If you use Windows 11 daily and notice that your computer is a bit laggy or you're distracted by a thousand things on the screen, this article is for you. Here's a unified guide with desktop tips, tweaks, and tricks that improve performance, reduce visual noise and speed up everyday tasks.
Important to have realistic expectations: there are no magic wandsAn older PC won't magically fly, but with the right tweaks, you'll feel more agile and organized. Plus, you'll see exact configuration paths, keyboard shortcuts, and hidden options to keep Windows 11 sleek and functional.
Settings in Windows 11 and your apps fully updated
Before you touch anything, it's a good idea to check for system updates and drivers. Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update, check for updates and, in Advanced, opens Optional updates to install pending drivers. It is also key update all apps: Visit the Microsoft Store and use the updates section, and for apps installed outside the store, check their own update systems.
Software cleanup: uninstall what you don't use and control what starts
The less ballast, the better. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps and uninstall programs you don't use. If you miss a complete list, open Control Panel > Uninstall a program to review everything present and remove what is unnecessary.
Many apps sneak into startup and slow down the boot process. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and enters Task Manager. In the section Applications on startup check out Start impact and the State. Disable the expendable (button Disable) what for Windows starts fasterIf you're having trouble with programs that open by themselves, learn how to Prevent Adobe Creative Cloud from opening after startup.
Another source of consumption is background apps. Go to Settings> Applications, open the list, right click on the desired app > Advanced and put Background app permissions set to “Never” if you don't need it to stay active without opening it.
If you use heavy tools (for example, a browser known for consuming a lot of RAM), consider switch to lighter alternativesA browser like Firefox or minimalist options can reduce memory usage and improve overall fluidity.
Order and silence on the desk: fewer distractions, more focus
A desktop full of icons slows down the initial loading process. Try to keep it clear: move files to folders or create a “Desktop” folder container and save the shortcuts you actually use there. If you need to hide everything on the fly: right-click on the background > View > deactivates Show desktop icons.
Notifications are useful until they become noise. Enter Settings > System > Notifications to decide which apps can notify you and how each notification appears. From each notification (button three points) you can cancel all of that app's apps, increase its priority, or go directly to its settings.
Activate the mode Do Not Disturb/Focus when you need concentration: Start > Settings > System > Focus and press Start Focus session. Adjust duration and, if you want, Hide badges y Hide flickering in apps from the taskbar, in addition to Activate do not disturb. To automate it go to Settings > Notifications and in Activate Do Not Disturb automatically program schedules or conditions.
You can also reduce items in the bar: Start> Settings> Personalization> Taskbar. Manage Bar elements (Search, Task View, Widgets), Icons in the notification area (Pencil menu, Touch Keyboard, Virtual Touchpad) and Behavior (center or left alignment, auto hide, badges and blinking).
For fine control of notification duration and visual effects, go to Settings > Accessibility > Visual Effects and adjust Dismiss notifications after…, disable animation effects, Transparency effects or automatically hide scroll bars if you search fewer distractions.
Performance for gaming and per application
Activate Game mode en Settings > Games > Game Mode. Pause Windows Update installations, reduce background tasks, and improve frame rate when a game is detected. It's a quick toggle for prioritizing gaming performance.
If you want to get the most out of a specific app or game, go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics (also accessible from Game Mode) and in the list change it to High performance. This forces the use of the most powerful GPU if you have multiple, although will consume more battery on laptops.
On laptops, change the power plan to prioritize muscle: open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options and choose Maximum performanceYou will gain a response at the cost of autonomy.
Remove visual effects and adjust privacy that does not provide
The effects look nice, but they do reduce response. In addition to Accessibility > Visual Effects, you have a deeper setting: go to Settings > System > Information > Advanced System Settings (in Related Links). In System Properties > Advanced Options, press Configuration en Unlimited and brand Adjust for best performance. Windows will look more sober, but will be more agile.
Cut down on sending data you don't need: Settings > Privacy and security and check General, Voz , Customizing handwriting and writing input y Diagnosis and comments. Deactivate what is dispensable to reduce background tasks and telemetry. For more in-depth guidance, see This guide to protecting your privacy in Windows 11.
If you are short on resources, avoid animated backgrounds or carousels: opt for a static background or solid colorIt's a small change that helps create fluidity in tight teams.
Free up space and speed up with storage tools
A nearly full disk penalizes performance. In Configuración> Sistema> Almacenamiento You will see a breakdown and you will be able to open Cleaning recommendations to check the trash, temporary files, and folders with unnecessary content.
From Storage also enters into Temporary files and mark what you want to delete (they are sorted by size). Then press Remove files. You will notice space recovery immediate.
To locate “tragaldabas” apps, open Settings > System > Storage > Apps & features. There they are sorted by size; uninstall the ones that do not contribute to free up gigabytes.
Custom Taskbar and Start Menu
If you prefer the Start on the leftgo to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, opens Bar behaviors and change the Alignment To the left. It's a classic gesture that improves muscle memory for many users.
The new Start is based on pinned apps. Unpin by right-clicking and selecting Unpin from Home. To anchor, open All applications, right click on the app you are interested in and press Pin to Start. If you get lost in the list, tap the letter header to use the alphabetical index and jump to the desired initial.
You can add folder access (Downloads, Documents, Music…) on the edge of the Start power button: Settings > Personalization > Home > Folders. Activate the ones you use daily.
If you are not convinced by the recommendations of recent apps and files, disable them in Settings > Personalization > Home so that the panel shows only what you really want to see.
Multitask like a pro: Snap Layouts, desktops, and more
Organize windows with the split-screen modes (Snap Layouts). Place the mouse over the maximize button or press Win+Z and choose a design. You can also use Win + Left/Right Arrow to couple halfway, and Win + Up/Down Arrow for quadrants.
