The Settings page is mission control for how BRUTAL looks and behaves. From here you switch themes, decide whether BRUTAL starts with Windows, manage updates, repair Windows system files, view your hardware details, and — if you ever want a clean slate — restore every optimization back to Windows defaults.
Appearance: dark or light
BRUTAL ships with its signature dark theme (green-on-black) and a clean light theme. Under Appearance, flip the Light Mode switch to change instantly — no restart needed. The theme applies live across the whole app, including the background art and the toggle in the top bar, which always stay in sync with this switch.
There's also a quick theme toggle in the app's top bar. Both controls drive the same setting, so whichever one you use, the other follows.
Startup behavior
- Start with Windows — launches BRUTAL minimized to the tray each time you sign in, so Guardian and your rules are working from the moment you log on. BRUTAL uses an elevated Scheduled Task for this (not the old Run-key trick), so it launches at sign-in without a UAC prompt every time.
- Auto-show FPS Overlay — shows the FPS Overlay automatically when the app starts.
The Start-with-Windows switch is queried in the background when you open Settings, so it may briefly show as unavailable for a fraction of a second before it reflects the real state.
Updates
Under Updates you can:
- Toggle Automatically download & install updates.
- Toggle the server-side update check (it uploads a hashed app list — privacy-preserving).
- Click Check for Updates on demand. If a newer version exists, you'll see the version, the changelog, and a Download Update button.
- Click View Release Notes to open the full changelog on the website.
Every update is verified by SHA-256 hash before it's allowed to run, so a corrupted or tampered download is refused. The installer is signed by Arhas India (OPC) Private Limited, and the prompt should show that name as the verified publisher; choose Yes to continue. If it says "unknown publisher", don't run it.
System tools
- System File Repair (SFC + DISM) — runs Windows' own
DISM /RestoreHealth and SFC /scannow to fix corrupted system files. Useful after crashes, failed Windows updates, or aggressive tweaking. It streams live output and can take several minutes — let it finish. - System Information — a read-only summary of your CPU, cores, GPU, VRAM, RAM, display, Windows build, hardware tier, and a hashed machine ID.
- Export / Import — share your optimization setup as a file or apply one from elsewhere. See Export and import your settings.
Restore All Defaults
This is the big reset. Restore All Defaults reverts every optimization BRUTAL applied — services, power plan, VBS/HVCI, network tweaks, and any Defender hardening — back to Windows defaults.
Restore All Defaults reverts ALL optimization changes and requires a PC restart to fully take effect. You'll be asked to confirm first. Your license and app preferences are kept; only the Windows-level optimizations are rolled back.
Best practice
- Turn on Start with Windows if you want Guardian and your Process Rules active automatically — that's where most of the ongoing benefit comes from.
- Leave auto-update on so you get fixes and new tools without thinking about it.
- If Windows starts behaving oddly after heavy tweaking, run System File Repair before reaching for Restore All Defaults — it fixes file corruption without undoing your tuning.
Common issues / troubleshooting
- "Could not update the Windows startup task." — Creating the scheduled task needs administrator rights; make sure you launched BRUTAL elevated (it requests this automatically). The switch reverts if the change didn't take.
- The theme toggle didn't change anything. The two theme toggles (Settings and top bar) mirror each other; if one looks out of date, switching it once resyncs both.
- Update check says it couldn't reach the server. That's a network/server issue, not "you're up to date." Check your connection and try again — a successful check always reports a clear result.
- System File Repair seems stuck. DISM can sit quietly at a percentage for a while. It is intentionally not interruptible mid-run — don't close the app; wait for the summary.
FAQ
Does changing the theme require a restart?
No. The dark/light switch applies instantly across the whole app, including the background and the top-bar toggle.
How does 'Start with Windows' avoid a UAC prompt at every sign-in?
BRUTAL registers an elevated Scheduled Task instead of a Run-key entry. The task launches the app with admin rights at sign-in without prompting you each time.
What's the difference between System File Repair and Restore All Defaults?
System File Repair (SFC + DISM) fixes corrupted Windows files but keeps your optimizations. Restore All Defaults rolls back the optimizations themselves to Windows defaults. Repair first, reset only if needed.
Is anything deleted when I Restore All Defaults?
No user data is deleted. It reverts BRUTAL's Windows-level optimizations (services, power plan, VBS/HVCI, network, Defender hardening) and asks you to restart. Your license and app settings are kept.