Windows 11 is... fine. It looks pretty, it's modern, it does the job. But out of the box? It's kinda annoying. Microsoft makes all these assumptions about how you want to use your computer, and half the time they're wrong. Ads in your operating system? Notifications from apps you don't care about? A taskbar that feels like it was designed by someone who's never actually used a computer?
Here are the five Windows 11 settings I change instantly on every new machine, plus a bonus because I'm nice like that.
#1: Move the Start Button to the Left Corner
The default centered Start button – it looks modern but breaks muscle memory
Why change it? I get it, Microsoft. You wanted Windows 11 to feel fresh. You wanted it to compete with Macs and Chromebooks. You thought putting the Start button in the center would make things feel balanced and modern. But here's the thing: the Start button has been in the bottom-left corner for thirty years. That's where my muscle memory expects it to be.
Every time I use a new Windows 11 machine, I instinctively flick my mouse to the left corner to open Start, and... nothing. Then I have to stop, think, and aim for the center. It's a small thing, but it breaks my flow constantly. On ultrawide screens, it's even worse—the Start button ends up somewhere in the middle of nowhere, miles away from where your eyes naturally look.
⏱️ Time to fix: 10 seconds
How to fix it: Right-click on an empty area of your taskbar and select Taskbar settings. Or go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors. Look for Taskbar alignment and change it from "Center" to "Left".
Taskbar alignment setting – change from Center to Left
Boom. Instant relief. Your Start button is back where it belongs, and your muscle memory can stop screaming at you. This change alone makes Windows 11 feel more like home. It's the first thing I do on any new install.
While you're in there, take a look at the other options. You can also control whether badges appear on taskbar apps, how the taskbar behaves on multiple monitors, and more. But the alignment change is the big one.
For more details on taskbar customization, Microsoft's official guide has additional options you might find useful.
#2: Turn Off Annoying Notifications
The notification center – useful alerts mixed with total spam
Why change it? Notifications are out of control. Every app you install thinks it has the right to ping you whenever it feels like it. News apps, weather apps, games, random utilities, Windows itself—they all want your attention. And on a new Windows 11 machine, especially one with pre-installed bloatware from the manufacturer, the notification spam can be overwhelming.
I don't need my computer telling me about the weather every morning. I don't need tips on how to use Windows. I don't need notifications from apps I installed once and forgot about. All these pop-ups do is distract me from actual work.
The worst part is that some notifications are actually useful. Your antivirus might warn you about a threat. Slack or Teams might need your attention. So you can't just turn everything off—you need to be selective.
⏱️ Time to fix: 2 minutes
How to fix it: Go to Settings > System > Notifications. At the top, you'll see a master toggle for "Notifications." You can turn everything off here if you want, but I don't recommend it. Instead, scroll down to the section called "Notifications from apps and other senders."
Notification settings – turn off everything except what you actually need
This is a list of every app that can send you notifications. Go through this list and turn off anything you don't care about. For me, that's most of them. I leave notifications on for Slack, Discord, my antivirus, and maybe a couple of others. Everything else gets switched off.
While you're here, also look at the options under "Notifications" at the top. You can turn off:
- "Suggest ways I can finish setting up my device"
- "Get tips and suggestions when I use Windows"
- "Show me the Windows welcome experience after updates"
These are basically Microsoft trying to help, but they just add more noise. Turn them off.
For a deeper dive into managing notifications across all your devices, PC Magazine has a great guide that covers more advanced scenarios.
#3: Turn Off Microsoft Ads
"Suggested content" – Microsoft's polite word for ads
Why change it? This one drives me crazy. You paid for Windows. Or at least, your computer came with Windows and you paid for it as part of the price. So why are there ads in your operating system? It's like buying a car and finding bumper stickers inside that you can't remove.
Microsoft calls them "suggestions" or "tips" or "personalized experiences," but let's call them what they are: ads. They pop up in the Settings app, on the lock screen, in the Start menu. They try to get you to sign up for Microsoft 365, use Edge, play Game Pass games, or buy stuff from the Microsoft Store.
Some people don't mind these. Maybe you actually want Microsoft to suggest things. But if you're like me and you prefer your operating system to be an operating system, not a billboard, you can turn most of this stuff off.
⏱️ Time to fix: 3 minutes
How to fix it, step one: Go to Settings > System > Notifications (yes, we're back here). Scroll all the way to the bottom. You'll see a section called "Additional settings" with a few checkboxes. Uncheck:
- "Suggest ways I can finish setting up my device to get the most out of Windows"
- "Get tips and suggestions when I use Windows"
- "Show me the Windows welcome experience after updates and occasionally when I sign in to highlight what's new and suggested"
Privacy settings – where the ad personalization controls live
Step two: Go to Settings > Privacy & security > General. Here you'll see several options about personalized experiences. The big one is "Show me suggested content in the Settings app." Turn this off. This kills those annoying banners in Settings trying to sell you stuff.
