How to Add or Remove Optional Features in Windows 11

Windows 11 offers various optional features that you can enable or disable depending on your needs. These features include tools and services such as Hyper-V, Telnet, Windows Subsystem for Linux, and more. This guide will show you how to easily add or remove optional features in Windows 11.

Step 1: Open the Settings App

1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
2. In the left-hand sidebar, click on Apps.
3. Scroll down and select Optional Features under the Apps & features section.

Step 2: Add Optional Features

1. In the Optional Features window, scroll down and click View features next to Add an optional feature.
2. A list of available optional features will appear. You can search for a specific feature using the search bar or scroll through the list to find what you need.
3. Select the checkbox next to the feature(s) you want to add.
4. Click the Next button.
5. Review the features you selected, and then click Install.
6. The selected feature(s) will be downloaded and installed. You may need to restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

Step 3: Remove Optional Features

1. In the Optional Features window, scroll down to see the list of features currently installed on your system.
2. To remove a feature, click on the feature from the list.
3. Click Uninstall, and Windows will remove the feature from your system.
4. You may need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Step 4: Manage Windows Features (Control Panel Method)

In addition to the Settings app, you can manage optional features through the Control Panel, which includes additional system-level features like Hyper-V, .NET Framework, and more.

Step 4.1: Open Control Panel

1. Press Windows + S to open the search bar and type Control Panel.
2. Select Control Panel from the search results.

Step 4.2: Access Windows Features

1. In Control Panel, click on Programs.
2. Under Programs and Features, click Turn Windows features on or off.

Step 4.3: Add or Remove Features

1. A list of Windows features will appear. Features with checkboxes next to them are currently enabled.
2. To add a feature, check the box next to the feature you want to enable.
3. To remove a feature, uncheck the box next to the feature you want to disable.
4. Click OK, and Windows will apply the changes.
5. You may be prompted to restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

Common Optional Features You Can Enable in Windows 11

Here are some common optional features you can enable or disable based on your requirements:

- Hyper-V: Virtualization technology to run virtual machines.
- .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8: Required by many apps and services for compatibility.
- Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL): Enables you to run Linux distributions on Windows.
- Telnet Client: A command-line tool to connect to remote devices.
- Windows Sandbox: A lightweight virtual environment to test applications safely.

Conclusion

Adding or removing optional features in Windows 11 allows you to customize your system based on your specific needs. Whether you're enabling virtualization through Hyper-V or adding developer tools like Windows Subsystem for Linux, this guide provides an easy-to-follow process to manage optional features in both the Settings app and Control Panel.

How to Boot to UEFI BIOS Firmware Settings in Windows 11

UEFI BIOS firmware settings allow you to configure low-level settings on your PC, such as boot order, system security, and hardware configurations. In Windows 11, you can boot directly into UEFI BIOS settings without needing to press any keys during startup. Here's a detailed guide on how to access UEFI BIOS settings in Windows 11.

Method 1: Boot to UEFI BIOS via Settings

You can easily access UEFI BIOS settings through the Windows 11 Settings app.

Step 1: Open the Settings App

1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
2. In the left-hand sidebar, click on System.

Step 2: Access the Recovery Options

1. Scroll down and select Recovery from the list of options.
2. Under the Recovery options section, locate the Advanced startup option.
3. Click the Restart now button next to Advanced startup.

Quote:Note: You will be prompted to confirm the restart. Click Restart now, and your system will reboot into the Advanced Startup menu.

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How to Change Lid Close Action in Windows 11

Windows 11 allows users to customize what happens when they close their laptop lid, such as putting the laptop to sleep, shutting it down, or doing nothing. This guide will show you how to change the lid close action based on your preferences.

Step 1: Open the Control Panel

1. Press Windows + S to open the search bar and type Control Panel.
2. Select Control Panel from the search results to open it.

Step 2: Access Power Options

1. In the Control Panel window, click on Hardware and Sound.
2. Under the Power Options section, click on Change what closing the lid does.

Step 3: Customize Lid Close Action

1. In the Define power buttons and turn on password protection window, find the section labeled When I close the lid.
2. You will see two options:
  - On battery: Defines the action when the laptop is running on battery power.
  - Plugged in: Defines the action when the laptop is connected to a power source.
 
3. Use the drop-down menus to select what happens when you close the lid:
  - Do nothing: The laptop continues running even if the lid is closed.
  - Sleep: The laptop goes into sleep mode.
  - Hibernate: The laptop enters hibernation, saving your session to the hard drive and powering down.
  - Shut down: The laptop shuts down completely when the lid is closed.

