Microsoft’s promoting a set of 7 Windows 11 Boosts – features designed to help users get more from the operating system, and give business users the incentive to upgrade, ahead of Windows 10’s looming end-of-life deadline.
Yes, we know! Microsoft told us all Windows 10 would be the last version of Windows and that we’d never need to go through that ‘upgrade shenanigans’ ever again because they were shifting towards Windows -As-A-Service, but here we are. The Windows 10 train terminates in 6 months’ time!
Software must keep pace with hardware improvements, changes to user needs and increasing data security requirements. So Windows 11 it is then, unless you fancy switching to Linux or Chrome OS (which likely means even more upheaval for your users) or you are willing to take risks by sticking with Windows 10 after the security updates cease (and we certainly don’t recommend that!).
Hoping To Smooth The Upgrade Path
With support for Windows 10 set to end on 14 October 2025, Microsoft is stepping up efforts to showcase the benefits of its newer Windows 11 OS. The latest push is all about encouraging users to explore Windows 11’s built-in features, from multitasking tools to biometric login, in the hope of smoothing the upgrade path and unlocking better everyday experiences.
For businesses, these seven tips may seem minor at first glance but, taken together, they may be seen to reflect a growing emphasis on usability, focus, and personalisation. These traits can support productivity and security across both office and remote work environments.
These tips might just be what you need to get your end-users to ‘buy into’ upgrading to Windows 11.
So, what exactly are the tips, and what value do they offer?
1. Make the Start Menu Your Own
Microsoft’s first tip focuses on the Start Menu, which has shifted from its traditional left-hand corner to a sleek, centralised layout in Windows 11. The company recommends personalising it by pinning frequently used apps, rearranging shortcuts, and resizing tiles to suit individual workflows.
For organisations standardising device setups across teams, this functionality allows for cleaner, more consistent interfaces, thereby helping users find what they need faster.
Adopting this tip could improve navigation efficiency and can be customised to match common app usage per role or department.
2. Master Snap Layouts for Multitasking
Snap Layouts allow users to arrange multiple apps and windows on-screen with ease. Hovering over the maximise button reveals several layout options, such as side-by-side or grid views.
This is particularly useful for professionals working across several platforms simultaneously, e.g. spreadsheets, emails, browsers, and collaboration tools.
This tip could have value in reducing screen clutter and enhancing productivity for multi-tasking roles, even on single-display setups, although we do still recommend high quality multi-display setups for users routinely working across multiple apps at the same time, for health and safety reasons.
3. Create a Desktop for Every Project
Windows 11 supports multiple desktops, allowing users to group open apps and documents by task or project. For example, one desktop can house a user’s day-to-day admin work, while another holds presentations or creative tools.
Switching between desktops is as simple as pressing Windows + Tab, offering a smooth way to stay organised, especially in project-based roles or client-facing work.
This tip could help users maintain context and stay focused across varied workstreams without overwhelming a single workspace.
4. Use Widgets to Stay Updated
Widgets provide a snapshot of useful updates like weather, news, calendar appointments, and task lists, all accessible via a swipe or the Windows + W shortcut.
Microsoft pitches this as a way to streamline day-to-day information needs without opening multiple apps. Users can customise what they see and remove any widgets they don’t need.
Making more use of widgets could be ideal for quick, on-the-go updates, particularly for team members juggling schedules, appointments, or news-based roles.
5. Use Focus Sessions to Minimise Distraction
Focus Sessions, found within the Clock app, allow users to set structured time blocks for concentrated work (like Pomodoro Technique – Wikipedia). They sync with Microsoft To Do and reduce notifications during each timed session.
This tip supports better time management, encouraging workers to break large tasks into manageable chunks and avoid common distractions.
Using Focus Sessions could encourage better concentration habits and support mental well-being, particularly in hybrid or home-based settings.
6. Log In with Windows Hello
Windows Hello replaces passwords with biometric authentication e.g., facial recognition or fingerprint scanning, provided the device supports it.
Microsoft highlights this as a faster, more secure login method that also cuts down on password fatigue and reduces the risk of compromised credentials.
Using Windows Hello could strengthen endpoint security, simplify login workflows, and reduce password-related support issues, all of which could be of real value to businesses.
