Windows 11 For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Introduction

Welcome to Windows 11 For Dummies, 2nd Edition, the world’s best-selling book about Windows 11!

This book’s popularity probably boils down to one simple fact: Some people want to be Windows whizzes. They love interacting with dialogs. Some randomly press keys in the hope of discovering hidden, undocumented features. A few memorize long strings of computer commands while eating pizza.

And you? Well, you’re no dummy, that’s for sure. But when it comes to Windows and computers, the fascination isn’t there. You want to do your work and then move on to something more important. You have no intention of changing, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

That’s where this book comes in handy. Instead of making you a whiz at Windows, it merely dishes out chunks of useful computing information when you need them. Instead of becoming a Windows expert, you’ll know just enough to get by quickly and with a minimum of pain so that you can move on to the more pleasant things in life.

And you’ll be able to do that whether you’re dealing with a touchscreen tablet, laptop, or desktop computer.

About This Book

Instead of fancy computer jargon, this book uses plain English to cover subjects like the following:

Getting free instant tech help right from your computer

Keeping your computer safe and secure

Making sense of the Windows 11 Start menu

Finding, starting, and closing apps

Locating the file you saved or downloaded a while ago

Setting up a computer or tablet for the family to share

Copying information to and from USB drives and memory cards

Saving and sharing files from your smartphone or digital camera

Printing or scanning your work

Linking two or more computers with a network to share your internet connection, files, and a printer

Fixing Windows when it’s misbehaving

There’s nothing to memorize and nothing to learn. Just turn to the right page, read the brief explanation — bypassing the technical hoopla — and get back to work.

How to Use This Book

When something in Windows 11 2024 Update leaves you stumped, use this book as a reference, paging through the table of contents or index to the spot that deals with that particular bit of computer obscurity.

If you have to type something into the computer, you’ll see easy-to-follow bold text like this:

Type Mail in the Search box.

In the preceding example, you type the word Mail and then press the keyboard’s Enter key.

Key combination you should press look like this:

Press Ctrl+B.

That means you should hold down your keyboard’s Control key while pressing your keyboard’s B key.

This book doesn’t wimp out by saying, For further information, consult your manual. Windows doesn’t even come with a manual. This book also doesn’t contain information about running specific Windows programs, such as Microsoft Word or Excel. Windows is complicated enough on its own! Luckily, other Dummies books explain most popular programs.

Don’t feel abandoned, though. This book covers Windows in enough detail for you to get the job done. Plus, thanks to built-in artificial intelligence (AI), you can get answers to your technical questions just by clicking the Copilot icon at the bottom of your screen and asking your question there.

Most modern laptops come with a trackpad, which you can use instead of a mouse. However, unlike a mouse, the trackpad might not have buttons to click. You move the mouse pointer around the screen by tracking (gently moving your finger, without pressing down too much) along the trackpad surface. Then translate mouse terms as follows:

When told to click, you should tap. Just one gentle tap with one finger should to the trick.

When told to double-click, tap twice. Use one finger to gently tap two times in rapid succession.

When told to right-click something, tap gently using two fingers rather than one finger.

Windows 11 comes preinstalled on all new Windows desktop PCs and laptops and can also be used with touchscreens, those tablets, laptops, and desktop monitors that have screens you can control by touching them with your fingers. If you find yourself scratching your head over explanations aimed at mouse owners, remember these three touchscreen rules:

When told to click, you should tap. Quickly touching and releasing your finger on a button is the same as clicking it with a mouse.

When told to double-click, tap twice. Two touches in rapid succession does the trick.

When told to right-click something, hold down your finger on the item. Then, when an icon appears, lift your finger. The right-click menu appears onscreen. (That’s what would have happened if you’d right-clicked the item with a mouse.) While you’re looking at the pop-up menu, tap any of its listed items to have Windows carry out your bidding.

Foolish Assumptions

I don't assume that you’re already a techie, with years of experience using older versions of Windows. I do assume that you might not be familiar with jargon such as files, folders, icons, upload, paste, and gigabytes. That’s okay. I define every term when we introduce it.

Maybe you’ve used Mac computers in the past, but never Windows. No matter. This book takes it from the top and explains the stuff that other people assume you already know. So don’t worry that you’re already in over your head before you even get started.

