5 Essential Tips to Optimize Windows 11 Performance

1. Adjust Privacy Settings
In today’s digital age, privacy has become a paramount concern. Windows 11's default privacy settings often allow extensive tracking, which can feel intrusive. To regain control:

• Navigate to Settings > Privacy & security.
• Disable options that seem unnecessary, like allowing apps to show personalized ads, and adjust settings for location and camera access. This action not only enhances privacy but can also potentially speed up your system by limiting background processes from collecting and transmitting data.

Second, consider minimizing personalized ad tracking by unchecking the related settings. This can streamline your experience and offer a more focused workflow, eliminating distractions.
2. Manage Startup Programs
Windows tends to load various applications at startup, which can slow down boot times significantly. To optimize startup performance:

• Access Settings > Apps > Startup.
• Disable applications that are non-essential at startup. Common candidates for disabling include OneDrive and any pre-installed software that you don't use often.

Reducing the number of startup applications can lead to faster boot times and improved responsiveness.
3. Switch to High-Performance Power Plan
By default, Windows 11 uses a balanced power plan that conserves energy but may throttle your CPU during intensive tasks. For better performance, switch to a high-performance plan:

• Go to Settings > System > Power & battery.
• Select High performance. This change ensures your machine delivers optimal performance for tasks like gaming or running heavy applications.

Just be aware that this setting may increase energy consumption, so it's wise to switch back if you're focused on conserving battery life.
4. Uninstall Unwanted Applications
Windows 11 often comes bundled with pre-installed applications that many users never utilize. These applications can consume system resources unnecessarily:

• Navigate to Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
• Identify and uninstall applications you don't need. For a more thorough cleanup, you might consider using third-party tools like O&O AppBuster to remove bloatware effectively.

A cleaner system can help enhance speed by freeing up both storage space and processing resources.
5. Keep Your System Updated
Regular updates are crucial for maintaining performance and security. Ignoring them can leave your system vulnerable to exploits and slow over time:

• Regularly check for updates by navigating to Settings > Windows Update.
• Ensure that you install the latest patches and updates. Windows typically includes performance improvements alongside security updates, so staying current can provide double benefits.

Keeping your system updated not only patches vulnerabilities but also can introduce new performance enhancements that benefit users directly.

Conclusion​

By implementing these five changes, Windows users can significantly enhance both the responsiveness and security of their operating systems. Each setting adjustment fosters a quicker, more personalized computing experience while maintaining control over privacy and security.
These recommendations offer a comprehensive approach to optimizing Windows 11, making it a robust platform for both productivity and recreational use. Embracing these tweaks is a straightforward way to ensure your system operates efficiently in today's digital landscape.
Source: Feature Weekly Top 5 Windows 11 Settings You Should Change for Better Speed and Security