22 Essential Windows 11 Tweaks to Enhance Your Productivity

Windows 11 is a sleek and modern operating system with numerous features designed to improve productivity. However, optimizing these features to suit individual preferences can elevate the user experience dramatically. Here are 22 essential Windows 11 tweaks you should consider to enhance your digital journey:

1. Align Taskbar Icons to the Left​

The centered Taskbar icons are a noticeable change in Windows 11, but if you prefer the classic left alignment:

• How-to: Right-click the taskbar, select "Taskbar Settings," and choose to align the icons to the left under "Taskbar behaviors."

2. Customize the Start Menu​

Windows 11's Start Menu has limited customization options, but tools like Start11 or StartAllBack can redesign it to meet your needs.

• Recommendation: Explore configurations to pin frequently used apps and create folders within the Start Menu for a cleaner look.

3. Title Bar Window Shake​

Enable the "Title Bar Window Shake" feature to minimize all open windows except the active one.

• How-to: Navigate to Settings > System > Multitasking, and toggle "Title bar window shake" to on.

4. Simplified Right-Click Menu​

For those who miss the classic context menu with all options, you can switch back to it:

• How-to: Hold Shift while right-clicking, or modify the registry for a persistent classic menu experience .

5. Snap Layouts​

Windows 11 enhances window management with Snap Layouts, providing multiple templates for window organization.

• How-to: Hover over the maximize button on any window and select your desired layout.

6. Use the Secret Start Menu​

Right-click the Start Menu icon or press Windows + X for quick access to essential tools like Task Manager and Settings .

7. Focus Assist​

Minimize distractions by customizing Focus Assist to control notifications during specific activities, like gaming or working.

• How-to: Settings > System > Focus assist.

8. Enable File Extensions Visibility​

Display file extensions in File Explorer for better file management.

• How-to: Open File Explorer, go to "View" > "Show" > "File name extensions".

9. Custom Widgets​

Customize the Widgets pane to include useful information like weather updates, news, and calendar events.

• How-to: Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Widgets.

10. Switch to Dark Mode and Night Light​

Reduce eye strain with Dark Mode and Night Light.

• How-to: Settings > Personalization > Colors for Dark Mode and Settings > System > Display for Night Light .

11. Uninstall Unnecessary Apps​

Remove bloatware and pre-installed applications that you don’t use.

• How-to: Settings > Apps > Apps & features .

12. Tweak Visual Effects for Performance​

Optimize performance on older hardware by disabling unnecessary visual effects.

• How-to: System Properties > Performance Options > Visual Effects .

13. High-Performance Power Plan​

Boost performance by switching to a high-performance power plan.

• How-to: Settings > System > Power & battery .

14. Manage Startup Programs​

Improve boot times and system responsiveness by managing startup programs.

• How-to: Settings > Apps > Startup and disable apps you don’t need on launch .

15. Use PowerToys FancyZones​

Customizable window layouts using PowerToys FancyZones can significantly improve multitasking.

• Download and How-to: Install PowerToys from the Microsoft Store and configure FancyZones for your layout preferences .

16. Utilize Storage Sense​

Automatically clean up temporary files to free up storage space.

• How-to: Settings > System > Storage and enable Storage Sense .

17. Dev Drives for Developers​

Create a Dev Drive optimized for performance by avoiding unnecessary security scans.

• How-to: Settings > Developer options .

18. Backup and Restore Points​

Set up System Restore points to safeguard against system issues.

• How-to: Search for “Create a restore point” in the Start Menu .

19. Clipboard History​

Enable Clipboard History for efficient multitasking.

• How-to: Settings > System > Clipboard and toggle on Clipboard History .

20. Privacy Settings​

Fine-tune the privacy settings to control data sharing and tracking.

• How-to: Settings > Privacy & security > General .

21. Phone Link Integration​

Use the Phone Link app to sync phone notifications and drag-and-drop files between your phone and Windows 11 PC.

• How-to: Open the Phone Link app and follow on-screen instructions for setup .

22. Disable OneDrive Backups​

If OneDrive’s automatic backup for your files isn’t required, consider disabling it.

• How-to: OneDrive settings > Backup tab > Uncheck sync for desired folders .

By implementing these tweaks, you can tailor Windows 11 to your preferences, creating a more efficient, personalized, and enjoyable computing experience. Explore these settings and make your Windows 11 truly yours!
Source: Windows Central My essential Windows 11 tweaks: 22 Settings to change for a better experience