Features and apps
Windows 11 Features: A Guide to the Built-In Tools
Written by Windows 11 Field Guide Editorial Team · Updated
Windows 11 features go well beyond the new Start menu and centred taskbar. Underneath, there are tools for arranging windows, taking screenshots, linking your phone, running Linux, backing up your files and making the PC easier to use if you have a visual, hearing or motor impairment. Most of them are already installed and simply waiting to be switched on.
This hub is a tour of the built-in tools we think are worth knowing in Windows 11 version 24H2 and 25H2. For each one we explain what it does, where to find it and what to watch out for, then link to a detailed guide. Unless we say otherwise, everything here works on both Home and Pro.
Snap layouts and window management
Snap layouts are the feature most people miss and then cannot live without. Hover over a window’s maximize button, or press Win+Z, and pick a zone to place the window. Windows then offers your other open windows to fill the rest of the layout. You can also drag a window to the top of the screen to reveal the Snap bar.
Windows you snap together form a Snap group that you can restore from the taskbar in one click. Snap settings live in Settings > System > Multitasking. Our Snap layouts guide covers every option, and the productivity hub shows how Snap fits alongside virtual desktops and Focus.
Widgets
Widgets is a panel of small cards for weather, calendar, news, stocks and similar information. Open it with Win+W or by hovering over or selecting the widget area on the taskbar. You can add, remove and resize widgets from the panel’s settings, and recent builds also let you hide the news feed if you only want your own cards.
If you find Widgets distracting, you can hide the taskbar button in Settings > Personalization > Taskbar. See our Widgets guide, Widgets customisation and how to disable Widgets.
Copilot
Microsoft’s Copilot is an AI assistant available as an app on Windows 11. You can ask it questions, have it summarise or draft text, and in some versions share your screen or files with it. On many newer keyboards there is a dedicated Copilot key, and Microsoft lists Win+C as the shortcut to open Copilot.
Availability is not universal. Whether you get Copilot, and which features it has, varies by region, by the kind of account you sign in with (personal or work) and by device. When Copilot is not available, Microsoft says the Copilot key and Win+C open Windows search instead, and you can change what the key does in Settings > Personalization > Text input. Like any AI tool, its answers can be wrong, so check anything important. Our Copilot guide has more detail.
Phone Link
Phone Link connects your phone to your PC so you can see notifications, send and receive texts, and make calls from Windows. Android phones get the most features, including photo access and, on supported devices, app mirroring. iPhone support exists but is more limited. You pair the phone using the Phone Link app on the PC and the companion app on the phone.
Our Phone Link guide explains setup for both Android and iPhone, and Nearby Share vs AirDrop covers quick file transfer.
Android apps: what changed
Windows 11 used to run Android apps through the Windows Subsystem for Android with the Amazon Appstore. Microsoft has ended that. According to Microsoft Learn, starting 5 March 2025, Windows Subsystem for Android and the Amazon Appstore are no longer available in the Microsoft Store. Our Android apps on Windows 11 page explains what that means if you still have apps installed and what alternatives exist.
WSL and Windows Terminal
The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) lets you run a real Linux distribution, such as Ubuntu or Debian, alongside Windows without a separate virtual machine or dual boot. Installing it takes one command:
- Right-click Start and open Terminal (Admin), or open PowerShell as administrator.
- Run
wsl --install. - Restart the PC, then open the new Linux distribution from Start and create a Linux username and password.
By default this installs Ubuntu using WSL 2. Run wsl --list --online to see other distributions and wsl --install -d <name> to install one. Our WSL 2 guide goes further.
Windows Terminal is the modern command-line app in Windows 11. It runs PowerShell, Command Prompt and your WSL shells in tabs and split panes, with themes and custom shortcuts. See our Terminal guide, plus the PowerShell and Command Prompt guides. Developers should also look at Windows 11 for developers.
Backup: Windows Backup and File History
Windows 11 has two different backup tools, and they do different jobs.
| Windows Backup | File History | |
|---|---|---|
| What it saves | Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos and Music folders, plus settings, Wi-Fi networks and a list of apps | Versioned copies of files in your folders |
| Where it saves | Your Microsoft account and OneDrive | An external drive or network location |
| Account needed | Personal Microsoft account (not work or school) | Any account |
| Best for | Moving to a new PC or reinstalling | Getting back an older version of a file |
Open Windows Backup from Start. File History is in Control Panel. Neither one is a full system image, so keep a recovery drive too. Our File History guide, OneDrive backup guide and File History vs cloud comparison explain which to use.
Accessibility tools
Windows 11 includes a strong set of free accessibility features. Open Settings > Accessibility or press Win+U.
- Narrator is the built-in screen reader. Open it with Win+Ctrl+Enter. See our Narrator guide.
- Magnifier zooms part or all of the screen. Win+Plus zooms in, Win+Minus zooms out and Win+Esc closes it. See our Magnifier guide.
- Live captions show captions for audio playing on the PC, such as videos and calls. See our Live captions guide.
- Voice access lets you control the PC and dictate text with your voice. Find it under Settings > Accessibility > Speech. See our Voice access guide.
Colour filters, text size, contrast themes and mouse pointer options are on the same Accessibility page.
Snipping Tool and screenshots
Snipping Tool handles screenshots and screen recording. Press Win+Shift+S to capture a region, window or the full screen, or Win+Shift+R to record a part of the screen. On current Windows 11 the Print Screen key opens the same capture overlay by default. Snips are saved automatically and can be marked up, and Text actions can copy text from an image. Our full Snipping Tool guide explains every mode and setting.
Microsoft Store
The Microsoft Store is where you get apps, games and updates for many built-in apps, including Snipping Tool, Clock and Photos. Installing from the Store keeps apps updated automatically and avoids random download sites. If it stops loading or downloads stall, see Microsoft Store not working, and read our Microsoft Store guide for settings worth checking.
Keyboard shortcuts
Most of the features above have a keyboard shortcut, and learning a handful makes Windows 11 feel much faster. Our Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts reference lists the default shortcuts from Microsoft’s own documentation, grouped by task.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Can I still run Android apps on Windows 11?
Not through Microsoft's Windows Subsystem for Android. Microsoft says that starting 5 March 2025, Windows Subsystem for Android and the Amazon Appstore are no longer available in the Microsoft Store.
Is Copilot available on every Windows 11 PC?
No. Copilot availability depends on your region, the account you sign in with and your device. If it is not available, the Copilot key or Win+C opens Windows search instead.
What is the difference between Windows Backup and File History?
Windows Backup saves folders, settings and app lists to your Microsoft account and OneDrive so you can restore them on a new PC. File History keeps versioned copies of your files on a separate drive you choose.
How do I install WSL on Windows 11?
Open PowerShell as administrator, run wsl --install and restart the PC. By default it installs Ubuntu, and you can choose another distribution with the -d option.
Where are the accessibility features in Windows 11?
Open Settings > Accessibility, or press Win+U. Narrator, Magnifier, Live captions and Voice access are all managed from there.
Sources
Windows 11 Field Guide Editorial Team
Editorial team
The Windows 11 Field Guide team writes and updates independent Windows 11 guides and checks each step against Microsoft's documentation and the current Settings app.