Speed Up Windows 11: 3 Easy Ways to Disable Startup Apps

Speed Up Windows 11: 3 Easy Ways to Disable Startup Apps

Too many startup apps can slow down your PC before you even begin working. Here are three simple ways to stop unnecessary programs from launching automatically in Windows 11 and improve startup performance.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

August 26, 2026

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You turn on your PC expecting to get to work, but Windows spends the next few minutes launching apps you didn't even open. 

If your computer feels sluggish immediately after sign-in, startup programs may be the reason.

Many applications automatically configure themselves to launch whenever you log into Windows. 

While some are genuinely helpful, others consume memory, processor resources, and storage activity before you've even opened a browser.

Here's a Cool Tip: Disable high-impact startup apps you rarely use.

Startup applications can affect both startup speed and overall system performance. 

By managing which apps launch automatically, you can reduce unnecessary background activity and create a cleaner, faster experience.

The good news is that Windows 11 includes several built-in tools that make startup management easy.

Windows 11’s Latest Updates Make Bluetooth More Reliable

Windows 11’s Latest Updates Make Bluetooth More Reliable

Windows 11’s latest updates aim to make Bluetooth audio less frustrating, especially for users who rely on wireless earbuds and headsets every day. If your headphones have been slow to pair, flaky on calls, or inconsistent with mute controls, this is one update worth checking.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

August 19, 2026

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Bluetooth on Windows has long had a reputation for occasional pairing glitches, dropped connections, and microphone quirks. 

That can be more than annoying when you are joining a work call, taking an online class, or trying to listen privately in a busy room.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Update Windows 11, then re-test your Bluetooth headset.

Recent Windows 11 updates appear to improve several of those pain points. 

Microsoft’s June 2026 optional update and July 2026 Patch Tuesday update include notable Bluetooth improvements, including faster AirPods pairing, better Beats Studio Pro microphone reliability, steadier LE Audio behavior, and improved mute synchronization on supported headsets.

5 Hidden Windows 11 Features That Save Time Every Day

5 Hidden Windows 11 Features That Save Time Every Day

Windows 11 includes several built-in tools that can make everyday tasks faster, cleaner, and less frustrating. These five overlooked features help you copy smarter, organize your screen, capture better screenshots, focus longer, and reach system tools quickly.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

August 12, 2026

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If you use Windows all day, you probably spend more time than you realize switching between apps, copying bits of text, grabbing screenshots, and digging through settings. 

The good news is that Windows 11 already includes several tools that make these little tasks easier.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Learn These Five Windows Shortcuts and Put Windows 11 to Work.

The catch? 

Many of them are hidden behind keyboard shortcuts, tucked inside system apps, or sitting in menus most users rarely open.

None of these tips requires extra software or a paid subscription. Most take just a few seconds to learn.

New OneDrive Photos App Makes Finding Old Pictures Much Easier

New OneDrive Photos App Makes Finding Old Pictures Much Easier

Microsoft is introducing a dedicated OneDrive Photos app experience that helps users organize, rediscover, and manage pictures stored locally and in the cloud. If your photo collection has become a maze of folders, screenshots, and backups, this new tool could save you a surprising amount of time.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

August 5, 2026

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Most of us take thousands of photos every year, then spend far too much time searching for the one image we actually need.

A vacation picture from three summers ago. A photo of a receipt for an expense report. A screenshot containing important information. 

The files are usually there somewhere, but finding them can be frustrating.

Here's a Cool Tip: Try the New Windows 11 OneDrive Photos App.

OneDrive Photos is a dedicated photo-focused experience that has recently started appearing on some Windows 11 systems. 

The app provides a gallery-style experience for browsing, organizing, and revisiting photos stored on a PC and in OneDrive cloud storage. 

Availability currently may vary by account, device, and rollout status.

Windows 11 Screen Tint Makes Bright Screens Easier on the Eyes

Windows 11 Screen Tint Makes Bright Screens Easier on the Eyes

Bright screens are not always a brightness problem. Sometimes the intensity of modern apps, websites, and documents is what leaves your eyes feeling tired after a long day.

Windows 11's new Screen Tint accessibility feature offers another way to improve screen comfort by applying a customizable color overlay across the entire display. Availability may vary depending on your Windows version and rollout status.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 29, 2026

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After eight hours of email, spreadsheets, Teams meetings, web browsing, and document editing, many people reach for the brightness controls. 

The problem is that brightness is not always what's causing the discomfort.

