Introduction

If your Windows 11 system feels sluggish or unresponsive, several default settings may be consuming unnecessary resources. This guide will help you disable unnecessary features, clean temporary files, and optimize performance for a smoother experience.

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Step 1: Enable Storage Sense

Windows 11 includes a Storage Sense feature that automatically cleans temporary files and manages disk space.

How to Enable Storage Sense:

1. Open Settings (Win + I).
2. Go to System > Storage.
3. Toggle Storage Sense to On.
4. Click Configure Storage Sense to customize cleanup frequency.

✅ Why Enable It?

• Automatically deletes temporary files.
• Frees up disk space without manual intervention.

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Step 2: Clean Up Temporary Files

Windows accumulates unnecessary files over time, slowing down your system.

How to Clean Temporary Files:

1. Go to Settings > System > Storage > Cleanup recommendations.
2. Under Temporary files, select:

• Downloaded files (if not needed).
• Delivery Optimization files.
• Thumbnails & temporary internet files.

1. Click Clean up.

🚀 Result:

• Frees up hundreds of MBs (or even GBs) of space.
• Improves system responsiveness.

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Step 3: Disable Unnecessary Privacy Settings

Many default Windows 11 settings track user activity, consuming resources.

Settings to Disable:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > General

• Turn off:
  • “Let apps show me personalized ads”
  • “Let websites show me locally relevant content”
  • “Improve Start & search results by tracking app launches”
  • “Show suggested content in Settings app”

1. Disable Speech Recognition (if unused):

• Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Speech.
• Toggle Online speech recognition to Off.

1. Turn Off Notifications for Unused Apps:

• Go to Settings > System > Notifications.
• Disable “Let apps access notifications”.

🔒 Why Disable These?

• Reduces background tracking.
• Saves CPU & RAM usage.

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Step 4: Remove Bloatware & Disable Startup Apps

Pre-installed apps and unnecessary startup programs slow down boot time.

How to Remove Bloatware:

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
2. Uninstall unnecessary apps like:

• Cortana
• Maps
• Xbox Game Bar (if not gaming)

Disable Startup Apps:

1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
2. Go to the Startup tab.
3. Disable apps you don’t need at startup.

⚡ Result:

• Faster boot times.
• Reduced background resource usage.

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Step 5: Optimize Visual Effects

Windows 11 uses animations that can slow down older systems.

How to Adjust Visual Effects:

1. Press Win + R, type sysdm.cpl, and hit Enter.
2. Go to Advanced > Performance Settings.
3. Select “Adjust for best performance”.
4. Manually enable only:

• Show thumbnails instead of icons
• Smooth edges of screen fonts
• Show window contents while dragging

🎨 Result:

• Smoother UI performance.
• Less GPU/CPU strain.

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Step 6: Disable Background Services

Some Windows services run unnecessarily in the background.

Services to Disable:

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
2. Disable:

• Download Maps Manager
• Windows Image Acquisition (if no scanner used)
• Hyper-V (if not using virtual machines)

🛑 Warning:

• Only disable services you don’t need.

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Step 7: Enable High-Performance Power Plan

Windows 11 may default to a power-saving mode, reducing performance.

How to Enable High Performance Mode:

1. Open Control Panel > Hardware & Sound > Power Options.
2. Select “High performance”.

🔋 For Laptops:

• Use “Balanced” for battery life.
• Switch to “High performance” when plugged in.

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Step 8: Manage Search Indexing

Windows Search indexing can slow down HDD-based systems.

How to Optimize Search Indexing:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Searching Windows.
2. Under “Find my files”, select Classic (faster).
3. Exclude folders you don’t search often.

📌 Tip:

• Enable “Respect power settings” for laptops to reduce battery drain.

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Final Step: Clear Temp Files Manually

1. Press Win + R, type %temp%, and hit Enter.
2. Delete all files (skip any in-use files).
3. Repeat for temp folder (Win + R → temp).

🗑️ Result:

• Frees up additional space.
• Prevents slowdowns from cluttered temp files.

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Conclusion

By following these steps, you can significantly improve Windows 11 performance by:
✔ Freeing up disk space.
✔ Reducing background processes.
✔ Optimizing system settings.

Try these tweaks and enjoy a faster, smoother PC!

Tags:

Windows 11, Performance Optimization, Speed Up PC, Disable Bloatware, System Tweaks

Hashtags:

#Windows11 #PCOptimization #SpeedUpWindows #TechTips #WindowsTweaks

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Disclaimer:
Modifying system settings can affect functionality. Proceed with caution and create a backup before making changes. This guide is for educational purposes only.

For more Windows tips, visit Microsoft Support. 🚀

Rakesh Bhardwaj

Rakesh Bhardwaj is a seasoned editor and designer with over 15 years of experience in the creative industry. He specializes in crafting visually compelling and professionally polished content, blending precision with creativity. Whether refining written work or designing impactful visuals, Rakesh brings a deep understanding of layout, typography, and narrative flow to every project he undertakes.

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