20 features in Windows 11 that you’re not using (and you definitely should)

Windows 11 is packed with features aimed at boosting productivity, creativity, and enhancing the overall user experience. While many users are familiar with the more prominent tools, there are several hidden gems that often go unnoticed. This guide aims to illuminate some of these lesser-known yet incredibly useful features that can elevate your computing experience. From an upgraded clipboard that syncs across devices to innovative writing tools and enhanced security measures, these features are designed to make your daily tasks smoother and more efficient.

Windows 11 Lesser Features You Should Try Out on Your Computer

Explore these 20 features that you may not be aware of, or perhaps have forgotten, presented in no particular order.

1. Clipboard History

The clipboard has evolved beyond its traditional single-item limitation. With Clipboard History, users can now store multiple pieces of content and easily access them through a dedicated interface. This feature not only allows you to pin frequently used items but also syncs across devices via your Microsoft account. To enable Clipboard History:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Select the Clipboard page on the right side.
4. Toggle on the “Clipboard history” option.
5. (Optional) Enable “Clipboard history across devices” for seamless syncing.

Once activated, use Windows key + V to access your clipboard history and select from your recent copies.

2. Live Captions

This accessibility feature generates real-time captions for any audio content, making it easier for users to follow along. To enable Live Captions:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Accessibility.
3. Navigate to the Captions page.
4. Toggle on the Live Captions option.

Test it out with any audio content, including YouTube videos, to see how it enhances your viewing experience.

3. Voice Access

Voice Access empowers users to control their computers entirely through voice commands, utilizing on-device speech recognition. To set up Voice Access:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Accessibility.
3. Go to the Speech page.
4. Enable the Voice Access toggle switch.

Once active, you can issue commands to control your device, making it a powerful tool for hands-free operation.

4. Focus Sessions

Focus Sessions help minimize distractions by silencing notifications and allowing you to concentrate on specific tasks. To start a Focus Session:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Select the Focus page.
4. Set your session duration and click “Start focus session”.

This feature integrates with the Clock app and Microsoft To Do, allowing you to track your tasks effectively.

5. Mouse Pointer Color

For those who find the standard white mouse pointer hard to see, Windows 11 offers a customizable color scheme. To change your mouse pointer color:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Accessibility.
3. Select the “Mouse pointer and touch” page.
4. Choose the Custom option to select your preferred color.

This small adjustment can significantly enhance visibility and comfort while using your computer.

6. Text Cursor Color

If you struggle to locate the text cursor, enabling the text cursor indicator can help. To activate this feature:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Accessibility.
3. Go to the Text cursor page.
4. Enable the “Text cursor indicator” toggle switch.

Choose a color scheme that makes it easier to spot the cursor while typing.

7. Random MAC Address

To enhance privacy, Windows 11 allows users to generate random MAC addresses when connecting to Wi-Fi networks. To enable this feature:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & internet.
3. Select the Wi-Fi page.
4. Toggle on the “Random hardware addresses” option.

This feature helps mask your real MAC address, making it harder for services to track your location.

8. Mobile Hotspot

Windows 11 enables users to share their internet connection with other devices easily. To create a mobile hotspot:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & internet.
3. Go to the Mobile hotspot page.
4. Turn on the Mobile hotspot toggle switch.

Share your connection by providing the network name and password to other devices.

9. Night Light

The Night Light feature reduces eye strain by adjusting the screen’s color temperature during evening hours. To enable Night Light:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Navigate to the Display page.
4. Toggle on the Night light option.

Adjust the strength and schedule to suit your preferences, ensuring a comfortable viewing experience at night.

10. Find My Device

This feature allows you to track your computer’s location if it goes missing. To enable Find My Device:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Privacy & security.
3. Go to the Find my device page.
4. Toggle on the “Find my device” option.

Ensure your location services are enabled for this feature to work effectively.

11. Taskbar Ungroup Apps

Windows 11 allows users to ungroup apps in the Taskbar, displaying labels for each instance instead. To adjust this setting:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Personalization.
3. Go to the Taskbar page.
4. Change the “Combine taskbar buttons and hide labels” setting to Never.

This change can enhance organization and accessibility within your workspace.

12. Multilanguage Text Suggestions

For multilingual users, Windows 11 can provide text suggestions based on your language preferences. To enable this feature:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Time & language.
3. Go to the Typing page.
4. Enable the “Multilingual text suggestions” toggle switch.

This feature enhances typing efficiency across different languages.

13. Autocorrect Misspelled Words

Windows 11 can automatically correct misspelled words as you type, helping improve your writing. To enable autocorrect:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Time & language.
3. Go to the Typing page.
4. Toggle on the “Autocorrect misspelled words” option.

This feature can significantly enhance your writing accuracy.

14. End Task

The “End Task” feature allows users to terminate unresponsive applications directly from the Taskbar. To enable this option:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Go to the For developers page.
4. Toggle on the End Task option.

When an app freezes, right-click on its Taskbar icon and select “End Task” to close it without needing to access the Device Manager.

15. Title Bar Window Shake

This feature allows users to minimize all other windows by shaking the title bar of the active window. To enable this option:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Go to the Multitasking page.
4. Toggle on the “Title bar window shake” option.

Once activated, simply shake the title bar of a window to minimize all others, enhancing multitasking efficiency.

16. Dynamic Refresh Rate

If your device supports high refresh rates, the Dynamic Refresh Rate feature can adjust the display refresh rate based on the content being viewed, optimizing energy usage. To enable this feature:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Go to the Display page.
4. Click on Advanced display settings.
5. Select the “Dynamic” option in the refresh rate settings.

This feature helps balance performance and battery life, particularly on laptops.

17. Manage Default GPU Per Application

For devices with multiple graphics cards, Windows 11 allows users to specify which GPU to use for each application. To manage GPU settings:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on System.
3. Go to the Display page.
4. Click on the Graphics setting under “Related settings.”
5. Select the app and click on Options.
6. Choose between “Power Saving” or “High Performance” and click Save.

This customization can enhance performance for demanding applications.

18. Set Time and Zone Automatically

For frequent travelers, enabling automatic time and timezone settings can save a lot of hassle. To configure these settings:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Time & language.
3. Go to the Date & time page.
4. Toggle on both “Set time automatically” and “Set time zone automatically”.

This ensures your device stays synchronized with the correct time, regardless of your location.

19. Passkeys

Windows 11 introduces passkeys, a security feature that allows users to create and save tokens for web services using Windows Hello. To create a passkey:

1. Open Chrome or Edge.
2. Navigate to the Google account page.
3. Sign in and go to Security.
4. Click on “Passkeys and security keys”.
5. Follow the prompts to create a passkey.

This feature enhances security and simplifies the login process across supported applications.

20. Dynamic Lock

Dynamic Lock automatically locks your computer when you step away, utilizing Bluetooth technology. To enable this feature:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Bluetooth & devices.
3. Pair a Bluetooth device.
4. Go to Accounts and select Sign-in options.
5. Enable the Dynamic lock option.

With this feature, your computer will lock itself after 30 seconds of distance from the paired device, enhancing security.

More Resources

For additional articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, explore the following resources: