One of the great advantages of using computers is their enormous capacity for customization. It doesn't matter if you're going to use them for work or just play online with your friends: customizing your Windows desktop makes the task much more enjoyable and intuitive.

While the default interface of the system is reasonably nice and easy to use, there are a few things you can do to make your experience even better. And the best part is that most of the tips are completely free.

Time to give your system a new look!

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Windows, but your way

Before we begin, an important warning: some features that will be presented below may have some impact on your system's performance. Therefore, carefully read the instructions to avoid slowing down or freezing your Windows.

Choose a theme

By default, Microsoft provides several themes that change the colors of the Start menu, taskbar, and system wallpaper. However, you can download hundreds of other themes directly from the Microsoft Store, the official Windows store.

This is especially useful if you don't have great vision: there are high-contrast themes that are often great for people with sensitive eyes or other comorbidities, such as color blindness. Try using dark themes at night to reduce strain on your eyes.

Choose a background

It's really satisfying to open Windows and come across an image you love. How about illustrating your system in your own way? There's no shortage of free options for this.

Hundreds of websites specializing in backgrounds are available on the internet, such as Pexels, WallpaperAccess, WallpaperCave and  Nexus Desktop are just a few examples! As expected, there are paid solutions, too, such as CGWallpapers. For an annual subscription (which is very cheap, by the way), you will have access to thousands of backgrounds made by great artists.

Remember to check your screen resolution before downloading any background. A Full HD (1920×1080) background will definitely look weird on a 4K (3840×2160) monitor.

Use widgets

The functionality had been removed in previous editions of Windows, but has been resurrected in Windows 11. Widgets are interactive elements that typically communicate with other applications: you can, for example, place a weather widget on your desktop to quickly see the weather forecast.

Likewise, you can also add other easy-to-use features to your desktop, such as notes in sticker format, CPU usage monitoring, news, etc.

This type of customization, although very useful and functional, can have some impact on Windows performance: test them and, if they affect performance, remove them. Try to look for lighter widget alternatives – there are hundreds of them!

Customize screen scale

Are the letters too small? It's time to try out the customizable scaling feature on your screen. This way, everything you use in Windows will be considerably larger, which can make reading and absorbing so much more comfortable.

The way is quite easy: press the Start button and, in the system search bar, type “Display settings”. In the “Layout and Scale” section, change the scale value (100% by default) to another one.

It is important to note that a scale that is too large can distort the layout of some web pages, as well as making the experience less functional than it should be. Try to find a harmonious balance between visibility and productivity.

Put the icons in order

Have you ever seen a Windows screen with dozens of icons and shortcuts on the desktop? It may not seem like it, but cluttering the screen like this, in addition to giving an image of sloppiness and laziness, can make the user experience more complicated.

Sometimes you'll forget where the icon for that software you urgently need to open is, and you'll have to look through dozens of other icons until you find the right one. Why not organize them into folders or alphabetically?

To do this, right-click on any free part of the desktop and choose “Sort by”. Simply choose the type of organization you want and left-click.

Bonus tip: By right-clicking on the desktop and selecting “View”, you can also choose the display size of the icons. Simple, right?

Try Microsoft PowerToys

This official tool is more complex and may take some time to master. With it, you can customize your Windows in a much deeper way: change image sizes, modify default keyboard shortcuts, and rename multiple files at once with PowerToys!

To download it, you need to enter the GitHub from Microsoft. This is not an application that will slow down your operating system or anything like that: the changes are made to the system.

Image: Tecnoblog

Use customization software

Maybe you don't want to spend too much time customizing your desktop: how about trying third-party applications for this task? Stardock It is one of the oldest and best-known options on the internet, with thousands of extremely well-made and elaborate themes that leave Windows unrecognizable.

Image: stardock.com

In addition to custom themes, Stardock offers a variety of productivity tools that make your life easier. Many of these tools can be incorporated into your business to make the experience even more amazing!

Let your creativity flow!

There are many possibilities to make your Windows more beautiful and functional, right? Most of them are completely free: just download, install and use! In addition, the customization process tends to be enjoyable and fun, making it a very interesting activity to do in your leisure time.

Take your time: choose everything carefully to make your experience smoother and more responsive. If you have any recommendations that aren’t on this list, share them in the comments so other readers can find them!