Basic settings

Configure essential Windows features and system options to match your needs. These settings control core functionality like Bluetooth, Game Mode, notifications, and more.

Configuration files are in the Atlas folder on your Desktop:

• Most settings: 3. General Configuration
• Bluetooth, Network Discovery, Printing, etc.: 6. Advanced Configuration then Services
• Driver updates: 2. Drivers then Drivers from Windows Update

If the Atlas folder is missing, follow our guide to restore the Atlas folder.

Before you start

These instructions describe Atlas 0.6. Your current settings also depend on your installation choices and changes made afterwards. A filename containing (default) identifies a supplied preset; it does not prove that preset is active on your PC.

Change one setting at a time, follow the script’s restart or sign-out prompt, and check the result before changing anything else. During an upgrade, Atlas reapplies recognized recorded choices; it cannot recover every custom registry edit. See what carries over.

For more configuration options, check:

• Advanced Configuration - Advanced system options
• Optional Tweaks - Interface personalization
• Windows Settings - Quick shortcuts to Windows configuration

Background apps

When to use: Enable if an app needs background access to work correctly.

Atlas restricts background access for Windows apps on a fresh installation. This setting does not stop every desktop application or startup program from running in the background.

To enable background apps, run the Enable Background Apps.cmd script in 3. General Configuration then Background Apps and restart your system.

Bluetooth

When to use: Disable only if you do not use Bluetooth devices like headphones, speakers, or game controllers.

AtlasOS enables Bluetooth by default. Disable it if you do not use Bluetooth devices.

1. Run Disable Bluetooth.cmd or Enable Bluetooth (default).cmd in 6. Advanced Configuration then Services then Bluetooth
2. Restart your system
3. If Bluetooth still does not work, install its driver from your motherboard or device manufacturer’s support site

Driver updates

When to use: Switch between automatic and manual driver installation based on your preference.

During installation, you choose automatic driver installation through Windows Update or manual installation. Use these files to switch methods later.

To switch methods:

1. Open the Drivers from Windows Update folder (in 2. Drivers)
2. Run the appropriate script or registry file for your desired method
3. Restart your system

Automatic: Windows Update installs available drivers. Some devices still need a manufacturer package; see the drivers guide. Manual: You install drivers yourself for full control over versions.

Automatic Windows Updates

When to use: Enable if you want Windows to install system updates automatically. Disable if you prefer update notifications and manual control.

During installation, you choose how Atlas handles automatic Windows updates. To change that choice, open 3. General Configuration then Automatic Updates.

• Disable Automatic Updates (default).cmd restores the Atlas default.
• Enable Automatic Updates.cmd lets Windows install updates automatically.
• The separate Pause Updates and Update Notifications folders under 3. General Configuration provide related controls.

FSO and Game Bar

When to use: Enable Game Bar if you want to record gameplay, take screenshots, or monitor performance. Disable FSO if you prefer fullscreen exclusive mode.

Game Bar is a Windows feature for screen recording, screenshots, and performance monitoring. It relies on Fullscreen Optimizations (FSO), which AtlasOS enables by default.

Restore the default

FSO and Game Bar support are enabled by default. To restore the default:

1. Run the Enable FSO and Game Bar Support (default).cmd script in 3. General Configuration then FSO and Game Bar
2. The script also installs Game Bar from the Microsoft Store if needed

Disable FSO (Fullscreen Exclusive Mode)

If you prefer fullscreen exclusive mode (better for some games with frame limiting), disable FSO:

1. Run the Disable FSO and Game Bar Support.cmd script in 3. General Configuration then FSO and Game Bar
2. This fixes compatibility with the “Disable fullscreen optimizations” option in game compatibility settings

HAGS (Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling)

When to use: Check this setting when an application requires it, or compare its effect on your own games.

HAGS moves some GPU scheduling work to the GPU. Availability depends on your hardware and driver, and enabling it does not guarantee higher performance.

To test HAGS:

1. Install the appropriate graphics driver
2. Open Windows Settings then System then Display then Graphics and look for the hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling option under the default graphics settings
3. Restart your system
4. Test your applications to see if performance improves

Lanman workstation (SMB)

When to use: Keep enabled if you access network shares, mapped drives, or network printers.

Lanman Workstation provides SMB client support for connecting to other computers’ shares. This is separate from sharing folders from your own PC. Disabling it can break those connections and software that depends on them.

To disable SMB, run the Disable Lanman Workstation.cmd script in 6. Advanced Configuration then Services then Lanman Workstation (SMB) and restart.

