Key Points to Lock Your Screen In Windows 11

• On your keyboard, use the shortcut Winkey + L
• It will instantly lock your screen & take you out to the login screen.

Method 1: Using Start Menu:

This is one of the old, unique, and straightforward methods to lock your screen on your Windows 11 device. However, this method is suitable for those who prefer using the GUI and a mouse.

• Step 1: Click the Start button located at the bottom-left corner of your screen.

• Step 2: Now you need to click on your profile icon at the top of the Start menu.
• Step 3: From the dropdown menu, select Lock. It will instantly lock your screen.

This is the fast & simple method to lock your screen. You can secure your device in just a few clicks.

Method 2: Using CTRL + ALT + Del:

This method is one of the classic ways to lock your screen. Those who are familiar with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10 definitely know this method to lock the screen.

• Step 1: You need to press Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys on your keyboard simultaneously.
• Step 2: From the screen that appears, click on Lock. It will bring you to the lock screen.

Method 3: Using Power User Menu:

• Step 1: Firstly, you need to right-click the Start button or simply use the keyboard shortcut Winkey + X.
• Step 2: In the list of options, you need to click the option Shut down or sign out >.
• Step 3: Now simply click the Lock button to lock your screen instantly.

Method 4: Using Run Command:

This is one of the unique methods to lock your screen using the Run Dialog box. This is mostly suitable for tech-savvy people.

• Firstly, you need to open the Run window using the keyboard shortcut Winkey + R
• Now, enter the following command rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation
• Hit the Enter button or click the OK button to lock your screen.

Method 5: Using Screensaver (Automated Lock Screen):

This is one of the unique methods, and it is a kind of automation process. All you have to do is set a screensaver and a timeout for a minute or longer.

• Step 1: Firstly, you need to right-click on the desktop and choose Personalize.

• Step 2: Now, go to Lock screen settings.

• Step 3: Scroll down and click on Screen saver settings.

• Step 4: Once you click the option, the Screensaver Settings window will be displayed on your screen.
• Step 5: Here, I choose the 3D Text option as a screensaver and set the time to 1 minute. Check the option “On resume, display logon screen,” which will ask you to re-enter the login password to sign in.
• Step 6: Once you have done all the settings, click the Apply and OK buttons.

• After a minute, your computer will launch the screensaver on your device by locking your screen automatically, as shown in the image below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Take Away:

Locking my screen in Windows 11 is essential for maintaining security and privacy, especially when I need to step away from my computer. I’ve found that there are multiple ways to do this, each offering convenience and reliability.

Have Queries?

Whether I use the Start menu, the classic Ctrl + Alt + Delete method, or even set up an automatic lock through screen saver settings, I have several options to choose from. By using these methods, I can ensure that my personal information and work remain secure. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments. Find more informative tutorials on our Blog WinSides.com

Method 1: Using Command Prompt:

• Click the Start Menu and search for Command Prompt
• You need to choose the “Run as Administrator” option to launch the command prompt in admin mode.

• Once the command prompt is launched, you need to execute the following command:
  • winsat formal

The tool will run a series of tests and display performance metrics in different areas like CPU, Memory, Disk, and Graphics.

Once the tests are finished, you can view the final report generated by the ‘winsat formal‘ command in the Command Prompt. From the results, you can easily understand your PC’s Windows Experience score.

Method 2: Using PowerShell:

• Click the Start Menu and search for PowerShell
• You need to choose the “Run as Administrator” option to launch the powershell in admin mode.

• Now you need to execute the following command:
  • Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_WinSAT

• The above command will provide your pc’s Windows Experience Index stats.

Method 3: Using XML Report:

Though the Window 11 removed the Windows Experience report from the settings, Windows still generates a WEI report in XML format. Follow the steps below to view the XML files.

• You need to navigate to the following folder:
  • C:\Windows\Performance\WinSAT\DataStore
• Now, in the list of files, you need to look for the file name “Formal.Assessment (Initial).WinSAT.xml“,

• Once you found the file, you need to open the xml file using the website.

Method 4: Using 3^rd Party Apps:

You can also use the Third-Party Tools to view performance reports, although it won’t show the WEI in the traditional format.

1. ChrisPC Win Experience Index:

This app will help you rate your computer and gain access to the Windows Experience Index score on Windows 11.

• You can download the software from the following link: Download ChrisPC Win Experience Index App.
• Once you have downloaded the application, proceed with the installation.
• Launch the application after the installation is complete.

• If you want to get the latest and detailed report of your pc, then you need to click the Re-run the assessment button.
• The assessment will take more than a minute to complete. Once the assessment is completed, the rating will be displayed as a graph value.

2. ExperienceIndexOK:

A lightweight utility that displays the WEI score without requiring an installation. You can download the app from the following link: Download ExperienceIndexOK app.

• After the app is downloaded, extract the zip file and run the exe file to launch the application.

• You can re-run the assessment if you want to update the index score.
• It will launch the Winsat.exe application in the Command Prompt and run multiple tests to determine the score. It will take more than a minute to complete.
• The updated score will be displayed in the app after completing the assessment.

In conclusion, while Microsoft has removed the Windows Experience Index feature from Windows 11 settings, there are still several ways to check your system’s performance score. By following the methods outlined in this tutorial, you can easily assess your PC’s performance and gain insights into its capabilities. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your hardware or simply monitor how well your system is running, these alternatives provide a simple way to access the Windows Experience Index on Windows 11.

