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 contemporary set up of

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

new laptop
, and it acquired me fascinated with all of the options I must allow that Microsoft does not activate by default.

Home windows 11 provides a wide selection of person options and

customization options
. Understandably, many of those options aren’t enabled by default; nevertheless, they are often fairly useful for on a regular basis duties. Every time I arrange a brand new Home windows 11 desktop or laptop computer, these are the 5 options I allow first to reinforce my expertise.

5

Finish activity for the Taskbar

No extra struggling to open Process Supervisor

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

It drives me completely bonkers after I’m enjoying a recreation, 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 recreation or program that will not shut. Normally, you would need to hit Ctrl+Alt+Delete, open the Process Supervisor, and shut it from there.

Fortunately, there is a a lot simpler approach to do that, with out struggling to open the Process Supervisor. You may allow a function that permits you to finish duties proper from the Taskbar. It is game-changing, actually. All it’s important to do is go to Settings > System > For Builders and allow the Finish Process choice. If a program freezes on you and does 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 provides

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 not directly (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 helps you to create a restore level to which you’ll revert again to in case you encounter any points with Home windows sooner or later. Bear in mind that it does take up space for storing, because it saves your system and registry settings together with some private information. It is properly value using that space for storing, as it could possibly 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 may see all of the drives you’ll be able to create restore factors from there. If you happen to create a restore level however wish to delete it to avoid wasting 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 alternative file varieties each day, whether or not they’re JPEGs, PNGs, PDFs, or Photoshop information. Nevertheless, typically within the File Explorer menu, it may be laborious to differentiate amongst them. That is the place this elective 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 every one your information now have their file kind listed on the finish of their names. Microsoft in all probability 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 kind you might be coping with. As somebody who captures and edits tons of of photos 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 individuals 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, but it surely saves your clipboard historical past, permitting you to shortly retrieve any hyperlinks or textual content you’ve got copied and pasted through the day.

To allow this useful function, go to System > Clipboard > Clipboard Historical past. Alternatively, you’ll be able to carry up the Clipboard Menu and activate Clipboard Historical past by urgent the Home windows Key + V.

After getting turned it on, any hyperlinks or textual content you’ve gotten copied can be listed in your Clipboard Menu, enabling you to repeat them once more or view them. I’ve used this many instances 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 easy to delete your historical past as properly; merely click on the Clear all button within the Clipboard Menu.

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1

Routinely conceal your Taskbar

Solely see your Taskbar while you want it

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

I will admit this function is extremely area of interest, however as somebody who makes use of a QD-OLED monitor on daily basis, burning my Taskbar into the display is the very last thing I wish to cope with. Home windows provides a function that lets you mechanically conceal your Taskbar when it isn’t in use. Not solely is that this aesthetically pleasing, but it surely 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 fret; all you could do to make it reappear is both hit the Home windows key or hover your mouse close to the underside of the display.

This is one other bonus function to take a look at: in case you do not like your Taskbar centered, you’ll be able to 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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