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Recommended Optimization Settings for Fresh Windows 11 Installation

Windows 11 optimizationC drive space managementWindows 11 settingstemporary directory locationstorage settings
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Previously, I installed Windows 10 on a desktop PC with a 100GB C drive, which frequently triggered low space warnings. This time, I installed Windows 11 on a Teclast Mini PC. Based on past experience, I performed several settings immediately after installation to avoid unnecessary issues later.

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About Disk Partitioning

There is significant debate online regarding Windows disk partitioning. Some suggest partitioning, while others recommend using the entire disk without partitioning. I believe this depends on the actual hardware situation and cannot be generalized. My recommendations are as follows:

  • If your computer has only one hard drive, I recommend partitioning it. This prevents the need to back up the entire drive when reinstalling the system.
  • If your hard drive is small (e.g., 256GB), partitioning is not recommended.
  • If your computer has two or more physical hard drives, you can choose whether to partition based on your preference.

I suggest keeping the C drive partition size between 200GB and 300GB. Since many software applications default to installing on the C drive (and some cannot change their installation path), allocating more space helps avoid future C drive space shortages.

Recommended Windows 11 Settings

Although this article focuses on Windows 11 settings, Windows 10 and 11 share similar functionalities, so some methods may also apply to Windows 10.

Modify Temporary Directory Location

Windows defaults the temporary directory to the C drive. If your C drive is small, you can change the temporary directory to another drive. Here is how:

  1. Create a new folder on the D drive with any name, such as TEMP.
  2. Open File Explorer, right-click "This PC," and select "Properties." 0e5c0f4c722cb53f.png
  3. Locate "Advanced system settings." b2bf0f9c2b04ca58.png
  4. Switch to the "Advanced" tab and click "Environment Variables." 16e8251dc910b9c6.png
  5. Under "System variables," find TEMP and TMP, modify them to the folder created in step 1, and click OK. b6b7e79645962cf8.png

Modify Default Storage Location

Windows Store and document data default to the C drive. If your C drive is small, search for "Storage Settings" in the Start menu and navigate to "Advanced storage settings."

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Change the "Save new content to" option to another drive.

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I changed all settings to the D drive.

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Modify Performance Mode

Open Windows Settings > System and adjust the Power mode according to your needs.

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There are three modes available:

  • Best efficiency: Most power-saving. Choose this if you are using a laptop and frequently travel with it.
  • Balanced: The default mode, offering a balance between performance and efficiency. Suitable for daily office work.
  • Best performance: Recommended for desktop users who frequently play games, edit videos, or run large applications. This mode maximizes performance but consumes more power.

Modify Software Storage Location

Since software settings vary, I cannot list every method here. Using WeChat as a common example, I strongly recommend changing its storage location to avoid rapid space consumption, which can easily reach dozens of gigabytes.

Open PC WeChat, click the three horizontal lines in the bottom left corner, go to Settings, find "File Management," and change the storage location to a drive other than C. Then click "Change."

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Conclusion

The above are some recommended Windows 11 settings I have compiled. Please leave a comment to share your suggestions.