Windows 10 default settings you should change now

Microsoft started Windows11, its latest operating system, last October. The operating system was widely deployed earlier this year after a staggered rollout over half a year, meaning it’s now ready for everyone compatible computers. (Here’s how you can download it When you’re ready.) However, the system requirements for Windows 11 mean that older computers may still need to run Windows 10. And like any operating system, Windows 10 has some default settings that are far from ideal.

Some are just annoying (you don’t really need Cortana to get to know you), while others actually slow down your device, show you tons of notifications and ads, and collect more of your information than you might be comfortable with. As long as Windows 10 is still what powers your computer, it’s worth it Optimize your settings to make sure you personal computer runs as well as it can.

You should only spend a few minutes looking at these settings and possibly turning them off for privacy, speed, and convenience. Here are seven default settings you can disable in Windows 10. (You can check out some too Top tips and tricks for Windows 10 and How to fix common Windows 10 problems.)

File Sharing Updates

One feature that Windows 10 has added is a optimized system for providing updates It allows you to download updates from other Windows 10 computers over the Internet (not just Microsoft’s servers). The catch is that your computer is also used as an update-sharing hub for other Windows 10 users.

This feature is enabled by default, but you can disable it by going to Settings > Update & Security > Advanced Options > Delivery Optimization and turn off Allow downloads from other PCs.

Annoying notifications

That Windows 10 Action Center is a convenient central hub for all your notifications – apps, reminders, recently installed programs. But notification overload is definitely a thing, especially when you throw unnecessary notifications (such as Windows tips) into the mix.

To get your notifications under control, go to Settings > System > Notifications & Actions.

Turn off Things like “Get tips, tricks, and suggestions when using Windows” or “Show me the Windows Welcome experience after updates and occasionally when I sign in to highlight what’s new and suggested” as well as any unwanted notifications from individuals app.

Ads in the start menu

Microsoft is pushing its Windows Store apps — so much so, you might see apps you never downloaded on your Start menu. These suggested apps are basically ads.

Turn off those annoying ads by going to Settings > Personalization > Start > Show occasional suggestions in Start. For more information see our Windows 10 Start Menu Guide.

Targeted ads from third-party apps

Microsoft definitely keeps an eye on your preferences and browsing habits in Windows 10. They even have a unique advertising ID (tied to your Microsoft account) that the company uses to show you targeted ads. Oh, and Microsoft also shares this advertising ID profile with third-party apps from the Windows Store unless you turn off this information sharing.

You can opt out of sharing this type of information by going to Settings > Privacy > General and turn off Allow apps to use the advertising ID to make ads more interesting to you based on your app activity (disabling will reset your ID).

Cortana “gets to know you”

Cortana, your customizable personal assistant in Windows 10, gets pretty personal with the information it collects about you, such as:

You can prevent Cortana from “getting to know you” and delete this information from your device by going to Settings > Privacy > Inking & Typing and turn off the option.

Apps running in the background

In Windows 10, many apps run in the background by default (even if you don’t have them open). These apps can receive information, send notifications, download and install updates, and otherwise use your bandwidth and your battery. If you are using a mobile device and/or a metered connectionyou may want to disable this feature.

Go to Settings > Privacy > Background apps and either turn off Keep apps running in the background or turn off each app individually.

All sync

Windows 10 is all about syncing. Everything (system settings, themes, passwords, search history) is synced across all your signed-in devices by default. But not all of us want our search history to be synced between our phones and our computers. Here’s how to turn off syncing.

To turn off syncing of settings (including themes and passwords), go to Settings > Accounts > Sync Settings. You can disable syncing of all settings or selectively disable specific settings.

For more information, see The best Windows 11 features and how to use them and everything you need to know Upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11.