First acquaintance with Windows 11
Upon completing the update and logging into Windows 11 for the first time, users are welcomed by a comprehensive dialog box. This initial screen prompts you to navigate through settings related to location services and various features concerning Microsoft’s data collection practices. Notably, these preferences can be adjusted later within the Settings menu.
Following this, the system encourages you to “complete the installation.” This step subtly nudges users towards selecting Edge as their default browser and enabling backup to OneDrive, among other options. While it’s possible to breeze through this process, users are advised to only opt for features they genuinely wish to utilize. For those who prefer to avoid this dialog in the future, adjustments can be made by navigating to Settings > System > Notifications > Additional settings to disable specific prompts.
Once past these initial steps, users find themselves at the familiar desktop, with the Taskbar positioned at the bottom. However, a noticeable shift has occurred: the Start menu and application icons now reside at the center of the screen. For those who favor tradition, these can be repositioned to the left side with ease.
The Start menu itself has undergone a significant transformation. Microsoft has refined its design since the initial release of Windows 11, and the latest version, 24H2, introduces the option to display all installed programs in a list format rather than a grid. This feature can be accessed by clicking the All apps button located at the top right of the menu. Unfortunately, there is currently no option to set this view as the default.
The behavior of the Taskbar has also evolved. In this iteration, multiple open windows within a program are no longer represented as separate icons. Instead, users must hover over the program icon to reveal the various open windows. For those who prefer the previous layout, a return to the old style can be achieved by visiting Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar Behaviors and selecting Never for the option to combine taskbar buttons and hide labels on other taskbars. Additionally, users can choose to left-align the Taskbar from the same menu.
As users acclimate to these changes, several other adjustments may require some time to get used to:
- The revamped notification system, which may differ from previous experiences.
- New settings for managing virtual desktops, enhancing multitasking capabilities.
- Updated file explorer features that streamline navigation and accessibility.
