First 10 Things to Do With Your New Windows Laptop

There is nothing quite like the feeling of cracking open a brand-new laptop. The pristine screen, the fresh keyboard, that new-tech smell. But before you dive headfirst into binge-watching or downloading every app in sight, there are a few things you should do first to make sure your new Windows laptop runs fast, stays secure, and feels like yours.

Whether you just picked up a budget-friendly NXTCORE Lite or splurged on a powerhouse like the NXTCORE Ultra, these steps apply to every Windows laptop. Let's walk through the first 10 things you should do, in order.

1. Run All Windows Updates

This is the single most important thing you can do. Your laptop likely sat in a warehouse for weeks or months before reaching you, and Microsoft pushes critical security patches constantly. Go to Settings → Windows Update and click Check for updates. Let it download and install everything, then restart. You might need to repeat this two or three times until it says you are up to date. Yes, it is tedious. Yes, it is essential.

2. Uninstall Bloatware

Most laptops come packed with apps you never asked for — trial antivirus software, random games, manufacturer utilities you will never open. Head to Settings → Apps → Installed apps and scroll through the list. Anything you do not recognize or need? Uninstall it. Common culprits include McAfee trials, Candy Crush, and various "helper" apps. This frees up storage and reduces background processes that slow you down.

Pro tip: if you bought a laptop directly from NXTCORE, you will notice far less bloatware than the big-box brands. We keep it clean so you do not have to spend your first hour deleting junk.

3. Set Up Windows Security

Windows Defender has gotten genuinely good. Open Windows Security from the Start menu and make sure everything shows green checkmarks. Enable Real-time protection, Cloud-delivered protection, and Automatic sample submission. Run a quick scan just to establish a clean baseline. You do not need to buy a third-party antivirus in 2026 — Windows Defender handles the job for most people.

4. Create a System Restore Point

Before you start installing software and changing settings, create a restore point. Search for Create a restore point in the Start menu, select your system drive, click Create, and name it something like "Fresh Setup." If anything goes wrong later, you can roll back to this clean state. It takes about 30 seconds and could save you hours of troubleshooting down the line.

5. Adjust Power and Display Settings

Go to Settings → System → Power & battery and choose a power mode that fits your needs. "Balanced" is fine for most use cases. While you are there, set your screen timeout and sleep timers. Then head to Display settings and make sure you are running at your laptop's native resolution and the recommended refresh rate. If your display supports 120Hz or 144Hz, make sure it is enabled — the difference in smoothness is immediately noticeable.

Worried about battery life already? Check out our guide on fixing fast battery drain for tips that work from day one.

6. Set Up Your Browser and Sync

If you use Chrome, Firefox, or Brave, download it and sign in to sync your bookmarks, passwords, and extensions from your old machine. This one step alone can save you an hour of manual setup. If you are starting fresh, take a moment to install a password manager like Bitwarden (free) — you will thank yourself later.

7. Install Essential Free Software

Every laptop needs a core set of tools. At minimum, grab a media player (VLC), a document suite (LibreOffice or use Microsoft 365 online for free), and a file compression tool (7-Zip). We put together a full list in our article on the best free software every laptop needs in 2026 — it covers everything from productivity to creative tools.

8. Configure File Backup

Do not wait until you lose something important. Set up OneDrive (built into Windows) to automatically back up your Desktop, Documents, and Pictures folders. Go to Settings → Accounts → Windows backup and toggle on folder syncing. You get 5GB free with any Microsoft account. For extra safety, consider an external drive for periodic local backups using Windows' built-in backup tool.

9. Personalize Your Desktop

This is the fun part. Right-click your desktop and go to Personalize. Choose a wallpaper, set your accent color, pick light or dark mode, and customize your taskbar. Unpin apps you will not use from the Start menu and pin the ones you will. Small tweaks like turning off taskbar widgets and disabling the news feed can make your desktop feel much cleaner and less distracting.

10. Transfer Your Files From Your Old Laptop

If you are upgrading from an older machine, you will want to move your documents, photos, music, and other personal files over. The easiest methods are using a USB drive, an external hard drive, or cloud storage. For a detailed walkthrough covering every method including WiFi transfer, check our complete guide on how to transfer files from your old laptop to your new one.

Bonus: Check How Much RAM You Actually Have

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, click the Performance tab, and check your RAM. If you are running 8GB and plan to multitask heavily, you might want to keep fewer browser tabs open or close background apps. Not sure if your RAM is enough? Read our guide on how much RAM you actually need in 2026.

Start Right, Stay Fast

The first hour with your new laptop sets the tone for the months and years ahead. Take the time to update, secure, and personalize it now, and you will avoid the headaches that come from cutting corners. Your future self will be grateful.

Looking for a new laptop that is ready to go without the usual bloatware hassle? Browse NXTCORE's lineup of affordable laptops — from the ultra-portable Flex S140N at $179 to performance machines built for serious work. Every NXTCORE laptop ships with a clean Windows install so you can spend less time setting up and more time getting things done.