How To Speed Up Windows 11 As thrilling as it is to buy a new laptop or computer, the lightning-fast performance you get right out of the box is unlikely to last. The slowdown is practically unavoidable once internal storage fills up and background activities begin to execute.
This is frequently more of a problem for Windows devices, as non-surface hardware is unable to benefit from Apple’s hardware and software continuity.
Fortunately, there are a few things that anyone may do to improve or restore their performance. They’re all perfectly safe to test, and many of them won’t set you back a penny.
Regrettably, they only apply if your device is equipped with a solid-state drive (SSD). Because older mechanical hard drives have performance limitations, we recommend upgrading to an SSD for the best results. There are some excellent SSDs on the market right now, many of them are reasonably priced. More information on installing an SSD in your PC may be found in our separate tutorial.
It’s important repeating that this essay is about Windows on your device running slowly. A slow internet connection is a different matter entirely, and one that has become increasingly crucial since the pandemic began. If this is the case, read our separate articles on how to speed up your internet and how to speed up your Wi-Fi.
If you’re looking for a speed bump for your machine, you’ve come to the correct place. True, CCleaner can take care of a lot of this for you. You can clean the registry, as well as remove browsing data and cookies, even with the free version. Our collection of the finest PC cleanup programmes has even more possibilities.
Table of Contents
Disable all startup applications
Because of all the apps and games you’ve installed, well-used PCs take a long time to boot up. Many run automatically when Windows starts up, but most of them aren’t necessary and should only be used when they’re needed.
Fortunately, you can control and monitor these in a separate section of Settings. Simply go to Apps > Startup to see a list of all the apps that are set to launch every time your PC boots up. This list excludes essential services, so feel free to turn off as much or as little as you’d like.
To make things even better, go to the taskbar and select the upward-facing arrow to see the notification icons. Each is a software that comes pre-installed with Windows. Some are required, such as antivirus software, while others are optional.
Right-click each one and, if a Settings menu appears, pick it and disable the option to start Windows automatically. Some programmes, such as Slack, can be started manually when needed rather than running continuously.
Press Windows+R, type msconfig, and click OK to disable all other programmes and ‘helper’ apps that start with Windows. To view what’s left, go to the Services tab and click ‘Hide all Microsoft services.’
There may be some services you don’t need, and unticking the box disables them from running. Firefox, for example, operates fine without the Mozilla Maintenance Service.
It’s also worth checking on the Task Manager’s Startup tab. You can get to Task Manager by right-clicking on the taskbar and selecting it. It’s not easy to figure out what to disable, but you may use Google to look up objects and determine if they’re necessary, useful, or neither.
Windows 10 tells you how much each programme has an impact on performance:
You can disable programmes with a large startup impact by right-clicking on them. Here are some suggestions about how to deal with 100% disc usage.
Make sure your hard drive is defragmented
O&O Defrag is well-known, but IObit’s Smart Defrag 5 is nearly as good and is completely free.
Keep in mind that if your PC has a classic mechanical hard drive, you should only choose one of these options. If it has an SSD, avoid using such applications on it; if it has both, use a defragger just on the hard drive.
Keep an eye out for malware and other pests
It’s a good idea to conduct a system scan to ensure that no malicious software is causing problems or slowing down your computer.
After that, on the right hand side of the following window, there are options to do a Quick, Full, or Custom scan. Choose the Full version if you won’t need your PC for more than a few minutes.
Then select Scan Now. If Windows detects anything suspicious, it will notify you and provide solutions to the problem.
If you’re using another antivirus product, such as AVG, Norton, McAfee, or anything similar, you’ll need to open it and look for the option to run a system scan. They’re usually quite straightforward to spot.
Change how much virtual memory Windows uses
Allowing Windows to use additional Virtual Memory is another easy cure for a sluggish PC.
- Type ‘performance’ into the search bar in the Settings Menu, then select ‘Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows’.
- From the top of the window that displays, select the ‘Advanced’ tab.
- Click ‘Change…’ under ‘Virtual memory.’
- Look at the paging file size options. Untick the ‘Automatically manage paging file size for all discs’ box at the top of the window if the recommended amount is less than what’s currently allocated.
- Choose ‘Custom size,’ then type the recommended figure in the ‘Initial size’ box and the existing assigned figure in the ‘Maximum size’ box.
- To confirm, press ‘Set,’ then ‘OK,’ to finish.
Get rid of the visual effects
Various animations are used in Windows 10. While these visual effects add a sense of style to older devices, they can dramatically slow them down. They are, thankfully, simple to turn off.
Search for advanced system options in the Windows Start Menu and select the top result. A section labelled Performance shows in the pop-up window, along with a Settings option.
When you click here, a list of the different visual effects will show. You can either untick the ones you think are bothersome or choose the Adjust for optimum performance option at the top. Remember to save your changes by clicking ‘OK.’
Install Windows again
Reinstalling Windows is the ultimate speed-up method. This removes all undesirable software that slows down the computer, as well as adware and other spyware, garbage files, and other unwanted items. See our dedicated tutorial on how to reinstall Windows for more information.
Unlike previous versions of Windows, which required a CD to install, Windows 8 and 10 feature a built-in refresh option that you can use at any time in the settings.
