5 Windows 11 settings worth changing immediately
PCWorld|May 2023
Changing these five settings makes Windows 11 much better in under five minutes of your time
BRAD CHACOS
5 Windows 11 settings worth changing immediately

While Windows 11 provides W a fine enough out of the box experience-terrible new task bar aside-it handles so much better after tweaking just a few settings as to make it feel more like the Windows of yore.

No, I'm not talking about making Windows 11 look like Windows 10 (fave.co/3G1SpdZ) through an extensive overhaul (though if you're a Windows veteran, that's worth doing). 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 (fave. co/3qL4oHf) 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.

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 dropdown menu. Change the drop-down option in the menu from Center to Left.

Boom! On to the next.

2. TURN OFF ANNOYING NOTIFICATIONS 

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2023 من PCWorld.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2023 من PCWorld.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من PCWORLD مشاهدة الكل
Private Internet Access: A low-price, high-value VPN for everyone
PCWorld

Private Internet Access: A low-price, high-value VPN for everyone

This veteran VPN shows it can still hang with the best.

time-read
8 mins  |
November 2024
Hands-on: Kensington's first Thunderbolt 5 dock is built for the future
PCWorld

Hands-on: Kensington's first Thunderbolt 5 dock is built for the future

Thunderbolt 5 is here...but you'll need more than just this well-built Kensington dock to take advantage of it.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2024
Tested: Intel's Lunar Lake chip wants you to forget Qualcomm laptops exist
PCWorld

Tested: Intel's Lunar Lake chip wants you to forget Qualcomm laptops exist

Great battery life, mediocre performance, surprisingly decent gaming: That is how Intel's Lunar Lake chip stacks up.

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2024
7 laptop habits that coax the most out of your battery
PCWorld

7 laptop habits that coax the most out of your battery

Don't send your laptop into an early grave.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
WordPad is gone from Windows 11. Here's how to bring it back
PCWorld

WordPad is gone from Windows 11. Here's how to bring it back

With the arrival of Windows 11 version 24H2, WordPad is officially gone. Want to keep using it? You're in luck.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
Hackers know your social security number. Here's how to stay safe
PCWorld

Hackers know your social security number. Here's how to stay safe

Thanks to a multitude of data leaks, your most sensitive information is now easily accessible to the world.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
20 insanely useful Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts I use every day
PCWorld

20 insanely useful Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts I use every day

After so many years, I'm still discovering new keyboard shortcuts.

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2024
WHAT THE HECK IS AN NPU, ANYWAY? HERE'S AN EXPLAINER ON AI CHIPS
PCWorld

WHAT THE HECK IS AN NPU, ANYWAY? HERE'S AN EXPLAINER ON AI CHIPS

ALL PCS WILL SOON HAVE NEURAL PROCESSING UNITS. HERE'S WHAT THAT MEANS FOR YOU IN SIMPLE TERMS.

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2024
WINDOWS 11'S 2024 UPDAATE: 5 BIG CHANGES I REALLY LIKE (AND MORE)
PCWorld

WINDOWS 11'S 2024 UPDAATE: 5 BIG CHANGES I REALLY LIKE (AND MORE)

WINDOWS 11'S ANNUAL UPDATE IS ROLLING OUT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

time-read
8 mins  |
November 2024
Hackers are using AI-generated code for malware attacks
PCWorld

Hackers are using AI-generated code for malware attacks

Two separate attacks have been spotted using code that was probably written by artificial intelligence.

time-read
1 min  |
November 2024