5 Home windows 11 options I at all times allow first

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

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

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

Home windows 11 affords a big selection of consumer options and

customization options
. Understandably, many of those options will not be 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 activity for the Taskbar

No extra struggling to open Process Supervisor

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

It drives me completely bonkers once I’m taking part in a recreation, and it freezes as an alternative 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 recreation or program that will not shut. Often, you would need to hit Ctrl+Alt+Delete, open the Process Supervisor, and shut it from there.

Fortunately, there is a a lot simpler manner to do that, with out struggling to open the Process Supervisor. You’ll be able to allow a function that allows you to finish duties proper from the Taskbar. It is game-changing, actually. All you must do is go to Settings > System > For Builders and allow the Finish Process 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 activity as an alternative of Shut window. This needs to be a function that Home windows permits by default sooner or later.

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4

System Restore

Save your PC after a rogue replace

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

Whereas Microsoft now affords

Windows Backup
, which lets you retailer your PC settings within the cloud, having a manually saved restore level also can present peace of thoughts, particularly if a Home windows Replace negatively impacts your PC in a roundabout way ( 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 be able to revert again to if you happen to encounter any points with Home windows sooner or later. Remember that it does take up space for storing, because it saves your system and registry settings together with some private recordsdata. It is effectively value using that space for storing, as it may possibly make fixing your PC within the occasion of a nasty replace a lot simpler.

To search out System Restore, seek for it in Home windows search and choose “Create a restore level.” You will see all of the drives you may create restore factors from there. In case you create a restore level however need to delete it to save lots of area, you are able to do so from the identical display by deciding on configure.

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3

View file extensions in File Explorer

By no means be confused about file varieties

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

I take care of many various file varieties each day, whether or not they’re JPEGs, PNGs, PDFs, or Photoshop recordsdata. Nonetheless, typically within the File Explorer menu, it may be arduous to differentiate amongst them. That is the place this optionally available 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 each one your recordsdata now have their file kind listed on the finish of their names. Microsoft most likely doesn’t allow this by default to keep away from complicated newer customers, however in case you are savvy with Home windows, that is extremely helpful for rapidly deciphering what file kind you might be coping with. As somebody who captures and edits tons of of photographs for work, it is a must-have Home windows function.

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2

Clipboard Historical past

Discover any hyperlinks or textual content you have copied immediately

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

I ship quite a lot 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 isn’t enabled by default, but it surely saves your clipboard historical past, permitting you to rapidly retrieve any hyperlinks or textual content you have copied and pasted through the day.

To allow this helpful function, go to System > Clipboard > Clipboard Historical past. Alternatively, you may deliver 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 copied will likely be listed in your Clipboard Menu, enabling you to repeat them once more or view them. I’ve used this many instances 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 simple to delete your historical past as effectively; merely click on the Clear all button within the Clipboard Menu.

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1

Routinely conceal your Taskbar

Solely see your Taskbar while you want it

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

I am going to admit this function is extremely area of interest, however as somebody who makes use of a QD-OLED monitor day-after-day, burning my Taskbar into the display is the very last thing I need to take care of. Home windows affords a function that means that you can mechanically conceal your Taskbar when it is not in use. Not solely is that this aesthetically pleasing, but it surely additionally helps stop display burn-in.

To allow this, head to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar behaviors > Routinely conceal 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.

This is one other bonus function to take a look at: if you happen to don’t love your Taskbar centered, you may change it again to the left, much 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 want the centralized Taskbar, so I saved it enabled.

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