Windows 11 Basics

Find your bearings

1. Press the Windows key and type the name of an app. Choose the installed app result rather than a web advertisement.
2. Press Windows + E for File Explorer. Open Documents, Pictures, or Downloads to find your folders.
3. Press Windows + I for Settings. Search for the setting you need instead of guessing which category Microsoft put it in.
4. Use Alt + Tab to switch between open windows.

What changed—and what to check

Start is commonly centered, Settings has a category sidebar, and right-click menus put common commands in a smaller menu. Layouts vary with your Windows version. If a menu looks different from this guide, use Settings search or the linked Microsoft instructions.

Your files and apps do not normally disappear because a menu moved. But upgrades can have genuine compatibility or sign-in problems. If a folder is unexpectedly empty, check which Windows account is signed in and whether OneDrive is involved before moving or deleting anything.

Make it feel like your computer

• Pin the apps you actually use to Start or the taskbar. Unpinning a shortcut does not uninstall its app.
• If you prefer left alignment, right-click the taskbar, open Taskbar settings, and look under Taskbar behaviors.
• If you see an error, write down its exact wording and what you were doing. A missing shortcut and a program that will not start are different problems.