About the only tech knowledge and experience I assume you do have is doing things online, such as using the internet for email, engaging with social media, shopping, and ordering take-out.

Icons Used in This Book

It just takes a glance at Windows to notice its icons, which are little push-button pictures for starting various apps. The icons in this book fit right in. They’re even a little easier to figure out.

Technical Stuff Watch out! This signpost warns you that pointless technical information is coming around the bend. Swerve away from this icon to stay safe from technical drivel.

Tip This icon alerts you to juicy information that makes computing easier: a new method for keeping the cat from sleeping on top of your tablet, for example.

Remember Don’t forget to remember these important points (or at least dog-ear the pages so you can look them up again later).

Warning The computer won’t explode while you’re performing the delicate operations associated with this icon. Still, wearing gloves and proceeding with caution is a good idea.

New This icon alerts you to things that are new in Windows 11 2024 Update, including tips for making the best use of the free AI at your fingertips.

Beyond the Book

Like every Dummies book, this one comes with a free online cheat sheet that describes what's new in Windows 11 2024 Update and provides keyboard shortcuts. To get the cheat sheet, head for www.dummies.com and, using the Search box, search for Windows 11 For Dummies Cheat Sheet.

Where to Go from Here

Now you’re ready for action. Give the pages a quick flip and scan a section or two that you might need later. Please remember that this is your book — your weapon against the computer nerds who’ve inflicted a complicated computer concept on you. Circle any paragraphs you find useful, highlight key concepts, add sticky notes, and doodle in the margins.

Remember The more you mark up your book, the easier it will be for you to find all the good stuff again. And the more techie buzzwords you come to understand, the easier it will be to get Copilot to answer your questions and do your work for you.

Part 1

Getting Started with Windows 11 2024 Update

IN THIS PART …

Understand the changes in Windows 11 2024 Update.

Start and use apps.

Catch up with the latest developments in AI.

Take control of your screen.

Manage your folders and files.

Chapter 1

What Is Windows 11 2024 Update?

IN THIS CHAPTER

Bullet Getting to know the latest version of Windows 11

Bullet Discovering the new features in Windows 11 2024 Update

Bullet Figuring out what’s missing from Windows 11 2024 Update

Bullet Deciding whether your PC is powerful enough to run Windows 11 2024 Update

Bullet Knowing which version of Windows 11 you need

There’s a good chance you’ve heard about Windows: the boxes and windows that greet you whenever you turn on your computer. In fact, millions of people worldwide are puzzling over Windows as you read this book. Most new computers and laptops sold today come with Windows preinstalled, ready to toss colorful boxes onto the screen.

This chapter helps you understand why Windows lives inside your computer. I also introduce Microsoft’s latest Windows version, Windows 11 2024 Update, and explain how this version differs from previous Windows versions.

What Is Windows, and Why Are You Using It?

Created and sold by a company called Microsoft, Windows isn’t like your usual software that lets you calculate income taxes or send angry emails to politicians. No, Windows is an operating system, meaning it controls the way you work with your computer. It’s been around since 1985, and the latest incarnation is called Windows 11 2024 Update, shown in Figure 1-1.

FIGURE 1-1: Windows 11 2024 Update on a typical PC — yours might look different.

The name Windows comes from all the windows it places on your computer screen. You can place several windows onscreen simultaneously and jump from window to window. Or you can enlarge one window to fill the entire screen.

Each window typically shows an open app. Windows comes with a bunch of free apps that let you do different things, such as write and print letters, browse the internet, play music, order takeout, and send your friends dimly lit photos of your latest meal.

Technical Stuff Windows isn’t the only OS (operating system) in town. Macs use an operating system named macOS (previously known as OS X). Apple’s iPhones use iOS, and their iPads use iPadOS. Most non-Apple smartphones use Android. Some hardcore techie developers (the people who create apps) use Linux.

SEPARATING THE ADS FROM THE FEATURES

Microsoft touts Windows as a helpful companion that always keeps your best interests in mind, but that description isn’t really true. Windows always keeps Microsoft’s interests in mind.

For example, Microsoft uses Windows to plug its own products and services. Microsoft Edge, the Windows web browser, opens with links to Microsoft’s websites. The browser’s Favorites area, a place for you to add your favorite web destinations, comes stocked with Microsoft websites.

Windows 11 places a link to OneDrive, Microsoft's online storage service, in every folder. But Microsoft isn’t as quick to mention that you must pay a recurring fee when you reach your storage limit.

Simply put, Windows not only controls your computer but also serves as a Microsoft advertising vehicle. Treat these built-in advertising flyers as a salesperson’s knock on your door.

And why are you using Windows 11? Well, you probably didn’t have much choice. If you’re using a computer at work, it’s probably a Windows PC. Aside from Apple’s Mac computers, almost every computer, laptop, or Windows tablet sold after October 2021 comes with Windows 11 preinstalled. The 2024 Update is a free upgrade that installs automatically. So, if your computer is running Windows 11, chances are it’s already using the 2024 Update version.

What’s New in Windows 11 2024 Update?

The Windows 11 2024 Update version is virtually identical to Windows 11 released in 2021, including all the updates Microsoft released since that initial release date. Your existing skills will continue to apply. This 2024 update focuses on making the power of AI (artificial intelligence) freely available to everyone. The AI in Windows 11 2024 Update is called Copilot in Windows, but I refer to it as Copilot. Here’s what you can achieve with Copilot:

Instant answers and clever conversations: Engage with Copilot Chat to swiftly get answers to a wide range of questions. I get you started with that task later in the chapter.

Effortless typing: Have something typed at a remarkable speed — around 1,000 words per minute — with zero errors, even on unfamiliar topics.

Visual creations: Describe any image you envision using plain English, and Copilot Designer will bring it to life, regardless of your artistic abilities.

Easy videos and slideshows: Craft videos and slideshows without needing advanced video-editing skills.

Professional-grade social media content: Quickly produce polished posts and videos for platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Natural language commands: Get instant answers and boss around AI using your voice and everyday language.

Quality-of-life enhancements: Honestly, I’m not exactly sure what that means, since I never thought of the quality of my own life as being related to computers or Windows. But apparently it has to do with improvements in battery usage, seamless phone connectivity, and enhanced teleconferencing via Teams.

9781394289042-ma001 You can open Copilot in Windows any time by clicking its icon on the taskbar (and shown in the margin). Copilot appears, as shown in Figure 1-2. In Chapter 3, I explain how to get Copilot to answer your questions and do a lot of your typing. For now, if you want to put Copilot back into hiding, click X (close) in the top-right corner of Copilot’s window.

FIGURE 1-2: Copilot icon and open pane.

What’s Missing from Windows 11 2024 Update?

If you upgraded from the original Windows 11, released in 2021, virtually nothing is missing in the 2024 update. If you instead upgraded from Windows 8 or 10, you’ll find that the following features are missing:

Timeline: Windows 10 kept track of the apps and files you worked with for the past 30 days. A click of the Timeline button let you see them all, letting you quickly and easily jump back to, say, an unfinished file from last week. Windows 11 removes the feature and offers no replacement.

Movable taskbar: The Windows taskbar normally lives along the screen’s bottom edge, but previous Windows versions let you move that taskbar to any edge you wanted. With Windows 11, the taskbar remains affixed to the bottom of your desktop, with no option to move it.

Synced wallpaper: In Windows 10, you could automatically sync your desktop wallpaper across multiple computers. To the dismay of computer decorators, Windows 11 killed that feature.

Tablet mode: Designed specifically for tablets with touchscreens, tablet mode quickly spaced your icons farther apart to accommodate thick fingertips. The Start screen and apps always filled the entire screen. Windows 11 dumps tablet mode because Windows 11 is automatically finger-friendly.

Live tiles on the Start menu: In Windows 10, the Start menu sometimes resembled a moving marquee, with animated tiles that changed their display. Windows 11 ditches the animated tiles in favor of a simpler menu that merely shows static icons. You also can no longer create folders on the Start menu for storing related items.

Groove: The Groove app for playing music has vanished in this version. Media Player is the preferred app for music.

Internet Explorer: Microsoft’s elderly browser, Internet Explorer, disappeared from Windows 11 and has been replaced by Microsoft Edge.

Cortana: Microsoft fired its little robot that tried to help you work but mostly got in the way. You can still launch the Cortana app from the Start menu, but Cortana won’t bother you otherwise.