You can also turn off:
- "Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID"
- "Let websites show me locally relevant content by accessing my language list"
These are more about ad targeting than direct Microsoft ads, but turning them off can't hurt.
Step three: Go to Settings > Personalization > Device usage. This screen asks you how you use your device—gaming, family, creativity, etc. Microsoft says this helps them give you "tailored tips, ads, and recommendations." In other words, it's for targeting. I turn all of them off. You can too.
If you really want to go deep on removing Microsoft's advertising, How-To Geek has an excellent guide that covers even more obscure locations where ads hide. Some of it applies to Windows 11 as well.
4: Change Your Default Browser
Edge is fine, but you should use the browser you actually want
Why change it? Look, Microsoft Edge is actually pretty good now. It's based on Chromium, it's fast, it's secure. I'm not here to bash Edge. But it's not my browser. I use Chrome (or Firefox, or Brave, or whatever floats your boat). And every time I set up a new Windows machine, I have to fight with Microsoft to let me use the browser I actually want.
Windows 11 makes this harder than it should be. In previous versions, you could just click a button and set your default browser. Now, Microsoft makes you go through and manually associate each file type (.htm, .html, .http, .https, etc.) with your new browser. It's annoying. It's clearly designed to make you give up and just use Edge. But don't give up—it only takes a minute.
⏱️ Time to fix: 2 minutes
How to fix it: First, install the browser you want to use. Then go to Settings > Apps > Default apps. You'll see a search box at the top. Type the name of your new browser and click on it when it appears.
Default apps – where you fight the browser wars
You'll see a long list of file types and protocols. For each one, you'll need to click the current default (probably Edge) and change it to your chosen browser. The important ones are:
- .htm and .html (web page files)
- .http and .https (web links)
- .pdf (if you want your browser to handle PDFs)
Click on each one, select your browser from the list, and confirm. It's tedious, but you only have to do it once. After that, all your links will open in the browser you actually want.
If you're using Chrome, you can download it here. For Firefox, grab it from Mozilla. Brave fans can get it here. Opera users head here.
There is a third-party tool called MSEdgeRedirect that can force Windows to respect your default browser for system links (like the ones in the Start menu and Widgets). It's open source and safe, but you don't have to go that far if you just want web links to work right.
5: Clean Up the Taskbar
The default taskbar – cluttered with things you probably don't need
Why change it? Windows 11's taskbar has improved since launch, but it's still not great. Microsoft fills it with icons and features that most people don't need. Widgets, Chat, Task View, Search, Copilot—it's a crowded mess. And if you're on a smaller laptop screen, every pixel counts.
The good news is that you can remove almost everything. You can strip the taskbar down to just the apps you actually use, plus the Start button and system tray. It's cleaner, less distracting, and gives you more space for your actual windows.
⏱️ Time to fix: 2 minutes
How to fix it: Right-click on an empty area of the taskbar and select Taskbar settings. Or go to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar.
Taskbar customization – uncheck what you don't need
You'll see a section called "Taskbar items." This is where you control what appears on the taskbar itself. Uncheck anything you don't use. For me, that's:
- Search – I just press the Windows key and type if I need to search
- Task View – I use Alt+Tab instead
- Widgets – news and weather I don't care about
- Chat – I don't use Teams or Skype
- Copilot – Microsoft's AI assistant (not interested)
You can keep these if you use them, of course. But most people don't need all of them cluttering up the taskbar.
Below that, there's a section called "Taskbar corner icons" and "Taskbar corner overflow." These control the small icons near the clock—things like the pen menu, touch keyboard, volume, network, and battery. You can turn off anything you don't need here too. I usually leave volume, network, and battery on and turn off everything else.
For more ideas on streamlining your Windows experience, ZDNet has a solid guide with additional tweaks.
Bonus: Enable Dark Mode
Dark mode – easier on the eyes and looks great
Why change it? Okay, this one's personal preference. Some people love bright white screens. They find them clean and cheerful. I am not one of those people. Staring at a white screen all day hurts my eyes, especially in low-light conditions. Dark mode is easier on the eyes, saves battery on OLED screens, and just looks cooler.
The best part is that Windows 11's dark mode applies to many apps automatically. File Explorer, Settings, the Start menu, and lots of third-party apps will respect your choice. It's a system-wide setting that makes everything feel more cohesive.
