixer, & Battery Slider

9-Date and Notifications

10-Show Desktop

 

Know your: Start Menu

1-Search Bar

Search for apps, settings, files, etc

2-Pinned Apps

Pin to Start apps appear here

3-All Apps

Displays all apps in an alphabetical list

4-Recommendations

Provides suggestions for recently used/added apps and opened files

5-Accounts

Displays your account and options to sign out or switch users

6-Power Options

Options to Lock, Sleep, Shutdown, or Restart

Create: Shortcuts

Application:

There are 2 methods to create application shortcuts in Windows 11

    • Pin to Start
    • Pin to Taskbar

1) Pin to Start

    • Right click on application in Start Menu or Search Bar and select “Pin to Start”
    • To Unpin, Right click on pinned application and select “Unpin from Start”

2) Pin to Taskbar

    • Right click on application icon in taskbar and select “Pin to Taskbar”
    • To Unpin, Right click on pinned application and select “Unpin from Taskbar”

Web Address:

There are 2 ways to create a web address shortcut in Windows 11

    • Create shortcut from web address
    • Drag and drop web address

1) Create shortcut from web address

    • Copy the web address in the browser
    • Right click on the desktop
      • Select New > Shortcut
      • Enter or paste web address
      • Enter name for the new shortcut
      • Click finish

System Tray:

To modify the contents in the system tray either

    • Right click on the desktop or search Settings in search bar
    • Select Personalization > Taskbar > System Tray Icons

In Personalization, you can also change other taskbar settings like alignment, hide features and iconography.