How To Speed Up Windows PC | Make Windows PC Faster

In this blog post, I will show you, how to speed up a slow Windows PC.
So, let's get started...
Please NOTE: The tips are listed in order, so start with the first one, see if that helps, and then continue to the next one if it doesn’t. 

Tips To Improve PC Performance In Windows

No extra device needed

1. Update Windows & Device Drivers

One of the best ways to get the most out of your PC is to make sure you have the latest version of Windows installed. When you check for updates, your PC will also search for the latest device drivers, which can also help improve your PC’s performance.

1.1. Check for Windows & Drivers update

To check for updates in Windows 11:
  • Right-click on Start and select Settings. From the left panel select Windows Update. And then click on Check for updates.
  • If the status says "You're up to date", continue and check for optional updates.
    And, if the status says "Updates are available", then Download and Install all updates. You may need to Restart your PC to install updates.

1.2. Check for optional Windows & Drivers updates

Sometimes an optional update, like a new non-critical driver, will be available that may help.
To check for optional updates in Windows 11:
  • Go back to Windows Update. Click on Advanced options > Optional updates.
  • If additional updates are available, select and install all updates.
After installing updates, restart your PC and see if it seems to run better. If not, try the next tip.

2. Update Apps, Games And Programs

Sometimes outdated apps may slow down the PC. So, make sure all installed apps, games and Programs are up to date.

2.1. Update Apps & Games Using Microsoft Store

Universal Windows Platform apps downloaded from Microsoft Store [like Paint] can only be updated using Microsoft Store.
To update Microsoft Store Apps and Games in Windows 11/10:
  • Open Microsoft Store. Click on Downloads. Then click on Get updates.
And then, Microsoft Store will automatically check and update all apps and games.

2.2. Update Apps, Games And Programs Using Windows Package Manager (Winget)

Desktop apps [like Classic VLC] can only be updated using the Windows Package manager.
To update Apps, Games And Programs using Windows Package Manager:
  • Click on Start > Windows System.
  • Right-click on Command Prompt, and select More > Run as administrator.
  • Select YES on User Account Control.
  • Here, type "Winget upgrade --all", then press Enter key.
And then, Windows Package Manager will automatically check and update all apps, games and Programs.

2.3. Update Internet Browser

Internet browsers (like Microsoft Edge) can't be updated using Microsoft Store and Windows Package Manager. So, we have to update the browser manually.
  • On the Internet browser, select Menu > Help > About.
    If prompt, click on Restart.
And then, the browser will automatically check and install the latest update.
After updating apps, restart your PC and see if it seems to run better. If not, try the next tip.

3. Make sure the system is managing the page file size

The paging file is an area on your hard disk that Windows uses like memory. There's a setting in Windows that manages the page file size automatically, which can help improve your PC’s performance.
To make sure automatic page file management is turned on in Windows 11/10:
  • Click on Start > Settings > System > About > Advanced system settings.
  • Under Performance area, click on Settings...
  • In Performance Options, select the Advanced tab, then select Change in the Virtual memory area.
  • Make sure the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives check box is selected. If it is, continue to the next tip. If it's not, select it and then click on OK.
And then, restart your PC and see if it seems to run better. If not, try the next tip.

4. Free Up Space

You may improve performance if you free some disk space on your PC.

4.1. Check for low disk space

To check for low disk space in Windows 11/10:
  • Click on Start > Settings > System > Storage.
If your PC is not low on space, try the next tip.

4.2. Delete temporary files with Storage Sense

You can use Storage Sense to delete unnecessary or temporary files from your device.
  • In the Storage settings. Select Temporary files.
    Windows will take a few moments to determine what files and apps are taking up the most space on your PC.
  • Select the items you want to delete, and then select Remove files.
To see what's in your Recycle Bin before you empty it, open it from your desktop. If you don't see the Recycle Bin icon on your desktop, in the search bar on the taskbar, type recycle bin, then select Recycle Bin from the list of results. 
Note: Windows moves files you delete to the Recycle Bin in case you change your mind and need them again in the future. You might be able to free up a significant amount of space by deleting Recycle Bin files to permanently remove files you've previously deleted.

