You might remember the day when you have to purchase the new PC. After installing an operating system when you operate your PC it was super fast at that time. The PC was working smoothly. But a few months later you may notice that your PC become gradually slow. In this article, I am going to discuss some tips to speeds up slow Windows PC.
This presents time we ask Google important questions like “why is my computer running so slow?” Good question, but the answer is quite complicated.
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Methods to speed up your PC
There is much reason that makes your PC slow down over time. Don’t worry it is not only your problem many people are suffering from the same problem.
Before you bite the bullet and plan for a new PC, try these simple tips to regain the speed up your computer. They may just make your old slow PC feel as good as new.
1. Close tray programs
Many application frequently runs in the notification area automatically. These applications often run when the PC startup and continue running in the background.
You can find these applications on the up arrow icon at the bottom-right corner of your screen.
Just click on the up arrow and you can find all the running application there. Right-click on any application you don’t want to keep running in the background and close them.
Hence after closing unnecessary application computer speed will increase.
2. Disable programs that run on start-up
On Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 you can manage your startup programs through startup manager in the Task Manager.
Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to launch the Task Manager. The Task Manager will show you all the application list with the necessary details.
Click the Startup tab and you will see a list of programs and services that launch when you start your PC.
You can choose which program you want to run when startup. If you see any anonymous application running on startup disable it.
To stop a program or service from launching at startup, just right-click on the application and select “Disable”. This doesn’t mean the program disable entirely, it only prevents it from launching at startup.
Later If you change your mind and want the application to launch at startup just go to Task Manager and right-click on the app and select “Enable”.
3. Free up disk space
Have you notice that when your hard drive is almost completely full, your computer may run noticeably slower than before.
Do you know some free space is required for Windows? You may think that the free space In your PC may be wested but that’s not true. Windows need some space for updates and file reading and writing operation. It varies from system to system.
According to Microsoft 20% free space is required to perform its pick. Hence more the free space in your disk the faster will operate.
You can delete duplicate and junk files manually. If you don’t want to do it manually then install a utility software to do a deeper search and make the job quicker and easier for you.
4. Uninstall programs you don’t use
Our curiosity forces us to do something new. Nothing wrong with that. Hence we do new things.
Many people install new apps and use it hard once or twice. We do this some time to check the features of application or game. Then we forgot about it and it is still on our PC.
It takes some space on the hard disk. The space taken by the application is waste because we no longer use the app.
To remove the unused programs that slow down your computer just go to
- If you have Windows 7 go to Program and Features
- If you have Windows 8 or 8.1 go to Uninstall a Program
- If you have Windows 10 go to Apps & Features
When you reach there you can identify which program you are no longer using and uninstall it.
To keep your Windows clean and fast you should avoid installing many programs.
5. Reduce visual effects
Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 are quite rich in visual effects. The sliding tiles are nice to see. But it is a cause of slow your system.
However, you can easily turn off it.
- If you are using Windows 8 – Go to Control Panel > Ease of Access > click Optimize visual display > Then check the option Turn off all unnecessary animation (when possible) > Apply
- If you are using Windows 10 – Click Start and type advance system setting and choose View advance system setting from the results. > Click setting in the Performance section > if you want to disable everything just select the Adjust for best performance or you can Custom it by checking the list.
6. Remove Viruses, Malware, etc.
In the age of the Internet, it is very important to be aware of viruses. There are no specific way viruses and spyware can enter into your PC. However malicious websites and content can spread the virus that can slow down your computer.
Malicious software may be the region for slowing down and it running in the background. Some malicious programs show pop-ups ads in your system.
You should periodically scan your computer for malware to get rid of these pesky memory hogs.
To be extra safe you may scan your computer with paid antivirus software. Hence make sure your antivirus programs are always up to date, and real-time protection is always turned on.
This is one of the main reasons for your PC become slow.
7. Zero figure your web browser
We are living in an Internet world so the browser is our part of the body. Because we spent tons of hour using them.
Sometimes we install a lot of add-on in our computer and here starts the problem. More the add-ons more resources of our PC will be used. Hence it slows our PC.
So for better performance delete unused browser extensions. You can bookmark your favorites and view them later. Read All New Features In Windows 10.
8. Defragment your hard disk
An actually recent version of windows automatically defragments the hard disk. It will defragment mechanical hard drives in the background automatically.
You should not worry about it most of the time because it happens automatically. But if you copy a large file windows mat not defragment it right now in this case you may use the built-in tool to do this or you may do it through free defragment tools.
If your PC has Solid state drive (SSD), there is no need of defragmentation.
9. Update drivers software and apps
Drivers are very important for running Windows smoothly. If drivers are outdated it may cause the computer to run slowly.
Video card drivers are regularly to fix the bugs and speed up performance. It is a good practice to check is your driver up to date or not.
Drivers are software programs that enable Windows to communicate with hardware components like the printer, scanner, video, sound, webcam, mic and so on. Keep these thinks updating them is a headache. You have to check the hardware component, the driver’s software and the version numbers from the manufacturer’s website and the download page.
To keep this process essay for you some third party utility tools are available Like Driver Booster free. It will do all the work for you. This software identifies the current drivers, check for the updates, and then download and install them.
10. Upgrade your hardware components
All the tricks we discussed so far are software issues that may cause slow your computer. But this may not sufficient. There is a main role of hardware for working Windows smoothly.
If you have an old PC that might not capable of running the latest games and other software. Hence hardware upgrade may be required and this change will boost your PC’s performance.
It’s a good practice to clean your hardware parts periodically. Over time and due to environmental effects cooling fans and other components gather dust or hair. Hence it affects the performance of the system.
If you have installed a high-end game on your old PC it won’t work properly and cause your computer slow. So according to requirement upgrade your hardware components so that it will tally with the latest applications and games.
You can use a free system information tool like Speccy to see all the important details about the hardware in your PC. You don’t need to open your computer to check these details. This tip can speed up a slow Windows PC.
11. Reinstall Windows OS
If all the above tips didn’t fix your problem, then the direct solution to speed up your computer is to reinstall Windows itself.
Reinstalling entire Windows OS will speed up your computer by removing junk files and apps that you no longer want to keep in your system. It also removes all the malware, viruses, and adware from your PC.
Remember you should think more than twice about doing this because it’s irreversible process and is one of the last decisions you can make to speed up your PC.
Note: Before taking this decision, make sure to back up your files and make a list of programs that you want to reinstall. This tip can speed up a slow Windows PC.
Conclusion
These are some tips to speed up slow Windows PC. Follow these tips for better performance of your PC.