If you find the Quick Settings on Windows 11 a little too jam-packed, you can simplify it using simple tweaks. We will discuss the methods to simplify the Quick Settings using the registry editor and group policy editor.
What Is the Quick Settings Feature in Windows?
Windows 11 offers a revamped Quick Settings menu. You can add shortcuts to various useful features such as cast, project, battery saver, and more. To access the Quick Settings, simply hover your mouse to the extreme right area on the taskbar and click on the Wi-Fi, speaker, or battery icon.
You can also access the Quick Settings menu using the Win + A shortcut. The feature also offers direct adjustment of brightness and sound.
1. How to Simplify the Quick Settings Panel Using the Group Policy Editor
You can enable the simplified quick settings in Windows 11 using the Group Policy Editor. It is a nifty administration tool that offers more granular control over Windows features. You can refer to our complete Group Policy Editor guide for more information on this.
To enable the simplified Quick Settings using Group Policy Editor, repeat the following steps:
Press Win + R to launch the Run command box on your system. Then, type gpedit. msc in the text input area and press the enter key. In the Group Policy Editor window, go to the left-hand side panel. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrator Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar. Now, hover to the right-hand side and find the Simplify Quick Settings Layout option from the list. Right-click the Simplify Quick Settings Layout option and select the edit option from the context menu. In the new window, you will notice that it is not configured by default. Click on the Enabled radio button and then click the Apply button. Now, click on the OK button and then exit the Group Policy Editor. Restart your system and press Win + A to see the simplified quick settings. If you want to revert to the original Quick Settings design, edit the Simplify Quick Settings option and select the Not Configured option.
2. Using the Registry Editor
If you are running Windows 11 home version, then you cannot use the Group Policy Editor. It is only available for the Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise Windows versions. So, you need to tweak the registry in order to enable simplified Quick Settings.
Back up your registry to avoid any mishaps. Check our detailed guide on registry backup for more information.
To enable the simplified Quick Settings using the registry editor, repeat the following steps:
Press Win + R to launch the Run command box on your system. Then type Regedit in the text input box and click on the OK button. UAC will pop up to confirm your action. Click on OK to launch the registry editor. Now, go to the area below the menu bar and enter the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer Navigate to the right-hand side section of the Explorer key and right-click on it. Choose the New option and then select DWORD (32-bit) Value from the context menu. Name the value SimplifyQuickSettings. Do not put any spaces in between. Now, double-click on the SimplifyQuickSettings value to edit it. Go to the Value Data text box and change the value to 1. Keep the base as Hexadecimal and click on the OK button. Exit the registry editor and restart your system. Press Win + A to check out the new simplified quick settings. If you want to go back to the original Quick Settings design, just rename the Value Data to 0.
Enjoy the Clutter-Free Quick Settings Menu
The default Quick Settings layout is not bad. But if you want to de-clutter it, then you can use the simplified Quick Settings. You can try enabling it using the Group Policy Editor. But if you are a Windows Home user, you need to make registry modifications. You can revert to the original layout by retracing the steps.
