Eradicate your Windows PC’s most annoying headaches with these tools

If you ask Windows 11 customers what bothers them most about Microsoft’s present working system, the solutions are normally related. Only the order differs barely.

• The rigid taskbar: In Windows 11, the Start menu and icons within the taskbar are moved to the middle by default and the customization choices for the taskbar are restricted.
• Annoying updates: Windows 11 requires a restart too typically for updates. Microsoft has additionally eliminated the choice of manually pausing or delaying updates.
• Missing capabilities: In Windows 11, Microsoft has eliminated some Windows 10 options, for instance the Live Tiles, Timeline characteristic, Skype, and so forth.
• Unwanted adverts: Windows 11 nonetheless — and even more and more — shows advertisements in varied locations, for instance within the Start menu, on the lock display screen, or in Explorer.
• Annoying notifications: Windows 11’s notification perform is typically helpful, however typically reasonably annoying in terms of suggestions and pop-ups.

You can shortly eliminate all of the factors of criticism and annoyances listed with our directions and instruments.

See additionally: 10 Windows 11 tips and tricks we use to customize our PCs

Customize the Windows design and the taskbar

With Windows 11, Microsoft has essentially modified the taskbar of the earlier system, however not each person likes this entire redesign. The Start menu is now within the heart as an alternative of the underside left as earlier than. It additionally appears to be like utterly completely different. There are additionally new icons, a brand new colour and font design, trendy backgrounds, rounded window corners, and a slight transparency impact that’s paying homage to Windows Vista’s “Aero Glass.” Microsoft has utterly banished the earlier stay tiles from Windows 8.

While it was straightforward to customise the design of the taskbar and the vary of capabilities in earlier variations of Windows utilizing the suitable instruments, Microsoft has constructed a number of hurdles into the brand new system. They make it nearly not possible to alter and customise the taskbar and the Start menu.

For instance, the developer of Taskbar11 writes:

“Due to the removal of registry tweaks and related effects in Windows 11, the development of Taskbar11 is currently halted as features such as setting the taskbar to the top via the registry no longer work in the latest Windows 11 versions.”

Other instruments comparable to 7+ Taskbar Tweaker should not appropriate with Windows 11, so the builders haven’t even tried. The Explorer Patcher generally works, generally not. Basically, solely the freeware Start All Back and Winaero Tweaker and the 2 paid instruments from Stardock stay: Window Blinds 11 for a great $20 and Start 11 for $6.

Winaero Tweaker is good for easy modifications — however solely given that the pc remains to be working Windows 11 model 21H2 and never 22H2: In this case, the Enable Classic Taskbar choice may be switched on within the freeware instrument underneath Windows 11 > Classic Taskbar. At least the outdated (full) context menu will also be activated in 22H2.

The Start All Back instrument brings again the basic Windows Start menu and expands it with further capabilities. The look of the taskbar, the context menus, and the notification space will also be custom-made.

By the way in which: With the Insider variations and Windows 12, Microsoft is no less than partially rowing again and is seemingly planning a very new design: The taskbar seems to drift on the desktop. It might even be attainable to maneuver the Windows 12 taskbar wherever on the desktop. With the Rounded TB instrument, you’ll be able to customise the form and look of the Windows taskbar with out modifying system information or making everlasting system modifications.

Start All Back

Schedule Windows updates and replace packages

With Windows 11, Microsoft has reorganized the Windows Update perform. It has been improved in order that even earlier than you click on on Optional updates you’ll be able to see whether or not and, if that’s the case, what number of updates can be found there. With Windows 10, the optionally available updates had been underneath the radar for a lot of customers, which generally meant that important capabilities weren’t accessible in any respect.

The new choice Get the newest updates as quickly as they’re accessible goes one step additional. This may be discovered within the Windows settings underneath Windows Update. This solves the issue of Microsoft offering non-security-relevant updates, patches, and extensions through completely different service applied sciences and Windows gadgets receiving new capabilities at completely different instances.

But not each Windows person needs this: the Stop Updates 10 instrument can be utilized to stop or briefly pause automated Windows updates. This doesn’t manipulate any system information or registry entries, however solely blocks the execution of the replace processes. You can cancel this at any time or activate it for a sure time period.

IDG

However, it’s not simply Windows itself and put in apps from the Microsoft Store that ought to be saved updated. For non-Microsoft functions, there are instruments that examine the packages put in in your pc with intensive databases and level out outdated variations.

The replace checker Sumo checks the software program put in on the Windows PC. If an replace is offered, Sumo signifies this within the checklist with Update accessible. After clicking on Get replace, a web site of the Sumo producer opens. A direct obtain isn’t attainable with the free model, however looking out through Google or the Majorgeeks obtain portal will assist. The paid Pro model (from $19.99) additionally allows direct downloads.

