Windows 11 Tips and Tricks You Didn’t Know

We all use Windows 11 every day. We click, we type, we browse. But beneath that sleek, centered-taskbar surface lies a treasure trove of hidden features and clever tricks that can transform you from a casual user into a productivity wizard.

You might think you know Windows 11, but I guarantee there are gems here you haven’t discovered. This isn’t your typical “right-click here” list. These are the lesser-known, power-user secrets that will save you hours, streamline your workflow, and make you wonder how you ever lived without them.

Ready to feel like a computer genius? Let’s dive in.

1. The Secret "Never Combine" Taskbar Mode (The Comeback King)

You remember the classic Windows taskbar where every window was a separate, clear button? Windows 11 hid it, but it’s still there.

The Trick: While its cousin “Show all taskbar labels” is gone, you can force a similar, more powerful view.

How to Do It:

Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor. (Proceed with caution!).
Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Right-click in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it TaskbarGlomLevel.
Double-click this new value and set its Value data to 2.
Restart your PC, or restart File Explorer via Task Manager.
Why It’s Awesome: You’ll now see individual, ungrouped buttons for each window of the same app (e.g., three separate Excel files). It’s a massive productivity boost for multitaskers.

2. Snap Layouts & Groups: Beyond the Basics

You’ve probably hovered over the maximize button and seen Snap Layouts. But did you know you can save and recall your entire window setup?

The Trick: Create and restore entire desktop workspaces with a click.
How to Do It:

Snap your windows into your preferred layout (e.g., browser on the left, Word doc top-right, Spotify bottom-right).
Hover over the Task View icon on your taskbar (or press Win + Tab).
Click the “…” menu at the top of the screen and select “Save this layout.” Give it a name.
Later, you can hover over Task View again and click your saved layout to instantly restore all those apps to their exact positions.

Why It’s Awesome: Perfect for switching between “Work Mode” and “Research Mode.” It’s like having multiple monitors on a single screen.

3. The Quick Settings Power Menu (Right-Click Secret)

Everyone left-clicks the Wi-Fi/Sound/Battery icon. But the real magic is in the right-click.

The Trick: Right-click directly on any of the system icons (Wi-Fi, Volume, Battery) in the Quick Settings panel (Win + A).
What Happens: You’ll get a context menu that takes you directly to the relevant deep system settings. Right-click Wi-Fi for “Network and Internet Settings,” right-click Volume for “Sound Settings,” etc.

Why It’s Awesome: It shaves off 3-4 clicks, getting you to the advanced settings you actually need faster.

4. Supercharge Your Right-Click Menu

The Windows 11 right-click menu was simplified, hiding “Show more options.” Let’s put the power back.

The Trick: Just press Shift while you right-click. The classic, full-featured context menu with all your program options (like 7-Zip, Notepad++, etc.) will appear instantly, without needing to click “Show more options.”

Why It’s Awesome: It’s the fastest way to access the full power of your right-click without permanently changing your registry.

5. The Instant Emoji & GIF Keyboard (It's Not Just for Chat)

This is one of the most fun and underused features.

The Trick: Press Win + . (period) or Win + ; (semicolon) anywhere—in an email, a Word document, even in a file name!
What Happens: A compact panel pops up with Emojis, GIFs, Kaomoji (like ¯_(ツ)_/¯), and special symbols. Start typing to search for the perfect one (e.g., type “face” to see all face emojis).

Why It’s Awesome: It makes digital communication faster and more expressive, right from your keyboard.

6. Focus Sessions: Built-In Deep Work Mode

If you struggle with distractions, Windows 11 has a built-in solution you might be ignoring.

The Trick: Use the Clock app’s “Focus Sessions” feature.
How to Do It:

Open the Clock app.
Go to the “Focus Sessions” tab.
Set a timer (it uses the Pomodoro Technique by default).
Link your Spotify account for focus music and silence notifications automatically. Completing sessions even earns you Microsoft Rewards points!

Why It’s Awesome: It’s a fully integrated productivity system that helps you break the cycle of constant interruptions.

7. Clipboard History: Your Copy-Paste Superpower

You copy one thing, then you need to copy another, and the first one is gone. Not anymore.

The Trick: Press Win + V. This doesn’t just paste; it opens your clipboard history.
How to Do It: The first time you do it, you’ll be prompted to enable it. Once on, Win + V will show a history of your last 25 text snippets and images you’ve copied. You can pin frequently used items so they’re always there.

Why It’s Awesome: Never lose a copied link, address, or piece of code again. It’s a game-changer for research and data entry.

8. Dynamic Refresh Rate (For Smooth Scrolling)

If you have a high-refresh-rate display (e.g., 120Hz or 144Hz), you can make Windows both smooth and battery-efficient.

The Trick: Enable Dynamic Refresh Rate.
How to Do It:

Go to Settings > System > Display > Advanced Display.
Under Choose a refresh rate, select Dynamic.

Why It’s Awesome: Windows will automatically lower the refresh rate to 60Hz when you’re reading or doing static tasks (saving battery), and ramp it up to 120Hz when you’re scrolling or moving windows, making everything feel buttery smooth.

9. Voice Typing: The Secret Dictation Pro

Forget slow typing. Windows 11 has a stunningly accurate dictation tool.

The Trick: Press Win + H in any text field.
What Happens: A dictation bar appears. Start speaking, and watch your words appear. It automatically adds punctuation when you say “period,” “comma,” or “new line.” You can even use voice commands like “delete that” or “select [word]”.

Why It’s Awesome: It’s faster than typing for many people and is incredibly accurate, making it perfect for drafting emails, documents, or even code comments.

Become a Windows 11 Wizard, Starting Now

These tips are just the beginning. The key to mastering any operating system is curiosity. The next time you feel like there should be a faster way to do something, a quick web search for “Windows 11 how to…” will likely reveal another hidden gem.

Which of these tricks blew your mind the most? Do you have a secret Windows 11 tip of your own? Share it in the comments below—let’s build the ultimate community knowledge base together!