Windows 11 Operation Tips and Issues Log; Win 11 shortcuts; Dark mode (including Chrome on Android)

Last updated on 20 Apr 2026
Dark Reader Attr & CSS removed on 27 Apr 2026
Chronological Order

5th Feb. 2025
Today (which perhaps was there yesterday too but I am not sure), I started facing a problem of slow PC operation on Windows 11. Saw that the disk activity light was almost constantly on. Task Manager showed "windows modules installer worker" as the CPU hog.
Net browsing indicated that it could be related to Windows Update. I recalled that I had a partially done optional update which I later realized I don't need.
To fix that, I followed general instructions on Troubleshoot Windows Update in this video (around 1st half of video, IFIRC): How to Fix the Windows Modules Installer 100% Disk Issue [Guide], https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nony1q7F5oQ , around 4 mins, Jun. 2024.
Key action that seems to have fixed the issue for me: As admin, search Troubleshoot -> Choose Troubleshoot Settings -> Other troubleshooters -> Click on Run button for Windows Update. That brought up another 'Get Help' window which took some time to show its contents (seems like online stuff), where I chose "I can't download, install or uninstall an update". That came up with a permission prompt for running Windows update automatic diagnostic. I chose Yes. It took quite some time to do the work but eventually reported that it fixed the problem. The almost always on disk activity light issue was not there anymore and the system had become fast (responsive).
---------
15th Feb. 2025
Showing folder hierarchy in Windows 11 File Explorer:
In the left pane of File Explorer, right click near the dividers (horizontal lines) and outside of selection area of entries (drives/folders) or scroll to bottom of left pane and right click in area below the last entry. In the popup menu that is shown, choose "Show all folders" and/or "Expand to current folder".
--------

18th Feb. 2025
To enable WinMerge in Context Menu:
In WinMerge program: Edit -> Options -> Shell Integration -> Choose 'Register shell extension for Windows 11 or later'
Also confirm that 'Explorer' -> Add to Context Menu -> is checked.
The above procedure worked for me on 17 Feb. 2025 with recently downloaded and installed WinMerge ... Version 2.16.44.0 .. X64

==================
If USB backup devices like 1 TB ext. disk or Extreme pen drive do not show up as 'Connected to USB 3.0' in Settings->Bluetooth & Devices -> Devices , then if on a metered Internet connection switch off the metered button (make it unmetered) for some minutes. After this time, the device(s) will be shown as 'Connected to USB 3.0'. Now the metered Internet connection switch can be put on again.
==================

13 Mar. 2025, updated on 20 Apr. 2026


Very useful Win shortcuts that I have tested and work:

Open or close the Start menu: Win
Open Quick Link menu: Win + X
Open search: Win + Q OR Win + S
Open the Run dialog box: Win  + R
Open Windows Speech-To-Text (Dictation): Win + H

Open File Explorer: Win  + E
Open Terminal: Win + X (Quick Link menu) followed by i 
    [Mouse right-click on Start button + click Terminal is easy way using Mouse]

Open Task View: Win + Tab

Open Snap Layouts: Win + Z
Snap window down: Win + Alt + Down arrow (Sometimes needs to be done twice)
Snap window up: Win + Alt + Up arrow (Sometimes needs to be done twice)
Snap window left: Win + Left arrow
Snap window right: Win + Right arrow
Restore snapped/max window: Win + Shift + Down arrow

Stretch desktop window to top and bottom: Win + Shift + Up arrow

Minimize active window: Win + Down arrow (Sometimes needs to be done twice)
Maximize active window: Win + Up arrow (Sometimes needs to be done twice)
Minimize all windows: Win + M
Restore minimized windows: Win + Shift + M
    [If window is in group, it may first have to be 'restored from snap (group)'
    before Maximize or Minimize keyboard shortcuts work.]

