5 helpful Home windows 11 options I all the time allow first on a brand new PC

Not too way back, after upgrading my PC’s CPU and motherboard, I carried out a recent set up of

Windows 11
. I normally undergo this course of yearly or two, or anytime I arrange a

new laptop
, and it bought me fascinated about all of the options I have to allow that Microsoft would not activate by default.

Home windows 11 affords a big selection of consumer options and

customization options
. Understandably, many of those options should not enabled by default; nonetheless, they are often fairly useful for on a regular basis duties. Each time I arrange a brand new Home windows 11 desktop or laptop computer, these are the 5 options I allow first to boost my expertise.

5

Finish activity for the Taskbar

No extra struggling to open Activity Supervisor

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

It drives me completely bonkers after I’m enjoying a sport, and it freezes as an alternative of simply crashing to the desktop. Then, when I attempt to shut this system by clicking the X button to kill it, nothing occurs, and I am caught taking a look at a frozen sport or program that will not shut. Normally, you would need to hit Ctrl+Alt+Delete, open the Activity Supervisor, and shut it from there.

Fortunately, there is a a lot simpler manner to do that, with out struggling to open the Activity Supervisor. You possibly can allow a function that allows you to finish duties proper from the Taskbar. It is game-changing, actually. All it’s a must to do is go to Settings > System > For Builders and allow the Finish Activity possibility. If a program freezes on you and would not crash, now you can finish it by merely right-clicking it within the Taskbar and deciding on Finish activity as an alternative of Shut window. This must be a function that Home windows allows by default sooner or later.

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4

System Restore

Save your PC after a rogue replace

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

Whereas Microsoft now affords

Windows Backup
, which lets you retailer your PC settings within the cloud, having a manually saved restore level may present peace of thoughts, particularly if a Home windows Replace negatively impacts your PC in a roundabout way (taking a look at you, 24H2).

System Restore first debuted with Home windows ME (Millennium Version) in 2000 and has been a part of each Home windows launch since then. This legacy system recovery tool allows you to create a restore level to which you’ll be able to revert again to in the event you encounter any points with Home windows sooner or later. Bear in mind that it does take up cupboard space, because it saves your system and registry settings together with some private information. It is effectively value using that cupboard space, as it will probably make fixing your PC within the occasion of a foul replace a lot simpler.

To seek out System Restore, seek for it in Home windows search and choose “Create a restore level.” You will see all of the drives you possibly can create restore factors from there. In case you create a restore level however wish to delete it to save lots of house, you are able to do so from the identical display by deciding on configure.

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3

View file extensions in File Explorer

By no means be confused about file varieties

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

I cope with many various file varieties every day, whether or not they’re JPEGs, PNGs, PDFs, or Photoshop information. Nevertheless, generally within the File Explorer menu, it may be exhausting to tell apart amongst them. That is the place this non-compulsory Home windows function comes into play, permitting you to view file extensions in File Explorer.

To allow this, go to File Explorer > View > Present > File Extensions. When you flip it on, you’ll instantly discover that each one your information now have their file sort listed on the finish of their names. Microsoft most likely doesn’t allow this by default to keep away from complicated newer customers, however if you’re savvy with Home windows, that is extremely useful for shortly deciphering what file sort you might be coping with. As somebody who captures and edits a whole lot of pictures for work, this can be a must-have Home windows function.

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2

Clipboard Historical past

Discover any hyperlinks or textual content you’ve got copied immediately

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

I ship a wide range of hyperlinks to folks all through the day, and one Home windows 11 function that makes it simpler to view all of them is Clipboard Historical past. This function isn’t enabled by default, nevertheless it saves your clipboard historical past, permitting you to shortly retrieve any hyperlinks or textual content you’ve got copied and pasted in the course of the day.

To allow this useful function, go to System > Clipboard > Clipboard Historical past. Alternatively, you possibly can convey up the Clipboard Menu and activate Clipboard Historical past by urgent the Home windows Key + V.

Upon getting turned it on, any hyperlinks or textual content you will have copied will likely be listed in your Clipboard Menu, enabling you to repeat them once more or view them. I’ve used this many occasions to discover a hyperlink I copied earlier within the day, and I discover it a lot faster than checking my Google Chrome historical past to retrieve a hyperlink I needed to revisit. It is simple to delete your historical past as effectively; merely click on the Clear all button within the Clipboard Menu.

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1

Routinely conceal your Taskbar

Solely see your Taskbar once you want it

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

I am going to admit this function is extremely area of interest, however as somebody who makes use of a QD-OLED monitor each day, burning my Taskbar into the display is the very last thing I wish to cope with. Home windows affords a function that permits you to routinely conceal your Taskbar when it isn’t in use. Not solely is that this aesthetically pleasing, nevertheless it additionally helps stop display burn-in.

To allow this, head to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar behaviors > Routinely conceal the taskbar. As soon as it is activated, your taskbar will disappear. However don’t be concerned; all it’s essential to do to make it reappear is both hit the Home windows key or hover your mouse close to the underside of the display.

Here is one other bonus function to take a look at: in the event you do not like your Taskbar centered, you possibly can change it again to the left, much like previous variations of Home windows. From that very same Taskbar behaviors settings display, search for Taskbar alignment and alter it to Left. I personally favor the centralized Taskbar, so I saved it enabled.

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