Read more:

• Enable Unified Write Filter in Windows 11
• How to Enable Unbranded Boot in Windows 11?
• How to Empty The Recycle Bin in Windows 11?

Method 1: Viewing Folder Size by Hovering on it:

This is the simplest way to view the folder size. All you have to do is hover over the folder, and the folder size will be displayed as a tooltip. Refer to the image below for a visual example.

Method 2: Finding Folder Size using File Explorer Properties Option:

This is another simple method, similar to the one above. Instead of hovering, you just need to right-click on the folder and choose the Properties option to view the folder size. It will display the directory size under both “Size” and “Size on Disk” options. Alternative you can use the keyboard shortcut ALT + Enter to launch the properties after choosing the folder/directories.

Step 1: Right Click -> Properties:

Step 2: Viewing Folder Size:

You can enlarge the image by clicking on the image above.

Method 3: Viewing Folder Size from Details in File Explorer:

This method is similar to the previous one and also relies on the Properties option. First, select the folder or directory, then in the right pane, you will see an option named Details. Click on it, and from there, you can access the Properties option. Once clicked, you can view the folder size in the Properties window.

Now, you can view the size of the directory from the properties option.

Method 4: Listing Folder Size using PowerShell:

• Click the Start Menu and search for PowerShell
• You need to choose the “Run as Administrator” option to launch the powershell in admin mode.

• Now, you need to run the command:
  • cd "C:\path\to\your\folder"
• Replace the above path with yours.

• Executing the command will change the directory to your input directory in the powershell.

• Now, you need to execute the following command:
  • Get-ChildItem -Recurse | Measure-Object -Property Length -Sum

• The command will display the output in the Bytes value, & You can use the external tools to convert your bytes to KB: https://www.gbmb.org/bytes-to-mb
• You can compare the values with those obtained from methods 1 to 3.

Method 5: Get Folder Size using Command Prompt:

• Click the Start Menu and search for Command Prompt
• You need to choose the “Run as Administrator” option to launch the command prompt in admin mode.

• Now, you need to enter the Drive ID, In my case, I’m going to change to D: drive.
  • D:

• Use the command now:
  • cd "path\to\your\folder"

• Replace the above path with yours.

• Now, you need to execute the following command:
  • dir /s

• The command will display the output in the Bytes value, & You can use the external tools to convert your bytes to KB: https://www.gbmb.org/bytes-to-mb
• You can compare the values with those obtained from methods 1 to 3.

Method 6: Using 3rd Party Apps:

If you’re interested in trying a unique way to view folder sizes, you’ll need to install third-party apps. I have listed some lightweight and effective apps that work well to display folder and directory sizes on Windows PCs.

WinDirStat is a popular and powerful disk usage statistics viewer. It provides a visual representation of the files and folders on your drive, making it easy to identify which files or directories are taking up the most space. The graphical treemap helps you understand disk space allocation by representing files as colored rectangles based on their size, allowing you to quickly spot large folders and files. It’s a lightweight tool that makes it an excellent option for users who need to analyze disk usage. You can download the app here: https://windirstat.net/

TreeSize Free is another widely used tool to view folder sizes and disk usage. It provides a hierarchical view of your folder structure, showing sizes in a clear and readable format. You can quickly drill down into subfolders to see where storage is being used the most. It’s highly efficient for scanning drives and directories, even for larger storage volumes. TreeSize Free also allows you to sort and filter results. You can download the app here: https://www.jam-software.com/treesize_free

Conclusion:

In conclusion, checking folder or file sizes is an essential task for managing storage on your Windows 11 PC. With the methods mentioned above, from using File Explorer to leveraging Command Prompt, PowerShell, or third-party apps, you now have a variety of tools at your disposal to easily view directory sizes. Whether you prefer a quick hover or more detailed analyses with apps like TreeSize Free or WinDirStat, these methods ensure you can efficiently manage your storage. Find more interesting tutorials on WinSides.com

Frequently Asked Questions by Users?

Below are the commonly asked questions by users related to this topic.

Read More:

• Properly Eject USB or External SSD/HDD in Windows 11!
• How to Print Screen/Screenshot Without the PrintScreen Button in Windows 11?
• How to stop apps from opening at startup in Windows 11?

Have Queries?

If you have any questions, kindly let us know in the comments. For more interesting articles, stay tuned to Winsides.com. Happy Computing! Peace out!

What is DirectX?

To understand it, it provides the bridge to the software for accessing the hardware components of the system, such as Graphic Cards, Sound Devices, and more, providing a standardized way to access and optimize the system resources. Technically speaking, DirectX is a collection of Application Programming Interfaces developed by Microsoft to handle Multimedia Tasks, especially Game Programming and Video.

What is DxDiag on Windows 11?

DxDiag is the Diagnostic Tool available on Windows 11 that allows users to diagnose and fix issues related to the DirectX Components. Additionally, DXDiag provides detailed information about the System’s Hardware Components and Driver Details. It includes System Information, Display, Sound, Peripheral Input/Output Devices, Graphics Cards, and more.

I am using the Asus ROG Strix G513H powered by Ryzen 7, 16 GB RAM, and NVIDIA 1650 Graphics Card, etc, all together running on Windows 11 Home. In the above image, you can find that the DxDiag provides all this information and additional key information related to my system.

Different ways to access DirectX Diagnostic Tool on Windows 11

Accessing DxDiag on Windows 11 is a straightforward option. There are several ways to access this feature on Windows 11.

• Access DxDiag Windows 11 using the Run Command.
• Open DxDiag using the Start menu.
• How to Access DirectX Diagnostic Tool using the Command Prompt or the Windows PowerShell.

