Upgrade to Premium
Log In

Home
- Behind Thurrott.com
Microsoft
Google
Apple
Little Tech
- Affinity
- Brave
- DuckDuckGo
- LibreOffice
- Linux
- Mozilla
  - Mozilla Firefox
- Notion
- Opera
- Proton
- Raspberry Pi
- Stardock
- Vivaldi
AI + Cloud
Smart Home
- Google Home
- Apple TV
- Apple HomePod
- Apple AirPods
- Apple Music
- Sonos
- Spotify
- YouTube
- YouTube Music
Games
Podcasts
Paul
Premium⭐
Forums

Contact
About Thurrott.com

Upgrade to Premium

Xbox and Games

Premium

XBOX PC and Games

Paul Thurrott
Jun 28, 2026
2
comments

Windows 11 comes with an XBOX app with third-party game store integration, a Game Bar…

Table of contents

Get to Know Windows 11

What’s New With Windows 11 in 2026

Upgrade to Windows 11

Upgrade

Install Windows 11

Install

Personalize Windows 11

Initial Configuration and Personalization
Customize Your Windows 11 Privacy Settings
Customize the Lock and Sign-In Screens

Desktop

Desktop
Start
Taskbar
Widgets
Windows Search
Quick Settings

Multitasking

Desktops
Do Not Disturb and Focus
Alt-Tab and Task View (24H2)
Snap (24H2)
Task Manager (24H2)
Clipboard (24H2)

Files

Storage
Backup
Windows Backup
Nearby Sharing (24H2)
File Explorer (24H2)
OneDrive (24H2)
Device Encryption (24H2)

Help and Recovery

Help and Recovery

Hardware

Windows Studio Effects
Phone Link (23H2)
Hardware Device Basics
Multiple Displays

Accounts

Windows Hello, Presence Sensing, and Dynamic Lock (23H2)
Work and School Accounts (23H2)
Microsoft Accounts (23H2)
Accounts Basics (23H2)
Multiple Accounts (23H2)
Accounts Used by Other Apps (23H2)
Local Accounts (24H2)

Security

Secure Your Microsoft Account
Passkeys (25H2)
Account Security Basics (25H2)
Security

