10 Windows Settings to Turn Off to Make Your PC Faster (Windows 11/10)

Introduction

Does your Windows PC feel slower than it used to?

Maybe it boots slowly in the morning, the fan gets loud during simple browsing, or everything feels “heavy” even though you’re not doing anything intense. Before you buy a new computer, it’s worth checking a few Windows settings that quietly run in the background.

Windows 10 and Windows 11 ship with many features turned ON by default. Some are genuinely useful—but others can:

• start automatically every time you sign in
• keep running in the background
• use CPU, memory, disk, and battery
• spam you with tips, promos, and notifications

In this guide, you’ll learn 10 settings you can safely turn OFF (or limit) to help your PC:

• start faster
• feel more responsive
• stay quieter
• last longer on battery (laptops)
• remain reasonably secure

You don’t need to be a power user. Each section explains:

• What the setting does
• Why you may want to disable or limit it
• How to change it step by step

⚠️ Note: These tips are best for personal / home PCs.
If you use a company laptop, follow your organization’s IT policy.

Before you change anything

Quick prep (recommended):

• Install pending Windows Updates and reboot once (performance issues are sometimes fixed by updates).
• Make sure Windows Security / Microsoft Defender is running normally.
• If you can, create a restore point (so you can roll back if something feels wrong).

Now let’s lighten your PC—without breaking important protections.

1. Startup apps that launch every time you sign in

What it is

Startup apps are programs that Windows launches automatically when you sign in. Many installers add themselves without clearly asking.

Why disabling helps

• Shorter boot time
• Less background CPU/RAM usage all day
• Fewer “mystery” processes that slow down older PCs

Common offenders:

• Game launchers (Steam, Epic, Battle.net)
• Chat/video tools (Teams, Zoom, LINE)
• “Update helpers” you rarely need

How to turn them off

Option A (recommended): Settings

1. Press Win + I → open Settings
2. Go to Apps → Startup
3. Switch Off anything you don’t need immediately at sign-in

Option B: Task Manager

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc
2. Open the Startup apps tab
3. Select an item → choose Disable

👍 Tip: If you don’t recognize an app name, search it once before disabling.

2. Apps running in the background when you’re not using them

What it is

Some apps keep running after you “close” them—checking for updates, syncing, showing notifications, or staying ready.

Why limiting helps

• Less CPU/RAM usage
• Better battery life (laptops)
• Fewer background network requests

How to limit background activity

Windows 11 (per-app “Background app permissions”)

1. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps
2. Find the app → click … → Advanced options
3. Look for Background apps permissions
4. Set it to Never (or choose a more conservative option if available)

Windows 10 (global background apps list)

1. Open Settings → Privacy → Background apps
2. Turn off apps that don’t need to run constantly

👍 Tip: It’s usually safe to disable background activity for promo apps, social apps, and rarely used tools. Leave security tools alone.

3. OneDrive syncing too much (Desktop / Pictures / huge folders)

What it is

OneDrive can automatically back up folders like Desktop, Documents, and Pictures. This is helpful—until it starts syncing thousands of photos or large files while you’re trying to work.

Why limiting helps

• Less disk and CPU activity
• Less bandwidth usage
• Fewer “PC feels slow while uploading” moments

How to change it

1. Click the OneDrive cloud icon in the taskbar
2. Click the gear → Settings
3. Open Sync and back up (or Account, depending on version)
4. Use Manage backup / Choose folders to stop syncing large or unnecessary folders

👍 Tip: Sync important documents, but avoid syncing raw video folders, game libraries, or temporary backups.

4. File Explorer “ads” (Sync Provider Notifications)

What it is

File Explorer can show “sync provider notifications” that promote Microsoft services (OneDrive/Microsoft 365 tips). It’s not dangerous—just noisy.

Why disabling helps

• Less clutter in File Explorer
• Fewer distracting prompts
• No impact on normal file management

How to turn it off

1. Open File Explorer
2. Windows 11: click … → Options
   Windows 10: View tab → Options
3. Open the View tab
4. Uncheck Show sync provider notifications
5. Click OK

5. Bluetooth always ON (when you rarely use it)

What it is

Bluetooth enables wireless mice, keyboards, speakers, and headphones. But if you don’t use Bluetooth devices often, keeping it ON can add background radio activity.

Why turning it off helps

• Better battery life (laptops)
• Less background activity
• Fewer random reconnection issues

How to turn it off

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices
2. Switch Bluetooth to Off when you’re not using it

👍 Tip: On a desktop PC with no Bluetooth accessories, you can leave Bluetooth off permanently.

