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Windows 11 Field Guide
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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 and 25H2 (Microsoft lists 25H2 and 26H2 as current for Home and Pro as of 14 October 2026), link to Microsoft's own documentation, and avoid registry hacks and risky tools.

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Troubleshooting Battery Report Windows 11: Check Battery Health in powercfg Create a battery report in Windows 11 with powercfg /batteryreport, find the file, read design vs full charge capacity and cycle count, and judge battery wear. October 14, 2026
  1. 01 Change Keyboard Language Windows 11: Add, Switch and RemoveHow to change keyboard language in Windows 11: add a keyboard layout, switch with Windows key + Space, remove unused layouts and stop the layout changing.
  2. 02 Change Screen Timeout Windows 11: Screen and Sleep TimersHow to change the screen timeout in Windows 11, set separate battery and plugged-in timers, stop the screen turning off too soon, and lock the PC when it does.
  3. 03 Change User Name in Windows 11: Local and Microsoft AccountChange user name in Windows 11 for a local or Microsoft account, see why the C:\Users folder keeps the old name, and when a new account is the cleaner fix.

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

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A desk with a monitor showing a terminal, a keyboard and cables
Settings Check PC Specs in Windows 11: CPU, RAM, GPU and Storage Check PC specs in Windows 11 with Settings, System Information, Task Manager, Device Manager and dxdiag: processor, RAM, graphics card, storage and more. October 14, 2026
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Troubleshooting Check SSD Health Windows 11: Drive Health, Wear and Warnings How to check SSD health in Windows 11 with Drive health in Settings, PowerShell and Task Manager, what remaining life means, and what to do after a warning. October 14, 2026
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Settings Check Windows 11 Version, Build and Edition in Seconds Check your Windows 11 version, OS build and edition with winver or Settings > System > About, and what 24H2, 25H2 and 26H2 mean for updates and guides. October 14, 2026
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Settings Dark Mode Windows 11: Turn It On, Fix Apps That Stay Light How to turn on dark mode in Windows 11, mix dark Windows with light apps, set accent colours, fix apps that stay white and pick dark mode or contrast themes. October 14, 2026
A woman typing on a laptop at a wooden kitchen table
Settings Delete a User Account in Windows 11 Without Losing Files Delete a user account in Windows 11 from Settings, Control Panel or the command line, save that person's files first, and fix a greyed-out Remove button. October 14, 2026
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Security Dynamic Lock Windows 11: Lock Your PC When You Walk Away Set up Dynamic lock in Windows 11 with a paired phone so the PC locks when you leave, why it can take a minute, fixes when it fails, and backup lock options. October 14, 2026
A desk with a monitor showing a terminal, a keyboard and cables
Productivity File Explorer Tabs Windows 11: Shortcuts, Tips and Fixes Use File Explorer tabs in Windows 11: open, switch and close tabs with shortcuts, open folders in a new tab, move tabs between windows and fix a lost tab bar. October 14, 2026
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Settings Find Wi-Fi Password in Windows 11: 4 Ways That Still Work Find a Wi-Fi password in Windows 11 from Settings, Network and Sharing Center or the netsh command, for networks your own PC has already saved. October 14, 2026
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Settings Enable Hibernate in Windows 11: Add It to the Power Menu Enable hibernate in Windows 11 and add it to the Start power menu, turn hibernation on with powercfg, and see why the option is missing on some laptops. October 14, 2026
Old monitors, a keyboard and network cables piled on a desk
Productivity Map a Network Drive in Windows 11: File Explorer and CMD Map a network drive in Windows 11 with File Explorer or net use, keep it after restarts, and fix common errors such as SMB1-only NAS boxes and guest logons. October 14, 2026
A minimal desk with a monitor and keyboard against a white wall
Productivity Open RAR Files Windows 11: Built-in Extract, 7z and Limits How to open RAR files in Windows 11 without extra software, extract 7z and TAR archives, create ZIP files, and what to use for password-protected archives. October 14, 2026
Someone holding a coffee mug next to an open laptop
Settings Pause Windows 11 Updates: Limits, Active Hours and Risks How to pause Windows 11 updates from Settings, extend or resume the pause, use active hours and metered connections, and why a pause is never permanent. October 14, 2026
01

Current menus

Steps follow the Settings app in Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2, checked against Microsoft's release information (25H2 and 26H2 current as of 14 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.