The following are the detailed steps involved in the process of accessing DxDiag on Windows 11.

How to Access the DxDiag Tool using the Run Command?

• You can go to the Run Command using the shortcut Win Key + R.
• In the Run, execute the following command. dxdiag

• That is it. The system will now open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.

Open the DxDiag Tool on Windows 11 using the Start menu

This is the simplest way to access this diagnostic tool on Windows 11.

• Go to the Start menu, and search for DxDiag.
• When you find the application, click on it to open it.

How to open DirectX Diagnostic Tool on Windows 11 using CMD / Windows PowerShell?

You can either use the Command Prompt or the Windows PowerShell for this method. Here, I am using the Command Prompt.

• Go to the Command Prompt.
• In the CMD, type dxdiag and then click Enter.

• Now, the system will open the DirectX Diagnostic Tool.

Understanding DirectX Diagnostic Tool Information

In this section, let us decode all the information available in this Diagnostic Tool.

System Tab

In the System tab, you will find all the following essential information.

The “Check for WHQL Signature” option in DxDiag verifies whether installed drivers have been certified by Microsoft’s Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL). If you want to ensure that your system is using stable and certified drivers, you can enable this feature.

Display Tabs

If you are wondering why there are two Display Tabs in the above image, in my case, the first one represents the Integrated Graphics, and the second one represents the actual Graphics Card. As I am using Ryzen 7, the Integrated Graphics is AMD Radeon Graphics Processor (0*1636). The following is the information usually available in this tab.

Let’s move to the Display 2 Tab. This provides crucial Information about the System Graphics Card. In my case, it is Nvidia GTX 1650.

Here, you will find similar information as mentioned in the Display 1 tab, however, the information is related to the dedicated Graphics Card.

IMPORTANT: In both Display 1 and Display 2 Tab, Under Notes, “No problems found” message ensures that the Integrated Graphics and the Dedicated Graphics Card are working well without any issue.

Sound Tab

Let’s move to the next section. Click on the Next Page on the Display tab. Now, the Sound tab will load, and the tool will ensure that it is working fine.

Here, you will find the following information.

As I am using Asus Noise Cancelling Output Utility, Gamecaster Audio Render, I am having additional Sound Tabs (Sound Tab 1, Sound Tab 2, Sound Tab 3, and Sound Tab 5), as each software handle the Sound Hardware differently. Usually, there will be only one Sound Tab (in my case, it is Sound Tab 4).

Input Tab

Finally, the Input Tab. Here you will find all the information related to the peripheral devices.

This section provides various information related to the Input and other Peripheral Devices.

How to use the DxDiag Tool for troubleshooting System Issues?

• Go to the DirectX Diagnostic Tool on Windows 11. Click on Next. The tool will switch from the System Tab to the Display Tab.

• If no problems are found, you can click Next and continue the process until you reach the Input Tab, which is the last tab. Finally, if no problems are found in all the tabs, you can safely click Exit to close the tool.

• If you want to save the information, click on Save All Information. You can save all this information as a text file.

The Notes under each tab provide clear information on the Hardware functioning status. If each tab provides the message “No problems found“, you can safely click Exit.

Video Walkthrough on How to Use DirectX Diagnostic Tool on Windows 11.

Common DxDiag Errors & How to Fix Them?

The most common DirectX Diagnostic Tool errors are as follows

• To fix the Direct3D not available error, it is suggested to update your Graphics Card Driver, ensure that the GPU is properly connected, and finally, make sure Direct3D is enabled.
• Fixing the No Sound Device Found error involves checking whether the Sound Devices are connected and powered on, and updating the audio drivers via the Device Manager.
• Driver Not Certified by WHQL error occurs when the installed driver is not certified by Microsoft’s Windows Hardware Quality Labs. Hence, it is suggested to update to the latest WHQL-certified driver from the official manufacturer and make sure you are not running any Beta Drivers.
• Display Driver Crashed, and a Reset error occurs due to the instability of the Display Driver. To fix it, roll back to the stable version if you are facing this issue after a recent update, and check for overheating issues that may affect the GPU.
• DirectX Error or DirectX Version Mismatch error occurs due to an outdated or incompatible DirectX version. To fix this issue, update DirectX using the DirectX End-User Runtime Web Installer.
• Device not Detected (Graphics, Sound, or Input Devices) error may occur because of a device failure or an improper connection.
• Unable to initialize DirectX error occurs due to system issues with the DirectX Installation. Reinstalling DirectX may help fix this issue.
• No Hardware Acceleration Available error happens when this feature is disabled or due to driver issues. Make sure to enable Hardware Acceleration in the Display Settings, and also update the Graphics Driver.
• No Input Device Detected error happens due to a missing or malfunctioning input device. Updating the device drivers in the Device Manager may help fix this issue.

Take away

We have explored the essential role of DxDiag Windows 11 in diagnosing and troubleshooting system issues on Windows 11. From its basic functions of checking system, display, and sound components to more advanced features like generating detailed reports and debugging tools, DxDiag offers collective options to ensure optimal system performance.

Have Queries?

We hope you are satisfied with our article, and if you have any queries, kindly let us know in the comments section. For more interesting Windows 11 Articles, stay tuned to Winsides.com. Happy Computing! Peace out!

Why do you need to create Windows 11 Bootable USB?

