MS Windows 10 Settings
Changes to Default
Settings
(in March 2020
& June 2021)
(on a Windows 10
desktop PC)
MS Windows 10 Settings
Changes to Default
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! Note !
Notes and images and links may be
added to this page --- if/when
I re-visit this page.
AND I may add notes if I find that
settings have been changed by a
Windows 10 update that has been
propagated by Microsoft.
Sections of this page, below :
INTRODUCTION
2020 March Settings:
SYSTEM
DEVICES
PHONE
NETWORK-and-INTERNET
PERSONALIZATION
APPS
ACCOUNTS
TIME-and-LANGUAGE
GAMING
EASE-of-ACCESS
CORTANA
PRIVACY
UPDATE-and-SECURITY
2021 June Settings:
SYSTEM
DEVICES
PHONE
NETWORK-and-INTERNET
PERSONALIZATION
APPS
ACCOUNTS
TIME-and-LANGUAGE
GAMING
EASE-of-ACCESS
CORTANA
PRIVACY
UPDATE-and-SECURITY
CONCLUSION
BOTTOM-of-PAGE
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INTRODUCTION : In the 2020-to-2021 time frame, I was migrating data files from an old Dell Windows 7 desktop computer to a newer HP Windows 10 desktop computer. Besides the appeal of upgrading to a computer with more up-to-date hardware components, I was mainly motivated (and forced) to migrate to Windows 10 (Wikipedia link) because Microsoft was stopping support of Windows 7 (Wikipedia link) in January 2020. Another strong motivator: Various important software apps, such as web browsers and TurboTax software, needed to be updated and they were no longer going to be available for Windows 7. So, around the year 2020, I finally started migrating from that old Windows 7 computer to a Windows 10 computer. It was a rather slow migration consisting of several steps:
In the first step above (initial setup of the HP computer), to check on various Microsoft 'default settings', I was right-clicking on various 'Start' menu options --- such as 'Programs & Features', 'System', and 'Device Manager' --- as seen in the following image. |
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I found that right-clicking on these options was leading to sections (subgroups) of the Windows 10 'Settings' menu --- which shows the following groups:
I decided to go through these and change settings to accomplish goals such as reducing unnecessary internet/network traffic --- such as sending information back to Microsoft servers --- and to 'the cloud' (whatever Microsoft means by that). Also, by turning many default settings from 'ON' to 'OFF', a lot of unnecessary 'local' CPU-processing and data-storage input-and-output can be eliminated. Following are most of the 'Settings' changes that I made --- in 2020 March or 2021 June. I also installed TurboTax one year (spring 2017) on a laptop with the Windows 10 operating system. I assembled a Windows 10 Bloatware Cleanup page that provides some information on bloatware removal. That page also describes some of the 'Settings' that I changed. HOWEVER, that page does NOT describe the many Windows 10 'default settings' that should be changed. THIS PAGE is meant to show essentially all of the Windows 10 'Settings' (that are made available to the user) and how I set them. A main reason for these notes is to serve as a reference if I need to go through 'Settings' on another Microsoft Windows computer --- OR when I want to check to see if Microsoft system updates have changed any of my settings (and determine whether I want to change them back to the way I had them).
In the 'other-data-migration' process, I will need to transfer I intend to provide a page on this site that describes that 'Windows7-to-Windows10' migration process --- with details on moving those various types of files and 'importing' them into the newer versions of the applications that use those files. Enough of this introduction. A description of changes to Windows 10 settings follows. |
2020-March Win10 Settings:
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SYSTEM settings:
In 'System > Notifications & Actions':
In 'System > About':
In 'System > Focus Assist':
In 'System > Power & Sleep':
In 'System > Storage':
In 'System > Tablet mode':
In 'System > Multitasking':
In 'System > Shared experiences': DEVICES settings:
In 'Devices > Bluetooth & other devices':
In 'Devices > Mouse':
In 'Devices > Typing':
In 'Devices > Autoplay': PHONE settings: Had no 2020-March notes on 'Phone' settings. NETWORK-and-INTERNET settings:
In 'Network & Internet > Wi-Fi':
In 'Network & Internet > VPN':
In 'Network & Internet > Mobile Hotspot':
In 'Network & Internet > Airplane mode':
In 'Network & Internet > Proxy': PERSONALIZATION settings:
In 'Personalization > Background':
In 'Personalization > Taskbar':
In 'Personalization > Start': APPS settings:
In 'Apps > Apps & Features':
In 'Apps > Offline maps':
In 'Apps > Apps for websites':
In 'Apps > Startup':
In 'Apps > Default Apps':
In 'Apps > Video playback': ACCOUNTS settings:
In 'Accounts > Family & other people':
There were 3 REQUIRED security questions (of 6)
that seemed to all be aimed at well-to-do people
who live in suburbs.
