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FEATURE

5 Windows 11 settings worth

changing immediately
Changing these five settings makes Windows 11 much better in under
five minutes of your time.

By Brad Chacos
Executive editor, PCWorld DEC 25, 2023 7:30 AM PST

Image: Microsoft
:
 While Windows 11 provides a fine enough out of the box experience—
terrible new task bar aside—it handles so much better after tweaking just a
handful of settings to make it feel more like the Windows of yore.

No, I’m not talking about making Windows 11 look like Windows 10
through an extensive overhaul (though if you’re a Windows veteran that’s
worth doing) or tinkering with the new Copilot AI currently infiltrating
updated Windows 11 PCs. I’m talking about fast, simple changes that
improve the feel of the operating system, turn off annoying ads, reduce
the data you send to Microsoft, and more. Better yet, you can do them all
in under five minutes—something I did mere weeks ago when I needed to
pick up a Windows 11 laptop for some travel.

Here are five Windows 11 settings worth changing immediately, with an

added bonus at the end.

1. Move the Start button to the left corner

What can I say, I’m a traditionalist. I understand Microsoft’s desire to
revamp Windows 10’s interface to more closely mirror the style of Macs
and Chromebooks—legions of kids get schooled on those, after all—but
Windows 11’s shifting taskbar icons drive me batty. I want mousing over to
the Start menu to be muscle memory, not yet another task I have to look at
and mentally process.

00:02 / 1:31:37
:
 Image: Brad Chacos/IDG

Fortunately, Microsoft makes it easy to move the Start menu back to the
left-hand corner. Simply open the Start menu and head to Settings >
Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors. You’ll see a field
labeled Taskbar alignment with a drop-down menu. Change the drop-
dox menu from Center to Left.

Boom! Onto the next.

2. Turn off annoying notifications

Next, it’s time to turn off those annoying pop-up notifications. Windows 11
itself spawns some, but the worst offenders are third-party apps, especially
if your laptop or desktop came preloaded with bloatware. Making the
distractions stop is simple.

Image: Brad Chacos/IDG

Head to Start > System > Notifications. You can turn notifications off
universally if you desire. I prefer to work through the list manually, leaving
:
 notifications on for critical tools like Slack, Discord, and my antivirus
software. (If my AV scanner wants to shout about something, I want to
hear it!) Either way, this menu cures many headaches.

3. Turn off Microsoft ads

That segues neatly into the next tip. Keep scrolling down beyond the
bottom of the list of apps that can send you notifications. There, you’ll see
a couple of additional boxes that relate to Windows 11 itself providing
“tips and suggestions” on how to use your PC. If you know your way
around well enough, deselect the Offer suggestions on how I can set up
my device and Get tips and suggestions when I use Windows boxes. I
prefer to leave the Show me the Windows welcome experience…
option checked so I’m notified of new features when a big update drops.

Image: Brad Chacos/IDG

We’re not done yet, though. If you don’t like seeing Microsoft promotions
pop up in your Settings app, head to Start > Settings > Privacy & security >
General. Disabling “Show me suggested content in the Settings app”
does the trick, though you may want to turn off all these options.
:
 Image: Brad Chacos/IDG

Finally, head to Settings > Personalization > Device Usage. The options
here tell Microsoft how you use your computer so Windows 11 can provide
tailored recommendations for apps, websites, Office 365 trials, and more.
Turn them all off if you’re not interested in your $100+ copy of Windows 11
upselling you on more Microsoft services.

There are other places Microsoft promotions lurk such as the beautiful lock
screens provided by Bing Images, but tweaking this handful of settings
eradicates the most irritating ones.

4. Change your default browser

Microsoft Edge is pretty darned good, actually, but if you’re a diehard
Chrome, Firefox, Opera, or Brave user, switching your default browser is
easy. (Well, these days).
:
 Image: Brad Chacos/IDG

After downloading and installing the browser of your choice, it should ask
if you want to make it the default. Do so, duh. But if you missed your
chance during setup, navigate to Settings > Apps > Default apps, find the
name of your browser in the list, and click on it. A “Make <browser name>
your default browser” banner with a Set default button at the top of the
page does the trick.

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5. Declutter the taskbar

Yep, Windows 11’s nerfed taskbar sucks and Microsoft stuffs it to the brim
with icons and features you probably have no interest in. Make it easier on
the eyes and reclaim some space by heading to Settings > Personalization
> Taskbar and deselecting any of the taskbar items you’ll never use. Adios,
Widgets and Teams Chat.
:
 Image: Brad Chacos/IDG

While we’re on the topic, spending $5 on Stardock’s Start11 or StartIsBack

is well worth it. The programs offer granular options that expand the look
and functionality of the taskbar and Start menu alike, making it a lot easier
to make Windows 11 look like Windows 10. They’re beyond the scope of
this article but deserve a shout-out.

Bonus: Dark mode, baby!

Finally, an optional personal preference. Some folks like staring at black
text on white screens all day. Others, like me, prefer not to sear their
retinas. So, the very first thing I always do with a new Windows install is
activate dark mode, a preference that carries over into several apps once
you’ve set it.

Image: Brad Chacos/IDG

Simply head to Settings > Personalization > Colors and look for a field
:
 called Choose your mode. Change the drop-down menu from Light to
Dark. Your eyes will thank you.

That’s about it for this rundown of quick Windows 11 settings to change

immediately. This rabbit hole goes as deep as you want it, though. Check
out our guides to 10 Windows 11 tips and tricks we use to customize our
PCs, 10 obscure Windows features that will blow your mind, and 7
frustrating Windows 11 annoyances (and how to fix them) to make your PC
your own!

Author: Brad Chacos, Executive editor

Brad Chacos spends his days digging through desktop PCs and
tweeting too much. He specializes in graphics cards and gaming, but
covers everything from security to Windows tips and all manner of PC
hardware.

Recent stories by Brad Chacos:

The best free software for your PC
How to set up your new computer the right way
Next-gen Windows leak: 6 AI features that could change PCs forever

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