Paint 3D: With Paint 3D, you could create three-dimensional images that rotated on the screen. Few people used it, and even fewer will notice that it’s missing.

Skype: Microsoft paid billions for Skype, an app for making inexpensive (or free) phone calls using the internet, but then let the app languish. Skype has been replaced by Teams, an app for online collaboration and meetings. Microsoft added the chat portion of Teams in Windows 11 to compete with Zoom, which zoomed in popularity during the pandemic.

OneNote: Windows 10 came with free version of OneNote, an app for taking notes in a virtual school notebook. OneNote vanished from Windows 11, but compulsive note takers like me can still install it for free from the Microsoft Store.

Technical Stuff There never was a Windows 9 version. If you wonder why, just ask Copilot Why did Microsoft skip a Windows 9 version?

Can My Current PC Run Windows 11 2024 Update?

In mid-2024, the media buzzed about the AI PC, a new computer class. These PCs resemble our current Windows 10 and 11 computers but include an NPU (neural processing unit) alongside the traditional CPU (central processing unit) and GPU (graphics processing unit). Despite the impressive name, the NPU simply manages the additional processing that some aspects of AI demand, so the CPU and GPU don’t have to.

An AI PC isn’t necessary for running the Windows 11 2024 update or its AI features. Most computers already running Windows 10 or 11 should be able to cope with the update without issues.

Technical Stuff A handful of advanced AI features in Windows 11 2024 Update require an NPU. However, they’re mostly related to AI Explorer, which tracks your File Explorer actions and makes them searchable using natural speech. You can do almost everything else in this book without the need for advanced hardware.

You can get detailed hardware requirements just by asking Copilot (Chapter 3) about hardware requirements for Windows 24H2 (Microsoft’s internal number for Windows 11 2024 Update). To check your current computer’s specs, click the start icon and choose System ⇒ About (in Windows 10 or 11).

The Different Flavors of Windows 11

Microsoft offers several versions of Windows 11 2024 Update, but you’ll probably want only one: the aptly titled Home version.

Small businesses will choose Windows 11 Pro, and large businesses will want Windows 11 Enterprise.

Here are some guidelines for choosing the version you need:

If you’ll be using your PC at home or in your small business, pick up Windows Home.

If you need to connect to a domain through a work network — and you’ll know if you’re doing it — you want Windows Pro.

If you’re a computer tech who works for businesses, go ahead and argue with your boss over whether you need Windows Pro or Windows Enterprise. The boss will make the decision based on whether the company is small (Windows Pro) or large (Windows Enterprise).

Progressive businesses can investigate Windows 365, a version of Windows that hosts cloud PCs, where every user can have a personalized version of Windows that runs on virtually any computer, even Mac computers.

Chapter 2

Starting with the Start Menu

IN THIS CHAPTER

Bullet Signing in to Windows

Bullet Understanding the Start menu

Bullet Switching among apps

Bullet Seeing all your apps

Bullet Customizing the Start menu

Bullet Turning off your computer

People use computers to enjoy their favorite apps. These apps might be for socializing online, staying informed, creating content, ordering take-out, writing code, and all kinds of other things. Opening an app usually begins with the Windows Start menu. Click the start icon or tap the Windows key on your keyboard, and the Start menu rises, offering access to all your apps. But before you can do even that, you need to turn the computer on and sign in. And when you’ve finished for the day, you’ll need to leave the computer. You discover how to do all that in this chapter.

Being Welcomed to the World of Windows

Starting Windows is as easy as turning on your computer — Windows leaps onto the screen automatically with a flourish. But before you can begin working, Windows stops you cold: It displays what’s called a lock screen, shown in Figure 2-1, with no entrance key dangling nearby.

FIGURE 2-1: To move past the lock screen, press a key on the keyboard or drag up on the screen with your mouse or finger.

How do you unlock the lock screen? The answer depends on whether you’re using a mouse, keyboard, or touchscreen:

Mouse: On a desktop PC or laptop, click any mouse button or tap the trackpad.

Keyboard: Press any key. Easy!

Touch: Slide your finger up the glass. A quick flick of the finger will do.

When you’re through the door, Windows wants you to sign in, as shown in Figure 2-2, by clicking your name and passing the security check.