⏱️ Time to fix: 10 seconds
How to fix it: Go to Settings > Personalization > Colors. Under "Choose your mode," select "Dark" from the dropdown menu.
Color settings – choose Dark mode for easier viewing
You'll immediately see the change. The taskbar goes dark, the Start menu goes dark, Settings goes dark. It's beautiful. You can also choose "Custom" if you want, say, a light mode for apps but dark mode for Windows—that's an option too.
While you're here, check out the "Accent color" settings. You can let Windows pick an accent color based on your wallpaper, or choose your own. This affects things like link colors, some buttons, and the Start menu's accent. It's a small touch, but it makes your system feel more personalized.
For more on Windows 11's personalization options, Microsoft's own guide covers everything from themes to backgrounds.
Quick Reference Summary
| Setting | Where to Find It | What to Change | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start Button | Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors | Alignment: Center → Left | 10 sec |
| Notifications | Settings > System > Notifications | Turn off per-app notifications; disable tips/suggestions | 2 min |
| Microsoft Ads | Settings > Privacy & security > General; Settings > Personalization > Device usage | Disable suggested content, ad ID, device usage options | 3 min |
| Default Browser | Settings > Apps > Default apps | Set your preferred browser for .htm, .html, .http, .https | 2 min |
| Taskbar Cleanup | Settings > Personalization > Taskbar | Uncheck unwanted taskbar items and corner icons | 2 min |
| Dark Mode (Bonus) | Settings > Personalization > Colors | Choose your mode: Dark | 10 sec |
Final Thoughts
Windows 11 is a solid operating system. It's stable, it's secure, it looks good. But out of the box, it's configured for Microsoft's benefit, not yours. Ads, notifications, a cluttered taskbar—these things don't make your experience better. They make Microsoft's metrics look better.
The good news is that you can fix most of it in under five minutes. Move the Start button, kill the notifications, turn off the ads, set your default browser, clean up the taskbar, and enable dark mode. These small changes make a huge difference in how the system feels.
I do this on every new Windows 11 machine I touch, and I never regret it. Give it a try. Your computer should work for you, not against you.
And if you have other settings you always change, I'd love to hear about them. Drop them in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will changing these settings affect my computer's performance or security?
No, not at all. These are all personalization and privacy settings. They don't affect performance, and they don't make your computer less secure. If anything, turning off ads and notifications reduces background activity slightly, which can help on low-end machines.
2. Can I undo these changes if I don't like them?
Absolutely. Every setting we covered can be changed back just as easily as we changed it. If you decide you miss the centered Start button or want notifications back, just reverse the steps.
3. Do I need to restart my computer after making these changes?
Most of them take effect immediately. The taskbar alignment change happens right away. Dark mode switches instantly. The only one that might need a restart is the default browser change, and even that usually works without one.
4. Will turning off Microsoft ads also stop ads in apps like Mail or Calendar?
It stops the system-level ads in Settings and the Start menu. Some Microsoft apps (like Mail, Calendar, or the Microsoft Store) have their own ad settings that need to be changed separately. Check each app's settings if you see ads there.
5. Why does Microsoft make it so hard to change the default browser?
That's a great question. Microsoft wants you to use Edge, so they make switching to another browser slightly annoying. It's called a "dark pattern"—design choices that push you toward their preferred option. The good news is that once you fight through it once, it's done.
6. Will these settings sync across multiple Windows 11 devices?
Some of them might, if you have sync enabled with your Microsoft account. Theme settings like dark mode and accent color often sync. Taskbar settings generally don't. You'll probably need to set up each new device separately.
7. What's the difference between turning off notifications and turning off "tips and suggestions"?
Turning off notifications stops apps from bothering you. Turning off "tips and suggestions" stops Microsoft from bothering you with system-level pop-ups about how to use Windows. Both are annoying, so I turn off both.
8. Does dark mode really save battery?
On OLED screens, yes. OLED pixels emit their own light, so black pixels are actually off and use no power. On LCD screens, the backlight is always on, so the savings are minimal. But dark mode is still easier on the eyes in low light.
9. Will these changes affect Windows updates?
No, not at all. Windows Update runs independently of these settings. You'll still get security updates and feature updates normally. Microsoft just won't bother you with as many suggestions and tips.
10. Are there other settings I should consider changing?
Definitely. We covered the big ones, but you might also want to look at privacy settings (camera access, microphone access, location services), startup apps (to speed up boot time), and power settings (to balance performance and battery). Every user has different needs, so explore the Settings app and make it your own.