Windows 10 First things to do after fresh install of Windows 10!

Howdy!

I always was curious how others do/manage their PC after a fresh installation of Windows 10, so in this thread lets discuss this and even better let's post properly what you do after a fresh installation of Windows 10, what software do you install, what settings you change for your need, and also how you maintain your system well.

I do this:

Debloat Windows 10​

This goes over debloating and slimming down Windows 10 so you get maximum performance from your PC.

I made a guide going over the debloat process two years ago Debloat Windows 10 - The guide has evolved and the github project I was using has also improved.

January 2021 Update​

If you are coming here from the YouTube video I have taken all the scripts below and a system admin script I used a lot in the past to make a streamlined debloat script. This script will optimize Windows and can be run multiple times if you have an update ruin all the optimizations. I have also made it very easy to launch. Here is the source files: ChrisTitusTech/win10script

If you want to just run this on any system, you can easily copy and paste this into a Admin Powershell prompt and watch it do everything for you. It does have two prompts based on user feedback. Let me know what you think below!

December 2020 Feature: GUI added - Select what you want!
January 2021 Feature: 10 Bug Fixes and Network Optimizations added

What this script can do​

• Installs Chocolatey, Notepad++, Irfanview, VLC, Java, and asks if you want Adobe Reader or Brave.
• Removes all Windows Store Apps EXCEPT office, xbox, and WSL.
• Removed Telemetry
• Disables Cortana
• Deletes various schedules tasks that rebloat the system
• Removes Other Bloatware (Candy Crush, etc.)
• Fixes problems that other scripts cause (lock screen and personalization options restricted)

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1. Run Windows Update and Configure Update Settings​

Even though you just installed Windows 10, chances are that some recent updates are pending. You should install these right away to make sure you have the latest features and security patches.

To check for Windows updates, open the Settings app and go to Update & Security > Windows Update.

On this page, click Check for updates and give it some time. After a few moments, it will begin to download and install updates. If there are any that require a restart, you'll see a prompt to do so.

2. Upgrade Your Hardware Drivers​

A device driver is a piece of software that interfaces with and controls how a particular device works when connected to your system. In other words, drivers allow Windows to communicate with hardware properly.

Drivers are usually provided by hardware manufacturers, and like most software, aren't always perfect. Sometimes they're buggy or don't see updates for compatibility with the latest versions of Windows.

Keeping drivers updated is important to make sure your hardware runs at optimal performance. Windows will install generic drivers for devices like keyboards and mice on its own, but you should also know how to update other important drivers, such as display drivers.

3. Install Essential Windows Software​

Windows 10 comes with basic apps for many purposes, but a lot of the best Windows software isn't pre-installed. We've written a full guide to the Windows software that everyone should install right away.

Take a look at that for our recommendations in categories like browsers, security, image editing, messaging, and more.

4. Change Default Windows Settings​

Windows 10's out-of-the-box settings aren't optimal for everyone. They're usable, but you'll probably have a better experience by tweaking them.

There's a lot to manage in Windows 10's Settings app, so let's consider a few keys recommended changes after a Windows 10 installation.

Adjust Default Apps​

After you've installed your favorite apps, you should set them to run by default. To change the preset default apps in Windows 10, perform the following:

1. Head to Settings > Apps > Default apps.
2. Select your preferred apps for each category, including Email, Music player, Web browser, and more.
3. Below that, click on Choose default apps by file type to associate various programs with other file types, such as PDF, DOCX, and TXT.

Disable Unnecessary Startup Items​

Many apps set themselves to run at startup, which is a waste of resources and makes your computer take much longer to boot up. After you've installed the software, you should make sure that only approved apps run at boot.

To disable unnecessary startup items in Windows 10:

1. Open the Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
2. Click More details to switch to the full view, if needed.
3. Switch to the Startup tab.
4. Right-click on every app you don't want to start automatically and select Disable to prevent it from launching on startup.

Optimize Power Plan Settings​

Windows 10's Power Plan settings allow you to tweak various aspects of the operating system that involve power usage. This is important to help laptop users save battery life, but also has useful settings for desktop users.

You can then tweak your power plan using these steps:

1. Head to Settings > System > Power & sleep.
2. On the right side, choose Additional power settings to open the Power Options section of the Control Panel.
3. You'll see several plans to choose from, including Balanced, Power Saver, and High performance. Select the plan you want, then click Change plan settings to the right to modify it.
4. Choose the amount of time that passes before the screen turns off and the computer goes to sleep. Then click Change advanced power settings for more options.
5. While you can review everything here, pay special attention to the settings under the Hard disk, Sleep, Power buttons and lid, Processor power management, and Display categories.
6. Click OK to save your changes.

Tweak Privacy Settings​

Windows 10 collects all sorts of information about how you use the operating system. This helps Microsoft improve the ever-evolving product, but many view it as an invasion of privacy. Thankfully, you can reduce or disable a lot of the telemetry functions.

Enable Night Light​

Windows 10 includes a built-in feature that makes your screen display warmer at night. This helps reduce the blue light that keeps you awake and makes your computer less harsh to look at when working late.

You can enable it by visiting Settings > System > Display. Enable the Night light slider and click Night light settings to change how it works. You can adjust the intensity of the effect and set it to run automatically from sunset to sunrise or during certain hours of your choice.

5. Set Up a Backup Plan​

You wouldn't want to go through all this setup only to have your computer ruined by a virus or dead hard drive. It's vital to back up your data to protect it from these and other dangers.

6. Personalize Windows 10​

While it's not important as the above, you should still take some time to customize your desktop after installing Windows 10. It's amazing what a fresh wallpaper, unique mouse cursor, and other small personalization tweaks can do to make your system feel like home.