Windows 11: 10 Settings to Change on Day One

Microsoft has gotten into the habit of putting ads in its own operating system. App suggestions in the Start menu, notifications for OneDrive and Microsoft 365, pre-installed games nobody asked for (Candy Crush, seriously?). It's frustrating, especially when you just paid $800 for a computer.

Manufacturers (Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS) add their own layer too: 30-day trial antivirus, in-house utilities, partner software. All of this slows down your PC from day one.

The good news: 15 minutes of cleanup is all it takes to transform the experience. It's like buying a new car and peeling off the dealer stickers and that pine tree air freshener hanging from the mirror.

1. Clean up the Start menu. Right-click on each promotional tile (games, promoted Microsoft apps) and select Unpin. Then go to Settings > Personalization > Start and turn off "Show suggestions" and "Show most used apps" if you prefer a clean menu.

2. Disable useless notifications. Settings > System > Notifications. Turn off notifications for apps you don't use (Windows tips, suggestions, Microsoft Store). Keep the ones from your actual tools (email, Teams, calendar).

3. Uninstall bloatware. Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Sort by install date and uninstall everything you didn't choose: trial antivirus (McAfee, Norton), pre-installed games, manufacturer tools you'll never use. Windows Defender is good enough as an antivirus — no need to pay for another one.

4. Clean up the taskbar. Right-click on the taskbar > Taskbar settings. Turn off Widgets (the weather and news on the left), hide the Chat button (Teams), and the Search button if you prefer using the Windows key to search.

5. Take back control of your privacy. Settings > Privacy & Security. Turn off: "Advertising ID" (Microsoft tracks what you do to target you), "Suggested content in Settings", "Send optional diagnostic data". You have nothing to lose by turning these off.

6. Optimize battery life (laptops). Settings > System > Power & Battery. Set the power mode to "Best efficiency" when on battery. Turn on "Battery saver" at 30%. Disable unnecessary background apps (Settings > Apps > Installed apps > click each app > Background app permissions > Never).

7. Choose your default browser. Windows pushes Edge everywhere. If you prefer Chrome or Firefox: install it, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps > search for your browser and click "Set default". You might need to set it for each link type (HTTP, HTTPS, HTML) individually — yes, Microsoft makes this deliberately complicated.

8. Configure updates. Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options. Turn on "Active hours" and set your work schedule (e.g., 8 AM to 11 PM) so Windows never restarts while you're working. Updates are essential for security — don't disable them, but control WHEN they install.

9. Learn 5 essential shortcuts. Windows + E: open File Explorer. Windows + L: lock your PC (when you leave your desk). Windows + V: clipboard history (advanced copy/paste). Windows + Shift + S: screenshot a specific area. Ctrl + Shift + Esc: open Task Manager directly (to see what's slowing your PC down).

10. Set up automatic backup. Turn on OneDrive or Google Drive to automatically back up your documents, photos, and desktop. If your hard drive dies or your laptop gets stolen, your important files are safe in the cloud. It's free up to 5 GB (OneDrive) or 15 GB (Google Drive).

Bonus: check that Windows Hello is set up (facial recognition or fingerprint if your laptop supports it). It's faster and more secure than a regular password for unlocking your PC.