In this article, learn how to speed up Windows 10 PC or Laptop.
Windows™, as one of the world’s most popular computer operating systems, has a long history of above-average performance and cutting-edge integrated tech and software, which has helped the company retain its user base. However, with all of the benefits that this OS provides, there are always a few drawbacks.
Windows XP was a huge hit with businesses, but it had a lot of security flaws and software issues. Although Windows Vista improved the look of the operating system, it lacked effective driver support and privacy protection.
Fast forward to 2015, when Windows 10 was released, and users universally agreed that the tenth iteration was the best. So, what’s the deal with your computer’s stagnation?
Too much of a good thing
We find ourselves downloading, uploading, streaming, and gaming more than ever before in our digital age, when everything is available on our computers.
With all of the high-speed multitasking that you demand from your computer, it’s possible that it could become clogged and create more aggravation than productivity. We’ll go over the reasons why your OS has slowed down, as well as our best solutions for speeding up Windows 10.
Why is my Windows 10 so slow?
There are several reasons why your computer’s operating system has slowed over time, but all signals lead to one thing: you’re using it!
It’s easy to forget how much your operating system is put through between navigating through all of your favorite programs, file downloads, and hard-drive heavy processing.
If you’ve noticed that your Windows 10 computer is running slower than usual, these factors could be to cause.
1. Your hard drive is too full
Everything you download and install to your computer, including images, videos, programs, and other files, is saved on your hard drive. If the capacity of your hard disk approaches 90%, your computer may function 50% slower than it did previously.
2. Malware
Viruses are not all the same, contrary to popular perception. Malware has an entirely different effect on your computer than a typical virus. Malware, often known as malicious software, is software that is meant to harm a computer’s operating system.
Malware typically infects your computer by corrupting common processes, effectively slowing down functions that were previously completed quickly.
3. You’re out of memory
You’ll need to assess your computer’s remaining RAM memory capacity before attempting to speed up Windows.
Because your computer only has so much RAM memory, if you have any heavy-duty photo-editing software or complex HD games loaded on your entry-level or mid-level PC, you risk overworking it and causing it to lag constantly.
To check what programs are hogging your computer’s RAM, follow these steps:
1. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE at the same moment to open the Task Manager.
2. Navigate to the “processes” tab.
3. The processes tab will show you which apps are using the most CPU, memory, disk space, and other resources.
4. You’re running too many programs or opening too many browser tabs
Multitasking is king in the digital age. We tend to cram our PCs with dozens of tabs while running Spotify, Netflix, Facebook Messenger, and Norton Antivirus in the background in order to do as much as possible in the shortest period of time and with the fewest clicks.
At any given time, your computer can only manage so much. You’re probably overworking your RAM if you have so many tabs open. Auto-refreshing sites, such as live blogs or video playlist websites, can slow down your computer’s functioning.
5. Your Windows startup is out of control
Newly downloaded programs have the unfortunate side effect of filling up your Windows Startup menu. Because they all want your attention, fresh installations will try to trick their way into starting up every time you turn on your computer.
Those sneaky programs could be adding minutes to your total starting time if you did not explicitly uncheck the permission box that stops the program’s self-startup.
Other reasons
If none of these top five causes your computer to slow down, your PC slowdown could be due to one of these:
- Your browser has too many add-ons and extensions.
- Your antivirus program is bogging your PC down with badly timed scans.
- Your operating system is too advanced for your PC hardware.
- Your computer OS is out of date, or your computer is overheating.
How can I improve my Windows 10 performance?
Despite all of Windows 10’s rapid progress, the operating system remains one of the most susceptible to unpredictable slowdown.
Because Windows 10 comes with a slew of pre-installed programs and system resources, your PC is already clogged with a slew of reasons why its performance isn’t as good as it could be.
So, what factors have the greatest impact on your computer’s operating system?
Performance fix #1: Remove unnecessary programs
The Problem: Apps and apps that you downloaded in the past but no longer use can slow down your computer.
They continue to use up a lot of RAM and storage space on your computer’s hard drive. The simplest way to get rid of these lag-causing programs is to uninstall them entirely.
The Fix:
1. Choose “Programs” in your Control Panel.
2. Next, choose “Uninstall a program”
3. On this tab, you’ll be able to browse and view all of the programs installed on your computer.
4. In just a few simple steps, you may improve the efficiency of Windows 10 by removing obsolete games, useless browser toolbars, and unnecessary virus scanners.
Performance fix #2: Limit startup program processes
The Problem: The programs on your PC compete for your attention from the moment you turn your computer on, between pre-installed applications and apps you download yourself.
When you have too many programs trying to load at the same time, your PC’s performance suffers significantly.
The Fix:
1. Right-click the Windows button in the bottom left corner of your computer to open the Task Manager.
2. Select the “Startup” tab in Task Manager.
3. You’ll be able to view which programs load when you turn on, as well as their startup impact, from there.
4. You can disable any program by choosing it and clicking “Disable” in the Task Manager window’s bottom right.
Performance fix #3: Scan for viruses
The Problem: Viruses, spyware, adware, and malware are all security flaws that can degrade the efficiency of your Windows 10 computer.
Once they’ve infected your computer, these infective digital agents spread like wildfire, crashing it and redirecting browser pages to phishing sites.
The Fix:
1. If your computer is displaying any signs of a virus infection, download a virus scanner that can detect any unusual behavior and remove any malicious files from your hard drive.
2. There are a lot of reputable anti-malware cybersecurity tools that will search for, detect, notify, and delete anything that may be compromising your PC’s performance or general security.
Performance fix #4: Clean up your disk
The Problem: When your computer’s hard disk space is low, it can’t load programs or files as quickly as it used to.
A slowdown could indicate that your computer is overburdened with needless data. Installers, temporary files, and other file clutter in your PC’s miscellaneous folders take up more space than you might believe.
The Fix:
1. Using Windows’ built-in Disk Cleanup is a win-win situation for your computer.
2. This system clean will not only enhance general performance, but it will also free up hard disk space.
3. Type “Disk Cleanup” into the search box on your start menu.
4. As the initial suggestion, the pre-installed program should appear.
5. Disk Cleanup will then show you a list of items that can be eliminated to make room on your hard drive.
6. You can either view all of the files and delete them all at once, or you can pick each one separately.
Performance fix #5: Upgrade your PC
The Problem: Perhaps you bought a Windows 10 computer that wasn’t technologically smart enough to manage the complex apps you use or the large number of raw photo files you have on your computer. You’ve discovered that your computer can’t keep up with your complex computing habits.
The Fix:
1. Trying to figure out how to speed up Windows on an overworked machine without entirely upgrading it might be quite tough.
2. You may be able to increase your RAM, graphics card, processor, and storage depending on the make and model of your PC.
3. These updates may be less expensive than buying a new computer and provide you the freedom to customize as needed.
Performance fix #6: Restart your PC
The Problem:
We tend to leave our computers in sleep mode rather than turning them off altogether since we rely on them to run smoothly and swiftly from the moment we lift the laptop screen.
It’s possible that your computer will spend weeks without receiving a true reset. This could also suggest that your PC has been unable to receive critical software upgrades when they are required.
The Fix:
1. Restarting your computer clears the cache, refreshes the RAM memory, and reactivates apps that may have been slowing down overall performance.
2. A restart will clear off any unnecessary background activities, giving your PC more breathing area to speed up.
Final notes
Maintaining a healthy computer necessitates a significant amount of effort that the Windows 10 creators do not always disclose.
From determining why your PC has slowed down to determining how to speed up Windows 10, these helpful hints will have you on your way to a fast PC in no time.