Microsoft Windows is the most widely used operating system in the world, with a market share of over 75% in desktop setups. Despite occupying the lion's share of the OS market and being immensely popular amongst gamers and power users, the user experience is far from perfect if you're running with the defaults Microsoft chose for you.

It took perhaps 20 years of using Windows for me to decide that I've finally had enough of the friction points, the cluttered Start Menu, and the aggressive push towards ads and half-baked AI features that Microsoft desperately wants me to use. The good news isthat with just a few thoughtful tweaks, you too can shape the OS to how you use your PC. All it takes is your desktop and perhaps twenty-odd minutes of your time.

Get rid of all bloatware

This PowerShell script makes it easy

Unnecessary software that comes bundled with a fresh installation of your OS is one of the biggest pain points talked about in any subject surrounding Windows 11. The preloaded apps, the background services that occupy your system memory like free real estate, and the added user friction of having to hunt down every single one of the culprits can collectively turn your desktop experience from sweet to sour. Fortunately, there exists a simple PowerShell command to get rid of unwanted applications entirely.

Win11Debloat is a lightweight, community-maintained script that is designed to strip Windows back to the essentials with minimal time and effort required from you. You can download it via GitHub, extract the file, and run the script to remove apps like Xbox components, Cortana, Copilot, and other bundled services in one go.

Customize your UI with Windhawk

Usability and aesthetics, taken together

One of my most treasured discoveries (and also one I can't get enough of) is Windhawk. Developed by Ramen Software, Windhawk offers Start Menu mods to taskbar tweaks and everything in between. The tool lets you change how Windows looks and behaves, and it's this blend of usability and aesthetics that makes it an indispensable application for me.

Among the most remarkable tweaks is the Start Menu Styler, which returns a degree of control over the Windows Start Menu, which justifiably invited the critique of many users. After installing this mod, you can choose how the Start Menu looks and behaves. You can dial the UI back toward a Windows 10-style layout, remove the "Recommended" section to reclaim some extra app rows, or maybe lean into visual polish with translucent and cleaner designs as I did.

Use PowerToys for its endless QoL tweaks

Microsoft's greatest gift to power users

If there's one tool that I'd recommend anyone on Windows to get familiar with, it's Microsoft PowerToys. PowerToys is a native Windows 11 (and Windows 10) application that can completely transform your desktop experience once you get the hang of it.

For power users, it's an easy win for productivity. Many of the features that come with PowerToys can reduce your dependence on third-party utilities, simplify your setup, and also keep everything integrated with the OS itself. There are a handful of tweaks found here that dramatically improved my user experience.

Text Extractor

If you find yourself in a position where you can't conveniently copy text, like on a YouTube video, a screenshot, or a PDF that just won't cooperate, you can use the Text Extractor feature to make your life easier. When enabled, you can hit Win + Shift + T to draw a box around the text you want, and it is instantly copied to your clipboard.

Advanced Paste

So you've copied the text you want, but it's clumsy, poorly formatted, or just badly written by the author. This is where you can call upon Advanced Paste, which is the operating system's way of apologizing for everything you copied. Instead of pasting and editing manually, you can choose if the text comes plain, formatted, or even summarized using the capabilities of OpenAI's API.

FancyZones

If you've ever found yourself constantly nudging windows around, trying to line them up just right while multitasking, you'd appreciate FancyZones just as much as I do. This feature allows you to create a custom grid for your monitor, and by holding Shift while dragging a window, you can snap it in the zone you have pre-set. It's brilliant for ultra-wide setups, where multitasking feels a lot more organized. It's simple to plot, feels almost intuitive after a few days of use, and is a godsend for creative workflows.

Windows is your OS, not Microsoft's

For what it's worth, Microsoft Windows is still immensely customizable, which means it gives you all the room to make it your own, no matter what you use the OS for. Depending on what 'making it better' means for you, you can tweak it for aesthetics, to revitalize your productivity, improve accessibility, or just try some cool mods that make your desktop feel better. Whether it's cutting down on bloatware and prioritizing apps that you use, leveraging power tools to streamline your workflow, or just making everyday tasks feel less like a chore, Windows offers enough opportunities to make your PC feel uniquely yours.