{"id":147119,"date":"2025-01-13T06:00:56","date_gmt":"2025-01-13T11:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/?p=147119"},"modified":"2026-01-02T10:24:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T15:24:45","slug":"windows-11-settings-every-user-should-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pureinfotech.com\/windows-11-settings-every-user-should-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Windows 11: Best settings to change on your PC (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Windows 11<\/a> comes with default settings that work well for most users, but the configuration isn’t perfect. Fortunately, you can adjust most settings to make the experience more functional, minimize distractions, and take full advantage of the old and new features that might otherwise go unnoticed.<\/p>\n

For instance, to reduce clutter, you can align the Taskbar icons to the original left side and remove the Widgets icon. You can also rename your computer to make it easier to organize and locate on a network. Additionally, enabling the Night Light feature can help reduce eye strain when working at night.<\/p>\n

Although the default Windows Update settings are optimal, you can customize them to include updates for other products and set active hours to prevent unexpected reboots after updates. Another feature I like is Hibernate, which can save your current session while allowing the system to power down completely. However, for some odd reason, it’s not enabled by default.<\/p>\n

In File Explorer, you can display file extensions to simplify renaming and understanding file formats. To further streamline your workflow, you can disable intrusive ads and notifications, manage startup apps, and free up disk space to enhance performance.<\/p>\n

In this guide<\/a>, I will show you the features and configurations you should consider changing on Windows 11 in 2026.<\/p>\n

Windows 11 settings to change in 2026<\/h2>\n

These are the Windows 11 settings everyone should change on their computers in 2026 (and beyond) to get the most out of the operating system. (This list is not organized in any particular order.)<\/p>\n

1. Change the Taskbar alignment to the left side<\/h3>\n

Windows 11 features a redesigned Taskbar that centers the icons. However, you can easily adjust the alignment to the left, mirroring the familiar layout of previous Windows versions for convenient access to the Start menu and your apps.<\/p>\n

To align the Taskbar to the left side, follow these steps:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    Open Settings<\/strong> on Windows 11.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    Click on Personalization<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Click on Taskbar<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    Click the Taskbar behaviors<\/strong> option.<\/p>\n

    \"Windows<\/li>\n

  5. \n

    Use the “Taskbar alignment” setting and select the Left<\/strong> <\/em>option to align icons to the left side.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Once you complete the steps, the Start button and other icons will align to the left side of the Taskbar, like on Windows 10.<\/p>\n

    \n <\/iframe>\n <\/div>\n

    2. Remove the Widgets icon from Taskbar<\/h3>\n

    The Taskbar now includes a Widgets icon that displays dynamic content such as weather, sports, finance, and breaking news. While some users may find this feature distracting, it can be easily disabled from the “Taskbar” settings page.<\/p>\n

    To remove the Widgets weather icon from the Taskbar on Windows 11, use these steps:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \n

      Open Settings<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    2. \n

      Click on Personalization<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    3. \n

      Click the Taskbar<\/strong> page on the right side.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    4. \n

      Turn off the Widgets<\/strong> toggle switch to disable the feature under the “Taskbar items” section.<\/p>\n

      \"Windows<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Once you complete the steps, the Widgets icon with the weather, sports, finance, and news information on the left side will be removed from the Taskbar. However, you can still access the Widgets dashboard using the “Windows key + W”<\/strong> keyboard shortcut.<\/p>\n

      3. Add folder icons to Start menu<\/h3>\n

      In addition to the quick access to your applications, the Start menu allows you to include shortcuts next to the Power button for quick access to the different known folders, including Documents, Downloads, Pictures, and apps like Settings and File Explorer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

      To add or remove folders next to the Power button in the Start menu, use these steps:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \n

        Open Settings<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      2. \n

        Click on Personalization<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      3. \n

        Click the Start<\/strong> page on the right side.<\/p>\n

        \"Start<\/li>\n

      4. \n

        Click on Folders<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      5. \n

        Turn on the toggle switch for the folders you want to appear next to the Power button on Windows 11, including:<\/p>\n