9 Settings In Windows 11 You Should Change Right Now

Windows 11 offers a sleek and modern interface, but with a few tweaks, you can optimize its performance and tailor it to your preferences. In this guide, we’ll walk you through ten essential settings changes that will help you get the most out of your Windows 11 experience.

Walkthrough Video

Turn Off Advertisements

Windows 11 occasionally displays promotions and advertisements, which can be annoying. Here’s how to disable them:

Press Windows key + I to open Settings Go to Privacy and Security Click on General under Windows permissions Uncheck all options related to ads and suggestions

Enable High Refresh Rate

If your display supports it, you can switch to a higher refresh rate for smoother visuals:

1. Open Settings (Windows key + I)
2. Click on Display
3. Click Advanced display under Related settings
4. Click Display adapter properties
5. Navigate to the Monitor tab
6. Under Screen refresh rate, select a higher value if available
7. Click Apply, then OK

Change Default Browser

While Microsoft Edge is the default browser, you can easily switch to your preferred option:

1. Open Settings
2. Go to Apps
3. Search for your preferred browser
4. Click on it and select Set default
5. Set it as the default for all file types and links

Pin Folders to Start Menu

For quick access to commonly used folders:

1. Open Settings
2. Go to Personalization
3. Click on Start
4. Go to Folders
5. Enable the folders you want to appear on the Start menu

Remove Suggested Items from Start Menu

To declutter your Start menu:

1. Open Settings
2. Go to Personalization
3. Click on Start
4. Uncheck the following options:
   • Show recommendations for tips, shortcuts, new apps, and more
   • Show recently added apps
   • Show most used apps

Disable Automatic Video Playback in Microsoft Store

To prevent videos from autoplaying in the Microsoft Store:

1. Open Microsoft Store
2. Click on the user icon in the top right
3. Click App settings
4. Disable Video autoplay

Enable Ultimate Performance Power Plan

To maximize your computer’s performance:

1. Open Start menu and search for “terminal”
2. Right-click on Terminal and select “Run as administrator”
3. Click Yes
4. Paste this command: powercfg -duplicatescheme e9a42b02-d5df-448d-aa00-03f14749eb61
5. Close the terminal
6. Open Control Panel
7. Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options
8. Select the Ultimate Performance power plan

Disable Third-Party App Installation

For improved security, especially on shared computers:

1. Open Settings
2. Go to Apps > Apps & features
3. Under “Choose where to get apps,” select “Microsoft Store only”

Disable Unwanted Notifications

For a distraction-free experience:

1. Open Settings
2. Go to Notifications
3. Scroll down and uncheck:
   • Show the Windows welcome experience after updates
   • Suggest ways to get the most out of Windows and finish setting up this device

Customize Start Menu Folders

To add quick access to important folders in your Start menu:

1. Open Settings
2. Go to Personalization > Start
3. Click on Folders
4. Toggle on the folders you want to appear on the Start menu (e.g., Documents, Downloads, Pictures)

Conclusion

By implementing these tweaks, you can significantly improve your Windows 11 experience, making it more efficient, secure, and tailored to your needs. Remember that some of these settings may vary slightly depending on your specific Windows 11 version and updates.

As always, before making significant changes to your system, it’s a good idea to create a restore point or backup your important data. This way, you can easily revert any changes if needed.