Home windows 11 has a collection of default apps, however venturing past them can release an international of enhanced capability, customization, and personalised stories.Â
Whether or not you are looking to increase the capability of a particular utility or just a metamorphosis of tempo, selection apps can open up many probabilities. Alternatively, the most productive possible choices rely on what explicit app you would like to interchange and what options are vital to you.Â
As an example, if Microsoft Edge is not for you, it is conceivable to search out more uncomplicated and extra protected possible choices like Courageous. On the identical time, FastStone Symbol Viewer could make a very good alternative for the Pictures app. If you wish to exchange the default Record Explorer, the Recordsdata app is in all probability the most productive selection. Home windows 11 even features a Media Participant app, however it is restricted, so switching to the VLC app generally is a appropriate selection.
On this how-to information, I will proportion one of the crucial apps you’ll be able to use to interchange current stories on Home windows 11.Â
Choice apps for Home windows 11
Listed below are a dozen apps you’ll be able to use to interchange many default stories on Home windows 11, together with Record Explorer, Notepad, Microsoft Edge, Outlook, Pictures, Snipping Instrument, Media Participant, Sound Recorder, and Climate.
Those packages were decided on for his or her capability and skill to interchange different apps, no longer by way of their interface design.
Recordsdata
If you happen to to find that Record Explorer is not for you, Recordsdata is a wonderful selection because it provides nearly the similar options because the default record supervisor for Home windows 11, plus some further advantages.Â
The Recordsdata app supplies a an identical enjoy with a “House” web page, a left navigation pane, a tab gadget, and an identical controls. The adaptation with the app is that it features a extra fashionable interface with theme give a boost to, higher integration with cloud products and services (no longer only for OneDrive), cut up mode to view two folders facet by way of facet, a tagging gadget to prepare your contents, archival give a boost to to compress and extract information like “.zip,” “.rar,” and “.7z.”
Additionally, the settings web page (which makes use of a greater design than the only to be had on Record Explorer) lets you customise each and every side of the enjoy, together with the facility to switch the illusion, customise folder perspectives, backup and repair settings, and a lot more.Â
One of the most distinctive options of Recordsdata are the facility to backup and repair your settings, customise the interface with other colours, higher context menu integration, tags to prepare information and folders, further layouts to view your information, and extra complex “.zip,” “.rar,” or “.7z” record structure integration with the approach to open archival information which can be secure with passwords.
Even supposing you’ll be able to’t uninstall Record Explorer, you’ll be able to make Recordsdata your default record supervisor on Home windows 11.Â
Recordsdata is an open-source mission, and it is to be had without cost on the Microsoft Retailer. I even have a complete information that can assist you get began with Recordsdata.
7-Zip
Even supposing you’ll be able to use Record Explorer to open and extract “.zip,” “.rar,” or “.7z” archival codecs, the enjoy continues to be restricted to managing current information, and you continue to cannot create archival codecs like “.rar” or “.7z,” and it isn’t conceivable to open information which have been encrypted with passwords.
If you select the Recordsdata app, you are all set because the open-source record supervisor comes with this integration. Alternatively, if you need a devoted utility to open, extract, and create “.zip,” “.rar,” or “.7z,” then 7-Zip is the app you need.Â
7-Zip could also be an open-source utility that makes use of its personal 7z structure, incessantly attaining upper compression ratios than common codecs like ZIP and RAR, which interprets to smaller record sizes and more straightforward garage and switch.
The app additionally helps many archive codecs, together with “.zip,” “.rar,” “.7z,” “.gzip,” “.bzip2,” and plenty of extra, permitting you to open and extract virtually any compressed record.
You’ll use the app with more than a few compression ranges and algorithms for the most productive steadiness between record dimension and compression velocity. In case you are a extra technical consumer, 7-Zip provides a formidable command-line interface with in depth keep an eye on over archival duties.
If you happen to set up 7-Zip for your pc, you are getting one approach to paintings with many various archival codecs with much more advantages in case you use the 7z structure.
