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September 14, 2025
5 Settings To Disable On Your New Windows 11 Laptop
Windows has come to include a huge amount of features to make your everyday computing experience better, but you may not want all of them turned on at once.
## 5 Settings To Disable On Your New Windows 11 Laptop
Windows 11, the latest iteration of Microsoft's ubiquitous operating system, is packed with features designed to enhance your computing experience. However, out of the box, some of these features might not be to everyone's taste or could even impact performance. For a smoother, more personalized experience, consider disabling these five settings on your new Windows 11 laptop.
First on the list is **Diagnostic Data**. Windows 11, by default, collects a significant amount of data about your usage, including the apps you use and how you use them. While this data is intended to help Microsoft improve the operating system, it also raises privacy concerns. To limit data collection, navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Diagnostics & feedback. Here, you can reduce the diagnostic data sent to "Required diagnostic data" instead of "Optional diagnostic data."
Next, consider turning off **Tailored Experiences**. This feature uses your diagnostic data to offer personalized tips, ads, and recommendations. If you're not keen on seeing targeted suggestions based on your computer usage, you can disable this feature in the same Diagnostics & feedback settings menu. Simply toggle the "Let Microsoft use your diagnostic data to provide you with personalized experiences" option to off.
Another feature to evaluate is **Background Apps**. Many apps, even when not actively in use, run in the background, consuming system resources and potentially impacting battery life. To manage these, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features. Find the apps you don’t need running constantly and click the three dots next to them. Select "Advanced options" and under "Background app permissions," choose "Never." This will prevent these apps from running in the background and improve your laptop's performance and battery efficiency.
The fourth setting to consider is **Notifications**. While notifications can be helpful, an excessive number of them can be distracting and disruptive. Windows 11 allows for granular control over notifications. Access them through Settings > System > Notifications. You can disable notifications entirely or customize them on a per-app basis. Consider turning off notifications from apps that are not essential to your workflow.
Finally, take a look at **Startup Apps**. Just like background apps, many applications are configured to launch automatically when you start your computer. This can significantly slow down boot times. To manage startup apps, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), navigate to the "
Windows 11, the latest iteration of Microsoft's ubiquitous operating system, is packed with features designed to enhance your computing experience. However, out of the box, some of these features might not be to everyone's taste or could even impact performance. For a smoother, more personalized experience, consider disabling these five settings on your new Windows 11 laptop.
First on the list is **Diagnostic Data**. Windows 11, by default, collects a significant amount of data about your usage, including the apps you use and how you use them. While this data is intended to help Microsoft improve the operating system, it also raises privacy concerns. To limit data collection, navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Diagnostics & feedback. Here, you can reduce the diagnostic data sent to "Required diagnostic data" instead of "Optional diagnostic data."
Next, consider turning off **Tailored Experiences**. This feature uses your diagnostic data to offer personalized tips, ads, and recommendations. If you're not keen on seeing targeted suggestions based on your computer usage, you can disable this feature in the same Diagnostics & feedback settings menu. Simply toggle the "Let Microsoft use your diagnostic data to provide you with personalized experiences" option to off.
Another feature to evaluate is **Background Apps**. Many apps, even when not actively in use, run in the background, consuming system resources and potentially impacting battery life. To manage these, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features. Find the apps you don’t need running constantly and click the three dots next to them. Select "Advanced options" and under "Background app permissions," choose "Never." This will prevent these apps from running in the background and improve your laptop's performance and battery efficiency.
The fourth setting to consider is **Notifications**. While notifications can be helpful, an excessive number of them can be distracting and disruptive. Windows 11 allows for granular control over notifications. Access them through Settings > System > Notifications. You can disable notifications entirely or customize them on a per-app basis. Consider turning off notifications from apps that are not essential to your workflow.
Finally, take a look at **Startup Apps**. Just like background apps, many applications are configured to launch automatically when you start your computer. This can significantly slow down boot times. To manage startup apps, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), navigate to the "
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