Windows 11 Simplified. Paul McFedries

Install an App

      If Windows does not have an app that you need, you can obtain the app and then install it on your computer. You usually obtain apps from the Microsoft Store, which is an app that is preinstalled with Windows. Many Microsoft Store apps are free, but some require a payment using the credit card you have on file with your Microsoft account.

      You can also install apps that are not available via the Microsoft Store. In this case, you obtain (and usually pay for) the app on the web and then download the app to your computer. However, it is important to only install apps that you obtained from a reputable and secure site.

      Install an App

      

Click Start ().

      

Click Microsoft Store.

       You can also click Microsoft Store ().

      Note: You need a Microsoft account to install from the Microsoft Store, as described in the previous section, “Switch to a Microsoft Account.”

      The Microsoft Store app appears.

      

Click Apps.

      Microsoft Store displays the Apps screen, which enables you to browse apps by category.

Alternatively, if you know the name of the app you want to install, you can use the Search box to locate the app.

       For each category, you can click See all to view all the apps in the category.

      

Click the app you want to install.

      

Click Free.

      Alternatively, if the app is not free, you can click the price button, type your Microsoft account password, click Sign in, and then follow the prompts to complete the purchase.

      Windows installs the app.

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      How do I install software downloaded from the Internet?

      To begin, click File Explorer (). The File Explorer program window appears. Click your Downloads folder. When the Downloads folder appears, double-click the file. The software’s installation app begins. Follow the installation instructions the app provides to install the downloaded software.

      Keep in mind that if you saved the downloaded file in a folder other than Downloads, use File Explorer to find the downloaded file. Also, the downloaded software may be multiple compressed files. In that case, extract the files and then double-click the setup file. See Chapter 10 for more about File Explorer and compressed files.

Switch Between Running Apps

      If you plan on running multiple apps at the same time, you need to know how to easily switch from one application to another. In Windows, after you start one application, you do not need to close that application before you open another one. Windows supports a feature called multitasking, which means running two or more applications simultaneously. You can switch from one program to another using the taskbar, the Task View feature, or the keyboard.

      Switch Between Running Apps

      Switch Apps Using the Taskbar

      Windows displays a line under the icon of the current app. A

      

Position the mouse pointer () over the taskbar icon of the app you want to switch to.

       Windows displays a thumbnail version of the app window. B

      

Click the app’s taskbar icon.

      Note: An app does not have to be minimized to the taskbar for you to use the app’s taskbar icon.

       Windows brings the app’s window to the foreground.

Note: If you can see part of the app’s window, you can also switch to the app by clicking its window, even if the window is in the background.

      Switch Apps Using Task View

      

In the taskbar, click Task View () or press + .

       Windows displays thumbnails for each running app.

      

Click the thumbnail of the app you want to switch to.

       Windows switches to the app.

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      How can I switch between apps using the keyboard?

      There are two methods you can use to switch between apps using the keyboard:

       The first method is to press and hold and then press to see thumbnail versions of the open windows. Press until the window you want to work in is selected and then release .

       The second method is to press + to open Task View.