These icons represent available apps (short for application programs, an older term for programs or software). By clicking or tapping an app icon, you can open an app. (See Chapter 2 for information on using individual apps.)4 You can take a look at more apps by clicking the Next Page button (refer to Figure 1-5). Also, you can see an alphabetical list of all the apps that are installed on your computer, as shown in Figure 1-6, by clicking the All Apps button (refer to Figure 1-5). By clicking or tapping an app in this list, you can open an app. Click the Back button to go back to the main Start Screen page. Under Recommended, you see recent files that you’ve opened. Click More to see a complete list. This is a handy way to find a file you recently used.FIGURE 1-5 While the Start screen is open, you can type the name of an app to open it. For example, to open the Weather app, type weather. This automatically changes the Start screen to the Search screen, which you can also open directly by clicking the Search icon on the taskbar. Select the Weather app listing in the search results to open the Weather app. Rather than scroll through the alphabetical list to find an app, you can select a letter in the list and then select a letter in the pop-up list of letters that appears (refer to Figure 1-7). For example, to quickly get to the Weather app, select any letter and then select the W on the pop-up list.FIGURE 1-6FIGURE 1-7
5 Click or tap your image (or image and name) on the Start screen. As shown in Figure 1-8, you see a pop-up menu with commands for changing account settings (see Chapter 3), locking your screen (see “Start Again on the Lock Screen,” later in this chapter), and signing out in a favor of another person who shares your computer (see Chapter 4). Who would think that clicking your name would open a pop-up menu?
6 Click or tap Power on the Start menu. As shown in Figure 1-9, you see a pop-up menu with commands for putting your computer to sleep, shutting down your computer, and restarting your computer. Later in this chapter, “Shut Down Your Computer” looks into the options on this pop-up menu.
7 Click or tap the Start button. Doing any of these actions when the Start screen is open closes the Start screen. You can also close the Start screen by clicking anywhere on the desktop when the Start screen is open.
Shut Down Your Computer
1 When you have finished using your computer for a while, you may want to shut down Windows 11. Begin by displaying the Start screen:Mouse: Click the Start button on the taskbar. The Start button is the leftmost icon and looks like a four-pane window.Touchscreen: Tap the Start button.Keyboard: Press the key.
2 Click or tap Power on the Start menu (refer to Figure 1-9). The Power button is on the bottom right side of the Start menu and looks like a circle with a line through the top.
3 Available options appear in a pop-up box. Some or all of the following options appear:Sleep: This option reduces the computer’s power consumption without exiting Windows 11 or closing apps (some computers don’t offer this option). As a result, when you wake the computer by moving the mouse or touching the screen or the keyboard, everything is exactly as you left it: Apps and documents are open, if they were open before Sleep.Shut Down: This option exits Windows 11 and saves power by turning the computer off. In exiting Windows 11, Shut Down closes any apps that are currently running.Restart: Temporarily shuts down Windows 11 and turns it on again. Use Restart when Windows 11 asks you to or when Windows 11 is misbehaving. You can also shut down your computer by using the Start button. Move the pointer over the Start button and right-click. A pop-up menu appears. Select Shut Down or Sign Out on the pop-up menu, and then select an option (Sleep, Shut Down, or Restart).
4 Choose Shut Down to turn off the computer.
Start Again on the Lock Screen
1 Turn on your computer. Every time you turn on your computer, the Lock screen appears. As shown in Figure 1-10, the Lock screen displays the time, day, and date along with a photo. (You discover how to change this photo in Chapter 3.)
2 Dismiss the Lock screen with one of these methods:Mouse: Click anywhere, roll the wheel toward you, or drag the entire screen up.Touchscreen: Drag the entire screen up.Keyboard: Press any key.
3 If you don’t use a password or Windows Hello to sign in, wait briefly for the Start screen to appear. If you use a password, enter it with a physical or touch keyboard. Then press Enter or select the arrow next to the password box to display the Windows desktop screen.
4 Take a break before reading Chapter 2.
Chapter 2
Using the Start Screen, Apps, and Widgets
IN THIS CHAPTER