Internet and Networking

Networking Basics
Internet Connectivity

Apps

Apps

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge

Productivity Apps

Copilot (23H2)
Snipping Tool, Screenshots, and Screen Recordings (23H2)
Notepad

Digital Media

Photos
Media Player
Movies & TV
Camera
Clipchamp
Sound Recorder
Paint

Xbox and Games

XBOX PC and Games

Command Line

Command Line Interfaces

Virtualization

Virtualization

Archived - 22H2

Windows 11 Hardware Requirements and Recommendations
Create Windows 11 Install Media
What’s New and Familiar in Windows 11
What’s Missing in Windows 11
Upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11
Clean Install
Step-By-Step: The Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE)
Upgrade to Windows 11 on Unsupported Hardware
Overcome Windows 11 Setup Annoyances
Windows 11 Personalization First Steps
Customize Your Privacy Settings
Customize the Display
Customize the Lock and Sign-In Screens
Desktop
Start
Taskbar
Widgets
Search
Quick Settings
Alt-Tab (Archived)
Task View (Archived)
Shake (Archived)
Snap
Task Manager (Archived)
Clipboard (Archived)
File Explorer
Nearby Sharing (Archived)
OneDrive
Device Encryption (Archived)
Wi-Fi (Archived)
Ethernet
Cellular Data
Airplane Mode
Mobile Hotspot
Set Up Microsoft Edge Correctly
Microsoft Edge Basics
Reading with Microsoft Edge (22H2 archive)
Microsoft Edge Collections (22H2 Archive)
Microsoft Edge Shopping
Quick Assist
Microsoft Edge and Web Apps
Recovery Drive
Reset This PC
Accounts Basics
Microsoft Accounts
Work and School Accounts
Local Accounts
Windows Hello and Dynamic Lock
Email and Other Accounts
Multiple Accounts
Devices Basics
USB
Bluetooth
Displays
Phone Link
Keyboards, Mice, and Touchpads
Touch, Pen, and Tablet
Printers and Scanners
Troubleshooting
Apps Basics
Microsoft Store
Notifications
Windows Update
Windows Security
Windows Defender
Find My Device
Android Apps
Mail
Calendar
Microsoft 365
Microsoft Edge Security and Privacy
Xbox and Games Basics
Xbox Game Bar (Archived)
Xbox App
Terminal
Command Prompt
Linux
Hyper-V
Windows Sandbox
Screenshots and Screen Recordings
Windows Package Manager
What’s New and Familiar in Windows 11 Version 23H2
What’s Missing in Windows 11 Version 23H2
Windows 11 Version 23H2 Hardware Requirements and Recommendations
Upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 Version 23H2
Upgrade to Windows 11 Version 23H2 on Unsupported Hardware
Create Windows 11 Version 23H2 Installation Media
Step-by-Step: Windows Setup First-Boot Experience
Step-By-Step: Windows Setup Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE)
Overcome Windows Setup Annoyances
OneDrive (23H2) (Archived)
Copilot
File Explorer (23H2) (Archived)
Apps Basics (23H2)
Windows 11 Version 23H2 Personalization First Steps (Archived)
Customize the Display (23H2) (Archived)
Customize the Lock and Sign-In Screens (23H2) (Archived)
Customize Your Privacy Settings (23H2) (Archived)
Desktop (23H2)
Start (23H2)
Taskbar (23H2)
Widgets (23H2)
Search (23H2) (Archived)
Quick Settings (23H2) (Archived)
Notifications (23H2)
Passkeys and Security Keys
Dynamic Lighting
Local Accounts (23H2) (Archived)
Widgets (23H2, M5) (Archived)
Snap (23H2 + Moment 5) (Archived)
Set Up Microsoft Edge Correctly … Whether You Use It Or Not
Microsoft Edge Basics (23H2)
Reading with Microsoft Edge (23H2)
Microsoft Edge Collections (23H2)
Microsoft Store (24H2)
Reinstall Windows with Windows Update
Desktop (24H2) (Archived)
Start (24H2)
Taskbar (24H2)
What’s New and Familiar in Windows 11 (24H2)
What’s Missing in Windows 11 (24H2)
Windows 11 and Copilot+ PC Hardware Requirements and Recommendations (24H2)
Upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 (24H2)
Upgrade to Windows 11 on Unsupported Hardware (24H2)
Create Windows 11 Installation Media (24H2)
Step-by-Step: Windows 11 Setup First-Boot Experience (24H2)
Step-By-Step: Windows 11 Setup Out-of-Box Experience (24H2)
Overcome Windows 11 Setup Annoyances (24H2)
Windows 11 Personalization First Steps (24H2)
Customize the Display (24H2)
Customize the Lock and Sign-In Screens (24H2)
Customize Your Windows 11 Privacy Settings (24H2)
Widgets (24H2)
Search (24H2)
Quick Settings (24H2)
Game Bar (24H2)
Wi-Fi (24H2)
Quick Machine Recovery (25H2)

Currently on Forums
Visit the forums
- “We are working very hard to rethink everything that we can about Helix”?
  Posted by Scott
  
  3
  comments
- Configure the Start menu via Group Policy
  Posted by Christian Gaeng
  
  1
  comment
- Brave adding support for containers
  Posted by richardbottiglieri
  
  0
  comment
- [CLOSED] Ask Paul for this Friday, July 3
  Posted by Paul Thurrott
  
  4
  comments
Podcasts
Podcast Hub
- First Ring Daily 1987: The Layoffs
  
  Aired on July 06, 2026 by Brad Sams with 0 Comments
- Windows Weekly 990: Don’t Be Nostalgic for Stupid
  
  Aired on July 02, 2026 by Paul Thurrott with 1 Comment
- First Ring Daily 1986: Goodbye Discs
  
  Aired on July 01, 2026 by Brad Sams with 0 Comments
- First Ring Daily 1985: Another Day, Another Doom
  
  Aired on June 30, 2026 by Brad Sams with 0 Comments
Join the crowd where the love of tech is real - become a Thurrott Premium Member today!

Explore Premium Benefits

© 2026 Thurrott LLC
Become a Thurrott member
Contact help and support
Contact Paul
Advertising
RSS