Network discovery

When to use: Disable if you don’t need to see or share with other computers on your network.

Network discovery lets computers find one another on a local network. Its services, Windows network profile, firewall rules, and File Explorer visibility are separate controls. Enabling the services alone does not configure all of them.

Disable network discovery

To disable network discovery, run the Disable Network Discovery Services.cmd script in 6. Advanced Configuration then Services then Network Discovery and restart.

Enable file sharing

Atlas disables file sharing on a fresh installation. To share files with other Windows devices on your network:

1. Run the Enable File Sharing.cmd script in 3. General Configuration then File Sharing
2. Review the prompts for switching active networks to Private, enabling sharing rules, and restoring the sharing context menu. Only use Private for networks you trust.
3. Restart when prompted, then choose the specific folders and users to share with in Windows. Enabling sharing support does not share every folder automatically.

Network navigation pane

Control whether Network appears in File Explorer with Enable Network Navigation Pane.cmd or Disable Network Navigation Pane (default).cmd in 3. General Configuration then File Sharing then Network Navigation Pane. Showing this item does not itself enable sharing.

Power settings

Control power-related behavior that affects performance, responsiveness, and power consumption.

CPU idle

Keep CPU idle enabled for normal use, especially on laptops. Disabling it prevents processor idle power saving and can increase heat and power consumption; a performance benefit is not guaranteed.

The CPU Idle folder under 3. General Configuration contains Disable Idle.cmd and Enable Idle (default).cmd. Atlas rejects disabling idle on systems with Hyper-Threading or SMT enabled.

Hibernation

When to use: Enable if you want your system to save its state to disk when shutting down (useful for quick resume).

Hibernation saves your session to disk so you can resume it later. Atlas 0.6 disables it when you select Disable Hibernation during installation. Leaving that choice unchecked does not force hibernation on if it was already disabled.

To enable hibernation, run the Enable Hibernation.cmd script in 3. General Configuration then Hibernation.

Power saving

When to use: Adjust based on your priority, performance vs. power efficiency.

The Maximum Performance (Disable Power Saving) installation choice applies Atlas’s power policy. Keeping power saving uses the Balanced plan during installation. Consider battery life, heat, and your workload before changing this choice.

To modify power saving settings, use the scripts in 3. General Configuration then Power-saving.

Timer resolution

Atlas leaves its forced timer-resolution task disabled by default. Enable it only to investigate a specific timing problem and compare the result in the affected application; it can increase power consumption.

Use Enable timer resolution.cmd or Disable timer resolution (default).cmd in 3. General Configuration then Timer Resolution.

Printing

When to use: Disable only if you never print documents or use print-to-PDF workflows.

AtlasOS enables printing by default. Disable it only if you do not use printers or Windows printing features.

To disable printing, run Disable Printing.cmd in 6. Advanced Configuration then Services then Printing and restart. To restore the default, run Enable Printing (default).cmd.

Search indexing

When to use: Enable if you frequently search for files and want faster search results.

Search Indexing speeds up file searches by indexing your files in the background. AtlasOS uses minimal search indexing by default to reduce system overhead.

The Search Indexing folder offers three options: Minimal Search Indexing (default).cmd (Atlas default), Enable Search Indexing.cmd (full indexing), and Disable Search Indexing.cmd. Run the appropriate script in 3. General Configuration then Search Indexing and restart.

Start menu

When to use: Install Open-Shell if you prefer a classic Start menu experience.

Customize your Start menu experience with Open-Shell, a tool that provides a customizable classic Start menu.

Install Open-Shell

1. Run the Install Open-Shell.cmd script in 4. Interface Tweaks then Start Menu
2. Follow the installation prompts
3. Optionally use the Atlas Open-Shell Preset.xml file for a pre-configured setup

Learn more about Open-Shell and customize it to your preferences.

System restore

When to use: Disable only if you don’t need the ability to restore your system to a previous state and want to save disk space.

System Restore uses restore points to roll back some system changes. The Atlas enable script turns on protection for the Windows volume; it does not create a restore point or enable protection on other drives. Check protection and available restore points in Windows before relying on it.

To disable System Restore, run the Disable System Restore.cmd script in 3. General Configuration then System Restore and restart.

Visual effects

When to use: Enable if you prefer Windows’ visual animations and effects over maximum performance.

Windows includes animated menus, tooltips, and window transitions. Atlas applies a reduced set of effects on a fresh installation. Choose the appearance you prefer; turning off every effect is not required.

To restore Windows visual effects, run the Default Windows Visual Effects.cmd script in 4. Interface Tweaks then Visual Effects (Animations).