You aren’t using these Windows settings, but they make your PC easier to use

For as popular as Windows is, it’s baffling how terrible Windows 11’s default settings are. The poor initial configuration means you’re forced to jump through hoops like opening Task Manager just to kill a frozen app, or losing a vital snippet of text because you copied something else over it. Using third-party tools may fix these inconveniences, but many people don’t realize that Windows already has settings that fix them.

If you know the right places to look, you can access settings that make Windows much easier to use. The best part is that they gradually fade into the background and stay out of your way.

Clipboard history

Turn copy and paste into a memory system

Copying something in Windows saves it to the clipboard. However, when you copy something new, it overwrites the earlier snippet. Only being able to paste the most recent item is a limitation that becomes more conspicuous when you work with several links, snippets, images, or text blocks.

Windows’ clipboard history takes away this limitation. It keeps a rolling list of copied items that you can access at any time. To turn on Clipboard history, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Navigate to System > Clipboard.
3. Toggle on Clipboard history.

From now on, whenever you press Win + V, you’ll get access to all recent clipboard items, and you can choose which to. This turns your clipboard into one of the most powerful Windows tools.

End tasks from the taskbar

Close frozen apps without opening Task Manager

If you’ve used Windows long enough, you probably know that any time an app freezes, you can access Task Manager to kill the process. While this is effective, it takes too many steps to access the End task option.

There’s a better option: the taskbar context menu includes a hidden End task option that allows you to skip several steps when force-closing an unresponsive process. To enable this, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Navigate to System > Advanced.
3. Toggle End task on.

Now, whenever you right-click the app’s taskbar icon, the End task option will be available.

Snap layouts and snap groups

Let Windows organize your screen for you

Snapping windows on Windows is common. However, while many people use Snap layouts, they often ignore Snap groups. You can use these snap options to turn your window management into a visual, low-effort action.

You get the most benefit from using Snap groups. This lets Windows remember which apps were snapped together, and it keeps this grouping available on your taskbar. When you open or hover over one snapped app on the taskbar, Windows presents the other apps in its snap group so you can restore the whole layout with a single click. Follow the steps below to enable it:

1. Open Settings.
2. Navigate to System > Multitasking.
3. Toggle Snap windows on.

When you snap your windows, you can open any other apps you like. To return to your snapped windows, hover over the taskbar icons of the apps that were part of the snap, and you should see an option for the snapped group.

Navigate background windows without clicking them

I didn’t know how indispensable this setting was until I turned it on. Scrolling typically works only on your active window, but if you enable this option, hovering over any window lets you scroll it without clicking to change focus.

I use it a lot when I need to conduct research before writing an article. It takes away several unnecessary clicks over the course of a full day’s work. Here’s how to enable it:

1. Open Settings.
2. Navigate to Bluetooth & devices > Mouse.
3. Toggle on the Scroll inactive windows when I hover over them option.

Text size (separate from display scaling)

Make text easier to read without breaking layouts

Sometimes, you may find Windows’ default text size too small. Most people would adjust the display scaling or resolution to fix this. However, this solution ends up distorting layouts and can reduce the amount of usable screen space. If you use Windows’ separate text size control, you can avoid these issues. It increases text readability without affecting your entire interface.

To use it, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Navigate to Accessibility > Text size.
3. Use the slider to adjust the text size.

I use this option for long reading sessions, and it especially comes in handy when I’m working on a laptop.

Text cursor indicator

Always know where you’re typing

If only I could get a penny for every time I lose track of the text cursor. It happens more when I switch between windows while editing long documents. Enabling the text cursor indicator instantly gives me a visual marker of where the input focus is.

It takes away the small moments of hesitation I face when writing or editing, and over the course of a long workday, that adds up. To enable the setting, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Navigate to Accessibility > Text cursor.
3. Enable Text cursor indicator.

Mouse pointer visibility

Stop losing your cursor on modern displays

If you use a high-resolution screen, you may notice that the default mouse pointer seems too small and low-contrast. Increasing its size, changing its color, or even using inverted mode so that the mouse adapts automatically to the background makes it easier to track the cursor. You can set it up with these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Navigate to Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch.
3. Use the slider to increase the mouse size. Under Mouse pointer style, select the Custom option and choose a color.

Using these options reduces the mental fatigue of searching for the cursor.

Windows works better once you stop using it as-is

After I made these changes, I realized I couldn’t use a new Windows PC without configuring these options. They reduce friction and make daily tasks easier.

Windows 11 is very powerful, but you may not know the extent of that if you stick to default configurations. Give these options a try and see how they upgrade your experience.