Microsoft's Windows 11 operating system contains several background features and pre-installed tools that can be disabled without harming system performance or stability, according to technology publication How-To Geek.
The technology site highlighted multiple built-in services that users can safely turn off to declutter their desktop workspace, reduce background resource consumption, and streamline their daily computer usage.
First among the recommendations from How-To Geek was turning off OneDrive cloud storage for users who store their files locally on their computer. The publication's experts also advised disabling Copilot artificial intelligence functions if they are not actively being used. The authors noted that when Copilot features are turned off, users can remap the dedicated Copilot key to open standard system search or launch another application instead.
OneDrive is Microsoft's built-in cloud backup service, designed to sync documents and desktop files to online servers. Copilot is an artificial intelligence assistant integrated directly into Windows 11 to provide text generation, search assistance, and automated system controls.
Streamlining desktop widgets and Start menu options
How-To Geek stated that interactive desktop widgets displaying weather updates, news headlines, and other real-time information can also be removed from the screen. In addition, users can clean up the Start menu by turning off the display of recent files, recommendations, notifications, and the Phone Link integration feature.
The Start menu acts as the central navigation hub for launching applications and searching files in Windows. Phone Link is a built-in application that allows users to link their mobile smartphones to a Windows computer to view notifications, receive calls, and check text messages directly on their desktop screen.
For personal computers that are not used for playing video games, the How-To Geek specialists noted that users can turn off services for Xbox, Xbox Live, and the Game Bar. The authors explained that disabling these gaming tools frees the operating system from several unnecessary pre-installed applications and background components. Finally, the authors recommended removing the display of web search results within the standard Windows search tool.
Background services and overall system improvements
Xbox Live and the Xbox Game Bar are background services integrated into Windows 11 to handle online gaming accounts, achievements, friend lists, and screen recording during gameplay. Windows Search by default queries both local hard drive storage and the web using Microsoft's Bing search engine, which can introduce online advertisements and external links into local file searches.
How-To Geek is a technology website that publishes guides, tutorials, and analysis on computer operating systems and consumer technology. The advice follows reports published earlier in September by tech media outlet SlashGear, which noted that Windows 11 has been gradually improving due to new Start menu capabilities and a redesigned search layout. Journalists at SlashGear reported that the overall operating system feels more streamlined than before, describing the improvements as a great development for users.
