How to Make Your Windows 10 Computer Faster 2024

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If your Windows 10 computer is running slow, it can be frustrating and impact your productivity. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to improve performance and make your computer run faster. This guide covers practical solutions to speed up your Windows 10 PC.

1. Restart Your Computer Regularly

While this might seem obvious, many users rarely restart their computers, which can lead to slowdowns. Restarting clears out the memory and closes all running processes, giving your system a fresh start.

  • Action: Make it a habit to restart your computer every few days, especially if you leave it on all the time.

2. Disable Startup Programs

Too many programs set to launch at startup can slow down your computer's boot time and overall performance.

  • Action:
    • Right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager.
    • Go to the Startup tab.
    • Review the list and disable any unnecessary programs by right-clicking and selecting Disable.

3. Uninstall Unnecessary Software

Unused programs take up space and can slow down your system. Removing them frees up resources and improves performance.

  • Action:
    • Open Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
    • Scroll through the list, click on programs you no longer need, and select Uninstall.

4. Clean Up Disk Space

A cluttered hard drive can significantly slow down your computer. Use Windows' built-in tools to free up space.

  • Action:
    • Open Settings > System > Storage.
    • Click on Temporary files and remove unnecessary files.
    • Use Disk Cleanup to clear system files:
      • Search for Disk Cleanup in the Start menu.
      • Select the drive you want to clean and follow the prompts.

5. Adjust Visual Effects for Performance

Windows 10 includes various visual effects that can strain your system. Adjusting these settings can improve performance.

  • Action:
    • Right-click on This PC and select Properties.
    • Click on Advanced system settings on the left.
    • Under the Performance section, click Settings.
    • Choose Adjust for best performance or select Custom to disable specific effects.

6. Update Windows and Drivers

Keeping your operating system and drivers up to date ensures that your system is running efficiently with the latest improvements and bug fixes.

  • Action:
    • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
    • Click Check for updates and install any available updates.
    • For drivers, you can use Device Manager:
      • Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
      • Right-click each device and select Update driver.

7. Manage Background Processes

Background processes can consume system resources and slow down your computer. Limiting these can improve performance.

  • Action:
    • Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
    • Go to the Processes tab and sort by CPU, Memory, or Disk usage.
    • Identify high-usage processes and end tasks that are unnecessary (be cautious not to close critical system processes).

8. Defragment and Optimize Drives

Defragmenting your hard drive can help improve performance by organizing data more efficiently, especially on traditional hard drives (HDDs).

  • Action:
    • Search for Defragment and Optimize Drives in the Start menu.
    • Select your drive and click Optimize.

Note: This step is unnecessary for SSDs, as they do not require defragmentation.

9. Increase Virtual Memory

If your computer is low on RAM, increasing virtual memory can help. This uses a portion of your hard drive as extra memory.

  • Action:
    • Right-click This PC and select Properties.
    • Click on Advanced system settings.
    • Under Performance, click Settings.
    • Go to the Advanced tab and click Change under Virtual memory.
    • Uncheck Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
    • Select your drive, choose Custom size, and increase the values based on your system’s RAM (typically 1.5 to 3 times your RAM size).
    • Click Set and then OK.

10. Check for Malware and Viruses

Malware and viruses can cause significant slowdowns by running malicious processes in the background.

  • Action:
    • Run a full system scan using Windows Defender or any trusted antivirus software.
    • Remove any detected threats and restart your computer.

11. Upgrade Your Hardware

If your system is still slow after performing all software optimizations, you may need a hardware upgrade.

  • RAM Upgrade: Increasing the amount of RAM can significantly improve performance, especially if you frequently run multiple applications.
  • SSD Upgrade: If you’re using a traditional hard drive, upgrading to a Solid State Drive (SSD) can dramatically speed up your system, including boot times and file access.

12. Reset or Reinstall Windows 10

As a last resort, you can reset Windows 10 to its factory settings or perform a clean install. This removes all software and settings, giving you a fresh start.

  • Action:
    • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
    • Under Reset this PC, click Get started.
    • Choose whether to keep your files or remove everything and follow the on-screen instructions.

Conclusion

A slow Windows 10 computer can be a source of frustration, but by following these steps, you can significantly improve its performance. From simple tasks like disabling startup programs to more advanced solutions like upgrading hardware, these tips will help you get the most out of your Windows 10 system.

Source: https://windows101tricks.com/speed-up-windows-10/

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