Skip to content
Windows 11 Field Guide
Menu

Independent guide, not affiliated with Microsoft

Make Windows 11 work for you

Plain-English guides to installing, upgrading, fixing and setting up Windows 11. Steps were written for the menus in 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2 (Microsoft lists 25H2 and 26H2 as current for Home and Pro as of 15 October 2026), link to Microsoft's own documentation, and avoid registry hacks and risky tools.

Fix a problem
A woman typing on a laptop at a wooden kitchen table
Photo: Shixart1985, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
158
In-depth guides
14
Topics
3
Languages

Start here

A compact keyboard on a dark wooden desk next to a pencil
Settings How to Enable Sudo in Windows 11 and Pick the Safest Mode How to enable sudo in Windows 11 24H2 and later, what the three modes do, which one Microsoft recommends, and how sudo differs from runas and an admin terminal. October 16, 2026
  1. 01 How to Format a USB Drive in Windows 11: FAT32, exFAT, NTFSHow to format a USB drive in Windows 11 with File Explorer, Disk Management or the format command, which file system to pick, and what to do when it fails.
  2. 02 Partition a Hard Drive in Windows 11: Create, Shrink, ExtendHow to partition a hard drive in Windows 11 with Disk Management: create a new volume, shrink or extend one, fix a greyed-out Extend Volume and avoid data loss.
  3. 03 How to Run CHKDSK in Windows 11 and Read the ResultsRun CHKDSK in Windows 11 to find and fix drive errors: the Error checking button, chkdsk /scan, /f and /r, checks at restart, and where to read the log.

Topics

Browse by subject

Independent, plain-English guides to installing, fixing and setting up Windows 11, with Settings paths written for versions 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2 and checked against Microsoft's release information.

Latest guides

All guides
Someone holding a coffee mug next to an open laptop
Troubleshooting Task Manager in Windows 11: Open It, End Tasks, Read It How to open Task Manager in Windows 11, close a frozen app safely with End task, read the CPU, memory and disk columns, and use each page without causing harm. October 16, 2026
Close-up of hands typing on a laptop keyboard
Productivity Voice Typing in Windows 11: Dictate Text With Win + H How to use voice typing in Windows 11: start it with Windows key + H, the commands and punctuation it understands, language and privacy settings, and mic fixes. October 16, 2026
Old monitors, a keyboard and network cables piled on a desk
Troubleshooting Windows 11 BIOS UEFI Settings: How to Open Them Safely How to open Windows 11 BIOS UEFI settings from Windows or at startup, what is safe to change (boot order, Secure Boot, TPM) and why the UEFI option is missing. October 16, 2026
A laptop, notebook and coffee cup on a wooden desk
Features and apps Windows 11 Copilot: Open, Set Up, Control or Remove It How the Windows 11 Copilot app works: open it with the Copilot key or Windows key + C, which account to use, privacy and file settings, and how to remove it. October 16, 2026
An unbranded black USB flash drive lying next to its cap
Download and install Windows 11 Media Creation Tool: Make a USB or ISO Safely How to use the Windows 11 Media Creation Tool: what you need, each step from download to USB or ISO, which edition to pick, and fixes for common errors. October 16, 2026
Hands on a white keyboard and mouse
Features and apps Windows 11 Microsoft Store: Install, Update and Fix Apps How to use the Windows 11 Microsoft Store: sign in, install and reinstall apps from Library, get updates, manage automatic updates and fix apps that fail. October 16, 2026
A minimal desk with a monitor and keyboard against a white wall
Features and apps Windows 11 Terminal: Tabs, Profiles, Admin and Shortcuts How to use Windows 11 Terminal: open it as admin, switch between PowerShell, Command Prompt and WSL profiles, set the default terminal and use tabs and panes. October 16, 2026
A person working at a white desk by a bright window
Features and apps Windows 11 Widgets: Open, Customize or Hide the Board How Windows 11 widgets work: open the board with Windows key + W, add, resize and customize widgets, turn off the Discover feed and hide Widgets on the taskbar. October 16, 2026
A desk with a monitor showing a terminal, a keyboard and cables
Features and apps Windows 11 WSL2: Install Linux in One Command, Step by Step How to install Windows 11 WSL2 with one command, pick a Linux distribution, check the WSL version, share files with Windows and remove a distro safely. October 16, 2026
A laptop resting on someone's lap
Settings Check Bluetooth Version Windows 11: Read the LMP Number How to check the Bluetooth version in Windows 11 in Device Manager, read the LMP number, match it to Bluetooth 4.0 to 6.0 and what it means for accessories. October 15, 2026
Old monitors and network cables on a desk
Settings Find IP Address Windows 11: Settings, ipconfig and Public IP How to find your IP address in Windows 11 in Settings or with ipconfig, the difference between local and public IP, and how to read gateway and DNS details. October 15, 2026
A laptop on a desk next to a window
Settings Find MAC Address Windows 11: Settings, getmac and Random MAC How to find your MAC address in Windows 11 in Settings or with getmac and ipconfig /all, and why Wi-Fi may show a random hardware address instead. October 15, 2026
01

Current menus

Steps follow the Settings app in Windows 11 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2, checked against Microsoft's release information (25H2 and 26H2 current as of 15 October 2026), and say where Home and Pro differ.

02

Safe fixes first

We start with built-in tools and reversible settings. No registry cleaners, debloat scripts, activators or hardware-check bypasses.

03

Independent

We are not Microsoft and not a support line. We never ask you to call us, and we link to Microsoft's own pages as sources.