4. After selecting your preferred action, click Save changes to apply the settings.

Step 4: Test the New Settings

After making changes to the lid close action, you can test them by closing your laptop's lid. Based on the settings you chose, the system should perform the specified action (e.g., sleep, hibernate, or shut down).

Additional Tips

1. You can quickly access Power Options by right-clicking the battery icon in the taskbar and selecting Power Options.
2. If you're using a docking station or external monitor, you may want to set the lid close action to Do nothing so that your laptop continues to run even when the lid is closed.
3. To revert to the default settings, repeat the steps above and set the lid close action back to Sleep or another desired option.

Conclusion

Changing the lid close action in Windows 11 is a useful way to control how your laptop behaves when you're not using it. Whether you prefer your laptop to sleep, shut down, or continue running with the lid closed, these steps will help you customize the behavior to suit your workflow.

How to Create New Environment Variables in Windows 11

Environment variables in Windows 11 are system-wide or user-specific settings that affect how processes and applications run. These variables can be used to store paths, directories, or any other system configuration details. This guide will walk you through the process of creating new environment variables in Windows 11.

Step 1: Open the System Properties Window

1. Press Windows + S to open the search bar and type Environment Variables.
2. Select the option labeled Edit the system environment variables from the search results. This will open the System Properties window.

Step 2: Access Environment Variables

1. In the System Properties window, click on the Advanced tab.
2. At the bottom of this tab, click the Environment Variables button. This will open the Environment Variables window, where you can view and edit existing variables or create new ones.

Step 3: Create a New User or System Variable

In the Environment Variables window, you have the option to create new environment variables for either the current user or the entire system.

1. Under the User variables section (for the current user) or System variables section (for all users), click the New button.

2. In the New User Variable or New System Variable dialog box, you will need to provide two pieces of information:
  - Variable name: The name of the environment variable.
  - Variable value: The value that this variable should hold. For example, this could be a file path, a folder, or a specific configuration setting.

3. After entering the variable name and value, click OK.

Example: Creating a Path Variable

1. To add a new directory to your system's path, follow these steps:
  - Under the System variables section, scroll down and select the Path variable.
  - Click Edit, then in the Edit Environment Variable window, click New.
  - Enter the full path to the directory you want to add (for example, `C:\Program Files\MyApplication`).
  - Click OK to save the changes.

Step 4: Verify the New Environment Variable

After creating a new environment variable, you can verify that it was added successfully:

1. Open the Command Prompt by pressing Windows + R, typing cmd, and pressing Enter.
2. In the Command Prompt, type the following command to display the value of the variable you created:

 

How to Run Storage Sense Now in Windows 11

Storage Sense is a built-in feature in Windows 11 that helps free up disk space by automatically deleting unnecessary files such as temporary files, recycle bin contents, and previous Windows installations. While it runs automatically based on your settings, you can also manually trigger it to run at any time. This guide will show you how to run Storage Sense immediately in Windows 11.

Step 1: Open the Settings App

1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
2. In the left-hand sidebar, click on System.
3. Scroll down and select Storage.

Step 2: Access Storage Sense Settings

1. In the Storage section, you will see an option labeled Storage Sense.
2. Ensure the toggle next to Automatic User content cleanup is switched On. This enables Storage Sense to run based on your configured schedule.
3. Click on the Storage Sense option or the arrow to the right to access the detailed settings.

Step 3: Run Storage Sense Manually

1. Once you're in the Storage Sense settings, scroll down to the section labeled Run Storage Sense now.
2. Click the Run Storage Sense now button to immediately start the cleanup process.

Quote:Note: Storage Sense will begin scanning and deleting unnecessary files based on your current settings. This may take a few minutes depending on how much data it needs to clean up.

How to Enable or Disable Snap Layouts on Top of Screen in Windows 11

Windows 11 introduces Snap Layouts, a productivity feature that allows you to quickly arrange your open windows into different layouts. By hovering over the maximize button or dragging a window to the top of the screen, you can easily organize your workspace. This guide will show you how to enable or disable Snap Layouts on top of the screen in Windows 11.

Step 1: Open the Settings App

1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
2. In the left-hand sidebar, click on System.
3. Scroll down and select Multitasking.

Step 2: Access Snap Layouts Settings

1. In the Multitasking section, you will see the option for Snap windows.
2. Ensure that the toggle switch for Snap windows is turned on. This allows you to use Snap Layouts in Windows 11.

