Windows 11’s out-of-box experience (OOBE) still spends too much time selling users on apps and features while hiding the handful of settings that actually shape day‑one comfort, privacy, and productivity — and that needs to change now. The common-sense fix is simple: replace promotional screens with a short, user-friendly setup flow that surfaces seven practical options (theme, taskbar alignment, Start layout, Night light, Nearby Sharing, Clipboard history, and selective restore) so new PCs feel tailored from the first login rather than an ad showroom. This article examines why those seven settings belong in OOBE, verifies the technical reality of each feature, weighs benefits and risks, and lays out a concrete OOBE blueprint Microsoft should adopt to restore control and dignity to first‑time setup. tent OOBE
Windows setup has become a two‑part experience: the technical install that gets the OS on disk, and a second part — the OOBE — that’s supposed to make the device usable. In practice, OOBE increasingly functions as a marketing funnel. New‑device screens push sign‑ins, Microsoft Store apps, and recommendations while hiding many of the personalization and privacy toggles that users actually want to make before diving in. That mismatch creates friction: users must complete an ad-laden flow, then spend 20–60 minutes hunting through Settings to restore familiar behavior. The result is wasted time and a first impression that the OS is prioritizing upsell over usability.
Microsoft has already provided a lot of des into OOBE — Settings pages, toggleable features such as Dark mode and Night light, and account‑based restore for settings and apps. The missing piece is design intent: instead of nudging users toward services, a first‑run experience should ask a few short, meaningful questions that determine how a person will interact with Windows every day. Below I make the case for seven specific options and provide recommended defaults and safeguards.
Source: xda-developers.com 7 settings Windows 11 should show us during setup instead of all those ads
Windows setup has become a two‑part experience: the technical install that gets the OS on disk, and a second part — the OOBE — that’s supposed to make the device usable. In practice, OOBE increasingly functions as a marketing funnel. New‑device screens push sign‑ins, Microsoft Store apps, and recommendations while hiding many of the personalization and privacy toggles that users actually want to make before diving in. That mismatch creates friction: users must complete an ad-laden flow, then spend 20–60 minutes hunting through Settings to restore familiar behavior. The result is wasted time and a first impression that the OS is prioritizing upsell over usability.
Microsoft has already provided a lot of des into OOBE — Settings pages, toggleable features such as Dark mode and Night light, and account‑based restore for settings and apps. The missing piece is design intent: instead of nudging users toward services, a first‑run experience should ask a few short, meaningful questions that determine how a person will interact with Windows every day. Below I make the case for seven specific options and provide recommended defaults and safeguards.
- Theme and Dark Mode — pick light, dark, or automatic theme and an accent color.
- Taskbar alignment — center or left alignment for icons.
- Start menu layout — choose density and which folders appear next to power.
- Night light (blue‑light reduction) — enable and schedule Night light to protect eyes.
- Nearby sharing — enable discoverability for quick local file transfers.
- Clipboard history — enable persistent clipboard history (Windows + V).
- Partial restore of backups — let users choose which backed‑up apps and settings to restore when signing into a Microsoft account.
Dark mode and theme options: immediate comfort and battery benefits
Wheely affects the Start menu, taskbar, system chrome, and a wide range of apps. For users who work at night or have light sensitivity, Dark mode materially reduces eye strain; on OLED displays it can also conserve battery. Asking about theme during setup is a micro‑interaction that returns outsized comfort.
How it maps to existing settings
Windows already exposes theme controls under Settings > Personalization > Colors where usor Custom and choose accent colors. That exact control can be surfaced as a single slide in OOBE with an instant preview of Start and taskbar so users see the effect before finishing setup. Surface the choice as:- Light (default for some OEMs)
- Dark
- Automatic (follow time of day)
Recommended OOBE behavior
- Present three tiles (Light, Dark, Automatic) with small screenshots.
- Offer an “Accent color” picker and a “Use system accent as wallpaper tint” toggle.
- Persist selection immediately so the desktop reflects it as soon as setup completes.