7-Zip is loose and open-source, and you’ll be able to get it from the Microsoft Retailer.
Notepad++
Microsoft has been specializing in the Notepad app by way of including new options and enhancements, however in case you are searching for a greater selection, in all probability Notepad++ is the app you wish to have.
Notepad++ is an open-source note-taking app very similar to Notepad however with many extra options and a standard interface design. Very similar to Notepad, the app contains give a boost to for tabs, auto-save, darkish theme, to find and substitute, however what makes it a greater utility are options like syntax highlighting, auto-completion, macro recording, and give a boost to for plugins (to call a couple of).Â
Syntax highlighting provides the facility to hit upon the language of the code to offer syntax highlighting and (restricted) autocompletion for lots of programming languages, akin to JSON, Python, C++, C#, Cobol, HTML, CSS, SQL, XML, XMAL, and plenty of extra.Â
Notepad++ helps plugins to increase the capability of the note-taking app. Some plugins come as a part of the app set up, however the “Plugin Admin” web page lets you get admission to over 100 further plugins, together with the “DSpellCheck” plugin that brings spell-checking to the app.
Additionally, the to find and substitute characteristic is extra tough than the only to be had on Notepad because it lets you use prolonged and common expression settings, and you’ll be able to seek and substitute content material throughout open information and within folders.
In contrast to the Notepad app, Notepad++ includes a slew of settings that let you keep an eye on each and every side of the app extra granularly. As an example, you’ll be able to customise the interface feel and appear, exchange the default file encoding, select the default running listing, keep an eye on auto-save, exchange record affiliation, and auto-complete.Â
Notepad++ is loose to make use of on Home windows 11, and you’ll be able to obtain and set up it to interchange Notepad from the respectable web page.
You’ll additionally be told extra concerning the variations between Notepad and Notepad++ in my comparability information to assist you make a decision which one you will have to select.
SumatraPDF
Certain, you’ll be able to double-click any PDF file, and it will open on Microsoft Edge by way of default. Alternatively, the file will open the Adobe Acrobat plugin preinstalled on the internet browser. The extension will give you some fundamental options to open and edit PDFs, however you’ll have to pay a subscription if you wish to get admission to the extra complex options.Â
SumatraPDF is a loose, appropriate alternative for the default PDF viewer and reader enjoy to be had on Home windows 11. It no longer handiest contains give a boost to for PDFs, however it might probably additionally paintings to open ebooks (akin to “.epub” and “.mobi”), DjVu, XPS, CHM, and it can be used as a picture viewer.
The app is light-weight and speedy, and you’ll be able to run it from the executable with out putting in anything else. As a part of the PDF enjoy, you’ll be able to use it to view and browse PDF paperwork in addition to fill out PDF bureaucracy.Â
Regardless of its conventional consumer interface, SumatraPDF is actively advanced and maintained, and you’ll be able to obtain it without cost from this obtain web page.
SumatraPDF is a brilliant selection for any person searching for a quick, light-weight, and loose PDF reader. It is full of options, clean to make use of, and extremely customizable. In case you are uninterested in the bloat and sluggishness of Adobe Acrobat Reader or the default PDF enjoy on Home windows 11 with Microsoft Edge in partnership with Adobe, I extremely suggest giving SumatraPDF a take a look at.
Thunderbird
In case you are searching for an e mail shopper to interchange the Outlook app for Home windows 11 to attach and organize your e mail accounts from other products and services (akin to Outlook, Gmail, iCloud, Yahoo, and plenty of others), Thunderbird will have to be on the best of your record.
