Optional tweaks
On this page
Personalize File Explorer, context menus, and the lock screen. These are optional preferences, not extra steps needed to finish installing Atlas.
The defaults below describe a fresh Atlas 0.6 installation. Upgrades can preserve recognized choices, and a (default) filename does not tell you which setting is currently active. See configuration basics.
Open 4. Interface Tweaks in the Atlas folder on your Desktop. Delivery Optimization is under 3. General Configuration. If the Atlas folder is missing, follow our guide to restore the Atlas folder.
Restart required
Follow the script’s prompts. Some changes need Explorer to restart or require you to sign out; a full PC restart is not always necessary. Save your work first.
Delivery optimization
When to use: Enable if you want faster Windows Updates by sharing data with other Windows devices on your local network.
Delivery Optimization can download update content from other PCs. Atlas’s disable preset turns off peer-to-peer sharing; Windows can still download updates from Microsoft. See Microsoft’s download-mode reference.
To enable Delivery Optimization, run the Enable Delivery Optimization.cmd script in 3. General Configuration then Delivery Optimization and restart.
Info
The enable script removes Atlas’s download-mode policy. Review Delivery Optimization in Windows Update’s advanced options afterwards to choose whether sharing is allowed and with which PCs.
File Explorer customization
Personalize how File Explorer looks and behaves with these options.
Compact view
When to use: Disable if you prefer the default Windows 11 spacing with more padding.
Windows 11 introduced larger padding in File Explorer. AtlasOS uses compact view by default to show more content in the same space.
To revert to default spacing:
- Option 1: In File Explorer, go to View then Compact View to toggle it
- Option 2: Run the
Disable Compact View.cmdscript inFile Explorer CustomizationthenCompact View
Gallery
When to use: Enable if you want Windows 11’s gallery feature for viewing images in File Explorer.
The Gallery feature provides an image viewing experience in File Explorer. AtlasOS disables it by default.
To enable Gallery, run the Enable Gallery.cmd script in File Explorer Customization then Gallery and restart.
Quick Access
When to use: Remove if you don’t use pinned folders and prefer a cleaner File Explorer sidebar.
Quick Access shows your pinned folders at the top of File Explorer. It’s enabled by default.
To remove Quick Access, run the Remove Quick Access.cmd script in File Explorer Customization then Quick Access and restart.
Removable drives in sidebar
When to use: Enable if you want to see USB drives and other removable devices in the File Explorer sidebar.
By default, removable drives may not appear in the File Explorer sidebar. Enable this to make them visible.
To enable, run the Enable Removable Drives in Sidebar.cmd script in File Explorer Customization then Removable Drives in Sidebar and restart.
Lock screen
When to use: Disable if you don’t want a lock screen when waking your system.
AtlasOS enables the lock screen by default. Disable it to go directly to the sign-in screen.
To hide it, run Hide Lock Screen.cmd in Lock Screen. To restore it, run Show Lock Screen (default).cmd.
Info
Disabling the lock screen skips the background image and time display, going directly to sign-in.
Run with priority in context menu
When to use: Enable if you want to control application priority from the right-click menu.
This tweak adds an option to set application priority (high, normal, low, etc.) directly from the context menu when right-clicking executable files.
To enable, run the Add Run With Priority In Context Menu.cmd script in Context Menus then Run With Priority and restart.
Tip
Useful for running specific applications with higher or lower priority to manage system resource allocation.
Send to context menu
When to use: Use if you want to clean up the “Send to” menu by removing unnecessary items.
Reduce clutter in the “Send to” context menu by removing default items you don’t use.
To clean up the menu, run the Debloat Send To Context Menu.cmd script in Context Menus then Send To.
Shortcut icon
When to use: Change if you prefer classic shortcut arrows or want a different visual style.
Customize how shortcut icons appear. Options include Windows default, classic style, or no indicator at all.
Options:
- Windows Default: Current default style
- Classic: Traditional shortcut arrow indicator
- None: No visual indicator (not recommended)
To change to classic style, run the Classic.cmd script in Shortcut Icon.
Security Risk
Disabling shortcut icons entirely (“None” option) is a security risk because you won’t be able to visually distinguish shortcuts from regular files. This could make you vulnerable to malicious files disguised as shortcuts.
Shortcut text
When to use: Enable if you want Windows to add ” - Shortcut” to the names of newly created shortcuts.
Atlas removes this suffix by default. This setting does not hide icon labels or rename existing shortcuts.
To enable shortcut text, run the Restore Shortcut Text.cmd script in Shortcut Text and restart.
Windows 11 context menu
When to use: Enable if you prefer Windows 11’s modern context menu over the classic right-click menu.
AtlasOS uses the classic context menu by default for faster access to options. Switch to Windows 11’s modern context menu if you prefer its appearance.
Default: Classic context menu
To use Windows 11 context menu:
- Run the
New Context Menu.cmdscript inContext MenusthenWindows 11 - Restart your system
Tip
The modern context menu has a cleaner look but requires an extra click (“Show more options”) to access some features. The classic menu shows everything immediately.
Explorer Patcher
When to use: Explore if you want additional shell customization beyond the Atlas folder’s settings.
ExplorerPatcher is a third-party Windows shell customization tool. Its supported features depend on the Windows build and tool version.
The Atlas folder includes a website shortcut under 4. Interface Tweaks → Start Menu. Check ExplorerPatcher’s compatibility notes and releases before installing it on Windows 11 25H2.
Info
Explorer Patcher is a third-party tool that requires installation. It’s included as a convenient shortcut for users who want to customize their Windows interface further.
Additional tweaks
The Atlas folder contains more interface tweaks not documented here, including Old Flyouts (Battery, Volume, Date/Time), Snap Layouts, Verbose Status Messages, Edge Swipe, Unlock Recent Items, and App Icons on Thumbnails. Explore the 4. Interface Tweaks folder to discover and try them.