The 10 Best Ways to Speed Up Windows 10

In this article, we’ll talk about ways to speed up Windows 10. From simple hardware additions to Windows configurations and routine maintenance, there are several measures you can try to optimize your existing setup and speed up Windows 10. Here’s what’s recommended to speed up a Windows 10 computer:

Ways to Speed Up Windows 10

Restart Your Computer

It might sound like an old joke: “Turn it off and back on again.” But the reason people hear this so often is that it’s true. Over time, all kinds of digital issues build up in your computer’s memory, from badly developed apps that don’t clear the memory they use to malware. You’ll especially feel your computer run faster when you restart it after long stretches of continuous use.

Add RAM

One of the most effective actions you can take for a faster, more performant Windows is to increase your machine’s Random Access Memory (RAM). The more RAM your computer has, the more data it can process at once, including running programs and handling files. So, if your budget allows, buying and installing additional RAM can greatly improve your computer’s performance.

To see which type you need, check out this guide to checking your computer’s RAM compatibility. Then, head to the desktop RAM or laptop RAM guides for guidance on how much you need.

Upgrade to an SSD

This is perhaps the most effective way to speed up Windows. If your computer has an older-style HDD, you can seriously consider switching to a newer-generation SSD hard drive.

Your computer may have what’s called an HDD, considered old-style technology today, which records data on a spinning magnetic disk. Modern Solid State Drives (SSDs), on the other hand, hold data in electronically accessed cells. This technology makes many operations much faster. When you replace your hard drive with an SSD, your computer’s boot time will also shrink significantly.

Disable Startup Programs

The reason your computer boots slowly could be that some of the programs you’ve installed are set to open at startup. They might sit in the system tray and never show themselves, but they still use processor power and RAM. Making sure you only run the apps you actually use will help avoid needlessly straining system resources.

For example, if you’ve installed antivirus software, you’d want it to run automatically at startup. But if you notice a piece of software you rarely use is running automatically every time your computer boots, it would be smart to disable it.

To turn off apps you don’t use regularly, type “Startup apps” into the search box in the Start menu to reach the relevant menu. In the window that opens, you can disable any program you don’t want using the buttons you see. After doing this and restarting your computer, you’ll notice a clear improvement in how fast it boots and runs.

Don’t worry; doing this doesn’t remove the programs from your system. It just stops them from running in the background at startup. If you notice something went wrong, you can go back to the same screen and set the relevant programs to start automatically again.

Adjust Your Power Profile

For a more performant Windows 10, if you have a laptop, click the battery icon in the system tray, where you can use the slider to adjust your computer’s power level. For desktop devices, open the Control Panel, select Power Options, and make sure the highest-performance option is selected.

Update Your Software and Drivers

Since they include improvements to performance, security, and functionality, it’s important to make sure you keep updates for your PC current. There are three main areas to consider to stay up to date:

Windows Updates:

Open the Settings app, select Update & Security > Windows Update, and click Install now if any updates are ready.

Driver Updates:

From the same screen, click View all optional updates, which can install updated hardware drivers.

App Updates:

The method for updating apps varies, but as a rule, if you see a notification for an update, install it as soon as possible.

Run an Antivirus Scan

To speed up Windows 10, you may need to find and eliminate whatever’s slowing it down. Malware can cause your machine to run slower, either as part of a setup process to use your resources for malicious activity, or simply to make your life difficult. Running your antivirus software regularly can help remove these bad actors and keep your machine running at top speed.
Don’t forget to apply any updates offered for your antivirus. Antivirus is also software, and it’s only as smart as the latest virus definitions it gets from its developer.

Disable Windows Visual Effects

One of the most processing-intensive tasks a computer can perform is rendering graphics. If your machine doesn’t have a dedicated graphics chip, using Windows Visual Effects can cost you in overall performance.

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Increase Virtual Memory Size

The Windows Page File is where the operating system stores temporary data that’s typically kept in RAM. “Paging” is the process by which Windows moves data between this file and RAM, depending on which app or service is currently the most “processing-intensive.” Increasing its size gives Windows more room to store this temporary data, and can help improve stability and prevent crashes.

Defragment Your Hard Drive

This is a fix for computers with older-style HDDs (not SSDs). When Windows saves your data to older mechanical disks, it doesn’t usually keep it all in one location. Instead, it saves pieces of data across the disk and reassembles them when needed. So, as files get saved and deleted over time, gaps form on the disk.

Over time, the reader needs to move more to gather all the pieces to reconstruct files. Defragmenting the disk brings all this data closer together, and disk read/write operations become faster. All of this adds up to better performance for your PC. Open the Storage screen in the Settings app, and click the Optimize Drives link to get started.

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