Windows shhhh Checklist

(side note: Seeing a weird “Install Driver to Show Hardware” when installing Windows 11? Try a different USB stick - a different brand particularly.)

This checklist changes constantly, because Microsoft insists on rearranging furniture mid-fire. The spirit is accurate, even if the click-paths rot with time. Every category (probably) still exists, the controls just play hide-and-seek.

Taskbar & Start Menu

• Disable “News and Interests” (Win 10)
  Right-click taskbar >> News and Interests >> Turn off

• Disable “Widgets” (Windows 11)
  Settings >> Personalization >> Taskbar >> Widgets >> Off

• Start Menu omg stfu
  Settings >> Personalization >> Start
  Turn off:

  • Show recently added apps
  • Show most used apps
  • Show suggestions occasionally in Start

Notifications & Popups

• Disable App Notifications
  Settings >> System >> Notifications
  OFF (might need to toggle):
  • Tips, tricks, and suggestions
  • Microsoft Store pushy crap
  • Welcome experiences after updates
• Disable Suggested Content in Settings
  Settings >> Privacy & security >> General
  Turn off:
  • Let Microsoft show me tailored ads
  • Show suggested content in the Settings app

Remove Microsoft Bloat

• Uninstall Preloaded Junk
  Settings >> Apps >> Installed Apps
  • Yeet anything you don’t use (e.g., Xbox, OneDrive, Spotify, Candy Crush)
    • even if you might, you can always re-install. Be cruel.

Browser & Search

• Set a Real Browser as Default (prolly firefox, yea?)
  Settings >> Apps >> Default Apps
  Set preferred browser for:
  • .html, .htm
  • .pdf
  • HTTP, HTTPS

• Disable Bing in Start Menu
  (Registry edit required; changes regularly and breaks easily… look it up if you’re committed.)

• Clean Up Lock Screen
  Settings >> Personalization >> Lock screen
  Set background to Picture, not Windows Spotlight