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Windows 11 Field Guide

2026 Edition

This book is 100% completeLast updated on 2026-06-27
Rafael Rivera and Paul Thurrott

The Windows 11 Field Guide is a full-length e-book about the latest version of Microsoft Windows, aimed at those users who will upgrade from Windows 10 or acquire Windows 11 with a new PC.

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About

About

About the Book

Welcome to the Windows 11 Field Guide. Like Windows 11 itself, this book is a bit different from its predecessor, the Windows 10 Field Guide. It’s been simplified, so it looks a little different, and at this early stage, it covers only the biggest changes in this release.

For this reason, it comes with a free copy of the Windows 10 Field Guide. But we will continue updating this book until it is complete, and as Microsoft improves and changes Windows 11 over time. Our expectation is that the final book will be somewhere between 500 and 1000 pages long in its PDF version.

But the Windows 11 Field Guide also shares many things with its predecessor, of course.

It is self-published, and it is an entirely independent and self-created work.

It is being written and updated transparently over time so that readers can follow its progress and get all new updates for free.

It is quite inexpensive compared to physical books and even other e-books.

It’s available in multiple digital formats—-PDF, MOBI and EPUB—-so that it will work on any device.

And perhaps most importantly, the Windows 11 Field Guide is intended as both a how-to and a reference: you can read it straight through if that’s your thing, or you can dive in and out of specific areas to learn what’s new and, in many cases, how to work around some of the limitations in this product version.

Thanks for reading!

-- Paul Thurrott and Rafael Rivera

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Author

About the Authors

Rafael Rivera

Rafael Rivera is a software engineer with 18+ years of experience working on mission critical systems for the United States Department of Defense and Intelligence Community. He is also a certified reverse engineering analyst and takes Windows apart for fun in his free time. You can reach Rafael via email or on Twitter at @withinrafael.

Paul Thurrott

Paul Thurrott is an award-winning technology journalist and blogger with over 25 years of industry experience and the author of about 30 books. He is the major domo at Thurrott.com and the host of three podcasts: Windows Weekly with Leo Laporte and Richard Campbell, First Ring Daily with Brad Sams, and Hands-On Windows. He was formerly the senior technology analyst at Windows IT Pro and the creator of the SuperSite for Windows. You can reach Paul via email or on Twitter at @thurrott.

Contents

Table of Contents

About the Book

  1. Please don’t steal our book
  2. Trademarks and disclaimers
  3. We want your feedback!
  4. Thanks!

Meet the authors

Introduction

  1. Introduction, 23H2 edition
  2. Introduction, original 22H2 edition

What’s New With Windows 11 in 2026

  1. It’s not about version numbers anymore
  2. Shifting hardware requirements
  3. Better software updates
  4. Basic user interfaces and interactions
  5. Multitasking
  6. Files and sync
  7. Apps
  8. Microsoft Edge and web browsers
  9. Other in-box apps
  10. Videogames
  11. User accounts, security, and recovery
  12. Power user capabilities
  13. Upgrade and Install

Upgrade

  1. Understand the Windows 11 minimum hardware requirements
  2. Find out if your PC meets the minimum requirements
  3. What to do if your PC doesn’t meet the minimum requirements
  4. Upgrade to Windows 11 version 25H2

Install

  1. What you need
  2. How to proceed
  3. Clean install Windows 11
  4. Personalize Windows 11

Initial Configuration and Personalization

  1. First, make sure you’re online
  2. Configure OneDrive
  3. Check that the system time is correct
  4. Configure your user account securely
  5. Ensure the PC’s disk is encrypted
  6. Rename the PC if required
  7. Check for updates
  8. Configure Windows Security
  9. Uninstall crapware and other bundled apps you don’t want
  10. Configure the display
  11. Configure power management and related settings
  12. Configure multitasking and sharing features
  13. Configure Microsoft Edge even if you’re not going to use it
  14. Configure File Explorer
  15. Configure the Desktop, Start, the Taskbar, Search, and Widgets
  16. Configure a theme
  17. Install and configure the apps you need

