Quick guide to optimizing Windows 10

[JamieKavanagh]

Entire books have been written listing the hundreds of optimizations and tweaks for Windows 10. Some are quick and easy, others are in-depth and take a little configuring. Some are also more useful than others. In this quick guide to optimizing Windows 10, I bring together five quick but very effective quality of life tweaks that can make Windows 10 easier.

Control Windows Feedback
One of the major concerns about Windows 10 was the amount of data is reported back to Microsoft HQ. You can influence just how much is sent.

1. Navigate to Settings, Privacy and Feedback and diagnostics.
2. Select Never in the top box.

Control Windows updates
Another major annoyance with Windows 10 is how it takes control of your machine and doesn’t seem to care when you’re working. Taking control of how it downloads updates and how and when it reboots is one of the first things you should do.

1. Navigate to Settings, Update and Security and Windows Update.
2. Select Advanced options.
3. Select Notify to schedule restart.
4. Select ‘Choose how updates are delivered’ and turn off Send updates to PCs on the internet.

Choose what system icons appear
I tend to like a minimal interface, so all those icons in the system tray soon became annoying. Here’s how to control what appears.

1. Navigate to Settings, System and Notifications and actions.
2. Select turn system icons on or off.
3. Choose which system icons you want to see and those you don’t.

Disable the Windows 10 login screen
If you’re the only one who uses your computer, there is little point having a login screen. Here’s how to disable it.

1. Type or paste ‘netplwiz’ into the Search Windows box.
2. Uncheck the box where it says ‘Users must enter a password to use this computer’.
3. Then press apply and OK.

Change default apps
Windows 10 has some strange ideas about which apps to use as defaults. Here’s how to change them.

1. Navigate to Settings, System and Default apps.
2. Select your app of choice from the main options listed.
3. Click one of the choose default application option links to even more customization.

More useful Windows 10 optimization guides:
How to change frequency of Mail app
How to get into Advanced startup options in Windows 10
How to install a color profile for your monitor in Windows 10

View all of our Windows 10 Tutorials