Open Settings: Win  + I
Open the Windows 11 action center: Win + A
Open notification center and calendar: Win  + N
Open Settings -> System -> About : Win + Pause

Lock the computer: Win  + L

Display and hide the desktop: Win + D
Temporarily peek at the desktop: Win  + comma (,)

Full screen screenshot (saved to Pictures/Screenshots straightaway): Win + PrtScn
Like PrtScn: Win + Shift + S

Open the clipboard history: Win + V

Open the sound output page of quick settings: Win + Ctrl + V
Mute or unmute the microphone in supported apps: Win + Alt + K

Open the emoji/symbols/gif panel: Win + Period (.) OR Win + Semicolon (;)
Search in it is useful (e.g. smile)
On Screen Keyboard: Win + Ctrl + O 

Magnifier on: Win + '+'
Zoom in/out : Win + '+' / Win + '-'
Magnifier off: Win + Esc

Toggle Contrast theme: Left Alt+left Shift+Print screen


22 Mar. 2025

How to Enable Excel Dark Mode? 2 Easy Methods, https://www.simonsezit.com/article/excel-dark-mode/

Foxit PDF Reader dark mode: File -> Skins -> Dark Mode AND View -> Night Mode. Ref: https://lightpdf.com/dark-mode-pdf-reader.html
------------------

24 Mar. 2025
For some programs, dark mode comes into play via Windows Settings → 'Accessibility' → 'Contrast themes' and a dark contrast theme being chosen. But that messes up Windows 11 dark theme!
Solution may be to use shortcut key of toggling the contrast theme: Left Alt + Left Shift + PrtScn
=================

How to Enable High Contrast Mode in Windows 11, https://winaero.com/how-to-enable-high-contrast-mode-in-windows-11/ 
Covers the topic in detail including File explorer, Powershell, free app stuff related to it.
================

[See below for Chrome dark/light mode browser level support for PC and mobile]
Based on above:  chrome://flags -> "Darken websites checkbox in themes setting"
-------------------

15 Apr. 2025
After a long time, I tried Windows Update on the Windows 11 PC I had upgraded in end Jan. this year. The update is failing with messages like the one below (I tried multiple times over 2 to 3 days):
2025-04 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5055523)
Failed to install on ‎14-‎04-‎2025 - 0x80248014
I then tried to run Windows Update troubleshooter. It gave the message:
The Windows Update diagnostic failed to run.
Note that I had confirmed that both the WiFi connection was set to not metered and Windows Update setting was to allow it to download through metered connection.
------------

I then chose to download the updates individually. Given below is an edited log of that activity.
Downloading failed updates through: https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/home.aspx

windows11.0-kb5054979-x64-ndp481_8e2f730bc747de0f90aaee95d4862e4f88751c07.msu (71.6 MB)
UpdateID
aca4007a-5c34-451d-9208-7aaf77964f0b
Download Updates
2025-04 Cumulative Update for .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8.1 for Windows 11, version 24H2 for x64 (KB5054979)
windows11.0-kb5054979-x64-ndp481_8e2f730bc747de0f90aaee95d4862e4f88751c07.msu (SHA1: ji9zC8dH3g+Qqu6V1IYuT4h1HAc=) (SHA256: G4ELFagv13S2EtWO4z89kcgpDSyZFlYdD/EjU5R+DLo=)

for "2025-04 Cumulative Update for .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8.1 for Windows 11, version 24H2 for x64 (KB5054979)"
----------

For "2025-04 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5055523)"
Download
UpdateID
12dd009e-8e58-469a-ba76-743e7ba68c61
Download Updates
2025-04 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5055523)
windows11.0-kb5055523-x64_b1df8c7b11308991a9c45ae3fba6caa0e2996157.msu (SHA1: sd+MexEwiZGpxFrj+6bKoOKZYVc=) (SHA256: dveM2RHxLLda3uGG1cUlhbCIFQ2MH4JAMYucmiOe4Zo=)
windows11.0-kb5043080-x64_953449672073f8fb99badb4cc6d5d7849b9c83e8.msu (SHA1: lTRJZyBz+PuZuttMxtXXhJucg+g=) (SHA256: gZYyYQoQGvEccpB/sT/wW1+0IiwOJj7poDvMHR1fJqQ=)
-----

It has two links! I think it is in two parts. 1st download is 778 MB. Airtel data got over before it got finished. I switched to Jio and was given Resume option in Chrome download. It picked up the download from earlier point and finished the download. Don't know if data file will be OK.
2nd download is 509 MB. That too got done. The downloads were done quite quickly as they were done btw 11 PM and 12 midnight now.

That matches the 1287.2 MB size shown against the KB in Windows Update Catalog: https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB5055523

Installed windows11.0-kb5054979-x64-ndp481_8e2f730bc747de0f90aaee95d4862e4f88751c07.msu - that got done in some seconds (within 1 minute).