Customize Your Windows 11 Privacy Settings

  1. Manually configure key Windows 11 privacy settings
  2. Additional privacy settings to consider changing
  3. Completely disable Windows 11 telemetry and tracking

Customize the Lock and Sign-In Screens

  1. Defaults
  2. Customize the Lock and Sign-in screens
  3. Use the Lock screen like an interactive smart display
  4. Core Experiences

Desktop

  1. Defaults
  2. Customize the Desktop background
  3. Customize which icons appear on the Desktop
  4. Customize the Recycle Bin
  5. Customize the Desktop (and File Explorer) context menus
  6. Customize Show desktop
  7. More information

Start

  1. Defaults
  2. Customize Start
  3. Use the Quick link menu

Taskbar

  1. Defaults
  2. Customize the Taskbar
  3. Understand the Windows 11 Taskbar
  4. Access the Taskbar with the keyboard

Widgets

  1. Defaults
  2. Customize Widgets
  3. Fix the biggest problem with Widgets

Windows Search

  1. Defaults
  2. Customize Windows Search
  3. Search for files with File Explorer

Quick Settings

  1. Defaults
  2. Customize
  3. Understand Quick settings
  4. Multitasking

Alt-Tab and Task View

  1. Alt-Tab
  2. Task View

Snap

  1. Snap windows manually
  2. Use Snap layouts to arrange windows
  3. Use Snap layouts by dragging a window
  4. Use Snap groups to restore a previous layout
  5. Configure Snap

Task Manager

  1. Get to know Task Manager
  2. Use Task Manager to manage apps and processes
  3. Use Task Manager to determine which apps run at startup
  4. Use Task Manager to run a new task

Desktops

  1. Access Desktops
  2. Create a new virtual desktop
  3. Switch between virtual desktops
  4. Customize a virtual desktop
  5. Move an app or window to a different virtual desktop
  6. Close a virtual desktop

Do Not Disturb and Focus

  1. Do not disturb
  2. Focus

Clipboard

  1. Paste multiple items to the Clipboard with Clipboard history
  2. Enable Clipboard history
  3. Use Clipboard history
  4. Sync the Clipboard across your PCs
  5. Files

File Explorer

  1. Access multiple file system views with tabs
  2. Understand the File Explorer home page
  3. Access commonly used locations with the navigation pane
  4. Interact with the Address bar
  5. Use Gallery to view your photo collection
  6. Learn more about files with the Details pane
  7. Work with archive files
  8. Customize File Explorer

Nearby Sharing

  1. A quick survey of legacy sharing features
  2. Get to know Nearby sharing
  3. Toggle Nearby sharing with Quick settings
  4. Configure Nearby sharing

OneDrive

  1. Get to know OneDrive in Windows 11
  2. Configure OneDrive
  3. Configure File Explorer integration with OneDrive
  4. Access your OneDrive content at any time with Files on Demand
  5. Share OneDrive files with others
  6. Protect your most important files with Personal Vault
  7. Remove OneDrive

Storage

  1. Storage basics
  2. Manage internal storage
  3. Manage removable storage
  4. Get it done more quickly with Disk Management

Device Encryption

  1. Manage device encryption
  2. Manage Device encryption
  3. Use a Device encryption-protected removable disk
  4. Manage an encrypted removable disk
  5. Use the BitLocker recovery key

Windows Backup

  1. Get to know Windows Backup
  2. Create a backup
  3. Manage your backups
  4. Restore from a backup
  5. Help and Recovery

Help and Recovery

  1. Quick assist
  2. Troubleshooting
  3. Recovery drive
  4. Quick Machine Recovery
  5. Point-in-time restore
  6. Reinstall Windows with Windows Update
  7. Reset This PC
  8. Hardware

Hardware Device Basics

  1. Connect a device to your PC
  2. USB
  3. Bluetooth
  4. Keyboards, mice, and touchpads
  5. Touch, pen, and tablet
  6. Printers and scanners
  7. Dynamic Lighting
  8. More information

