If you just unboxed a new Windows 11 laptop, there are five settings you should consider turning off right away to tighten privacy, reduce distractions, and reclaim background resources for the tasks that matter most.
Windows 11 ships with a range of convenience features enabled by default: telemetry, personalized suggestions, widgets, search highlights, and various tips and promotional notifications. For many users — especially those on entry-level or mid-range laptops — those conveniences add subtle but cumulative CPU, memory, and network overhead while also increasing the volume of data leaving the device. The Root‑Nation roundup that prompted this checklist recommends disabling five of those defaults to improve performance, privacy, and usability on a fresh install.
Microsoft documents the settings and the supported ways to change them in Settings, Group Policy, or (when necessary) the Registry, and notes important constraints: some diagnostic data cannot be fully blocked on Windows, and managed (domain/MDM) devices may lock or override certain toggles. These constraints should guide any changes you make. (support.microsoft.com)
There are tradeoffs: some diagnostic context goes away, and Microsoft still requires a baseline of telemetry for product stability. Promotional content is not entirely eliminated by these changes, because some ads are baked into apps or controlled server‑side. For managed enterprise machines, some toggles may be enforced by policy, and support staff may ask you to re‑enable optional diagnostics when troubleshooting. These are reasonable tradeoffs for consumers and prosumers who value a lean, private, distraction‑free desktop. (support.microsoft.com)
Disabling these five Windows 11 defaults is a low‑risk, high‑value first step after setting up a new laptop: you’ll reduce distractions, limit some data flows, and potentially free modest resources for active work — all without sacrificing core OS functionality.
Source: Root-Nation.com https://root-nation.com/en/articles-en/windows-en/en-5-windows-11-settings-you-may-want-to-disable/
Windows 11 ships with a range of convenience features enabled by default: telemetry, personalized suggestions, widgets, search highlights, and various tips and promotional notifications. For many users — especially those on entry-level or mid-range laptops — those conveniences add subtle but cumulative CPU, memory, and network overhead while also increasing the volume of data leaving the device. The Root‑Nation roundup that prompted this checklist recommends disabling five of those defaults to improve performance, privacy, and usability on a fresh install.Microsoft documents the settings and the supported ways to change them in Settings, Group Policy, or (when necessary) the Registry, and notes important constraints: some diagnostic data cannot be fully blocked on Windows, and managed (domain/MDM) devices may lock or override certain toggles. These constraints should guide any changes you make. (support.microsoft.com)
Why these five settings matter
- They reduce background network calls and personalization lookups that can add modest CPU/IO and RAM consumption.
- They cut off sources of targeted advertising and reduce the telemetry surface area.
- They eliminate repetitive or promotional notifications that interrupt flow and can trigger extra UI work.
- They are reversible, supported settings changes (preferable to registry hacks or third‑party “telemetry removal” tools that risk upgrades and stability).
1) Transmission of diagnostic data — limit telemetry to required data
What Microsoft collects and what you can control
Windows diagnostic telemetry is categorized into minimal (required) and optional data. Required data covers device and configuration basics needed for Windows to operate safely; optional data includes broader usage patterns, system status, and richer logs used to improve features. Microsoft does not provide an option to completely block all telemetry on consumer editions, but you can turn off optional diagnostic data and stop tailored experiences. Deleting previously collected diagnostic data is also available from Settings, though Microsoft warns that pressing Delete does not stop future telemetry or remove data associated with your Microsoft account. (support.microsoft.com)Why disable optional telemetry
- Reduces amount of diagnostic data sent to Microsoft.
- Lowers privacy exposure for usage patterns or optional logs.
- Minimizes background upload chatter on metered or congested networks.
How to set it (verified, supported steps)
- Open Settings (Win + I) → Privacy & security → Diagnostics & feedback. (support.microsoft.com)
- Under Diagnostic data, set the level to the minimum allowed (turn off Send optional diagnostic data). (support.microsoft.com)
- Turn off Tailored experiences (personalized tips and suggestions) to keep diagnostic data from being used for personalization. (support.microsoft.com)
- Use Delete diagnostic data in the same pane to remove stored device diagnostic data (note caveats in the Microsoft doc). (support.microsoft.com)
Caveats and troubleshooting
- Support agents or automated diagnostics may ask you to re‑enable optional telemetry temporarily to reproduce an issue. Keep a mental note of the original setting so you can re‑enable it if needed.
