When you log into your computer and click the Start Menu button, you will see many things. However, look to the lower-left corner and you will see your Profile Picture. You may or may not have a Profile Picture, if you set up one for your account you will. If you have not set it previously or your computer did it for you, you may just have an initial or two. First, let us look at how to set one up. Start by right-clicking on your start menu, then click on “Settings.” If you see, “Accounts” on the left side, click it. If you do not see it, click the small left-facing arrow in the top-left corner, then choose “Accounts” from the list. Then scroll down and select, “Your info.” See the video below for a walk-through.
You may also click on the actual profile picture and choose, “Change account settings” and get to the same location. This is much faster, but you also should know how to get to your general settings area.
Your profile picture in the corner acts like your unique key to your personalized space on the machine.
As you saw above, you get a couple of choices when you click (or right-click) your profile picture. Settings allow you to modify your account details like password, email address, and even your profile picture as you saw. Next, “Lock” will let you lock your computer and walk away so no one else can access it. You may also use the key combination of Windows key + L to lock it. Finally, “Sign out” is where you may click to log out of the account. This option safely ends your session, letting other users use the computer if they have been set up. This does not shut down your computer.
Now, we will check out some other Settings. Imagine Settings as the control center of your computer. Accessible by right-clicking the Start menu and choosing it. A quick way to access settings is to use the key combination of the Windows key + I. It is like a comprehensive toolbox with various sections to fine-tune your Windows experience.
When you are in settings, maximize the window so you may see all the items you may change from the menu of the left. There are 12 of them in my settings. You may have more or less, depending on what update you are on and which version of Windows 11 you have. You already used the “Accounts” area of settings above. But if you browse through it, you will see other things you could do from there. The first things I see under Accounts are advertisements for games and Microsoft Office. Then lower down the screen there is “Your info” where you were above. Next are the “Sign-in options,” take a look as you may see a better way to log into your computer. I will not cover them all, but next I would like to mention “Family.”
If you have younger kids around and what to “keep an eye” on them, this is where you want to be. It allows you to set up limits for things like; App and game screen time limits (on Windows, Xbox, and Android) along with device screen time limits (for Windows and Xbox). It will also allow them to ask you for special times to be using these, and also “Activity summaries” informing you of what they have been doing online.
Next week will we take a look at a few other settings in, “Settings” for Windows 11 (yes, I did that on purpose). And do not forget to check GrayHaired.Tech for some helpful graphics and videos.
