alt="Bullet"/> Opening, closing, and switching between apps
The Windows 11 Start screen appears when you select the Start button on the taskbar or you press the
The Start screen is home to numerous programs, or apps (short for applications). An app performs a function or displays information. For example, the Weather app offers weather reports (surprise!) and the Maps app helps you map a route between two places. Apps can be simple or complex.
Apps appear on the Start screen as icons. An icon displays the app’s name and symbol for the app. An open app typically covers the screen, hiding other apps that are open. However, some apps can be displayed side-by-side with a function called snap.
Windows 11 also provides easy access to a group of mini apps called widgets. Widgets are graphical apps that give you fast at-a-glance information about news, sports, weather, stocks, and so forth. You choose what widgets you want to see and quickly view them using the Widgets icon on the taskbar.
In this chapter, you open, close, and use some of the apps that come with Windows 11. You also switch between apps and the Start screen, and switch directly between two apps. You find out how to search for apps not shown on the Start screen. You discover how to organize the Start screen by rearranging and pinning apps. Finally, you explore how to add and remove widgets.
See Chapter 10 for information on getting new apps from the Microsoft Store.
Open Windows 11 Apps
1 Select the Start button taskbar, as shown in Figure 2-1. Selecting this button opens the Start screen, also shown in Figure 2-1.You can also open the Start screen by pressing the key.
2 On the Start screen, you see a group of apps. These apps are pinned to the Start Screen, meaning that they always appear (you can change what’s pinned, and you find out how in “Pin and Unpin Apps on the Start Screen,” later this chapter). Click the All Apps button to see an alphabetical listing of all apps available on your computer. Select All Apps and then locate the Weather app and select it. The Weather app opens to the Forecast screen, as shown in Figure 2-2. It shows the current temperature and weather forecast for your default location. Select the Show Options button (see Figure 2-2). As do most apps, Weather has a Show Options button in the upper-left corner. Select this button to expand the app bar and see the names of options on the app bar. Select the button again to collapse options on the app bar. The first time you open the Weather app, a Welcome screen appears. It asks whether you want to show temperatures in Fahrenheit or Celsius and what your location is. By location, the Weather app wants to know where you live, or, if you’re a vagabond, where you spend the majority of your time. Choose Detect My Location or enter a city or town name in the Search box, and from the menu that appears as you type, select the name of the town or city that you call home. You can always change these settings by selecting the Settings button in the app bar and choosing options on the Settings screen. (See “Change App Settings,” later in this chapter.)
3 Switch back to the Start screen using one of these methods:Tap or click the Start button.Press the key. Focus on the method you think is easiest. However, keep in mind that alternative methods of controlling your computer are always available.
4 Switch back to the Weather app by selecting its title bar with the mouse or your finger (it’s now behind the Start screen). The Weather app reappears and the Start screen disappears.
5 Switch back to the Start screen.
6 Select the Microsoft Edge icon (it’s probably pinned in your app list on the Start screen). The Edge screen appears, as shown in Figure 2-3. If the Edge icon doesn’t appear on your Start screen, select the All Apps button and locate it in the alphabetical list. Edge is a browser, which is an Internet application for exploring the web. Chapter 6 covers Edge in detail.
7 Scroll downward to see all that is on the web page you are visiting. Use these techniques to scroll:Mouse: Drag the scroll box on the right side of the screen up or down. If your mouse has a wheel, you can also turn the mouse wheel to scroll.Touchscreen: Swipe the screen up or down.
8 Close Edge and the Weather app. Use one of these methods:Mouse: Click the Close button (the X) in the upper-right corner of the app’s window.Touchscreen: Tap the Close button (the X) in the upper-right corner of the app’s window.Keyboard: Press Alt+F4.
