Chapter 4. Managing a computing session

In this section:

The most common Windows 8.1 settings are available from the Settings charm, which provides tools for managing a computing session effectively. You can change the brightness of the screen, increase or decrease the volume, and power down the device, among other things. The main purpose of the Settings charm then, is to offer a quick and easy way to access these common configurations that you will need in most computing sessions.

Exploring the Settings charm

The most commonly used session-related settings for Windows can be reached from the charms, which you can display along the right edge of any screen. Clicking the Settings charm displays a group of commonly used settings that include volume and brightness, among other things.

Explore the Settings charm

Press the Windows logo key+C to display the charms.
Click the Settings charm.
Note the options listed at the bottom of the Settings pane (listed in the table below in order from top-left to bottom-right).

Settings charms
Charm	Results
Network	Displays a list of available networks; lets you connect and disconnect from networks.
Sound	Displays a slider for increasing and decreasing volume. You can also mute sound quickly.
Brightness	Displays a slider to adjust screen brightness.
Notifications	Offers settings for hiding notifications for 8 hours, 3 hours, or 1 hour.
Power	Displays three commands: Sleep, Shut Down, Restart.
Keyboard	Offers settings for language and displaying a touch keyboard.

Try This

Try the Windows logo key + I to open the Settings charm by using the keyboard. Flick in from the right-side of the screen on a touch-compatible device to access all of the charms.

Controlling volume

Some individual desktop apps, such as Music, have their own volume controls. However, the Windows system volume is a master control. If you set the system volume to 50 percent, app volume controls can’t make the volume any louder than that. Setting an app volume to 80 percent would mean that it’s playing at 80 percent of the Windows system volume setting. It’s quite common to want to adjust the system volume or mute sound entirely, which you can do by using the Volume slider.

Adjust system volume

Press Windows logo key+I.
Click the Volume button; it will likely have a number on it to denote the current setting.
Click and drag the slider to raise or lower volume.
Click the volume icon at the top of the slider to mute the volume.

Tip

When the master volume is high, so are the system sounds, such as the sound that plays when a new email arrives. You can lower the system sounds to minimize the impact of those sounds while listening to music or playing a movie at a high volume. To do this, open the desktop, click the volume icon on the taskbar, and click Mixer. Move the slider for System Sounds as desired.

Adjusting brightness

There are many reasons why you might need to adjust the brightness of your display. You might want to lower it while reading an e-book or raise it while working indoors in a dark room. While running a device like a laptop or tablet on battery power, you can lower the brightness to lengthen battery life. You might need to reconfigure brightness settings when you move from one environment to another, such as from an office or cubicle to a taxi, train, or subway.

Set brightness

Press Windows logo key+I.
Click the Brightness button.
Click and drag the slider to increase or decrease brightness.

Try This

If you have a laptop, look for keys on the keyboard that have the Brightness icon on them. Some keyboards offer this on the navigation arrows that are located on the right side of the keyboard, near the bottom, while others offer this on the Function keys that run across the top.

Changing the time and date

Your computer uses a specific time zone to display clocks on the desktop’s taskbar, set calendar applications to the correct date, run scheduled maintenance tasks, and so on. The time zone you select (or the time zone your computer has selected for you) keeps track of the time automatically. Depending on the device you use, the settings you’ve configured, and whether or not location services are enabled, the time might update on its own when you travel to different time zones. However, no matter what the settings, often the correct time is required for certain apps to work properly (or work at all), so it’s important to know how to change the time zone when applicable.

Managing power

Windows puts your computer to sleep after a specific amount of idle time, which saves battery power if you have a laptop or tablet and conserves energy if you are connected to a power outlet. While the computer is asleep, a black screen hides your work until you wake it. Sleep is a power option.

There are two other power options. You can restart your computer, which you’ll need to do when you install or run certain apps or need to put certain changes into effect. You can also shut your computer down, for example, if you need to move your desktop computer to a new location or if you won’t be using your computer for a while.

Put to sleep, shut down, or restart your computer

Press Windows logo key+I.
Click the Power button.
Click the Sleep, Shut Down, or Restart command, depending on what you want to do.

Try This

Right-click the Start button from any screen, and point to Shut Down or Sign Out. Then, click Sign Out, Sleep, Shut Down, or Restart as desired.

Displaying a touch keyboard

If you have a touch device, you’ll need access to the touch keyboard. You can find this from the Settings charm. You can tap the virtual keys to type. This keyboard also offers a handwriting panel, which allows you to enter text by “writing” with your mouse, finger, or a stylus.

Display the keyboard and handwriting panel

Press Windows logo key+I.
Click Keyboard.
Click Touch Keyboard And Handwriting Panel.
Click the keyboard icon to switch to another format.
Click the Handwriting Panel icon.
Click or tap to write something in the resulting handwriting panel.
Click the Hide button to hide the keyboard.

Tip

Use the keyboard format setting to display a split screen. This style of screen makes it easier to type on a smaller device such as a Windows 8.1 tablet, where you might use both your thumbs to hit keys on different edges of the screen.

Connecting to a network

A network is a group of computers. There are public networks and private networks. For the most part, networks are used to share data, resources, and/or an Internet connection. At home and in the office, you’ll connect to a private network. At libraries and coffee shops, you’ll connect to a public one. The Settings charm offers a way to connect to networks easily.

Connect or disconnect from a network

Press Windows logo key+I.
Click the Network button.
Click a network connection or an available network.
If you aren’t connected, click the Connect button.
As applicable, type any passcode or passkey; choose what to share on the network when prompted.

Caution

You won’t be able to connect to a private network without the password, sometimes called a passkey. You will probably be able to connect to public networks without a key, although on occasion a key will be required. You might also have to access a webpage and accept terms of use before you can join.