Install, Upgrade, and Repair. These are the three scenarios where we may need a bootable USB. Imagine your computer suddenly refusing to boot, stuck in an endless loop of errors, or staring blankly at a black screen or worse, the Blue Screen of Death. Or perhaps you’ve been battling with a sluggish system for weeks and decide it’s time for a clean slate. Nowadays, whether you buy a Laptop online or offline, in most cases, they come with Windows preloaded. However, if you are purchasing a DOS-based computer, and then you purchase a Windows 11 separately, then a bootable USB, can be helpful in a successful installation of your Windows 11. In moments like these, having a Windows 11 bootable USB becomes a lifesaver.

Alright then, we now know the purposes of a Bootable USB. The next step is to get to know about the prerequisites before starting the process.

What are the prerequisites?

Note: The USB Flash drive will be completely formatted, so make sure there is no important data on it.

Create Windows 11 Bootable USB using Rufus Utility Software

Let’s assume that you have downloaded the Windows 11 ISO file from official Microsoft, then you have downloaded and installed the latest Rufus, and you have plugged in a 16 GB USB Flash stick(minimum 8GB), the following are the steps.

At the time of this article, the latest version of Rufus available to use is 4.6.2208

• Open Rufus. Connect the USB Flash Drive to the system.
• User Account Control will prompt for your confirmation. Click Yes to continue.
• Rufus update policy will pop up. It will ask permission to allow Rufus to check for application updates online. Depending on your requirements, you can click Yes or no. To proceed forward, I am clicking Yes.

• Rufus will open now, Under Device, you can find the USB Flash Drive that you have connected.
• Under Boot Selection, by default, it will be Disk or ISO Image. Please do not change that option. You can find Select next to it. Click on that.

• When you click on Select, the system will prompt for the ISO file. Navigate to the ISO file select it and click Open.

• The default values of the Drive Properties such as the partition scheme is GPT, the Target system is UEFI (non CSM), the Image option is the Standard Windows Installation, and Format options such as the File system is the NTFS, Cluster Size 4096 bytes (Default). Kindly do not alter any of these values.

• Volume Label will have its default name from the ISO image file, it is recommended to leave it that way.
• Finally, click Start to start the process.

• Once you click on the Start process, Customize Windows Installation option of Rufus (Windows User Experience) will pop up. Choose your options accordingly, and then click OK.

• Now, you will be provided with a Warning stating that all the contents of the USB Stick will be destroyed. Kindly take a backup of the USB stick contents aside so that you do not face any data loss. Finally, click OK.

• Finally, Rufus will start preparing the Windows 11 Bootable USB. The process may take somewhere between 5 to 30 minutes depending on your hardware specification. Kindly be patient.

• Once the process completes 100%, the status bar will display “Ready” with the complete Green bar. That is it. Now, the USB Flash Drive is ready to use as a Windows 11 Bootable USB. Click Close to Close Rufus.

• You can safely remove the USB Flash Stick and is ready to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Take away

Creating a Windows 11 bootable USB is an essential step for anyone looking to install or repair the operating system. With tools like Rufus, it’s quick and easy to set up, giving you a portable, reliable solution for troubleshooting, upgrading, or reinstalling Windows 11. If you are looking for an alternative to Rufus, you can use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool, which can be a convenient option for those who are looking to download and prepare a bootable USB directly with the help of the Media Creation tool from Microsoft.

Have Queries?

Kindly let us know in the comment section. For more interesting articles, stay tuned to Winsides.com. Happy Computing! Peace out!

Out of curiosity, I looked into different ways to adjust brightness and found that there are more than 8+ methods to change brightness on Windows 11. Let’s dive into these methods and I will recommened you to find the Windows Features.

Quick Steps:

• Open Settings app using keyboard shortcut Winkey + I.
• You need to select the System from the left menu.
• Then click the Display option from the list on the right side.
• Now, you need to adjust the slider to increase or decrease the brightness of your screen.

Method 1: Using Keyboard Shortcut Function Keys:

This is the easiest way to adjust the brightness on your Windows 11 screen. Look for the brightness icons on your keyboard one for increasing and one for decreasing brightness. By pressing the Function (Fn) key along with the brightness buttons, you can easily change the brightness of your screen.

As you can see in the image above, the brightness increase/decrease buttons are combined with the arrow keys. In this case, you have to press Fn + Up arrow to increase the brightness and Fn + Down arrow to decrease the brightness. This setup may be different depending on the brand of your computer. If you are using a desktop keyboard, the location of these buttons can also vary between different brands.

Method 2: Using Action Center Menu:

• You need to use the keyboard shortcut Winkey + A to launch the Action Center Menu.
• Now, you need to adjust the scrollbar to change the brightness of your device screen.

This is one of the easiest and quickest method to change your device brightness.

Method 3: Using Mobility Center to Change Brightness:

The Mobility Center is a quick access window that gives you control over settings like display brightness, audio output, battery status, multiple displays, and synchronization options.

• Use the Winkey keyboard shortcut to launch the Start Menu on your device.
• I want you to enter the text Mobility Center to display the mobility center and its options.

• Under the Display Brightness menu, you need to adjust or change the scroll bar to increase or decrease the screen brightness as shown in the below image.

Method 4: Using Settings App to Alter Brightness of your Screen:

This is one of the official and quickest ways to adjust the screen brightness on your Windows 11 device.

• To open the Settings app, you can either use the keyboard shortcut WinKey + I or open the Settings app by searching for it in the Start menu.

• Click on the System from the left side menu to expand its option.
• Now, you need to choose the option Display from the list.

• Use the Brightness slider under the “Brightness and Color” section to adjust the brightness.

