Category: Windows 11

Set up microphone in Windows 11

To set up a microphone in Windows 11, connect it to your PC, open the sound settings, and pick it from the list of input devices. You can then record a short test sample and adjust the input volume until your voice comes through clearly. The steps work for wired, USB and Bluetooth microphones.

Open Settings → System → Sound, then select your microphone under Input.
For a Bluetooth microphone, use the option to add a device in the same input area and follow the prompts.
Run the built-in test on the microphone’s properties page, and change the input volume if you sound too quiet or too loud.

Tags Microphone, Sound

Show desktop icons Windows 11

If your desktop looks empty, you can show desktop icons in Windows 11 with a single option in the desktop right-click menu. Icons such as This PC and the Recycle Bin are controlled separately in Settings, so this article covers both.

Right-click an empty area of the desktop, open the submenu that controls how icons are viewed, and select the option that shows desktop icons so it has a check mark.
To bring back This PC, Recycle Bin, Network or your user folder, open Settings, go to Personalization, then open the themes page and its desktop icon settings.
Hiding desktop icons does not delete anything, and you can still reach the files by opening your Desktop folder in a folder window.

Tags Background, Themes

Setting up default audio device

Setting up the default audio device in Windows 11 means telling Windows which speakers or headphones should play sound and which microphone should pick up your voice. You do both on the Sound page in Settings, with one choice for output and one for input. Apps such as browsers, video players and call apps then use these devices unless you pick something different for a specific app.

Open Settings, select System, then Sound, and choose your speakers under Choose your sound output device.
On the same page, choose your default microphone under Choose your sound input device.
To check it worked, play a sound and speak into the microphone, then adjust the volume controls if you hear or record nothing.

Tags Microphone, Sound

How to open action center Windows 11

If you are looking for how to open Action Center in Windows 11, the panel you want is now called the notification center. You can open it from the taskbar, with a keyboard shortcut, or with a swipe on a touchscreen. This article shows each method and what to do if the bell icon is missing.

Select the clock or the notification bell icon on the taskbar, or press Windows + N, to open the notification center.
If the bell icon is missing, open Settings → System → Notifications & actions and turn on Show notification bell icon.
On a touchscreen, swipe in from the side of the screen to open the same panel.

Tags Notifications

Resetting default app settings

Resetting default app settings in Windows 11 sends your file type and link associations back to the defaults, so files and links open in the apps Windows normally uses for them. It is the quickest fix when the wrong app keeps opening your files after you or an installer changed something. The reset is a single action on one page of Settings.

In Settings, go to Apps → Default apps and select Reset default apps.
Afterwards, pick your own apps again with Set a default app.
To fix only one file type, change it directly instead of resetting everything.

Tags default apps

Sign in to Microsoft account Windows 11

To sign in to a Microsoft account on Windows 11, open your account info in Settings and follow the prompts to enter your email address or phone number and your password. Once you are signed in, your PC is linked to that account, so you can use services such as Outlook.com, Microsoft 365 and Xbox with the same sign-in.

Open Settings → Accounts → Your info, then follow the prompts to sign in with your Microsoft account.
The account details at the top of that page show which account your PC is currently using, so you can confirm the sign-in worked.
To sign in on the web instead, go to account.microsoft.com and enter the same email or phone number and password.

How to find my Windows product key

If you are wondering how to find your Windows product key, the answer depends on how you got Windows. The 25-character key is usually on a label, a card in the box, or in a purchase email. Many PCs have no key at all, because they use a digital license instead.

Open Settings → System → Activation to check activation, then look for the key where you bought Windows.
A new PC usually has its key preinstalled or on a Certificate of Authenticity label, and a retail copy has it on a card in the box.
If you upgraded for free or bought the Pro upgrade in the Microsoft Store app, you have a digital license and no key to find.

Tags Activation

Fix touchpad issues Windows 11

You can fix touchpad issues in Windows 11 by checking the touchpad settings first and the driver second. Most problems, such as a switched-off touchpad, a slow cursor or taps that behave oddly, come down to a setting. If the touchpad is not working at all, a missing or outdated driver is the more likely cause.

Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Touchpad and make sure Turn the touchpad on or off is on.
If the problem remains, use Reset your touchpad to its default settings on the same page to restore the default touchpad settings.
If the settings don’t help, update the touchpad driver through Windows Update or Device Manager, or reinstall it in Device Manager.

Tags Touchpad

How to reinstall Bluetooth driver Windows 11

To learn how to reinstall Bluetooth driver Windows 11 components on your computer, you can remove the wireless adapter and let the operating system automatically restore it upon restart. Reinstalling the driver resolves unresponsive connections, sudden device drops, and pairing failures caused by corrupt configuration files. You can also review your wireless status and manage connected hardware directly from the system settings menu.

Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Devices to toggle Turn on Bluetooth, then restart your PC.
To reinstall the driver files cleanly, remove the adapter using the device management console and restart Windows 11 so it reloads automatically.
Check and manage individual accessories under Add or remove devices if devices require re-pairing.

Tags Bluetooth

Fix sound problems in Windows 10

To fix sound problems in Windows 10 or modern environments like Windows 11, the most effective solution is to choose the correct playback device and ensure your output channel is unmuted. Although Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025, resolving playback failures follows the same core process across current Windows releases. You can quickly restore normal audio by adjusting your playback hardware and volume controls in Settings.

In Settings, select System > Sound, then choose your device in Choose your sound output device.
Unmute the audio and increase the level using Audio output volume control to verify sound output.
If individual apps remain silent, adjust their specific volume sliders in Sound mixer options.

Tags Sound