Next: windows11.0-kb5055523-x64_b1df8c7b11308991a9c45ae3fba6caa0e2996157.msu - That took longer for unpacking and then gave some error.
windows11.0-kb5043080-x64_953449672073f8fb99badb4cc6d5d7849b9c83e8.msu - That failed saying it may need some other update first. 
Let me try restart and then retry above two in same order.

After restart, tried installing windows11.0-kb5055523-x64_b1df8c7b11308991a9c45ae3fba6caa0e2996157.msu. It gave the error (which I think is the same error I had got earlier): "Installer encountered an error: 0x800f0838"
Probably I have a corrupted file due to switching from Airtel to Jio in middle of download (without explicitly pausing the download).
Let me re-download it. I have switched back to Airtel as it is around 12.15 AM and the Airtel new daily data pack of 1.5 GB is available. Jio had crossed 50% and so I did not want to take a chance re-downloading with that:
windows11.0-kb5055523-x64_b1df8c7b11308991a9c45ae3fba6caa0e2996157.msu (SHA1: sd+MexEwiZGpxFrj+6bKoOKZYVc=) (SHA256: dveM2RHxLLda3uGG1cUlhbCIFQ2MH4JAMYucmiOe4Zo=)
----
It seemed to have got downloaded quickly but on examining it, it shows an error. Trying Resume (but without mobile provider switching). That finished.
Installing it gave an error again.. But do I need to clear the cache first?
...
Skipped logging some stuff
....
How to fix Windows update error 0x800f0838, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_YtLuwpD-I
Delete contents of C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution
DISM Command: DISM /Online /Add-Package /PackagePath 

DISM /Online /Add-Package /PackagePath:"C:\Users\{Username}\Desktop\Temp\windows11.0-kb5055523-x64_b1df8c7b11308991a9c45ae3fba6caa0e2996157.msu"
-----
Above command is running. Taking lot of time .. Lot of disk activity. Still in "Processing 1 of 1' step.
[Summary: DISM execution took around one and a half hours to finish. DISM successfully installed the update and after PC restart, the PC worked correctly. But I was quite worried during the around one and a half hours it took whether this long time it took indicated some problems.]
Details ...
Perhaps over 10 mins now ... I think this is too risky to do without me knowing about DISM.
Now it is perhaps 20 to 30 mins and it has still not exited. The disk light had stopped for some time and then has restarted.
Oh! Now it shows an 80% message.
Now it is showing 100&. 30 to 40 mins perhaps since it started. But it is still running!
Now it is showing another 10% line! My God! How this video misled me to think it would be a straightforward and quick task!  
...
Now it is 2.05 am DISM is at 2nd line 93 pc.
Easily over an hour. perhaps closer to 1.5 hrs. What a horrible experience!

At 2.10 am, it got over
Windows Restart took some time.
Eventually it came up!
But Windows Update in Settings reports:
2025-04 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5055523)
Download error - 0x80248014
----
and gives option to Retry!

Will now try to install windows11.0-kb5043080-x64_953449672073f8fb99badb4cc6d5d7849b9c83e8.msu. It gave same or similar error as earlier. Looks like this may not be required for me.
Used Pause update for 1 week followed by Resume updates to force Check for Updates.
It says, I am "up to date"!

Oh boy! Given all this torture I went through, I at least have the satisfaction of seemingly having got the Windows Update stuff done.
While Windows update history does not list the KBs as installed, using Systeminfo command in admin Powershell (Ref: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/761564/there-are-multiple-ways-to-check-for-applied-updat ) provided the following Hotfix info:
Hotfix(s):                     6 Hotfix(s) Installed.
                               [01]: KB5054979
                               [02]: KB5048779
                               [03]: KB5050575
                               [04]: KB5055523
                               [05]: KB5050387
                               [06]: KB5058538
============
So the two key KBs of "2025-04 Cumulative Update for Windows 11 Version 24H2 for x64-based Systems (KB5055523)" and "2025-04 Cumulative Update for .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8.1 for Windows 11, version 24H2 for x64 (KB5054979)" did get installed. These were the two that were not getting successfully downloaded by Windows Update.

==================
==================

24 & 25 May 2025

In Windows Update -> Advanced Options -> Delivery Optimization, I had 0.1 Mbps Background limit in Mbps and 0.1 Mbps Foreground limit in Mbps. I think earlier I had thought that this applies only to sharing of Windows updates with other devices and not thought that it might impact my own PC's Windows update. I may have set it in the past when my daily data was getting consumed too fast and forgot about this setting.
After removing the limits, the Windows Update downloads happened quite quickly. So that was the problem and now I don't think I need to worry about this slow download of Windows Update in future.

Note that I usually control the update download stuff by turning off download over metered connections (my WiFi hotspot conn.)

=============

Updating Windows using individual files download outside of Windows Update:

1) Download KB from Microsoft Update catalog site. This involves identifying which of the download links should be used.
2) Download all .msu files shown in the Download popup. For this download, for over 500 MB files, explore good free download utility that handles breaks in Internet during download and reuses earlier parts downloaded correctly.
3) Check whether SHA of downloaded file matches SHA (Base64) specified in Download popup. If not, we may have a corrupted download file which would, in all probability, have to be discarded and the download would have to be done again. Use Check-FileHash.ps1 [Ref: Powershell script to check SHA1 and SHA256 of downloaded Windows Update file, https://gist.github.com/ravisiyer/67f712acb904a84cc4879f6623a6bf74 ]
4) Try using WUSA to install the downloaded MSUs in right order as given in detailed page for the KB like https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/may-13-2025-kb5058411-os-build-26100-4061-356568c2-c730-469e-819d-b680d43b1265#id0enbd=catalog . If that does not work try using DISM. Note that .exe files do not get installed by WUSA. Alwo note that last time I used DISM , IFIRC, it took horrendously long (some hours).

certutil command and Powershell Get-FileHash give SHA1 OR SHA256 of a file in Hex.
========

Example output of Check-FileHash.ps1

KB890830> ..\Check-FileHash.ps1 .\windows-kb890830-x64-v5.133_520f72b0ed0a3b1610e49a9ffc58aa497ed27c59.exe 51F0ubNdpupkKSYM7Yq1ec2S4I+vLGiwNA0qa9vl+e4=

File: windows-kb890830-x64-v5.133_520f72b0ed0a3b1610e49a9ffc58aa497ed27c59.exe

== SHA1 ==
Hex     : 520f72b0ed0a3b1610e49a9ffc58aa497ed27c59
Base64  : Ug9ysO0KOxYQ5Jqf/FiqSX7SfFk=
In filename? Yes

== SHA256 ==
Hex     : e75174b9b35da6ea6429260ced8ab579cd92e08faf2c68b0340d2a6bdbe5f9ee
Base64  : 51F0ubNdpupkKSYM7Yq1ec2S4I+vLGiwNA0qa9vl+e4=

Comparing to expected SHA256 Base64:
Expected: 51F0ubNdpupkKSYM7Yq1ec2S4I+vLGiwNA0qa9vl+e4=
Computed: 51F0ubNdpupkKSYM7Yq1ec2S4I+vLGiwNA0qa9vl+e4=
SHA256 matches!
================================

I downloaded all the KB files needed and SHA1, SHA256 of these downloaded files match MS Update Catalog site. The total size was around 4 GB+. But during the end phase of this download, I figured out the Background update limit issue mentioned earlier after which Windows Update itself was happening quite quickly and so the more cumbersome procedure of these KB files being updated individually was not needed.

Due to a minor issue of me trying out Pause Updates, Windows Update seemed to have got confused about the installation status of KB5058411 and showed it as failed and gave a Retry option. But SystemInfo confirmed that KB5058411 was installed. So did, 'Get-HotFix -Id KB5058411' command.

With ChatGPT's help, I tried out various steps. But the key steps that seems to have worked are: clearing Update cache (in command prompt):
net stop wuauserv
net stop bits
rd /s /q %windir%\SoftwareDistribution
net start wuauserv
net start bits
-----
Windows restart and then doing Retry all in Windows Update which started 'Check for Updates'.

Check for Updates got over in a few minutes. It gave a green tickmark indicating clean status and the earlier KB5058411 error message was not shown.
The Update History also does not show the "Failed to install on ‎24-‎05-‎2025 - 0xc1900401" error it showed for this KB earlier on. But neither does it say that the KB got installed.

