Ace Your Studies: Windows 11 Tips & Tricks for Students

Windows 10 support will be retired in October 2025, so stay ahead of your class with Windows 11 tips and tricks.
Windows 11 can help you make your everyday life easier and stay productive on any task you have to accomplish, especially for schoolwork. For example, the operating system offers features like Focus, Do Not Disturb, Snap Assist, and Desktops to help you with your study gaols and maintain focus. Additionally, you can access various built-in apps that assist with multiple tasks, such as Copilot, Calculator, Voice Recorder, Snipping Tool, OneDrive, OneNote, and Microsoft to Do.

In addition, the Phone Link app allows you to access your contents while they are in your pocket or bag. Dynamic Lock automatically ensures your system security when you step away, and Night Light adjusts the screen to warmer colours at night to protect your eyes from strain.  
Windows 11 tips and tricks are not just beneficial for routine or convenience; rather, they are the key to unlocking the doors of good grades, productivity, and, ultimately, success. Apart from these features, Windows 11 brings much more to the table.  
This comprehensive Windows 11 guide will share Windows tips for students to make the most of their PCs this back-to-school season.  
So, let's jump right in!  

Get Things Done with Focus Sessions

The only way to get your work done faster is to "focus." However, it might be challenging for students to stay focused as several online apps and services continue to send notifications, distracting them from their concentration. Luckily, a Focus feature on Windows 11 is tailored to eliminate those notifications, whether you are writing an assignment or doing research online.  
Here is how you can turn on the Focus mode on Windows 11.  

• Go to the Start menu.  
• Type "Settings" in the search bar.  
• Open the Settings and click on "System".  
• Navigate to the "Focus" in the settings menu.
• Choose the focus session duration by clicking the "Session duration" setting.  
• Under the "Session duration" menu, double-check the features that should be included during the focus session.  

(Pro Tip: Check all the available options to view the clock on the screen, hide unneeded badges and flashing animations from the Taskbar, and turn on the Do Not Disturb mode.)

• Click on the "Start focus session" button.  
• After finishing the steps, you can activate the feature through Settings by clicking the date and time icon in the Taskbar, selecting the "Focus" button, or using the Clock app.

How to start a focus session from the Clock app?

To start a focus session on the Clock app, follow these steps:

• Find the Clock app in the Start menu.  
• Click on the Focus tab to open the Focus Sessions interface.
• Click the "New session" button.
• Name a session that reflects the task or project.
• Choose the desired duration for your focus session.
• Check the "Skip breaks" if applicable.  

Click on the "Start focus session" button.  
After completing the setup, your session will start, and all the badges or app flashing alerts will be disabled for the selected time duration.  

How to start Focus with Spotify?

You can configure Focus with the Spotify app on your PC.  
Follow these Windows tips to do so.  

• Open the Start menu on your computer.
• Search for "Clock" and click the top result to open the app.
• Navigate to "Focus sessions".
• Click the "Sign in" option in the bottom-left corner (if applicable).
• Sign in with your Microsoft account.
• Click the "Install Spotify" button (if applicable).
• Click the Install button in the Microsoft Store to install Spotify on your desktop.
• Press the "Link your Spotify" button.
• Click the "Agree" button (it may ask you to sign in again).
• Generate or select a task from the "Task" section.
• Select a music playlist from the Spotify section.
• Set the desired duration for the focus session.
• (Optional) Uncheck the "Skip breaks" option.
• Click the "Start focus session" button.
• Once these steps are completed, the Focus session will start, along with music from your chosen playlist.  

Tackle your Mathematical Needs with Built-in Calculator

Windows 11 has a built-in Calculator –a versatile tool that can be a greater asset for math students. The app is easy to use and offers a range of capabilities, from trigonometric functions to logarithms and exponents. It can also convert units of measurement and calculate dates. If you are learning computer science or programming, this built-in Calculator supports binary, octal, decimal, and hexadecimal number systems.

How to use the Calculator effectively:

• Open the Windows Start menu.  
• Find the Calculator and tap on the top result to open the app.
• Navigate to the menu button from the left side.
• Select one of the available modes, like Standard, which provides an interface to perform basic mathematics tasks. Scientific opens an advanced interface for computer science, physics, and engineering problems. Graphing has options for solving equations, plotting graphs, and more. The programmer can calculate binary, hexadecimal, octal, and decimal numbers. Meanwhile, Data calculation handles day calculations, such as the differences between days, and can add/subtract days.
• In the "Converter" section, you'll find more than a dozen converter modes, such as currency, volume, length, weight and mass, temperature, energy, area, speed, time, power, data, pressure, and angle.  

After completing the above-listed steps, you can begin using the Calculator for office or school tasks.

Add Tabs to File Explorer

The new Windows 11 update supports this feature, allowing the File Explorer to save tabs. This means adding multiple folders in the same window, like on a web browser. It saves you from littering your desktop with multiple File Explorer windows when you need to view more than once. Just right-click on a folder and choose Open in New Tab, like you would in a web browser.
Here is how you can use File Explorer tabs:

• Press the Windows key + E on your keyboard.
• Click the plus (+) icon at the top of the File Explorer window.
• Click on the tab you want to view.
• You can drag files between tabs by dragging them to the desired tab and then into the file list for that tab.  
• To close the tab, right-click on the tab and select "Close tab" or simply click the "X" button on the tab.

Windows 11 also introduces a "New" button for creating new folders, shortcuts, and documents based on installed programs.