Step 3: Enable or Disable Snap Layouts on Top of the Screen

1. Once Snap windows is enabled, click on the arrow next to the Snap windows toggle to expand additional options.
2. Find the option labeled When I drag a window, let me snap it without dragging all the way to the screen edge.
3. Check or uncheck this option depending on whether you want to enable or disable Snap Layouts when dragging windows to the top of the screen:

  - To Enable Snap Layouts on Top of the Screen: Make sure the checkbox is checked.
  - To Disable Snap Layouts on Top of the Screen: Uncheck the checkbox.

Step 4: Customize Additional Snap Layout Options (Optional)

1. Below the main Snap Layouts options, you will see additional settings you can configure:
 
  - Show snap layouts when I hover over a window's maximize button: This option enables or disables the Snap Layouts popup when you hover over the maximize button.
  - When I snap a window, show what I can snap next to it: This option allows you to select windows to snap next to the current window.

2. Customize these options based on your preference.

Step 5: Test Snap Layouts

Once you have enabled or disabled Snap Layouts on the top of the screen, you can test the feature:

1. Click and drag any window to the top edge of your screen.
2. If Snap Layouts is enabled, you should see available layouts appear at the top. Release the window in the desired layout section to snap it into place.
3. If Snap Layouts is disabled, dragging the window to the top of the screen will not trigger any snap layout options.

Conclusion

Snap Layouts is a handy feature that allows for quick window management and multitasking in Windows 11. You can easily enable or disable Snap Layouts when dragging a window to the top of the screen by following this guide. Customize the feature to fit your workflow and improve your productivity on Windows 11.

How to Use System File Checker (SFC) to Repair System Files in Windows 11

The System File Checker (SFC) is a built-in tool in Windows 11 that allows you to scan and repair corrupted or missing system files. This can help resolve various issues like system crashes, errors, or performance problems. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to use SFC to repair system files in Windows 11.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt as Administrator

To run the System File Checker, you'll need to open Command Prompt with administrative privileges.

1. Press Windows + S to open the search bar, and type cmd.
2. Right-click on Command Prompt from the search results and select Run as administrator.
3. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to allow the Command Prompt to run with elevated permissions.

Step 2: Run the System File Checker (SFC) Command

Once you have Command Prompt open with administrative privileges, follow these steps:

1. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:

 

How to Boot to Advanced Startup (WinRE) in Windows 11

Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) is an essential tool for troubleshooting issues and repairing your Windows 11 installation. The following steps will guide you on how to access the Advanced Startup options.

Method 1: Using the Settings Menu

1. Open the Settings app by pressing Windows + I.
2. In the left-hand sidebar, click on System.
3. Scroll down and select Recovery.
4. Under the Recovery options section, locate the Advanced startup option.
5. Click the Restart now button next to it.

Quote:Note: You will be prompted to confirm restarting your PC to access the recovery environment. Click Restart now.

• Continue – Boot into Windows normally.
  
• Use a device – Boot from an external device such as a USB drive or DVD.
  
• Troubleshoot – Access recovery tools, reset the PC, or restore it from a system image.
  
• Startup Settings – Change Windows startup behavior, including Safe Mode.
  
• Startup Repair – Automatically fix startup issues.
  
• Command Prompt – Open a command line interface for advanced troubleshooting.
  
• System Restore – Restore your PC to a previous working state using system restore points.
  
• System Image Recovery – Recover Windows from a specific system image file.
  

Quote:We're all done! You should find the output already zipped as SysnativeFileCollectionApp.zip in the C:\Users\Username\Desktop directory.
-  Click the 'Attach files' button at the bottom of the editor window.
-  Navigate to the directory of the SysnativeFileCollectionApp.zip and then click Ok.
-  Repeat for any more files, then close the 'File Upload' window.
-  Once you have finished with editing your post, then please click the 'Post reply' button.

• System Manufacturer
  
• Exact Model Number (If you have a laptop check the label on the bottom of it.)
  
• Operating System - Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, or Vista | If you have Windows 10 or 11, please include the version number as well as the build number. To obtain this hit the Windows key (Windows Logo Key), then type in "winver" and hit enter.
  
• Operating System Architecture - x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) | To obtain this hit the Windows key (Windows Logo Key), then type in "System Information" and hit enter. The information needed will be listed as "System Type".
  
• What was the original operating system installed on the computer?
  
• Is the operating system an OEM (That came pre-installed when the computer was purchased.) or a retail version you purchased and installed.
  
• Age of the computer as well as the age of any changes/upgrades to hardware.
  
• Is the computer a Laptop or a Desktop?
  
• CPU 
  
• Video Card
  
• If Desktop: Motherboard & Power Supply (Brand & Wattage)