Something related additionally exists for drivers: Driver Max helps automated installations, scheduled scans, and full backups of machine drivers. It may be set to examine for driver updates at any time of the day, week, or month and obtain them for you.

Upgrade lacking capabilities with free software program

The present Windows 11 additionally has varied practical deficits, though Microsoft is consistently including new capabilities. For instance, the picture show lately obtained a serious replace and the packer built-in in Windows will quickly additionally help further archive sorts comparable to RAR.

Nevertheless, some gaps stay. Some tried-and-tested free instrument suggestions embody Double Commander, Lockhunter, Notepad ++, Peazip, Teracopy, and Tweakpower.

A primary-class assortment of helpful instruments comes from Microsoft itself: The PowerToys encompass sensible helpers which can be accessible through the context menu of information and folders, for instance. With just some mouse clicks, you’ll be able to change the picture measurement of photographs, rename information, modify the hotkey project, and use display screen rulers and colour pickers. The PowerToys assortment now consists of greater than 20 instruments.

See additionally: Supercharge Windows with Microsoft’s free PowerToys

Installing new packages may be annoying: Instead of loading the fundamental software program configuration by hand, it’s best to use the web service Ninite. On the web site, tick the containers in entrance of the packages you wish to set up. Click on Get Your Ninite and obtain the installer. This will arrange all functions and instruments with none additional queries. For any current updates, restart the installer after some time.

Did you recognize that Windows 11 has a package deal supervisor modelled on Linux? The winget command can be utilized to freshly set up and replace packages. However, it’s fairly tedious to make use of on the command line.

Winget UI guarantees extra comfort — an interface for Winget. After the primary begin, you choose and activate the obtain channels, then set up current updates, or choose your favorites for set up from the checklist of packages. On our check system, a complete of 14,610 packages can be found for set up with Winget UI — though there are some duplicates.

Here’s a tip: Windows 11 Debloater and Bloaty Nosy make it straightforward to take away preinstalled apps, even when Microsoft doesn’t supply some other perform for this.

Automate duties

Microsoft

You can largely automate continuously recurring duties. This saves time and is straightforward in your nerves. With Power Automate from Microsoft, which is offered freed from cost to Windows 10 and 11 customers, you’ll be able to merely click on collectively automation steps or file mouse and keyboard actions. Microsoft supplies a great introduction to the probabilities of Power Automate. Some examples of flows may be adopted and customised immediately. Another sensible helper is Autohotkey, a free open-source scripting language with which you’ll simply program your individual macros.

You can arrange the shutdown and (re)begin of Windows with the Autoshutdown Manager. This shuts down the PC, for instance, if no mouse or keyboard enter is acknowledged for a set time period. With PhraseExpress, you’ll be able to handle any textual content modules and insert them into emails or paperwork, for instance, on the click on of a mouse or utilizing a hotkey on the pc. This additionally makes you extra productive in on a regular basis life.

Switch off undesirable promoting and notifications

Whether within the Start menu or lock display screen: Windows 10 and 11 repeatedly show promoting messages for brand spanking new apps and video games. Windows 11 specifically may be actually intrusive, and even the Start menu and lock display screen should not spared. Although there may be an choice within the Settings app underneath Personalization > Start to Show suggestions for suggestions, shortcuts, new apps and extra, the system isn’t utterly freed from promoting.

The instruments Tweakpower and O&O Shutup 10++ supply extra choices. Here you’ll be able to forestall Windows from displaying adverts and notifications. In the Insider variations of Windows, Microsoft itself is experimenting with a corresponding setting: It is named Occasionally present account-related notifications within the Start menu.

O&O Shutup 10++

The Windows notification assistant isn’t a foul factor in itself. However, with many energetic functions, the variety of notifications is inflationary: Incoming emails and chat messages, accomplished file and program actions, and profitable knowledge synchronization with cloud companies — over time, this turns into an excessive amount of after which annoying.

To change the settings, right-click on the notification icon within the taskbar after which click on on the Notification Assistant entry. You can select from three choices within the following dialogue:

• Disabled
• Only with precedence
• Alerts solely

By default, Windows shows all notifications from apps or contacts. Further choices may be discovered within the Settings underneath System > Notifications. The Do not disturb choice mutes all notifications from the working system. The setting will also be time-controlled or linked to sure guidelines.

Good answer and necessary: The blocked notifications should not misplaced. They may be seen at any time within the Info Center.

Foundry

This article was translated from German to English and initially appeared on pcwelt.de.