Getting your new Home windows PC up and working can look like a frightening process if you don’t know what to anticipate. That is the place we are available in.
It is necessary your laptop computer performs because it ought to, so getting it proper at the beginning throughout setup is time nicely spent.
Fortunately, Home windows has simplified this course of. So with just a little steerage from our Which Tech Assist group, you need to have your new laptop computer up and working very quickly in any respect.
Be a part of Which? Tech Assist – keep on high of your tech and get limitless professional 1-2-1 help by telephone, electronic mail, distant repair and in print.
Query of the month: how do I arrange my new Home windows 11 laptop computer?
‘I used your recommendation in Which? Computing to improve my laptop computer, as my outdated one was not receiving safety help updates.
It’s been some time since I purchased a brand new mannequin and I’m not fairly positive find out how to go about setting it up. Are you able to assist?’
Which? Computing member
Our professional says:
‘We frequently get requested for assist with establishing new laptops and desktop PCs, notably right now of yr. So what we’ve performed beneath is cut up this up into our fast information to get you began, plus an extended step-by-step information, do you have to want further assist.
Above all, don’t delay doing it. You’ve performed the onerous work by choosing the right mannequin out of the numerous lots of that have been on sale, so now it’s time to take pleasure in it.’
Methods to arrange your Home windows 11 laptop computer: our fast information
Choose your area
your Choose your keyboard language
Hook up with wi-fi
Title your machine (Dwelling Laptop computer, for instance).
Personalise and shield
Check in to your Microsoft account OR create a brand new account and password
to your Microsoft account OR create a brand new account and password Create a safety pin (For those who solely need to use your password, click on the Cancel button to skip this feature)
Choose Arrange as a brand new machine.
Privateness and promoting
The privateness and promoting choices are solely down to private selection. Learn by means of every and resolve whether or not or not you prefer to them lively or not.
Don’t fret, although, your determination can have no detrimental impact both approach – and you’ll all the time change these settings later.
Non-obligatory/non-essential settings:
Customise your expertise
Choose Skip
Backup your recordsdata with OneDrive
Choose Solely save recordsdata to this PC to skip this for now.
Microsoft Workplace
Choose No Thanks.
Producer’s registration/guarantee data
Comply with producer directions (this can differ, relying in your machine).
When you full these steps, you’ll be introduced with the Home windows desktop and your laptop computer will probably be prepared to make use of.
Questioning what to do along with your outdated laptop? Learn how to recycle your laptop computer
Our full Home windows 11 setup information
Use our easy, step-by-step information to get your new laptop computer up and working.
First, plug in your laptop and switch it on. You will see a field asking ‘Is that this the suitable nation or area?’ Choose, for instance, United Kingdom. Then click on the Sure button.
Subsequent, choose your keyboard format – for instance, UK. Click on Sure, then Skip.
Choose your wi-fi community (in case your laptop computer’s plugged immediately into your router, it’s going to do that bit robotically), then click on the Join button.
Affirm your wi-fi password. Click on Subsequent, then click on the Subsequent button once more.
Give your laptop computer a reputation – for instance, OfficePC.
Fast tip: The identify can not comprise greater than 15 characters, and you’ll’t use numbers. You also needs to keep away from particular characters. You possibly can skip this feature; nonetheless, we suggest that you just do it, as a result of it’ll make it simpler to determine your laptop computer within the community and on the units part of your Microsoft account.
Click on the Subsequent button. Affirm your electronic mail handle to create an area account, click on Subsequent and make sure the password.
Fast tip: In case your laptop has Home windows 11 Dwelling, you could use a Microsoft account to arrange the primary person account.
Click on the Create PIN button. Create the brand new Home windows 11 PIN – this allows you to log in additional shortly than typing a password – and click on OK.
Fast tip: For those who solely need to use your password, click on the Cancel button to skip this feature.
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Choose the Arrange as new machine possibility, until you need to restore your settings from one other machine (during which case, simply observe the onscreen prompts). Click on the Subsequent button.
Select your privateness settings and scroll right down to overview all of the settings. Click on the Settle for button.
Now you may select the way you obtain adverts. Click on the Settle for button.
Selected to both the Solely save recordsdata to this PC possibility. Or click on the Subsequent button if you wish to add and synchronsie recordsdata out of your Desktop and Footage and Paperwork folders with OneDrive.
Click on the No, thanks possibility, when requested if you wish to set up Workplace. You are able to do this later in case you have a Microsoft 365 subscription.
You’ll now see your Home windows 11 desktop. Congratulations on establishing your new laptop computer.
Get a second display screen to hurry up the way in which your work – seeour choose of the very best laptop screens.
6 issues you need to do when you’ve arrange your new laptop computer
1. Take away bloatware
Laptops usually come preloaded with all types of pointless applications often called ‘bloatware’.
For those who discover applications put in that you just’ve by no means used, and haven’t any intention of utilizing, these may very well be bloatware that you may simply uninstall.
2. Guarantee you may have anti-virus software program
Your new Home windows PC will come pre-installed with Home windows Safety, Microsoft’s antivirus service. Home windows Safety could also be sufficient on your wants, however it does not price as extremely as some third-party antivirus packages in our assessments.
So it is price checking our professional choose of the very best antivirus software program to see what’s finest for you.
3. Switch recordsdata
If you’ll not have entry to your outdated laptop computer, do not forget to maneuver necessary recordsdata to your new one.
Home windows Straightforward Switch by Microsoft used to allow automated transferring of information from one Home windows PC to a different. Sadly, that is not out there in Home windows 10 or 11, however it’s nonetheless comparatively easy to maneuver recordsdata to a brand new laptop.
4. Optimise energy settings
On Home windows 11, you may choose between energy modes that embrace finest battery life, finest efficiency, or someplace within the center.
To vary the facility mode, choose Begin > Settings > System > Energy & battery.
5. Register your laptop computer
Be sure you register your laptop computer with the producer, in case there are any issues with it.
6. Promote or recycle your outdated laptop computer
If you have not already traded in your laptop computer, you may make a bit of cash by promoting it.
There are additionally a lot of methods you may recycle undesirable tech, and even donate it to charity.
Discover out extra – see find out how to recycle your outdated smartphone, pill or laptop computer.
Be a part of Which? Tech Assist
Which? Tech Assist may also help you retain you on high of your property tech. Our consultants clarify issues clearly so as to resolve points and really feel extra assured utilizing your units.
Get limitless 1-2-1 professional help:
By telephone – clear steerage in selecting, establishing, utilizing and resolving points with your property tech units.
– clear steerage in selecting, establishing, utilizing and resolving points with your property tech units. By electronic mail – define the difficulty and we’ll electronic mail you again with our reply.
– define the difficulty and we’ll electronic mail you again with our reply. By distant repair – we join securely from our workplace to your property laptop and resolve points when you watch.
– we join securely from our workplace to your property laptop and resolve points when you watch. In print – Which? Computing journal, six points a yr delivered to your door.
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Extra reporting Ian Molyneaux