4.3. Turn on and configure Storage Sense

If you turn on Storage Sense, Windows will automatically free up space by getting rid of unnecessary files—including files in your recycle bin—when you're low on disk space or at intervals you specify.
To turn on and configure Storage Sense in Windows 11:
  • Go back to Storage settings. In the Storage management area, turn on Storage Sense.
  • Select the More > icon for Storage Sense to configure it.
  • Under Cleanup of temporary files, ensure Keep Windows running smoothly by automatically cleaning up temporary system and app files is checked.
  • Under Configure cleanup schedules, choose how often you want Storage Sense to run.
  • For the files you want Storage Sense to delete (your choices are files in your Recycle Bin and your Downloads folder), select the preferred time intervals, or select Never if you want Storage Sense to leave those types of files alone.
  • Scroll down and select Run Storage Sense now.
    Windows will take a few moments to clean up your files, and then you'll see a message indicating how much disk space has been freed up.
To turn on and configure Storage Sense in Windows 10:
  • Go back to Storage settings.
  • In the Storage area, turn on Storage Sense.
  • Select Configure Storage Sense or run it now.
  • In the Storage Sense area, choose how often you want Storage Sense to run or select Every day.
  • In the Temporary Files area, select Delete temporary files that my apps aren't using.
  • Select which files you want Storage Sense to delete (your choices are files in your Recycle Bin and in your Downloads folder), then select the corresponding time intervals.
  • Scroll down and select Clean now.
  • Windows will take a few moment to clean up your files, and then you'll see a message indicating how much disk space has been freed up.

4.3. Use Disk Cleanup to free up space

  • Click on Start > Windows Administrative Tools.
  • Right click on Disk Cleanup and select More > Run as administrator.
  • On Disk Cleanup: Drive selection, select your Windows drive [generally (C:)], and click on OK.
  • Select the checkbox next to the type of files you want to delete. (To view a description of each type of file, select the name.) By default, Downloaded Program Files, Temporary Internet Files, and Thumbnails are selected. Be sure to clear those check boxes if you don't want to delete those files.
    Note: If it’s been fewer than 10 days since you upgraded to Windows 11/10, your previous version of Windows will be listed as a system file you can delete. If you need to free up drive space, you can delete it, but keep in mind that you'll be deleting your Windows.old folder, which contains files that give you the option to go back to your previous version of Windows. If you delete your previous version of Windows, this can't be undone. (You won't be able to go back to your previous version of Windows.)
  • And then, click on OK, then select Delete files in the confirmation window to start the cleanup.
If your PC still runs slowly, try uninstalling apps & games you don't use anymore.

5. Uninstall apps you don’t use anymore

To uninstall Apps & Games in Windows 10:
  • Right click on Start and select Apps & Features.
  • Search for a specific app or sort them to see which ones are using the most space.
  • When you find an app to remove, choose it from the list and select Uninstall.
And then, restart your PC and see if it seems to run better. If not, try the next tip.

6. Optimize Appearance For Best Performance

Windows includes many visual and sound effects, such as animations, shadow effects and notification sounds. These look and feel great, but they can also use additional system resources and can slow down your PC. This is especially true if you have a PC with a smaller amount of memory (RAM).

6.1. Disable Visual Effects

To disable Visual effects:
  • Click on Start > Settings > System > About > Advanced system settings.
  • Under Performance area, click on Settings...
  • On the Visual Effects tab, select Adjust for best performance. I recommend you, check the "Smooth edges of screen fonts" and "Show thumbnails instead of icons" options.
  • And then click on OK.

6.2. Disable Transparency Effects

To disable Transparency Effects in Windows 11/10:
  • Right-click on Start and select Settings. In Settings, go to Personalization > Colors.
  • And here, turn off Transparency effects.

6.3. Disable System Sound

To disable System Sound:
  • Right click on Start and select Settings.
  • In Settings, go to System > Sound > Sound Control Panel.
  • In Sound Window, select Sounds tab.
  • Under Sound Scheme select No Sounds.
  • Then click on OK.
And then, restart your PC and see if it seems to run better. If not, try the next tip.