Risks and considerations
No major security risks. Accessibility notes: ensure contrast and high‑contrast themes remain accessible for users with vision impairments. If automatic is chosen, allow users to override later with a clearly labeled control.Taskbar alignment: fix muscle memory from minute one
The problem
One of Windows 11’s most visible UI changes is centered taskbar icons,muscle memory for many users who expect the Start button in the lower left corner. Forcing one layout by default slows productivity and leaves users to hunt in Settings > Personalization > Taskbar to restore a classic layout.Why OOBE is the right place
Taskbar alignment is a pure preference with no systemic consequences. Presenting it during setup avoids an immediate usability hit for useed workflows.Recommended OOBE behavior
- Show two previews: Centered and Left‑aligned.
- Provide a one‑click toggle and a short note: “This affects taskbar icons and Start menu placement.”
- Make the change persistent and reversible from Settings > Personalization > Taskbar.
Technical verification
The existing Settings page already exposes a Taskbar behaviors control that allows alignment changes; OOBE only needs to call the same preference. This is a UI/flow change, not a technical feature addition.Start menu layout: fewer clicks to the things you need
Why this belongs in OOBE
The Start menu is the primary launch point for most users. Allowing people to select a layout densiaults during setup — e.g., “More pinned apps” vs “More recommendations,” and whether to show Desktop, Documents, Downloads next to Power — creates an immediately usable system tailored to each use case.Recommended choices to surface
- Layout: Balanced / More Pinned / More Recommendations
- Folders shown next to Power: toggle Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Pictures, Settings
Implementation notes
Settings > Personalization > Start already contains options to show recommended content and choose visible folders. OOBE should map to those toggles and preview the Start menu with the selected density.Night light: a small toggle with sleep and comfort benefits
The benefit
Night light (blue‑light reduction) reduces the amount of blue light emitted by the display, which can improve evening comfort anpeople using PCs at night. It’s a low‑risk, high‑utility toggle users often don’t discover on their own.Recommended OOBE behavior
- Offer Night light as an opt‑in toggle with two options:
- Schedule automatic from sunset to sunrise
- Manual on/off
- Provide a slider for intensity with an immediate preview.
Technical realityurable under Settings > System > Display and supports schedule and intensity. Surface the same controls in OOBE with an explanation of benefits.
Nearby sharing: promote useful local file transfer — carefully
Why include it
Nearby sharing is a practical way to transfer files between devices in close proximity without email or cloud uploads. For users who frequently move files to other Pptop, enabling discoverability during setup is a helpful onboarding moment.Privacy and security considerations
Nearby sharing uses Bluetooth/Wi‑Fi Direct and can be set to “Everyone nearby” or “My devices only.” In OOBE, present it as:- Off
- On — My devices only (recommended)
- On — Everyone nearby (not recommended for public environments)
Recommended OOBE behavior
- Short explanation of what Nearby sharing does.
- Default to “Off” or “My devices only” depending on personalization (corporate vs consumer).
- Provide clear link to Settings > System > Nearby sharing for later changes.
Clipboard history: enable a power feature early
What it does
Clipboard history (Windows + V) records clipboard entries so users can paste previous items, images, and text snippets without re-copying. It’s a productivity multiplier for writers, developers, and power users.Why surface in OOBE
Many users never discover clipboard history; offering it in setup ensures immediate benefit and a teachable moment about a useful but hidden feature.Recommended OOBE behavior
- Present Clipboard history as an opt‑in with a short animated demo.
- Note privacy: clipboardsensitive data; recommend turning it off for shared devices and enabling "Clear on sign-out" if enterprise policies require it.
Risks
Persisting clipboard history can create a local data exposure risk if sensitive credentials or PII are copied. OOBE should highlight the privacy tradeoff and provide safe defaults (disabled for shared/enterprise devices).Partial restore of backups: control what comes over from the cloud
The current situation and the problem
Windows can restore settings and Microsoft Store apps when you sign in with a Microsoft account, but the default restore is often an all‑or‑nothing process. Users may reintroduce old clutter or unwanted may prefer selective restoration. The fix is to let users pick which categories to restore during setup: apps, personalization, system settings, and files.Why it matters
Partial restore makes migrations faster and less noisy. It reduces the time spent decluttering a newly provisioned machine and increases transparency about what’s being restored.Recommended OOBE design
- After sign‑in, present the available backups (with device name, backup date, and size).
- Allow checkboxes per ngs, Themes, Files).
- Show estimated time and network impact before starting.
- Offer an “Advanced restore later” for users who want to postpone.
