If you replace your Windows computer with a new model, you will notice that the performance of the new one is much better. However, if your PC slows down over time and working becomes increasingly cumbersome, it is not necessary to invest in a new model. Windows 10 offers many ways to dramatically improve performance and speed . We will show you eight features and settings available to speed up Windows 10..
Windows 10 offers several ways to significantly improve system performance. To ensure that performance does not deteriorate over time, it is worth checking regularly the factors that influence it: uninstalling unnecessary programs or defragmenting your hard drive regularly, for example. In the following sections we explain the procedure in more detail and we tell you what other strategies exist to speed up Windows 10.
If load times are very long, one possible reason is higher than average CPU usage. In the article What is overclocking? Tuning the Central Processing Unit we will tell you how to overclock the CPU and thus improve performance..
When you start the Windows computer, some programs start automatically . This function is particularly useful for programs that are used every day. However, programs that you don't need or rarely use often sneak into autostart. These applications run in the background after automatic startup and therefore take up valuable memory space. For this reason, Windows offers the ability to modify the list of autostart programs in Task Manager.
Follow our instructions to disable automatic program startup and speed up Windows 10..
The computer stores the files in individual data blocks and reads them when necessary. However, over time, as data is erased or existing documents are re-saved, the arrangement of these fragments becomes disordered. These processes separate the contiguous blocks from each other (fragments are created), which reduces the reading speed. By defragmenting the hard drive, the data is reorganized, making Windows 10 faster. This improves not only the speed, but also the life of the hard drive. To defragment the hard drive (s), follow the instructions below:
The SSDs have head read and write, so in this case no advantage defragmentation does not affect the performance of the operating system.
In Windows 10, virtual working memory is enabled by default . It is used when the physical memory (RAM) is already fully occupied. However, if your Windows computer does not have an SSD, the use of virtual memory adversely affects performance . In this case, it is recommended to disable this additional memory to speed up Windows 10.
Windows 10 differs not only from its predecessor by its technical innovations, but also by its elegant appearance, which includes many visual effects: animations, edge refinement, and display of window shadows, among others. However, these effects require computing power . If your computer's performance decreases, it may be advisable to disable them. While deactivation means leaving out some design elements, you will benefit from the increased performance . In the performance options, you can enable or disable individual effects:
The Internet offers a large number of programs and tools that can be downloaded for free - a great temptation to try many different applications. However, programs take up valuable memory space even if you don't use them, which can slow down your computer's performance. For this reason, it is advisable to regularly review the list of installed programs and applications . To speed up Windows 10, uninstall unnecessary apps.
Most programs require additional instructions to be followed to complete the uninstallation.
Windows constantly runs some applications in the background to send information and notifications continuously, such as when you use an email client. However, this feature loads memory, which in turn affects overall performance. Fortunately, in this sense, Windows also offers the option to manually control the running of applications in the background and to disable it generally or for some selected programs.
Every computer system has a so-called cache memory: a buffer memory in which programs store data for quick retrieval at any time. However, this memory can contain unnecessary data that weighs down the system. Therefore, one of the most important measures to speed up Windows 10 is to regularly clear the cache .
Memory usage affects computer performance in a similar way. Since it also uses a cache, you can empty it to speed up Windows 10. We explain the process in the article Freeing up RAM: A step-by-step guide .
If your computer's CPU is overloaded, this will negatively affect the execution speed of programs and processes. You can read more about the CPU and the possible reasons for its overload in the article High CPU usage: what are the possible causes? .
Have you implemented all the above tips and yet the performance of your computer still does not improve? In this case, the last option is to reset the system. With this, Windows resets all system settings to factory settings and removes all installed programs. In this process, you have the option of erasing your personal data or keeping it. Always try this option before completely formatting your system or buying a new computer.
The Windows 10 reset function is also handy if you want to sell your computer . In this way, you can automatically erase all data and thus no information will be passed on to third parties. Our dedicated article contains more information on this.