Everything you can do to declutter Windows

Declutter Your Windows PC for Improved Performance and a More Pleasant User Experience

A cluttered Windows computer, overflowing with unnecessary files, folders, and apps, significantly impacts productivity and overall user experience. This guide provides simple, quick steps to declutter your Windows PC and restore it to a near-new state.

Desktop Organization

Many users accumulate files and folders on their desktop for easy access. However, this practice can lead to disorganization and difficulty locating files. Windows offers several features to address this:

• Grid Alignment and Auto-Arrangement: Right-click on an empty desktop area, select "View," and enable "Align icons to grid" and "Auto arrange icons" for a neat, grid-based layout. Adjust icon size within the same submenu.
• Sorting: Right-click on the desktop, choose "Sort by," and select "Date modified" along with auto-arrange to prioritize recently accessed files.
• Temporary Folder: Create a "Temp" folder on your desktop to store temporary files, keeping your desktop visually clear. Regularly delete its contents.

Interface Streamlining

Optimize the Start menu and taskbar for efficient navigation:

• Start Menu Customization: Right-click on Start menu shortcuts to pin/unpin them to the Start menu or taskbar. Drag and rearrange pinned items. Access further customization options via Windows Settings > Personalization > Start to adjust layout, visibility of recently opened files and frequently used apps, and add key folders to the Start menu.
• Taskbar Management: In Windows Settings > Personalization > Taskbar, manage the visibility of the search box, widgets, and task view icon. Adjust taskbar alignment, auto-hide settings, and notification badges. Right-click taskbar icons to pin/unpin them and rearrange their order.

File and Folder Cleanup

Junk files accumulate quickly. Windows provides built-in tools to address this:

• Disk Cleanup: Search for "disk cleanup" in the Start menu. Select the drive to scan. The utility identifies temporary files, including Recycle Bin contents and error reports, for safe removal. Choose "Clean up system files" for a more thorough cleanup.
• Storage Sense and Recommendations: In Settings > System > Storage, enable Storage Sense for automatic temporary file cleanup. Use "Cleanup recommendations" and "Large or unused files" to identify and remove space-consuming files.

Unnecessary App Removal

Removing seldom-used applications frees up storage space. Reinstallation is always possible.

• Uninstall Apps: Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Sort by size or date to identify candidates for removal. Click the three dots next to an app and select "Uninstall."
• Startup App Management: Limit the number of apps launching with Windows. Go to Settings > Apps > Startup to review and disable unnecessary startup items.

By following these steps, you can significantly declutter your Windows PC, boosting performance and enhancing your overall computing experience.

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