Ten Windows 11 Settings & Features to Supercharge Productivity

Hello there! Andy Price here from Initial IT Solutions Ltd. If you're like me, always on the lookout for ways to make your day a tad more efficient, then you're in for a treat. Windows 11 has rolled out some nifty features that can genuinely enhance your productivity. Let's dive into a few of my favourite's.

Windows 11 builds on Microsoft’s long legacy of desktop innovation by bundling a raft of productivity tools right into the operating system. For professional‑services firms juggling client deadlines, tight budgets and cybersecurity concerns, tweaking a few built‑in settings can have an outsized impact on the workday. Below are ten Windows 11 settings and features, drawn from official documentation, that can simplify workflows, reduce distractions and help your team deliver more billable work – all while keeping your data secure.

1 – Snap Layouts keep your desktop tidy

The Snap feature in Windows 11 lets you quickly resize and position open apps by dragging them to screen edges or corners. This means you can organise several windows into a predefined layout without fumbling with the mouse. Hovering over a window’s maximise button reveals a grid of layouts so you can instantly tile documents, spreadsheets and web pages side by side. If you regularly work across multiple line‑of‑business apps, Snap is a small tweak that saves time and reduces desktop clutter.

Internal link: Snap layouts are a great entry point into more streamlined workflows. If you need wider desktop help, our managed IT support services can help you customise Windows settings across your practice.

2 – Virtual Desktops separate work from play

Multiple desktops in Windows 11 let you assign different tasks to separate workspaces. Microsoft notes that you can customise each desktop with its own background and name, making it easy to distinguish a client‑project desktop from your personal desktop. Switching between desktops is as simple as swiping left or right with four fingers on a precision touchpad. By isolating client files, marketing materials and personal documents on different desktops, you reduce distractions and stay organised.

Internal link: To keep business and personal data even more secure, consider our managed cyber security solutions.

3 – Focus Sessions minimise distractions

Distractions reduce billable hours. Windows 11’s Focus Sessions feature integrates a timer, Do Not Disturb mode and your task list. During a session the Clock app displays a countdown, Do Not Disturb automatically silences notifications, and taskbar badges and flashing icons are disabled. You can also pick a task from Microsoft To Do and link Spotify playlists. Use this built‑in tool to block out 25‑minute sprints when reviewing contracts or drafting accounts.

Internal link: Our cyber security for small businesses page has advice on limiting social‑engineering distractions.

4 – PowerToys: free utilities for power users

PowerToys is a set of free utilities maintained by Microsoft that help you customise and streamline Windows For example, FancyZones lets you create custom window grids so you can snap apps into complex layouts, Keyboard Manager remaps keys and creates new shortcuts; and Image Resizer adds a right‑click menu to quickly resize batches of images. For professional services firms producing documents and proposals, these tools can shave minutes off repetitive tasks.

Internal link: Learn about AI‑powered automation that goes beyond PowerToys on our AI for business page.

5 – Copilot: your voice‑activated AI assistant

Microsoft’s Copilot in Windows 11 is an AI assistant built into the OS. Once activated, it listens to natural language voice commands and responds aloud You can start a session by saying “Hey Copilot,” ask for quick definitions or recommendations, schedule tasks, or create and find files. Copilot works across apps and is ideal for hands‑free workflows or users who prefer voice control. It’s also an accessibility boon, supporting over 40 languages.

Internal link: To see how AI assistants can transform client engagement, visit our Microsoft 365 & Copilot page.

6 – Voice Typing for hands‑free dictation

If you regularly dictate emails or notes, Windows 11’s voice typing feature uses Azure Speech Services to convert speech to text. To enable voice typing, press Windows logo + H on a hardware keyboard or tap the microphone button on the touch keyboard. The tool automatically starts listening and inserts text wherever your cursor is placed; you can stop it by saying “Stop listening”. This is ideal for taking quick notes during client calls or drafting long reports without typing.

7 – Widgets put news, weather and tasks at a glance

Widgets in Windows 11 are interactive cards that live on the taskbar or a dedicated board. According to Microsoft, they display dynamic content—such as weather, sports scores, stock prices and local news—so you can see personalised updates at a glance. You can arrange, pin or resize widgets to suit your interests. Access them by hovering over the Widgets area, pressing Windows + W or swiping in from the side of the screen. Widgets are not meant to replace full apps but they provide quick actions and information without leaving your workflow

Internal link: Stay ahead of threats and trends via our cybersecurity blog.

8 – DirectStorage speeds up gaming & graphics workloads

While primarily marketed to gamers, DirectStorage is also useful for designers and engineers using 3D‑intensive applications. Microsoft’s DirectStorage API allows Windows to pull large volumes of data directly from NVMe SSDs to the GPU, bypassing traditional CPU bottlenecks. This reduces CPU overhead, improves I/O bandwidth and enables faster loading of high‑resolution textures. Kingston notes that DirectStorage is now automatically included in Windows 11 and helps players enjoy reduced loading times when paired with PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. For firms using CAD or 3D modelling software, this translates into smoother performance.

Internal link: Our IT services team can advise on hardware upgrades like NVMe SSDs to support DirectStorage.

9 – Touch and trackpad gestures for fluid navigation

Windows 11 supports a range of intuitive touch and touchpad gestures. Microsoft explains that touch commands—such as swiping up with three fingers to see all open windows, swiping left or right with three fingers to switch between apps and tapping with three fingers to open search—make it easier to navigate and multitask. You can also pinch with two fingers to zoom or swipe up from the bottom edge to reveal the taskbar. For multitaskers, advanced gestures like swiping down with three fingers to minimise everything or using four fingers to switch virtual desktops speed up daily workflows. You can customise these gestures in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad to match your habits.

Internal link: Need help configuring laptops or tablets for your team? Our managed IT support covers device setup and training.

10 – The redesigned Settings app makes configuration easier

Windows 11’s Settings app has been overhauled with a more modern design. The new interface features big headers, descriptive thumbnails and a persistent sidebar containing all the major categories—System, Apps, Gaming, Accounts and more. This layout means you never lose your place when switching between pages; the sidebar stays visible and sub‑pages appear as breadcrumbs. The Devices page and other commonly used sections now include clearer thumbnails and more detailed information and the app adds battery‑usage charts on laptops These improvements reduce the number of clicks needed to adjust settings and make Windows feel more coherent.

Internal link: For help rolling out Windows 11 across your firm, see our IT services and support page.

Final thoughts and next steps

Windows 11 isn’t just a visual refresh—it contains powerful productivity tools that are too often overlooked. By embracing Snap Layouts, Virtual Desktops, Focus Sessions, PowerToys, Copilot, Voice Typing, Widgets, DirectStorage, advanced touch gestures and the redesigned Settings app, you can save time, reduce friction and work more securely. If you’d like personalised help tuning Windows 11 for your practice or integrating it with Microsoft 365, contact our friendly team at Initial IT.

We specialise in making IT simple, secure and personal for professional‑services firms no jargon, no hassle, just support that lets you focus on your clients.