Microsoft keeps making headlines with AI announcements, but most Windows 11 users never go beyond the basics. What many don’t realize is that some of the most useful things the operating system can do are sitting quietly in menus and settings that barely get noticed.
Here are some of the features worth knowing about if you’re running Windows 11:
1 Clipboard History
If you’ve ever copied something, moved on, and then needed it again five steps later, Clipboard History is for you. Press Windows + V and everything you’ve recently copied is right there waiting.
2 Quick Settings Customization
You can open Quick Settings by clicking the Wi-Fi, battery, or volume icons in your taskbar. What most people don’t realize is that these controls can be rearranged. If there are features you use constantly, move them to the front or the center.
3 Passkey Support
Windows 11 is ready to leave passwords behind. Through Windows Hello, you can sign in using facial recognition, a fingerprint, or a PIN instead of setting up a password.
4 Nearby Sharing
Find it under Settings > System > Nearby Sharing. It’s essentially Windows’ version of AirDrop; It lets you transfer files wirelessly between Windows devices without a USB drive or cloud storage in sight.
5 Advanced Compression Formats
Windows 11 can now create 7z and TAR archives directly from File Explorer, which means one less third-party tool to install.
6 Focus Sessions
Focus Sessions is a simple tool, but having it built right into the Clock app means one less thing to download. Set up dedicated work periods, schedule breaks, and silence interruptions, all without leaving your desktop.
7 Built-In Screen Recording
Most people assume the Xbox Game Bar is just for gaming, but the screen recorder built into it works for a lot more than that. For tutorials, presentations, and capturing anything on your screen, simply press Windows + G, and it’s ready to go.
8 Storage Sense
Storage Sense automatically hunts down old files and frees up space by clearing temporary files, emptying the recycle bin on a schedule, and managing locally available cloud content. Find it under Settings > System > Storage, turn it on, and let it handle the rest in the background.
9 Snap Layouts
This feature shows you pre-built layouts that let you arrange multiple apps on screen instantly, so you don’t have to resize anything manually anymore. Just hover over the maximize button on any window, and you’ll see it right away.
10 Virtual Desktops
Virtual Desktops will immediately fix your cluttered desktop by letting you separate everything into dedicated spaces. Just hover over the Task View icon on your taskbar to set them up.
11 PowerToys
PowerToys doesn’t come installed by default, but it’s free and worth getting. It includes FancyZones for advanced window management, bulk file renaming, image resizing, and custom keyboard shortcuts; tools that honestly should just be built in.
12 Phone Link
Phone Link connects your smartphone directly to your PC. View notifications, reply to texts, make calls, and browse photos from Windows without ever picking up your phone.
13 File Explorer Tabs
File Explorer now works like a browser, with tabs instead of multiple windows. It’s a small change, but if you’re constantly juggling different folders, it makes a real difference.
14 AI-Powered Image Editing
You can now remove backgrounds, erase unwanted objects, or generate images from a text description directly in the Paint and Photos app, all thanks to the AI-powered image editing built right into it.
15 Title Bar Shake
When your desktop gets out of hand, Title Bar Shake comes in handy. Enable it in Multitasking settings, grab any window by its title bar and shake it, and every other open window minimizes instantly.
16 Enhanced Battery Analytics
The Battery Usage section shows exactly which apps are draining your battery the most. If your laptop isn’t lasting as long as it should, this is the first place to look.
17 Copilot Vision
This is probably the most impressive one on the list. Copilot Vision doesn’t just answer questions, it can walk you through tasks in real time. It feels less like software and more like an assistant who’s actually looking at the same thing you are.
You’re Probably Not Using Half of These
Windows 11 is more capable than most people realize; the features are already there, they just don’t advertise themselves. All it takes is a few minutes of digging around to find tools that genuinely change how you use your computer every day.
