Windows 10 and 11 Settings: Complete Guide to System Configuration

Windows has hundreds of settings scattered across Settings, Control Panel, Registry, and Group Policy. Here are the most important ones in one place.

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Performance

Power Mode

Win + I → System → Power → Power mode → Best performance

# Set High Performance plan
powercfg /setactive 8c5e7fda-e8bf-4a96-9a85-a6e23a8c635c

Disable Visual Effects

Win + R → sysdm.cpl → Advanced → Settings (Performance) → Adjust for best performance

Manage Startup Programs

Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Startup

Get-CimInstance Win32_StartupCommand | Select-Object Name, Command, Location

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Privacy

Disable Telemetry

Win + I → Privacy & security → Diagnostics & feedback → Required diagnostic data

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection" `
  -Name "AllowTelemetry" -Value 0
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AdvertisingInfo" `
  -Name "Enabled" -Value 0

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Network

Set DNS Servers

# Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1) — faster and more private
$adapter = Get-NetAdapter | Where-Object {$_.Status -eq "Up"} | Select-Object -First 1
Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceIndex $adapter.InterfaceIndex `
  -ServerAddresses ("1.1.1.1","1.0.0.1")

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Security

Windows Firewall

Get-NetFirewallProfile | Select-Object Name, Enabled
Set-NetFirewallProfile -All -Enabled True

BitLocker

Get-BitLockerVolume | Select-Object MountPoint, ProtectionStatus, EncryptionPercentage

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Hidden Settings

God Mode — All Settings in One Folder

Create a folder with exactly this name:

GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

Fast Startup — Disable if Issues

Win + R → powercfg.cpl → Choose what power buttons do → Turn off fast startup

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Power" `
  -Name "HiberbootEnabled" -Value 0

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Quick Setup Script for New PC

# Basic Windows hardening
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DataCollection" -Name "AllowTelemetry" -Value 0
Set-NetFirewallProfile -All -Enabled True
$a = (Get-NetAdapter | Where-Object Status -eq "Up" | Select-Object -First 1).InterfaceIndex
Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceIndex $a -ServerAddresses ("1.1.1.1","1.0.0.1")
Write-Host "Basic setup complete" -ForegroundColor Green

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Summary

Setting	Location	Recommendation
Power mode	Win+I → System → Power	High performance
Startup programs	Ctrl+Shift+Esc → Startup	Disable unnecessary
Telemetry	Win+I → Privacy	Required only
DNS	PowerShell	1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8
Firewall	PowerShell	Enabled