My Windows PC used to feel like it was working against me – launching random apps on startup, switching network connections, locking the screen after being idle for a while, and more. So, I made the following changes to help myself be more productive.
I stopped apps from launching on startup
My PC used to take a lot of time to boot up because Windows would launch a lot of unnecessary apps every time I turned it on. While some were essential, most were apps I rarely used. They would slow down the startup process and flood me with frustrating pop-ups on every startup that I had to close.
To fix this, I removed all non-essential apps from the startup list, and kept only a few important apps. Now, when I start my computer only the apps I need launch, and I no longer have to deal with those annoying pop-ups. Boot times have improved significantly, and I no longer have to wait for minutes for my PC to be ready to use.
I chose my favorite default apps
My PC used to constantly frustrate me by opening files and tasks in random apps instead of the ones I preferred. It would open images with Paint and PDFs with Microsoft Edge, and decide on its own which app to use for web links, music, videos, and more. This was partly my fault, as I relied on the default settings.
I chose my favorite default apps for each file type to fix this. I set my favorite browser for web links, my favorite media player for audio and video, and my favorite PDF viewer for documents. Now, files open in the right apps, and my workflow is smoother. My PC finally works the way I like, not because Windows makes choices for me.
I changed the lock screen timeout
A few minutes of inactivity used to be enough for my laptop to lock itself, which was one of the most frustrating problems I faced. When working on an important file without moving the mouse, the screen would lock, forcing me to log in repeatedly throughout the day. Even stepping away for a while wasn’t an option.
To fix this, I adjusted the lock screen timeout setting, which gave me more time before the PC would lock. Now, I can step away for short breaks without having to constantly log in, which has significantly improved my productivity. However, avoid setting the timeout too long, as leaving your laptop alone without locking it could allow unauthorized access in a shared setting.