These two tools, which are really an extension of the Taskbar, used to be combined into a single panel called the Action Center in Windows 10, accessed by clicking the date & time or by pressing Win Key + A. In Windows 11, these two tools have been separated.
In This Lesson…
Using the Notification Center
The Notifications Center can still be opened by clicking the date & time, although if you have no waiting notifications, it will not be shown. You can also use Win Key + N.
1 – If you have unseen notifications waiting, a small numerical badge will appear at the far right of the Taskbar. Clicking this will also open the Notifications Center.
2 – You can click on a notification to see more information about it or to be taken to the app or setting it is concerned with.
3 – To remove notifications, click the X next to it in the Notifications Center. You can also use the “Clear all” button at the top.
Using the Quick Settings
The Quick Settings or Quick Actions panel can now be accessed using the Windows Key + A keyboard shortcut, or by clicking on one of the System Tools icons (power, WiFi, sound, etc). This panel contains buttons to enable/disable certain settings, such as WiFi, Bluetooth and Flight Mode.
1 – To edit the quick settings buttons that appear in the panel, open it and click the edit button (pencil) at the bottom.
2 – The current buttons will display with an unpin icon, which can be clicked to remove them
3 – To add different buttons, click the + add button at the bottom, then select the quick setting you want to add from the menu that pops up. Repeat this for all buttons you want to add.
4 – Click “Done” when you are happy with the buttons on the Quick Settings panel. Click anywhere away from the panel to close it.