Thunderbird is an open-source utility from Mozilla that no longer handiest helps many e mail products and services but it surely additionally comes with POP and IMAP give a boost to.Â
Even supposing the interface has passed through other updates, it nonetheless seems just a little dated, so you would not select this utility for its design enjoy. Alternatively, it keeps that acquainted seems very similar to the legacy model of the Outlook app from the Microsoft 365 suite (previously Microsoft Place of job) along some parts from the Firefox internet browser, akin to tabs.Â
Very similar to Outlook and different e mail purchasers, you’ll be able to get admission to and organize your calendars, contacts, and duties. You’ll even attach to speak networks like IRC, Matrix, XMPP, and so on.Â
It additionally provides some safety features like end-to-end encryption, and there’s give a boost to for add-ons that may support the enjoy. You’ll get admission to the settings to customise the enjoy, together with composing emails, safety, and theming. In fact, you even have keep an eye on of the e-mail account settings to switch the server configuration, keep an eye on the settings for folders, junk emails, synchronization, encryption, go back receipts, and extra.
Additionally, the Thunderbird app contains offline give a boost to, which continues to be no longer supported at the new model of Outlook for Home windows 11. Alternatively, Microsoft is operating at the give a boost to.
Thunderbird is loose, and you’ll be able to get it for Home windows 11, 10, macOS, and Linux from the respectable web page. By contrast, the Outlook app could also be loose, however you will have to have a Microsoft 365 subscription to release the entire options or get admission to the legacy model of the e-mail shopper.
In case you are the use of two-factor authentication, you will have to create an app password to arrange an Outlook account.
VLC
Home windows 11 comes with the Media Participant app to play movies and tune, however it is a fundamental utility that handiest helps some audio and video formats.Â
If you need an utility that may play nearly any video or audio structure, you will have to glance no additional than the VLC media participant.Â
VLC is a well-liked multimedia participant supported in maximum working programs, together with Home windows 11, 10, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.Â
Additionally, VLC is understood to play nearly any video structure, together with AVI, MP4, MKV, WMV, MOV, and FLV, and MP3, AAC, FLAC, OGG, and WAV for audio (to call a couple of). The app additionally helps streaming protocols from HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, MMS, DVDs, Audio CDs, VCDs, and more than a few streaming protocols.
Some of the largest strengths of VLC is its codec give a boost to. It comes with a integrated library of formats, so you do not want to obtain and set up any further tool to play maximum media information. This makes it a in point of fact transportable and flexible media participant.
Different issues that make VLC media participant stand out are that it is light-weight and resource-efficient because it does not use many gadget assets. It is extremely customizable, as you’ll be able to customise the interface, keyboard shortcuts, and plenty of different settings to fit your wishes. It helps subtitles and skins, and you’ll be able to use it as a streaming server to proportion your media with different units for your community.
Any other complex options come with a video converter and display screen recording.Â
Since it is extremely customizable and packs numerous options, the interface may also be overwhelming for brand new customers, as it would appear cluttered and complicated in comparison to the Media Participant.
The VLC media participant is totally loose, and you’ll be able to get it from the respectable obtain web page.
Audacity
On Home windows 11, the Sound Recorder is just right sufficient to report audio from nearly any microphone. Alternatively, if the app is not for you or you wish to have extra complex options, Audacity is a wonderful selection.
Audacity is a loose, open-source, multi-track audio editor and recorder extremely common for its user-friendly interface, tough options, and cross-platform give a boost to compatibility, together with Home windows 11, 10, macOS, and Linux. It is a very good possibility for any person who desires to report and edit audio in addition to combine audio.Â
Along with having the ability to seize sound from more than a few resources like microphones, line-ins, and virtual audio interfaces, you’ll be able to additionally use it to report multi-track audio, splendid for layering tools or vocals. Moreover, it is conceivable to regulate recording settings like pattern fee, bit intensity, and channels, and you’ll be able to even use silence detection and automated recording modes for comfort.
As for modifying, Audacity lets you reduce, reproduction, paste, and delete audio clips. Additionally, you’ll be able to observe more than a few results like echo, equalization, compression, and noise removing.
Moreover, it is conceivable to make use of this multi-track audio editor and recorder app to mix more than one audio tracks right into a unmarried combine, regulate quantity ranges, panning, and fades for every song, and upload markers and labels for simple navigation inside of your mission. Additionally, if you find yourself carried out modifying the combination mission, you’ll be able to export it in codecs like MP3, WAV, OGG, and FLAC.
