While Windows 11 provides a decent enough out of the box experience—atrocious new task bar aside—it handles so much better after tweaking just a handful of settings to make it feel more like the Windows of yesteryear.
No, I’m not talking about making Windows 11 look like Windows 10 through an extensive overhaul (though if you’re a Windows veteran that’s worth doing) or tinkering with the newfangled AI options on Copilot+ PCs. I’m talking about fast, simple changes that improve the feel of the operating system, turn off annoying ads, reduce the data you send to Microsoft, and more. Better yet, you can do them all in under five minutes—something I did mere weeks ago when I needed to pick up a Windows 11 laptop for some travel.
Here are five Windows 11 settings worth changing immediately, with an added bonus at the end.
What can I say, I’m a traditionalist. I understand Microsoft’s desire to revamp Windows 10’s interface to more closely mirror …