Multiple Displays

  1. Understand multi-display setups
  2. Connect to a secondary display
  3. Connect to a wireless display
  4. Use another PC as a wireless display

Phone Link

  1. Understand the complexity of Phone Link
  2. Connect your phone to Phone Link
  3. Configure Phone Link
  4. Use Phone Link to access your phone’s features
  5. Manage your phone with the Phone Link widget

Windows Studio Effects

  1. Check to see whether your PC supports Windows Studio Effects
  2. Configure Windows Studio Effects
  3. Toggle Windows Studio Effects on or off
  4. Accounts

Account Security Basics

Accounts Basics

  1. Understand the different types of accounts
  2. A few examples

Microsoft Accounts

  1. Microsoft account basics
  2. Microsoft account security basics
  3. Manage your Microsoft account in Windows 11

Work or School Accounts

  1. Connect a work or school account to your Microsoft account sign-in
  2. Sign-in to Windows 11 with a work or school account

Local Accounts

  1. What changes when you use a local account
  2. Sign in to Windows 11 with a local account
  3. Properly configure and secure your local account

Windows Hello, Presence Sensing, and Dynamic Lock

  1. Windows Hello
  2. Presence Sensing
  3. Dynamic lock

Accounts Used by Other Apps

  1. Add and configure an account that can be used by Microsoft Store apps

Multiple Accounts

  1. Understand account types
  2. Add and manage sign-in accounts
  3. Switch between available sign-in accounts
  4. Security

Secure Your Microsoft Account

  1. Get started with Microsoft account configuration
  2. Configure your profile information
  3. Configure additional sign-in and verification methods
  4. Enable two-step verification
  5. Review your account safety options
  6. Understand the other security features offered by the Microsoft account website
  7. Optionally remove the password from your Microsoft account

Passkeys

  1. Why passkeys?
  2. Types of passkeys
  3. Windows 11 and passkeys
  4. Defaults
  5. Choose a passkey manager and configure Windows 11 and your web browser correctly
  6. Save a passkey
  7. Sign in to a website using a passkey
  8. Manage a passkey

Windows Update

  1. Use Windows Update to keep Windows up-to-date
  2. Pause updates
  3. View your update history
  4. Configure other Windows Update settings

Windows Security

  1. Get to know Windows Security
  2. Properly configure Windows Security

Windows Defender

  1. Scan a file or folder with Windows Defender
  2. Scan your PC with Windows Defender

Find My Device

  1. Internet and Networking

Networking Basics

  1. Get to know Windows 11 networking

Internet Connectivity

  1. Wi-Fi
  2. Ethernet
  3. Cellular data
  4. Airplane Mode
  5. Mobile hotspot
  6. Apps

Apps

  1. App basics
  2. Microsoft Store
  3. Notifications
  4. Microsoft Edge

Set Up Microsoft Edge Correctly … Whether You Use It Or Not

  1. The problem with Microsoft Edge
  2. Get the initial Microsoft Edge configuration right
  3. Further configure Microsoft Edge to make it more useful, private, and efficient
  4. Configure a different default web browser and minimize the impact of Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge Basics

  1. Toolbar and address bar
  2. Tabs
  3. Split Screen
  4. Favorites
  5. History
  6. Notifications
  7. Downloads
  8. Page zoom
  9. Find on page
  10. Sidebar
  11. Search engine
  12. Themes
  13. Media
  14. Extensions
  15. Sharing
  16. Profiles and workspaces

Reading with Microsoft Edge

  1. Read articles on the web
  2. Read and annotate a PDF file
  3. Fill in a PDF form

Microsoft Edge Collections

  1. Create a new collection
  2. Add an item to a collection
  3. Manage a collection
  4. Manage your collections
  5. Follow creators

Microsoft Edge Shopping

  1. Shopping
  2. Microsoft Rewards

Microsoft Edge and Web Apps

  1. Install a web app
  2. Install a web page as if it were an app
  3. Use installed web apps and pages alongside other apps
  4. Manage installed web apps and pages

