Category: System

Split screen Windows 11

To split screen in Windows 11, use Snap, the built-in feature that places two or more windows side by side. You can drag a window to the edge of the screen, press the Windows key with an arrow key, or pick a ready-made layout.

Open Settings, select System, then Multitasking, turn on Automatically snap windows to the sides or corners of the screen, and drag a window to a screen edge.
Without a mouse, press Windows + Left Arrow or Right Arrow to snap the active window to one half of the screen.
For more than two windows, hover over the maximize button or press Windows + Z and choose a layout.

Tags Multitasking

Find out how many cores your processor has

You can find out how many cores your processor has in Windows 11 by checking your hardware specifications in Settings or reviewing real-time metrics in the system performance monitor. Looking at system properties reveals your processor model, family, and architecture. If you need an exact count distinguishing physical processing cores from virtual logical processors, the built-in performance utility provides detailed hardware readouts.

Open Settings, go to System, select About, and view View processor info.
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open system performance details, select the processor, and view physical cores and logical processors.

Tags About

Turn on spatial sound in Windows

To turn on spatial sound in Windows 11, open the properties of your playback device in Settings and choose Windows Sonic as the spatial sound option. Windows Sonic is a built-in spatial sound solution that can make movies and games sound more immersive. The change takes only a few clicks, and you can reverse it at any time.

Open Settings → System → Sound, select your playback device, open its properties and choose Windows Sonic under spatial sound.
If the page shows an apply button after you choose the option, select it to confirm the change.
Dolby Access and DTS Sound Unbound add other spatial sound options if you want an alternative to Windows Sonic.

Tags Sound

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

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

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 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

Activate Windows with product key Windows 11

To activate Windows with a product key in Windows 11, enter your genuine 25-character code directly in the system licensing menu. This validation registers your license with Microsoft servers, confirming genuine operating system status and unlocking restricted personalization features across your device. You can perform this verification during setup or update your license at any time on your PC.

Open Settings > System > Activation, select Change product key, and enter your key.
Check See if Windows is activated on the same page to confirm that your license status shows as active.
If activation fails, select Troubleshoot activation to diagnose errors and restore license validation.

Tags Activation, Troubleshoot

Checking Windows version details

Checking Windows version details allows you to identify your operating system edition, feature version, and OS build. In Windows 11, viewing your Windows 11 version details helps verify application compatibility and confirm that recent security updates have been installed. These settings also reveal your processor architecture and hardware configuration.

Open Settings, select System, open About, and check Windows specifications.
Examine your processor and system architecture under View device name, processor, RAM, and Windows version to see whether your system runs 64-bit Windows.
Work or school organization policies may manage your device and restrict access to specific system details.

Tags About