ITIT Lunchroom
Everyday office basics
Getting comfortable with a work computer
A gentle first walkthrough of using a work computer: signing in, finding your way around the screen, opening the apps you need, and locking up when you step away.
If you're not sure where something is, ask. That's normal, not a mistake.
Last reviewed 2026-06-17 by the IT Lunchroom Editorial Team. Free, plain-English guidance for everyday work technology.
What you'll be able to do
after this you will be able to sign in, find the apps you use most, and lock your screen when you step away, without feeling lost.
signing inusername and passwordthe desktop or home screenicons and appsemail, browser, and chatlocking your screenasking for help
Signing in is your front door
When you sit down at a work computer, the first thing you'll usually see is a sign-in screen asking for a username and a password. Your username is often your name or work email, and the password is the one your workplace set up with you. Type them in, press Enter, and wait a moment while the computer gets ready. If it doesn't work the first time, it's almost always a small typo, so try again slowly, and check whether the caps-lock key is on. If you're truly stuck, whoever handles tech where you work can reset it for you, and that's a normal thing to ask for.
The home screen, and finding your apps
Once you're signed in, you land on the home screen, sometimes called the desktop. Think of it as a tidy tabletop where your tools are laid out. Along one edge there's usually a strip of small pictures, called icons, that you click to open things. The programs you'll use most are email (for messages), a browser (for websites, the thing with the address bar at the top), and often a chat app (for quick messages with coworkers). If you can't spot one, there's usually a search box or a menu button, often in a corner, where you can type the name and it'll appear. Nothing breaks if you click the wrong thing, so it's safe to look around.
Locking your screen when you step away
When you get up, even for a minute, it's good to lock your screen. Locking doesn't close anything or lose your work, it just hides everything behind your password so no one can wander over and read it. It's like pulling your front door shut when you pop out. The quick way on most computers is to hold the key with the little window picture and press the letter L at the same time. When you come back, you sign in again and everything is exactly where you left it. Making this a habit keeps your work private without any effort.
Asking where things are is completely normal
Here's the part that trips people up the most, and it shouldn't: not knowing where something is on a new computer is expected, not a sign you're behind. Every workplace sets things up a little differently, so even people who've used computers for years ask 'where do I find that?' when they start somewhere new. When you're unsure, ask a coworker or whoever handles tech where you work. A good question to keep handy is simply, 'Can you show me where the email is?' You'll pick it up faster by asking once than by hunting around alone.
Common questions
What if I forget my password or it won't let me in?
First, try typing it again slowly, since it's usually a small typo, and check that caps lock isn't on. If it still won't work, contact whoever handles tech where you work and ask them to reset it. This happens to everyone and they reset passwords all the time, so there's nothing to feel awkward about.
If I lock my screen, will I lose what I was working on?
No. Locking only hides your screen behind your password; it doesn't close anything or throw away your work. When you sign back in, every window and document is right where you left it, so you can lock it freely whenever you step away.
I can't find the app I need. What should I do?
Look for a search box or a menu button, often in a corner of the screen, and type the app's name to bring it up. If that doesn't work, just ask a coworker or your tech helper to point you to it. Asking where something lives is a normal part of settling into a new computer.
Practice it hands-on
Reading is a good start — now try a short, interactive version. Shared Devices and Signing Out Safely lets you make the real decision in a safe practice run, no login needed.
Make it stick
Create a free account to save your place across all the free lessons. Work through an interactive track and you earn a shareable certificate you can add to a résumé or job application. No payment, no catch.