Over time, I’ve realized that some default Windows settings were slowing down my system and compromising my privacy. After doing some research and experimenting, I finally disabled a few key settings and noticed a significant improvement. Here are the five Windows settings I wish I had disabled earlier and how I did it.
Cortana Integration
Cortana can be helpful, but it also consumes resources and potentially affects privacy. I decided to disable Cortana to free up system resources and ensure my personal information stays personal. To do this, I accessed the settings menu and turned off Cortana’s permissions to access my data and run in the background. This simple change gave my computer a noticeable speed boost.
Automatic App Updates
Automatic app updates can be convenient, but they often occur at the most inconvenient times, slowing down my computer. To regain control, I disabled this feature. By navigating to the Microsoft Store settings, I turned off automatic updates and now manually update apps at a more opportune time. This change not only improved system performance but also allowed me to choose which updates to install.
Background Apps
Many apps run in the background even when I’m not using them, consuming valuable system resources. To address this, I went to the Privacy settings and disabled unnecessary background apps. By selecting only the essential apps, I managed to extend my battery life and improve overall performance.
Location Tracking
Windows’ location tracking feature can be useful, but it compromises privacy and consumes resources. To disable it, I accessed the privacy settings and turned off location tracking for all apps except the ones I trust. This small change enhanced my privacy and slightly improved system speed.
Windows Tips and Tricks Notifications
While some might find Windows tips and tricks notifications helpful, they often distracted me and interrupted my workflow. I disabled these notifications by visiting the notifications settings and turning off the “Get tips, tricks, and suggestions” option. This made my working environment much more focused and less cluttered.