Microsoft Edge Security and Privacy

  1. Examine the security and privacy features in Microsoft Edge
  2. Limit online tracking
  3. Enhance your security while browsing the web
  4. Enable secure domain name resolution
  5. Manage and monitor your passwords
  6. Productivity Apps and Utilities

Notepad

  1. Defaults
  2. Customize
  3. Format a document with Markdown
  4. Use Copilot to help you write
  5. Restore Notepad to its classic look and feel

Snipping Tool, Screenshots, and Screen Recordings

  1. Get to know the Snipping Tool
  2. Configure Snipping Tool
  3. Use Snipping Tool to capture a screenshot of the entire screen, a window, or an area
  4. Use Snipping Tool to edit a screenshot
  5. Use Snipping Tool to create a screen recording
  6. Capture a screenshot or screen recording using other methods
  7. Digital Media

Paint

  1. Defaults
  2. Customize
  3. New Paint features you will see on any PC
  4. New Paint features that require a Copilot+ PC

Photos

  1. Use Photos to view one or more images
  2. Use Photos to manage your photos and other image files
  3. Import photos and videos from your smartphone or another device

Media Player

  1. Get to know Media Player
  2. Configure Media Player
  3. Manage your music library
  4. Control music playback
  5. Manage your videos
  6. Create and manage playlists

Camera

  1. Get to know the Camera app
  2. Configure the Camera app and your PC’s cameras
  3. Take a photo with the Camera app
  4. Take a video with the Camera app
  5. Scan a document, whiteboard, or barcode with the Camera app

Sound Recorder

  1. Get to know Sound Recorder
  2. Configure Sound Recorder
  3. Record your voice or other audio
  4. Play a recording
  5. Manage a recording
  6. Import a recording into Sound Recorder
  7. What’s missing

Clipchamp

  1. Get to know Clipchamp
  2. Create a simple video from start to finish
  3. But wait, there’s more
  4. Xbox and Games

Xbox and Games Basics

  1. Configure your PC to play games
  2. Find and buy games
  3. Play a game

Game Bar

  1. Get to know the Game Bar
  2. Configure Game Bar widgets
  3. Use the Game Bar’s other modes
  4. Capture and view screenshots and game clips

Xbox App

  1. Get to know the Xbox app
  2. Find Xbox-compatible games for your PC
  3. Manage your library of Xbox games for PC
  4. PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
  5. Stream games from the cloud with Xbox Cloud Gaming
  6. Command Line

Terminal

  1. Get to know Terminal
  2. Launch Terminal
  3. Configure Terminal
  4. Control Terminal with the Command Palette
  5. Use Terminal in Focus mode
  6. Go to a specific folder more easily

Command Prompt

  1. Access Command Prompt
  2. Learn which commands are available
  3. Learn how to use individual commands
  4. Move more quickly around the file system
  5. Learn some useful Command Prompt commands

Linux

  1. Install Linux in Windows 11
  2. Configure WSL
  3. Use the Linux command-line interface
  4. Install and use Linux graphical apps
  5. File system interoperability

Windows Package Manager

  1. Get to know the Windows Package Manager
  2. Find an app to install with the Windows Package Manager
  3. Keep your apps up-to-date with the Windows Package Manager
  4. Bulk-install apps with the Windows Package Manager
  5. Virtualization

Hyper-V

  1. Install Hyper-V
  2. Get to know Hyper-V Manager
  3. Create and use virtual machines

Windows Sandbox

  1. Install Windows Sandbox
  2. Get to know Windows Sandbox
  3. Test suspicious software in Windows Sandbox
  4. Reference

Keyboard Shortcuts

  1. Windows Setup
  2. Desktop
  3. File Explorer
  4. Multitasking
  5. Accounts
  6. Microsoft Edge
  7. Snipping Tool, Screenshots, and Screen Captures
  8. Photos
  9. Sound Recorder

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