7. Disable Unnecessary Startup Apps & Programs

When you turn on your PC, some programs start automatically and run in the background. You can disable these programs so they don’t run when your PC starts.
Many programs are designed to start automatically when Windows does. You don’t realize they're running, but they'll open quickly when you go to use them. This is helpful for programs you use a lot, but not for programs you don’t use often because it increases the time it takes Windows to start.

Find the programs that start automatically

Sometimes you can determine which programs start automatically by looking at the program icons in the notification area on the far right of the taskbar. Check there first to see if there are any programs running that you don’t want to start automatically. To try to find out the name of the program, point to the icon with your mouse pointer. Make sure you select Show hidden icons , so you don’t miss any programs.
Even after you check the notification area, you might still miss some programs that run automatically at startup. Here’s how you can find all the programs that start automatically, and stop the ones that you don’t want to start automatically when Windows starts.
To stop a program from starting automatically:
  • Right-click on Start and select Settings. In Settings, go to Apps > Startup.
  • In the Startup Apps area, find the program you want to stop from starting automatically and set it to Off.
If you turn off a program and it continues to start automatically when Windows starts, you should scan for viruses and malware.
And then, restart your PC and see if it seems to run better. If not, try the next tip.

8. Check For And Remove Viruses And Malware

A virus, malware, or malicious software could cause your PC to run slowly. Other symptoms include unexpected pop-up messages, programs that unexpectedly start automatically, or the sound of your hard disk constantly working.
The best way to handle viruses and malicious software is to try to prevent them by running antimalware and antivirus software and keeping it up to date. However, even if you take precautions, your PC can still become infected.
You can scan your PC for viruses or other malicious software by using Windows Security (formerly Windows Defender Security Center), which is included in Windows. For more info, see How to protect your Windows PC.
If you’re using other antivirus or anti-malware software, see the documentation for that program to learn how to scan for viruses. Also, make sure multiple antivirus programs aren’t running at the same time. If they are, choose the one you want to run, and then disable or uninstall any others.
If you have another antivirus program installed and turned on, Windows Security will be turned off by default.
To scan for viruses using Windows Security:
  • Click on Start > Windows Security.
  • In Windows Security, click on Virus & threat protection.
  • Under Virus & threat protection updates, click on Check for updates.
  • Here select Check for updates to make sure you have the most recent updates.
  • After the updates completed, Select Virus & threat protection from left Panel.
  • Then select Quick scan.
    Wait for Windows Security to finish scanning for viruses and malware.
  • Do one of the following, depending on the results of the scan:
    Run the recommended advanced scan. This scan takes longer but searches more extensively for threats on your PC.
    If Windows Security finds a virus or malware and can’t remove or quarantine it, contact Microsoft Support for help.
    If no viruses are found, restart your PC and try to reproduce the performance problem you were having with your PC.
Note: If Windows Security doesn’t open, can’t update the definition file, or can’t finish scanning for viruses, try running Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan), which is explained below.
To scan for malware and viruses with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan)
  • Save any documents or anything else you might have open on your PC.
  • Click on Start > Windows Security.
  • Select Virus & threat protection, and then under Current threats, select Scan options > Microsoft Defender offline scan > Scan now.
  • Your PC will restart, and Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) will run and scan for viruses and malware. The scan might take 15 minutes or so, and your PC will restart again after that.
  • Try to reproduce the performance issue.
If your PC still runs slowly, continue to the next tip.

9. Optimize Battery (Power) For Best Performance

If you want the best performance on Windows and don’t mind compromising on the battery life, you can switch to a High-performance power plan.

9.1. Change Power Plan on Laptop

To change the power plan on the Laptop:
  • Right-click on Start and select Mobility Center.
  • Click on the drop-down menu under Battery status and select High performance.

9.2. Change Power Plan on the Desktop

To change the power plan on the Desktop:
  • Select Search on the taskbar, type power plan, then select Choose a power plan.
  • Then, select High performance.
And then, restart your PC and see if it seems to run better. If not, try the next tip.

