5 helpful Home windows 11 options I at all times allow first on a brand new PC

Not too way back, after upgrading my PC’s CPU and motherboard, I carried out a recent set up of

Windows 11
. I normally undergo this course of yearly or two, or anytime I arrange a

new laptop
, and it acquired me interested by all of the options I must allow that Microsoft would not activate by default.

Home windows 11 presents a wide selection of consumer options and

customization options
. Understandably, many of those options aren’t enabled by default; nonetheless, they are often fairly useful for on a regular basis duties. Every time I arrange a brand new Home windows 11 desktop or laptop computer, these are the 5 options I allow first to boost my expertise.

5

Finish job for the Taskbar

No extra struggling to open Job Supervisor

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

It drives me completely bonkers after I’m taking part in a sport, and it freezes as a substitute of simply crashing to the desktop. Then, when I attempt to shut this system by clicking the X button to kill it, nothing occurs, and I am caught a frozen sport or program that will not shut. Normally, you would need to hit Ctrl+Alt+Delete, open the Job Supervisor, and shut it from there.

Fortunately, there is a a lot simpler means to do that, with out struggling to open the Job Supervisor. You’ll be able to allow a function that permits you to finish duties proper from the Taskbar. It is game-changing, actually. All you need to do is go to Settings > System > For Builders and allow the Finish Job possibility. If a program freezes on you and would not crash, now you can finish it by merely right-clicking it within the Taskbar and deciding on Finish job as a substitute of Shut window. This ought to be a function that Home windows allows by default sooner or later.

Associated

5 retro Windows games that will bring you right back to 2007

Microsoft has bundled in some downright iconic PC video games into Home windows all through the years – listed below are 5 of my all-time favorites.

4

System Restore

Save your PC after a rogue replace

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

Whereas Microsoft now presents

Windows Backup
, which lets you retailer your PC settings within the cloud, having a manually saved restore level may present peace of thoughts, particularly if a Home windows Replace negatively impacts your PC indirectly ( you, 24H2).

System Restore first debuted with Home windows ME (Millennium Version) in 2000 and has been a part of each Home windows launch since then. This legacy system recovery tool enables you to create a restore level to which you’ll revert again to if you happen to encounter any points with Home windows sooner or later. Bear in mind that it does take up cupboard space, because it saves your system and registry settings together with some private recordsdata. It is properly price using that cupboard space, as it could make fixing your PC within the occasion of a foul replace a lot simpler.

To seek out System Restore, seek for it in Home windows search and choose “Create a restore level.” You may see all of the drives you possibly can create restore factors from there. In the event you create a restore level however wish to delete it to avoid wasting house, you are able to do so from the identical display by deciding on configure.

Associated

How (and why) I back up my Windows 11 PC

You’ve got acquired a wide range of choices, however one goes to be the go-to for many customers.

3

View file extensions in File Explorer

By no means be confused about file varieties

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

I cope with many alternative file varieties every day, whether or not they’re JPEGs, PNGs, PDFs, or Photoshop recordsdata. Nevertheless, typically within the File Explorer menu, it may be arduous to tell apart amongst them. That is the place this non-compulsory Home windows function comes into play, permitting you to view file extensions in File Explorer.

To allow this, go to File Explorer > View > Present > File Extensions. When you flip it on, you’ll instantly discover that every one your recordsdata now have their file sort listed on the finish of their names. Microsoft most likely doesn’t allow this by default to keep away from complicated newer customers, however if you’re savvy with Home windows, that is extremely helpful for rapidly deciphering what file sort you might be coping with. As somebody who captures and edits lots of of photographs for work, it is a must-have Home windows function.

Associated

How I flipped my aging Windows 10 machine into cold, hard cash

Microsoft is ready to finish assist for its Home windows 10 desktop OS in October of this yr, however there is not any must throw your outdated PC by the wayside.

2

Clipboard Historical past

Discover any hyperlinks or textual content you’ve got copied immediately

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

I ship a wide range of hyperlinks to folks all through the day, and one Home windows 11 function that makes it simpler to view all of them is Clipboard Historical past. This function will not be enabled by default, nevertheless it saves your clipboard historical past, permitting you to rapidly retrieve any hyperlinks or textual content you’ve got copied and pasted in the course of the day.

To allow this helpful function, go to System > Clipboard > Clipboard Historical past. Alternatively, you possibly can convey up the Clipboard Menu and activate Clipboard Historical past by urgent the Home windows Key + V.

After you have turned it on, any hyperlinks or textual content you’ve got copied shall be listed in your Clipboard Menu, enabling you to repeat them once more or view them. I’ve used this many occasions to discover a hyperlink I copied earlier within the day, and I discover it a lot faster than checking my Google Chrome historical past to retrieve a hyperlink I wished to revisit. It is easy to delete your historical past as properly; merely click on the Clear all button within the Clipboard Menu.

Associated

These 12 apps have me excited for the future of Windows 11

Trendy Home windows apps may be thoughtfully designed, identical to their iOS and Android counterparts – listed below are 12 good examples.

1

Mechanically disguise your Taskbar

Solely see your Taskbar if you want it

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

I will admit this function is extremely area of interest, however as somebody who makes use of a QD-OLED monitor on daily basis, burning my Taskbar into the display is the very last thing I wish to cope with. Home windows presents a function that permits you to mechanically disguise your Taskbar when it is not in use. Not solely is that this aesthetically pleasing, nevertheless it additionally helps stop display burn-in.

To allow this, head to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar behaviors > Mechanically disguise the taskbar. As soon as it is activated, your taskbar will disappear. However don’t be concerned; all you’ll want to do to make it reappear is both hit the Home windows key or hover your mouse close to the underside of the display.

Here is one other bonus function to take a look at: if you happen to don’t love your Taskbar centered, you possibly can change it again to the left, just like previous variations of Home windows. From that very same Taskbar behaviors settings display, search for Taskbar alignment and alter it to Left. I personally choose the centralized Taskbar, so I saved it enabled.

Associated

Windows 11 is great, but I wish Microsoft would give its screensavers more love

Home windows screensavers are an iconic a part of the PC’s historical past, and Microsoft must modernize them yesterday.