6. Location services for apps that don’t need it

What it is

Location services let Windows and apps estimate your device location (Wi-Fi/IP/GPS). Useful for maps and weather, unnecessary for most desktop workflows.

Why restricting helps

• Better privacy
• Less background activity
• Fewer unnecessary permissions

How to change it

Windows 11

1. Open Settings → Privacy & security → Location
2. Either turn Location services Off, or keep it On and disable access per-app

Windows 10

1. Open Settings → Privacy → Location
2. Adjust global and per-app permissions

👍 Tip: Allow location only for apps you trust (maps/weather). Deny everything else.

7. Noisy notifications (tips, promos, random apps)

What it is

Apps love notifications: sales, “tips,” reminders, game invites, and more. Too many notifications can also slow older PCs slightly and ruin focus.

Why reducing helps

• Less distraction
• Fewer pop-ups during screen sharing
• Important alerts don’t get buried

How to adjust

1. Open Settings → System → Notifications
2. Keep global notifications ON (recommended), but scroll down to apps
3. Turn OFF notifications for non-essential apps (games, promo tools, store apps)
4. For apps you keep, fine-tune banners/sounds/badges

👍 Tip: Keep notifications for security, calendar, email, and messaging. Silence everything else.

8. Animations and transparency effects

What it is

Windows uses animations and transparency to look smooth and modern. On low-spec PCs, those effects can make the UI feel sluggish.

Why disabling helps

• Faster-feeling menus and window switching
• Less GPU/CPU overhead
• More “snappy” response on older machines

How to turn them off

Windows 11

1. Open Settings → Accessibility → Visual effects
2. Turn Animation effects Off
3. Optionally turn Transparency effects Off

Windows 10

1. Open Settings → Ease of Access → Display
2. Turn off Show animations in Windows
3. Turn off transparency for maximum performance

Advanced (both Windows 10/11)

1. Press Win + R → type sysdm.cpl → Enter
2. Advanced tab → Performance → Settings…
3. Select Adjust for best performance or manually turn off effects you don’t care about

9. Power mode set too aggressively for saving battery

What it is

Windows can limit performance to save power. That’s great on the go—but if your laptop feels slow even while plugged in, your power settings may be too conservative.

Why adjusting helps

• Better responsiveness for everyday tasks
• Less “why is everything laggy?” feeling
• More stable performance when plugged in

How to change it

Windows 11

1. Open Settings → System → Power & battery
2. Under Power mode, choose Balanced (recommended) or Best performance when you need speed
3. Use Energy saver only when you want maximum battery life

Windows 10

1. Click the battery icon in the taskbar
2. Move the slider toward Better performance / Best performance when needed

👍 Tip: Use battery-saving mode for travel days, and a performance-friendly mode at home/office.

10. “PC optimizer” tools that constantly scan, clean, and “boost”

What it is

Some third-party tools promise to “clean the registry,” “fix thousands of errors,” or “boost performance instantly.” Many of them run continuously in the background.

Why you should disable or uninstall them

• Constant scanning uses CPU, memory, and disk
• Some cleaners remove things too aggressively and cause instability
• In worst cases, Windows may become unstable after “cleanup”
• Modern Windows already includes maintenance tools

What to do instead (safer)

• Uninstall optimizers you don’t fully trust
• Use built-in Storage tools and Storage Sense
• Keep Windows Security enabled

⚠️ Rule of thumb: If a program claims to “double your speed instantly,” be cautious.

Settings you should NOT turn off

Turning off “everything” is not the goal. These are the settings you should normally keep enabled.

1) Windows Update (long-term)

You can pause updates temporarily if a specific update causes trouble, but running permanently unpatched is risky. Security fixes protect you from real-world attacks.

2) Microsoft Defender real-time protection

If you don’t use another trusted antivirus, Defender is your main safety layer. Turning it off leaves your system exposed.

3) Backups / restore options

Restore points can save you when a driver update or setting change breaks something. If you need disk space, reduce how much space restore points use—don’t disable recovery options completely.

Summary: Start small, test, and keep what works

You don’t need to change all 10 settings at once. Start with the ones that match your main pain point:

• Slow startup? → Disable startup apps
• Battery drains fast? → Limit background apps, Bluetooth, power mode
• UI feels sluggish? → Disable animations/transparency
• Too many pop-ups? → Reduce notifications + Explorer promos

After each change, use your PC normally for a day and see how it feels. If something becomes inconvenient, simply turn that setting back on.

With a few careful tweaks, your PC can feel lighter, quieter, and more responsive—without spending money on new hardware.

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タグ: Windows 11, Windows 10, OneDrive, Privacy, Startup apps, Beginner Friendly, speed up PC, Battery Life, Performance