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 often undergo this course of yearly or two, or anytime I arrange a

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

Home windows 11 gives a big selection of consumer options and

customization options
. Understandably, many of those options are usually not enabled by default; nonetheless, they are often fairly useful for on a regular basis duties. At any time when 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 job for the Taskbar

No extra struggling to open Process Supervisor

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

It drives me completely bonkers once I’m taking part in 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 a frozen sport 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 means to do that, with out struggling to open the Process Supervisor. You’ll be able to 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 would not crash, now you can finish it by merely right-clicking it within the Taskbar and deciding on Finish job 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 gives

Windows Backup
, which lets you retailer your PC settings within the cloud, having a manually saved restore level also can present peace of thoughts, particularly if a Home windows Replace negatively impacts your PC not directly ( 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 revert again to for those who 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 nicely value using that space for storing, as it could make fixing your PC within the occasion of a foul replace a lot simpler.

To search out System Restore, seek for it in Home windows search and choose “Create a restore level.” You may see all of the drives you may create restore factors from there. In the event you create a restore level however need to delete it to avoid wasting 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 sorts

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

I take care of many various file sorts every day, whether or not they’re JPEGs, PNGs, PDFs, or Photoshop information. Nonetheless, typically within the File Explorer menu, it may be onerous to tell apart 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 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 in case you are savvy with Home windows, that is extremely helpful for rapidly deciphering what file sort you’re 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 have copied immediately

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

I ship quite a lot 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 shouldn’t be enabled by default, but it surely saves your clipboard historical past, permitting you to rapidly retrieve any hyperlinks or textual content you have copied and pasted in the course of the day.

To allow this helpful function, go to System > Clipboard > Clipboard Historical past. Alternatively, you may 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’ve got copied can 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 nicely; merely click on the Clear all button within the Clipboard Menu.

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1

Routinely conceal your Taskbar

Solely see your Taskbar if 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 on daily basis, burning my Taskbar into the display screen is the very last thing I need to take care of. Home windows gives a function that permits you to robotically conceal your Taskbar when it isn’t in use. Not solely is that this aesthetically pleasing, but it surely 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 be concerned; all you must do to make it reappear is both hit the Home windows key or hover your mouse close to the underside of the display screen.

This is one other bonus function to take a look at: for those who don’t love your Taskbar centered, you may change it again to the left, just 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 want the centralized Taskbar, so I stored it enabled.

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