The standard layout (also called QWERTY) appears automatically (see Figure 1-1). The Enter key changes depending on the context.
The uppercase layout, shown in Figure 1-2, appears when you tap the Shift key on the standard layout.
The numbers and symbols layout appears when you tap the &123 key on the standard layout. Tap the &123 key again to return to the standard layout.
The control keys overlay appears on five keys on the standard layout when you tap the Ctrl key. The Ctrl keys are used in common tasks, such as copying (Ctrl+C) or moving (Ctrl+X) selected text. The overlay disappears automatically after you tap one of the control keys (A, Z, X, C, or V).
Select the Settings button (refer to Figure 1-1). The Setting button appears on the top left of the touch keyboard (it looks like a gear). Here, you can select the Keyboard Layout. Default is selected automatically, but you can choose Small, Split, or Traditional. You can also choose to switch to a Handwriting option, which lets you write with your finger. Windows converts your scribbles to block text. Finally, you can also select Theme and Resize. This opens the Personalization window, where you can select different keyboard and size options, shown in Figure 1-3.
Finally, you can add emoticons as you type. Select the emojis button (refer to Figure 1-1) and touch or search for the emoticon you want to use.
FIGURE 1-1
FIGURE 1-2
FIGURE 1-3
Turn On Your Computer
Push the power button briefly and release it. Every computer has a power button. (When we can no longer turn them off, the machines win.) If you have a desktop computer tower, the power button is probably on the front of the tower. Otherwise, you might have to feel around the front and sides of the screen or near the hinges of a laptop. Typically, your computer will beep, some buttons will light, and the screen may flash a logo or a message that disappears before you can read it. (Just let that go.) Soon, you will see the Windows 11 Lock screen.
Turn on any separate hardware (such as a monitor, speakers, or a printer), if necessary.
Enter your password and press Enter (or select the Submit button, the button on the right side of the password textbox). Soon the Windows 11 desktop screen appears, as shown in Figure 1-4.
FIGURE 1-4
If you don’t see the Password text box, jiggle the mouse or press a key on the keyboard to wake up Windows 11.
The first time you turn on a new computer, a series of Windows Setup screens appears. Accept the defaults or change them appropriately and then select the button labeled Next.
If your computer doesn't have a keyboard, as is the case with many tablet computers, see the preceding section, “View the Touch Keyboard,” for information on how to type onscreen.
If this is the first time that Windows 11 has started on your computer, you must create a user account, even if no one else will use the machine. See Chapter 4 for details on creating and changing user accounts.
Check Out the Start Screen
Start your computer — if it isn't started already — and sign in to your user account. You'll see the Windows desktop screen (refer to Figure 1-4).
Open the Start screen, as shown in Figure 1-5. Use one of these methods to open the Start screen:
Mouse: Click the Start button (you’ll find it on the taskbar, which is the strip across the bottom of the screen). The Start button is the leftmost icon on the taskbar; it looks like a four-pane window.
Touchscreen: Tap the Start button.
Keyboard: Press the 
key.
Examine the Start screen and note the icons. These icons represent available apps (short for application programs, an older term for programs or software). By clicking or tapping an app icon, you can open an app. (See Chapter 2 for information on using individual apps.)
You can take a look at more apps by clicking the Next Page button (refer to Figure 1-5). Also, you can see an alphabetical list of all the apps that are installed on your computer, as shown in Figure 1-6, by clicking the All Apps button (refer to Figure 1-5). By clicking or tapping an app in this list, you can open an app. Click the Back button to go back to the main Start Screen page.
Under Recommended, you see recent files that you’ve opened. Click More to see a complete list. This is a handy way to find a file you recently used.
FIGURE 1-5
While the Start screen is open, you can type the name of an app to open it. For example, to open the Weather app, type weather. This automatically changes the Start screen to the Search screen, which you can also open directly by clicking the Search icon on the taskbar. Select the Weather app listing in the search results to open the Weather app.
Rather than scroll through the alphabetical list to find an app, you can select a letter in the list and then select a letter in the pop-up list of letters that appears (refer to Figure 1-7). For example, to quickly get to the Weather app, select any letter and then select the W on the pop-up list.
FIGURE 1-6
FIGURE 1-7
Click or tap your image (or image and name) on the Start screen. As shown in Figure 1-8, you see a pop-up menu with commands for changing account settings (see Chapter 3), locking your screen (see “Start Again on the Lock Screen,” later in this chapter), and signing out in a favor of another person who shares your computer (see Chapter 4). Who would think that clicking your name would open a pop-up menu?
Click or tap Power on the Start menu. As shown in Figure 1-9, you see a pop-up menu with commands for putting your computer to sleep, shutting down your computer, and restarting your computer. Later in this chapter, “Shut Down Your Computer” looks into the options on this pop-up menu.
Click or tap the Start button. Doing any of these actions when the Start screen is open closes the Start screen. You can also close the Start screen by clicking anywhere on the desktop when the Start screen is open.
FIGURE 1-8
FIGURE 1-9
Shut Down Your Computer
When you have finished using your computer for a while, you may want to shut down Windows 11. Begin by displaying the Start screen:
Mouse: Click the Start button on the taskbar. The Start button is the leftmost icon and looks like a four-pane window.
Touchscreen: Tap the Start button.
Keyboard: Press the key.
Click or tap Power on the Start menu (refer to Figure 1-9). The Power button is on the bottom right side of the Start menu and looks like a circle with a line through the top.
Available options appear in a pop-up box. Some or all of the following options appear: