Windows 11 users who need to manage background processes or diagnose system problems have a shortcut menu built into the operating system that gathers many of those tools in one place. The menu is known by several names, including the Quick Link Menu and the Windows-X Menu, the latter because it opens when a user presses the Win+X keys. According to a report from Engadget, the menu presents a curated selection of other menus and options, giving access to a range of management tools without requiring users to memorize hotkeys or hunt through obscure areas of the device. The report describes the menu as one of the easiest ways to debloat and manage Windows 11.
The layout of the Quick Link Menu can be changed through File Explorer, according to the report. Users can type a path beginning with %LOCALAPPDATA% into the address bar to reach the area where three folders hold the shortcuts shown in the menu, and shortcuts can be moved among those folders. Renaming the shortcuts renames the apps in the menu, and new shortcuts can be added by dragging apps from elsewhere in File Explorer into one of the folders. The report notes that the menu's non-Settings options are especially important because they let users skip memorizing many hotkeys.
Task Manager is among the tools available through the Win+X menu and is described as an important tool for monitoring Windows' background processes. It can close programs that are not responding, and its Processes tab lets users monitor activity. The Startup tab lets users review startup processes and disable any inessential ones that consume resources, among other functions, according to the report.
Event Viewer is also accessible from the menu and can help users troubleshoot elusive PC issues, chiefly through its Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool. The report states that users experiencing random crashes, file corruption, or suspected hardware problems can open Event Viewer from the Win+X menu and navigate through Window Logs, System, and Filter Current Log, then select MemoryDiagnostics-Results in the Event Sources section. That sequence produces a readout of any existing issues with the system, according to the report.
Two additional tools in the menu offer related monitoring functions, the report states. Disk Management lets users read the status of the different disk partitions active on a machine. The Mobility Center, aimed at laptop users, allows configuration of display, keyboard and wireless settings.
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