Every time I get a brand new laptop computer in for evaluate or purchase one for enjoyable, I all the time tweak just a few settings in Home windows 11 to make it my very own instantly. In any case, as a part of my evaluate course of, I’ve so as to add my laptop computer to my work-from-home setup and put it by way of my every day grind of net looking and different duties. Tweaking issues just like the show settings, quick startup settings, eradicating bloatware, and updating Home windows helps make my laptop computer extra private and prepared for evaluate.
1 Uninstall bloatware
Typically, your new laptop computer would possibly include pre-installed apps. Not solely would possibly they be pointless, however some would possibly even be free to make use of initially however would require a subscription to proceed utilizing. That is why one of many first issues I do is take away pre-installed antivirus software program like McAfee. This app typically comes put in on Lenovo and HP PCs, and the very first thing I all the time do is uninstall it as a result of Home windows has its personal built-in antivirus safety, Home windows Defender. Often, I do that by heading into the Home windows 11 Settings app, selecting the Apps choice, going by way of the listing, and eradicating something that is not helpful.
2 Change show scaling
Quite a lot of trendy laptops have high-resolution shows. You will see tall 16:10 side ratios, 3:2 side ratios, 1920×1200 resolutions, and even 4K extra typically than you used to. To profit from my laptop computer’s show, although, I all the time find yourself altering the scaling. Out there below Show and Scale within the Home windows 11 settings app, you may see that the OS will often decide a prompt stage for you, usually 150% or 125%. That is designed to make issues look greater on the display screen, however I modify it to be decrease than that, often 100%, so I can match extra objects on my display screen without delay. It all the time helps in multitasking, particularly when I’ve a number of home windows or apps open.
3 Disable Quick Startup
Home windows 8 launched Quick Startup, which helps you to boot up your laptop computer sooner as soon as you’ve got shut it down and restarted it. Primarily, it is a hybrid of hibernation and shutdown. When your laptop is bodily off, the working system state is all the time saved, so it is simpler to revive whenever you energy your laptop computer again on. This won’t be an issue for most individuals, however I’ve discovered it causes points with moving into BIOS or with dual-booting, so I all the time flip it off. Fortunately, it is simple to alter the Quick Startup settings. I get to this from the Management Panel > {Hardware} and Sound > Energy Choices and uncheck the field.
4 Change my privateness settings
Many individuals “hate” Home windows 11 due to the privateness side, however once I unbox my laptop computer, I have a tendency to decide on privateness settings that put me accountable for my private knowledge. Even when I by some means miss that in setup, I revisit the privateness settings within the Home windows 11 settings app to chop again on the information Home windows collects and what’s despatched to Microsoft. I’ve talked beforehand about the best way to make Home windows 11 extra personal, but it surely’s fairly easy. I find yourself firming down the personalization choices for adverts, speech and tying, inking, diagnostics, and exercise historical past, simply to call just a few.
5 Test for updates in Home windows Replace
Even after altering all these settings, it is all the time necessary to go to Home windows Replace within the Home windows 11 Settings app and verify for brand new updates. Press the Test for Updates button to see if there is a new safety patch from Microsoft. Home windows will get month-to-month patches that always repair bugs within the working system. The corporate that made your PC may also problem driver updates and different important updates by way of Home windows Replace to assist enhance the efficiency of your gadget. It is also all the time a good suggestion to go to this web page now and again and see if any new updates are ready in your new laptop computer.
The Begin Menu is the primary Home windows hub, so I all the time customise it to suit my wants each time I purchase or arrange a brand new laptop computer. First, I unpin all of the pre-pinned apps by right-clicking and selecting Unpin from Begin. Then, I go to the All Apps listing and pin my most used apps to the Begin Menu, which incorporates Edge, Telegram, Slack, and the Workplace suite. Apart from that, I revisit the Home windows 11 Settings app and head to Personalization and Begin I activate the choice to see extra pins and switch off the choice for just lately opened objects. This places me in management and lets me see extra apps on the display screen without delay.
7 Hyperlink my cellphone with Telephone Hyperlink
Telephone Hyperlink is likely one of the most helpful options in Home windows 11. It used to solely work with Android telephones, however Microsoft just lately enabled iPhone help, too. It is why establishing Telephone Hyperlink lands on this listing. With the app, I could make cellphone calls and see my iPhone’s messages and notifications on my PC. Android telephones have additional capabilities, like permitting you to make use of streaming apps and even see images. Often, you may be prompted to set this up through the field expertise, however should you missed it, you’ll be able to launch the Telephone Hyperlink app, and you will be prompted to scan a QR code to get began with both iPhone or Android.
8 Arrange the Home windows Subsystem for Android
Establishing Home windows Subsystem for Android is extra advanced than different duties on this listing, but it surely permits me to run Android apps on Home windows 11. It is fairly nifty since you’ll be able to run apps from the Amazon App Retailer. To get began with it, you could head to the Microsoft Retailer app and seek for Amazon App Retailer. Then, set up the app. From there, you can set up some Android video games and productiveness apps which might be listed within the Amazon App Retailer. If you happen to’re tremendous technical like me, you’ll be able to side-load any Android app on Home windows 11, too, and switch an amazing Home windows pill like a Floor Professional into an Android pill of types.
9 Arrange my PC for backups with OneDrive
I by no means need to fear about shedding my favourite information if one thing have been to go incorrect, so I all the time arrange my PC for backups with OneDrive. When paired with the 1TB of OneDrive house I get with Microsoft 365, I can again up important folders like Desktop, Paperwork, Music, Footage, and Movies and see it on the internet and throughout units. The choice is on the market on the OneDrive App below the Sync and again up tab and Handle Again up. It is simply one of many some ways you’ll be able to again up your Home windows 11 PC.
10 Set up themes and tweak the look of Home windows
We’re ending the listing with the only factor you are able to do on any laptop computer. Whereas I already talked about customizing the Begin Menu, one thing I additionally do is set up themes. These are a good way to boost the best way your Home windows desktop seems to be. It modifications the look of the Taskbar, the Begin Menu, your accent colours, and extra. Microsoft gives lots of nice themes. Simply go to Personalization within the Home windows 11 settings app, then select Themes > Browse Themes. Admittedly, there are lots of nice choices right here, however because it’s now fall time, I have a tendency to decide on seasonal themes like Autumn, Pumpkin, and Forest for the Bushes.
There’s a lot extra
Though these are what I do once I arrange my Home windows 11 laptop computer for the primary time, there are nonetheless so many different issues I can recommend doing. Pinning your apps to the Taskbar and adjusting settings for Home windows Ink you probably have a Home windows pill are simply two examples. You would possibly even need to take into account becoming a member of the Home windows Insider Program so you will get entry to new Home windows 11 options earlier than they launch. Take pleasure in your new Home windows PC!
