Do not wait till 2026 to make these 3 Home windows 11 modifications

Over the previous 12 months, I’ve chronicled a number of tips, methods, and tweaks constructed natively into the Home windows 11 working system. For higher or worse, Microsoft is slightly explicit in the case of the way it configures default PC settings on contemporary installations of the OS, placing the onus on customers to later make changes in accordance with their particular person preferences.

Fortunately, the fashionable Windows 11 Settings utility is well-organized, visually pleasing, and wealthy with choices, although, disappointingly, a few of the extra superior and obscure software program adjustment instruments nonetheless require diving into the old-school Management Panel even as we head into 2026.

In any case, whereas there are far too many choices on the disposal to quantify in a single listing, some readily-accessible Windows 11 settings stand above the remainder in my eyes when it comes to their utility and productiveness optimization prowess. Listed here are three PC changes specifically that I extremely suggest testing proper right here and proper now, as to finish the 2025 calendar 12 months with a splash of OS comfort.

Allow Storage Sense

It simply is sensible to show this function on

Storage Sense is an underappreciated instrument constructed into Home windows 11 that, when enabled, works within the background to optimize storage capability and to release PC house robotically. Storage Sense is configurable, with choices to have the system clear up momentary system and app information, to run consumer content material cleanups when disk house is low, to robotically delete the contents of the Recycle Bin inside specificed time frames, and extra.

To allow Storage Sense on any Home windows 11 PC, observe these steps:

1. Launch the Settings utility.
2. Navigate to System > Storage after which toggle on Storage Sense.
3. Optionally, faucet or click on on Storage Sense to enter a devoted web page of extra configuration selections.

Allow Clipboard historical past

Particularly helpful in case you depend on a number of PCs

When in comparison with the likes of sure competing working methods in the marketplace (I am taking a look at you, iPadOS), Home windows 11’s clipboard administration expertise is highly effective and strong. I like to recommend switching on the fundamental Clipboard historical past toggle from inside Settings, which helps you to view, copy, and paste content material utilizing the Home windows emblem key + V shortcut mixture. Inside the Settings web page different choices can be discovered, together with a Clear button to take away all historical past, and choices to sync content material throughout PCs which might be logged into your Microsoft Account.

To allow clipboard historical past on Home windows 11, observe these steps:

1. Launch Settings.
2. Navigate to System > Clipboard.
3. From right here, toggle Clipboard historical past on.
4. Optionally, you too can allow Clipboard historical past throughout your units for automated synchronization of clipboard knowledge throughout all of your PCs.

Allow Finish Activity

A time-saving hack that I want had existed from the beginning

A devoted Finish Activity button has lastly been applied inside Home windows 11’s consumer interface, after a number of years of energy customers clamoring for the function to make its debut. Disabled by default, it is easy to modify the setting on, and it provides a devoted Finish Activity entry inside taskbar icon soar lists. For these instances when a program is frozen or in any other case misbehaving, the power to kill the method with out having to jump into Task Manager is a serious time saver.

To allow Finish Activity in your laptop, observe these steps:

1. Launch Settings.
2. Navigate to System > Superior (beforehand known as For Builders in older variations of Home windows 11).
3. Beneath the Taskbar part, swap the Finish Activity toggle to the on place.