Go to Settings, then Update & Security on Windows 10. Reset your PC should be an option under the Recovery tab. Don’t worry; this will ask you if you want to keep your personal files, ensuring that you don’t lose anything you wanted to keep.
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You can select to keep personal files such as photos, music, and papers, and this method is worth a go because it is both automatic and simple.
Bring up the Charms bar on the right side of the screen and choose Settings, Change PC settings if you’re still using Windows 8 (which is no longer supported). Then, under Update and Recovery, select Recovery. Click Get started under Refresh your PC without impacting your files.
Reinstalling Windows is a more powerful option, but you must first copy any files you want to keep to another device, such as a detachable USB drive or a NAS.
Install the latest drivers and programs
Drivers, apps, and Windows itself that are out of date might slow down your computer. Faulty drivers, for example, prevent Windows from shutting down or cause it to start slowly. Video card drivers are frequently updated to repair bugs and improve performance, so be sure you have the most recent version.
Even if Windows updates are set to be automatic, go to the Control Panel’s Windows Update and manually check for updates. Only the most important are installed automatically, while there may be some useful optional ones.
Drivers are programmes that allow Windows to communicate with hardware components such as video, sound, printers, scanners, and webcams. It’s a hassle to update them because you have to figure out the hardware, drivers, and version numbers, as well as the hardware manufacturer’s website and download page.
Free versions of utilities like SlimWare’s Slimware’s DriverUpdate or IObit’s Driver Booster, which are similar to Windows Update for drivers, should suffice.
They detect your present drivers, check for updates, and download and install them for you.
They are capable of resolving a wide range of issues. There are other paid choices, such as the current Driver Talent application.
Make room on your hard drive
As your PC’s hard disc fills up, it slows down, and deleting software helps to clear up space, allowing Windows to run faster. Disk space may be freed up in a variety of ways, and we have a comprehensive guide on cleaning up Windows that includes eliminating unnecessary files.
You can delete files manually or use a software (some of which are recommended in that article) to perform a more thorough search and make the operation go faster and easier. However, there is a correct and incorrect method to use these apps.
Select only a few objects to clean, then make sure the software saves your modifications.
Apps, games, and other software have taken over many PCs. Many of them are probably no longer in use and can be removed to save up disc space (and improve boot times).
You can uninstall software you haven’t used in the last six months by going to the Control Panel, opening Programs and Features, and then uninstalling it (or longer). For additional information, see the top free Windows uninstallers.
Some programmes install a large number of files into Windows, which can degrade performance. You should avoid installing anything to keep Windows clean and quick.
Of course, software is required, but there are many portable apps available that do not require installation. Portableapps.com is a wonderful place to look for software. You’ll find office applications, graphics and photo editors, utilities, the internet, music and video, and more by clicking ‘Download Now.’ Although it isn’t the only location to look for portable software, it is a good place to start
Install software that is speedier
Installing improved software might sometimes help you boost performance. A excellent place to start is with the most recent web browser. The most popular browser is Google Chrome, but Microsoft’s Edge has recently improved and comes pre-installed on Windows 10. For more options, see our list of the top web browsers.
Smaller, lighter programmes are frequently faster than large, feature-rich apps. Is Word really necessary for your writing chores, or will WordPad suffice? Microsoft Office 2019, for example, demands 4GB of storage space, whereas LibreOffice only only a few hundred MB and is nearly as good.
For Adobe Photoshop Elements, you’ll need 4GB of disc space, but only 40MB for Paint.NET and 150MB for GIMP (which may sound suspicious, but it’s not). They might be all you need to edit photos.
The screen resolution and special effects utilised have a significant impact on game pace. Some games allow you to change the screen mode and disable certain effects that strain the processor and video card. By boosting the frame rate, a slow game can become more playable. See our tutorial on how to boost FPS in games for more information.
ten. Improve your hardware
They restore the performance of the original PC, although this may not be enough. An older computer might not be able to run the most recent game or other software you want to utilise. The latest games, apps, and operating system will be difficult for a five-year-old device.
recollection (RAM)
For contemporary software, many ageing PCs have insufficient memory. Consider 8GB to be the absolute minimum these days, if not more, but keep in mind that 32-bit Windows can only use 4GB, so moving to 64-bit is a smart option. After installing an SSD, the next step is to add RAM (which we mentioned right at the start).
Crucial, for example, has tools on its website that can determine what sort of RAM you require. It displays the full capacity of the PC or laptop, and this is the best update you can do. Examine your PC or laptop before purchasing any memory, as some are simple to upgrade while others are difficult. The cheapest alternative is to buy RAM online and install it yourself, but if you aren’t confident in your DIY skills, local computer shops can help.
Install a solid state drive (SSD)
In many older PCs and laptops, a solid state disc drive (SSD) is the best way to improve performance. If you’re using a laptop, you’ll need to clone the old hard drive to the new SSD before installing it.
Here’s how to install an SSD step by step, as well as a list of the finest SSDs to buy.
Top-of-the-line video cards are large, so double-check that the latest Nvidia or AMD model will fit in the case before purchase. full height/dual slot video cards are for large PCs with loads of space, while low profile single slot cards are for small PCs.
The greatest graphics cards to buy are listed below.
