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On a fresh Windows 11 install, consider changing four settings if you want fewer personalized suggestions, fewer interruptions, less taskbar content, or fewer apps launching at sign-in. These features are still documented parts of Windows, not objectively obsolete; whether to disable them depends on what you use. The steps below are for Windows 11, though labels can vary by release.
Which Windows settings are worth changing?
| Setting | Why change it | What you give up | Where to find it in Windows 11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personalized offers and suggestions | Reduce personalized tips, ads, and recommendations. | Some suggestions may be less tailored; turning these controls off does not stop all ads or data collection. | Settings > Privacy & security > Recommendations & offers |
| Tips, welcome prompts, and selected notifications | Cut prompts or alerts you do not find useful. | You may miss useful notifications if you silence too much. | Settings > System > Notifications |
| Widgets taskbar entry | Remove the taskbar shortcut to the Widgets board. | The board remains accessible and may contain useful information. | Settings > Personalization > Taskbar |
| Unneeded startup apps | Keep nonessential apps from launching at sign-in. | Some apps may no longer sync, notify, or be ready immediately. | Settings > Apps > Startup, or Task Manager > Startup apps |
How do I stop Windows personalized offers?
Open Settings > Privacy & security > Recommendations & offers and review the available controls. Turn off the options you do not want rather than assuming one switch covers every kind of personalization.
Microsoft says personalized offers may draw on device and usage information, including Windows diagnostic data, account information, and data collected from other Microsoft products and services. The page also includes controls for app-launch tracking that can personalize Start and search, suggested content in Settings, and website access to the device’s language list. Choose according to your preferences: disabling these options limits certain personalization, but does not establish that all data collection or advertising stops. Microsoft’s guidance on Recommendations & offers describes the controls and their purpose.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →How do I turn off Windows tips and suggestions?
Go to Settings > System > Notifications. There you can disable the welcome experience shown after updates or sign-in, and turn off tips and suggestions. You can also change notifications for individual apps.
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If you want a quieter screen without losing alerts entirely, consider Do Not Disturb. Microsoft says it quiets notification banners while leaving notifications available in Notification Center. Turning off every notification is a broader choice and can hide reminders or messages you still need. See Microsoft’s notification and Do Not Disturb instructions.
How do I turn off Widgets in Windows 11?
To remove the taskbar entry point, open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and switch off Widgets. This hides the taskbar item; it does not remove the Widgets board. You can still open the board with Windows key + W or a swipe.
The board can include news, weather, calendar or to-do information, and photos. Its content and dashboards may rely on different apps or services, and dashboard notifications can be adjusted. If the board is useful but distracting, changing its notifications or content may suit you better than hiding it. Microsoft explains the options in its Widgets guidance.
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Windows 10 uses a different feature name
On Windows 10, the related taskbar feature is called News and interests, not Widgets. Microsoft documents turning it off from the taskbar context menu. The controls and behavior are not identical to Windows 11’s Widgets setting; see Microsoft’s News and interests instructions. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025; Microsoft recommends moving to Windows 11. Microsoft’s app recommendation guidance also describes choices for handling non-Store apps, which depend on the software you need rather than serving as a blanket optimization.
How do I disable startup apps in Windows 11?
Review what launches when you sign in, then disable only apps you do not need immediately:
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- Open Settings > Apps > Startup, or right-click Start and choose Task Manager, then select Startup apps.
- Review the list. In Task Manager, check each app’s displayed startup impact as one input to your decision.
- Turn off an app only if you do not need it running at sign-in. Leave security, sync, accessibility, hardware, and communication utilities enabled when their startup behavior is useful to you.
- If something you rely on stops working as expected, return to the same list and enable it again.
Startup applications can affect startup speed and overall performance, but the result depends on the app, workload, and device. A slow PC can have other causes, and older hardware may limit the benefit. Microsoft’s startup-app instructions explain the available controls; its performance guidance covers other possible contributors. There is no established boot-time reduction that applies to every PC.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why not disable SmartScreen or every non-Store app?
These are different decisions from hiding suggestions or trimming startup. Microsoft describes Defender SmartScreen as a Windows and Edge protection that checks information about visited websites and downloaded files to help warn about unsafe web content or malicious software. Disabling it removes a documented protective function; do not treat it as disposable clutter without a specific reason. Microsoft’s privacy settings guidance describes SmartScreen’s role.
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Windows app recommendation settings likewise offer choices, including warning about non-Store apps or limiting installation to the Microsoft Store. The right setting depends on whether you need software from outside the Store; blocking all such apps is not a general performance fix. Microsoft explains the app recommendation choices here.
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