Windows 11, with its modern look and feel, has incorporated various visual enhancements that make it stand out from its predecessors. One of these enhancements is the “Window Animations” feature. While it adds a touch of sophistication to the user interface, it’s crucial to understand its function and how toggling it might affect your computer experience.
What is the Window Animations Feature?
Window Animations are the subtle visual effects you observe when opening, closing, minimizing, or maximizing windows in the operating system. These animations provide a smoother transition between actions, making the overall user experience more fluid and aesthetically pleasing. In simple terms, instead of a window abruptly appearing or disappearing, it smoothly fades in or out or glides into position.
Why Might You Benefit from Turning Off Window Animations?
While Window Animations undoubtedly enhance the visual experience, there are compelling reasons to consider disabling them:
- Performance Improvement: On older hardware or systems with limited resources, turning off animations can lead to a snappier response when managing windows.
- Minimized Distractions: Some users find animations distracting and prefer a straightforward experience without additional visual effects.
- Battery Saving: Although the impact might be minimal, reducing graphical tasks can lead to improved battery life, especially on laptops.
Now, if you’re thinking about toggling the Window Animations feature, here’s how you can do it:
How to Enable or Disable Window Animations in Windows 11
- Right-click on the Start button: This will open a menu. From there, select ‘System.’
- Open Advanced System Settings: On the right-hand side, look for and click on ‘Advanced system settings.’
- Performance Settings: A new window will pop up with the title ‘System Properties.’ Here, under the ‘Advanced’ tab, you’ll find a section labeled ‘Performance.’ Click on ‘Settings…’ within this section.
- Toggling Animations: Within the ‘Performance Options’ window, you’ll see a ‘Visual Effects’ tab. Here, you can either:
- Select ‘Let Windows choose what’s best for my computer’ to let the OS decide (which usually involves enabling animations).
- Choose ‘Adjust for best performance’ to automatically disable all unnecessary animations and effects.
- Opt for ‘Custom’ and manually tick or untick the box next to ‘Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing’ to control this specific animation.
- Apply and OK: Once you’ve made your choice, click on ‘Apply’ and then ‘OK’ to save the changes.
Window Animations in Windows 11 offer a polished and sophisticated look to the user interface, but they might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Whether you prioritize aesthetics or performance, Windows 11 provides you the flexibility to customize the experience as per your preference. Explore both settings and choose the one that aligns best with your needs!