Windows 11 Cheat Sheet: Master New Features & Copilot AI

For years, many consumers and businesses resisted the call to upgrade from Windows 10 to its successor, Windows 11, often citing hardware incompatibilities, legacy software concerns, or simply satisfaction with their existing operating system. However, with Windows 10 nearing its end of support in October, a significant shift is underway as users prepare to embrace the newer platform.

Released over six years after Windows 10, Windows 11 presents a familiar yet subtly transformed experience. While much of its core functionality and aesthetic echoes its predecessor, the most profound addition is Microsoft’s generative AI tool, Copilot, which now takes a central role. Beyond this, numerous smaller adjustments and enhancements define the Windows 11 interface, requiring a period of adjustment for new users.

A primary visual departure in Windows 11 is the redesigned Start menu. Unlike its Windows 10 counterpart, which was anchored to the left, the new Start menu hovers centrally above the taskbar. It’s a more compact design, foregoing large tiles for multiple rows of smaller application icons. Users can easily rearrange these pinned apps by dragging and dropping them, and a dedicated “All” button reveals a comprehensive, scrollable alphabetical list of all installed applications. Right-clicking an app icon offers a context-sensitive menu with options ranging from pinning to the taskbar, running as an administrator, or uninstalling, though some built-in Microsoft apps remain unremovable. A particularly useful “Recommended” section at the bottom of the Start menu highlights recently installed apps and opened files, streamlining access to ongoing work.

Windows 11 also introduces a thoroughly redesigned Search experience. Clicking the magnifying glass icon on the taskbar or typing directly into the search bar now brings up a pane displaying past searches, news, and recommendations. Leveraging the Bing search engine, Windows Search scours local files, OneDrive, apps, settings, Outlook email, and the web. Users can refine their searches by selecting categories like Apps, Documents, Web, or Photos from tabs at the top of the search pane. By default, Search focuses on common libraries, but users can expand its scope to the entire PC via Settings, while also specifying folders to exclude.

Widgets, which previously lacked a dedicated home, now reside in a prominent panel accessible via a taskbar icon. This customizable panel displays dynamic information such as weather, news, and stock quotes. Users can adjust widget sizes, remove them, or customize their content, with many information providers offering their own widgets for tailored updates.

Copilot, Microsoft’s generative AI assistant, is a cornerstone of Windows 11, launched directly from the taskbar. Initially envisioned as an OS assistant capable of performing system actions, Copilot has evolved into a versatile chatbot. While it can guide users on changing Windows settings, it no longer executes these actions directly. Its primary function is now to answer questions, conduct research, and draft documents or emails. Users interact with Copilot by submitting queries or prompts, and it generates responses, supporting multi-turn conversations for complex requests. It’s crucial to be aware that Copilot, like other generative AI, can “hallucinate” or provide inaccurate information, necessitating cross-referencing, especially for research or technical queries. Users can also select how deeply Copilot “thinks” before responding, with options ranging from quick answers to detailed reports that take longer to generate. For drafting, providing specific details on length, tone, and purpose significantly improves the output.

For those who prefer organized desktops, Snap Layouts allow users to arrange open windows into predefined configurations, such as side-by-side or grid layouts. By hovering over an application’s maximize icon, users can select a layout and populate it with other open applications. Once configured, these groupings are saved as Snap Groups, enabling quick return to a specific multi-app arrangement.

Task View and virtual desktops have also been refined. Accessed via a taskbar icon or the Windows key + Tab, Task View displays currently running applications and thumbnails of any created virtual desktops. Users can create multiple virtual desktops to separate workflows—for instance, one for work and another for entertainment—and seamlessly switch between them.

Windows 11 updates are managed through Windows Update, with IT departments typically handling this in enterprise or educational environments. Feature updates, which introduce major new functionalities and version numbers, are released annually and are not automatically installed unless an older version reaches its “end of service.” Quality updates, including security patches and bug fixes, are more frequent. Users can pause these smaller updates for up to 35 days and, in some cases, uninstall problematic updates.

The Windows 10 Action Center is replaced by two distinct flyouts in Windows 11: one for notifications and another for Quick Settings. Notifications, including a calendar, appear when clicking the date and time on the taskbar, alerting users to new emails, security alerts, and system messages. Quick Settings, accessed via network, volume, and battery icons, provides instant access to common toggles like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Airplane mode, with options for deeper customization.

For tablet and 2-in-1 users, Windows 11 unifies the interface, largely doing away with Windows 10’s separate tablet mode. Taskbar icons are slightly more spaced out for touch interaction, and the system automatically adjusts when a keyboard is attached or detached. Touchscreen users benefit from new three- and four-finger gestures for navigating apps, virtual desktops, and the desktop itself.

Under the hood, Windows 11 incorporates several security enhancements. Features like “Wake on approach” can automatically lock and unlock devices with sensing capabilities. Passkeys offer a more secure alternative to passwords by authenticating identity via trusted devices using biometrics. Smart App Control, meanwhile, allows users to restrict installations to only applications deemed trustworthy by Microsoft’s intelligence services.

Beyond these major shifts, Windows 11 includes numerous minor tweaks and removes some familiar Windows 10 features. The Settings app has been reorganized for better navigation, and built-in tools like Paint and the Snipping tool have received AI-powered enhancements, including image generation, background removal, and OCR capabilities. The Windows Clipboard now features a useful toolbar for pasting emojis, Kaomojis, symbols, and GIFs, while File Explorer finally gains tabbed browsing, a long-requested feature that simplifies file management. Conversely, several features have been cut, including the digital assistant Cortana, the People app (replaced by a stripped-down Teams), Skype, and the Timeline feature, which tracked past activities across devices.

Windows 11, while retaining a familiar core, redefines the user experience with integrated AI, refined interface elements, and robust security.