Even supposing it has its studying curve for inexperienced persons, and the interface might appear intimidating, it is nonetheless a fairly easy-to-use utility. As an example, in case you handiest need to report vocals from a microphone, you handiest want to click on the “File” button after which the “Pause” or “Prevent” button, and probably the most steadily used equipment, akin to trim and silence, are proper subsequent to major controllers.Â
One of the most facets that make Audacity stand out are that the app is loose and to be had throughout platforms. The app does not require numerous assets and is extremely customizable. Due to the give a boost to for plugins and scripts, it is conceivable to increase the functionalities even additional.
In case you are searching for a loose and feature-rich audio editor as a substitute for the Sound Recorder, Audacity is value attempting. You may well be stunned by way of what you’ll be able to create. Audacity is to be had for obtain from its respectable web page.
Greenshot
On Home windows 11, at one level or any other, you almost certainly used the “Home windows key + Print Display” or the  “Fn + Home windows key + Area Bar” keyboard shortcut or the Snipping Instrument to take a screenshot. Even supposing those options paintings properly, in case your paintings calls for taking many screenshots day by day, you almost certainly temporarily understand those options are somewhat restricted.Â
In case you are searching for a extra complex selection, you’re going to to find many choices on the web, however the only you will have to give a “shot” is the Greenshot app.
Greenshot is a loose and open-source screenshot utility for Home windows 11, which is understood for being clean to make use of enjoy and extremely configurable. Usually, this can be a common selection for technical writers, testers, tool builders, and any person else who must take screenshots ceaselessly.
The app lets you simply seize all the display screen, a area, a window, or perhaps a explicit internet part. Even supposing you’ll be able to annotate screenshots with the integrated Snipping Instrument, Greenshot lets you do much more, like annotating with arrows, textual content, shapes, and extra.
You’ll additionally blur delicate data or spotlight key spaces and save your screenshots in plenty of codecs, together with PNG, JPG, and PDF.Â
Some further options that make Greenshot a greater selection for Home windows 11 customers are the mixing with different equipment like symbol editors, Microsoft 365 apps (akin to Phrase, Outlook, and PowerPoint), and cloud garage products and services.
Moreover, within the settings, you’ll be able to map keyboard shortcuts to seize all the or a part of the display screen or configure a shortcut to seize a area or window. Additionally it is conceivable to configure the garage location, default symbol structure, automate filename trend, and extra.Â
Even supposing Greenshot has extra options than the Snipping Instrument, it’s nonetheless a simple utility with a minimal studying curve, but it surely has an intuitive interface. In fact, you might be able to to find different possible choices, however they’re generally top rate choices.
Greenshot is to be had for Home windows 11 and macOS, and you’ll be able to get it from its respectable web page.Â
FastStone Symbol Viewer
The Pictures app is likely one of the best possible symbol audience that Home windows customers ever had, however in case you are searching for an alternate, you might have considered trying to check out the FastStone Symbol Viewer app.Â
FastStone Symbol Viewer is a loose, tough, flexible symbol viewer, browser, converter, and editor. This utility has been round for a very long time, however the construction continues to be (very) energetic, even if the interface nonetheless seems dated.Â
Some of the options that makes this app a really perfect selection to the default symbol viewer on Home windows 11 is the facility to navigate thru huge collections of pictures temporarily and simply with thumbnail previews and batch operations.
It additionally helps nearly each and every primary graphic structure, together with JPEG, JPEG 2000, BMP, GIF, PNG, PCX, TIFF, WMF, ICO, TGA, or even digicam uncooked information. You’ll additionally create slideshows with more than a few transition results, background tune, and narration.
The app additionally contains crucial modifying equipment: crop, resize, rotate, sharpen, and regulate brightness, distinction, and saturation. You’ll additionally use the app to take away pesky red-eye from footage, and it is conceivable to use modifying movements to more than one photographs without delay, saving you effort and time. The picture viewer additionally helps results and filters.
