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 obtained me enthusiastic about all of the options I must allow that Microsoft does not activate by default.

Home windows 11 provides a big selection of consumer options and

customization options
. Understandably, many of those options usually are not enabled by default; nonetheless, 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 process 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 a substitute 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 method to do that, with out struggling to open the Process Supervisor. You’ll be able to allow a characteristic that allows you to finish duties proper from the Taskbar. It is game-changing, actually. All you need 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 process as a substitute of Shut window. This needs to be a characteristic 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 can even present peace of thoughts, particularly if a Home windows Replace negatively impacts your PC indirectly (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 permits you to create a restore level to which you’ll be able to revert again to in case 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 recordsdata. It is effectively price using that cupboard space, as it could make fixing your PC within the occasion of a nasty 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. When 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 screen 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 every day, whether or not they’re JPEGs, PNGs, PDFs, or Photoshop recordsdata. Nonetheless, typically within the File Explorer menu, it may be onerous to differentiate amongst them. That is the place this optionally available Home windows characteristic 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 recordsdata now have their file sort 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 rapidly deciphering what file sort you might be coping with. As somebody who captures and edits tons of of photographs for work, this can be a must-have Home windows characteristic.

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2

Clipboard Historical past

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

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

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

To allow this useful characteristic, 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 have got copied shall 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 wished to revisit. It is easy 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 while you want it

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

I am going to admit this characteristic is extremely area of interest, however as somebody who makes use of a QD-OLED monitor day-after-day, burning my Taskbar into the display screen is the very last thing I wish to cope with. Home windows provides a characteristic that permits you to robotically conceal your Taskbar when it is not in use. Not solely is that this aesthetically pleasing, nevertheless it additionally helps stop display screen 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 screen.

Here is one other bonus characteristic to take a look at: in case you don’t love 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 screen, search for Taskbar alignment and alter it to Left. I personally favor the centralized Taskbar, so I stored it enabled.

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