5 Windows 11 features you should enable as soon as possible

When you install Windows 11, the system comes with several default settings meant to streamline the experience. However, many useful features are disabled out of the box, which limits both productivity and system resilience. Here are five Windows 11 features we recommend enabling right away.

Turn on System Protection

System Protection creates restore points to roll back unwanted changes. It’s disabled by default, which risks losing recovery options if something goes wrong. Enabling it allows you to restore your PC after bad updates, faulty drivers, or software changes.

Enable the Sudo command

Inspired by Unix systems, the new Sudo command lets you run terminal commands with admin rights without relaunching as administrator. You’ll find the toggle under “For developers” in the Settings app. Once active, it’s an efficient way to manage scripts and tasks with elevated privileges.

Show file name extensions

By default, File Explorer hides extensions for known file types. This setting makes it harder to distinguish between file types, which is a potential security risk. Enabling file extensions improves visibility, especially when managing scripts or checking suspicious downloads.

Restore automatic Registry backup

Windows no longer backs up the Registry by default. This silent change can prevent recovery after critical errors, but you can reactivate the feature by editing the Registry and scheduling a daily task. It’s a powerful safety net for system admins and advanced users.

Add Hibernate to the Power menu

Hibernate is useful for preserving your session without draining power. If your laptop runs low on battery, this feature lets you pause and resume without losing progress. It’s disabled on many devices but can be restored via Command Prompt and Control Panel.