Most productivity advice focuses on what to add. New apps, new workflows, new shortcuts and so on. All of that advice works well, but my biggest productivity gains have actually come from turning things off.
You may not have realized it, but Windows 11 is full of distractions. Notifications, suggestions, pop-ups, and ads all compete for focus when all you want to do is work in peace. Instead of putting up with these, I decided to spend a few minutes and turn them off for good, and now that I have, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Hide desktops icons and declutter the taskbar
Create a calmer workspace
Screenshot by Pankil Shah — No attribution required
I don’t know about you, but a desktop full of icons has never appealed to me, and that’s even after trying to organize them better with a tool like Fences. Almost everything I want is already accessible via the Search menu, and my most-used apps are pinned in the Start menu anyway.
Also, when your desktop is full of dozens of folders, random downloads, and app shortcuts you never touch, it defeats the whole purpose of desktop shortcuts in the first place. At that point, you’re basically spending more time finding the shortcut you want.
To keep things simple, I prefer hiding desktop icons altogether and relying on the Windows Search menu to find apps, files, and settings.
The taskbar is another common source of clutter. By default, it shows all kinds of useless stuff, like the Widgets panel, virtual desktop shortcut, and system tray icons. I keep most of these hidden so I can better focus on what I need. I’ve also stopped taskbar from flashing and showing app icon badges, so nothing is constantly calling for my attention.
Turn off search highlights and web searches in Start menu
Screenshot by Pankil Shah — No attribution required
The Start menu search in Windows 11 often tries a little too hard to be helpful. When you open it, you’re greeted with search highlights, trending topics, suggested content, and other distractions. Most importantly, all of this gets in the way when all you’re trying to do is find a work file. That’s why it’s best to disable search highlights by heading to Settings > Privacy & security > Search.
By default, the Windows search menu also pulls results from the web every time you type something. And I’ve lost count of how many times I mistyped an app name, only for Windows to open a web search in Edge instead. Turning off web searches in the Start menu isn’t as easy as disabling Search highlights, but it’s still worth doing.
Disable unnecessary startup apps
Start your day without pop-ups
Screenshot by Pankil Shah — No attribution required
As soon as you turn on your PC, Windows also starts a select few apps in the background. These could be cloud storage apps, chat apps, and even customization tools. Of course, some of these apps are necessary, as they allow you to get started right away.
But the problem with having too many apps is that they also pop-up as soon as you log in. Apps like Spotify, iCloud, Discord, and Steam don’t necessarily need to run at startup and can break your focus right at the start of your day.
There’s also the performance benefit. Disabling startup apps significantly reduces the time it takes for Windows to boot. To do that, head to Task Manager > Startup apps and disable the apps you don’t need.
I Love Windows, but Can’t Ignore These 9 Huge Annoyances in Windows 11
Seriously, Microsoft?
Turn off unwanted alerts
Silence is golden
Windows 11 loves to keep you informed. Emails, app updates, reminders, tips, cloud sync messages, and random Windows Security alerts just keep coming from the moment you turn on your PC. None of these are bad on their own, but they can interrupt your flow throughout the day.
Windows has a Focus mode that helps tackle this, but I find it easier to manage notification settings manually. By heading to Settings > System > Notifications, I can turn off alerts for all the unwanted apps.
For me, this means most apps except for important ones like Slack, Thunderbird, WhatsApp, and Snipping Tool. Even then, I usually disable alert sounds. And when I am writing and want complete silence, I rely on Windows’ Do Not Disturb feature.
Disable ads and recommendations everywhere
Stop Windows from advertising itself
It’s not just app alerts that can break your focus. Windows 11 also loves to throw its own suggestions and tips in places you wouldn’t expect. You’ll see them inside the Start menu, inside Settings, on the lock screen, and even in File Explorer. Most of these are designed to nudge you toward Microsoft’s apps and services.
None of these are aggressively intrusive, but they’re still distracting. And honestly, the idea of putting up with these ads feels a bit strange when you’ve already paid for the Windows license.
The good thing is that you can get rid of most ads in Windows in a few steps. And while you’re at it, you can also debloat Windows to make it cleaner and faster.
Like any operating system, Windows is full of features meant to appeal to all kinds of users. But some of these can be downright distracting, which is why disabling them is one of the things I like to do on a new Windows PC.