Technical constraints and verification
The underlying backup/restore APIs and Microsoft account sync already exist; this recommendation repurposes them into a selective UI. Enterprises can maintain control via Intune/MDM policies to allow or disallow selective restores. If a user’s backup contains DRM‑protected apps or licensing constraints, warn them about possible re‑authentication steps.An OOBE blueprint: what a better first‑run should look like
- Welcome screen: language/region and accessibility toggle.
- Network + updates screen (same as today).
- Account screen: local account vs Microsoft account choice.
- If Microsoft account chosen: show Selective restore with backup preview and category checkboxes.
- Personalization carou - Theme (Light/Dark/Automatic)
- Taskbar alignment (Centered/Left) with live preview
- Start layout density and folders next to Power
- Comfort and safety toggles:
- Night light (on/schedule)
- Clipboard history (enable + privacy tip)
- Nearby sharing (Off / My devices only / Everyone nearby) with security note
- Final privacy & recommendations screen: a short list of telemetry and ad personalization toggles (opt in/out) with a single “Finish setup” button.
Accessibility, privacy and enterprise considerations
- Accessibility: any OOBE changes must respect screen readers, high‑contrast themes, keyboard navigation, and assistive technology. Theme and contrast options should be emphasized for users with vision impairments.
- Privacy: features that persist user content (clipboard history, Nearby sharing, cloud restore) must surfaage privacy notices and safe default settings (e.g., Clipboard history off by default for shared devices).
- Enterprise: companies should be able to enforce OOBE defaults and block certain options via MDM (Intune or Group Policy). Administrators will want the ability to preselect acceptable defaults and disable “Everyone nearby” or automatic restores for security reasons.
Benefits: why this is a net win for Microsoft and users
- Faster time‑to‑productivity: users start with their preferred theme, layout, and essential sharing tools enabled.
- Fewer support tickets: common “how do I make Windows look like my old machine?” questions are handled at setup.
- Better first impressions: replacing ads with practical choices demonstrates respect for the user’s time and al win.
- Opportunity for optional education: short in‑flow tips (e.g., “Clipboard history: hit Windows + V”) teach power features at the point of relevance, increasing feature adoption.
Potential pushback and risks
- Monetization tradeoff: surfacing fewer promotional tiles reduces immediate product discoverability for Microsoft services and partners. That commercial tradeoff is a policy choice, not a technical one, and should be acknowledged openly rather than disguised in the OOBE flow. This motive cannot be verified from the product UI alone and should be treated as speculative unless Microsoft gged as unverifiable.*
- Security exposures: enabling features like clipboard history or Nearby sharing by default could create local data exposure on shared devices. Defaulting to more conservative settings mitigates this.
- Complexity creep: adding too many choices can overwhelm novice users. The solution is to group options, keep defaults smart, and hide advanced toggles behind a “More options” link.
Practical tips for users and OEMs right now
- Users sett should pause at post‑install prompts and walk through Settings > Personalization and Privacy to:
- Turn on Dark mode if preferred (Settings > Personalization > Colors).
- Change Taskbar alignment under Settings > Personalization > Taskbar.
- Configure Night light under Settings > System > Display.
- Enable Clipboard history via Windows + V and “Turn on”.
- Manage Nearby sharing in Settings > System > Nearby sharing.
- Use OneDrive’s Manage backup controls to decide Desktop/Documents/Pictures sync behavior.
- OEMs should preconfigure OOBE to include personalization steps rather than promotional content; a short 5‑step personalization carousel would add perceived device value and reduce returns driven by first‑day frustration.
Conclusion
The current Windows 11 setup too often prioritizes promotions over practical choices — and that’s an avoidable design failure. Surface the small but powerful personalization and sharing options discussed here during OOBE and tefficient, and respectful of privacy. These are not speculative features: Dark mode, Night light, taskbar alignment, Start options, Nearby Sharing, Clipboard history, and account‑based restore already exist in Windows; they simply need to be prioritized in the flow new users see. A short, focused OOBE that asks seven meaningful questions can deliver an immediate, less frustrating, and more secure first day on a new PC. The engineering work is modest; the user payoff is large. Microsoft should trade a few promotional panels for clearer choices — the result is better optics, better usability, and happier users on day one.Source: xda-developers.com 7 settings Windows 11 should show us during setup instead of all those ads