Here's a Cool Tip: Customize your screen's comfort level with Screen Tint.

Microsoft's new Screen Tint feature for Windows 11 takes a different approach. Instead of simply dimming the display, it adds a customizable color overlay designed to make bright screens feel less visually intense during long work sessions. 

The feature is intended to help users who experience eye fatigue, light sensitivity, or general visual discomfort from bright displays.

Screen Tint joins other Windows accessibility tools designed to make computing more comfortable, but it fills a unique gap between Night Light and Color Filters.

Listen Together: Windows 11 Shared Audio Explained

Listen Together: Windows 11 Shared Audio Explained

Learn how Windows 11 Shared Audio allows compatible PCs to share audio with two Bluetooth LE Audio devices, making listening together easier.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 22, 2026

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Whether you're traveling with a friend, studying with a classmate, or reviewing content with a client, sharing audio from a laptop has traditionally involved compromises. 

Most PCs connect audio to a single Bluetooth device at a time, leaving users searching for splitters, adapters, or awkward workarounds.

Here's a Cool Tip: Share One Audio Stream with Two Listeners Using Windows 11 Shared Audio.

Microsoft recently released an update with Shared Audio, a Windows 11 feature designed for compatible devices that support Bluetooth LE Audio. 

The feature allows users to broadcast the same audio stream to two supported listening devices from a single PC.

For people who frequently share videos, music, presentations, or training content, it offers a more convenient way to listen together without additional accessories.

Windows 11's New Point-in-Time Restore Can Save Hours of Recovery

Windows 11's New Point-in-Time Restore Can Save Hours of Recovery

Windows 11's new Point-in-Time Restore feature can help you recover from bad updates, driver problems, and software mistakes without rebuilding an entire PC. If something breaks, you may be able to roll back to a previous working state in minutes instead of spending hours troubleshooting.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

July 15, 2026

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One bad driver update or software installation can turn a perfectly good PC into a troubleshooting project.

For years, Windows users have relied on backups, system images, or the aging System Restore feature when something went wrong. 

Here's a Cool Tip: Update Windows with the July 2026 Update for Point-in-Time Restore.

Microsoft is now introducing a more modern recovery approach called Point-in-Time Restore, a built-in Windows 11 capability designed to help users recover from software problems more quickly.

Point-in-Time Restore can restore apps, settings, and local user files captured in an available restore point. 

The goal is simple: reduce downtime and help users recover from problems without resorting to a full reinstall.

3 Smart Windows 11 Printer Tricks That Save Time and Ink

3 Smart Windows 11 Printer Tricks That Save Time and Ink

Printing mistakes and repetitive settings can quietly waste time, ink, and paper. These three Windows 11 printer tips help you take control and keep things running smoothly.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

June 17, 2026

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You only meant to print one page, but the printer starts churning through an entire document in full color.

That’s a quick way to burn through ink and patience.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Take Control of Printing Before It Wastes Your Time and Money.

Windows 11 includes useful printer tools most people never touch.

Once you know where they are, you can stop mistakes instantly, automate your settings, and manage printers with far more control.

Find Files Faster: Windows 11 Search Finally Gets Smarter

Find Files Faster: Windows 11 Search Finally Gets Smarter

Windows 11 Search has long been a frustration point, but the June 2026 update addresses some of its biggest weaknesses. These changes make finding files faster, easier, and far less dependent on typing the exact file name.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

June 10, 2026

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You know the routine. 

You open Search, type part of a file name, and nothing appears. 

So you type more. 

Then more. 

At some point, it is faster to open File Explorer and hunt manually.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Find files faster with fewer keystrokes

Microsoft finally seems to be fixing that experience.

The June 2026 Windows 11 update introduces meaningful improvements to Search performance and accuracy. 

The changes are subtle, but they show up quickly in everyday use.

Turn Simple Notes Into Organized Lists in Notepad

Turn Simple Notes Into Organized Lists in Notepad

Windows Notepad is evolving from a plain-text tool into a lightweight Markdown editor. New support for Strikethrough and Nested Lists makes everyday notes easier to organize and manage.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

June 3, 2026

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Notepad has always been the simplest app on Windows. 

Open it, type something, close it, done. 

No formatting, no structure, no distractions.

That simplicity worked until you needed to organize anything more complex than a short list. 

Project notes, task lists, outlines, even grocery planning quickly turned messy.

Here’s a Cool Tip: Use Notepad like a Structured Note-Taking Tool. 

With recent updates, Notepad is starting to behave more like a lightweight Markdown editor, including support for strikethrough text and properly nested lists.

