Best Windows 11 Settings to Change After Installation

After installing Windows 11, the system works well out of the box – but several default settings are not optimized for performance, privacy, or productivity. Making a few smart adjustments right after installation can significantly improve your overall experience.

In this guide, we’ll cover the best Windows 11 settings to change after installation, whether you’re setting up a new PC or upgrading from Windows 10.

Windows 11 settings panel after installation

Update Windows Before Anything Else

Before customizing anything, make sure your system is fully updated.

Go to Settings > Windows Update and install all available updates. This ensures:

Latest security patches
Driver improvements
Performance fixes

Restart your PC once updates are complete.

Change Power Mode for Better Performance

Windows 11 often defaults to balanced power mode.

What to do:

Go to Settings > System > Power & battery
Set Power mode to Best performance (desktop users)
Laptop users can choose Balanced or Best performance depending on battery needs

This improves responsiveness and system speed.

Windows 11 power mode settings for better performance

Disable Unnecessary Startup Apps

Too many startup apps slow down boot time.

How:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc > Startup Apps
Disable apps you don’t need immediately (launchers, updaters, etc.)

This makes Windows 11 start faster and feel lighter.

Adjust Privacy Settings

Some privacy options are enabled by default.

Recommended changes:

Go to Settings > Privacy & security
Disable:
- Advertising ID
- Optional diagnostic data
- App tracking permissions you don’t need

These changes improve privacy without affecting functionality.

Customize Notifications

Windows 11 notifications can become distracting.

Optimize them:

Go to Settings > System > Notifications
Disable notifications for non-essential apps
Enable Do Not Disturb during work hours

This keeps your workflow focused.

Optimize File Explorer Settings

File Explorer defaults can be improved.

Suggested tweaks:

Open File Explorer > Options
Set Open File Explorer to: This PC
Disable unnecessary preview panes if not needed

This makes navigation faster and cleaner.

Turn Off Visual Effects (Optional)

Visual effects look nice but can affect performance on some systems.

How:

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Visual effects
Disable transparency and animations if you want maximum performance

Especially useful on lower-end hardware.

Set Default Apps Properly

Windows 11 sometimes resets default apps.

Check:

Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps
Set your preferred browser, media player, and PDF reader

This avoids constant prompts and interruptions.

Configure Windows Security Settings

Windows Security is powerful and mostly automated, but it’s worth checking.

What to review:

Virus & threat protection is enabled
Firewall is active
Core isolation is turned on (if supported)

Windows 11 provides strong protection without third-party tools for most users.

Windows 11 security settings and protection features

Sign In with Windows Hello (If Available)

If your device supports it:

Enable Windows Hello (PIN, fingerprint, or face recognition)
Found under Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options

It improves both security and convenience.

Remove Preinstalled Apps You Don’t Use

Windows 11 comes with apps you may never need.

You can uninstall:

Games
Trial apps
Unused Microsoft apps

This declutters the system and frees resources.

If you’ve just installed Windows 11, make sure your system is properly activated so all features work without limitations – you can find reliable Windows 11 keys here.