Record Media with Sound Recorder  

Windows 11 features the Sound Recorder app, which allows you to record lectures, conversations, interviews, and podcasts effortlessly.  
Use these Windows 11 tips and tricks to record with Sound Recorder:  

• Go to the Start menu.  
• Look for "Sound Recorder" and choose the first result to open the app.  
• Click on the "Record" option to start recording.  
• If you want to halt recording, click the "Pause" button.
• Click the "Mark" button to flag a particular recording section.
• Click the "Stop" button to finish the recording.
• Select the track from the left pane.
• Click the "Play" button to listen to the audio and transcribe the content.
• Click the menu (three-dots) button and select the "Rename" option.
• Enter a name for the recording.
• Click the "save" button.
• After completing these steps, your recordings will be saved in the "Sound recordings" folder within "Documents."

For the OneNote app, use its voice recorder feature instead of the Voice Recorder app, which will sync your recordings with your notes across other devices.  

Mute Distractions with Do Not Disturb  

In the middle of homework or study, unnecessary notifications pop up on the screen, which can be overwhelming. Microsoft has added a "Do not disturb" feature to mute all the unwanted notifications until you turn off the mode.
Use these tips to turn on the "Do not disturb" option on a Windows 11 computer.  

• Open Settings.
• Navigate to System.
• Choose "Notifications" from the options on the right.
• Toggle the "Do not disturb" switch to "On".
• Click the "Turn on do not disturb automatically" in the settings(optional).
• Double-check the "During these times" option.

You can choose when the feature should turn on and off automatically, e.g., when duplicating the display, playing games, using apps in full screen, or for the first hour after a Windows feature update.  

Take and Save Screenshots with the Snipping Tool  

Snipping tool is an innovative app that allows you to capture screens on Windows 11. You can open the tool or take a screenshot without opening the app through the "Windows + Shift + S" command.  

How do you capture screenshots via the Snipping Tool?  

• Click on the Start button or press the "Windows" key on your keyboard.
• Type "Snipping Tool" into the search bar.
• Click on the Snipping Tool app from the search results. (If you want to delay the screenshot, click on the "Delay" button and select the delay time)
• Click the "New" button to start capturing your screenshot.
• Choose your desired snip mode (Rectangular, Freeform, Window, or Fullscreen) and capture the screenshot.

Once you've taken a screenshot, you can repeat these steps to capture additional images.
How to save and edit a screenshot on Windows 11?  

• After creating a screenshot, you'll be in the Snipping Tool's editing window.
• Click the "Image Crop tool" in the command bar to crop and resize the screenshot.  
• Use the edges to adjust the area you want to keep.
• Click the "Check" button to apply the crop.
• Use the Ballpoint Pen, Highlighter, or Touch Writing features to add notes or highlights to your image.
• Take the "Eraser" tool to remove any annotations or strokes.
• Click the "Copy" button in the top right corner to copy the image to the clipboard and paste it into a document or any other location.
• Click the "Save" button to save the screenshot as an image file.  
• Choose the desired format (.jpg, .png, or .gif) and select a location to save the file.
• Click the Share button to share the screenshot through various apps.

Following these steps, you can edit and manage your screenshots on Windows 11.
How do you capture videos on Windows 11?  
The Snipping tool also has a Video Capture option, allowing you to record screens. The downside? You cannot record with this feature. However, the app is useful for various video recording scenarios.

Use these steps to record videos with the Snipping Tool on Windows 11.  

• Open the Start Menu.
• To run the app, search for and select Snipping Tool from the search results.
• Click the "Record" button.
• Choose the "New" button and define the area of the screen you want to record.
• Click the "Start" button to start recording.
• Proceed with the actions you want to capture.
• To end the recording, click the "Stop" button.
• (Optional) To review the recorded video, click the "Play" button.
• To save the video, click the "Save" (floppy disk) icon in the upper-right corner.
• Choose the location where you wish to save the recording.
• Click "Save" again to complete the process.

After you finish these steps, your screen recording will be preserved and accessed in your computer's "Videos" folder.  

Get Access to Your Phone's Media via a Phone Link

If you plan to take your laptop to college, you can connect your phone to it for easy access to texts, notifications, and pictures without taking the phone out of the bag.  

Here is how you can pair your phone with a Windows 11 laptop.  

• Go to the Start menu and look for the "Phone Link" app on your Windows 11 laptop.
• Click the "Android" icon to start the pairing process.
• Select the option "I have the Link to Windows app ready."
• Click the "Pair with QR code" button.
• On your smartphone, open the Google Play Store.
• Install the "Link to Windows" app by clicking the "Install" button.
• Open the app by clicking the "Open" button.
• Tap "Link your phone and PC".
• Click the "Continue" button to proceed.
• Scan the QR code displayed on your computer screen using the app on your phone.
• Tap the "Continue" button again.
• Click the "Allow" button to allow the app to access your contacts, notifications, phone calls, photos, and videos and run them in the background.   
• Click "Done" on your phone.
• On your Windows 11 laptop, click "Continue" to finalise the setup.
• Once you've completed these steps, you can use the Phone Link app on your laptop to send and receive text messages, make and receive calls, view notifications, control features, and access your photo gallery.  

Note: You can follow a similar process to link an iPhone with your laptop, but the initial configuration steps may differ slightly.
Wrapping Up! 
Windows 11 offers students many remarkable advantages and helps them pursue their study goals. This latest Microsoft’s operating system packs state-of-the-art features and built-in apps —such as Focus Sessions, Do Not Disturb, and Phone Link—designed to empower students to manage their resources and stay productive no matter what school year they belong to.

We hope our comprehensive guide will help you make the most of your PC this back-to-school season and set yourself up for a successful academic year.

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