How to Master Windows 11 in 13 Simple Tips

Windows Terminal

Windows 11 and the latest updates of Windows 10 introduce a sleek and modern tool for command-line control known as Windows Terminal. This powerful application acts as an interface for the traditional Command Prompt and PowerShell, allowing you to open multiple tabs to access exclusive commands for each environment.

While everyday tasks might not require extensive use of the terminal, having a basic understanding of its functionality can be beneficial. Certain system configurations can only be performed through the terminal, and it often simplifies modifications in the Windows registry.

A standout feature that regular users can take advantage of is the ability to manage software installations, updates, and uninstalls. Windows comes equipped with a handy tool called Winget, which streamlines actions related to applications in the Microsoft Store. For non-store programs, alternatives like Chocolatey can be employed.

To illustrate, here’s how to install Microsoft PowerToys for your user profile. Simply enter the following command and press enter:

winget install Microsoft.PowerToys -s winget

If you type just winget and hit enter, you’ll get a comprehensive list of available functionalities. By appending –help (note the double hyphen), you’ll access the help documentation for specific features, such as using winget install –help to learn about the installation process. If you want to install a program across all user accounts on your computer, simply add –scope machine after install.

You can also conveniently update your installed applications using Winget. Instead of launching each program to check for updates, you can simply run the following command to upgrade all applications that Winget identifies:

winget upgrade –all –silent

If any applications require administrative privileges for updates, you’ll need to authorize each one. To bypass this prompt, you can run the Terminal with administrator rights.

For those interested in more complex package management, Chocolatey operates similarly to package managers found in Linux environments. Its installation process is a bit more intricate, so if you’re interested, I suggest consulting the guidelines provided by the developers.