Desktop personalization is such an important facet of tech life. A personalized OS helps you stand out, and create a comfortable work and play environment. Consequently, this article covers a host of ways you can customize how Windows 11 looks when it boots up.

1. Custom Wallpaper

The home screen is the first thing you see after unlocking your system. A great way to personalize your Windows 11 is to set your home screen background to a nice picture you like. It could be something as simple as a photo of a loved one, or a beloved franchise. You can even go as far as setting GIFs and short videos as your desktop background.

To do this, select Start, click on the Settings icon and go to the Personalization tab.

Windows 11 background settings

On this tab, you should see a Personalize your background tab below. Ensure that the Personalize your background tab is set to Picture, and you should see a selection of preinstalled high-resolution images you can choose from. If none of those is to your liking, you can import a downloaded image by clicking on Browse photos.

2. Windows Themes

Windows 11 is an operating system that lets you personalize much more than just the desktop background. The Windows Themes feature lets you synchronize your customizations, eliminating the need to change each feature individually. You can save a desktop wallpaper, lock screen wallpaper, app, window color, and much more under the same theme.

To do this, open your Windows Settings, select Personalization, and navigate to the Theme sub-menu.

Windows 11 theme settings

You can select from a collection of pre-created themes that do a good job of changing the overall feel of your Windows 11. You can also create a custom theme by changing each feature manually and saving it by clicking the Save button.

3. A Slideshow for a Desktop Background

Having a single picture as your desktop background can be tiresome. Thankfully, Windows 11 has a feature that lets you turn your desktop background into a slideshow. This is a great way to spice up your desktop and have it look different from one moment to the next.

To do this, open your Windows Settings and open the Personalization menu. Navigate to the Background sub-menu and select the Slideshow option.

Windows 11 slideshow settings

Once you’ve selected this option, click on the Browse button. This will open a File Manager window from which you can select a folder containing your favorite images for the slideshow. You can set the duration between image swaps and even set it to shuffle the picture order to keep things interesting. A slideshow also works well in a custom theme.

4. Custom Fonts

Another way to enhance the look of your Windows 11 desktop is to change the text font. There are hundreds of unique fonts out there. You can use these two methods to download and install fonts on Windows 11. Font folders usually come compressed.

The first methofile's contentsg the contents of the file and double-clicking on the font file.

Adding a font style on Windows 11

Doing so will open a window that displays a preview of the font. Click Install to add the font to your system.

The second method of installing fonts on Windows 11 is to drag and drop the fonts file into the provided box in the Fonts sub-menu under the Personalization menu. The font will be automatically installed on your computer.

Windows 11 font menu

You can change your system font by selecting from the available fonts in the list provided. It is also possible to take this a step further and change the color of highlighted and non-highlighted text in Windows 11.

5. Customization Apps

Another great way to personalize Windows 11 is by using some of the best Windows customization apps. A good example of a customization app is Lively Wallpaper. This free app on the Windows Store allows you to set GIFs, custom images, and even web pages as your desktop background.

Wallpapers on a screen

Lively has a few stock wallpapers for you to choose from, but you can easily add your own to its expansive library.

6. Add Apps to the Taskbar

The taskbar is a handy feature that gives you quick access to a short list of applications. Unlike its predecessors, the Windows 11 taskbar is centered, but it is still fully customizable. You can add and remove your most used applications from the taskbar, giving you quick and convenient access to them when you wish.

To pin an application to the taskbar, launch it from your Start Menu and right-click on the icon on your taskbar.

Pin to Task Bar Settings

A small drop-down will appear with the option to Pin to taskbar. Once you select it, that application icon will remain on your taskbar even after you close it.

Alternatively, the process is simple if you want to remove an unwanted application from your taskbar. Right-click on the unwanted application on your taskbar. On the menu that pops up, select Unpin from taskbar. The app should disappear from your taskbar immediately after you do this.

Unpin from taskbar in Windows 11

You can also select which preinstalled system applications show up on the taskbar by visiting the taskbar menu in your settings. To do this, open your Windows Settings and navigate to the Personalization tab. Next, click on the taskbar sub-menu to open up the settings.

Windows 11 Taskbar settings

7. Customize the Start Menu

The Start menu is a more detailed list of the available applications and files on your computer. You can pin your favorite applications and folders to the Start menu, so they always show whenever you click the Start button.

Click on your Start button and scroll to your preferred application. After this, right-click the application and select Pin to Start.

Windows 11 Start Menu

Note that you can only pin a limited number of applications to your start menu, so choose wisely. You can also customize the Start menu in windows 11 in a few other ways, such as using external applications to change the look.

8. Customize Your System Sounds and Change Your Mouse Pointer

Another way to make your Windows 11 stand out is to change the system sounds and use a customized mouse pointer. The triangular pointer is a classic, but Windows 11 allows you to get creative with what you use to select your applications.

To access this feature, open your system Settings and the Personalization tab. Next, navigate to Themes, and you will see the option to modify your mouse cursor and system sounds.

Windows 11 Cursor and Mouse pointer settings

When you click on the Mouse Cursor option, a window will pop up, allowing you to browse through a list of predefined cursors that you can select from. Of course, you could go as far as creating your cursor and importing in, but that is a bit more advanced.

You can change your system alert for different tasks from the system Sounds menu. For example, you could customize the charging sound, the device tethering sound, and more. In addition, your custom selections can be saved as a theme, allowing you to freely switch between different sounds and cursors at the click of a button.

Simple Tweaks to Enhance Your Windows 11 Experience

It all boils down to personal preference. Windows 11 allows users to personalize various aspects of their operating system, so they can feel much more comfortable using their computers. There are many more ways to customize your desktop, like changing your lock screen and screen timeout settings.

As such, Windows 11 enables its users to stand out and create a unique experience they can call their own.