Method 5: Automatic Screen Brightness Adjustment by Windows:

With the recent update of Windows 11, you can now automatically adjust your device’s screen brightness! Follow the instructions below to do this.

• open the Settings app, you can use the keyboard shortcut WinKey + I

• Click on the System from the left side menu to expand its option.
• Now, you need to choose the option Display from the list.

• Now, expand the Brightness section by clicking the arrow next to it. Then, check the box for Change brightness automatically when lighting changes.

Note: This method is only available for laptops with sensors. If your device doesn’t have them, you won’t see the checkbox in your Settings app.

Method 6: Using Command Prompt:

• Click the Start Menu and search for Command Prompt
• You need to choose the “Run as Administrator” option to launch the command prompt in admin mode.

• Now, you need to execute the following command:
• PowerShell (Get-WmiObject -Namespace root/WMI -Class WmiMonitorBrightnessMethods).WmiSetBrightness(1, 100)

In the above command, the lowest brightness value is 1, and the highest is 100. You can change the numbers to adjust your screen brightness using the Command Prompt.

As you can see in the above GIF, before running the command, the brightness was set to 100%, as shown in the Action Center. After executing the command, the screen brightness was reduced to 40%, which can also be seen in the Action Center.

Method 7: Using PowerShell Method:

• Click the Start Menu and search for PowerShell
• You need to choose the “Run as Administrator” option to launch the powershell in admin mode.

• Now, copy the following command and execute it on your powershell window:
• (Get-WmiObject -Namespace root/wmi -Class WmiMonitorBrightnessMethods).WmiSetBrightness(1,100)

In the above command, the lowest brightness value is 1, and the highest is 100. You can change the numbers to adjust your screen brightness using the PowerShell.

As you can see in the above GIF, before running the command in the powershell, the brightness was set to 100%, as shown in the Action Center. After executing the command, the screen brightness was reduced to 50%, which can also be seen in the Action Center.

Method 8: Using Twinkle Tray 3rd Party Apps:

There are many third-party apps available to adjust brightness, but Twinkle Tray is authorized by Microsoft and regularly updated by its developer on GitHub and the Microsoft Store. That’s why I recommend this app.

• Firstly, you need to download the application from the official website. https://twinkletray.com/
• Install the exe file, if you choose to download the standalone installer.
• Once the installation completed, you can see the star shaped twinkling icon in the tray menu.
• Click on the icon to explore its options and use the scroll bar to changes the screen brightness.

Feature of Twinkle Tray App:

Twinkle Tray offers a range of options and features to suit your needs, and it’s completely free.

• Blends seamlessly with Windows 10 & Windows 11.
• Works with most laptops and DDC/CI-enabled monitors.
• Set hotkeys to adjust the brightness of specific displays or all displays.
• Control DDC/CI features like contrast, volume, and power state.
• Adjust brightness based on the time of day or when idle.
• Supports command-line arguments for custom scripting.
• Normalize backlight across different monitors.
• Available in over 20 languages.
• Starts automatically with Windows.

You can find more essential information in their official website.

Method 9: Using Graphics Card Control Panels:

• Right-click on the desktop and choose NVIDIA Control Panel if your device uses NVIDIA. Otherwise, select the control panel for your graphics card.
• Once the application opens, go to Display and select Adjust desktop color settings.
• Use the scroll bar to adjust the screen brightness.
• When you’re done, you can close the application by clicking the Exit button.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, adjusting the brightness on your Windows 11 device is essential for a comfortable and productive work environment, especially during late night sessions. Whether you prefer using keyboard shortcuts, the Settings app, or third-party tools like Twinkle Tray, there are plenty of methods available to suit your needs. By exploring and customizing these options, you can find the best way to control your screen brightness and reduce strain on your eyes. I highly recommend exploring these features and tools to make your nighttime work more comfortable and headache free.

Read more:

• How to Check Installed Windows 11 Edition?
• Reset Network Settings in Windows 11 – Quick Ways
• How to Adjust Mouse Pointer Speed in Windows 11?

CHKDSK requires elevated permissions to access and modify system level files and storage components. If you try running it without administrative rights, you may encounter permission wise restrictions or error messages, especially when fixing drive errors.

Multiple Ways to run chkdsk as Administrator on Windows 11

Check Disk Utility is a special system tool in Windows 11 that allows users to scan their disks for issues and try to fix them. Unlike other applications, chkdsk will not open as a normal application and it requires administrative permissions for its basic functioning. The following are the ways to run this tool with elevated permissions.

1. Use Run Command and Launch chkdsk as Administrator on Windows 11.
2. Open chkdsk with Admin Privileges using the Task Manager.
3. Set chkdsk to open always as Administrator by creating a Dedicated Shortcut.
4. Run Command Prompt or PowerShell as Administrator and execute the chkdsk command.

IMPORTANT: Running applications as an administrator grants elevated privileges that can significantly affect your system. Please use caution when doing so, as it can lead to Unintended System Modifications, Security Vulnerabilities, Accidental Data Loss, Unauthorized Access, Irreversible Changes, etc.

#1. How to Run chkdsk as Administrator using Run Command?

This is the quickest method to open chkdsk as administrator on Windows 11. The following are the steps.

• Go to the Run Command. You can use the shortcut WinKey + R.
• In the Run Command, type the command chkdsk and press CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER.

• Now, User Account Control will prompt your confirmation to open chkdsk as Administrator. Click accordingly.
• Now, Check Disk Utility will open and will scan the C drive by default.

