Many of the central settings, tools, and visual elements in Windows 11 have been redesigned and work differently from Windows 10. There’s a new taskbar, Settings app, features, Start menu, and more. Its default settings are fair, but there is always room for improvement, especially if you want to be more productive on Windows. I tweak various settings throughout the operating system to make it more productivity-oriented.
I’m constantly tweaking settings, but from cosmetic changes to power settings to notifications, it’s easy to miss features that can improve efficiency. I adjust these settings on Windows 11 first, so that the core is a more productive environment.
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5 Reducing Visual Effects
It takes a load off your system resources
One of the changes I made is to the behavior of the Windows display. It improves performance by taxing your system’s resources less. It also helps with productivity on older PCs since it allows me to run other apps that require system power to work efficiently. You can disable effects like showing window content while dragging and window animation while minimizing. This might sound like minor adjustments, but when running Windows 11 on old or limited hardware, you need every advantage you can get, which helps.
To adjust the settings, launch sysdm.cpl from the Run dialog box to open System Properties. Select the Advanced tab and click the Settings button. Select Adjust for best performance and click OK. It might not have the fanciest appearance, but it strips away all the eye candy associated with Windows that you probably don’t need. You can also choose the custom option and adjust the visual effects to your liking.
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4 Manage notifications
Customize notifications for your workflow
While you are getting things done on your PC, notifications can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they are helpful, as you know when vital items arrive. On the other hand, endless amounts of non-relevant notifications are annoying and impede your workflow. It’s important to find the right balance. Adjusting notifications is a personal preference, but sometimes, you must turn them off or tweak which ones are allowed.
To make notification adjustments, open Settings -> System -> Notifications, scroll through your list of apps, and turn off what you don’t want. If you wish to disable all notifications so you can concentrate on your work, turn on Focus session and set a time limit for when you don’t want to be bothered. You can also enable the Do Not Disturb mode to send notifications to the notification center and check them at your convenience. You can also schedule Do Not Disturb mode and set priority notifications. I often tweak these settings to reach a “notification Zen” while working on Windows 11, so I am more productive.
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3 Adjust energy settings
Stop your PC from sleeping
Another place you need to strike the right balance is between getting your work done and battery power. When I have a new PC or a clean installation, I go to Settings -> Power & Battery to make the best adjustments for my workflow. Here, I adjust the power mode, screen, and sleep timeouts, as well as the lid and power button controls. The tweaks made here depend on the laptop’s battery power (which you can monitor) and the work to do. Keeping the screen on and preventing sleep for as long as possible keeps me more productive. Another tool I can’t live without is PowerToys Awake, which lets me keep my PC from sleeping when enabled. It’s a great tool when my laptop is plugged in and the battery isn’t an issue.
- OS
- Windows 10/11
2 Adjust the Start menu
Add columns, files, shortcuts, and other items
If you are new to Windows 11, the most glaring new development you’ll notice is the centered Start menu. Another thing you might want to improve on is the number of items and columns that appear. When you have more to choose from, it can help you be more productive. Luckily, adding additional shortcuts from the Settings app is straightforward.
To add shortcuts for apps and other items, head to Settings -> Personalization -> Start. Select the More pins layout and scroll through to toggle on the apps and other items you want to display. You can also select the Folders option to show the system's default folders, like Videos, Music, and Documents, next to the power button.
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1 Enable God Mode
Access over 200 settings and tools
Enabling the God Mode setting unlocks 200 other individual settings and tools. It helps with productivity by sorting out the items you need from the Control Panel. All it takes is creating a new folder and naming it with the line of code that worked on previous generations of Windows before Windows 11. Once created, searching the folder for the setting or tool you are looking for is easy. If you’ve never experienced it, you’ll be surprised how much more productive you can be during your session.
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Windows settings for getting more done
When it comes to being more productive on Windows, it’s essential to make settings adjustments that improve productivity. Starting with the above tweaks, a fresh installation sets the core elements in place to create a more productive environment. Once I have the essential settings in place, the next step is to install apps, tweak their settings, and adjust the overall settings. I do it all to find the optimal configuration to be more productive.