[Libs-Or] Tech-Talk: WINDOWS - Personalizing Windows 11 for Better Productivity

Tue Jun 24 13:58:22 PDT 2025

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How to make it your own

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Webinars for You

NOTE: Webinars begin at 3 pm ET / 2 pm CT / 1 pm MT / 12 Noon PT and are one hour long.

June 25: [WEB TOOL] From Job Seeker to Hired: Empower Students & Patrons with Indeed Why attend: You want tips for finding a new position.

July 9: [Google] Your Photo Mess, Solved: Smart Organizing with Google Photos Why attend: You want a system to organize your photos

July 23: [AI] Using ChatGPT to Handle Challenging People with Confidence Why Attend? Learn a new tool to deal with difficult situations.

August 6: [CANVA] Canva Power Ups: 10 Must-Have Apps That Turbo-charge Your Designs Learn about several options to make designing easy.

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WINDOWS - Personalizing Windows 11 for Better Productivity

Intermediate

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Are you using Windows 11? Or maybe you're hanging onto Windows 10 a little longer…

You may have heard that Microsoft is discontinuing support of Windows 10 in October 2025, so many organizations are scrambling to update to the current platform. No support means no more updates and security patches, which puts your data at risk.

So, even if you've been using Windows 11 for a while or just making the switch, let's go through some of the differences and enhancements so that you can personalize your desktop and be more productive.

When upgrading to this version, two of the major changes you'll see are: 1) a brand new interface and 2) the Taskbar. Let's look at what has changed from Windows 10 and what you can customize.

A Brand New Interface and Taskbar

If you're just getting started with Windows 11, learning to navigate a new layout can be frustrating and it takes time to figure out where certain items have been moved to.

The first thing you'll notice is the Start menu has moved! It has been traditionally in the bottom left corner of the screen. But in Windows 11, it has been moved to the middle of the screen within the Taskbar … so that it is front and center.

[A red arrow points to the Windows Start menu icon on the bottom left corner of a Windows 11 taskbar]

TIP: Yes, you can move the Start button back to the left - see how in the customization options below.

Customizing Your Taskbar

Everyone has their own way to work with their favorite programs and shortcuts, so here are four tips to navigate this new layout and customize your Windows 11 Taskbar to meet your needs:

[Windows start menu open with Settings highlighted arrow points to start button with Right-Click label]

1. Start Menu

When you click on the Start button (the Windows icon) some of the options you're used to in Windows 10 are not showing.

The secret to get to items like Run, Task Manager or Settings, is to RIGHT-CLICK on the Windows icon.

2. Move the Start Menu Back to the Left

If you feel more comfortable with the Windows 10-like settings, you can move the Start menu to the left. Here's how:

·     Right-click on Start (the Windows icon) and choose Settings.
·     Select Personalization from the left menu.
·     From the center menu, select Taskbar.
·     Scroll to the bottom and click on Taskbar behaviors to open it up (as in the image below).
·     In the Taskbar Alignment area choose Left from the drop-down menu instead of Center.

[Windows taskbar settings screen with Taskbar behaviors highlighted and the alignment set from Left to Center]

3. Customize Apps in the Taskbar

Also in the Taskbar Personalization window, if you don't use some of the system icons that are pinned to the Taskbar, previously you could right-click and choose to remove them. However, there are a few that are locked in place. You now need to go to Settings to make changes.

Additionally, you can customize how the Search box looks or show or hide buttons in the taskbar.

·     Right-click and choose Settings, then Personalization from the left menu.
·     Go to Taskbar in the center menu.
·     Toggle Off (or On) any of the options.
·     For Search, you have a drop-down window giving you choices (see image below).

[Taskbar settings in Windows with Task view toggle highlighted and switched off by a red arrow]

[Right-click menu for Spotify icon shows Pin to taskbar option highlighted by a red arrow]

4. Add Apps to the Taskbar

To add shortcut icons to your Taskbar for quick access to your favorite programs, the easiest way is to open the app/program so that its icon will be displayed in the Taskbar. Then right-click on the icon and choose Pin to taskbar.

The New Start Menu

When you click on the Start Menu it looks a bit different than prior versions of Windows. See each of the numbered items in the corresponding image below.

1.  The Search bar is at the top. Use this to find items not in the Pinned area.
2.  Pinned apps are in the middle.
3.  The All apps button to view an alphabetical list or programs is in the upper right.
4.  A Recommended apps section is near the bottom (see how to customize what appears here below).
5.  Your Profile icon/name is at the bottom left - to see that you're signed in.
6.  System Shortcuts are at the bottom right - Power, Settings, File Explorer... (see how to customize this area below).

[Windows 11 Start menu showing pinned apps and more]

 Modify Your Start Menu

To make it easier to get to the apps that you use all the time, you can choose what is showing in the Start Menu (in the "Pinned" section of the image above).

·     To delete an app from the Pinned apps section that you don't use very often, right-click on top of it and choose Unpin from Start.

·     To add an app that you want in the Pinned apps section, go to All apps (#3 in the image above), find the app, right-click on it, and choose Pin to Start.

·     You can also change what shows in the Recommended section (#4 above) if you don't like what you see. Right-click on the Windows button and select Settings. From the left menu select Personalization and then click on Start from the list. As in the image below, toggle OFF any of the three options: Show recently added apps, Show most used apps and Show recently open items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer.

[Windows Start menu personalization settings with options to show recently added most used apps and recommended files toggled on]

·     To add items in place of the ones you took out, still in Settings, Personalization, Start, click the Folders option. Now you can toggle ON some shortcuts to add to the Start menu (#6 in the Start Menu image above).

[Windows settings screen showing toggles to turn folders like Documents Downloads and Music on or off in the Start menu]

Next week, look for more customizations – focusing on turning off personalizing the Windows 11 Weather/News App.

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Communications: Talking (Writing)

Reframe the unpleasant

OK, you've found yourself in an unpleasant situation. Maybe you've missed a deadline or you're facing unhappy customers. What you say, your choice of words, can make all the difference, right?

Here's a tip: instead of highlighting what's gone wrong ... like a delay or inconvenience ... choose words that have a more positive, forward-moving tone.

For example, instead of saying, "Sorry this report is 7 hours late," more positive words would be, "Here’s the report—thank you for your patience."

Another example, you may want to avoid, "Sorry you had to wait so long in line," and say instead, "Thank you for waiting—we’re glad to help you now."

Why does this matter?

Choosing more positive words matters because drawing attention to the negative may reinforce or even create frustration that wasn’t there. Most people are focused on the solution or the present moment—not the delay.

When you frame your response with appreciation, optimism, or action, you build trust and professionalism.

So, skip phrases like “This isn’t my typical work” or “Apologies for the long wait.” Chances are, the other person hadn’t judged it negatively—until you suggested they should.

Instead, lead with gratitude, confidence, and next steps. Positive language isn’t about pretending problems don’t exist. It’s about shaping perception, reducing tension, and keeping conversations constructive.

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