#2. Create New Task to run chkdsk with Elevated Privileges using the Task Manager

• Go to the Task Manager. If you are using Windows 11, you can either use the the key combo CTRL + ALT + Delete, or you can just right-click on the taskbar and click Task Manager.
• Under Processes, click on Run new task. Create New Task dialog will open now.

• Enter the command chkdsk and click on the checkbox “Create this task with administrative privileges“. Click OK.

• UAC will prompt for confirmation and launch chkdsk as Administrator.

#3. Set “Always open chkdsk as Administrator by creating a Desktop Shortcut”

This option allows you to run this shortcut as an administrator, while protecting your computer from unauthorized activity.

• On the empty space of the Desktop, right-click and hover on New and then to Shortcut.

• Create Shortcut dialog box will open now. In Type the location of the item, enter the command chkdsk and then click Next.

• By default, the system will name the shortcut as chkdsk. You can either change it or leave it as it is. It is your wish. Finally, click Finish.

• Chkdsk Desktop shortcut will be created.

• Right-click on the Shortcut and then Click on Properties.

• chkdsk Properties will open now. Click Advanced.

• Now, Advanced Properties will pop up now.
• Enable Run as Administrator by clicking on the checkbox. Finally, click OK, and then Apply.

• From now on, everytime you open Check Disk Utility using this shortcut, UAC will confirm and then open chkdsk as Administrator.

Run CMD or PowerShell as Administrator and run chkdsk

This is an indirect method to run chkdsk as administrator. Since chkdsk will not run normally, this method can be beneficial if you want to run chkdsk as administrator on Windows 11.

You can either you Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell. For explanation, I will use Command Prompt.

• Run Command Prompt as Administrator.
• User Account Control will prompt for confirmation and open Command Prompt as Administrator.
• In the CMD, type the command chkdsk and click Enter.

• The above command will check the OS installed Disk if not mentioned specifically. Mine is Disk C and named as OS.

Alternatively, if you execute the following command chkdsk C: /f /r

This command will check the disk drive C. /f Parameter denotes Fix, and /r parameter denotes Recover.

Kindly be Cautious while running an App as Administrator

Running chkdsk as Administrator on Windows 11 grants it elevated privileges, which can potentially bypass system security restrictions. Please proceed with care and only run trusted applications in this mode. At Winsides.com, we advise our users to use Administrator privileges only when absolutely necessary to perform tasks requiring elevated rights. Misuse of administrative privileges may lead to System Vulnerabilities, Data Loss, System Instability, Security Concerns, etc

Take away

For best results, I will recommend you to run CHKDSK periodically to maintain your hard drive’s health and prevent unexpected issues. Running CHKDSK as administrator on Windows 11 is a simple but essential one to process for keeping your drives in optimal condition. Whether you are dealing with corrupted files, bad sectors, or slow system performance, CHKDSK can help you identify and resolve these issues. If you have any queries related to the above topic and then kindly feel free to comment us below. You can find more tutorials on our HomePage: WinSides.

But for some tasks, the command prompt should have a elevated permission, if you are not using it from the administrator login. You might need to run the command prompt as administrator for performing peculiar tasks! And it is always recommended to use the command prompt with elevated permission because it might help you to executing commands and performing task without any hassle. In this article, I’ve shared the multiple methods to elevate and run command prompt as administrator in Windows 11 pc.

Difference B/W Normal Rights and Admin Rights Command Prompt:

Method 1: Run Command Prompt as Admin using Start Menu:

• Firstly, you need to click the Start icon.
• Now, you need to enter the term “Command Prompt” or “CMD“.

• In the search results, right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.
• Alternatively, you can click Run as Administrator on the right-hand pane.
• If prompted, click Yes on the User Account Control (UAC) dialog box.
• Then the command prompt application will be launched with admin privileges.

Method 2: Run Command Prompt as Admin using Run Window:

• Firstly, you need to launch the Run window using the keyboard shortcut.
  • Winkey + R
• Then enter the keyword “cmd” and use the keyboard shortcut, CTRL + SHIFT + Enter.

• This key combination will launch the command prompt application with the admin privileges.

Method 3: Run Command Prompt as Admin using Search Shortcut:

• Firstly, you need to use the keyboard shortcut Winkey + S, It will launch the Windows Search Shortcut window.

• Now, you need to right click on the command prompt and choose Run as Administrator option.

• After choosing the option, the command prompt application will be launched with admin privileges.

Method 4: Open Command Prompt as Admin using File Explorer:

• Firstly, you need to open the File explorer using the keyboard shortcut: Winkey + E.
• Then, you need to go to This PC option.

• Now, in the address bar, you need to run the command “cmd” and use the keyboard shortcut: CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER button.

• This action will launch the command prompt application with admin rights.

Method 5: Using Task Manager:

• Use the keyboard shortcut: CTRL + SHIFT + Esc to launch the task manager on your pc.

• In the right top, you can see the option named “Run New Task“.
• Click the option, it will launch a window which is similar to Run window.
• Then, you need to enter the command “cmd”

• Before clicking the ok button, don’t forgot to check the box named “Create this task with administrative privileges.“

• Now, the command prompt app will launch with elevated admin rights.

Method 6: Using Windows Terminal:

• Use the keyboard shortcut: Winkey + X to launch the Quick Access menu on your pc.

• Select Windows Terminal (Admin) from the list.

• If Windows Terminal opens to PowerShell or another shell, click the down arrow at the top of the Terminal window, select Command Prompt, and it will open with administrative privileges.

Method 7: Using Desktop Shortcut:

• Right-click on your desktop and select New > Shortcut.

