How much time do you spend staring at your computer every day? When it comes to work, school, or even just surfing the web, every minute counts – and Windows 10 can be pretty slow sometimes. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to speed up Windows 10 that don’t involve buying extra RAM or upgrading your processor. Even with these simple tricks, though, you’ll still need to reinstall Windows 10 from time to time to keep everything running smoothly – so don’t forget to back up those files! 8 Ways to Speed Up Windows 10 for a Faster Computer
Table of Contents
1) Clean Out Junk Files
Not sure what’s bogging down your computer? That’s where using a utility like CCleaner can come in handy. It’ll scan your computer and let you know exactly what’s slowing it down. From there, you can choose to remove items like unused temporary files, cookies, and downloaded browser history. Clicking Clean up system files will also get rid of any useless Windows Registry entries and old font data. Just don’t be surprised if cleaning out those files takes more than a few minutes. If you need even more help with speeding up your computer, CCleaner has options that let you run quick-cleanups when booting up or shut down.
2) Update Windows Drivers
This can dramatically improve your computer’s speed, as outdated drivers are often slow. Open Device Manager by right-clicking on Start and choosing Device Manager. Next, locate any device with an exclamation point next to it, which means there is a driver issue. Right-click and choose Update Driver Software… Now choose Search Automatically for Updated Driver Software. If you want to choose a specific driver, select Show All Devices under Select Category of Device in order to find out exactly what devices will be affected before continuing.
3) Change Desktop Icons
The way that icons appear on your desktop will impact how fast it loads and speeds up access to files. Right-click an empty space on your desktop, click View, then Large Icons to see larger icons and folders that load faster. To resize them, right-click an icon or folder, then choose from different sizes (small, medium or large). A final way you can change these settings is by clicking View, then List.
4) Defragment Hard Drive
As you use your hard drive, its files become fragmented. This slows down disk access because your computer must search multiple locations to find one file. To defragment your hard drive, open up Settings and go to System > Storage > Defragment and Optimize Drives. Select your hard drive from that list and click Optimize. This can take several hours depending on how many files you have on your computer so it’s best run overnight or during off-hours when you won’t be using it much.
5) Free Up Disk Space
Like any operating system, Windows 10 consumes space on your computer. With every app and file you download, your hard drive fills up a little more. If you’re having trouble finding room on your PC, try these tips: Uninstall old software: Go into Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features, select a program, then click Uninstall. Your system will probably prompt you to restart—it’s worth it; so go ahead and do that.
6) Scan for Viruses
Viruses and malware are usually programs that have been created with malicious intent—either to ruin your files or infect your computer with other viruses. Fortunately, most modern antivirus programs can detect and remove them. The only way you’ll know if your computer is infected, however, is if you run regular scans. Your best bet is an antivirus program like Microsoft Security Essentials—it’s free (for now) and will keep your system protected. If you prefer an all-in-one solution that combines features such as file backup and recovery, try something like EaseUS Todo Backup Free . Be sure to run scans regularly in order to avoid any unfortunate surprises from malware.
7) Stop Auto-Starting Apps & Services
Auto-starting apps and services can be helpful, but it’s also possible that you’re running more than you need. You can disable certain programs from starting when your computer boots up by disabling them in Task Manager (Control+Shift+Esc). In addition, if you’re using a Microsoft Account login on your PC, unchecking Allow apps to automatically start at sign-in under Sign-in options will keep some unnecessary applications from auto-starting. To do so, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
8) Move User Account to SSD
Moving your user account is simple and will shave off seconds when launching Windows. You can also free up some hard drive space by storing your documents, music, and pictures on an external or secondary hard drive instead of your primary computer’s internal storage. If you find yourself using more than one computer regularly—which is likely if you’re reading a list of ways to speed up Windows—it’s worth looking into Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud service. By moving everything but your active user account to OneDrive, you’ll get all of your information with you wherever you log in from. The best part: It’s completely free!
8 More Ways
You can move your user account and all your files, folders, and apps to an SSD on your computer in just a few minutes. This will make everything load faster, especially when you’re using that user account. Even if you have more than one drive (which is rare), we recommend moving just your user account since all of your system data is held elsewhere anyway. To move your user account, just open File Explorer > This PC > C: > Users > Your Account Name > Right-click on Folder from Desktop OS (C:\Users\NAME) and click Properties.
1) Delete Browser Cache Data & Cookies Section
Each browser creates its own cache, which is essentially a folder that stores files that are used to load web pages faster. If you’re using multiple browsers (such as Internet Explorer and Chrome), it may be worthwhile to delete their respective caches periodically. Cookies are pieces of data stored by your browser. These store data such as logins and user preferences from websites you visit frequently so you don’t have to keep entering them every time. If you don’t remember your password for a site, cookies may be storing it for later retrieval; deleting these may also help reduce your exposure to security vulnerabilities. 8 Ways to Speed Up Windows 10 for a Faster Computer
2) Disable Unnecessary Startup Items Section
Although most programs launch automatically at startup, you might want to disable them if they add no value. An easy way to find unnecessary startup items is by right-clicking your taskbar and selecting Task Manager. Once in Task Manager, click Startup and scroll through each program until you find one that looks unnecessary. Then select it, click Disable or Uninstall and restart your computer. It’s also important to know what doesn’t belong on your startup list. For example, antivirus software usually runs during startup because it scans all files as they open—but it shouldn’t be disabled because leaving it enabled keeps your system protected against viruses and malware when you start up Windows.
