10 Windows annoyances and how to fix them

Windows is a popular and powerful operating system, but it can also be frustrating and annoying at times. Here are 10 common Windows annoyances and how to fix them.

1. Slow startup. If your Windows takes too long to start up, you may have too many programs running at startup. To disable unnecessary startup programs, open the Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), go to the Startup tab and right-click on the programs you don’t need. Choose Disable from the menu. You can also use a tool like Autoruns to manage your startup items more easily.

2. Automatic updates. Windows updates are important for security and performance, but they can also interrupt your work or cause problems with your drivers or software. To control when and how Windows updates are installed, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Click Advanced Options and choose how you want to receive updates. You can pause updates for up to 35 days or choose a time when you want your PC to restart after an update.

3. Bloatware. Bloatware is unwanted software that comes pre-installed on your PC or is obtained from third-party sources. Bloatware can slow down your system, take up disk space and pose security risks. To remove bloatware, you can use the built-in Windows uninstaller or a third-party tool such as Revo Uninstaller or CCleaner. Be careful not to remove any essential system components or drivers.

4. Cortana. Cortana is Microsoft’s digital assistant that can help you with various tasks, but it can also be annoying if you don’t use it or if it interferes with your privacy. To disable Cortana, go to Settings > Cortana > Talk to Cortana and turn off the Hey Cortana switches and the keyboard shortcut. You can also go to Permissions and History and turn off the location, contacts, email, calendar and communications history, browsing history, and device history switches.

5. Notifications. Notifications are useful for keeping you informed about important events, but they can also be distracting and annoying if you receive too many or if they appear at the wrong time. To manage your notifications, go to Settings > System > Notifications and actions. You can turn off notifications for specific apps or all apps, or customize their appearance and sound. You can also turn on focus assist to silence notifications when you’re busy or at night.

6. Ads. Windows 10 comes with some built-in ads that promote Microsoft products or services, such as OneDrive, Office, Edge or Microsoft Store. To get rid of these ads, go to Settings > Personalization > Startup and turn off the toggle switch to Show suggestions occasionally on Start. You can also go to Settings > Privacy > General and turn off the toggle switch for Allow apps to use advertising IDs to make ads more interesting to you based on your app usage.

7. Privacy settings. Windows 10 collects a lot of data about your usage and preferences, which can be useful for personalizing your experience, but it also raises privacy concerns. To control what data Windows 10 collects and shares, go to Settings > Privacy and review the different categories of permissions and options. You can turn off switches for features you don’t want to use or share, such as Location, Camera, Microphone, Voice, Diagnostics and Feedback, and Activity History.

8. File Explorer clutter. File Explorer is the main tool for managing your files and folders, but it can also be cluttered with unnecessary items that take up space and make it difficult to find what you need. To clean up File Explorer, go to View > Options > Change folder and search options. On the General tab, under Privacy, click Delete to remove recently used files and folders from the shortcut. On the View tab, under Advanced Settings, uncheck the boxes for Show Synchronization Provider Notifications and Show Status Bar.

9. Default apps. Windows 10 comes with some default apps that are set up to open certain types of files or links, such as Photos, Mail, Edge, Groove Music, etc. If you prefer to use different apps for these tasks, you can change the default apps in Windows 10. To do this, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps. You can choose a default app for each category (such as email, music player, web browser) or choose a default app by file type or protocol.

10. Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). The Blue Screen of Death is the most dreaded Windows error that indicates a serious system failure or crash. It usually displays a stop code that tells you what caused the problem and how to fix it. To prevent BSODs from occurring, you should keep your Windows up to date, scan your PC for malware, update your drivers, check your hardware for errors or failures (such as RAM or hard drive) and avoid overclocking or overheating your PC.