- On enterprise or school devices, these options can be managed by policy; if toggles are grayed out, consult IT. (support.microsoft.com)
2) Disable personalized advertising / advertising ID
What the Advertising ID does
Windows assigns an Advertising ID to each user/device that apps and advertising networks can use to deliver targeted ads and app recommendations. Turning this off reduces targeted ads based on app activity but does not eliminate ads entirely — Microsoft explicitly notes that disabling the advertising ID may make ads “less interesting” but won’t reduce the number of ads shown. (support.microsoft.com)Why turn it off
- Limits cross‑app profiling and targeted ads tied to your system activity.
- Cuts a common personalization channel used by many store/apps.
- Simple, reversible privacy improvement.
How to disable (verified)
- Open Settings → Privacy & security → General. (support.microsoft.com)
- Turn off Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID (or similar wording such as Let apps use advertising ID). (support.microsoft.com)
Additional steps to reduce system suggestions
- In Settings → System → Notifications and in Settings → Personalization → Start, turn off suggested content and “Show suggestions occasionally in Start” to reduce Store/Start menu promotions. (windowscentral.com)
Expectation management
Even with this off, some promotional content (Store offers, Microsoft service promos) may still appear because not all advertising channels use the Advertising ID; some ads are baked into apps or driven server‑side by Microsoft services. (windowscentral.com)3) Turn off annoying system tips and welcome screens (notifications)
What to toggle
Windows 11 shows a variety of system tips and welcome experiences after updates or when signing in. These include the “Get tips and suggestions as you use Windows” option plus the “Show the Windows welcome experience after updates” toggle. Disabling these reduces interruptions and the background operations that fetch and render those suggestions. (support.microsoft.com)How to disable (verified steps)
- Open Settings (Win + I) → System → Notifications. (support.microsoft.com)
- Expand Additional settings at the bottom. Uncheck:
- Get tips and suggestions as you use Windows
- Show the Windows welcome experience after updates and sign-in. (howtogeek.com)
Use Focus / Do Not Disturb for deep work
- When you want to keep notifications on but limit interruptions, enable Do Not Disturb / Focus (toggle the bell with zZ in the notification center) or set automatic Focus schedules in Settings → Notifications. This silences alerts during meetings or work blocks without disabling useful app notifications. (support.microsoft.com)
Why this matters
- Fewer popups and less UI redrawing = smoother interaction and fewer interruptions that break concentration.
- For power users and presenters, reducing unsolicited tips removes unexpected on‑screen distractions.
4) Widgets — disable or trim the feed
What Widgets do and the cost
Widgets provide glanceable news, weather, stocks, and other content in the widget board. The board pulls content in the background, and on constrained hardware that background activity (and the WebView2 processes the board uses) can contribute to memory and CPU usage. Hiding the widget button removes the visual clutter and stops the active widget UI from loading at sign‑in. How‑To‑Geek and other guides confirm the supported way to hide the Widgets button is via Taskbar settings. (howtogeek.com)How to disable or customize widgets (verified)
- To remove the widget button: Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → under Taskbar items toggle Widgets to Off. The Widgets icon will disappear. (howtogeek.com)
- To keep widgets but remove the news feed: open the Widgets board (Win + W), click the settings/gear inside the board, and disable Feed or hide individual widgets you don’t need. (howtogeek.com)
Residual process note and troubleshooting
Some community reports show WebView2 or related processes persisting in Task Manager even after disabling Widgets; updating Windows, updating or reinstalling the WebView2 runtime, and rebooting typically resolves lingering processes. Avoid aggressive registry hacks — prefer supported updates and runtime repairs. (howtogeek.com)5) Search Highlights — strip the dynamic feed from the search box
What Search Highlights does
Search Highlights enriches the search box with curated items, trending news, holidays, and contextual results (including organization content for Azure AD accounts). It periodically performs lookups and surfaces server‑driven content in the search UI; disabling it restores a leaner search experience focused on local results. Guides from How‑To‑Geek and other outlets show the supported Settings, Group Policy, and Registry methods to disable the feature. (howtogeek.com)How to turn it off (verified)
- Open Settings → Privacy & security → Search permissions. (howtogeek.com)
- Under More settings, toggle Show search highlights to Off. (howtogeek.com)
Why disable it
- Removes extra network calls and content rendering from the search UI.
- Creates a cleaner, faster search experience for local files and apps.
- Avoids showing trending or curated content during presentations or shared sessions.
