The First 5 Things To Do After Upgrading To Windows 11

As Windows 10 approaches its end of support, users are increasingly encouraged to transition to Windows 11. The upgrade process is designed to be seamless, provided your hardware meets the minimum requirements. Simply navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update to initiate the download and installation of the new operating system.

Change how your taskbar looks

The taskbar in Windows 11 has undergone a significant redesign, moving the Start menu to a centered position reminiscent of the macOS dock. For those accustomed to the left-aligned layout of Windows 10, reverting to the familiar setting is straightforward. Here’s how:

1. Right-click on an empty space on the taskbar.
2. Select Taskbar settings.
3. Expand the Taskbar behaviors menu.
4. Change the Taskbar alignment from Center to Left.
5. Disable Task View and Widgets under the Taskbar items menu.
6. Hide the search bar by selecting Hide from the Search box options.
7. Unpin any pre-installed apps by right-clicking on their icons and selecting Unpin from taskbar.
8. To pin your favorite apps, search for them in the Start menu, right-click, and choose Pin to taskbar.

Note that some customization options, such as relocating the taskbar to different edges of the screen, are no longer available. However, third-party applications like ExplorerPatcher and StartAllBack can provide additional flexibility.

Redesign the Start menu to your liking

Windows 11 introduces a more streamlined Start menu, featuring only Pinned apps and Recommended files upon opening. To tailor this layout to your preferences, follow these steps:

1. Unpin unnecessary apps by right-clicking and selecting Unpin from Start.
2. Add new apps to the Pinned section by searching for them and choosing Pin to Start.
3. Group pinned apps into folders by dragging one app over another, then rename the folder as desired.
4. To remove the Recommended section, go to Settings > Personalization > Start and toggle off the relevant options.
5. Add quick access folders next to the power button by navigating to Settings > Personalization > Start > Folders and enabling your preferred folders.

Additionally, you can modify the layout and color of the Start menu through the Settings menu.

Free up space

Upgrading to a new operating system is an opportune moment to declutter your PC. After installing Windows 11, you may find some apps and files that are no longer necessary. To uninstall unwanted applications, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings and click on Apps.
2. Select Installed apps.
3. Browse the list and locate the app you wish to remove.
4. Click the three dots next to the app and select Uninstall.
5. Confirm the uninstallation by clicking the Uninstall button.

You can also reclaim disk space by deleting the Windows 10 installation files, which are retained for ten days post-upgrade. To do this:

1. Go to Settings > System > Storage.
2. Click on Temporary files.
3. Select Previous version of Windows.
4. Click Remove files and confirm your choice.

Be aware that deleting these files will prevent an easy rollback to Windows 10.

Disable unwanted Startup services

After an upgrade, it’s prudent to disable unnecessary startup services to enhance boot speed. To manage startup apps:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and open Task Manager.
2. Click on the speedometer icon to view startup apps.
3. Identify apps with Medium or High Startup Impact that you do not use frequently.
4. Select each app and click Disable in the upper-right corner.

Consider disabling other low-impact apps that you don’t need to launch immediately, such as Copilot, Phone Link, and Xbox.

Change the privacy settings

While upgrading to Windows 11 typically preserves your privacy settings, it’s wise to review them for peace of mind. Here’s how to adjust your privacy configurations:

1. Open Settings and select Privacy & security.
2. Under Windows permissions, navigate to Recommendations & offers and toggle off options like Personalized offers and Advertising ID.
3. In Diagnostics & feedback, disable Send optional diagnostic data and delete any collected data.
4. Adjust app permissions for Location, Camera, Microphone, Contacts, and Account info as needed.

Additionally, consider enabling the Find my device feature to help locate your laptop if it goes missing.