Windows 11 has tools most people never touch. These features sit buried in menus and settings, waiting to make your work faster and easier. Here are seven you need to start using right now.
1. Snap Layouts for Better Window Management
Hover your mouse over the maximize button on any window. You'll see a grid of layout options appear. Click one, and Windows arranges your open apps into that pattern instantly.
This beats dragging windows around by hand. You get four, three, or two apps on screen at once, perfectly sized. When you reopen an app later, Windows remembers where it goes.
To get even more control, press Windows key + Z while focused on any window. The same layouts pop up. Pick your setup and keep working.
2. Focus Sessions Keep You on Task
Open the Clock app and look for Focus Sessions. Set a timer for how long you want to work. Windows turns on Do Not Disturb mode and tracks your time.
Your notifications stop. The timer counts down. When you finish, you see how long you stayed focused. Studies show timed work sessions help people finish tasks 25% faster than working without breaks.
Link your Spotify account to play focus music during sessions. Windows also connects to Microsoft To Do so you track completed tasks while you work.
3. Voice Typing Writes While You Talk
Press Windows key + H in any text field. A small microphone icon appears at the top of your screen. Start talking and watch words appear.
This feature works in Word, email, browsers, and chat apps. It understands punctuation commands too. Say "period" or "comma" and those marks appear. Say "new line" to move down.
Voice typing keeps up with normal speech speed. You don't need to slow down or over-pronounce words. It learns your voice over time and gets more accurate.
4. Live Captions for Every Sound
Press Windows key + Ctrl + L to turn on live captions. A box appears at the top of your screen showing subtitles for any audio playing.
This works for videos, meetings, podcasts, and system sounds. The captions appear in real time with less than one second of delay. You control the text size, background color, and position on screen.
More than 5% of adults have hearing difficulties. Even people with perfect hearing benefit when watching videos in noisy places or during late-night work sessions.
5. Clipboard History Saves Everything You Copy
Press Windows key + V instead of Ctrl + V when pasting. You get a list of your last 25 copied items. Click any one to paste it.
Windows saves text, images, and HTML. Your clipboard history stays active between restarts. You access old copies from hours or days ago without searching through files.
Pin items you use often by clicking the three dots next to them. Pinned items stay in your history until you remove them. This turns your clipboard into a snippet tool.
6. Quick Settings Puts Controls One Click Away
Click the network, sound, or battery icons in your taskbar. A panel opens with toggles for WiFi, Bluetooth, airplane mode, night light, and more.
Click the pencil icon to add or remove controls. You get access to 15 different settings without opening the full Settings app. Change brightness, volume, and connection status in seconds.
This panel also shows your calendar and notifications. Right-click any Quick Setting to jump straight to its detailed page in Settings.
7. Gaming Mode Optimizes Performance
Open Settings, go to Gaming, and turn on Game Mode. Windows redirects system resources to your game and stops background updates.
Your frame rates stay more consistent. Windows stops Windows Update downloads while you play. Background apps get less CPU time so your game runs smoother.
Game Mode works automatically once enabled. You don't toggle it on and off. Windows detects when you launch a game and adjusts priorities behind the scenes.
Start Using These Features Now
These seven features already exist on your computer. You don't need to download anything or pay for upgrades. Each one solves a specific problem people face every day.
Pick two features from this list and try them this week. Add them to your routine until they become automatic. Then come back and learn the rest.
Windows 11 gets better when you know where to look. These hidden tools save time and reduce frustration once you start using them.