A computer that is slow can affect productivity, but it can also cause irritation to its user.
Before you get disappointed and run out to buy a new one computerthere are several simple and effective steps to make the one you have faster, say experts from digital security company ESET.
With actions like freeing up hard drive space or updating drivers, you can “wake up” your sluggish PC, they say. These are simple settings that make all the difference, according to ESET experts, who provide 10+1 tips for Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Calculator: 10+1 ways to make it faster
1. Save disk space
Chances are, you’ve been using your slow PC for a few years and probably don’t even remember the last time you cleaned the folder. downloads (Downloads). So start there:
Look in your Downloads folder and any other folders where you keep your documents, photos, or videos, and delete anything you don’t need.
Alternatively, you can use an external drive or cloud storage to upload and save all those space-consuming files that you don’t need on a daily basis. It is very important to always keep a backup of all important files, as your slow computer may one day decide to go on vacation without asking permission.
And by the way, remember to empty the recycle bin as well.
2. Manage your apps
Go to the Start menu and click Settings. On the left side, select Apps and installed applications. Check the list of software on your computer and if there is something you don’t need, click the three dots in the right corner and select Uninstall.
Not only will you save space, but you will also reduce activities running in the background.
3. Clean storage
After Windows 10, Microsoft introduced a feature called Storage Sense that helps you get a better idea of how your PC’s storage space is being used, allowing Windows to manage your PC’s cleanup for you. this includes her automatic deletion your temporary files, empty the recycle bin, or delete older downloaded files.
To enable it and configure how it works, go to the Settings menu again, click System in the left column, and then select Save.
If you’re worried that Windows will delete something you want to keep, you can do it manually. In the same Storage menu, select Cleaning Recommendations. Here you can start by checking if you have any recommended large files that you haven’t opened in a while and might be taking up a lot of space. Once this is done, click the View advanced options button and scroll through the list of files that can be removed, paying special attention not to select Downloads if you want to keep them. Select Delete files.
Your computer should now only have the apps and files you really need.
4. Manage the apps you need at startup
One of the biggest frustrations most of us feel when our computer is slow is when we turn it on. And no, leaving your computer on for weeks on end is not the answer, but we’ll get it done.
Limit the apps you give permission to launch at startup. To do this, go to the Start menu and type Task Manager and press Enter. On the left side of this window, click startup apps (Startup Applications).
You might be surprised to find that things you rarely need start as soon as you turn on your computer. Select only the apps you know and don’t touch anything you don’t know: Windows can take a while to start properly.
Once you’ve selected an app, hover your mouse over it, right-click it, and disable it. We hope this saves you a few seconds each morning.
5. Adjust your privacy settings
This is an extremely important point. Not only can it help you speed up your computer, but it will also allow you to control how apps use services like your location or microphone.
Go back to Settings in the Start menu, select Privacy and security and the section application rights go through each of these points: location, camera, microphone, etc. and disable the access of applications that do not need these services.
For example, you might want to turn off Microphone for Cortana if you’re not using the Microsoft assistant, and you might want to turn off all apps’ access to notifications. Of course, this means that your programs won’t be able to notify you of something they’re programmed to do, but it can be beneficial to your system’s performance.
Remember, even if your computer is running fine, always take a look at this menu to find out exactly what permissions you’re giving to installed apps.
6. Manage energy efficiency
In Settings, select System and go to the Power & Battery section. Windows is pretty good at managing power mode. They’re especially useful if you’re using a laptop that’s not connected to a power source, and in this case, you can choose Balanced or Optimum Energy Efficiency mode if your battery is low.
But, if your computer is plugged in and slow enough, then go for it best performance mode. Although the computer may experience higher temperatures and you may hear the fan ready to take off like an airplane, it will surely push your machine to run as fast and hard as it can.
7. Turn off visual effects
This might make your Windows less beautiful since we’re turning off pretty animations, but it’s a sacrifice worth making if your computer is too slow. To do this, go to Settings, select Accessibility, and then select Visual Effects. Go ahead and turn off the transparency effects and motion effects.
8. Update your computer
This is necessary. Keeping your PC up to date will ensure that you take advantage of various fixes and tweaks that can bring much better performance in certain apps, making your overall experience much smoother. At the same time, the updates provide the necessary protection against vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.
In the Start menu type windows update and press Enter. Windows will display all available updates. All you need to do is click Download and Install. Windows will notify you of future updates, but if you want to make sure you’re always up to date, check this menu from time to time.
9. Check for malware
Although memory consumption may increase as security software searches for each type malware, it’s worth it. To prevent the scan from running in the background, if you need this power to work, you can choose to run these scans manually, as well as ensure that you are running the latest version of the security software of your choice.
Alternatively, you can scan online for free with reputable software. Protecting your computer from malware will prevent your computer’s resources from being used for malicious purposes and will protect your files, activity, and personal information.
10. Restart your computer
While this is not the same as completely reformatting your computer, it is the last thing you can do at home without seeking professional help. If nothing on this list worked and you want to try a nearly new version of your computer, you can choose Restart of the computer
To do this, go to Settings, System and select Reset. You can then choose to keep your files or delete everything for a factory reset. Again, remember that even if you choose to keep your files, you may lose them if something goes wrong, so always keep backup copies of all important documents and information.
And one last piece of advice from the ESET experts. Don’t leave your computer “running” for days at a time just because you think it will take too long to start up. Instead, you can let it go to sleep instead of turning it off, but be sure to restart it every two or three days.
Contrary to what you might think, shutting down your computer does not close all running processes, while restarting your computer will make it perform all necessary installations and updates and close all applications.