10. Adjust Fast Startup

Fast Startup is a feature in Windows, that helps start your PC faster after shutdown.
If you installed multiple operating systems on your PC, you should disable Fast Startup.
To open the Fast Startup settings:
  • Select Search on the taskbar, type power plan, then select Choose a power plan.
  • From the left pane, click on Choose what the power button does.
  • Then, click on Change settings that are currently unavailable.
  • Under Shutdown settings, you can enable or disable Fast Startup.
If you changed the Fast Startup setting then, restart your PC and see if it seems to run better. If not, try the next tip.

11. Speed Up Hard Disk

11.1. Check Disks For System Errors

Sometimes, your PC is noticeably slower or programs hang when you access certain files. This problem might occur because there are errors on your hard disk.
To check the disk for errors:
  • Open File Explorer. From Navigation Pane, select This PC.
  • Right-click on Windows Disk and select Properties.
  • In the Properties, click on the Tools tab.
  • In the Error-checking area, click on Check.
  • Then click on Scan drive.
    It will take some time to check the hard disk.
If it finds any error, Restart your PC to repair Hard Disk.

11.2. Optimize Hard Disk

Optimizing your drives can help your PC run smoother and boot up faster.
Please Note: if you are using an SSD then defragmentation is not recommended. It will reduce your SSD’s life.
To optimize Hard Disk:
  • Select Search on the Taskbar, type optimizes, then right-click on Defragment and Optimize Drives and select Run as administrator.
  • Check Advanced View to see all drives.
  • Select the Windows drive and then click on Optimize.
    It will take several minutes to optimize the hard disk.
And then, restart your PC and see if it seems to run better. If not, try the next tip.

12. Repair System Files

If some Windows functions aren't working or Windows crashes, use the System File Checker to scan Windows and restore your files.
To scan and repair system files:
  • Select Search on the Taskbar, type CMD, then right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. On the prompt, click on Yes.
  • Here, type "DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth"and pressEnterkey.
    When you run this command, DISM uses Windows Update to provide the files that are required to fix corruptions. It may take several minutes.
  • Then, type "sfc /scannow" and then press Enter key.
    This command will scan all protected system files, and replace corrupted files. It may also take several minutes.
After the process is finished, restart your PC and see if it seems to run better. If not, try the next tip.

13. Disable Restartable Apps

To make your experience faster and smoother, Windows restarts some of the background apps once you sign in to your PC. If you have a powerful PC then this may prove to be a good feature. But for older computers, disabling it would help you speed up Windows.
To disable restartable apps on Windows 11:
  • Right-click on Start and select Settings. In Settings, go to Accounts > Sign-in options.
  • Under Additional settings, turn off Automatically save my restartable apps and restart them when I sign back in.
And then, restart your PC and see if it seems to run better. If not, try the next tip.

14. Disable Background apps

Several apps run in the background to stay updated. While mailing and calendar apps don’t pose a problem, there might be many unnecessary background apps that can make the device lag.
To stop an app from running in the background on Windows 11:
  • Right-click on Start and select Apps and Features.
  • Click on the More ⁝ icon next to the apps you want to disable from running in the background, and select Advanced options.
  • Under Background apps permissions, select Never.
And then, restart your PC and see if it seems to run better. If not, try the next tip.

15. Disable Search Indexing

Although Windows search is an important feature to find apps, settings, and files, the indexing process can sometimes consume many resources that can negatively impact the experience – especially on low-end devices. If you keep your files organized, you can slow down the indexing process by excluding all search locations.
To disable Search Indexing:
  • Select Search on the taskbar, type indexing, and then select Indexing Options.
  • Click on Modify.
  • In Indexed Locations, click on Show all locations.
  • Under Change selected locations, uncheck all items.
  • Then, click on OK.
And then, restart your PC and see if it seems to run better. If not, try the next tip.

