Windows 10 Settings You Should Change Right Away

I just upgraded to Windows 10 on my PC, and I want to make sure I have optimized my settings for performance and privacy. Here are some of the key settings I recommend changing right away:

Update Windows

One of the first things to do is make sure Windows 10 is up to date with the latest patches and security fixes.

To check for updates:

1. Open Settings
2. Click on Update & Security
3. Click Check for updates

Install any available updates. Keeping Windows updated is important to get bug fixes, new features, and critical security patches.

Adjust Privacy Settings

Windows 10 collects a lot of telemetry data by default. I recommend going through the privacy settings to limit the amount of data collected:

1. Open Settings
2. Click on Privacy
3. Go through each setting and adjust based on your preferences

Some key settings to check:

• General – Disable as many options here as possible
• Speech – Disable options to limit speech data collection
• Diagnostics & feedback – Disable options to limit diagnostic data
• Activity history – Clear activity history data

Adjust these to limit data collection while keeping useful functionality.

Disable Unnecessary Apps

Windows 10 comes with a number of pre-installed apps that you may not need. I recommend uninstalling or disabling any unnecessary apps:

1. Open Settings
2. Click on Apps
3. Click on each app and choose Uninstall or Disable

Some apps to consider removing:

• 3D Viewer
• Mixed Reality Portal
• Groove Music
• Solitaire Collection

Disable or uninstall apps you don’t use to declutter your system.

Enable Dark Mode

Dark mode presents Windows with a black background and lighter text. It can help reduce eye strain:

1. Open Settings
2. Click on Personalization
3. Under Colors, choose Dark

Give dark mode a try if you work on your computer at night or in low light conditions.

Customize the Taskbar

Tweak the taskbar to optimize it for your workflow:

• Unpin apps you don’t frequently use
• Pin apps you use often for quick access
• Show/hide Search box and Task View button

Customize the taskbar so your most-used apps and features are one click away.

Those are some quick settings you can change on a fresh Windows 10 install to enhance performance, privacy, and productivity. Let me know if you have any other recommended tweaks!