• Type cmd as the location and click Next button.

• Name the shortcut (e.g., “Command Prompt Admin”) and click Finish.

• Right-click on the created shortcut and choose Properties.
• Under the Shortcut tab, click on Advanced and check Run as administrator.

• Click OK, then Apply. Now, double clicking this shortcut will open Command Prompt as an administrator.

Conclusion

Running Command Prompt as an administrator is a crucial skill for performing advanced tasks in Windows 11. Using the methods listed above, you can easily elevate Command Prompt whenever needed. The above methods are tested and verified ones and the quickest one is Method 1, 2 & 7. The shortcut method is permanent one, once you have created it will launch the command prompt with elevated admin rights whenever it is accessed. Find more interesting tutorials on Winsides.com

This latest post will guide you through the steps of How to access and use Delete and Rebuild Indexing Options on Windows 11. Check out: Easy Methods to Find and Search Video Files on Windows 11

When Delete and Rebuild Indexing Options is recommended on Windows 11?

It is recommended in several scenarios to improve system performance, resolve search issues, or refresh the index. If the search functionality starts to return incomplete or outdated results such as Files that no longer exist, new files that do not appear in the search result, when we move, add, or delete a significant amount of files, after a System Crash, Search stops working completely altogether. As a part of Indexing Troubleshooting, we can Delete and Rebuild Indexing Options on Windows 11.

Different methods to access Delete and Rebuild Indexing options on Windows 11

Surprisingly, we have several options to access this setting on Windows 11. The following are the different options.

• Access it via the Start menu.
• Open Delete and Rebuild Indexing Options using the Control Panel.
• Open it via the Windows Settings.
• Access it via the Run Command.

Method 1: How to open Indexing Options on Windows 11 using the Start menu?

This method is the most straightforward option. The following are the steps.

• Go to the Start menu and Search for Indexing Options.
• When you find the setting, click on Open to open it.

• Indexing Options will now open on your Windows 11.

Method 2: How to open Delete and Rebuild Indexing Options using Control Panel?

Here, we will use the Control Panel to access the Indexing Option.

• Go to the Start menu and search for Control Panel.
• In the Control Panel, switch the view to Large Icons.

• Now, you can find Indexing Options. Click on that to open Indexing Options.

Method 3: Open Indexing Options using Windows Settings

• To open Windows Settings, we will use the shortcut Win Key + I.
• Click on Privacy & Security from the left pane.

• Under Windows Permissions, click on Searching Windows.

• Scroll down and under Related Settings, you can find Advanced Indexing options.

• Now, Indexing options will pop up.

Method 4: Open Indexing Options using the Run Command

• To open Indexing Options via the Run Command, execute the following command in the Run. control.exe srchadmin.dll

• This command will open Indexing options now.

How to use Delete and Rebuild Indexing Options on Windows 11?

You can use any of the above methods to access Advanced Indexing Options.

• On the Indexing options, click Advanced.

• Now, the Advanced options will open.
• Under Troubleshooting, you can find the Delete and Rebuild index option. Click on Rebuild.

• Rebuild Index will provide the information “Rebuilding the index might take a long time to complete. Some views and search results might be incomplete until rebuilding is finished.” Kindly be aware of this and then click OK to proceed.

• The system will complete the changes. You can click Close.

Video Walkthrough for How to use Rebuild Indexing options on Windows 11

Take away

There are times when the index can become outdated or corrupted, leading to inaccurate search results, slow performance, or search failures. In such cases, rebuilding the index is a highly effective troubleshooting step and ensures all the data is up-to-date. We hope you are satisfied with our article and if you have any queries, kindly let us know in the comment section. For more interesting articles, visit Wisides.com. Happy Computing! Peace out!

After doing some research, I found that Windows 11 offers a method to hide drives without deleting or losing data. I tried this feature, and it worked well! I successfully hid the drive containing all my important project data.

In this tutorial, I’ll share my experience and provide step by step instructions on how to hide drives in Windows 11. This is a great way to secure sensitive information without needing to share access.

Method 1a: Hide Drive Using Disk Management:

• Firstly, you need to use the keyboard shortcut to launch the quick menu.
  • Winkey + X
• Then in the menu, you need to choose the Disk Management option.

• It will display all the available drives on your device.

• Now, you need to right-click the drive that you want to hide and choose the Change Drive Letter and Paths option.

• Now in the pop-up window, you need to click the Remove button to hide the drive.
• Click the Yes button if it prompted to complete the action.

Note: This method will not delete or remove any data while hiding it. Your data will be protected while doing the process.

Method 1b: Unhide Drive using Disk Management:

To unhide the drives that has been hidden using disk management tool. Follow the below steps.

• Choose the hidden drive (The drives without having any Letter assigned).
• Once you found the hidden drive and then you need to Right-click the hidden drive and choose the Change Drive Letter and Paths option.

• Now, choose the Add button will launch the Add Drive Letter or Path window will be appear on your screen.
• Choose the Drive Letter from the Drop down box or if you add it with other drive choose the “Mount in the following NTFS Folder” option.
• Finally, Click the Okay button to confirm the changes.

In this way, you unhide the drive using the Disk management tool. You can find the drive in the File Explorer, Based on the alphabetical order of the Drive Letter you chose will be appear.

Method 2a: Hide Drive keeping its Data Using Command Prompt:

• Click the Start Menu and search for Command Prompt
• You need to choose the “Run as Administrator” option to launch the command prompt in admin mode.