16. Disable VBS

Virtualization-based security (VBS) is a new feature on Windows that protects the OS from unsafe code and malware. But recent reports suggest that due to this security feature, games have seen a performance drop of 5% to 25%. So if you are a gamer and want the best performance on Windows, you should disable VBS.
To disable VBS on Windows 11:
  • Open Windows Security, then go to Device security > Core isolation details.
  • And here, turn off the toggle under Memory integrity.
And then, restart your PC and see if it seems to run better. If not, try the next tip.

17. Turn off Windows features you don't use

17.1. Search Highlights

Search Highlights presents notable and interesting moments of what’s special about each day—like holidays, anniversaries, and other educational moments in time both globally and in your region.
But, if you don't use this feature, then you should turn it off.
To turn off Search highlights on Windows 11:
  • Right-click on Start and select Settings. In Settings, go to Privacy & security>Search permissions.
  • And then, under More Settings, turn off Search highlights.

17.2. Widgets

The widget is a new taskbar flyout, which displays a panel with Microsoft Start, a news aggregator with personalized stories and content.
But, if you don't use this feature, then you should turn it off.
To turn off Widgets on Windows 11:
  • Right-click on Taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
  • Under Taskbar items, turn off Widgets.

17.3. Clipboard

Using Clipboard, you can paste multiple items from your clipboard history.
But, if you don't use this feature, then you should turn it off.
To turn off Clipboard on Windows 11:
  • Right-click on Start and select Settings. In Settings, go to System>Clipboard.
  • And here, turn off Clipboard history and Sync across your devices.

17.4. Game Mode

When you use Game Mode, Windows prioritizes your gaming experience by turning things off in the background.
If you are not a gamer, it’s best to disable Game Mode altogether. It will stop DVR and other Xbox-related services in the background, speeding up your Windows PC.
To turn off Game Mode on Windows 11:
  • Right-click on Start and select Settings. In Settings, go to Gaming > Game Mode.
  • And here, turn off Game Mode.

17.5. Recommended Items in Start Menu

The Recommended section in Start, shows recently opened files and documents from any location, including a PC, a smartphone, and OneDrive.
To turn off Recommended Items in Start Menu:
  • Right-click on Start and select Settings. In Settings, go to Personalization > Start.
  • And here, turn off Show recently added apps and Show recently opened items in Start, Jump Lists, and File Explorer.

17.6. Chat from Taskbar

Microsoft Chat is a feature, that enables you to chat and call using Microsoft Teams directly from Taskbar.
But, if you don't use this feature, then you should turn it off.
To remove the Chat icon from Taskbar on Windows 11:
  • Right-click on Taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
  • Under Taskbar items, turn off Chats.
And then, restart your PC and see if it seems to run better. If not, try the next tip.

18. Restore your PC from a system restore point

Restoring your PC undoes recent changes that might be causing problems. If you think a recently installed app, driver, or update for Windows could be causing problems, you might get things running normally again by restoring your PC to an earlier point.
You can find a step-by-step guide on the Microsoft site.
If your PC still running slowly after restoration, try Resetting Windows.

19. Reset Windows

This option will take your device back to a state similar to when you turned it on for the first time, removing programs you have installed and removing personal files, depending on which option you select. Windows will handle everything automatically, and you won’t need to use an external storage device. Resetting your device is less impactful than the clean install option, though it will require sufficient disk space.
You can find a step-by-step guide on the Microsoft site.
If your PC still running slowly after resetting, try Reinstalling Windows.

20. Reinstall Windows

If your PC still not performing as expected, then you should do a clean reinstallation of Windows.
You can find step-by-step guides to reinstall Windows 11, Windows 10 and Windows 8.1, in my blog posts.
The ultimate installation guide:

Extra device needed

  • Use ReadyBoost

Hardware Upgrade

  • Replace HDD with SSD
  • Add more RAM

How to speed up Windows PC for gaming?

If you’re a gamer and you want to speed up Windows for gaming purposes, you should disable VBS and enable Game Mode. You can check out the steps to disable VBS on Windows above.

How to speed up Windows startup?

If your Windows PC is slow in start-up, you can disable startups and enable Fast startups. Apart from that, you should think of upgrading your hard disk to an SSD, which will definitely give your computer a huge boost in start-up speed.

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