Best 8 Windows 11 Performance Settings

Windows 11 is now available for regular users, and it includes a number of new features. You can now easily modify the Start menu and the Taskbar’s appearance. There’s also a new user interface and a lot more. Microsoft has enhanced memory management, disk use, app priority, and several other elements linked to CPU and battery performance; therefore, performance settings in Windows 11 have also improved.

However, if you have an old laptop running the new Windows version, all is not well, so Windows 11 must be optimized. This article presents various steps to speed up Windows 11 and significantly increase performance.

1. Modify Windows update options

Updating your PC is essential for maintaining the machine’s safety and stability. Furthermore, adjusting Windows update settings is critical because an erroneous restart time may result in work loss.

1. Open the Settings app by pressing Windows + I simultaneously.
2. Click Windows Update and check to see if any update is available.
3. If an update is available, download and install them.
4. Next, in the Windows Update menu, click Advanced options and disable the toggle for Get me up to date.
   

2. Clear the startup

Having numerous startup applications is unhealthy for your PC because it will prolong the boot-up time for your PC, consume a large amount of system resources, and compromise your system stability. So, clearing startup apps you no longer need is a great way to improve system optimization.

1. Click the Start button.
   
2. Next, choose Settings.
   
3. Select Apps on the left-hand side, then go to Startup.
   
4. Disable the toggle for the apps you no longer want to start with your device.
   

3. Add folders to your start menu

The new Windows 11 system lets you add your favorite folders to the Start menu. So, folders such as Documents, Downloads, Pictures, the User folder, etc., can now easily be added, improving organization and ability to quickly access your frequently used files. Doing this will alleviate the stress of navigating via File Explorer and increase your productivity.

1. Right-click on an empty space on your desktop and choose Personalize.
   
2. On the next menu, click Start on the left-hand side.
   
3. Select Folders and turn on the toggle for any folder you want to add to the startup menu.
   

4. Modify performance settings

Changing the performance settings is another way of optimizing your PC because doing this will improve the responsiveness of your device, it will allow your PC to run faster, and reduce the power consumption of your PC, allowing it to last longer. Follow the steps below to change settings.

1. Press Windows + S simultaneously.
2. In the text field, write advanced, then select View advanced system settings.
   
3. Select the Settings button in the Performance section.
   
4. Choose the radio button for the Adjust for best performance option, and click OK.
   

5. Disable background applications

Background applications generally run continuously in the background, even when you are not using them. These applications use up lots of system resources, which can slow down your PC. Remove these apps by following the steps below.

1. Click the Start button.
   
2. Next, choose Settings.
   
3. Click Apps on the left-hand side, then click the three small dots next to the app you want to disable.
   
4. Choose Advanced options.
   
5. In the Background apps permissions section, choose Never.
   
6. You can repeat this step as often as required to disable all the apps you do not want.

6. Modify power settings

The power settings in your device control how much power is being used, and changing this setting to High performance will greatly increase your PC’s performance. Here is how to do it.

1. Hold Windows + S to bring up the search bar, type power plan in the search bar, and pick Choose a power plan.
   
2. Next, click the radio button for the High Performance option.
   
3. Doing this will improve your system performance.

7. Activate Storage Sense and clear the temporary files

Storage Sense is a function incorporated into Windows 11 that deletes obsolete files and useless apps to clear up disk space. Temporary files are files created when a program is running, but when the program stops, the files become useless. So, enabling Storage Sense and removing temporary files will also help optimize your Windows 11 PC. Here is how to do it.

1. Navigate to the Settings app by pressing Windows + I simultaneously.
2. Next, choose Storage.
   
3. Enable the toggle for Storage Sense.
   
4. You can also modify Storage Sense. by clicking on it.
   
5. Navigate to the Storage section and choose Temporary files.
   
6. Pick the files you want to delete and click the Remove files button.
   
7. Click Continue on the pop-up menu.
   
8. Wait a while for Windows to finish the process and observe if the performance settings on your Windows 11 device have improved.

8. Remove the transparency effect

By lowering the amount of resources utilized to generate transparency effects in Windows 11, you can help optimize the operating system. Transparency effects can make Windows 11 appear more visually appealing, but they can also slow down your computer’s performance.

1. Go to your system Settings by clicking Windows + I.
2. Choose Personalization. on the left pane and pick Colors on the right.
   
3. Disable the toggle for the Transparency effects option.
   
4. Doing this will help improve the performance settings on your windows 11 device.

FAQS

1. How to enable high performance mode in Windows 11 using cmd

1. Hold Windows + R, type cmd in the text field, then press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the command prompt with administrative privileges.
2. Once you are in the command prompt, input the command below and hit Enter.
   powercfg /s SCHEME_MIN
3. After the command has been carried out, exit the command prompt window.
4. Navigate to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options. You should now be able to use the High Performance mode.

2. Can my performance be affected by third-party apps?

This depends on a number of factors, but third-party programs will have a detrimental impact on your performance over time. For starters, they take up space, and if you continue to install the software you don’t use, you will ultimately run out of space.

Wrapping things up

This is as much as we can talk about the performance settings you can apply to Windows 11 to boost performance. Ensure to give these steps a try to enjoy improved PC operation.