When facing the Sign In screen, you have several options:

If you see your name or email address listed, type your password or PIN, or use a Windows Hello fingerprint reader or camera. After verifying your identity, Windows lets you in and displays your desktop, just as you last left it. (I describe how to set up Windows Hello in Chapter 14.)

If you don’t see your name but you have an account on the computer, look at the screen’s lower-left corner. There, Windows displays a list of all the account holders. Click your own account name to sign in.

FIGURE 2-2: Click your user account name and then type your password or PIN on the next screen.

If you bought a new computer and don't have a user account, you’ll see a generic user account icon. Click Sign Up, and Windows guides you through creating a Microsoft account on your computer.

No account? Find out who owns the computer and beg that person to set up an account for you.

If you need more information about user accounts, including creating new ones and managing old ones, flip ahead to Chapter 14.

Don’t want to sign in at the Sign In screen? Two of the screen’s bottom-right icons offer these other options:

9781394289042-ma003 The figurine, shown in Figure 2-2 and in the margin, customizes Windows for people with physical challenges with hearing, sight, or manual dexterity, all covered in Chapter 12. If you choose this icon by mistake, click or touch a different part of the screen to avoid changing any settings.

9781394289042-ma004 The round icon, shown in Figure 2-2 and in the margin, is the power icon. It lets you shut down or restart your PC, as well as put it to sleep — a power-saving state from which it can quickly awake. (If you’ve accidentally clicked the icon and shut down your PC, don’t panic. Press the power button on your PC’s case, and your PC returns to this screen.)

Understanding user accounts

Windows allows several people to work on the same computer, keeping everyone’s work separate. To do that, it needs to know who’s currently sitting in front of the keyboard. When you sign in — introduce yourself — by clicking your username and typing your password (refer to Figure 2-2), the Windows Start menu and desktop appear as you left them, ready for you to make your own personalized mess.

When you’ve finished working or feel like taking a break, sign out (explained later in this chapter, in the "Exiting Windows" section) so that someone else can use the computer. Later, when you sign back in, your files will be waiting for you.

Remember Although you may turn your work area into a mess, it’s your own mess. When you return to the computer, your letters will be just as you saved them. Sue hasn’t accidentally deleted your files or folders while playing Words with Friends. Bob’s Start menu still contains links to his favorite ukulele websites. And no one else will be able to read your email.

Until you customize your username picture, you’ll be a silhouette. To add a photo to your user account, open the Start menu and click your username, which is the text next to the icon directly above the start icon. Choose Change Account Settings from the pop-up menu. When the Settings menu’s Your Info page appears, click the Open Camera button to take a quick shot with your computer’s built-in camera. Still wearing your pajamas? Then choose the Browse Files button to choose a photo already stored in your Pictures folder.

Keeping your account private and secure

User accounts in Windows enable each person using the computer to personalize it to their own needs and keep their files separate and private.

Because Windows lets many people use the same computer, how do you stop Diane from reading Rob’s love letters to Miley Cyrus? How can Grace keep Josh from deleting her Star Wars movie trailers? Using a password solves some of those problems, and Windows offers other security solutions, as well.

In fact, security is more important than ever in Windows because some accounts can be tied to a credit card. By typing a secret password when signing in, you enable your computer to recognize you and nobody else. When you protect your account, nobody can access your files. And nobody can rack up charges for computer games while you’re away from home.

Also, if your computer is stolen, a strong password keeps the thieves from logging in to your account and stealing your files.

Windows allows you to sign in with either a Local account or a Microsoft account. A Local account enables you to access the PC but not various online services provided by Microsoft. A Microsoft account provides access to the computer as well as to cloud-based services provided by Microsoft so you can access files from any internet-connected compute. Chapter 14 explains user accounts in much greater detail. For now, just know that you can log into your Windows 11 PC using either type of account.

Tip To change a password on a Microsoft account, visit your account’s website at https://account.microsoft.com. After signing in, choose the Change Password option near your account name.

Holders of Local accounts, by contrast, can follow these steps on their own PC to set up or change the password:

9781394289042-ma076 Click the start icon and then click the settings icon (shown in the margin), near the menu’s top-left corner.

The Settings app appears.