Stop Right-Clicking: Windows 11 Drop Tray Puts File Sharing at the Top of Your Screen

Stop Right-Clicking: Windows 11 Drop Tray Puts File Sharing at the Top of Your Screen

Dragging files in Windows 11 just got smarter. Drop Tray appears the moment you start dragging, offering a fast lane to open apps, email, Teams, a connected phone, and more. No extra clicks. No menu hunting. Drag up, choose your destination, and let go.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

May 20, 2026

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If you have ever dragged a file across your screen only to fumble through a right-click menu, or opened three windows just to share one document, you are not alone. 

Windows has always made copying files easy. 

Sharing, though, has lagged behind.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Drop Tray.

Windows 11’s New Start App Views: Find Any App In Two Clicks Or Less

Windows 11’s New Start App Views: Find Any App In Two Clicks Or Less

The Windows 11 Start menu just learned a few new tricks that quietly fix years of everyday annoyances. If you have too many apps and not enough patience, the new Start app views might be the most useful change you see all year.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

May 6, 2026

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How many times a day do you open the Start menu, stare at a wall of icons, and still not find the app you need? 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Check the New Start Menu.

Windows 11’s refreshed Start menu in versions 24H2 and 25H2 tackles that exact problem by turning the old, split layout into a single, smarter app launcher with multiple ways to browse.

Instead of bouncing between Pinned, All apps, and Recommended, you now get one continuous surface with new Category, Grid, and List views for your apps. 

The result feels more like a modern phone launcher: scroll, tap, done.

Here's How to Talk To Rename

Here's How to Talk To Rename

Voice Typing in Windows 11 quietly picked up a new trick: you can now rename files in File Explorer just by speaking. If you work with lots of documents, photos, or downloads, this tiny change can save clicks, reduce typos, and make Windows feel more accessible for everyone.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

April 22, 2026

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How many times have you clicked into a filename, started typing, then realized you mistyped a date, client name, or version number and had to fix it by hand? 

Now imagine doing that dozens of times a day across invoices, lesson plans, or project folders. 

It adds up.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Talk to Rename a File in Windows 11.

With the April 2026 Windows 11 update, Microsoft quietly enabled Voice Typing inside the File Explorer rename box. 

Press Win + H while the filename is editable, speak the new name, and Windows types it for you. 

It feels like a natural extension of dictation in Word or Outlook, but this time it lives right where your files are. 

Windows 11’s New Quality Pledge: What It Really Means For You

Windows 11’s New Quality Pledge: What It Really Means For You

Windows is promising fewer frustrations, smarter updates, and features that feel finished before they reach your PC. Here is what that new quality push actually looks like in real life and how you can benefit from it today.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor  

April 15, 2026

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When was the last time a Windows update landed at the worst possible moment, right before a meeting or a class? 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Be Prepared for Improved Windows 11 Quality Updates.

Microsoft says it has heard that frustration loud and clear and is now reshaping how Windows is built, tested, and delivered, with a renewed focus on quality, stability, and user trust.

Microsoft leader Pavan Davuluri recently outlined a set of concrete changes: more control over updates, a faster and more dependable File Explorer, quieter widgets, fewer Copilot distractions, and a clearer Insider Program.

Freeform Rotate Comes To Windows Paint: A Tiny Button With Big Creative Power

Freeform Rotate Comes To Windows Paint: A Tiny Button With Big Creative Power

Freeform Rotate is finally arriving in the classic Windows Paint app, and it quietly fixes a decades-old annoyance. If you sketch, annotate screenshots, or mock up ideas in Paint, this one control can save you time and make your work look more polished.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

March 10, 2026

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Have you ever tried to tilt a logo or straighten a pasted screenshot in Paint, only to give up because it only rotated in 90-degree chunks? 

That friction has been part of Windows life for years.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Rotate Objects in Microsoft Paint.

Microsoft is rolling out a Freeform Rotate feature in Paint that lets you rotate shapes, text, and selections to any angle. 

It is a small change that makes Paint feel less like a toy and more like a lightweight layout tool for everyday work.

Windows 11 Adds a One Click Internet Speed Test in the Taskbar

Windows 11 Adds a One Click Internet Speed Test in the Taskbar

Windows 11 now includes a built-in shortcut that lets you check your internet speed directly from the taskbar. It is a small change that saves time when troubleshooting slow connections.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor  

March 4, 2026

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Slow Wi-Fi can ruin a video call or stall a download at the worst possible moment. 