Set the behavior in Settings > System > Multitasking. active Docking windows and customize details. Adjust how tabs and windows are displayed when using Alt + Tab (last 20, 5, 3 or no tabs) and define, in Desktops, if you want to see windows only from the current desktop or all of them.
To manage virtual desktops, press Win + Tab. There you can create, rename, and move apps between desktops by dragging and dropping them. Switch between them with Ctrl + Win + Left/Right Arrow and assigns a different background to each one from the desktop customization.
Activate "Shake title bar in windows"In Settings > System > Multitasking so that when you “shake” one window, all the others are minimized. It's ideal when you have too many windows open and you want stay with one in focus.
Productivity on the fly: dictation, clipping, clipboard, PDF, and more
If you get tired of typing, press Win + H to open dictation and activate the automatic scoring. Windows will transcribe as you speak, detecting pauses for commas and periods.
Set the key Print Screen to open directly Snipping Tool: Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard tab and activate Use the Print Screen button to open the clippingYou'll gain speed in area selection captures.
The clipboard has history: press Win+V to see the last copied items and paste the one you need. The first time you will have to activate it, and from then on you will save time copying and pasting.
To save a web as PDF without installing anything: in the browser, press Ctrl + P, change the Destination a Save as PDF and confirm with Save. It is perfect for filing receipts or items.
In Explorer, pin your frequently used folders to the Quick access: Right click on the folder and choose Pin to Quick Access. If you want to see all your apps at a glance, type Shell: AppsFolder in the address bar and access the complete list of installed applications. If you prefer other options, see best alternatives to File Explorer.
Need to open two instances of the same app? middle click (wheel) on your taskbar icon to launch another independent window.
The context menu has changed in Windows 11; if you miss the classic options, right-click and press Show more optionsThis opens the legacy menu with additional features.
La Windows Terminal unifies PowerShell, Command Prompt, and more into tabs. Open it, use the arrow menu to choose your shell, and work in multiple sessions comfortably in a single window.
Distraction-free reading in Microsoft Edge
For long pages, try immersive reader: In Edge, press Function + F9 (Fn + F9) and the page will change to a clean, easy-to-read layout. From the top bar adjust Text Preferences (font, size, themes). To exit, use again Function + F9 or the exit icon.
If you prefer to listen, use Out loud reading: corresponding icon in the Edge bar or right click > Out loud reading. Control playback, speed and change the voice from “Voice Options”; the words are highlight on screen while they are playing.
Network, display, and eye relief for better settings in Windows 11
Share Internet from your PC: go to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Hotspot. Edit the name/key in Properties > Edit and activate the zone so that other devices can connect to your resort of choice..
Adjust the Update frequency To save battery or increase fluidity: Settings > System > Display > Advanced display and choose in Choosing a refresh rate (for example, 60 Hz or 120 Hz depending on your panel).
Activate the Night light en Settings > System > Display > Night light. Define intensity and schedule to reduce blue light at night and promote a better rest.
Control and maintenance: monitor, repair and decide when to update
If everything is slow, maybe an app is eating up resources. Open Task Manager to Ctrl + Alt + Delete and press More details. In Processes You'll see CPU, memory, and more per app/process; close or uninstall whatever has it. anomalous peaks.
Some apps crash and don't need to be uninstalled. Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, three-dot button in the app > Advanced and use Repair o Resetting to leave them “like new”.
Control the app permissions: located on Settings > Privacy and security, go down to App permissions (Location, Camera, Microphone, etc.). Go into each permission and disable it for the apps that shouldn't have access. You'll win privacy and resources.
Avoid untimely reboots due to updates: in Settings > Windows Update can pause updates between 1 and 5 weeks, and in Advanced Options > Active Hours defines when you don't want it to restart your PC.
If all else fails, there is always the reinstatement to factory settings. Back up your files first (to the cloud, external drive, or USB). After resetting, reinstall only what's necessary to maintain your system. light.
Want to fine-tune with an external tool? Try it. Optimizer, a project open source to fine-tune services, telemetry, Cortana, network, and more in a granular way. Download at github.com/hellzerg/optimizerUse it wisely: Review each option and disable only what you understand; you can always undo it.
If you don't have a license and you want to be a tester, join Windows Insider Program en Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program. You'll get preview versions with new features in exchange for living with some bug punctual.
Widgets, smart search, and sounds
The Widgets (button on the bar or Win+W) displays information of interest. Press Add widgets to choose which ones you use and adjust each one from its settings button. In News you can to interact with each card.
The Start menu search does much more than just find files. You can directly type “3*7+5” to use the built-in calculator or expressions like “hello in English” for quick translations. It's a shortcut that save time.
personalize the system sounds: go into Settings> Personalization> Themes and open Sounds. Change events, use your WAVs, and save the set as a theme. You can also choose light or dark mode and activate/deactivate transparencies en Personalization> Colors.
Screen recording and essential shortcuts to improve settings in Windows 11
To record your apps, tap Win+G and open the widget Capture in the Xbox Game Bar. It doesn't record the desktop/browser, but it does record application windows, ideal for tutorials or incidents.
Useful shortcuts to memorize: Win+W (Widgets), Win+N (Notifications), Win + A (Quick Settings, Brightness, WiFi, Bluetooth), Win+Z (Snap Layouts), Win +. (Emoji Picker), Win+V (Clipboard history). They will make you fly by the system.
With these tweaks in Windows 11, it becomes more agile and less noisy, and your desktop goes from being an "everything in sight" to an organized and efficient space. Following these practices—from update and clean, to control notifications, effects, and multitasking, until fine-tuned performance per app and security— you will gain time and convenience in your daily routine. Share this information so more users can learn how to make adjustments in Windows 11..