5 helpful Home windows 11 options I at all times 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 fascinated about all of the options I must allow that Microsoft would not activate by default.

Home windows 11 presents a big selection of person options and

customization options
. Understandably, many of those options will not be enabled by default; nevertheless, 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 boost my expertise.

5

Finish activity for the Taskbar

No extra struggling to open Job 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 taking a look at a frozen sport or program that will not shut. Often, you would need to hit Ctrl+Alt+Delete, open the Job Supervisor, and shut it from there.

Fortunately, there is a a lot simpler method to do that, with out struggling to open the Job Supervisor. You may allow a function 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 Job 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 choosing Finish activity as an alternative of Shut window. This must be a function that Home windows permits 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 presents

Windows Backup
, which lets you retailer your PC settings within the cloud, having a manually saved restore level may also present peace of thoughts, particularly if a Home windows Replace negatively impacts your PC ultimately (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 enables you to create a restore level to which you’ll revert again to when you encounter any points with Home windows sooner or later. Remember 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 will probably 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 may see all of the drives you’ll be able to create restore factors from there. Should you create a restore level however wish to delete it to avoid wasting area, you are able to do so from the identical display by choosing configure.

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3

View file extensions in File Explorer

By no means be confused about file varieties

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

I take care of many various file varieties every day, whether or not they’re JPEGs, PNGs, PDFs, or Photoshop information. Nevertheless, typically within the File Explorer menu, it may be laborious 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 every one your information now have their file kind 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 rapidly deciphering what file kind you might be coping with. As somebody who captures and edits a whole lot of photographs for work, it is 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 just isn’t enabled by default, but it surely saves your clipboard historical past, permitting you to rapidly retrieve any hyperlinks or textual content you’ve got copied and pasted throughout 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 might have 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 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 cover your Taskbar

Solely see your Taskbar while 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 every single day, burning my Taskbar into the display is the very last thing I wish to take care of. Home windows presents a function that permits you to routinely cover your Taskbar when it isn’t in use. Not solely is that this aesthetically pleasing, but it surely additionally helps forestall display burn-in.

To allow this, head to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar behaviors > Routinely cover the taskbar. As soon as it is activated, your taskbar will disappear. However don’t be concerned; all it’s essential 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: when 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 stored it enabled.

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