Workarounds for 4 duties Windows 11 makes more durable
Windows 11 could also be prettier to have a look at than Windows 10, however some duties have turn out to be tougher. Try these tweaks to get round some impediments that Microsoft launched in Windows 11.
Halfpoint/iStock
Microsoft has definitely made some enhancements in Windows 11, however among the modifications will take some getting used to. We are creatures of behavior, and among the interface variations will make some duties more durable, at the very least at first. And avoiding a Microsoft account has turn out to be much more troublesome in Windows 11, however it’s nonetheless attainable.
In this story I’ll present you workarounds that can enable you overcome among the difficulties Windows 11 introduces in the event you’re used to working in Windows 10.
1. Setting up Windows with out a Microsoft account
Since Windows 8, Microsoft has pushed folks to log in to their Microsoft account (or create one) when clear putting in Windows or when organising a brand new system out of the field, to the annoyance of those that would favor to make use of an area account that’s not linked to Microsoft’s servers. Microsoft is getting much more aggressive with this in Windows 11, stating within the system necessities, “Windows 11 Home edition requires internet connectivity and a Microsoft account.”
Nevertheless, there’s a option to skip the Microsoft account requirement so you possibly can simply create an area Windows account. This trick is beneficial in the event you’re actually in opposition to signing in to Windows, and likewise in circumstances the place you’re prepping a tool for another person and also you don’t have their Microsoft credentials.
In Windows 11 Pro, you possibly can skip the Microsoft login simply in the course of the preliminary setup. On the “Let’s connect you to a network” web page, simply click on or faucet I don’t have Internet, after which on the “Connect now to quickly get started on your device” web page, click on or faucet Continue with restricted setup. Then you’ll be capable to enter a username for the native Windows account.
In Windows 11 Home, Microsoft doesn’t give us any obvious option to skip it within the setup wizard. Although it’s a bit tougher than within the Pro version, there’s a workaround within the Home version to skip the Microsoft login (and web entry) requirement while you’re within the preliminary setup screens of Windows 11:
Eric Geier / IDG
Pressing Shift + F10 in Windows 11 setup opens the Command Prompt, the place you possibly can run the command to open the Task Manager. (Click any picture on this story to enlarge it.)
Eric Geier / IDG
In Task Manager, kill the Network Connection Flow course of so you possibly can skip the Microsoft login.
Eric Geier / IDG
Killing the Network Connection Flow course of means that you can create an area consumer account.
Note that signing in with a Microsoft account does present sure benefits, akin to entry to OneDrive, OneNote, and different Microsoft providers; enhanced safety features together with two-factor authentication and full-disk encryption; the power to sync information, apps, and settings between Windows PCs; and extra restoration choices in the event you overlook your password or must reinstall Windows. If you resolve later you wish to swap from the native account to a Microsoft account, choose Start > Settings > Accounts > Your information > Sign in with a Microsoft account as an alternative, then comply with the prompts to log in to an present account or create a brand new one.
2. Clicking the Start button
After greater than twenty years of a left-aligned Start button and taskbar in Windows, the centering of the taskbar icons, together with the Start button, in Windows 11 will seemingly throw everybody off for a bit. If you discover it’s an excessive amount of to get used to, particularly in the event you’re nonetheless utilizing prior Windows variations on different machines, you possibly can alter the alignment again to the left. This is definitely the best repair we’ll cowl.
Eric Geier / IDG
The centered taskbar icons in Windows 11 jogs my memory of Chrome OS and macOS.
Simply right-click anyplace on the taskbar (besides on icons) and choose Taskbar settings. In the Settings window that seems, choose Taskbar behaviors, and for the Taskbar alignment you possibly can swap to Left.
Eric Geier / IDG
Luckily, it’s a fast workaround to take the taskbar icons again to the left.
That’s it! But when you’re right here, you may also allow the taskbar auto-hide characteristic in the event you need; checking the Automatically cover the taskbar field implies that the taskbar will seem solely while you transfer your cursor to the underside of the display screen. Plus, up on the highest of the Taskbar settings (not pictured in our display screen shot), you possibly can cover the default taskbar icons (Search, Task view, Widgets, and Chat) if you wish to.
Eric Geier / IDG
The easy job of hitting the Start menu will seemingly be simpler with muscle reminiscence when you align the taskbar icons again to the left.
3. Getting full context menus when right-clicking
When right-clicking most apps, information, and different objects in Windows 11, you’ll be shocked to see an abbreviated context menu. It appears good and slick, however you would possibly discover that a few of your favourite instructions and shortcuts have been moved out of the preliminary context menu, particularly in the event that they’re associated to third-party functions. You can entry the complete checklist of choices by tapping or clicking Show extra choices on the backside of the menu.
Eric Geier / IDG
On the left is the default context menu when right-clicking a file in Windows 11. On the suitable is the complete context menu just like the one you’re used to in Windows 10.
If you discover the abbreviated context menu is simply too annoying, there’s a Registry hack you possibly can carry out to all the time see the complete context menus straight away. Important: Always again up your system earlier than tweaking the Windows Registry. Then proceed as follows:
reg.exe add “HKCUSoftwareClassesCLSID{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}InprocServer32” /f
Eric Geier / IDG
Copying and pasting this command edits the Windows Registry to do away with Windows 11’s abbreviated context menus.
If you modify your thoughts and wish the abbreviated context menus again, you possibly can reverse the change:
reg.exe delete “HKCUSoftwareClassesCLSID{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}” /f
4. Changing default apps to non-Microsoft apps
In the Settings app in Windows 10, you possibly can simply change a pair default software varieties (akin to the online browser, video participant, and e-mail shopper) from Microsoft’s apps to favourite functions you’ve downloaded. In Windows 11, you possibly can nonetheless change the default functions, however it’s more durable.
Eric Geier / IDG
In Windows 10, it’s simple to alter the default apps for a number of completely different classes…
Eric Geier / IDG
…however Windows 11 simply offers you an inventory of all of the apps, and choosing one reveals you every extension or hyperlink kind it could actually open.
In Windows 11, right here’s the way to entry the default settings:
Many Windows customers, for instance, want to make use of a special browser from the default, Microsoft Edge. To change your default internet browser away from Edge, you possibly can truly choose any internet browser from the “Default apps” checklist. Just remember to change at the very least the next file or hyperlink varieties to make use of your required browser:
- .htm
- .html
- HTTP
- HTTPS
- MAILTO (in the event you use internet mail solely and don’t use Microsoft’s Outlook or Mail apps)
Eric Geier / IDG
Changing the default browser (Microsoft Edge) to Google Chrome.
Eric Geier is a contract tech author — sustain along with his writings on Facebook or Twitter. He’s additionally the founding father of NoWiresSecurity offering a cloud-based Wi-Fi safety service, Wi-Fi Surveyors offering RF website surveying, and On Spot Techs offering common IT providers.