• Now you need to enter the following command:
  • diskpart
• The command will launch the diskpart.exe application in the console as shown in the below image.

• Enter the following command which will list all the drives available in your device:
  • list volume

• You need to identify which drive you want to hide and execute following command:
  • select volume N

Note: I’m going to hide my N:\ Drive and so i’m using the letter D in the above command, Replace N:\ with the number of the volume you wish to hide.

• Now the drive that need to hidden is chosen, Execute the following command to hide it without losing its data from the file explorer.
  • remove letter=N

• Once you execute the above command, you will get the message saying “DiskPart successfully removed the drive letter or mount point.”
• In simple words, the drive is hidden from the file explorer without losing its data. You can find the drive has been hidden in the File Explorer.

Method 2b: Unhide Drive using DiskPart.exe tool:

To unhide the drive that has been hidden in your device:

• Open the command prompt with Admin Privileges
• Now you need to enter the following command:
  • diskpart

• Enter the following command which will list all the drives available in your device:
  • list volume
• Now, the list of volumes will be displayed including the hidden drives. Identify the volume that you want to unhide back again.

• To select the hidden drive, you need to execute the below command:
  • select volume 1

• Now, you need to execute the following command to assign the Path or Letter to the hidden volume:
  • assign letter=N
• You will receive the following message “DiskPart successfully assigned the drive letter or mount point.“
• The drive will be visible back again without losing its data and can be found in the File Explorer.

Method 3a: Hide Drive or Volume using PowerShell:

• Click the Start Menu and search for PowerShell
• You need to choose the “Run as Administrator” option to launch the powershell in admin mode.

• To list all the available drives or volume in your device, use the following command:
  • Get-Volume

• Once you identified the drive, you need to execute the following command:
  • Set-Partition -DriveLetter N -IsHidden $true

• That’s it, This is the quickest way to hide the drives using the PowerShell command.

Method 3a: Unhide Drives or Volumes using PowerShell:

• You cannot simply reverse the hidden process, you need to do some extra steps to unhide the hidden drives or volumes.
• Open the PowerShell with admin privileges and execute the following list of commands.
  • diskpart
  • list volume

• You need to choose the hidden volume before unhiding it.
  • select volume 1

• Now, you need to assign the Drive Letter to the hidden drive using the following command:
  • assign letter=N

• Enter the exit command to exit the diskpart.exe console from the PowerShell.

• To unhide the drive or volumes, executing the following command:
  • Set-Partition -DriveLetter N -IsHidden $false

Method 4a: Hiding Drives using Group Policy Editor:

This method required Group Policy Editor enabled in your device, if your device says “gpedit.msc Not Found“, download the gpedit.msc.bat file and execute it to enable the group policy editor on your device.

• You can launch the Group Policy Editor application using the Run Command, to launch the Run window use the following keyboard shortcut:
  • Winkey + R
• Once the Run window is launched, use the Run Command to launch the Group Policy Editor:
  • gpedit.msc

• Go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer.

• You need to double-click Hide these specified drives in My Computer option.

• Now, you need to choose the Enabled option and choose the drive that you need to hide from the drop down.

• Finally, click the Ok button to confirm the changes.

Note: The Group Policy Editor in Windows provides only a limited set of predefined options for hiding drives (such as restricting drives A, B, C, or D), which unfortunately does not allow you to directly select other drive letters like N or X.

Method 4b: Unhide Drives or Volumes using GP Editor:

• You can launch the Group Policy Editor application using the Run Command, to launch the Run window use the following keyboard shortcut:
  • Winkey + R
• Once the Run window is launched, use the Run Command to launch the Group Policy Editor:
  • gpedit.msc

• Go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer.

• You need to double-click Hide these specified drives in My Computer option.
• Now, click the Not Configured option and click the OK button to confirm the changes.

Method 5a: Hide Volumes or Drives using Registry Editor:

• You can launch the registry editor from Run Window but before that you can use the keyboard shortcut to launch the Run Window:
  • Winkey + R
• Once the Run window is launched, use the Run Command to launch the Registry Editor:
  • regedit

• In the registry editor, navigate to the following path:
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

• Ignore the existing values and right click on the empty pane choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it NoDrives.
• Once the key file has been created, double click on it and set its value to hide specific drives.
• For example, setting the value to 4 hides drive D or (Use the binary sum if you need to hide multiple drives, e.g., 4+8 for drives C and D.)

• Click the OK button and restart your system for changes to take effect. This will hide your drive or volume.

Method 5b: Unhide Volumes or Drives using Registry Editor:

• You can launch the registry editor from Run Window but before that you can use the keyboard shortcut to launch the Run Window:
  • Winkey + R
• Once the Run window is launched, use the Run Command to launch the Registry Editor:
  • regedit

• In the registry editor, navigate to the following path:
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

• Delete the DWORD file named as “NoDrives” if exist or else create the New DWORD File and name it as NoDrives.
• Once the NoDrives DWORD file has been created, double click and set the value to 0 to unhide all drives and volumes on your pc.
• Click the Ok button and restart your pc to take effect.

Conclusion:

By following these steps, you can effectively hide drives in Windows 11 to protect sensitive files from unauthorized access. Whether you’re concerned about privacy during repairs or simply want to keep personal files hidden, this method allows you to secure your data without deleting or moving anything.

I hope this tutorial has been helpful in enhancing your privacy and security on Windows 11. Feel free to revisit this tutorial whenever you need to hide or unhide drives on your system. Stay safe, and keep your important project files protected! Find more informational tutorial on our Home Page: WinSides.