How Can I Improve the Performance of Windows 10?
Windows 10 is considered by experts to be an excellent software update, with an upgrade in speed and performance that’s noticeable and beneficial. That being said, speed is only one of several performance factors that PC owners need to keep in mind when using their devices. While it may be the latest, best version, even Windows 10 isn’t immune to the occasional slowdown.
To help you with that and keep your PC running fast and smooth, we’ve put together this list of the Top 7 Tweaks & Tips to Increase the Performance of Windows 10. Please consider it your go-to resource for simple, DIY adjustments you can easily make to your Windows 10 PC yourself with little or no cost. We’re confident that these tips and tweaks will increase its performance, as well as your overall experience with Windows 10. Continue reading to learn more about our top 7 tips to improve Windows 10 performance.
In This Article:
- 7 Tips to Speed Up and Improve Performance in Windows 10
- Contact Us to Improve Windows 10 Performance for Your Company’s Computers Today
7 Tips to Speed Up and Improve Performance in Windows 10
Tip 1- Stay Away from “Free” Registry Cleaners
If you surf the net, you’ve certainly seen ads for speeding up the performance of your PC. We recommend you avoid these registry cleaning services. The reason why: malware. Yes, you might get a small performance boost, but they’ll leave behind computer code that can negatively affect your PC down the road. Also, keep in mind that Microsoft is adamant about not supporting registry cleaners. If you use one, you may void any warranty your device might have.
Tip 2- Shut Off Startup Processes for Programs You Don’t Need or Use
Many programs that run inside Windows 10 install side processes on your PC, which is entirely normal. However, the problem with many of these side processes is that they run every time you start your computer, which can considerably slow down its start-up process.
The good news is that to clean up Windows 10, you can limit the processes that run when you start your PC. Their updated Task manager is the key. Here’s how to do it:
- To open the Task Manager, press Ctrl-Shift-Esc. (You can also find it by right-clicking the Start button.)
- Switch to the ‘Startup’ tab. (You should now be able to see all of the programs/processes that start when you start Windows 10.)
- Look at the ‘Status’ column. Programs enabled to start when you start your PC will be shown.
- If you don’t see all your programs (only those currently used), click on ‘More Details.
- Check to see which apps are ‘Enabled’ and ‘Disabled’ on your PC..’
- Right-click on any program to change its status so that it doesn’t start when you boot-up your PC.
Which programs should you shut off? That depends on how often you use them. For example, if you barely ever use Spotify, disabling it is preferable. Remember, the fewer apps and programs that start when you boot-up, the faster you’ll be up and working, surfing, or gaming.
Tip 3- Uninstall Any ‘Crapware’ On Your PC
One of the most significant issues with many new computers today is that they come with all sorts of unwanted software already preinstalled. (Thankfully, this situation appears to be improving.) Of course, the problem is that these preinstalled programs can slow down your PC’s performance and even interrupt you while you’re busy working or surfing the net. To free up disk space Windows 10, this crapware should be removed.
While Microsoft certainly isn’t blameless on this front, most other brands preinstall more programs than they do. For example, Lenovo, HP, and Asus all come with multiple programs installed, many of which the average user doesn’t want or need. As with the processes mentioned in Tip #2, these programs can slow down your PC at start-up. Even worse, they eat up valuable RAM (random access memory) as well as CPU cycles. Removing these unwanted and unused programs will most almost certainly improve your PC’s performance.
Also, keep in mind that some programs that may seem beneficial can also bog down your PC. For example, McAfee Security Suite. A preinstalled program on many Windows 10 computers, this antivirus software may seem valuable, but don’t be fooled; it wasn’t put there because the computer’s manufacturer was magnanimous. In most cases, McAfee paid to have the program installed and, in just as many cases, it slowed down the device’s performance when running Windows 10. Add that to the fact that, after the free trial ends, the software will set you back $80 bucks, and uninstalling it is clearly the better choice.
