5 helpful Home windows 11 options I at all times a...

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

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

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

Home windows 11 provides a wide selection of person options and

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

5

Finish job for the Taskbar

No extra struggling to open Activity 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. Normally, you would need to hit Ctrl+Alt+Delete, open the Activity Supervisor, and shut it from there.

Fortunately, there is a a lot simpler manner to do that, with out struggling to open the Activity 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 it’s a must to do is go to Settings > System > For Builders and allow the Finish Activity possibility. If a program freezes on you and does not crash, now you can finish it by merely right-clicking it within the Taskbar and choosing Finish job as an alternative of Shut window. This must 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 provides

Windows Backup
, which lets you retailer your PC settings within the cloud, having a manually saved restore level can even 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 allows you to create a restore level to which you’ll revert again to should you encounter any points with Home windows sooner or later. Bear in mind that it does take up space for storing, because it saves your system and registry settings together with some private recordsdata. It is nicely 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 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 may create restore factors from there. Should you create a restore level however wish to delete it to avoid wasting area, you are able to do so from the identical display screen by choosing configure.

Associated

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

You’ve got obtained quite a lot 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 sorts

Pocket-lint / Microsoft

I cope with many alternative file sorts 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 non-obligatory 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 sort listed on the finish of their names. Microsoft in all probability doesn’t allow this by default to keep away from complicated newer customers, however if you’re savvy with Home windows, that is extremely useful for rapidly deciphering what file sort you’re coping with. As somebody who captures and edits lots of of photos for work, this can be a must-have Home windows function.

Associated

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

Microsoft is about to finish help for its Home windows 10 desktop OS in October of this yr, however there is no must throw your previous PC by the wayside.

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 individuals 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 shouldn’t be enabled by default, however it saves your clipboard historical past, permitting you to rapidly retrieve any hyperlinks or textual content you have copied and pasted in the course of the day.

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

After getting turned it on, any hyperlinks or textual content you’ve gotten 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 easy to delete your historical past as nicely; 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 could be thoughtfully designed, similar 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 am going to admit this function is extremely area of interest, however as somebody who makes use of a QD-OLED monitor every single day, burning my Taskbar into the display screen is the very last thing I wish to cope with. Home windows provides a function that lets you mechanically disguise your Taskbar when it is not in use. Not solely is that this aesthetically pleasing, however it additionally helps forestall display screen 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 fret; all it’s essential to do to make it reappear is both hit the Home windows key or hover your mouse close to the underside of the display screen.

Here is one other bonus function to take a look at: should you do not like 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 screen, search for Taskbar alignment and alter it to Left. I personally want the centralized Taskbar, so I stored 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.