9781394289042-ma069 Click the accounts icon (shown in the margin). When the Accounts pane appears, click Sign-in Options, along the pane’s left edge.

Options for signing in to your computer appear.

Click the Password button (see Figure2-3), and then click the Change button.

You may need to type your existing password to gain entrance. Don’t see the Password or Change button? Then you have a Microsoft account, and need to change your password online at https://account.microsoft.com.

Type a password that will be easy to remember, and then write it down.

Choose something like the name of your favorite vegetable or your dental floss brand. To beef up its security level, capitalize some letters and embed a number or two in the password, like iH8Turnips or Floss2BKleen. (Don’t use one of these exact examples, though, because they’ve probably been added to every password cracker’s arsenal by now.)

Tip Forgotten passwords are a leading cause of hair-pulling frustration. If you still have hair, write down your passwords and keep them handy to avoid premature balding.

FIGURE 2-3: Click the Password button and then click the Change button when it appears.

If asked, type that same password in the Retype Password text box so Windows knows you’re spelling it correctly.

In the Password Hint box, type a hint that reminds you — and only you — of your password.

Windows won’t let you type your exact password as a hint. You have to be a bit more creative.

Click the Next button and then click Finish.

Do you suspect you’ve botched something during this process? Click Cancel to return to Step 3 and either start over or exit.

After you’ve created the password, Windows begins asking for your password whenever you sign in. Here are some good things to know about passwords, in general:

Passwords are case-sensitive. When typed as passwords, the words Caviar and caviar are not the same.

Afraid that you’ll forget your password someday? Protect yourself now by writing your password down in a place that’s easy to find. See Chapter 14 for ways to protect and reset passwords.

Remember When you change your Microsoft account password on your PC, that’s for your online Microsoft account, not just the PC at which you’re sitting. So you’ll need to use that new password to sign in to Microsoft on every device you use but not to log into a local account on a computer or device. (I cover Microsoft accounts in this chapter’s next section.)

Windows allows you to create a picture password in Step 4, where you drag a finger or mouse pointer over an onscreen photo in a certain sequence. Then, instead of entering a password, you redraw that sequence on the sign-in picture. (Picture passwords work much better on touchscreen tablets than desktop monitors.)

Another option that you may see in Step 4 is to create a PIN. A PIN is a code with four or more characters, like the one you punch into automated teller machines (ATMs). The disadvantage of a PIN? There’s no password hint. Unlike Microsoft accounts, your PIN works only on the computer where it was created; it’s not stored online, where hackers may find it.

Tip Tired of constantly entering your password? Connect a Windows 11– compatible fingerprint reader or camera to your PC. (Some laptops, tablets, and keyboards have them built in.) Your computer quickly lets you in after you either scan your fingertip or gaze into your PC’s camera. I describe how to sign in with Windows Hello in Chapter 14.

Forgotten your password already? When you type a password that doesn’t work, Windows automatically displays your hint (if you created one), which should help remind you of your password. Careful, though — anyone can read your hint, so make sure it’s something that makes sense only to you. As a last resort, insert your password reset disk, a job I cover in Chapter 14.

I explain much more about user accounts in Chapter 14.

Signing up for a Microsoft account

Whether you’re signing in to Windows for the first time, trying to access some apps, or just trying to change a setting, you’ll eventually see a screen similar to the one in Figure 2-4.

FIGURE 2-4: You need a Microsoft account to access many Windows features.

You can sign in to your computer with either a Microsoft account or a Local account. Although a Microsoft account makes Windows much easier to work with, each type of account serves different needs:

Local account: This account allows you to log onto the PC on which you created the account, but not onto other computer or online services. Local accounts work fine for people using Windows apps. However, Local account holders can’t store files on OneDrive, where they’re available from other PCs and devices. Local account holders also can’t buy apps from the Microsoft Store app.

Microsoft account: Required to access many of Microsoft’s services, a Microsoft account consists of simply an email address and a password. Microsoft account holders can store files on the internet with OneDrive, download apps from the Microsoft Store, and monitor their children’s online activities. When you log in online to any PC with your Microsoft account, you find your email, browser favorites, OneDrive files, and settings automatically waiting for you.

You can sign in with a Microsoft account in one of the following two ways; I list the simplest method first:

Use an existing Microsoft account. If you already have a Microsoft account that was