To remove crapware, right-click the Start button and then click ‘Programs and Features.’ There you’ll see all of the programs installed and be able to click on them and uninstall them easily. You can also click on ‘Recent’ to see all of the recently installed programs on your PC (whether you installed them or not). It’s important to keep in mind that you can only uninstall one (1) program at a time and that some take longer than others to uninstall. We suggest setting aside 30 to 40 minutes to accomplish this task. Also, checking back once a month or so and uninstalling any unwanted programs is an excellent idea that will keep your device running more smoothly.
Tip 4- Clean Up Your Computer’s Disk
The disk on your PC stores all of the information, data, and code that helps run your computer as well as anything that you create or download, like files, photos, and so forth. Unlike the human brain, however, a computer disk only has so much space and memory. That’s why, every so often, you should ‘clean’ it and get rid of any unwanted files. (Consider it ‘spring cleaning’ for your Windows 10 device.)
The easiest and fastest way to clean your disk is to type in ‘Disk Cleanup’ on your device’s Start menu. Doing that opens Windows’ Disk Cleanup utility, a valuable tool that Windows has offered on its various OS iterations for several years. Then engage the program and let it find anything on your disk that’s not needed, wanted, or necessary. It will gather them all, including install files, temporary files, and things like offline web pages. When it’s finished, you can delete them all at once.
Tip 5- Enable the Storage Sense Option
Windows 10 comes with an improved Storage Sense option, which is excellent. It’s a screen dedicated to helping you keep as much free space on your disk as possible. That’s because Storage Sense automatically removes things like temporary and Recycle bin files and other unwanted or unnecessary items that can slow down your device’s performance. You can also easily use it to view how much storage space you have and access other tools that can help you free up extra disk space.
To access Storage Sense and enable it, you need to first open Windows Storage, which you can do by clicking Settings, then System, then Storage. There you’ll see Storage Sense, which has several options. You can enable Storage Sense by clicking it to ‘On.’ You can also click “Configure Storage Sense or run it now,” which will take you to another screen with the other options.
For example, you can choose how frequently Storage sense will run. (We recommend once a month.) You can also configure some tasks to run on a schedule you choose, including:
- Automatically run Storage Sense to clean up and delete files.
- Delete temporary files your apps aren’t using.
- Remove files from your Downloads folder.
- Perform a Windows update cleanup
Keep in mind that if you’re running low on space and your PC is slowing down, you can activate Storage Sense manually by clicking Clean Now on the bottom left of the screen.
Tip 6- Empty Your Recycle Bin Occasionally
The Recycle Bin is where all of the folders and files you’ve deleted are stored. In short, they’re not deleted from your computer at all, just in case you need to retrieve something later. That’s good, but the problem is that, after a while, the Recycle bin can become clogged with hundreds or even thousands of files you don’t need or want. In turn, that can slow down Windows 10, making it a good idea to empty your Recycle bin occasionally.
Tip 7- Purchase and Run a Tune-Up Utility
So far, all of the Tips and tweaks we’ve given have been free. However, if your Windows 10 PC is still running or booting up slowly or crashing, you might consider purchasing a Tune-Up utility. Most are relatively inexpensive and work well, increasing boot times and other operations and keeping your PC running smoothly. (There are several free tune-up utilities also, although they offer fewer features.)
The reason why is that a Tune-Up utility takes an in-depth look into your computer to find, and fix, any areas where there might be trouble brewing. Some of the more common features that you’ll find with a tune-up utility include:
- Defragmenting your PC’s hard drive,
- Repairing Windows Registry
- Deleting useless and duplicate files to free-up disk space
- File shredders (for thoroughly deleting hard drive data)
- Custom Scheduling to run future tune-up sessions
- Automatic Backup to protect your files and data
- Disk Cleanup Windows 10
Contact Us to Improve Windows 10 Performance for Your Company’s Computers Today
Windows 10 is an excellent, robust platform, no doubt. Like any other platform, though, it will slow down over time, which can cause delays, frustration, and a noticeable drop in productivity. We hope that the 7 Tweaks and tips we’ve provided today help you clean up Windows 10 and empower you to increase your device’s performance and speed. If you need assistance while trying to improve Windows 10 performance or have questions, contact us today.