TIME-and-LANGUAGE settings:
The time was wrong (at the lower-right
end of the taskbar). GAMING settings:
In 'Gaming > Game bar':
In 'Gaming > DVR':
In 'Gaming > Broadcasting':
In 'Gaming > Xbox Networking': EASE-of-ACCESS settings:
In 'Ease of Access > Display':
In 'Ease of Access > Cursor size': CORTANA settings:
In 'Cortana > Talk to Cortana':
In 'Cortana > Permissions':
In 'Cortana > Cortana across my devices': PRIVACY settings: (IMPORTANT!!!)
In 'Privacy > General':
In 'Privacy > Diagnostics & feedback':
In 'Privacy > Activity History':
In 'Privacy > Location':
In 'Privacy > Camera':
In 'Privacy > Microphone':
In 'Privacy > Notifications':
In 'Privacy > Account info':
In 'Privacy > Contacts':
In 'Privacy > Calendar':
In 'Privacy > Call History':
In 'Privacy > Email':
In 'Privacy > Tasks':
In 'Privacy > Messaging':
In 'Privacy > Radios':
In 'Privacy > Other Devices':
In 'Privacy > Background apps':
In 'Privacy > App diagnostics':
In 'Privacy > Automatic file downloads':
In 'Privacy > Documents':
In 'Privacy > Pictures':
In 'Privacy > Videos':
In 'Privacy > File system':
THIS 'File system' OPTION IS A MAJOR SECURITY RISK ---
AS ARE MOST OF THESE 'Privacy' OPTIONS.
UPDATE-and-SECURITY settings:
In 'Update & Security > Windows Update':
In 'Update & Security > Windows Security':
In 'Update & Security > Backup':
Other 'Update & Security' sections (subgroups) are: END of 2020-March Settings Notes. Another pass over the Windows 10 'Settings' was done in June 2021 (a little over a year later). The notes on those settings follow. |
2021-June Win10 Settings:
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SYSTEM settings:
In 'System > Multi-Tasking':
In 'System > Projecting to this PC':
In 'System > Shared Experiences': DEVICES settings:
In 'Devices > Printers & Scanners':
In 'Devices > Typing':
In 'Devices > AutoPlay': PHONE settings: Had no 2021-June notes on 'Phone' settings. NETWORK-and-INTERNET settings: Had no 2021-June notes on 'Network & Internet' settings. PERSONALIZATION settings:
In 'Personalization > Start':
In 'Personalization > Taskbar': APPS settings:
In 'Apps > Default Apps',
In 'Apps > Startup': ACCOUNTS settings:
In 'Accounts > Sign-in Options': TIME-and-LANGUAGE settings: Had no 2021-June notes on 'Time & Language' settings. GAMING settings: Had no 2021-June notes on 'Gaming' settings. EASE-of-ACCESS settings:
In 'Ease of Access > Display':
In 'Ease of Access > Cursor & pointer size':
In 'Ease of Access > Narrator': CORTANA settings:
In 'Cortana > Talk to Cortana':
In 'Cortana > Permissions & History':
In 'Cortana > Cortana across my devices': PRIVACY settings:
In 'Privacy > General':
In 'Privacy > Diagnostics & Feedback':
In 'Privacy > Activity History':
In 'Privacy > Camera':
In 'Privacy > Microphone':
In 'Privacy > Notifications':
In 'Privacy > Account Info':
In 'Privacy > Contacts':
In 'Privacy > Calendar':
In 'Privacy > Call History':
In 'Privacy > Email':
In 'Privacy > Tasks':
In 'Privacy > Messaging':
In 'Privacy > Radios':
In 'Privacy > Other devices':
In 'Privacy > Background apps':
In 'Privacy > App diagnostics':
In 'Privacy > Documents':
In 'Privacy > Pictures':
In 'Privacy > Videos':
In 'Privacy > File system': UPDATE-and-SECURITY settings:
In 'Update & Security > Windows Update':
In 'Update & Security > Windows Security':
In 'Update & Security > Backup':
In 'Update & Security > Troubleshooting':
In 'Update & Security > Activation':
In 'Update & Security > For developers': |
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CONCLUSION: The 'Settings Notes' here may be used to help me determine if my Windows 10 settings have been changed by Microsoft Windows 10 system updates. These 'Settings Notes' may also be used to help me in determining appropriate Windows 10 settings on other Windows 10 computers --- and even Windows 11 computers. One could bring this web page up in a web browser on any Windows 10 (or Windows 11) computer, and check the 'Settings' on that computer by comparing to the notes on this page. Hence, this web page is provided on the internet --- to help me, and perhaps others. |
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Go to Top of Page, above.Or you can scroll up, to the top of this page. Page history:
Page was created 2021 Aug 02.
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