SystemInfo gives:

Hotfix(s):                     5 Hotfix(s) Installed.
                               [01]: KB5054979
                               [02]: KB5048779
                               [03]: KB5050575
                               [04]: KB5058411
                               [05]: KB5058523
------
So I got a clean sheet for Windows Update with only its Update History not reflecting the KB5058411 update.
------
Here's my script with minor modifications to what ChatGPT provided:
Powershell script to check SHA1 and SHA256 of downloaded Windows Update file, https://gist.github.com/ravisiyer/67f712acb904a84cc4879f6623a6bf74
I shared the ChatGPT chat: https://chatgpt.com/share/6832137b-3984-8013-94e9-73472259f8d7 . It has the two versions of the script provided by ChatGPT.

=================
6 Oct. 2025 Update
  • Wanted F6 to add comma: 18:18, 06 October 2025
  • Used following procedure
    • Open Notepad++ → Settings → Preferences → Multi-Instance & Date
      • Custom format: HH:mm, dd MMMM yyyy
    • Settings → Shortcut Mapper → Main Menu
      • Date Time (customized) -> Map to F6 (removed earlier F6 mapping to Date/Time (long))
  • Also added 'DTC Timestamp to Clip' Run command which copies timestamp in dtc function format (see below for dtc function details) to clipboard.
    • In Notepad++ → Run → Run…, enter:
    • powershell -NoProfile -WindowStyle Hidden -Command "Get-Date -Format 'yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss' | clip"
    • Click “Save…” → give it the name: DTC Timestamp to Clip
    • As shortcut key, specify: Ctrl + F6
    • Now to insert DTC timestamp in file, use Ctrl + F6 → Ctrl+V
end 6 Oct. 2025 Update

6 Jun. 2025

To insert current date and time in Notepad++: [Mapped now to F6] Edit → Insert -> Date/Time (Long) [Inserts 20:40 06 June 2025]
20:44 06 June 2025
Settings → Shortcut Mapper -> Date Time (Long) -> Double-Click -> Specify key (like F6)

In Powershell to copy current date-time to clipboard:  date | clip
Then paste (Ctrl+V) gives:  
06 June 2025 20:50:28

Powershell function (can be added to profile)
function dtc { Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss" | clip }
Running dtc followed by paste (Ctrl+V) gives:  
2025-06-06 20:53:31
========================
9 Jun. 2025

In Notepad++, assigned F10 to ContentCopied macro. Procedure:
  1. Macro -> Start Recording
  2. Typed in the content copied related string. [Clipboard paste resulted in paste being recorded rather than Clipboard contents.]
  3. Macro -> Stop Recording
  4. Macro -> Save Current Recorded Macro ... Gave name of ContentCopied and F10 as shortcut key. If shortcut key is already mapped to something else, it gives some conflict message.
Settings -> Shortcut mapper lists the various shortcut mappings.
========================

4 Jul. 2025
Chrome dark/light mode browser level support for PC and mobile
Some months ago, IIRC, I could not find Chrome browser level support for dark/light mode on mobile. But that is available for quite a few months as a direct option in the browser menu (on mobile).
On PC, perhaps it has been around for longer. 
A possibly quicker way to access dark/light mode setting on Chrome on PC:
New Tab -> Click 'Customize Chrome' button at bottom right -> Change Appearance
I would like to have a dark/light mode switch shown on the browser somewhere but in limited search for it, I could not get a suitable solution.

====================
21 Jul 2025
Format painter shortcut in Excel: Alt-H + FP

====================
20 Feb 2026
WinMerge does support dark theme. But I found it less readable than VSCode dark mode.
To enable dark mode in WinMerge:
  • Edit -> Options -> Colors -> Color Schemes -> Color Scheme: Midnight or Solarized Dark.
  • I found Solarized Dark to be better.
====================
20 Apr 2026 
Copied older entries from PC file:

Menu wise : View -> Show -> Navigation pane
Dragging the width sizing bar may be best way even if tiny part continues to be shown.
==============

Added Ctrl+Alt+T as Win 11 shortcut to invoke Powershell command to copy date & time to clipboard.
Ref: Section "Using PowerShell Script Shortcuts with System-Wide Hotkeys on Windows 11" in my blog post: Notes on miscellaneous stuff, https://raviswdev.blogspot.com/2025/09/notes-on-miscellaneous-stuff.html
====================

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