7. Enable Dark Mode for Comfort
Although it may sound like it, Dark Mode isn’t just a design choice, but is actually a feature designed to reduce eye strain, especially in low-light settings or during extended screen use. Windows 11 offers a system-wide toggle under Personalisation settings.
Users working late or on portable devices may find Dark Mode more comfortable, helping to reduce visual fatigue.
Using Dark Mode could actually improve long-term comfort for screen-heavy roles and can reduce energy consumption on OLED displays.
Why These Tips Matter
Together, these seven tips could be seen to demonstrate how Windows 11 is evolving beyond just a visual upgrade. They highlight Microsoft’s efforts to align the OS with modern working needs, prioritising comfort, personalisation, and smarter workflows.
For IT managers and business leaders, they also present an opportunity to:
- Improve the onboarding experience for new Windows 11 users.
- Drive better day-to-day productivity through built-in tools.
- Strengthen device-level security with password-less login.
- Encourage healthier digital habits across teams.
The key here is raising awareness, i.e. while these tips are all native to the operating system, few are actively promoted during setup. A lot of people actively avoid change, preferring to stick with working the way they always have done previously. Many users won’t explore new ways of working fully without guidance. It’s up to business leaders to actively promote the benefits to their workforce and plan how to secure ‘buy in’ from their end-users.
Not Without Challenges
Despite Microsoft’s efforts, for many people the road to better Windows 11 adoption isn’t entirely smooth.
For example, while some features, like Snap Layouts and Focus Sessions, are underused simply because users don’t know they exist, others (such as Windows Hello) require compatible hardware that may not be standard across all fleets. Also, while personalisation is encouraged, a lack of training or policy guidance could lead to inconsistent user experiences and increased support overhead.
There’s also the broader challenge of change management. Businesses still on Windows 10 may face staff resistance to visual shifts like the central Start Menu or the introduction of widgets (but honestly, it’s nowhere near as difficult to adjust to Windows 11 as it was to adjust to Windows 8!).
Without clear benefits being communicated, users will often stick to old habits or disable new tools entirely. For organisations managing hybrid or remote teams, there needs to be greater emphasis on setup guides, onboarding materials, and hands-on support during the transition.
What Does This Mean For Your Business?
Microsoft’s seven tips serve as a reminder that Windows 11 isn’t just about aesthetics, but is also about functionality, productivity, and preparing users for a more flexible, digital-first way of working. The operating system is already packed with features designed to make daily tasks easier and more secure. The benefits only materialise when users know where to find the tools and feel confident using them.
For UK businesses in particular, the timing matters. With the Windows 10 support deadline fast approaching, organisations are under pressure to modernise their desktop environments without causing unnecessary disruption. If applied well, Microsoft’s tips could ease that transition, helping teams get to grips with new interfaces and routines more quickly. In hybrid and remote contexts, where consistency and self-sufficiency are key, small gains in usability and performance can translate into real operational value.
That said, the success of this guidance will depend heavily on how well Microsoft, IT teams, MSPs, and internal champions communicate. Raising awareness is one thing, but embedding new habits across diverse user groups is quite another. Businesses investing in upfront user education, clear setup protocols, and device standardisation are better placed to unlock the full value of Windows 11.
Practical and Strategic
For Microsoft, this latest push is both practical and strategic. By encouraging users to make the most of what’s already under the hood, it positions Windows 11 as a platform that’s ready for the future, not just a necessary upgrade, but a smarter way to work.
Whether or not Microsoft’s message sticks will depend on how well the tech is backed by real-world support, and whether users can see clear advantages in making the switch. For now, the tools are there – it’s just a question of how many users take the time to work out which ones are helpful to them and get used to using them. Having a smarter way to work can be both practical and strategic or your business too!
You may find the prospect of having to upgrade or replace Windows 10 devices in the next few months potentially daunting. No-one ever wants to feel like they’re being forced to upgrade and it’s best not done in a rush! Good planning makes the process a lot less hassle. And that’s where we step in and make the process a lot less painful for you!
At a time when cashflow may be already tight due to rising running costs, you may find the prospect of having to upgrade or replace devices hard to bear, but here too we can help and support you!
Give us a call on 01535 358161 or drop us an email to info@cosurica.com
It will all seem much less daunting once you’ve had a chat with us!
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