Moreover, this symbol viewer additionally packs options like display screen seize and magnifier. You’ll examine photographs facet by way of facet, and it is conceivable to transform photographs to other codecs simply.
FastStone Symbol Viewer feels extra flexible, particularly for surfing, managing, and fundamental modifying huge collections of pictures. It is nice for energy customers and photographers.
The FastStone Symbol Viewer is to be had without cost, and you’ll be able to get it from its respectable web page.
Paint.NET
Microsoft has been proactively making improvements to, including new options, and integrating its AI features into its Paint app. Alternatively, if the picture modifying device continues to be restricted, an alternate possibility is the Paint.NET app.Â
Paint.NET is a loose and open-source symbol modifying tool for Home windows 11 (and older variations). At first designed as a easy improve to Microsoft Paint, it has developed into a flexible device for picture modifying, graphic design, and virtual artwork.
If you wish to have to paintings with photographs, Paint.NET provides a pleasant interface for inexperienced persons and skilled customers. It additionally contains equipment for cropping, resizing, rotating, adjusting colours, making use of results, and extra.
Very similar to lately up to date Paint, the picture editor lets you paintings on more than one layers independently, supplying you with higher flexibility and keep an eye on over your edits, and it provides plenty of particular results, together with blur, polishing, shadows, and textures.
Every other energy of the Paint.NET is its give a boost to for plugins that let you prolong its capability.Â
Whilst Paint.NET is extra complex than Microsoft Paint, it is much less tough than different top rate choices, akin to Photoshop. Alternatively, it is extremely customizable and well-suited for inexperienced persons and informal customers who don’t want the entire suite of options introduced by way of skilled equipment.
Paint.NET is to be had without cost, and you’ll be able to get it from its respectable web page.
SimpleWeather
On Home windows 11, the default Climate app supplies a just right enjoy to get the forecast on your present and different places. Alternatively, if you need one thing more practical and other, then the SimpleWeather app is for you.
Because the title implies, it is a easy app that displays the present climate stipulations out of your places with an interface that fits the design language of Home windows 11.
As a part of the main points, you get a seven-day forecast, hourly climate data, charts for precipitation and wind, in addition to information about the moon, daybreak and sundown time table, radar, and extra.
SimpleWeather is loose, and you’ll be able to set up it from the Microsoft Retailer.
Courageous
The browser enjoy may also be arguable since all of us have other critiques, and infrequently, we even select an utility in line with the platform we adore. Alternatively, if you are feeling that Microsoft Edge is not for you and need one thing other, the Courageous browser is also an appropriate selection.
Courageous is a loose and open-source fashionable internet browser created in line with Google’s Chromium browser mission that makes use of the similar surfing engine as Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. Alternatively, Courageous contains some distinctive customizations that make it a greater browser for the ones desirous about privateness and safety however nonetheless need a speedy on-line enjoy.
Most likely probably the most vital variations is that Courageous blocks commercials and trackers by way of default, which will increase privateness, improves web page loading, and forestalls entrepreneurs from monitoring your on-line actions. As well as, this browser enforces protected connections, blocks fingerprinting and malware, prevents scripts from working for your tool, and integrates the Tor community for an much more non-public enjoy on the expense of velocity.
Courageous even contains an approach to sync your browse throughout units (together with cellular) with out growing an account to forestall syncing your knowledge to the cloud. The browser accomplishes this by way of growing a singular token you’ll be able to use for your different units to sync your knowledge.
Very similar to Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, the Courageous browser provides give a boost to for tabs, extensions, VPN (paid provider), a pleasant interface, customization settings, and give a boost to for all internet requirements.Â
If you make a decision to change to Courageous, you’ll be able to use those directions to obtain and get began with the browser.Â
Extra assets
For extra useful articles, protection, and solutions to commonplace questions on Home windows 10 and Home windows 11, talk over with the next assets:Â