Most people jump to a browser and search for a speed test, but that takes extra steps when you are already frustrated. 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use the New Internet Speed Test in the Taskbar.

Microsoft quietly added a new shortcut in Windows 11 that puts a speed test one click away. 

It is simple, fast, and surprisingly useful for both home users and busy professionals.

Extract Text from Any Image with the Windows Photos App

Extract Text from Any Image with the Windows Photos App

Windows 11 hides a powerful OCR tool inside the Photos app that instantly pulls text from images. If you take screenshots, snap whiteboards, or store receipts as photos, this feature can save you hours of retyping.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 25, 2026

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Have you ever stared at a screenshot and thought, “I just need that one paragraph”? 

Maybe it was a Wi-Fi password, a quote from a PDF, or handwritten notes from a meeting. 

Traditionally, that meant retyping everything or installing a third-party OCR tool.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use Windows Photos App to Extract Text.

Windows 11 now includes built-in text recognition inside the Photos app. 

It works quietly in the background and makes text selectable and copyable directly from your images. 

No subscription. 

No browser extension. 

No scanning app required.

For business users, and home users alike, this is one of those practical upgrades that removes friction from daily work.

Feature Explanation

What it is:

• The Windows Photos app in Windows 11 includes optical character recognition, or OCR, that detects text inside images and allows you to copy it.

How it works:

• When you open an image in Photos, the app analyzes the image for recognizable characters. If text is detected, a “Copy text” or “Scan text” option appears. You can select specific lines or copy all detected text.

Why it matters:

• Screenshots, scanned contracts, printed forms, whiteboards, and even photographed documents become searchable and editable. This eliminates retyping and reduces errors.

Windows 11’s Microsoft Store CLI: Install and Update Apps Without Opening the Store

Windows 11’s Microsoft Store CLI: Install and Update Apps Without Opening the Store

If you live in Windows Terminal, Microsoft just gave you a faster way to manage Store apps. The new Microsoft Store command line tool lets you browse, install, and update Microsoft Store apps with a few simple commands, no GUI required.

By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 18, 2026

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Ever set up a new PC and thought, “Why am I clicking through the Store again?” 

Or needed to update one specific app and got dragged into a sea of tiles, banners, and “recommended” content? 

Here's a Cool Tip:  Use the New Microsoft Store Command Line Interface (CLI).

Microsoft’s new Store CLI is a small change that quietly removes a lot of friction for anyone who prefers fast, repeatable workflows.

Quick Machine Recovery in Windows 11: Your Safety Net For Boot Failures

Quick Machine Recovery in Windows 11: Your Safety Net For Boot Failures

Quick Machine Recovery in Windows 11 uses Microsoft’s cloud services to repair certain widespread boot issues with minimal user effort. Learn what it does, how to configure it, and how to be ready before disaster strikes.

Byline: By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

February 4, 2026

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You press the power button, wait for Windows to appear, and instead you get a spinning circle that never ends. 

For many users, that moment means panic, lost work, and a frantic search for recovery media.

Here's a Cool Tip:  Quick Machine Recovery in Windows 11.

Quick Machine Recovery in Windows 11 aims to change that story. 

Instead of leaving you alone in a broken boot loop, Windows can detect certain widespread issues, enter the Windows Recovery Environment, connect to Microsoft’s cloud, and automatically apply a targeted fix if one exists. 

It is not magic, and it will not solve every problem, but when it works, it can turn a potential outage into a short coffee break.

Windows 11’s New Battery Colors Make Power Status Obvious At A Glance

Windows 11’s New Battery Colors Make Power Status Obvious At A Glance

Windows 11 is finally giving the tiny battery icon a big usability upgrade, with color cues that tell you exactly how worried you should be about your remaining charge. If you live on a laptop all day, this small change can save you from surprise shutdowns and constant percentage checking.

Byline: By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor

January 21, 2026

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You have probably stared at that tiny battery icon in the corner of your Windows 11 taskbar, trying to guess whether you have enough juice to finish a meeting or a flight. 

The old monochrome icon did not help much. 

It was small, vague, and forced you to click just to see the percentage.

Here's a Cool Tip:  The New Battery Colors Make Power Status Obvious.

A recent Windows 11 update changes that experience with a more colorful, more informative battery indicator. Green, yellow, and red now signal your power situation at a glance, and a clearer percentage readout makes it easier to plan your next charge. 

It is a subtle change that can have a big impact on how confidently you use your laptop away from an outlet.