Practical checklist — safest order and validation
- Update Windows and create a restore point or system backup first.
- Disable optional diagnostic data and tailored experiences (Settings → Privacy & security → Diagnostics & feedback). Verify stability for 48–72 hours. (support.microsoft.com)
- Disable Advertising ID (Settings → Privacy & security → General) and turn off Settings app suggestions. (support.microsoft.com)
- Reduce notification noise (Settings → System → Notifications → Additional settings) and adjust Feedback frequency to Never (Settings → Privacy & security → Diagnostics & feedback → Feedback frequency → Never). (howtogeek.com)
- Remove Widgets from the taskbar if you don’t use them (Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → Widgets → Off). If you keep Widgets, disable the Feed inside the Widgets board. (howtogeek.com)
- Turn off Search Highlights (Settings → Privacy & security → Search permissions → Show search highlights → Off). Confirm the result in the search box. (howtogeek.com)
Risks, enterprise considerations, and troubleshooting
- Diagnostic blind spots: Turning off optional telemetry removes some of the context Microsoft uses to troubleshoot issues. For active troubleshooting you may need to temporarily re‑enable richer diagnostics upon request. (support.microsoft.com)
- Managed devices: Domain‑joined or MDM‑enrolled devices may have settings locked by Group Policy or Intune. Don’t attempt registry workarounds on corporate devices without IT approval. (support.microsoft.com)
- Not a magic performance switch: The measurable CPU/RAM improvements depend on hardware and workloads; benefits are typically greatest on low‑end hardware where background processes compete with limited resources. Expect a cleaner UI and lower background network chatter more than dramatic benchmark changes.
- Avoid blunt registry hacks and third‑party telemetry removal tools: These can break feature updates, violate license terms, or induce instability. Use supported Settings, Group Policy, or documented registry keys only after backing up.
Beyond the five — quick follow‑ups to optimize performance and privacy
- Trim Startup apps (Settings → Apps → Startup) to reduce boot time and background memory.
- Use Focus Assist schedules for uninterrupted work sessions rather than turning off all notifications permanently. (tomsguide.com)
- Review app permissions (Camera, Microphone, Location) under Settings → Privacy & security and revoke access for apps that don’t need it.
- If Widget or Shell processes persist, update the WebView2 runtime or reinstall it; check for pending Windows updates and reboot. Community troubleshooting frequently points to WebView2 as the component to inspect.
Final analysis — tradeoffs and value
The five settings recommended in the Root‑Nation article are conservative, supported, and reversible changes that deliver meaningful wins in privacy and day‑to‑day comfort for most users. Disabling optional telemetry and the Advertising ID reduces the volume of data shared and the degree of personalization; turning off tips, widgets, and Search Highlights removes noise and background fetching that can steal cycles on modest hardware.There are tradeoffs: some diagnostic context goes away, and Microsoft still requires a baseline of telemetry for product stability. Promotional content is not entirely eliminated by these changes, because some ads are baked into apps or controlled server‑side. For managed enterprise machines, some toggles may be enforced by policy, and support staff may ask you to re‑enable optional diagnostics when troubleshooting. These are reasonable tradeoffs for consumers and prosumers who value a lean, private, distraction‑free desktop. (support.microsoft.com)
Quick reference — one‑page commands
- Diagnostics & feedback: Settings → Privacy & security → Diagnostics & feedback. Turn off Send optional diagnostic data; set Feedback frequency to Never. (support.microsoft.com)
- Advertising ID: Settings → Privacy & security → General → Turn off Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID. (support.microsoft.com)
- Notifications/Tips: Settings → System → Notifications → Additional settings → Uncheck Get tips and suggestions when using Windows and Show the Windows welcome experience after updates. (howtogeek.com)
- Widgets: Settings → Personalization → Taskbar → Widgets → Off. Or open Widgets and disable Feed to keep only essential cards. (howtogeek.com)
- Search Highlights: Settings → Privacy & security → Search permissions → Show search highlights → Off (or use Group Policy / registry for managed environments). (howtogeek.com)
Disabling these five Windows 11 defaults is a low‑risk, high‑value first step after setting up a new laptop: you’ll reduce distractions, limit some data flows, and potentially free modest resources for active work — all without sacrificing core OS functionality.
Source: Root-Nation.com https://root-nation.com/en/articles-en/windows-en/en-5-windows-11-settings-you-may-want-to-disable/