Windows 11 unsuckifying guide
Tags: windows, windows11, guide, tutorial
Published: 2024-06-26 17:53:32

Here's an incomplete list of tips, tools, and settings to help make Windows 11 suck less.

**Biggest pro-tip:** If you are installing Windows 11 fresh, use English-Global instead of English US. This skips installing TikTok, Disney+, LinkedIn, Spotify, etc paid-promotional links everywhere. Also turns off MS Store by default until you set your region to EN-US (if you want to re-enable it).

It is technically possible to create a Win 11 user account without a Microsoft account, but you'll need to look it up as MS keeps trying to make this harder.

1. Go through every single setting on the OS and turn off all the bullshit, spyware, AI, etc.
1. Settings > Accessibility > Visual Effects
   * Always show Scrollbars (why the fuck is this disabled by default)
1. Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard
   * Sticky/Filter/Toggle Keys: OFF
   * Underline Access Keys: ON
   * Print Screen opens a stupid fucking program instead of doing print screen: OFF
1. Settings > System > Multitasking > Snap Windows:
   * Turn off "Show Snap layouts when I hover over a Window's Maximize button"
   * Turn off "Show snap layouts when I drag a window to the top of my screen"
1. Constantly leave feedback as you try to do common basic shit and Windows just sucks now and has no option to make it unsuck
   * **Example:** https://old.reddit.com/r/Windows11/comments/s3f2y9/please_separate_calendar_and_notifications/
1. RegEdit: [Make Scrollbars wider](https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/79875-change-size-scroll-bars-windows-10-a.html)
   * `HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics`
   * Double click `ScrollHeight` and `ScrollWidth`
   * Enter a value between `-120` (thinner) to `-1500` (thicker) and click OK. (`-255` is probably fine)
   * Restart to apply.
1. RegEdit: [Stop sending start menu searches to Bing's servers](https://www.howtogeek.com/826967/how-to-disable-bing-in-the-windows-11-start-menu/)
   * `HKCU\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows`
   * Right-Click `Windows` > New > Key > `Explorer`
   * Right-Click `Explorer` > New > DWORD32 > `DisableSearchBoxSuggestions`
   * Double-Click `DisableSearchBoxSuggestions` > `1` (Hex) > OK
   * Restart Explorer or computer to apply
1. [Replace the start menu which is filled with ads and widget bullshit](https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/releases)
   * [Replace Windows 11 logo with Windows 7 logo](https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu/discussions/1942)
1. RegEdit: [Bring back the original right click menu](https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/restore-old-right-click-context-menu-in-windows-11/a62e797c-eaf3-411b-aeec-e460e6e5a82a)
   * Run `reg.exe add "HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{86ca1aa0-34aa-4e8b-a509-50c905bae2a2}\InprocServer32" /f /ve`
   * Restart Explorer or computer to apply
1. [Turn off rounded corners on every window](https://github.com/valinet/Win11DisableRoundedCorners)
   * **IMPORTANT:** Make sure only one `dwm.exe` is running before executing. Do not run this remotely, run it on the actual machine.
1. [Chris Titus Win Util (Win 11 Debloating/Spam removal)](https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil)
   * This utility does a TON of things, be very careful and read everything before applying changes as many settings it offers are bonkers and it even warns you not to do them. But it also does a ton of very useful things.
   * [Intro Video for it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_AaHXrelTE)
1. The notification sounds on W11 might as well not exist, they are so soft and quiet and barely noticeable even when you are right in front of the computer, let alone in the other room when you want to hear the sounds.
   * Download a sound pack: https://winsounds.com
   * Go to Settings > Sound > More sound Settings > Sounds
   * Select each sound in the list, click Test to hear it, then replace it with your downloaded sounds.
   * When done, save your scheme