Customizing Windows system tools is one of the most powerful ways to enhance efficiency, streamline daily tasks, and maintain optimal performance on Windows 11. With careful adjustment of built-in tools and the introduction of third-party utilities like Glary Utilities, you can shape your system environment to fit your workflow. Below are five of the most effective strategies for customizing Windows system tools, along with practical examples for both beginners and advanced users.
Why Customize System Tools?
Windows 11 offers a range of system tools—Task Manager, File Explorer, Power Options, Disk Cleanup, and more—which are essential for monitoring and managing your PC. Customizing these tools helps tailor the system to your workflow, saves time, and improves productivity.
1. Personalize the Task Manager Layout and Functionality
For Beginners:
Many users rely on Task Manager for basic monitoring of processes and applications. To customize it for easier access:
– Pin Task Manager to the taskbar: Right-click the Task Manager icon when open and choose “Pin to taskbar” for quick, one-click access.
– Change the default tab: Open Task Manager, go to Settings (the gear icon), and select your preferred default startup tab such as “Performance” or “App history” for more relevant information at a glance.
For Advanced Users:
– Create custom columns: Right-click on the column headers in the “Processes” or “Details” tab to select or deselect data points like GPU usage, PID, or Disk I/O, tailoring the view to your diagnostic needs.
– Enable efficiency mode: For resource-heavy apps, right-click on them in the “Processes” tab and enable “Efficiency mode” to limit their CPU usage and improve overall responsiveness.
2. Streamline and Enhance File Explorer
For Beginners:
– Pin frequently used folders: Open File Explorer, right-click on any folder, and select “Pin to Quick Access” for instant navigation from the sidebar.
– Use the “New” context menu to create shortcuts for commonly used file types, speeding up daily operations.
For Advanced Users:
– Customize folder templates: Right-click a folder, go to “Properties” > “Customize,” and set the folder type (e.g., Documents, Pictures) for optimized display and sorting.
– Tweak appearance via Group Policy Editor: Open “gpedit.msc” (Windows Pro/Education/Enterprise), navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer to adjust advanced settings such as hiding specific drives or disabling thumbnail previews.
3. Automate Cleanup and Maintenance Tasks with Glary Utilities
For Beginners:
Glary Utilities offers a simple “1-Click Maintenance” feature. Download and install Glary Utilities, open the application, and click the “1-Click Maintenance” tab to run automated scans for junk files, registry errors, and shortcuts. This keeps your PC clean with minimal effort.
For Advanced Users:
Schedule regular maintenance: Open Glary Utilities, go to “Schedule Tasks,” and set weekly or daily automated cleanups. Use the “Advanced Tools” section to customize which areas get cleaned—such as deep registry cleaning or duplicate file searching.
Leverage system monitoring: Use “Process Manager” within Glary Utilities for a more detailed view and control of running processes, with additional options beyond native Task Manager.
4. Fine-Tune Startup and Background Processes
For Beginners:
– Manage startup apps: Right-click the taskbar, select “Task Manager,” then go to the “Startup” tab to enable or disable non-essential programs from launching on boot. This speeds up startup times and reduces background clutter.
For Advanced Users:
– Use Glary Utilities’ “Startup Manager” to not only view but also delay startups or add custom startup entries, providing greater control than the standard Windows tool. Access it under “Advanced Tools.”
– Edit startup via Task Scheduler: Open “Task Scheduler” and create custom triggers for utility scripts or apps, automating background tasks for specialized workflows.
5. Customize Power Options and Performance Profiles
For Beginners:
– Choose a power plan: Go to Settings > System > Power & battery > Power mode, and select between “Best power efficiency,” “Balanced,” or “Best performance” depending on your needs.
For Advanced Users:
– Create custom power plans: Open “Control Panel” > “Power Options,” select “Create a power plan,” and specify advanced settings such as processor state, display brightness, or sleep timers for detailed energy management.
– Use the “Powercfg” command: Launch Command Prompt as administrator and use commands like `powercfg /energy` or `powercfg /batteryreport` to generate detailed reports and identify power-related inefficiencies.
Conclusion
By adopting these five system tool customization strategies, you can transform how you interact with Windows 11—improving speed, efficiency, and user experience. Beginners benefit from built-in customization and easy-to-use tools like Glary Utilities, while advanced users can dive deeper with policy tweaks, scheduling, and scripting. Remember, system tool customization is not just about aesthetics; it’s about creating a computing environment that’s as smart and dynamic as you are. Experiment with these strategies and find the setup that best fits your daily workflow.