3) Use Trusted Sites Only Section
One of your biggest weapons in keeping viruses out of your computer is to use trusted sites only. Each website is given a reputation, which can be found on multiple review sites. By browsing sites with good reputations and not clicking on links from untrusted sources, you dramatically reduce your risk of being infected by malware. Avoid Downloading Software: Malware isn’t only found on legitimate websites and downloaded files. It can also spread via pirated software or software that comes bundled with adware or other undesirable components. Make sure you always download programs from official sources like Microsoft (Windows), Adobe (Acrobat Reader) or Apple (Mac OS X). Update Your Device Drivers: Outdated device drivers are among some of the most common issues people experience when using their computer.
4) Turn Off Animations Section
Animations look great, but they can really slow down your computer. You can turn off almost all of them by going into Settings and then General and turning off all three Animations options. You can also just turn off windows animations specifically in that same screen. This will make your desktop feel faster, but don’t worry—your wallpaper will still move when you move your mouse over it!
5) Disable Pings Section
A quick and easy way to speed up Windows 10 is by disabling pings. Pings are commands that are sent out over your network and Internet connection looking for responses from other computers. This can slow down your internet connection, as well as how quickly you download files. You can disable pings in two ways: 1) Use your router’s firewall settings (this may vary depending on make and model); or 2) Disable pings from within Control Panel -> Network & Internet -> Change Adapter Settings. Just right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter and select Properties then go to Advanced… and uncheck Enable network ping command at the bottom of that window.
6) Backup Your Data Section
Whether you’re running an SSD or spinning platter, backing up your data is always smart. If something goes wrong with your PC, you don’t want to lose all your saved music, photos and documents. Make sure that you have at least one backup copy of all your important files stored on a separate drive. You can also set up automatic backups using Apple Time Machine if you have an OS X machine. And if something happens, make sure that you regularly test restoring from these backups. If nothing else it’s good practice in case of emergency! One final note: Macs are immune to Ransomware—at least for now!
7) Use Portable Settings in Programs Section
Adjusting program settings to portable or let me choose can speed up performance. For example, some programs might automatically add and remove entries from your desktop or taskbar. In general, it’s best not to let programs make changes without your approval. You can adjust settings on a per-program basis in several ways: Right-click an entry (such as an executable file or document) and click Properties . Click Change Settings , then pick Portable . If you don’t see Portable on that screen, click Advanced , then uncheck Allow changes… on both screens. Choose Always ask before opening this file, and deselect other options as needed.
8) Reinstall Without Losing Data Section
Reinstalling your OS could cause you to lose all of your files, settings, and preferences. But you don’t have to worry about that happening if you use Microsoft’s built-in system imaging tool: The Resilient File System (ReFS). ReFS will automatically replicate your critical data, meaning that it won’t be deleted when you reinstall your OS. To make sure everything is synced up properly, download and install Macrium Reflect Free ($40 per computer). It will walk you through how to setup and use ReFS on Windows. When it comes time to reinstall or upgrade your OS, simply boot from your recovery media (usually a USB drive) and run an image backup instead of restoring from backup. 8 Ways to Speed Up Windows 10 for a Faster Computer
Q & A
While it’s true that most PCs slow down over time, you don’t have to accept it. In fact, several tweaks can speed up your computer and make applications run faster. Here are our top tips for making your PC feel like new again
How do you clean up Windows 10 to run faster?
If you just upgraded your computer to Windows 10, you probably noticed some initial hiccups in performance. While they should get better over time, here are eight simple tips that can help speed up your computer right now. Note: In many cases, these fixes also work with earlier versions of Windows, as well as Mac OS X. 8 Ways to Speed Up Windows 10 for a Faster Computer
Why is my Windows 10 being so slow?
The main reason that people experience slowdowns with their Windows computer is an accumulation of bloatware. We’re all used to plugging in a brand new PC and being bombarded with popup screens from Amazon, eBay, Superfish and so on. Each time you restart your machine, it will try and connect to each one in turn. It adds up fast – but there’s an easy way to stop it happening!
Why is my PC so slow all of a sudden?
There are dozens of reasons why your computer might have slowed down, but there are some fixes you can try before opting for an expensive new PC. Below are eight of our best tips that can help speed up your computer, ranging from clearing up unwanted files and software to cleaning out your registry and disabling unnecessary startup items. We’ve included links where appropriate so you can learn more about each step as you go. Get started today!
How can I make my PC faster for free?
These days, faster isn’t just better—it’s imperative. Any time spent waiting is time wasted, and you know that’s not an option. There are some great ways to speed up your PC without having to buy anything or perform difficult upgrades. Follow these tips and get back to work in no time.
What makes a computer faster RAM or SSD?
You don’t necessarily need more RAM or an SSD. However, you should avoid running too many programs at once and installing lots of unnecessary apps. Streamline your computer by closing unneeded windows, temporarily disabling bloatware that comes with your computer, and not downloading too many extra apps from places like Google Play or Apple’s App Store. You can also take advantage of Windows’ built-in Task Manager— just right-click on your taskbar and choose Task Manager to see what programs are using up CPU cycles and memory. Uninstall programs that you never use so they don’t run in the background when you don’t want them to!
How do you speed up Windows?
It’s no secret that Microsoft’s latest operating system is fast—very fast. But even so, there are some steps you can take to make it go faster. For example, let’s say you notice that your computer seems slower than usual. Chances are pretty good that your computer could use a spring cleaning (disk cleanup), and taking out some of those unnecessary files is just what it needs. While disk cleanup is great, there are more ways you can speed up Windows 10 and keep your computer humming along
How can you increase your computer speed?
You might be surprised at how much time you spend waiting for your computer to boot, load programs and open files. In fact, it’s not unusual for computers running slow or that are low on hard drive space — and those with unnecessary programs installed — to perform tasks more slowly than they should. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to improve your computer performance quickly and easily. This primer will walk you through eight effective ways to boost speed in Windows 10
