Windows 11 Tips for a Quieter, Safer Experience

Setting up a new Windows 11 PC offers a refreshing experience, but the default configuration can often be cluttered with distracting notifications and intrusive advertisements. Adjusting a few settings can significantly enhance your experience by making the system quieter, faster, and more private.

Quieting Noisy Notifications

Upon first using Windows 11, users encounter various tips, suggestions, and nudges promoting services like Edge or OneDrive. To silence these, head to Settings > System > Notifications to disable tips and suggestions. Furthermore, navigate to Settings > Personalization > Start to turn off 'Show recommendations'. Enabling Focus assist additionally ensures only crucial alerts interrupt your workflow.

Limiting Data Collection

Windows 11 gathers diagnostic data, Start menu searches, and voice-typing information. Additionally, it assigns an Advertising ID for tailored ads. Review your privacy settings to disable diagnostics, search history, and the Advertising ID, thus safeguarding your data from excessive tracking.

Streamlining Startup

Many applications are configured to auto-launch at startup, subsequently slowing boot times. To prevent unnecessary delays, visit Settings > Apps > Startup and disable non-essential apps. Delve further into Windows services such as Mobile Hotspot Service and Delivery Optimization by utilizing the Services app to disable those unnecessary to your daily routine.

Cleaning the Search Interface

Clutter in the search interface includes search highlights and web results. Within Settings > Privacy & Security > Search, turn off 'Show search highlights'. To fully prevent web results in local searches, editing the Windows Registry might be necessary.

Customizing the Taskbar

Unnecessary taskbar items such as Widgets and Task View can be removed through Taskbar settings, accessible by right-clicking the taskbar. Moreover, consider replacing the default search box with a streamlined icon. For further customization, third-party tools like Windhawk can provide additional options.

Restoring the Classic Right-Click Menu

Windows 11 conceals classic context menu options behind 'Show more options'. For quick access, hold Shift while right-clicking or apply a one-time registry tweak to permanently restore the old menu configuration.

Reducing Ad Intrusion

Promotional content appears within the Start menu, lock screen, and built-in applications. As there's no single control to disable these ads, manually adjust settings for each area to ensure a cleaner user interface.

In just a few minutes, these adjustments can turn a chaotic Windows 11 experience into a smoother, more serene, and privacy-conscious environment, tailoring the PC to your personal preferences.

Update: 27 Sep 2025